Talk about the dream team! L-R Headley Britannia, Inonthing and Lenamore retire together at Badminton 2013
This year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials certainly were an emotional one. A tense competition, an unexpected result and the official retirement of not one but three incredible horses. On Monday afternoon Paul Tapner and Inonothing, Caroline Powell and Lenamore and Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia galloped their way around the show jumping ring to rapturous applause. The effect that these horses can have on us was made so clear as the tears flowed from the riders, the grooms and even members of the audience. I caught up with Lucinda the day before the parade to have chat about the little pocket rocket that is Headley Britannia.
Emily Penney talks to Lucinda Fredericks
“She came to me to be sold in the beginning of 2002 and I tried hard to sell her but no one wanted a little short striding chestnut, very naughty, feisty mare that couldn’t really move very well,” Lucinda said.
Little did she know, this was the mare that would lead her to victory at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky. As well as holding the record for the lowest 4* finishing score of 32.3 and of course team silver at the Beijing Olympics. “To do what she has done, which is to win her own little Grand Slam, the way she did it, being the size and the shape that she is and the sex really, there’s never going to be another mare like her.”
Lucinda and Brit on their way to winning Badminton 2007 Photo: Mitsubishi Motors/Kit Houghton
“We’re very, very lucky and I’m honored to have had a horse to give me so much.”
Brit retired from top competition at the beginning of last year (she was due to retire at last year’s Badminton but of course it was cancelled) but she is still going strong. “She looks fantastic actually, she’s in full work, I’m jumping her and everything, I’m just not getting out and competing her.” She is 20 years old, still sound and continues to be a big part of the team. “I teach the pupils on her, anybody that comes into the yard can ride her and she’s actually loving it,” Lucinda says with admiration and then laughs. “I have to put her together a little bit often otherwise she really does go like a school pony.”
Lucinda and Marley - son of a star
Brit certainly isn’t slowing down, as well as being ridden daily she is also producing babies through embryo transfer. Her first two foals are now five years old and are out and competing.
“That’s really exciting, really fun to have her children and they’re similar in a lot of ways and then different in a lot of ways.” Brit’s daughter Little Britannia and her son Britannia’s Mail were produced after her win at Badminton in 2007. “Britannia’s Mail is a stallion who is all graded, very fertile.” Marley as he is known is available for service as is the purchase of Brit’s embryos.
As Brit is already 20, Lucinda urges people to get in quick if they want a piece of the little legend. After all she really is a once in a life time horse. “She’s brought a lot of warmth to a lot of people’s lives, certainly for those who have ever had anything to do with her.”
More information about the embryo and stallion services can be found online at http://www.lucindafredericks.com
