Thursday Morning Quickie

Hawley, (checking out EventingNation’s news & notes, I’m sure!) and Gin ‘N Juice were out early this morning, as was I. There was a haze lingering over the parkland that will burn off shortly as it’s predicted to be hot, hot, hot. Grassroots competitors were earnestly walking their courses, but the four star horses and riders were all dressage and stretching this morning. Some came down to the arenas and just hacked, 

David O’Connor was on hand to give the Canadians some help on the flat; I saw him working with Steph and Port Authority and they look good this morning.

Caroline Powell and William Fox-Pitt are both four star winners and both wear neck straps, but Caroline wins the prize for best shirt; here she is on Boston Two Tip.

Props to Caroline for wearing a helmet, albeit unfastened. Lots of riders are still wearing their velvet hunt caps to work on the flat. 

I stood with Canadian Team vet Dr. Christiana Ober for a little while, and it was interesting to get her perspective.  She remembers certain horses from the big events depending on their gaits or confirmation peculiarities, a vet’s eye view, but both of us agreed that we were probably gazing on the best event horses in the world gathered together in one place for one week!

Dag Albert, a last minute substitution from the waiting list on Tubber Rebel gets the prize for best grooms, who trekked across the park, giving each other piggy backs, to watch him do flatwork.

There is already a different buzz here this morning than there was yesterday. I saw Mark Todd riding the lovely Major Milestone, not NZB Grass Valley as I tweeted (WEG habits die hard, I suppose!)

I also saw Nicola Wilson’s Bee Diplomatic for the first time. Of course Nicola rides the amazing jumper Opposition Buzz who was pathfinder at the WEG last year, and who I think almost everybody covets, but this horse is stunning, I can’t wait to see it jump. As Nicola said, “he’s a very pretty boy”! 

As usual, I’m afraid my photo doesn’t do him justice. One thing (of many, sigh, that’s a whole blog post) that I miss about English eventing is the programmes. Not just at Badminton but maybe slightly more in detail here, but at most events this is the information you can expect to find about each and every competitor listed in the programme. For example, Nicola Wilson on Bee Diplomatic:

14   Nicola Wilson (GBR), Northallerton, N. Yorks. Age: 34 Colours: Blue/white

Horse: Bee Diplomatic, bay gelding, 16.1hh, 2000, s: State Diplomacy, d: Jungle Bee, Breed: TB, Country of Birth: United Kingdom, Breeder: Rosemary Search, Owner: Rosemary Search, Wetherby, W.Yorks.

10th at Bramham and completed Blenheim last year, this horse was ridden until 2009 by Jeanette Brakewell. Nicola first rode here in 1999 on Mr Bumble and has 7 completions to her name.

Pretty impressive, no? Also very impressive, and has been noted by many, and now by me, (not an early adopter!) as one to watch is Laura Collet on Rayef – this horse can MOVE! Only 21, Laura is having her first crack at Badminton but completed Burghley last year, and has had a very successful pony, Junior and Young Rider career. 

I’m so happy to see Pippa Funnell back at Badminton, interestingly working a very fresh Mirage D’Elle around the cross country warm up jumps, but I think my daughter Lily, will be even happier to know that Mum bought her the new Tilly’s Pony Tails book, Goliath, out now but only available at Badminton. Lily’s an even bigger fan than I am! 

Thanks for reading, and make sure and follow the Badminton blog, and Horse and Hound who’ll be covering the dressage live from tomorrow, as well as lots of other great coverage, but especially Eventing Nation of course, as recommended by the Canadians, I promise you, they told me they read it religiously! See you soon, and Go Eventing!