Badminton Horse Trials kicks off tomorrow with the first horse inspection and alongside our usual coverage of the ex racehorses competing for the top placed ex racehorse prize, I have a bit more of an invested interest this year! Hermes, who I worked with as a yearling at University is tackling his first Badminton!
Retraining of Racehorses £1000
Since 2017, the Retraining of Racehorses sponsors a prize for the highest placed racehorse at Badminton. In 2017 & 2018 Arctic Soul, ridden by Gemma Tattersall won this prize. He was a real advertisement for ex racehorses at the very top of eventing and was always a favourite of mine. Unfortunately, earlier this year we got the sad news that he had passed away.
After his back to back wins of this award, the rules changed slightly, so that it could only be won by a horse who hadn’t won it already. In 2019, there were 3 ex racehorses competing at Badminton, 2 of which were eligable for this prize, Captain Jack and Won’t Wait. Won’t Wait, ridden by Clara Loiseau went on to win this prize.
This year, after a 2 year break due to Covid, there is just one horse competing for the ex racehorse prize, Soladoun ridden by Elizabeth Power. While we aren’t at Badminton this year following the action in person, I will still be watching them closely and bringing you the latest on how there are doing.
Lordships Graffalo
I have written about Lordship Graffalo a few times now. I handled him as a yearling during my first year at University before he went on to better things. Those better things being working with some of the best names in eventing! In 2016 he came 3rd in the Burghley Young Event Horse Championship. I have watched him over the years, very excited by the news that he was joining Ros Canter’s yard. Last year he won his first 4* and he is now lining up to tackle his first Badminton Horse Trials. This is hugely exciting and I can’t wait to see how he gets on.
Last Updated on 03/05/2022
