British European Championship Pony Ella Retained for Great Britain

Dressage

Great Britain

British team pony Ella has been secured for Team Great Britain. The internationally competed FEI pony sold to 12-year old British children rider Darcey Blaze Marcus.

Ella is a 12-year old British bred by KWPN registered pony mare by Caesar 171 out of Ballerina (by Santana). She is bred by Julie Lockey.

Double European Championship Pony

The grey mare Ella has represented Great Britain twice at the European Pony Championships, in 2016 and 2021.

She made her international show debut in 2016 under Irish Laura Dennehy. They first showed at the CDI roosendaal and also went to Hagen before competing at the European Pony Championships in Vilhelmsborg, where they placed 60th in the individual test.

Shortly after the Europeans, Ella sold to Kate Williams for her daughter Sophie to ride. They made their international debut at the 2017 CDI Keysoe and campaigned at Nieuw en St. Joosland, Saumur, Roosendaal and Hickstead that year. In 2018 the pair returned to Keysoe, Joosland and Hickstead to post increasing scores.

In 2019 Ella sold to Gracie Morgan, bringing her from novice level as 12-year old rider to the European Championships in Poland in 2021. Gracie and Ella competed at Keysoe and Wellington Heckfield before heading to the 2021 Europeans in Strzegom, where they placed 29th in the individual test.

Many pony riders find their groove in their last year on ponies and the same counted for Gracie, who in October 2021 claimed a hattrick at the CDI Keysoe, winning all three classes with personal best scores.

Retained for Great Britain

Making the move onto horses, Morgan put Ella up for sale on Eurodressage. The pony has now been sold to 12-year old Darcey Blaze Marcus.

Cranleigh Prep rider Marcus made her international show debut in the Children's division this year at the CDI Wellington Heckfield in May aboard former British team pony Valido's Starlight (by Valido x Capri Moon). She also competed at the CDI Keysie in the children's classes.

For 2022 she now has two experienced British team ponies to move into the FEI pony division.