French rider, Thomas Carlile, made history yesterday when clinching both the 6 and 7-Year-Old titles at the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses on home turf at Mondial du Lion. This important annual fixture, which brings together many of the most talented and promising young horses in the sport, was abandoned 12 months ago due to severe flooding. But that only served to ensure even greater enthusiasm this time around as horses, riders, breeders, owners and many spectators gathered once again at l’Isle Briand, Le Lion d’Angers for a spectacular four days of competition from 17 to 20 October.

Carlile’s success was nothing short of extraordinary, as the double had never been done before. With the six-year-old stallion, Tanareze (Jaguar Mail SF x Uttopie du Maury ANAA) which was representing the French Anglo-Arab Studbook, he established the lead in the Dressage arena and never faltered. And partnering the seven-year-old Selle Francais gelding Sirocco du Gers (Dorsay SF x Vieusinge du Maury ANAA), he moved up from second to first on cross-country day and again didn’t flinch on the final afternoon.

Making his achievement all the more special was the fact that the 26-year-old rider has made a great comeback after a heavy fall while training last May which left him with head and facial injuries. “I could not ask for more than to win both championships!`’ Carlile said yesterday. “The crowd carried us, and it feels so good!”

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