Badminton 2025!!

Badminton Horse Trials is always a special one, it’s the big event that everyone wants to ride and for a few of us, dare to dream about winning one day.  This was my 10^th Badminton, and aiming for a 10^th competition in a row – the perfect 10 that Equiratings kept bigging up (no pressure)!!

Styled as always by the amazing Holland Cooper, and Lulu was looking stunning thanks to my amazing head girl, Shauna.

Lulu was very settled and happy as soon as she arrived, we had a great lesson with Ian Woodhead qhwn we were there and I eflt that I had got all my ducks in a row and was happy with the test. Lulu was fabulous and got us off to a great start with a mega 29.6 dressage which kept us in the top 10 and very much in touch with the leaders – the dreamy start. She is a very rideable horse in the arena and its great when everything comes together!!

The cross-country was BIG – Badminton big!

As Saturday came it was also hot, which added even more to the course.  It definitely took the energy out of us on the cross-country, but Lulu jumped her socks off and I couldn’t have been more proud of her. We ended up taking a couple of long routes towards the end of the course which was frustating as I didnt plan them and on reflecting I shouldnt have taken them. I trust her to the moon and back, but definetly feel I let her down by not asking her those questions. But overall I couldnt be disappointed with another Badminton XC completition and another clear!

Onto the final day and Shauna had done an incredible job of looking after our special girl and making sure she was feeling fit and well for the final day. The SJ was a big track as youd expect at a 5* and although Lulu is an amazing jumper, its always a big ask after XC day. But she went in and jumped her socks off. 4 faults at the first fence is a scay start but she jumped the rest of the course like a pro, after jumping the biggest XC course in the world is such a great tribute to an incredible horse and just how well my team have looked after her.

As always it was so special to have the whole family there with me and my wonderful owners.

I can now say I’ve done the PERFECT 10 AT BADMINTON!!