Bigwood's Orthilia Daughter Donna Bella Wins National Grand Prix at 2025 CDI Wellington Heckfield

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2025 CDI Wellington Heckfield

Fiona Bigwood rode the 9-year old Bella Donna to the trophy in the national Grand Prix class held at Wellington Riding on 4 June 2025. The national show precedes the CDI classes held at Wellington Heckfield (GBR) this weekend.

Home Bred

Donna Bella is a 2016 born home-bred AES registered mare by Don Juan de Hus x Gribaldi x Donnerschlag.

She is an embryotransfer foal out of Bigwood's 2016 British Olympic team bronze medal winning mare Atterupgaards Orthilia. Fiona sold Orthilia back to Denmark in 2017.

Orthilia produced ET foals for her owner in Denmark, Atterupgaard, before selling to Bigwood in the U.K. There are three Belissimo M offspring (O2, Ophelia, Bravissimo), one by Tuschinski (Touche), and three Charmeur offspring (Capone, Chaplin and Cooper).

Fiona bred one ET foal out of Orthilia, Donna Bella, while Blue Hors has one ET foal on the ground: Solero F (by Santiano) and is awaiting a new sibling to be born next week (by Don Juan de Hus).

Donna Bella

Donna Bella was trained to Grand Prix level by Bigwood, but Matthew Frost briefly had the ride in 2021-2022.

Frost took Donna Bella to her first shows in June 2021, riding her first in the 5-year old classes at the CDN Wellington and in March 2022 at Medium level at the CDN Felbridge.

"Matt took Donna for a short time to take her to her first competition to see how she would behave," Fiona told Eurodressage.

Bigwood premiered the mare two months later at Advanced Medium level at Feldbridge as well to place third. In September 2022 she showed her once more at Advanced Medium Level at Hascombe.

In January Fiona and Donna Bella returned to the arena at Advanced level for a first place with 73.67%. On 4 June 2025 the pair won the Grand Prix at CDN Wellington with 72.138%. It was their third Grand Prix test as a pair.

"Donna Bella was fab today," said Fiona. "Taking them on the journey from birth to Grand Prix, makes it so special and rewarding. I just love her. My smile at the end of the test says it all."

Fiona told Eurodressage that "she is proving to be like just her mum, very hard working with a super temperament and loving the Grand Prix work, it’s been fun taking her up through the levels.

Treasure Chest of Chestnuts

Fiona bred one foal out of Orthilia but has three embrytransfers out of Donna Bella right now: the 3-year old by Sezuan) and the 2-year olds by Jovian and Glamourdale. They don't have show names yet.

"Looks like I am heading for a yard full of chestnut mares," Bigwood told Eurodressage jokingly, also referring to her top mare and double World Champion Quinn G (by Quaterhit x Fassbinder), who produced two ET foals this year: two chestnut fillies by Vitalis.

When asked if Fiona plans an international show debut with Donna Bella she replied, "I am currently working on her confidence and gaining some more experience at national level before taking her to an international as she is still young and I have high hopes for her future."