Live and Kicking On : 11.05.14

Where to start ?!  Well we did it !  The last 72 hours has been a bit of a blur – but in a good way!  On Thursday, we did our final checks and pressed the button to put the site up on the world wide web! We were determined to be live for Badminton and we were.  We had a bit of a hiccup with the jackets we had ordered but the unflappable Martin, at Harley Equestrian, came to the rescue with some super smart Cavallo macs and the amazing Sam Mayo stayed up all night embroidering our logo on them (big plug for Sam but she is super talented  m. 07971 804376).

Rather bleary eyed from a late night triple-checking copy, we set off to Badminton early on Friday morning and thanks to the lovely Horse Trials Support Group* parking permit, we sailed in.  We met some amazing people, received wonderful feedback and had an absolutely brilliant time.  After a fun trying on session at Patey Hats, we headed over to Fence 2 to join the Fox-Pitt Eventing Club course walk with our Pro Secrets interviewee, William Fox-Pitt.  It was an experience we can seriously recommend – the jumps were enormous and it was riveting to hear what WFP does in the hour leading up to getting to the start box and the preparations that go on for each individual fence.

After we had got our breath back, we nipped off for a celebratory glass of fizz, which went straight to our heads ! Adrenalin surely ?! You will be hearing more about the amazing finds we made over the coming weeks.  It is fair to say that there are some seriously inspiring people out there who are putting the horse’s welfare first and that has to be applauded.  A quick pitstop for a bite to eat and more lovely people to meet. By the time we had finished, we were chuffed to bits with the overwhelmingly positive reaction people were giving TheGaitpost.   All in all, we could not have wished for a better first day and were extremely touched by all the lovely messages from friends and family that were waiting for us when we got home as well as a fish and chip takeaway.

Saturday brought another early start in order to miss the notorious cross-country traffic queues.  No one could have predicted the day that was to unfold.  Fuelled by  a hearty English breakfast in the HTSG marquee, Sarah, accompanied by her 9 year old ‘assistant’ and a girlfriend, braved the wind and rain to course walk, have a little shop and then park up in the warm and watch all the action.  Everywhere you looked, Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s course was causing chaos.  It didn’t matter who you were – Nicholson, Funnell, Bullimore, Todd, Price… you name it, they were dropping like flies (17 in total).  It was ups and downs all the way especially for the 1st timers – we were gutted to see Jodie Amos’s horrible fall at the Mirage Pond but relieved both her and Matt were OK and thrilled for Joe Chambers’s Glengarnock, ridden by Paul Sims, get home safely and be among one of only 32 to finish the entire competition.  Local rider Izzy Taylor  gave us all a masterclass in grit and determination, not once, but twice, and it was clear to see why Izzy is billed as a ‘future star’ – although I’m not sure  ‘future’ is needed anymore.  Hats off to everyone who jumped what is being described as one of  “the toughest courses in the 65 year history of Badminton Horse Trials.”  Serious respect.

Sunday was thankfully a quiet family day with the anticipation of watching the show jumping out of the wind and from the comfort of the sofa.  We were so disappointed that there wasn’t live coverage but luckily Twitter came to the rescue and when the BBC Highlights show finally got round to the last few jumpers, we already knew who the winner was.  The final full results can be found here but many congratulations to the top 3: 1st: Sam Griffiths (Aus), 2nd: Oliver Townend (GB) and 3rd: Harry Meade (GB), whose recent recovery from horrific injuries has defied many who thought this day would never come.  Truly inspirational.

Here are a few snaps from the last few days.  Roll on 2015 !

* Our HTSG membership really proved its worth this weekend – the elements were against us all and it was a joy to have somewhere warm and dry to set up camp, leave our coats (and shopping), rest our tired legs and meet friends …plus they have the poshest loos anywhere at Badminton and a much needed hairdryer!