Withington

Busy weekend in the run up to Badminton 

Kauto headed off to Sandown to the parade of Champions on Saturday and my friend Felicity Hook took him because I have been at Withington.  LRT collected him and he was in good company!  He travelled with Bobsworth, Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig!  Felicity said he behaved himself and was pleased to be out and about!

I headed off to Withington with Controe and Obos Cooley for the Intermediate on Saturday.

Controe finished 6th – he was a superstar.... He's only 6yo doing his first intermediate and he made it feel soooo easy!!

Obos Cooley finished 9th. after a really good 34 dressage, rolled the last fence sj and had a lovely spin round the xc!

Very happy with both young horses! Seriously exciting future ahead. 

Back to Withington on Sunday and I felt like all my Christmases had arrived at once – after 8 years I competed Noble Springbok again – he is now owned by Grace Walker but she has too many to ride and has exams at the moment so I was handed the reins for a spin. There aren't words to describe how amazing it was to be competing him  again.  He did a 29.5 dressage and cruised round adding 5.6 time pens to finish in 3^rd

Allora did 35 dressage and jumped a fantastic double clear round the Advanced....she gave me a fantastic ride xc! 

Withington is one of my favourite events – local! But with a great team of ever helpful volunteers , perfect ground, fantastic courses. 

Back at home Super Steve is ticking over prior to leaving for Badminton on Wednesday 

Thank you for all your messages re Henry – it is a huge disappointment for the team –  he has done so much for my career and I am hugely disappointed that he doesn't get the chance to have a spin round Badminton after he was awesome on his debut!

I have been watching the events over in the USA with great interest and am excited about the battle ahead at Badminton – the Rolex Grand Slam really is a possibility again!