There comes a time when ‘just getting around’ isn’t enough. For Charlotte Agnew, a 24-year-old Scottish eventer currently riding in Oxfordshire, that point happened after completing the grueling cross-country track at Luhmuhlen this year.
It was only Agnew’s second 4*, and her first since 2008, when she completed Badminton on her first event horse, Little Beau. She was 20 at the time, in her first year at Edinburgh University, and finished the weekend in 39th.
This time it was a different track, and a different horse that brought her 4* success. Out of Africa II, or ‘Zulu’ as he’s called at home, was never even treated as a 4* prospect.
“He was great at pre-novice and novice, and I thought that he might make a good 2* horse, but I never really dreamed he would be fast enough to get around a 4* course,” Agnew said.
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Their 12-year-relationship began at conception. Agnew’s parents bred the gelding out of her father’s hunter mare, Africa, who was a great jumper, but a little too slow in the field. It took him a while to mature and come into his own, and even more time to establish himself at the 3* level. Part of this was the result of a tragic accident in 2009, which resulted in his pasture-mate, best friend, and Charlotte’s upper level eventer, Little Beau being put to sleep.
“It came at a time when I was asking him to step up a level,” Agnew said. “And I think when his best friend was taken away, it filled him with a lot of doubt. He’s very sensitive; he’s got this amazing brain. Sometimes I think he’s half human, he understands people very well, and after that, it just took a little while to get it together at the 3* level.”
Mistakes and run-outs plagued their rise up the levels, until last year, when Agnew knew she needed to get tough if she wanted them to live up to their potential.
“I knew I had to get determined, and a little pissed off,” Agnew said. “I rode with a new sense of ferocity that I got from somewhere.”
Their return to the 4* competition would have been sweet, a homecoming to Badminton, where she had hung on around one of the toughest courses in the world on her first horse. Zulu was peaking at just the right time, had just enough miles on the clock, and was ready to go. Then the rains hit, and washed away their well-laid plans. From then, it was a re-route to Germany, too far for their fan club, but far enough that the pressure might not follow them.
“I was absolutely devastated that Badminton got canceled,” Agnew said. “In the end though, getting to Germany, I think it helped us. There was less pressure, and I knew he would love the surface, the ring and the atmosphere over there.”
Their mistake-free fluid and expressive test saw them sit sixth overnight, behind such names as Lucinda Fredericks, Michael Jung and Andrew Hoy. Agnew knew she would have to be on her game to maneuver the big gelding around Luhmuhlen’s tight and twisty course.
“I definitely wouldn’t describe him as a ‘nippy’ horse,” Agnew said with a laugh. “He loves big galloping fences, he eats those up. Unfortunately for us, the course was pretty much the exact opposite.”
The difficult course claimed its fair share of victims, out of the 41 starters, only 29 finished, and only 5 finished without time faults. Agnew and Zulu picked up 2 time penalties, mostly the result of taking the long option on only one difficult combination.
“There was the fence that was a combination coming down the hill to a skinny chevron. I walked it and knew he wouldn’t understand what I was asking him to do, so I took the long route there. It was the right thing to do,” Agnew said.
They stayed in sixth overnight, and starting the stadium course, Agnew thought she had a chance to move up. When they crossed the finish line with four time faults, her face said it all.
“My sister said she saw my face and said it did not look too happy. I was so proud of him, he jumped really well, but it was bloody annoying that we got those four time faults!” Agnew said.
Charlotte and Zulu at the 2011 Blenheim Palace CCI*** in 2011, where they placed 9th. Photo - Adam Fanthorpe
With a fifth-placed 4* finish under their belt, Agnew will focus this summer on their preparations for Burghley, a venue at which she’s never competed.
“I’m really looking forward to Burghley. I think the course will suit him, and hopefully he’ll do well,” Agnew said.
Her 5-year plan extends much further than Burghley. When she graduated University, and began training full-time, she outlined her plan, which includes not only 4* events, but European Championships, World Equestrian Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games.
“My goal always has, and always is, to ride on a team,” Agnew said. “Ever since I won [gold] at the Young Riders in 2007, my aim is to get on a senior team.”
Photo - Adam Fanthorpe
Right now she busies herself with her up-and-coming horses. Her string is interesting, it includes Longwood, a horse bought for her sister but was “a bit too naughty,” and who is currently competing at the 3* level, and a half gelding to ‘Zulu’ named The Masai Warrior. Learn more about her, and see her 2008 Badminton run at her website (www.charlotteagnew.com).
