We take a look back at some of the highs and lows, best interviews, event highlights and top training tips of 2015 from the world of international eventing, month by month, in our series of articles. Click on the highlighted text to take you to any of the articles mentioned to read in full
It was a busy month in both hemispheres with AEL covering events at Chilham, Rockingham, Chatsworth, Tattersalls, Houghton Hall and of course the big one at Badminton in the UK while Down Under the Aussies and Kiwis battled it out for the Oceania Eventing Championship and we visited Sydney International Horse Trials, Quirindi, the PCAV State Championships and the HRCAV Top Teams Eventing
A new event for us - Chilham Castle in Kent
UK Coverage
Ireland’s Austin O’Connor came back from Rolex Kentucky and got straight back into the saddle for a win at the brand new event, Whitfield Horse Trials in Northamptonshire
Chilham Castle
A new event for us was Chilham Castle and our first day there was a fairly relaxing day one with even time for a tipple at the Wild Spirits of Kent trade stand but the long uphill stretch on cross country for the BE90 and BE100 competitors had a few horses puffing
It was slightly more hectic day on the Sunday when the event provided a great cross country course for the international level competitors, a stunning backdrop and the sun shone (even at 6:30pm!)
Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
The focus was on faux fur, boots and coats at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials first horse inspection but the smart coats still got our votes and of course we caught a few on video as they strutted their stuff
A very strong field contested the first day of dressage as a German debutant joined two experienced Kiwis at the top of the leader board and at the end of the second day Andrew Nicholson was already focussed on winning, despite not expecting to be in the lead after the dressage. However he had some hot competition very close behind who gave chase on a cross country day that saw some bloody noses, cars on the track, sunshine, dips in the water and a fantastic day of cross country action
The show jumping day made history with a win by a laid back stallion and a man that last won there in 2004. It also resulted on one of the cutest press conferences of the year when two little visitors joined the winner William Fox-Pitt and second placed Ingrid Klimke in the media room
You can also watch videos of each day’s press conference on the links below
What did the top three riders think of the first day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials?
Andrew Nicholson, William Fox-Pitt and Oliver Townend - their thoughts after the first two days of dressage
What did Andrew Nicholson plan to do before the big day of show jumping?
Chatsworth
Friday was apparently the ‘quiet day’ at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials unless you happened to be Eliza Stoddart, the winner of both of the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers
Champagne and ice cream were in demand on Saturday when Pippa Funnell jumped into the lead of the CCI3* dressage as well as celebrating a win in the CIC1* - you can watch Pippa and Sandman 7’s dressage test here
On the final day three ladies took to the podium to receive their prizes in the CIC3 but one man dominated the Advanced classes - none other than Andrew Nicholson who had an interesting day
Rockingham International
International riders were in front from the start at Rockingham International Horse Trials with China, Germany, Norway and Italy leading the top classes and we talked to China's Alex Hua Tian, the winner of the CIC2* Section D. Take a look at the impressive dressage test on Don Geniro that gave him a strong lead from the start
On the sunny Saturday that had a real holiday feel the CIC classes were won by Bettina Hoy, Izzy Taylor, Alex Hua Tian and Christoph Wahler and, while one very popular New Zealander was winning a special watch at Rockingham, another one was entertaining the crowd with his sheep during the final day
Tattersalls
We loved the dicky bow and red trousers worn by Paul Tapner at the recent Badminton first horse inspection and it seems that the fashionistas at Tattersalls also liked the look
Another Australian also caught the judges’ eye with Sam Griffiths riding Favorit Z taking the lead in The Irish Field CCI3* after the dressage but tragedy struck on cross country day for the pair
The final day at Tattersalls showcased the talents of the young and the more 'mature' with veterans Mark Todd and Blyth Tait enjoying success while Kitty King's talented eight year old horse Ceylor LAN winning his first CCI3* start and William Fox-Pitt's various shades of greys are proved their talent throughout the weekend including a win in the new class, the Cooley Farm CCI1* Young Horse Class for 6 and 7 Year Olds
Houghton Hall CICO3*
A strong German team, made up of Andreas Ostholt, Nicholas Bschorer, Dirk Schrade and Sandra Auffarth, won the British leg of the FEI Nations Cup competition at Houghton International
Australia/NZ
Sydney International Horse Trials
While riders were gearing up for Badminton in the Northern Hemisphere, the Australians were tackling one of their big events of the year. "I'm going to give those 'young guns' a run for their money tomorrow" promised the CCI3* dressage leader Heath Ryan but it was a much younger rider, Makayla Wood who took the lead after a cross country day where thankfully the worst of the heavy rain stayed away until the horses were back in their stables
It was a Sydney first-timer that won and winner Elizabeth Lowery was ecstatic with the result "This is the first three day event I have ever done at Sydney and to come away with a win is amazing"
Oceania Eventing Championships
Both Australia's senior and young rider eventing teams had the advantage over New Zealand at the conclusion of the dressage phase of the Oceania Eventing Championships in Taupo, New Zealand
And, although Australia maintained the momentum after the cross country phase in the Senior Oceania Challenge it was better news for the Kiwis in the Young Rider teams challenge
Shane Rose and CP Qualified won the individual championship of the event, heralding what was to come in later months and help his team to win the Senior Oceania Eventing Challenge but the all female Kiwi team came up trumps in the Young Rider Championships
PCAV State Championships and HRCAV Top Team Trophy
It wasn’t all high level eventing in May with two events focusing on younger and older riders. Held since 1955, the Pony Club Australia Victoria State Horse Trials Championships for qualified Grade 1 and 2 PCAV riders took place this year in very sunny Rosedale while the adult riders at the HRCAV Top Teams Trophy is a competition as much about socialising and camaraderie as winning
Quirindi
A little further north, Stuart Tinney made the journey to Quirindi well worthwhile with not only a win in the CNC 2* on his own Carlchen, but also third place on the Huskinson family’s War Hawk
Interviews
We talked to young British rider Harry Dzenis about his second crack at Badminton, his horse Zam and how he approached the lead up to the big CCI4*
Gemma Tattersall may not be a fan of hot food but she certainly loves her Chilli horses! Gemma told us about the breeding programme at Chris Stone’s Tattleton Stud and her preparations for Badminton
Prior to the big B there is the little B - we caught up with the top three placegetters of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Grassroots BE100 and they couldn’t have been happier if they had won the CCI4*
The coolest 4* winner of the year - Chilli Morning
He’s not only the first stallion in Badminton history to win the coveted trophy but Chilli Morning is also one cool dude – this little video interview with William Fox-Pitt’s groom Jackie Potts and Chilli is one of our favourites from this year!
Young British rider Harriet Upton is building up a strong team of talented horses but it was the story of Carraig Dubh (Danny) that really caught our interest when we caught up with her for a chat at Chilham Castle
We chatted to Badminton first-timer Nana Dalton about her Australian connections, what two words Chris Burton gave her before entering the dressage arena, the horse “with a lot of character that needed settling” and why vodka was ‘absolutely’ the choice of celebratory drink
Emily King had a great year in 2015 and it started at Chatsworth with her best senior level international result to that point; we caught up with Emily and mum Mary just before they started on the long journey home to Devon “singing and drinking champagne!”
News and happenings
Hard to believe but true - Michael Jung jumped to the top of the FEI World Eventing Rankings for the first time in his career following his win at Rolex Kentucky
It was a sad day in May for New Zealand eventer Clarke Johnstone and his family with the loss of Clarke's horse Orient Express during the cross country phase at the National 3 Day Event in Taupo
Training tips
Coffin fences seem to be all the go this month with Mike E-S implementing them on new courses at Sydney and Wallaby Hill in Australia. Take a look at how some of the riders tackled the coffin complex at the South of England Horse Trials
Top blog of May
Clare Prentice, not just eventing horse owner but commentator too
Badminton owners and riders topped the bill (literally) in May with Clare Prentice, owner of Bill Levett’s Badminton-bound Shannondale Titan, nervously awaiting the big event and Bill filling us in on both Kentucky and Badminton in his blog - the two most read blogs of the month (hate to break the news Bill but Clare just pipped you at the post)
Read all blogs here
Top photo gallery
Was this the moment that Ingrid was avoiding the car at Badminton?
No big surprises here! Badminton and Sydney International Horse Trials were vying for the top spots in our most viewed photo galleries and of course it was cross country day for both that were the most popular
