*Exclusive* ‘The more time you “waste”, the better your relationship’: how less is more for Olympic ‘mare of all mares’

Polish dressage rider Sandra Sysojeva caused quite a stir at the Paris Olympics when she steered her eight-year-old mare, Maxima Bella, into the freestyle final. This daughter of Millennium x Christ 3 was two years younger than any other horse in the field, and waltzed her way into 15th place with a score of plus-80%. Since Paris, they have been unbeaten in six international competitions, including a massive personal best freestyle...