An Eventful Life is filming all competitors on cross country at
Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International 2021 - order or view videos here
It isn’t the first International event of the year at Houghton Hall, but it certainly feels like the first ‘biggie’ since Covid hit and it is of course the first leg of this year’s FEI Nations Cup Eventing
The Saracen Horse Feeds Houghton International has kicked off with the first horse inspection and all horses in the long format competitions (CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L) passed with flying colours while the CCIS4*O horses and riders settled in to the beautiful, if chilly, surroundings of Houghton Hall in Norfolk
Germany has a long history of winning at Houghton Hall – they won the last Nations Cup here in 2019 and Christoph Wahler won the individual – but, with German Government restrictions preventing them from travelling, there are not the usual international visitors from across the channel.
However, there are three teams contesting the Nations Cup CICO4*-S with the host team from Great Britain, Australia’s UK-Based team of Kevin McNab, Sam Griffiths and Sammi Birch and Ireland’s Joseph Murphy, Susie Berry and Austin O’Connor set to battle it out.
The draw for the FEI Nations Cup running order has been done, which established Team Ireland as the pathfinders. The Australian team will follow in second, with the British Team running third. Action gets underway for this highly anticipated team competition on Saturday with dressage and show jumping, followed by the cross country on Sunday.
Austin O'Connor is riding Colorado Blue in the Nations Cup but presented Randalstown Commando for the CCI2*-L
The German travel restrictions leave the fate of Luhmuhlen’s entries up in the air at the moment and some listed for the German CCI5* are now competing here. Pippa Funnell’s MGH Grafton Street will be one to watch as will Kitty King’s Vendredi Biats, who has already been withdrawn from Luhmuhlen. Piggy March’s Badminton winner Vanir Kamira is another one to watch in the CCI4* and the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L classes are packed with great entries.
We also have Libby Law back on the ground in the UK and pumped for action. After more than a year away from UK-based action and 10 days self-isolating in her mobile home at Mere Farm, Libby is raring to go so look out for some high-octane images coming your way!
Hilary Manners will be on the ground chatting to the riders each day, the video cameras are ready to roll and our gallery from the first horse inspection is ready to view – here we go at Houghton Hall!
Don't forget to stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for video snippets and more during the weekend ...
Wrapped up for the cold but a hot contender - Piggy March and I Diablo Joe in the CCI3*-L
