Charlotte Defalque & First Step Valentin ready for their international debut

Five months after being associated, Charlotte Defalque & First Step Valentin will star their first international competition at the end of February in Lier with the clear objective, co-constructed with Larissa Pauluis : strenghtenthe ranks of Belgian dressage after the retirement of her Botticelli.

Since the beginning of November, Charlotte Defalque and the now-gelded Vitalis worked on national shows, participating in several national Grand Prix in Geel, Dentergem, and Turnhout. Competing yesterday in Gesves, they secured the victory this time with their best score: 70.272% and even 71.956%, according to international judge Freddy Leyman; a score that rewarded a test with 8 in the piaffe and in the transitions to and from the passage.

In Lier, Charlotte Defalque & First Step Valentin will have a tough task ahead, as for their debut at this level, they will face from, among others, Marieke van der Putten & Torveslettens Titanium, Katharina Hemmer & Special Gold PCH, Lisa Muller & Gut Wettlkam's Dantiamo and Gut Wettlkam's Mondrian...