TWO talented dressage riders from Bangor, Co Down were reunited last week, when Courtney Akkari travelled to Abigail Lyle’s base in England, where she was lucky to have a ride on Lyle’s Olympic mount Giraldo, better known as ‘Arty’.

Akkari documented the trip on Tik Tok, where she posts plenty of content for her 10,600 followers. Speaking to The Irish Field this week, she said: “I am so unbelievably grateful to Abi for giving me the opportunity to ride her Olympic horse Giraldo.

“Abi and I have been friends for over 10 years, after meeting while I was studying at the Talland School of Equitation. I travelled to Abi’s base on Saturday with a very good mutual friend of ours, Paris Cubben. The experience of riding Arty was just mind-blowing. Having ridden for an Olympic rider in California, I thought I had felt some of the best horses in the world, however Arty was in a league of his own.

“He was kind and genuine and an absolute credit to Abi and all her hard work over the years with him. Now my mission is to get and produce a horse as talented as he is. I’m so lucky with the opportunities I have at home [Gransha Equestrian Centre] and will keep working to chase the same dream.”