Worcestershire-based dressage rider Katie Bailey got the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire off to a super start with a stylish victory in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Championship. The 28-year-old rode an assured test on Bocelli IV, Leslie Forlee’s nine-year-old son of Riccione to score 69.71%.
Katie was thrilled with her horse: “I felt I could really ride him,” she said, clearly delighted. “We had a few rider errors but he felt good, in between my leg and hand. He’s a lovely horse, so solid with no weaknesses and is very consistent to ride. Being at a show he just gets better too as it gives him that extra lift and presence.
“The half passes were good today and the extended trot would have been good if he hadn’t had a little skip at the beginning. The first flying changes were a bit croup high but they got better. Overall the feeling was good though.”
Katie, who worked as a groom and stable rider for Carl Hester and now runs her own livery and training yard near Broadway in Worcester, attained the ride on Bocelli at the end of last year. She now has her sights set on PSG with this talented horse.
