Ross O'Hare travelled to Millstreet this month to ride Mandy Driesch's buckskin Trakehner stallion Grand Marnier in the WSI (Warmblood Studbook of Ireland) stallion inspections.
Grand Marnier, by dressage stallion Steinburg out of anglo arab mare Glitters Dream Girl was shown on the flat, over a track of showjumping fences and in hand on Thursday evening 13th April. This performance was deemed above the standard required making Grand Marnier eligible for assessment as an eventing stallion over cross country fences the next day. Ross and Grand Marnier put in a great performance on the cross country track resulting in a unanimous decision by the judging panel to approve the stallion while still stood on the cross country field without the need to come back for a test rider assessment.
So on Good Friday, the day before his fifth birthday, Grand Marnier aka Friday (stable name) was approved by WSI as an eventing stallion. We are delighted for Friday's owner Mandy Dreisch and with the positive feedback received from the judging panel on Grand Marniers rider, training and presentation.