Sabrina Arnold wins W-CH for Young Horses

Smart riding brought Sabrina Arnold (GER) and Tsagan Nour (Persicko / Malvia HT (by Pyrrus) to the top of the podium at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Horses (7 years) in Nègrepelisse, France.
Sabrina Arnold riding Tsagan Nour-2-600pxAfter 120 km Arnold and Tsagan Nour galloped over the finish line in a riding time of 05:59:04h. Spain’s second-placed rider Emma Rosell Segura riding Danco completed in 06:05:58h, followed by third over the line and also from Spain Laia Soria Pinol on Nervi Del Rieral finishing the four loops just two seconds later.
After a 2-minute recovery in the first hold, Arnold started the second loop in 10th position and was assured that her mount was doing well with the trail conditions. Continuing with good recoveries, the duo were able to move up in the finish order on each loop and took possession of the ride on the final loop to emerge victorious.
The first-placed French rider, Paul Bard, riding the Anglo-Arab gelding Volny Du Leff (by Finift des Meures), finished sixth and later was awarded the highly coveted “Best Condition”. A total of 94 combinations of 14 nations participated, with 52 starters coming from France. Of these 94 starters, 38 finished (40 %).
Tsagan Nour is part-owned by French champion rider Jean Philippe Frances, technical advisor and partner to the 36-year-old Arnold, who has been an endurance rider since she was a child. Together they made a plan for the Championship’s challenges:
“These horses are young and it is better for their mind to have a companion,” she explained. “On the first loop we were too fast and I slowed down and rode with two other riders. My horse was immediately good in the vetting and I rode with our second rider on the next track through the third loop. On the last loop, the trail was very challenging. I had some information from other friends on the trail that we were many minutes in the lead, so I slowed him down and let him breathe.”
P.B. / FEI