Sunshine in Le Lion d’Angers for the jog for the World Breeding Young Horse Championships on Wednesday and Jonelle and Fernhill Kankan looked relaxed and happy.  Which in itself was testament to Jonelle’s resilience as the path to Le Lion has not been the most straightforward one!

Being stuck in Calais at the vet check due to an error in the health papers on another horse travelling back to France set the scene for a frustrating delay and rumour has it that the keys for the mini motor bike have been left at Mere Farm.  For anyone who is familiar with Le Lion the thought of looking at motorised transport for a week and not being able to use it will be mildly frustrating to say the least! It’s a long walk from the stables down to the main arena along a track that is perfectly designed for, well, a mini motor bike.

Kankan won her 2*Long back at Millstreet early in the season and is now in the exalted  company of the best 7 year olds in Europe and further afield.  The USA send horses and it is on everyones bucket list to have a 6 or 7 year old of the calibre to compete and it is a proper championships in its own right. It does have some idiosyncrasies, it doesn’t recognise the Thoroughbred as a stud book worthy of inclusion which is a mystery in itself!

Jonelle and Kankan dressage on Friday afternoon at 3.40pm local time ( 2.40pm BST and 02.40am in NZ).

Live scoring and results from World Sport Timing:

https://results.worldsporttiming.com/event/122

Live stream on Mondial du Lion:

https://www.mondialdulion.com/en/