Unbridled Love...........Louise Parkes reports from France for PhelpsSports.com
Equestrian News Release
Cannes, FR – June 9, 2006 – Dogs and horses were having fun in the sun today ahead of the second big international class at Cannes Jumping International.....
Canada's Tonya Henning won the Amateur Two-Phase with Mill Creek Rosalinde ahead of Ireland's Joanne Sloane-Allen with Heritage Spirit while America's Jessica Speiser was third with Voblesse but it was fourth finisher, Nina Verlooy, who really caught the eye. Because she rides her horse without a bridle - take a look at the picture below.....
Nina is married to former Belgian international jumper Axel Verlooy who retired from competition two years ago to concentrate solely on his already-successful horse-dealing business. The couple has had many horses through their yard over the years but this is Flashbounce - and he's a bit special.
"I have him for eight years now and we've done a lot - he has won Grand Prix classes at several CSI B shows including Luxembourg and Monte Carlo and recently he's been placed a lot. In the last few weeks he's been second three times and fourth three times - we're ready for another win!' says Nina in her strong Scottish accent. From Drumfriess and Galloway in south-west Scotland, Nina comes from a family steeped in horses - her father, Hugh Ramsey, drives a team of Clydesdales and is well known on the British equestrian circuit.
Nina and Axel met and married on the show jumping circuit and Flashbounce came their way by accident. The horse competed in the World Cup series in Australia but was brought to Europe to be sold by rider Geoff Bloomfield. "We took him into the yard to sell him on but nobody wanted to buy a horse who would not go in a bridle so I got on him myself and we clicked right away" Nine says. "Once I got to know him I told Axel he was not for sale anymore and we've had a wonderful time together" she explains. Nina's theory is that the Australian thoroughbred, now aged 16, must have had an accident as a youngster but nobody is quite sure about his history. "He seems to feel closed in - like he's trapped - when you put anythings across the top of his head he panics. He lunges in a headcollar but you have to put it way down on his neck and he's still not even really happy about that. When we got him he was going in this bridle-less bit we use now, so we continued with that. He's used to it, and it works" she points out.
And work it does. The simple leather bit runs through his mouth and is held in place by a strap that goes around the back of his chin - but it only stays in position when he is ridden, otherwise it begins to fall out of his mouth - "and that has happened a few times" Nina says with a laugh. Even without any poll pressure Flashbounce still goes in a good shape, rounding nicely ahead of his fences and seemingly jumping for fun.
Also having fun in the ring today ahead of the big class were Tibetan terriers Pica and Bibi who, while the world's best show jumpers were walking their course, were play-fighting like a pair of muppets in the sand. Owned by Belgian rider Judy-Ann Melchior the terrible two were under the supervision of the rider's mother, also Judy-Ann who was recently appointed President of the Zangersheide Stud Book, who however had to call a halt to proceedings when Bibi decided that a digging competition was in order. Not quite the done thing in the middle of a show jumping arena it has to be said.....
For complete results from the Global Champions Tour stop at Cannes, visit: http://events.horses.nl/2006/cannes/results/results.ws
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This Louise Parkes special report from the Global Champions Tour in Cannes is another preview provided by PhelpsSports.com. Look for the debut of this brand new, dynamic and exciting equestrian news website during the World Equestrian Games in August. PhelpsSports.com is going to change the standard of equestrian sports coverage on the Internet and will be your best source for up to the minute video, unique and personal audio interviews and late breaking news of the High Performance disciplines. Stay tuned!
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