‘An incredible week’: gold medal-winning rider breaks three world records in three days with new horse – after surgery and hospital stay

A gold medal-winning rider broke three world records in three days, with a horse she was competing for the first time – shortly after she underwent kidney surgery and spent seven weeks in hospital.

British-born US para dressage rider Fiona Howard took a hat-trick of victories in the week nine CPEDI3* at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Florida, US, with Kate Shoemaker’s Vianne, whom she rode for the first time days before the competition.

Fiona, who won team and two individual gold medals at the Paris Paralympics with Diamond Dunes, also led the US team to victory in Florida, setting a Grade II record in each of the three classes she contested last week. Fiona was born here, and won junior European team bronze in reining for Britain in 2013.

She and the 10-year-old Vitalis mare scored 78.85% in Friday’s (6 March) CPEDI3* para grand prix A test, then 80.444% in the grand prix B test on Saturday, when all three judges awarded at least 80%. They scored a 10 from every judge for the stretching walk half circle.

On Sunday, Fiona and Vianne scored 84.93% in the Grade II freestyle to win by over 18%.

The mare has been competing up to international big tour level with her owner Kate, who is Fiona’s long-term coach.

“Because I’d never shown Vianne before, I didn’t know what to expect, but Kate told me that I can totally trust her, and I trust Kate,” said Fiona, who had spent seven weeks in hospital after she underwent surgery in December.

“I’m super grateful to Kate for the opportunity to ride this horse. It was an incredible week, and it’s all testament to her training, her coaching and the team of the three of us coming together. To walk away with three world records is incredible.”

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