In the barn they call her Bella, but in the jumping ring sheB次元官网网址檚 Beneficial B次元官网网址 in all ways.
Bella was born in 2012 at Robin Hill Farm in Metchosin B次元官网网址 more commonly known simply as PaulaB次元官网网址檚 Horses B次元官网网址 to dame Ivy. Her sire was imported by Dreamscape Farms in Vancouver. Both have Olympic grandsires, explained Paula Leweke, who raised Bella.
Bella Balatora is her registered name B次元官网网址 Bella, for beautiful and Balatora, a feminized version of the second highest mountain in the Himalayas.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted something that meant beautiful, strong and powerful,B次元官网网址 Leweke said.
Bella was a feisty foal. From the start she showed power and athleticism that parlayed into an athlete and current jumping partner for rider Alicia Gadban Lewis.
Gadban Lewis calls her a special and rare combination of a horse invested in her job. Bella loves doing the work and is careful, but confident.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a total athlete. She knows when to turn it on and when itB次元官网网址檚 important ,and then in tune with when to relax,B次元官网网址 she said.
Based at Imperial Stables in Delta, Gadban Lewis has had Bella since July 2017. She had no need for another horse at the time, but knew Leweke and saw the value of Bella. A client in the mainland barn was looking for an investment horse and purchased Bella.
Gadban Lewis rode her over the years and within a couple of transactions, now calls Bella her own.
B次元官网网址淗er and I have a really strong partnership. I put a lot of trust in her and I think she puts a lot of trust in me,B次元官网网址 she said. ThatB次元官网网址檚 key in the World Class Grand Prix in which these two athletes compete, where theyB次元官网网址檙e jumping 1.50 metres.
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Leweke harbours not-so-secret Olympic dreams for Bella, putting a little pressure on the horseB次元官网网址檚 current partner.
B次元官网网址淭hat would be a huge goal. Who knows? ThatB次元官网网址檚 a long way away and a lot of hurdles to jump over to get there. IB次元官网网址檓 going to do as much as I can with her,B次元官网网址 Gadban Lewis said.
Metchosin residents may remember Bella, who was ponied up and down the Galloping Goose and worked with several riders and trainers on the Island B次元官网网址 and as far off as Kamloops B次元官网网址 in her younger years.
B次元官网网址淲hat a lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 know is that horses that are super athletic are worth a lot of money,B次元官网网址 Leweke said. The sale benefited both Beneficial who has scored an equally athletic rider, and other horses at the Metchosin farm, a scenario Leweke calls B次元官网网址渉orses helping horses.B次元官网网址
B次元官网网址淪ometimes these horses only come once in a lifetime,B次元官网网址 the breeder said. However, she has her fingers crossed as the same dame is pregnant for only her second time B次元官网网址 from the same sire B次元官网网址 and is due to birth in June 2022.