Badminton Diary 2008

For Dengie Horse Feeds.
 
Highleadon is homebred so I know him inside out and from a feeding point of view that really helps as over the years I have found out what really suits him.  It has always been an ambition of mine to ride at Badminton and I have always had great faith in Highleadon (aka Rodney) so to have completed on him this year has been very special.  I am now looking forward to many more Badmintons in the future. 
 
Rodney stayed in steady work over the winter as he can take a while to settle back into work if he really gets into the swing of a holiday.  Also, my aim was to take him to Badminton this spring and for various reasons he had had a quite '07 season so i was doing a few shows and having some lessons on him.  Now in hindsight thank good ness I did as he ended up missing all his events in March not just because of the weather but also from 2 seperate illness 's where he missed alot of work, this was where i fortunately feed him a high fibre diet plenty of grass, good hay adlib, Dengie Alfa A Oil and some low energy nuts with some sugar beat so during this time it was easy to cut back on his hard food (nuts) and still keep his condition and mantain his fitness and keep his brain in tact!  I adventually took him to 2 events and had to give him quiet runs for his fitness as in my mind I was hoping I would still get into Badminton.  I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 events without the pressure of being into Badminton. 
 
When my mobile rang the Thursday before Badminton to say I was in I was so excited, Rodney was being massaged at the time in the hope that we would get in.  The weekend went very quickly I made sure everything was kept to the normal routine and by the Tuesday morning we were packed ready to go!!
 
I drove the lorry with my two sisters who were helping me all week, I obviously didn't read my directions very well as we went under a really low bridge into Badminton village fortunately without damageing the lorry and parked up outside the village hall for the vets to check the passport matches the horse - as if i was going to take a novice horse to Badminton in Rodney's place?!  All the years I have been to Badminton I had never seen the stable yard, its like going back in time the yard is amazing.  This is one of the things that makes the event so special.  It was raining hard and it was cold, but Rod's settled in to his stable he has done enough 3 days to know the routine and it doesnt put him off his food. 
 
Wednesday morning I finally rode on the famous turf, great feeling, Rods was excited at the thought of it too!!  After the riders briefing and the trot up we were both surprised to see so many at the trot up it was back to some more dressage, I was drawn fifth to go (early for a first timer) so I had to get him settled before his Thursday morning dressage, knowing him like I do I knew after his second session of the day he would calm down and he did!
 
He did a lovely test, one small mistake in the canter but I was pleased with him, the judges could have been a little more generous in the trot work but it was never going to be a dressage competition.  I then walked the course for the first time, on my first walk I walk it to have a look and and get a feel, not making any decetions until my next walk, which was that afternoon with Pippa Funnell.  This took some time as we went into great detail of every fence.  Walking Badminton to ride it on the Saturday is quite different to walking it to have a look!  Reception in the main house for owners and riders followed by another early night - its amazing how tiring it is at a three day. 
 
Friday morning I walked the course, before Rods had a hack around the park and a pipe opener ready for saturday, it was good for him to see some of the crowds and settle amongst it all.  I walked the course again went threw the next day with all my supporters.  Supper and again to bed.  Suprisingly I slept well.
 
Waking up on Saturday morning, the lorry park has a very differnt feel to it.  I saw Rod as normal first thing and then went on my final walk, its interesting how much changes on the course that morning -  the odd flower pot or rope.   Rodney and I went down early enough for him to have plenty of work before I had the most fantastic ride.  I had one silly run out at a corner in an otherwise great round.  He fortunatly had plenty of time that afternoon for hand grazing and ice etc etc before he was finally clayed and bandaged for the night feeling very pleased with himself and rightly so.  Rodney always eats up and loves electrolites, so if he doesn't I know I have trouble.
 
Sunday morning is always a muddle, washing clay off, gentle hack for 20 mins, plaiting, putting patterns on all before the trot up.  He trotted up well.  I was then in the first group to show - jump and he knocked a few down, he doesn't find it easy after galloping for four miles the day before, but he completed his first Badminton.  The stable yard and lorry park begin to look empty as everyone starts loading up again to leave some happier than others.  Rodney was pleased to have a couple of hours grass that evening in his field at home, I only live a hour from the event.
 
It took us both a couple of days before it caught up on us, Rodney is now having a couple of weeks of spring grass having had a clean bill of health from Chris Rea my vet before he starts his build up to Burghley in September - and I cann't wait.

Tor