Rider Mary King bred Kings Temptress herself, but I was very lucky to stand next to her owner Mr Derek Baden, during the dressage, and he kindly agreed to speak to us for a little while shortly afterward.
We all descended on a delighted Mary practically before she’d even dismounted to ask her about her ride, and she was her usual gracious, charming and polite self. Such a great ambassador for the sport, I’ve been “eavesdropping” on more than one occasion already this weekend while I’ve been at my laptop, watching dressage, or standing taking pictures, and heard somebody telling their friend or the people they’re with they’re surprised how nice she is, how normal she is, how funny she is ….
Wishing Mary, and indeed all the riders, safe rounds today. Full of admiration for every single one of them; as one of the connections told a disappointed competitor on thursday after a sub-par dressage, ‘only the best hundred in the world are here.’ Gulp! Go Cross Country Day!
