Our cross country video of the week is dedicated to the memory of a special horse that has won major competitions in both hemispheres and has links to many people in the UK and New Zealand
We were sad to hear of the death of the chestnut gelding with the big white blaze and the happy attitude, Henton Attorney General (Frank), who started his life in New Zealand, bred by Bridget and Dave Sutton. Dave and Bridget, for many years the organisers of Puhinui International Horse Trials, are also the successful and enthusiastic breeders of quality horses at Henton Lodge Hanoverians
Puhinui International was a happy hunting ground for Henton Attorney General, who placed there on several occasions with the up and coming Kiwi rider, Lizzie Green (nee Brown) and the pair took the win in the main class, now CCI4*-L, in 2010
In 2012 Lizzie headed to the UK where she was eventually joined by Frank, who was recovering from injury in New Zealand, and they continued their winning ways at Blair Castle International and Boekelo in 2013, but the path to those wins was at times rocky, as Lizzie told us in this interview
Lizzie went on to marry Freddie Green, son of Lucinda and brother of Lissa, and the couple are now based in New Zealand but Frank stayed in the UK in the capable hands of another young rider, this time based in the Scottish Borders. Rosa Onslow took over the ride in 2016 and together they had another success at Blair Castle International, winning Rosa the Best Scottish rider and Best U25 rider in the CCI1* when they finished in 10th place overall (see video above)
“I am so lucky” Rosa told us at the time “When I tried him, we just clicked and Lizzie said I could ride him and have fun on him in his ‘slower’ time of life”
Rosa and Frank had their last run at Houghton International in the 2017 British Young Rider Championship where they led after the first two phases, but Frank was withdrawn after discovering that he had incurred an injury on cross country, which proved to be his last eventing run.
Rosa went on to compete at CCI5* level thanks to the experience that Frank gave her, while he spent his final years competing in dressage with Rosa’s aunt, Fiona Campbell-Fraser.
Horse & Hound reports that Frank passed away of a heart attack at Fiona’s yard on 6th December “surrounded by his friends”. RIP Frank
Lizzie and Frank on their way to a win at Boekelo
