Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Carl Hester (Courtesy of KBC Dressage)
London, United Kingdom – Following a positive experience with her Grand Prix mount Welnetta at the US Dressage Festival of Champions,
Katherine Bateson-Chandler has now set her sights on taking Europe by storm. With the best of the best in the equestrian world gearing up for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, Bateson-Chandler plans to use the highly competitive environment to amp up her own game as well as gain more international exposure for both herself and Welnetta. Owned by Jane Forbes Clark the 11-year-old KWPN mare by Hexagon’s Louisville and out of a Rubiquis mare has been blossoming under Bateson-Chandler’s guidance, with top finishes at numerous CDIs during the winter and spring. The culmination of these successes was being named one of the top dressage pairs in the nation and being selected to compete at the Festival of Champions, held at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. “Welnetta was very consistent and improved with every test we did at Gladstone,” said Bateson-Chandler. “Our European schedule will provide us with a great opportunity to ride in a number of prestigious shows and gain more international experience.”
Welnetta, who was born and bred in Europe, and Bateson Chandler, who was born in the United Kingdom, will return to their roots to compete over the summer. The Hickstead CDI Nations Cup and Hartbury CDI are at the top of their list, followed by shows in Germany. Based out of Olympian Carl Hester’s yard, this is the sixth summer Bateson-Chandler and her horses have spent with the 2012 Team Gold Medalist.
Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Welnetta (Courtesy of JRPR)
“Carl’s is very much like home to us,” she said. “I have been training with him since 2007 and he and I have very similar thoughts on training and horsemanship. In addition to a structured training program, he believes in hacking the horses and lots of turnout, which is very important to me. On top of this Carl is a great friend and incredible person who trains with a total empathy for the horse. I could not be more pleased to return to his yard and compete with the best in the world in Europe.”
In addition to Welnetta, another rising star in Bateson-Chandler’s barn is Alcazar, a KWPN gelding (Contango x Ferro) that caught her eye at a barn in Holland. He has grown into a talented FEI horse with a quick mind and large personality under her tutelage, and she has big aspirations for him as well.
Now an American citizen, Bateson-Chandler is based in Wellington, Florida and has ridden for owner Jane Forbes Clark for nine years, taking over from Robert Dover for whom she was an assistant trainer for several years.
For more information on Katherine Bateson-Chandler, visit her Facebook page
