Jill Irving's internationally competed Grand Prix horse Arthur will start a new chapter in life as an Under 25 schoolmaster. The ride has been allocated to Brooke Mancusi.
Arthur is an 18-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Jazz out of Olympia W (by Contango x Amor). His bred by the late Huub van Helvoirt.
Chantal Van Lanen
The bay gelding was first competed in The Netherlands up to medium tour level by Dutch Chantal van Lanen. In December 2014 the gelding sold to Irving as her rising Grand Prix hope.
Based in Moncton, New Brunswick, and trained by Ashley Holzer, Irving had been competing Ashley's former Canadian team horse Pop Art and her own Degas (by De Niro x Regazzoni) at Grand Prix level at the time.
Holzer and Irving
Holzer first established the Grand Prix buttons on Arthur and made her international show debut on the gelding at the 2016 CDI Wellington and rode him at the CDI's in Tryon and Ottawa that year.
As of 2017 Irving campaigned the gelding, first in Wellington and that year in Achleiten, Fritzens and Cappeln for their summer in Europe. In 2018 Irving tried for a Canadian team spot for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon and showed him at the Global Dressage Festival but she represented Canada with Degas.
Irving and Arthur continued to be an active pair at North American internationals from 2019 through 2022, their last show being the 4* in Wellington at the end of March.
Under 25 Schoolmaster
Beach Derby
"I am happy to announce I will be taking over the ride on Arthur," said Mancusi. "Thank you to Jill for this amazing opportunity and to everyone involved in making this happen. Excited to get started showing during GDF 2023."
The 21-year old Mancusi began her international show career in 2018 at junior level with Wellknown (by Wynton x Havidoff). She competed at the 2018 North American Junior Riders Championships where she placed 7th in the individual test. In 2021 she moved to Young Riders level with Grand Amour (by United x Jazz) and qualified for the 2021 North American Young Riders Championships, but her horse tragically died of laminitis. In 2022 a new horse, Kalisto Sollenburg (by Eye Catcher x Rousseau), joined her ranks, while she also showed Wellknown at Young Riders level.
In 2023 she'll be able to get her first experience at Under 25 level on schoolmaster Arthur.
" I would like to qualify for the Nations Cup and North American Youth Championships," Brooke tells Eurodressage about her plans for the new year. "I am still training with Brittany Fraser and I am also her assistant trainer. We are based at Ashley Holzer's barn during the Wellington season."
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Corona Times: Hit & Run with Jill Irving
Canadian Young Rider Brooke Mancusi Loses Grand Amour
Arthur, New Grand Prix Hopeful for Jill Irving