My Badminton 2024 round up with Chilli Knight (Alfie)!
Photo Credit: Hannah Cole Photgraphy
Not the result we were hoping for this week leaderboard-wise but we have a very happy, healthy, none-the-wiser ginger pony who is an out and out winner in our eyesā¦ š§”
He tried SO hard to jump out of Huntsmanās and he would have actually won without the flag penalties too š¬
He showjumped unbelievably around a really technical and tough track for one light touch, I was so proud of the way he jumped today.
I am so very fond of this little horse, he might not be the flashiest or fastest but he has the heart of a lion and gives me everything heās got every time we compete.
One day I will do itā¦ Iām so determined to win on the greatest stage in the world. Iāll just have to keep at this eventing malarkey for a bit longer wonāt I?!
Weāll re-group and go again at the next one!
A HUGE thank you to my whole team, I canāt say it enough - without them, none of us would have been here this week - they are quite phenomenal.
Special thank you to Alfieās owners Chris and Lisa for their ongoing unwavering support.
To Charlotte for caring for Alfieās every need and my husband Gaz for constant encouragement.
All my family, my girls and my friends, youāre all a massive part of it. Thank you šš» š„°
Cross Country day was quite a day!
Having to wait so long to jump round the biggest track in the world is never fun, but my team and I had our plan and Alfie and I arrived at the start box feeling prepared and 100% ready to trust in each other!
Getting this horse back to 5* has taken a village and all I wanted to do was bring him home safe for them all š§”
Having said that he never changes no matter where he is, the little monkey went on to prove me wrong yesterday and was WILD out there!
It wasnāt my most stylish round and there were places I would have liked to have had a little more control, but thatās what we got for having him fitter than he has ever been, he absolute ate it all up out there - what a horse!
While our 15 flag penalties were annoying and dropped us out of the top 5, I have a healthy, happy ginger pony having jumped around one of the toughest Badminton courses I have ever seen!
Alfie thinks he jumped clear - so weāre not going to tell him otherwise! š§”š§”
A HUGE thank you for all of the lovely messages, pics and videos weāve received - theyāre all gorgeous - thank you!
And to Charlotte Overton who has looked after both me and Alfie so well this week, Alfieās owners, personal assistants (my incredible team), our sponsors and my amazing family - thank you for supporting us - weāll head out today to complete and look forward to the next one āŗļø
Back to day 1, Dressage!
Where do I even start with this incredible horse?! š§”
Alfie was an absolute dream to ride wherever we areā¦ even in the main arena at Badminton!!
He might not be as flashy as the likes of London 52 or Valegro but he always tries his very best and allows me to ride every single movement, step and blade of grass.
I couldnāt have been more proud of him, he just went in there and did his thing and sat us in =10th going into the Cross Country š§”
(To be in the top ten after dressage was a massive stretch goal of mine š¤š«£)
Charlotte Overton had Alfie looking out of this world today - there is absolutely no way we could have got him here without her or the rest of my incredible team - their attention to detail and commitment to the horses is utterly amazing šš»
