It’s definitely game on today – traffic was not heavy early this morning, but considerably busier, even before 8 o clock, and bear in mind the guinea pig (test ride – Emily Parker on Treefers, Young Rider Champion) is not until 9:40am.
The Grass Roots cross country jumps have already been unflagged and look rather sad and drab.
The media centre is buzzing; I’m so happy to see Pippa Roome again from Horse and Hound, who’s gearing up for two full days of live blogging of the dressage.
Radio Badminton is live, and there are “cigarette girls” and boys (!) wandering around the park selling headsets, I’ll get a photo later so you know what I mean.
There are plenty of competitors hacking and schooling before the crowds and the heat get too serious. Oliver Townend took care of business, making phone calls on the way up to the dressage arena before working Ashdale Cruise Master.
I bumped into Captain Geoff Curran who rides one of my favourite horses from Rolex and the WEG last year, The Jump Jet, but who did not present at the first vet’s inspection yesterday.
As you can see, The Jump Jet is in terrific form; unfortunately he has a little bump on his left knee which will probably be fine by saturday or sunday, according to the Irish team. Geoff says he will probably head to Luhmuhlen instead now, but is here for the weekend regardless as the Jump Jet got a lift over with another Irish horse also competing and he’ll exercise him gently throughout the weekend, as he’s fit as a fiddle. Although he’s obviously disappointed not to be riding, ( he may have used stronger terms!) he is looking forward to watching, and said he “might learn something”! I hope to see them flying around the cross country in June.
Dressage day, less than an hour until we start to go eventing at Badminton.
