In a case of “correct work improves the horse” Judy Reynolds and her 13-year old Vancouver K (by Jazz x Ferro) have made a huge improvement in recent months and proved their rising form at the 2015 CDIO Rotterdam, where they earned a fourth place in the 3* Grand Prix with 73.880% and third in 72.098% in the Special.
“Vancouver has a huge personality and is always looking to play. He loves nuzzling your face and checking your pockets for treats," Judy told Eurodressage. "He has possibly become a bit of a diva and gets very upset if you walk by his stable without at least giving him a pat or a kiss.”
According to Judy the horse's talent was not especially obvious as a young horse, and there were times when Judy doubted his potential. Bringing him to Grand Prix was a challenge as the horse often refused to piaffe and reared, even at competitions.
“He was a challenge to train and there were often times I wasn't sure that he'd make a Grand Prix horse," Reynolds admitted. "Even now he is very smart and if you start working another horse before him he will start taking the rugs and head collar, etc off his door and throw everything on the floor!”
Based at Gut Hohenkamp, a beautiful stable in Dorsten, Germany, Judy trains with Johann Hinnemann who is just 30 minutes away.
“My husband Patrick also helps me at the competitions with the warming up. I think Vancouver has improved so much because he is now confident in what he's doing. He no longer has to learn new things and so feels secure in himself," she explained. "It was always the way since I had him, while he was learning new things he could be quite difficult but once he understood then it would become easy."
Reynolds' ride at Rotterdam was their first 'clean' Grand Prix test.
"I was so proud, although there were still some things I'd like to have done better so I think there's still a few more points to be gained. In the special, we haven't ridden that test in competition since November and I could feel him become a little insecure, and so a couple of mistakes crept in, but he was just trying to be helpful," she said.
Set to ride the Grand Prix Special tour again at the 2015 CDIO Hagen and CDI Cappeln, Judy is preparing herself for the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. Judy hopes that by the time the Europeans come around Vancouver will be "super confident" and after that she hopes to do a bit of the World Cup circuit over the winter.
“We dipped our toe into it last season in Olympia and Neumunster and would love to do more this year," she stated.
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Barbara Schnell - Astrid Appels
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