Peter Flarup and Calista E. Photo courtesy Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors.
The Badminton Horse Trials press team, led by press officer extraordinaire Julian Seaman, has been producing fantastic content thus far for the At Badminton Blog, and it’s too good not to provide links to the highlights here. From how the first-timers are faring so far to the best shops to hit in the famous trade fair, browse through the links below, and check out the newly redesigned Badminton website here.
[At Badminton Blog] [Badminton Website]
Friday’s First-Timers Take Center Stage: “Peter Flarup has stormed into fifth place during the first session of dressage today. Calista E, a 13-year-old Danish warmblood mare, posted a score of 41.8 to slip ahead of Pippa Funnell on Billy Beware. ‘Dressage is a stong phase for Calista,’ said Peter. ‘We’ve been together for seven years so I know her well and despite being a bit tense during the test I am very happy with her.'”
Paul Tapner in Pole Position: “Paul said: ‘I have a tendency to over-think my tests sometimes, but today was the most relaxed I’ve ever been – I think partly because I know that come Saturday the competition will probably be turned on its head.'”
What Did Thursday Riders Think of Their Tests? “Mark Todd on NZB Campino (score of 40.7): ‘It was nearly very well done. I was a bit scared to look up at the scoreboard to see what marks I was getting, but the trot work in particular felt superb. He got a little tight in his canter – which is normally his strong point – and we made a couple of big mistakes which were expensive.'”
First-Timers Out of the Start Box: “Jodie Amos was the first into the arena of the 2014 first timers. She rides Matt at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton, a 14-year-old son of the French thoroughbred Badolato out of an Anglo Arab mare. Jodie, 29 and a member of the British World Class Development Squad, posted a score of 54.8 to lie in 15th place at the lunchtime break.”
Holly Woodhead — Guinea Pig 2014: “This year’s Guinea Pig — a rider who performs the dressage test at the start of day one, enabling the judges to get their eye in for that particular test before judging any of the competitors — is 20-year-old Holly Woodhead. Holly will be riding DHI Lupison, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Lupicor, bred by Noel Ryan, and owned by her father Ian.”
This Year’s Badminton Field in Numbers: This year’s field includes 17 first-timers, 11 mares, eight over 50 riders, eight previous winners. Check out the story for the names.
Shop, Shop, Shop: Our Pick of the Stands: “Badminton’s shopping village is one of the many highlights of the event – from quirky carvings and hand-crafted woolly socks to unusual home furnishings and homemade pork pies – there really is something for every taste.”
