Small but mighty
Dutch rider Edward Gal turned everyone’s heads – partly due to his flamboyant young Totilas son Total US, whom he thinks could be even better than his sire, but also because of the Dutch team’s orange tailcoats.
“For a really special occasion, we wanted to wear a special coat,” said Edward.
“WHEN you have a ride like that, it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose,” said an emotional Charlotte Dujardin after her grand prix performance aboard Gio.
Their personal best score of 80.96% catapulted Britain into the team final, the grand prix special and also secured Charlotte a chance to compete for the individual podium in the freestyle. But for Charlotte, this test was a huge win in itself.
There has been much speculation, and even criticism, surrounding the decision made by Charlotte and the British selectors to take Gio, known as Pumpkin, to Tokyo, rather than Charlotte’s more experienced ride Mount St John Freestyle. Until now, 10-year-old Pumpkin has, after all, completed just seven
