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2003
Sunshine Tour
Escapado's Spanish Reign Puts Carl Hester Back on
Top
March 13, 2003
 Carl
Hester's Sunshine Tour successes in Spain with Escapado
should provide a much-needed boost for British team
hopes. Going into this final weekend of the three- week
tour at Dehesa Montenmideo, Hester and the ten-year-old
Ex Libris gelding have dominated the grand prix tour
with scores on and around the 70 per cent mark.
But, incredibly, Escapado's first international grand
prix week win two weeks ago was also the horse's first
EVER test at this level. Then last weekend, the beautiful
dark bay gave Carl a dream ride to win the Special on
70.44 per cent in an unanimous verdict from all the
judges, again at his first ever attempt at this test.
Escapado, owned by Carl in partnership with Rowena
Luard, was bought as a five-year-old from Mette Assouline.
He has a lot of thoroughbred blood and it has taken
time for him to channel his energy towards his work.
Carl recalls: "Knowing I like 'hot' horses, Mette phoned
to say she had one that was 'wild but not crazy' and
could suit me down to the ground if I was interested.
He's an exceptionally loving horse, and a natural athlete,
but in the beginning his first instinct was to turn
and run. Now he is trusting me more rather than looking
at what else is going on, and in the Special, I couldn't
believe what a wonderful ride he gave me."
 "Of
course he is going to need time, but I have been told
by several respected judges and trainers that I have
a top ten horse here. It is exciting to make such a
debut and to know there is a lot more still to come."
Carl has represented Great Britain on the team many
times since his debut at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992
as the youngest ever rider to make a British dressage
team. Despite winning more national titles than any
other British rider (including the small tour championship
with Escapado last September), he is not currently on
the lottery-sponsored World Class Performance programme.
If the British selectors are serious about wanting to
qualify a team for Athens, expect this to change!
Article EXCLUSIVELY copyrighted for
Eurodressage.com
Image copyrighted: Arnd
Bronkhorst
Related Links
Scores
2003 Sunshine Tour - Week 2
Scores
200 Sunshine Tour - Week 1
Books: Down
to Earth Dressage (by Carl Hester/Bernadette Faurie)
1988 News: Hester
Nets Top Accolade at Spiller's Equestrian Awards
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