Ireland's most successful dressage rider Judy Reynolds has announced that she will be skipping the indoor World Cup season entirely and focus on the outdoor season in spring, leading up to the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Reynolds and her 16-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Vancouver K (by Jazz x Ferro) missed out on the 2017 European Dressage Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, due to an injury. The black had earned a historic fourth place at the 2017 World Cup Finals in Omaha in April and finished 7th in the 2017 CDIO Aachen kur to music in July, but shortly afterwards he injured himself.
Reynolds announced her come back to the show ring at the 2017 World Cup qualifier in London on 13 - 15 December 2017, but withdrew two days before the event due to fitness issues. Judy wrote: "Yesterday morning we had our bags packed for Olympia, the truck was ready to go but unfortunately Jp (Vancouver K) decided this year it wasn’t to be. We are sad to be missing one of our favourite shows of the year, and the chance to show off our new freestyle, but that’s horses for you, they like to keep you on your toes!"
In an interview with Irish Field, Judy has know disclosed that she will not be competing at any World Cup qualifiers but postpone her come back until spring.
“We are not planning to compete at any of the remaining indoor World Cup rounds. We missed the qualifiers up to now and it’s too late now to start a campaign for the finals. The plan is to focus on being ready for the outdoor season in April with the main aim for this year being the World Equestrian Games,” said Reynolds.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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