Amélie Kovac, a 25 year old dressage rider from Cannes, was faced with a big dilemma in October. She got a chance to participate in a clinic by two-time Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin. Kovac was excited just fort his opportunity, but then something amazing happened. While she was warming up her 5- year- old Dutch gelding Toretto (Apache x Zenzi) the day before the clinic, Dujardin called Kovac over. “How much do you want for your horse?” At first, Kovac was astonished. It had always been her intention to sell Toretto, but she never expected it to go this quick. During the clinic, Dujardin praised the horse’s natural rhythm and self-carriage. She was also amazed by the activity in his hind legs and the looseness of the shoulders. At that point, Dujardin needed to feel this horse for herself, so she asked if she could try him. She immediately fell in love. After the clinic Kovac and Dujardin got together to discuss selling Toretto. “For me, watching Dujardin ride my horse, was a thrill. Charlotte has so much strength in her core. She goes from posting to sitting and stays in perfect rhythm. It was exciting to see what he can do”, Kovac says. That’s why it wasn’t too hard for her to sell Toretto to Charlotte Dujardin. By November she was accompanying the horse to his new home in England at the Gloucestershire facility Dujardin shares with Olympian Carl Hester.In his new home, Toretto will have huge grass pastures, a very big stall, incredible footing and amazing care. “And he can see Valegro from his stall! I don’t have any regrets, because I know he’s going to have a great life” Amélie laughs. As for Kovac, the future still looks bright. She paid a visit to Scholtens and Witte, where she saw a promising 2-year old named Ivar (Desperado x OO Seven) owned by Ad Valk, who sold her Toretto and who also owns Apache, Desperado and Krack C, among others. “He’s so elastic. He moves and it’s effortless. I think he’s going to be a top horse”, Kovac explains happily.
Amélie Kovac, a 25 year old dressage rider from Cannes, was faced with a big dilemma in October. She got a chance to participate in a clinic by two-time Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin. Kovac was excited just fort his opportunity, but then something amazing happened. While she was warming up her 5- year- old Dutch gelding Toretto (Apache x Zenzi) the day before the clinic, Dujardin called Kovac over. “How much do you want for your horse?” At first, Kovac was astonished. It had always been her intention to sell Toretto, but she never expected it to go this quick. During the clinic, Dujardin praised the horse’s natural rhythm and self-carriage. She was also amazed by the activity in his hind legs and the looseness of the shoulders. At that point, Dujardin needed to feel this horse for herself, so she asked if she could try him. She immediately fell in love. After the clinic Kovac and Dujardin got together to discuss selling Toretto. “For me, watching Dujardin ride my horse, was a thrill. Charlotte has so much strength in her core. She goes from posting to sitting and stays in perfect rhythm. It was exciting to see what he can do”, Kovac says. That’s why it wasn’t too hard for her to sell Toretto to Charlotte Dujardin. By November she was accompanying the horse to his new home in England at the Gloucestershire facility Dujardin shares with Olympian Carl Hester.In his new home, Toretto will have huge grass pastures, a very big stall, incredible footing and amazing care. “And he can see Valegro from his stall! I don’t have any regrets, because I know he’s going to have a great life” Amélie laughs. As for Kovac, the future still looks bright. She paid a visit to Scholtens and Witte, where she saw a promising 2-year old named Ivar (Desperado x OO Seven) owned by Ad Valk, who sold her Toretto and who also owns Apache, Desperado and Krack C, among others. “He’s so elastic. He moves and it’s effortless. I think he’s going to be a top horse”, Kovac explains happily.