British Family Horse Classic Goldstrike Sold into Australian Ownership

Dressage

Australia

Classic Goldstrike, the British "family horse" of Gareth, Rebecca and Ruby Hughes, has been sold into Australian ownership.

Goldstrike is a 14-year old KWPN gelding by Tango out of Tequila Tender (by Krack C x Balzflug). He is bred by J. Schaap in The Netherlands and originally named Goldstrike L.E.

Family Horse

Goldstrike was purchased by Julia Horning and Gareth and Rebecca Hughes as a 3-year old at the 2014 Equine Elite Auction.

The chestnut was first trained and competed as a youngster by Rebecca Hughes, who debuted him at Oldencraig in April 2015. A year later they finished 5th in the 5-year old final at the British Young Horse Championships. In 2017 they were 6th in the 6-year old final. Rebecca continued to produce the gelding up the levels and in 2019 they reached Prix St Georges level. The pair's international show debut was in October 2020 at the CDI Keysoe at small tour level. Rebecca rode him at CDI's in Wellington Heckfield, Hartpury, and Keysoe in 2021 as well as at the British small tour championship.

In 2022 Gareth Hughes got on board and debuted the horse at national Grand Prix level, but Rebecca rode the small tour championship at the British Nationals in September 2022. The pair's big tour Grand Prix debut was at the CDI Addington in March 2023, followed by Le Mans and Hickstead.

In 2023 Gareth alternated the ride on Goldstrike with daughter Ruby Hughes, who showed him nationally and with one CDI start at junior level at Wellington Heckfield qualified him on the British team for the 2023 European Junior Riders Championships in Kronberg, where Team GB won bronze and placed 25th in the individual test.

In 2024 Ruby and Goldstrike rode one CDI at Young Riders' level in Addington, after which Gareth was back on the horse as his number one Grand Prix mare Briolinca was retired in that Olympic year. Gareth and Goldstrike went to Windsor and Hickstead and were put on the nominative entry list for the 2024 Olympics, but it was Ruby who rode him next at the CDI Wellington Heckfield. However she ended up riding her godfather Carl Hester's Brioso on the team for the 2024 European Junior Championships in Opglabbeek. In September 2024 Gareth and Goldstrike won the British Grand Prix Freestyle Championships. The horse's last CDI was Wellington Heckfield with Rebecca in October 2024.

This year Ruby rode Goldstrike at national shows in the UK and got long-listed for British young rider team selection, but Goldstrike was not included in the short list.

Australia

In April Goldstrike sold into Australian ownership and is now registered under Karen Miller's name.