Highcliffe Apollo
See Joannas facebook page for updates
Apollo is now a successful Grand Prix horse, predominantly ridden and competed by Diane’s youngest daughter Joanna. The 16.1hh bay Hannoverian gelding came to us from his breeders in 2008. We started off with a lovely but rather nervous novice who blossomed under Diane’s calm approach, patience, hours of training and in hand work. To this end we have now a very successful competition horse. He has competed at Junior and Young Rider Internationals here and abroad, as well as taking Diane, Samantha and Joanna to the National Championships. He has been a permanent fixture in top placings at Junior, Young Rider, Small Tour and now Big Tour classes at Premier Leagues as well as U25’s Championships. In 2015, he qualified for the Nationals after 3 outings with Diane, who hadn’t competed in 14 years, where they finished second at Advanced Medium level.
In 2016 & 2017 he was a part of the GB team at the Young Rider European Championships with Joanna and has now been taken on with her as part of the World Class Programme. At the end of their Young Rider career, they were ranked 13th in the FEI YR World Ranking.
In 2018 he moved up to Inter 2 and Grand Prix level with Joanna, gaining a 10th place at Addington premier league in their first ever GP test together. They also won their first attempt at the U25 GP test at Somerford Park Premier league, as well as finishing second at their first international at this level out in Le Mans, France.
In 2019 he has continued to flourish, gaining up to 70% in the Inter 2 and a highlight of coming second in the Grand Prix at Sheepgate Premier league. This year he is 17, but is still dancing with a spring to his step!
Competition highlights:
2019Â
3rd Inter 2 at Addington premier league on a personal best of 70%
2nd GP freestyle to music at Keysoe Premier league
2nd Grand Prix at Sheepgate premier league
2018Â moved up to Grand Prix
2nd Inter 2 at Keysoe premier league
10th at Addington Manor premier league in the Grand Prix
Winner of the U25 Grand Prix at Somerford premier league
2nd in both the Inter 2 and U25 Grand Prix at Le Mans CDI
2017
Winner of all three young rider classes at Keysoe CDI
2nd in the PSG freestyle at the national championships
Part of the European YR team – Individually 18th in the Individual class
8th at the BD summer nationals Inter 1 freestyle
2016
Bury Farm 2016 PSG freestyle – 76% 1st
Bury Farm 2016 Advanced Medium freestyle – 68.6% 1st
National Championships 2016 Advanced Medium – 69% 12th
Keysoe Regional Championships 2016 PSG – 69.8% 1st
Keysoe International 2016 YR Team Test – 69.4% 1st
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