MARS Badminton Horse Trials; Cross Country and Show Jumping Update
Seven of the horses in the field for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials were owned by CLA members and here’s how they fared after the challenging cross-country phase and final show jumping test.
Cross Country
The challenging cross country test at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials was started by 79 combinations following the withdrawal of two combinations following the dressage.
Gemma Stevens & Chilli Knight (owned by Christopher Stone): 29.5 pens (3rd)
Gemma described Chris and Lisa Stone’s Chilli Knight as “such a genuine little horse – if he sees a fence with flags, he will take me towards it. He has come out of today smiling his head off. Last year I had no control, but I have changed the bit and felt much more confident this year. Chilli Knight doesn’t like to ‘whoa’ but he knows now when I ask him to whoa that it is for a jump. At Huntsman’s Close he was unreal. I knew I didn’t have enough seconds in hand to go long.”
Bubby Upton & Cola III (owned by Rachel Upton): 36.2 pens
“Cola was sensational. What a horse – he is a fighter through and through. I know him inside out after riding him for nine years.”
Tom Rowland & Dreamliner (owned by Angela and Mark Chamberlayne): 41.4 pens. The pair completed with a clear round, but incurred eight time penalties.
Tom McEwen & JL Dublin (co-owned by Jamie and Jo Lambert): 44.2 pens
The pair triggered a frangible pin at fence 26, Huntsman’s Close, incurring 15 penalties.
“Our earlier blip had taken the wind out of his sails so when we got to Huntsman’s Close it was easier to go direct and then the pin came down with his hindlegs. It’s one of those things and that’s what pins are there for, but he tried his heart out.”
Alice Casburn & Topspin (owned by rider and Caroline Casburn): 51.9 pens. The pair completed with a clear round, but incurred 14 time penalties.
Jack Pinkney & Rehy Revelation (owned by Simon and Mags Hope): 61.5 pens. The pair completed with a clear round, but incurred 21.6 time penalties.
Gemma Stevens & Jalapeno (owned by Christopher Stone): Retired on cross country following a run out at Fence 7 - the second element of the Agria Corners.
Show Jumping
Following a grueling day of action, and final day veterinary horse inspection, 60 combinations came forward for the final show jumping test. Here's how CLA member-owned horses finished the three days of competition.
Bubby Upton & Cola III (owned by Rachel Upton): Final score: 44.2(8th). Two poles in the show jumping test (8 penalties).
Tom McEwen & JL Dublin (co-owned by Jamie and Jo Lambert): 44.2 (9th). Clear in the show jumping test.
Tom Rowland & Dreamliner (owned by Angela and Mark Chamberlayne): 46.7 (12th). One pole down (four penalties) and 1.6 time penalties in the show jumping test.
Gemma Stevens & Chilli Knight (owned by Christopher Stone): 49.5 (15th). Five fences down (20 penalties) in the show jumping test.
Alice Casburn & Topspin (owned by rider and Caroline Casburn): 52.3 (17th). The pair jumped a clear round but added 0.4 time penalties in the show jumping test.
Jack Pinkney & Rehy Revelation (owned by Simon and Mags Hope): 83.9 (38th).The pair have five fences down (20 penalties) and 2.4 time penalties.
