Dutch
Courage was a striking dark bay dressage stallion, ridden by Jennie Loriston-Clarke,
together they took British dressage to the forefront decades before Charlotte
and Valegro!
Born in January 1969 his dam was Higonia (a
Guelderland) and his sire a thoroughbred called Millerole XX. Jennie
spotted Dutch Courage in February of 1972 in Holland. Together with Mrs Steele they bought him and
transported him back to the UK. He was
turned out for the summer to grow up and then later in the year they began to
train him to saddle.
Known as Bill at home he could be naughty
when he was bored, but he was easy to train and keen to learn.
At 6 years old he competed in his first Prix
St. Georges.
1977 - 8th at the European Championships
1978 - Bronze at the World Championships (the
first ever Dressage medal for Great Britain)
1980 - 6th at the Alternative Olympics
Between 1978 and 1985 they won the National
Dressage Championships 6 times, competed in 224 dressage competitions; winning 127
which included 32 Grand Prix, 8 Grand Prix Specials and 21 Intermediare II.
Sadly, just before the 1984 Olympics Bill
developed a virus and he couldn't compete.
He was then retired back to Catherston Stud where he had been covering
mares whilst also competing for most of his life. Two of his most famous offspring where Dutch
Gold and Catherston Dazzler, both of whom competed at international level in
dressage.
Catherston Dazzler
Bill enjoyed his retirement with Jennie until
in 1991 at the age of 22 he suffered a severe colic attack and had to be put to
sleep.
My new video just went up 'May Sunshine' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until
next time!
Jo
Finally, some sunshine, the boys have been loving it :)
Have you seen April's video 'Spring for a day!' and later this week I will be uploading my May video. Horse Life and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until
next time!
Jo
The
month finished well, Basil and I can get going now, weather is improving and
sun is shining. Basil has lost most of
his winter coat and is looking super shiny and healthy, Chesney and Tommy still
have some to lose.
This
is how April looked:
1st
- rode in the arena for about half an hour.
Basil is starting to look for a bit of a contact which is progress. We had a short trot on each rein, once around
the arena - too fast though because he wanted to canter!
3rd
April - lunged today, it was a bit windy and Basil went loopy at the end.
6th
- lunged today, he was better, still a little loopy.
7th
- rode in the arena again, today we did some serpentines in walk and some leg
yield too. Slightly longer trots today
but they were still a bit fast and I don't have much control so I think I will
put his flash strap back on his noseband next time.
8th
- same as yesterday J
I
was ill :)
14th
- & 15th - lunged again, better, still a bit excited.
17th
- tried to lunge, really windy, total disaster.
18th
- rode today, same as last time but with the flash strap on. I did feel slightly more in control.
20th
- lunged - good!!
21st
- arena today. Walk circles, loops,
serpentines and leg yield on each rein.
We had 3 trot on each rein today is better but they are too fast still.
22nd
- hack out today JJ First for months and Basil was really good
considering how long it has been. We did
jog home as expected.
25th
- lunged today and he was pretty good.
27th
- physio came out today to check on Basil.
Really pleased with his progress and she says she won't need to come out
and see him again. We can get going
properly now.
29th
- lunged - good.
Have you seen my last video 'April Showers!' on my You Tube channel?
Horse Life and Love.. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until
next time!
Jo
