Rianna Percy and Amanda Jakins with Rivoli de Fontaine, winning the CDI-YH Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test and Final Test at Gościszów in Poland. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
Amanda Jakins’ quiet determination and deep love of horses have shaped an inspiring dressage journey. From navigating a quirky Grand Prix partner to securing an exciting young prospect in Europe, the next chapter is certainly looking exciting.
Amanda Jakins is building a reputation as a dedicated and determined dressage rider. She is unassuming, modest and a wonderful character who simply loves dressage and training her horses in a calm and understanding way.
Amanda Jakins and Artes Lauries Gift. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
She is compassionate and generous in her feelings and love of the horse. She admits she is not that experienced, but to get her horse, Artes Lauries Gift, to compete at Grand Prix is exciting to say the least. Artes Lauries Gift (aka Lochie), by Lauries As, has thrown many a curved ball and to say he is quirky is an understatement.
However, Amanda is one to not leave any stone unturned and has compassionately progressed though the tough times with diligent understanding and compassion and has ridden several Grand Prix tests with him placing at CDN competitions. She is happy with every performance and is only too willing to reflect and get better.
Based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, her beloved Lochie has become a career-defining partner; however, like many ambitious riders, Amanda is already thinking ahead. While Lochie continues to perform successfully, he is no longer a young horse and Amanda knows that if she wants to continue her journey towards higher goals, she will eventually need a successor.
SCOUTING IN EUROPE
With that in mind, Amanda travelled to Europe in January this year to begin the search for her next horse. There was no rush; she was prepared to take her time and wait for the right horse to come along, rather than compromise on quality.
One of the first people Amanda contacted was her long-time friend Rianna Percy. Originally from Victoria, Rianna had ridden under the guidance of Maree Tomkinson before making the move to Europe in 2021. Over the past four years, she has established herself at Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark, riding and training a large number of young horses and gaining invaluable experience in one of the world’s most competitive dressage environments.
Amanda and Rianna had maintained a close friendship over the years, and during a conversation, Amanda mentioned she had started looking for a future Grand Prix prospect. Rianna immediately suggested there was a very special horse she should see. That horse was Rivoli de Fontaine.
Rianna Percy and Rivoli de Fontaine, who she has ridden since he was a three-year-old. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
Rianna had ridden the striking gelding since he was a three-year-old and knew him intimately. Now six years of age, Rivoli de Fontaine has developed into a horse with enormous potential and all the qualities required for the highest levels of the sport. The handsome gelding is by the outstanding stallion Revolution and out of a mare by Don Tango B, who is by the influential Contango. Contango, despite his showjumping pedigree, has become renowned throughout Europe for producing exceptional dressage horses, particularly noted for their powerful, expressive canters. Those qualities are immediately evident in Rivoli de Fontaine. His natural balance, uphill frame and outstanding hindleg give him a canter that catches the eye from the moment he enters the arena.
The quality of horses Rianna rides every day at Helgstrand provides a strong endorsement of Rivoli de Fontaine’s talent.
When Amanda first saw Rivoli de Fontaine, it quickly became apparent that this was not simply another talented young horse.
He possessed the athleticism, trainability and presence that riders spend years searching for. While the original plan had been to start the search and perhaps purchase a horse sometime in the future, Amanda suddenly found herself standing in front of a horse that appeared to tick every box. The search, it seemed, may have ended much sooner than expected.
EXCITING CDI DEBUT
Travelling to Gościszów, Poland four months after purchasing him to watch her horse compete with 29-year-old Rianna at his first CDI Young Horse competition was exciting to say the least. Rivoli de Fontaine achieved huge wins in both six-year-old tests with great marks of 90% and 90.6%. To back up the previous day’s result with another score above 90% was a remarkable achievement and highlighted the horse’s quality, consistency and enormous potential.
Rianna Percy and Rivoli de Fontaine (Revolution x Don Tango B) on their way to winning the CDI-YH Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test with 90%. The duo later won the Final Test with 90.6%. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
The judges awarded marks as high as 8.8 for trot, 9.5 for walk, 9.5 for canter, 8.5 for submission and an exceptional 9.3 for perspective. These are world class scores, even though the horse is perhaps still a little green; the way he has come along in the last few months is inspiring indeed.
What a great time and what a great horse and above all what a score to put this combination amongst the top few of his age in the world!
Rianna Percy, originally from Victoria, rode with confidence, poise and maturity well beyond her years. Her test was beautifully presented, inspiring to watch, and showcased the partnership she has developed with this exceptional young horse during her time training at Helgstrand.
Adding to an already memorable day, Rianna also rode Helgstrand’s five-year-old, Roitaine O (Fontaine TN x Bordeaux 28), to victory in the Final Test with a score of 80%, underlining both her talent as a rider and the depth of quality among the horses she is currently campaigning.
AN EYE ON THE WORLD YOUNG HORSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
What an amazing showing and what a bright future lies ahead for Amanda Jakins’ wonderful gelding when he eventually returns to Australia. It remains to be seen whether an invitation to compete for Australia at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses (5-10 August, Verden) will eventuate this year.
Australia may only nominate one horse in each age category, and Australian-bred horses that achieve scores above 75% in the Preliminary or Final test (or won at Dressage and Jumping with the Stars with a minimum of 80% in the Final test) receive priority consideration as per the selection criteria. As Rivoli de Fontaine is French-bred, selection for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses will depend on the results (and intention to compete) of any Australian-bred six-year-olds.
Rianna is enjoying something of a dream run at present. Her riding has improved out of sight over the past few years, and with every month she spends working and training at Helgstrand, her experience continues to grow. Opportunities such as these are invaluable, and she is making the most of every one of them. Congratulations to Rianna, Amanda and all involved in what has been a truly outstanding result. EQ
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