The British Olympic team silver medal winning rider has acquired the 7-year old Florina from Chateau de Fontaine and Helgstrand Dressage.
Here’s five reasons why we’re terribly excited to announce super mare Florina has moved into ownership of one of Britain's coolest dressage riders.
Girlpower indeed: Not only is Bigwood trained by Carl Hester, she also fits her international riding career around her three children. In 1996 she became the youngest British rider to be selected for a senior European championships. Bigwood was also part of the squad that won team silver at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen, Germany.
A true fighter: In April 2014 Bigwood was hospitalised with concussion after falling off her horse. Initially released by doctors, she was readmitted later the same day after experiencing double vision. She was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of her skull, and told it might take up to 18 months before her vision returned to normal. She began competing again in 2015 even though she was still experiencing double vision.
The Danish connection: Bigwood’s husband Olympic rider Anders Dahl has represented Denmark in dressage on several occasions. Her husband and Bigwood are based at Brantridge Park in West Sussex, England. Famed for their flawless taste and attention to detail the couple moved into the property in December 2016, taking it on as a project to renovate it into a house and stables.
A rising Prix St Georges horse: The highly talented Florina is a Hanoverian mare by Fürst Romancier x Donnerhall, bred by Walter Droege, She earned first place at the 2014 German Elite Broodmare Championships in Lienen. The mare also represented Germany at the 2015 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, earning fourth place in the Finals with 8.82 points. Just one month later she also placed fourth at the 2015 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.
The baby: For the 2017 foaling season Florina is expecting an embryo foal by Franklin.
Pretty cool, right?