For Emma Blundell, the owner of one of Britain's leading dressage breeding farms, it has been a week that could only have been made in dreams. Not only did she have her Grand Prix debut on flagship mare Freestyle, but to top the magic, her boyfriend proposed.
Grand Prix Debut on Freestyle
On 21 June 2023, Blundell steered the 14-year old Hanoverian mare Mount St. John Freestyle (by Fidermark) down the centerline for Emma's Grand Prix debut and the mare's first show since May 2021. At Northallerton EC in Yorkshire, the pair scored 74.13%
"I'm still pinching myself that yesterday's dream came true!! Freestyle who was the first ever foal I bought while still a student took me round my first ever GP to score an incredible 74.13%!"
Emma continued, "I can’t describe how unbelievable & generous she is! Clearly amazingly trained by Charlotte Dujardin for 6 years too."
One of Britain's Best
As of 2015 Charlotte Dujardin trained the mare. They won the 2015 British Young Horse Championships and the Medium Championship. In 2016 they won the Advanced Medium Championship and dominated the 20217 British Small Tour Championship. At the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon they won team and individual bronze. At the 2019 European Championships they were eliminated from the Grand Prix but bounced back on the 2019-2020 world circuit. The finals were cancelled due to corona though. Dujardin competed Freestyle alongside Gio to qualify for the 2021 Olympics but in May 2021 Freestyle got injured and missed out on team selection.
In 2022 the collaboration between Dujardin and Blundell quietly ended and Emma began working even more closely with Amy and Holly Woodhead. Freestyle returned home and in the winter of 2022-2023 she picked up training again. In March 2023 Emma revealed that she dreams of the Paris Olympics. Her first Grand Prix score of 74% for sure is promising.
Engaged
"We met two years ago at a wedding in the field outside my house, so with a house move last year to further up the hill, it was very apt to get engaged in the field outside the new house during a dog walk with Crumble! Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world!! The week of dreams," Emma stated.
A Yorkshire native, Frank is a senior quantity surveyor for Faithful+Gould, an integrated project and programme management consultancy, which helps clients with the management of construction projects.
On 1 July Emma celebrates Mount St. John's 10 year anniversary with a special Open Day.
Photos © EJ Lazenby Photography - private
Related Links
Where Are They Now? Mount St. John Freestyle
Mount St John Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with special Open Day