Two French Team Ponies Retained for France: Bandro Hit Linaro and Orchard NL

Dressage

France

The ride on two French team ponies - Orchard NL and Bandro Hit Linaro - has been reallocated to new French riders. By not selling their ponies, the owners have retained their ponies for France.

Bandro Hit Linaro

Bandro Hit Linaro is a 13-year old Oldenburg x Welsh cross by Sandro Hit out of Bella Dona SL (by Courage). He is bred in France by the Syndicat Linaro.

The pony made his international show debut under owner Astrid Antunes Millou in 2018 and represented France at three European Pony Championships. In 2019 with Antunes, who finished 36th in the individual test and as of 2021 by Thanais Capelle Morosi, who finished 24th in the individual at the 2022 Europeans and 17th in the Kur finals at the 2023 European Championships in Le Mans.

Advertised as a lease option for the 2024 season on Eurodressage, French team pony Bandro Hit Linaro found a new rider in France, who leases the stallion for the this year. Owner Astrid Antunes Millou did not want to disclose the identity of the new rider but on Instagram the 10-year old Mai Linh Benguigui came forward as his new rider.

Orchard NL

Although initially offered for sale, the Dutch Welsh pony Orchard NL has been allocated to 14-year old Leonie Genou to ride. Dressprod reported the news and mentioned that Genou trains with Alexandra Dilliere Tribourdeau, the same coach as Fleur Weijkamp who competed the pony as of 2017 and internationally from 2022 through 2023.

Orchard NL is by Brouwershaven Diamont Hit out of Orchard JR Anna Palowna (by Orchard Red Prince). He was bred in The Netherlands and then owned by Matthieu Bellivier, before selling to the Weijkamp family. Fleur represented France at two European Pony Championships. in 2022 they were 16th in the Kur to Music, in 2023 they were 30th in the individual test.