Judy Reynolds (IRL) and her Vancouver K made it to the podium twice this week putting her on the edge of the qualification zone, with only the top nine from this league making the cut. One more good run at the last leg in ’s-Hertogenbosch should seal the deal for the Irishwoman whose new Freestyle music and floor plan are going down like a storm with both judges and spectators alike.

This was only the third time for them to perform to their “Lord of the Dance” soundtrack and, at 17 years of age, the sometimes quirky Vancouver K looks to be still growing in comfort and confidence in the ring.

“JP is in the best form he’s ever been in! It was never our plan to do so many shows so close together but it seems to suit us better and he’s loving it!” said the rider who, as Ireland’s sole representative at the very top end of the sport right now, is inspiring many others in both her own country and elsewhere to strive to also be the best they can be.

Reynolds and “JP” Dance to The Lord of The Rings

The undeniable queen of Dressage, Isabell Werth (49), won today’s ninth and penultimate leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League on home ground at Neumünster (GER) with her multi-medalled mare Weihegold. On a day when the German star and her accomplished compatriots claimed six of the top seven places in a super-hot competition however, Ireland’s Judy Reynolds (37) lifted the hopes and dreams of enthusiasts around the world when snatching third spot with her brilliant little gelding, Vancouver K.

That pushed Reynolds and the little Dutch-bred gelding she calls JP down to third, but this was a sensational result for the pair who fly the flag of a horse-loving country that is really only waking up to the excitement of the sport of Dressage. Yesterday they became the first-ever Irish partnership to take a podium placing in a Western European League Grand Prix, and today they broke the Irish international Freestyle record score they set in Amsterdam (NED) last month when putting 82.750 on the board.

“I was in the arena training this morning at 6am, and Patrick (her husband) and I were chatting before we got down to work. We were wondering do people say “if she can get into the middle of the Germans, then maybe I can too!”

“JP is a relatively normal pony but he’s getting in there and shaking them up a bit!” Reynolds added with a laugh today.