One-Two Finish for Hester and Bateson-Chandler in Hartpury CDI3* Grand Prix Special

Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Welnetta competing during the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

London, United Kingdom (July 18, 2014) – In her first European Grand Prix CDI of the year, Katherine Bateson-Chandler has validated not only her own horsemanship but six years of instruction and mentorship from friend and trainer, Carl Hester, as the two clinched first and second places together on July 13 in the Hartpury (Great Britain) CDI3* Grand Prix Special.

“It’s great to have a top finish in your first European Grand Prix CDI of the year. It’s even sweeter when the only horse and rider combination to best you is your own coach,” laughed Bateson-Chandler, referring to the 2012 British Olympic Team Dressage Gold medalist. “Carl is a great friend and incredible person, who trains with total empathy for the horse. I could not be more pleased to return to his yard and compete with the best in the world in Europe.”

Hester won the Grand Prix Special on KWPN (Don Ruto x Animo) gelding, Nip Tuck, with a final score of 72.45%. Bateson-Chandler, on Jane Forbes Clark’s KWPN (Hexagon’s Louisville x Rubiquil) mare, Wellnetta, delivered a 66.16% finish for reserve honors against not only her trainer but an exceptionally diverse international field whose top ten riders included competitors representing Russia and Singapore. The pair had opened their weekend at Hartpury with a top ten (64.14%) finish in the CDI3* Grand Prix, also won by Hester, who posted the only (74.60%) score of the class to crack the 70s.

Welnetta, who was born and bred in Europe, and Bateson-Chandler, who was born in the United Kingdom, returned to their roots this season to compete. Based out of Hester’s personal yard, it marks the sixth summer that she and her horses have spent there: “Carl’s is very much like home to us. I have been training with him since 2007 and he and I have very similar thoughts on training and horsemanship. In addition to a structured training program, he believes in hacking horses and lots of turnout, which are also very important to me.” In addition to a long relationship with Hester, she has ridden horses for Forbes Clark for nine years, assuming the role after serving prior to that as Robert Dover’s assistant trainer.

Next is Germany, where its CDIO5*/CDIO4* at Aachen and CDIO4* in Cappeln await. Having set her sights on Europe, after a strong appearance at the US Dressage Festival of Champions in New Jersey earlier in July, the now-U.S. citizen and Wellington, FL, resident, has a strategy: “With the best of the best gearing up for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, I plan to use the highly-competitive environment to gain more international exposure for both myself and Welnetta. Our European schedule will provide a great opportunity to ride in a number of prestigious shows and gain more experience.”

For more information on Katherine Bateson-Chandler, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Bateson-Chandler-Dressage/651928248221736?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark.

Contact: Katherine Bateson-Chandler
Kbcdressage@me.com
908-391-9096