Classic Snow Leopard - 'Ounce'

	Classic Snow Leopard as a foal

11 yr old 16.3hh brown gelding by Classic (TB) out of our home bred mare, Run the Gauntlette (½TB ½ Shire)

Ounce is the first foal of our second generation, and at the moment the star of our stables. He was born in Yorkshire and was the most beautiful blue grey colour, but now is nearly black or noir pangare as the French call it. He is the sweetest natured horse and tries so hard to please – despite being dyslexic! Yes, really! He is a big striding horse and covers the ground easily.

He started his eventing career as a 4 yr old in the capable hands of Trisha Hunter in Scotland. He was 5th at the Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifier at Thirlestane on his first outing. The following year he competed successfully at Pre-Novice level, being placed again at BYEHQ and qualifying for the PAVO British Breeding Championships. He was also lucky enough to have training with Jane Bartle-Wilson and David Gatherer. Unfortunately, unknown to us, he had strained a hock at Witton Castle at the end of the season, having taken off far too early at the last XC fence and didn’t do well at Tweseldown. But being the star he is, he tried very hard.

We gave him a year off to recuperate fully which coincided with our move to France. We were very fortunate here in meeting John Foden who introduced us to Franck Bourny who agreed to take Ounce.

	Classic Snow Leopard at Pompadour

Franck did a fantastic job. Ounce had an excellent first season in France at Novice level, with 2 wins and several placings in very good company. His finale was the CCI* at Bazoges en Pareds where he led the field with the only dressage score in the 40’s, clear and on the time cross-country, but had the first part of the combination down in the showjumping, to finish 3rd. Still, a brilliant result for a 7yr old and an emotional moment when they announced ‘Franck Bourny and Classic Snow Leopard riding for France’!

The following year saw Ounce progress to CCI 2* level, he was always clear cross country but had some problems relaxing in the dressage phase. Rein back and dyslexia don’t mix!

Compiegne: 2010

In 2009 we made the decision to move Ounce to a competition yard nearer to home, to Maxime Mercier who had just set up a new ecurie 20 minutes from us. Max is a superb rider and spent a lot of time trying to understand Ounce’s foibles with great success. He started getting 8’s for his rein back! It was a good year for a new combination with placings at Intermediate and Open Intermediate level and more experience at 2*.

2010 saw Ounce gaining a second prize at the Tartas Intermediate early in the season and then he was chosen to represent France at Compiegne CCI 2*. Compiegne is a huge event and Max and Ounce produced their best ever dressage to finish 22nd out of 130 – the highest placed British horse. Unfortunately he had a run out at a nasty water complex that took him down the rankings, but he completed the event - a fantastic experience for him. Towards the end of the season he was placed at Mezieres CIC 2*, having gone round the very difficult cross country ‘like a war horse!’

	Carla and Ounce: 2011

After much soul searching, and having talked at length to our ever-patient mentors (thank you all!) 2011 sees Ounce with a new partner, Carla Giannechini. Carla is a very talented and dedicated up-and-coming young event rider here in France, with the world at her fingertips. We have every confidence that she will form a true and formidable partnership with Ounce.

Bonne route Carla et Ounce!