Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob. Photo by Nico Morgan.
Although no one has bested Andrew Nicholson and Nereo’s score yet today, in fact he is still the only rider to crack the 40 penalty barrier, Ingrid Klimke came very close on Horseware Hale Bob and heads into cross country tomorrow on a score of 40.2, good enough for second place currently. (All scores here)
Ingrid could conceivably have scored a much lower penalty score but for some unfortunate tension in the walk, halt and rein back — Ingrid explained that she hunted Hale Bob as a young horse in Ireland and now whenever he hears dogs barking he associates it with that, and sure enough that’s what happened today during her test. Ingrid explained that they both heard the barking dogs as she walked across the diagonal but in her halt Horseware Hale Bob couldn’t resist putting up his head and looking around for them. Ingrid was philosophical about it, and also stressed how happy she was with her trot and canter work.
The hunting also has it’s advantages, “he’s very clever, he’s used to different grounds, and it’s not difficult for him if the ground or the balance changes because he’s used to lots of different [footing and terrain] out hunting.” Ingrid owns Horseware Hale Bob herself, she bought him out of a jumping yard as a five year old and the win last year at Pau might have been “slightly unexpected” but it’s given her real confidence coming into Badminton this weekend.
“At Pau he really showed me how clever he was and how fast and how bold; we spent the winter doing some dressage and jumping classes and he’s really feeling full of himself.” German Team Coach Chris Bartle has been encouraging the his riders to make the journey to Gloucestershire in May “to go out and see the true cross country and the real world, and not only hide in Germany!”
Bettina Hoy and Designer 10. Photo by Nico Morgan.
With Bettina also riding a beautiful test earlier on Designer 10 to score 42.8, currently good enough for 5th, we now have three Germans in the top 5 as we head into the Friday lunch break. Bettina was thrilled with Designer 10, dropping her reins after the final halt to give him a massive hug and lots of pats; Designer 10 took advantage to put his head down immediately and graze, and Bettina laughed that when she left Germany mid-April to base herself in Britain to campaign for Badminton there was no grass and he loves all the lush grazing available here at this time of year!
Bettina came over and did the CIC3* at Belton in the Spring and credits the Newton family where she’s been based with eventer Willa, with helping her prep for Badminton and “most importantly getting me in the right frame of mind”.
She and Chris Bartle have also been tweaking Designer 10’s warm-up and seem to have found the answer. The whole German team here are very cohesive and seem in great spirits (well, duh – why not?!) Bettina, Ingrid and Niklas (Bschorer) are all positive and looking forward to tackling the cross country tomorrow; Bettina, “I hope Designer is up to it – I think so, he did Luhmuhlen 4* last year and Blenheim, and I had a really good run at Belton so I think he’s well-prepared but as you know with horses, anything can happen!”
Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan. Photo by Nico Morgan.
The rest of the world wasn’t too shabby either this morning — Australian Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan looked like they might sail into the lead with some really stunning work, only to make a couple of expensive mistakes at the end but they’re close enough, lying equal tenth at the moment with Mark Todd.
Equally, Lucy Jackson and Willy Do’s lovely test, again for New Zealand was spoilt by bobbles in the changes and stopped her from finishing higher than 9th at the lunch break.
Also for New Zealand, Caroline Powell was pleased with Onwards and Upwards who’s come out this year bigger and stronger, more mature in both his body and frame, and his mind, “He’s so strong now, and mentally he’s much stronger and secure which makes everything much easier!”
Caroline will play it by ear tomorrow as to her intentions, “Like always, they pick the time and the speed; I’ll start him out and put him on his minute markers and see how he’s coping with the ground, usually he just switches off and gets on with the job and jumps between the flags.”
Aoife Clark and Vaguely North. Photo by Nico Morgan.
Aoife Clark raised Irish spirits with a lovely test on Vaguely North, another full thoroughbred this time from New Zealand and a horse who’s coming back from a career threatening injury, he continues to improve on the flat even at the grand old age of fifteen.
Gemma Tattersall and Arctic Soul. Photo by Nico Morgan.
Gemma Tattersall and Arctic Soul improved on their Burghley score from last Autumn where they finished 5th, scoring 46.8 today, “He tried really hard and kept his head and actually did some really nice work”. Gemma has only run twice this Spring as “he’s such a great cross country horse” and in fact she’s one of very few riders who’s praying for more rain as the more difficult the conditions, the better it will play to her strengths.
They jumped round the course here last year, only to learn they’d been eliminated as they crossed the finish line for jumping the wider part of the corner at Hunstmans Close and not to have gone between the flags (they knocked it down as they jumped). Despite lengthy appeals by Yogi Breisner on her behalf the elimination stood.
After a good Burghley last year, she’s hoping that a strong performance here, “we’ve got unfinished business” will set her for consideration for the European Championships at Blair Castle in September – “it will suit him down the ground; hill, tough Ian Stark track and hopefully lots of rain!” Arctic Soul is now owned by a syndicate of seven members, The Soul Syndicate, including Gemma and her mother and Chilli Morning’s owner Christopher Stone and they are all here this weekend.
Tina Cook started our day off with a great test on her WEG team silver medalist, home bred De Novo News and although delighted with her test she mused that she probably suffered from being the first one out this morning, “I’m first in today, it’s never the greatest place to go in a draw but I was pleased with the horse, a couple of little mistakes but there was a lot that he did very, very nicely.”
Tina was riding in a double bridle today for the first time at a Championship, “He’s got quite a big head and quite a weak neck, he was born like that, and so we felt like that gave him a rounder look visually; it’s not that he’s a strong horse at all. I think he’s got a big head that suits a double bridle, there was no real tactical decision!”
All the riders so far have repeated that although the course for tomorrow looks softer and kinder than last year, it’s still Badminton which means they’ll respect every inch of it. It’s still cold, and spotty rain has been threatening on and off all morning but the ground remains perfect so far. Much more to come this afternoon and as always many thanks to Nico Morgan for all his beautiful photos; follow along with Horse and Hound Live or Badminton Radio and enjoy your day’s Eventing!
#MMBHT: Website, Order of Go, Live Scores, Schedule, Course Preview, FEI TV, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, @samanthalclark
