HEARTLAND’S GRAND PRIX 2023 – NEW COMBINATIONS

Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

The first Heartlands World Cup show and the last WCQ of the year saw several horse and rider combinations take a step up a level and try out their first 1.50m. Amongst these were Nicole Horwood and Capital Impossible, Lorette Knowles-Taylor and Oripeau D’Emma, Alexandra Ric-Hansen and Callaho Laios and Kelly O’Connor and Capital Moonlight, all of whom finished with just one down.

Kelly tells the story of how she was invited by Henning Pretorius to ride five young Capital horses before the first auction in 2017; Moonlight was one of the five horses, and he was her favourite to produce. Capital Moonlight (Chin Win x Chacco Blue) was the top horse on the auction and went to Chris Van der Merwe who produced him up to the 1.20ms. The ride then returned to Kelly, and they travelled overseas and did an indoor season before returning to South Africa.

After a hold-up in quarantine, Kelly took her time with Moonlight, and the pair jumped their first Grand Prix this weekend. Kelly says, “he is very sensitive and unbelievably careful, so he’s needed time to get up the levels and to gain confidence. He’s my moon and my stars… he’s my everything”.

This is just the beginning of a very exciting partnership for Kelly and Moonlight in the 1.50m classes!

We are looking forward to seeing the whole array of new combinations up in the 1.50ms next year. Who are you looking forward to seeing jump their first big class?

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