The final dressage nomination event for Australia’s Rio hopefuls began overnight with four-time Olympian Mary Hanna competing in the Grand Prix of the CDIO5* at Rotterdam.
Hanna is the only Australian rider with two horses on the list of identified combinations and she partnered with horse Umbro for the CDIO5* in which the combination scored 67.300%.
“He has proven to me he could do that now outdoors as he has before at bigger indoor events,” said Hanna. “I understand that this arena presented here will be how it will be at Rio and he has given me confidence that he would handle an Olympic arena situation,” she said.
“I was very pleased with the piaffe and passage tour scored well. The overall performance felt more secure and I was happy with the way he coped in the big stadium and with the atmosphere,” Hanna said.
Four-time Olympian Mary Hanna stepped out for the second time at this event, this time riding Boogie Woogie 6 to a score of 68.000%
Hanna said her horse is going from strength to strength with each outing.
“I am getting more confidence in him and if something goes wrong we can recover quickly. We are getting more polished on each performance but I still know there is so much more in him when I can tidy up small mistakes. Each show he gets better and more confident.
Photos: Annie Lever
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