Charlotte Jost wins Grand Prix Freestyle in Wellington
The Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington is actually known for its famous show jumping competitions. But also in dressage the tournament can shine with top-class starting fields.
On the occasion of the end of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, on April 4, 2021, the three-star Grand Prix Freestyle took place. Here there were some new personal records.
Already the compatriot of Jost, Adrienne Lyle, could present herself with a new personal record. Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, competing for the Dominican Republic, also presented herself in top condition and was able to top her own best.
Then came Charlotte Jost. She was born in Denmark, but has been competing for her new home in the USA for several years. For the Grand Prix rider, the past weeks were already a good place to be. Already with her young horses Zhaplin Langholt and Atterupgaards Botticelli she could show herself successfully in the Small Tour.
Now she wanted to present her long-time successful partner, the KWPN stallion Nintendo in the freestyle. Together with him she could also already participate in the World Cup Final in Gothenburg.
At the weekend, the two, with their old familiar freestyle on the theme of Pirates of the Caribbean, were able to set a new personal record: 77.400 percent.
Where this success came from was clear to Jost right after the test, "I had lessons with Debbie McDonald this week and that really seemed to help me fine tune the details that were needed. He went great in the Grand Prix. So I just rode out yesterday and just warmed him up a little bit today in the warm down so he's fresh in the test. He loves it and he really loves his job."
The Grand Prix rider is also aware of her stallion's increasing age. That's why she's relying on a new tactic, in his training. "He's 18 years old now, and I literally pray every day that I have one more show season with him. I'm so lucky with him. I've been racking my brain night in and night out about what I'm going to do with him when we get home, how long he should have breaks and all that. A lot of my energy goes into making sure he's okay because I care about him so much. I just want him to continue to feel good. I feel so blessed and happy with my offspring horses, but Nintendo still has a very special place in my heart."
Jost buys many of her horses from world-renowned dressage stable Andreas Helgstrand.
