Wesko is British Eventing's horse of the year - as Tim Price eyes Rio Olympics
Wesko and Tim Price at Pau (Photo by Libby Law - copyright Libby Law Photography)Eventing horse Wesko - one of New Zealanders Jonelle and Tim Price's string of eventers based at Mere Farm, Mildenhall - has just been named Horse of the Year for the 2015 season by British Eventing.
A 12-year-old Dutch bred gelding, Wesko - also known as Dash - notched up 415 points over the 2015 season to beat Sir Mark Todd's Leonidas II - the long-time points leader. Wesko is owned by Christina Knudsen and the Wesko Syndicate.
Last weekend Tim Price and Wesko capped their 2015 successes with third place at the CCI4* at Les Etoiles de Pau - the final four star competition of the season.
It was an exciting finish: Tim Price and Wesko added no faults to their dressage score. But with German star Michael Jung in first and second place, he had to withdraw his leading horse before the show jumping. Jung's second horse had one jump down leaving French contestant Astier Nicolas to win - an understandably popular result with the Pau crowds - with Price in third place.
In 2011 Wesko made a great start to his career winning from pre-novice to CIC** and keeping safely in the top three places through the season. Tim Price forgave Dash for dumping him into the water at Badminton and they won the Luhmuhlen for star in 2014.
The 2015 season started on a high when the pair came second at the prestigious Lexington four star in April. The Prices are Key Riders and use exclusively Keyflow Feeds for their team of horses.
Wesko getting taste of Kentucky grassNext target for Tim Price and Wesko will be the 2016 Rio Olympics. With his Lexington performance Wesko has proved he does not mind air travel.
The highest placed British-bred horse in the British Eventing rankings was Jonelle Price’s eventing partner Classic Moet owned by Trish Rickards. Following many success including recent fifth place at Burghley, the mare ended the season on 318 points - taking fifth place in the overall rankings.
Notable in the riders' rankings was British eventer Oliver Townend's first place both overall and for British riders. Townend won by a huge margin from New Zealanders Andrew Nicholson (who is still recovering from a fall earlier in the season) and Tim Price.
Nineteen-year-old Emily King from Devon was named leading under-21 rider. She finished fourth at Pau on Brookleigh - her first ever four star competition.
FOOTNOTE: The former eventing world number one and British Olympic team member William Fox-Pitt remains in hospital after falling at the World Young Horse Championships in France.
The latest news from the hospital came on Monday (October 26): "William has made progress over the weekend; today he is conscious, breathing on his own and communicating with his family and doctors, however he is still very ill...Further progress is going to take time..."
His horse, Reinstated, was uninjured in the incident but Fox-Pitt (pictured left) was treated for over an hour at the scene before being heavily sedated in hospital.
[Our thanks to Libby Law for use of her photo of Tim Price and Wesko at Pau.]