Game on: super mare helps rack up another title for one of the leading riders at the winter dressage championships

After pulling off an almost unprecedented one-two-three in the Prestige novice gold earlier in the week, Dannie Morgan returned to dominate again – this time taking the top two spots in the Nupafeed advanced medium freestyle gold at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships.

Vive La Reinne VH (Revolution x De Niro) – or Delilah, as she’s known at home – led the way on 74.72%, with stablemate Oh My VH (Oban VH x First Wish) following up in second on 71.95%.

The win marked Dannie’s third title of the show, placing him just one behind Sadie Smith in the race for leading rider honours.

But Vive La Reinne VH now boasts four national titles – having won the medium freestyle last year and both elementary titles the year before.

“She’s a super mare, and I always love riding the freestyles,” said Dannie. “We created quite a tricky floorplan, with changes in counter canter on a serpentine to really show off the degree of difficulty.

“But she has so much quality – she was really rideable today, and I’m delighted with the result.”

He added that Vive La Reinne has developed significantly since her 2024 victory.

“She’s gained a lot of strength and self-carriage over the past year. Oh My VH also did a great job too – Kristina Rausing owns both mares, and I’ve had them since they were three. To bring them through the levels and have this success with them is really special.”

Vive La Reinne’s freestyle was choreographed to music from the Call of Duty video game, created by Tony Hobden and Kelly Jewell of Equidance.

“With this one, I just said, ‘Do whatever you think works best – I just want something I can win with,’ and left it completely in their hands,” Dannie said.

“I don’t really have much gaming experience – I think the last time I played anything was Crash Bandicoot as a kid,” he laughed. “But they know me so well now, and the track they put together for Delilah had such a strong beat, you can’t help but bop your head to it.”

It capped another standout performance for Dannie, who, with one ride to go – his top horse Fever Tree in the Horselight medium gold – remains firmly in the hunt to join Sadie Smith as the show’s leading rider.

Louise Gallavan and Faberge TF (Fürst Wilhelm x Don Romantic) were the runaway winners in the Magic prix st georges (PSG) silver, scoring 70.05%.

Jade Clark and Jemimah HH – who were winners of the inter I bronze title in the Petplan Winter Area Festival Championship classes – were second (67.89%) while Nicole Turner and J’Eton Hit LDS were third (67.5%).

“It’s been a great weekend,” said Louise, who had to jump straight off Faberge and onto her second ride, Sandros Fire (Sarotti Mokka Sahne x Royal Blend), to contest the Superflex inter I silver – in which they finished second.

“It’s such a great feeling. I’ve had both of them since they were youngsters and produced them myself. To see them mature and perform so well at this level is so heartwarming.”

There was at least one downside to a two-horse, two-podium day: “My mum’s asthmatic, and running up and down that hill nearly finished her off,” Louise laughed.

Both horses, she said, have earned a well-deserved break.

“They’ve done enough now – we’ll give them a few days off and go hacking, just have some fun.”

Despite Faberge’s impressive track record of qualifying for championships, this was his first title – at his 11th attempt.

“He’s quite funny at home – if you take the others out, he gets grumpy because he wants to go too,” Louise explained. “He genuinely loves the job.

“And today, it felt like we were totally in sync. He was with me every step, waiting for the questions, and answered all of them.”

“We didn’t let the pressure get to us. We took our time, breathed through it, and he just said: ‘Bring it on’.”

Louise was quick to thank her team: “I couldn’t have done it today without the support behind me – farriers, vets, clients, friends, family. Everyone’s helped. It was lovely to have so many come and support me. I couldn’t do it without them.”

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