HORSE AND RIDER
TEXT: GEORGIA HARLEY
Mare of the month JORELLA VG – A DAUGHTER OF GLASGOW VAN 'T MERELSNEST.
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orella VG, a magnificent KWPN mare, was purchased in 2020 by Emma Barrow and her family. Following a tough few weeks in 2020, where they lost their 3-year-old colt Sting to African Horse Sickness, it was as if finding Jorella was meant to be. After a trip in 2015 to try horses at Hannah Akerblom's yard Emma continued to follow Hannah on social media and in 2020, saw Jorella VG was on the market. Despite apprehensions that Jorella may be out of budget, Emma messaged Hannah. Due to COVID and the lack of competitions, Jorella was in budget, and quickly vetted and on her way to join Emma Barrow's string of mares in
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South Africa. Arriving at the Barrow’s yard at the end of October 2020, after a long time in quarantine, Jorella was uptight. Emma had hoped to be able to get going quite quickly with Jorella, as Jorella had done a 1.30 class in Europe as well as a few 1.20/1.25 classes. However, the mare was tense after all of the travelling and time off, and this tension was severely affecting her rideability. Emma made the decision to take a step back and took Jorella right back down into the 90cm classes and just focused on allowing Jorella to relax and thereby improve her rideability. With coaches Simon Hendry and Simone
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