Young dressage rider Caledonia Bhatia and her eight-year-old Connemara Derrartha Thomas (Dusty) were recently in action for Scotland at the Home International held at Richmond Equestrian Centre in Yorkshire.
With stiff competition from all over the UK and Ireland the Peeblesshire pair were delighted to take sixth place out of 46 entrants in the first day of the novice competition.
A couple of mistakes in the second day’s test left them out of the placings but still meant a very creditable eighth place overall out of all the junior riders. They also helped the Scottish team to 15th place out of 27 teams as the highest placed Scottish combination over the two days of competition. Caledonia said: “I was very fortunate to spend three days training with former GB Dressage rider Cathy Burrell before the Home International, and this really helped Dusty and me focus on what we needed to do in our tests. I am delighted with how well Dusty went, and to come home with a huge rosette is such a thrill.” Not to be outdone by her big sister, 15-year-old Persia Bhatia has also received a Scotland call up, this time in showjumping. She will head south in mid August with her black Irish Sport Pony, Molly XIII, as part of the team competing at the Junior Inter Academy Event in the 1.05/1.15m class. “Competing for Scotland is a dream come true, and I am really looking forward to being part of such a big event,” said Persia.
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