SOUTH Luffenham's Richard Jones believes his first-ever experience of the world-famous Badminton Horse Trials will boost his eventing career.
Jones completed the event – one of just a handful of top four-star events held across the world – that saw top names such as Olympic medallists Andrew Hoy, Pippa Funnell, Andrew Nicholson and Mary King fall by the wayside.
He finished in 48th plac
e overall on the 14-year-old bay thoroughbred Fox on the Run, a relatively new ride who was also completing a four-star event for the first time.
The pair lay 73rd of the 81 starters after the opening dressage phase, on a score of 65.7, and Jones had mixed feelings about the test.
He commented: “I was quite pleased with parts. Fox on the Run worked in beautifully but just got a bit tense in the arena – I know there is better to come.”
They then tackled the daunting 29 fence cross-country course which caused problems in several different places and was judged ‘the most difficult at Badminton in 10 years’ by many of the riders.
Just two horses came home clear and inside the optimum time and Jones had two stops but completed well, despite a slightly sticky moment at The Lake complex.
He explained: “I made one mistake at the arrowhead at the Staircase and he made one at the Outlander Bank.
“We have both learned from the experience and I’m sure the round will have made Fox on the Run a more confident horse. He was green at this level but I now know he can cope which is great.”
The pair had just one fence down in the final show-jumping phase, one of the better performances on a day that saw just three riders go clear in the time allowed.
Jones added: “Now it’s roll on Burghley this autumn. I really feel we can put this experience to good use there and go very well.
“The horse will just do a bit of jumping and dressage in the summer.
“I have two or three months to get things right and haven’t got to worry about competing him.”
Jones will be in action at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials in Derbyshire this coming weekend where he rides Incan Winter, Valentina II and Old Dragon Breath in the three-star international one-day sections along with some world-class opposition.
Emily Butcher, the New Zealand rider currently based with British star Piggy French at Oakham, finished 51st on Southern Ben.
The pair began the event well, lying 23rd after a great dressage test, and were going nicely cross-country until a stop at fence 18, the tricky Outlander Bank, unseated Butcher.
She remounted to finish and then had three down in the final show-jumping phase.
The full article contains 475 words and appears in Rutland Mercury newspaper.
