Harriet Hodge flies to a win in the Pony Grand Prix in Zuidwolde
Tuesday 06 June 2023
.jpg "Harriet Hodge flies to a win in the Pony Grand Prix in Zuidwolde")
Brits lifted the top two places in the pony grand prix at the De Wolden Youth Festival in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands, with Harriet Hodge leading the way.
Forty-nine riders faced a challenging 1.30m track and only three found the key to go forward into the jump-off.
“It was a tough course, very technical and tight on time. I was last to go and could see the problems, especially the last line on a forward uphill five strides from the plank to the double with most hitting the back bar of the oxer. I knew I’d need to ride forward and take tight lines to finish within the time allowed. Thankfully, it worked,” said Harriet.
The British riders were on form and supplied the only clean rounds in the jump-off. Madison Seedhouse and her Lamprechtshausen, Austria, grand prix winner Vaughann De Vuzit set a good target.
Harriet followed with the nine-year-old Little Charlie and forged ahead to win by 1.44 sec.
“I was confident, Charlie has a big stride and is very careful. I knew if I kept my turns tight and let him travel between the fences I could get eight strides to the last. He did everything I asked,” said Harriet.
Charlie is Harriet’s ‘Pony of a Lifetime’.
“I’ve produced him from a novice 6-year-old with the help and guidance of my trainer Joe Whitaker but never imagined we would reach this level. He’d done a few British Eventing 100s before I got him and is so brave with so much scope – he just loves the job and always gives me everything,” added Harriet.
Image credit: Jeroen Spoolder
