Take a look at our gallery of young equine talent to keep your eyes peeled for — all of which are British-ridden and finished in the top-30 at last year's six- and seven-year-old championships at Le Lion d’Angers
When the daylight hours eventually start to get longer, it can only mean one thing for the eventing world: winter is on its way out and the new season is beckoning. Time to get excited and anticipate the stars of 2015, but which young horses may shine?
The six- and seven-year-old championships at Le Lion d’Angers in October last year produced an impressive array of young horses being competed by British riders — all of which eagle-eyed eventing enthusiasts should take note for the coming season. After all they have potential to be the next generation of Team GBR horses.
Each year the French event throws promising equine talent into the midst and last year’s championships were no disappointment. With the six-year-olds competing over the one-star track and the seven-year-olds taking on the two-star course, it is always an ideal stepping-stone for young horses onto the international stage.
Harry Meade secured exciting ammunition over the winter for the forthcoming season in the form of seven-year-old champion Ténarèze — ridden to victory by French rider Thomas Carlile (the combination also took the six-year-old title in 2013).
“He is a very well-balanced horse who has a lovely jump. My first focus has been to get to know him well and build a partnership with him — it has been nice having the build up to the season to do this as it inevitably takes time,” says Harry about his new ride.
Piggy French took two top-10 placings — Carpe Diem IV fifth in the seven-year-old class and Cooley Dream Extreme third in the six-year-old class — promising prospects who will be at the forefront of ‘ones to watch’ this year.
From young British riders like Tom McEwen [Toledo de Kerser] — who claimed runner-up spot in the seven-year-old championships — and Laura Collett [Pamero 4] who finished behind in third — to team stalwarts such as Tina Cook, there was plenty to whet the appetite for the 2015 season.
