Apologies, but it has taken me a long time to get around to writing this blog…. I hope that in reading it you may understand why.
Badminton – the subject of so many dreams. It is an achievement to qualify for this illustrious event and even more so to actually get there. This was Alfie’s second trip to Badminton and he certainly seemed to be on great form, with a great result at Belton setting him up well. The last few weeks in the run up to a big event are always nerve racking, it feels like you are counting down every minor milestone; last event, last gallop, last dressage lesson. And then you arrive.
The atmosphere at Badminton last year was quite unlike any event I’ve been to. I remember the Aussie riders coming back from the course walk a distinct shade of green for example. The course was big and technical with no let up at all – and this of course showed in the results on cross country day, with that phase being very influential, but it is more than that. The atmosphere in the stables is special – it is a privilege to be there in such wonderful surroundings. Last year, Bill and Alfie broke a frangible pin, which under last year’s rules gave them 21 penalties and meant that they finished in 27th place. We were very much hoping to improve on that.
Emily grazing Alfie in front of Badminton House
It all begins of course with the horse inspection. Now those who are watching love to see what the riders are wearing and how fresh the horses look. For those who are involved with the horses it’s a nervy time. Whilst we knew that Alfie was sound and ready to run, you just never know what they may do – particularly with a diagnosed self-harmer, so it’s always nice to hear that they are accepted. The horse inspection at Badminton is as much a fashion show as a horse inspection. Increasingly riders are “being dressed” by companies, kitting them out in the latest in equestrian fashion – and I think it is this as much as anything else that draws the crowds in! It was great as well to see the Grass Roots competitors being presented with their prizes at the end of the inspection, in front of Badminton House.
Alfie had Friday dressage and so worked a couple of times with the amazing Gareth Hughes in the run up to his test. It started so well. His trot work was earning him 8s and 9s and the walk work too. It was looking like he could take the lead if he could just keep up the work in the canter… and then it all started to go awry. He reined back and then struck off on the wrong leg and then made a further two more mistakes in the canter work and was getting 3s and 4s and so we finished on 45.6. Now I know that this is an acceptable mark at four star level and many would be over the moon with this score, but it just felt so bitterly disappointing – with so many thoughts of what might have been. Carl Hester and Pammy Hutton who were doing the radio commentary on the tests were incredibly flattering about Alfie and the work and Carl even wrote in Horse & Hound that he was the horse that stood out, but sadly the results just did not reflect this.
On to the cross country then. The track last year, whilst being big and technical had actually been a good track for Alfie. He has endless scope and is as accurate a horse as you could want, with him staying straight on very technical lines. He is not the quickest horse out there, so in a way he needs the technicality to test the other horses’ straightness! So as we walked the course this year I was concerned that it was not going to play into his hooves. As it turns out I was proved correct. Whilst Alfie was brilliant across the country barring one slightly scary moment at the last water, there were lots of horses jumping clear and it became a speed competition, which Alfie is unlikely to win! He picked up a few time faults, which just dropped him down the order slightly. I have said subsequently that Alfie and Bill could have done with last year’s course with this year’s ground and I believe that, but that is not meant to be a criticism of the course. I think that the result last year showed that the course was too much – now whether that was the course, the ground or the horrific winds last year is a moot point – but there is no doubt in my mind that horses should not finish cross country as tired as they did last year. Contrary to some, I do not think this was down to a lack of fitness, but more the result of lots of big jumping efforts, very few let ups, heavy going and the terrible weather. So to me it was inevitable that there would be a few changes to the track this year. To my mind some have been too quick to criticise the course design and say that the course was too easy, but the weather plays such a huge part and if it had rained all week this would have added a totally different complexion to the day. That said – the result did not play into our hands and whilst Alfie went brilliantly, the day was still tinged with a little disappointment.
The final horse inspection is even more nerve racking than the first, but Alfie passed and we were on to the show jumping. He was the first horse to jump after the lunch break and was jumping a blinder of a round, clearing every fence by miles, until he and Bill got to fence 10 where sadly Bill (by his own admission) made a mistake and they had that fence and then the next down. It seemed like a disastrous end to an average week. We had come so close in all three phases. I know that finishing 18th and placed at Badminton should not feel like a bad result but it did and still does. It just felt like Alfie was ready for a really good result, but I guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer. I just hope that his day finally comes!
Clare
