[LONDON] – Under the gaze of an enthusiastic full house at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, Italian Luca Maria Moneta leapt to victory and claimed the Alltech Christmas Puissance title for 2013.
This was Moneta’s first puissance win and quite a win it was, clearing the 7ft. 2in. jump in the final round. After going head-to-head with one of Britain’s top riders, Guy Williams on grey mare Richi Rich III, in round five, Luca’s nine-year-old mare Quovo de Vains made it through to the final round.
Williams’ grey mare brushed a brick with his knee, leaving Moneta to take the final gamble. Moneta admitted to being apprehensive but was encouraged by the audience.
“The crowd here are real horsemen; they make you feel as if they are riding with you,” Moneta said. “I’m really emotional. The mare wasn’t just jumping with her body but with her heart. What made me really happy is that she led me to the fence. She really wanted to do it.”
This was Moneta’s first puissance win and quite a win it was, clearing the 7ft. 2in. jump in the final round. After going head-to-head with one of Britain’s top riders, Guy Williams on grey mare Richi Rich III, in round five, Luca’s nine-year-old mare Quovo de Vains made it through to the final round.
Williams’ grey mare brushed a brick with his knee, leaving Moneta to take the final gamble. Moneta admitted to being apprehensive but was encouraged by the audience.
“The crowd here are real horsemen; they make you feel as if they are riding with you,” Moneta said. “I’m really emotional. The mare wasn’t just jumping with her body but with her heart. What made me really happy is that she led me to the fence. She really wanted to do it.”
