Long successful partnership
It´s not just about long partnership between horse and rider, but also the combination of horsemanship, team effort and not least patience which makes the Grand Prix horse.
As 3 year old Willum/Thomsen purchased Aarøe´s Gandhi (born 2008) together with Peter Dufour the father of Cathrine Dufour. Gandhi is by Blue Hors Don Romantic / Resident, bred by Lone and Knud Boisen, now fully owned by Willum/Thomsen. From the start Gandhi was for sure a very promising youngster, but not really a Grand Prix prospect from day 1. Gandhi has been succesful as a young horse winning Danish Warmblood Young Horse Championship qualifier and qualified for the final as 5 year old 3rd highest overall score, also successful at small tour level already as 8 year old.
The step into the Grand Prix was not that easy tells Joachim. “Gandhi was just missing the bottoms and technic for the passage, as he was already able to do small steps and flying changes as a 5 year old. From that point of view the way to Grand Prix was not really in the cards for Gandhi.”
“From the first day he has been an amazing personality, one you would like to bring into your couch for your Sunday thea. He is a horse that literally jumps into the transporter when we go to competitions, and he will never let you down.”
Back in February we’ve made our national Grand Prix debut just below 70%, and for our 2nd start yesterday I just feel blessed being able to show him again, and enjoying all the way with him fully focused on the difficult task. He is a really special boy for us, and we (I and Rune) feel this is just the beginning of our journey,” says Joachim Thomsen.
Enjoy their 71,867% winning test from yesterday at national event at Solrød here below.
From H2R point of view this test was more like an average of 7,5 with a few marks lower, ex for transition to canter which came a bit late and for both pirouettes still need to be a bit smaller and more balanced, but at the same time superb halt with rein back and really expressive one times, like transitions in and out of good piaffe steps were smoothly executed. Super timing from Joachim all the way, and a very exciting new Danish combination for the international scene.
Watch the test HERE.