{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}

Kirsty Short’s Badminton first-timer blog: Badminton’s cross-country course looks right up our street, but will we or won’t we?

Eventing videos 67 Videos 'It has been a long time coming': rider returns to win back Blenheim title after 16-year gap 00:36 Blenheim win for Christopher Burton by narrowest of margins 00:51 'He pricked his ears and kept going': Julia Krajewski heads Blenheim CCI3* with Pippa Funnell best of the Brits 02:37 'You have to use your head': top riders share their thoughts on Blenheim's cross-country tracks 01:35 'He is a real showman': Izzy Taylor springs into Blenheim Event Rider Masters' lead 02:37 ‘We really have to work for it’: Germany edge ahead at Blenheim CCI3* 03:01 Switching disciplines: former showjumper in the lead at Blenheim 01:10 All eyes on Tokyo 2020: meet the team behind Britain’s renewed eventing success 01:26 Ever wondered what it takes to be a doctor at Burghley? Watch this video to find out… 01:43 'It's effort after effort': top riders share their thoughts on the 2017 Burghley cross-country course 03:45 What do Zara Tindall, Mark Todd and Harry Meade make of the 2017 Burghley course? 03:47 Burghley Paws Trials: top dogs take on four-star track 02:37 Training with Toddy for ‘surprise’ Burghley entry 01:00 'It was pure fun': nail-biting finish to cross-country at Badminton 01:27 Shock result on final day of Badminton: record-breaker takes emotional victory 02:40 History made at Bramham as first Japanese rider takes CCI3* title: disappointment for overnight leader 00:49 'That was nerve-wracking!': Will Furlong takes Bramham under-25 title on dramatic final day 00:53 'I'm chuffed to bits': Izzy Taylor speeds to Bramham CIC3* victory 00:48 'She's so gutsy': Will Furlong takes commanding lead in Bramham under-25 00:35 'I couldn't ride at all last week': Paul Tapner leads Bramham CIC3* 00:41 Emily King best of the Brits in Bramham under-25: French dominate 01:18 'She's a little star but also hysterical': Gemma Tattersall has commanding CCI3* dressage lead at Bramham 00:50 H&H Champs: 'I held my breath' — islander takes 80cm spoils 00:54 H&H Champs: 'I've felt sick all day' — rider fights off nerves to secure 90cm victory 00:55 H&H Champs: catch ride rewarded after 15 hour journey 01:05 H&H Champs: 90cm class goes down to the wire on cross-country day 01:35 H&H Champs: 'cheeky' Fergus springs into the lead 01:40 H&H Champs: Super Szuca posts personal best to take the lead 03:00 Event Rider Masters at Chatsworth: 13-14 May 02:29 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: it didn't quite go to plan 01:16 'The biggest Badminton I've ever seen': riders' first reaction to the cross-country course 02:41 'I can't believe it': Burghley winner leads the way at Badminton 01:01 Frenchman leads the way at Badminton dressage: popular British combination withdrawn 01:26 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: the cross-country is one thing, but first I have to survive the dressage 02:14 France and Germany dominate on day one of Badminton dressage: first-timers are best Brits 00:55 Mark Todd aims for fifth Badminton victory: 'I don't have any plans to stop eventing' 01:00 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: Badminton's cross-country course looks right up our street, but will we or won't we? 00:26 Badminton first-timers: Lydia Hannon — ‘I owe this horse everything’ 02:30 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: so near, yet so far away 01:25 BE JAS final at Hartpury: 19 February 3:59:06 Watch an event rider jump through the VIP hospitality tent 02:46 Ride around Burghley Horse Trials with William Fox-Pitt *HATCAM* 09:44 Ben Way's Burghley blog: It sounded like the apocalypse 02:54 Ben Way's Burghley blog: I need to change my name from Ben to Bettina 03:50 Walk the Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course with designer Mark Phillips 23:06 William Fox-Pitt walks the Burghley course: ‘There’s no point flapping and hoping’ 03:55 3, 2, 1, GO! Explore the 2016 Burghley cross-country course exclusively with free runners 02:56 Riders' first reactions to the 2016 Badminton cross-country course 03:06 Ian Stark walks the toughest fences at Badminton Horse Trials 2016 03:31 Walk the Badminton 2016 cross-country course 21:51 Lucinda Green: how to string cross-country fences together with a young horse 04:50 Lucinda Green: How to tackle coffins 04:13 Tim Price’s top tips for your first cross-country school of the year 01:33 ‘Repetition is key’ — Jonelle Price’s top tips for solving cross-country problems 01:31 What is day-to-day life like on Piggy French's yard? 04:44 Jonelle Price: I'm a bit of a thrill-seeker really 01:31 Tim Price: the scariest thing I've ever done 01:32 Caring for your horse's legs after cross-country: what you need to know 03:00 Ruth Edge: How to ride the perfect 10m circle 01:18 Harry Meade: ‘Life is about challenges — we don’t know what’s ahead of us' 02:54 Walk the 2015 Burghley cross-country course with Blyth Tait 03:34 Yogi Breisner: How to jump a sunken road on a cross-country course 03:32 Yogi Breisner: How to jump ditch combinations on a cross-country course 02:09 Yogi Breisner: How to ride ditches 02:42 Yogi Breisner: How to ride safe turns across country 02:10 Yogi Breisner: How to tackle water when riding cross-country 02:16 Yogi Breisner: How to use your horse's gears while riding cross-country 01:33

  • It is just under three weeks until the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials! I have even been looking at the cross-country course online. It looks right up mine and Bouncer’s (Cossan Lad) street — big, bold and old fashioned. The only problem is will we get in, or won’t we?

    The wait list doesn’t seem to be going down very quickly but as we all know from previous years, there is still time. Burnham Market Horse Trials is this weekend and many of my fellow competitors will be making the big decision afterwards to see whether they will be ready for Badminton in time or not.

    I have sent off our forms to Badminton giving all of mine and Bouncer’s information. I have also caught up on paper work now — I have decided to take Cortage to Saumur at the end of May. I didn’t send off Bouncer’s application as I am not re-routing him if we sadly don’t make it in, we will aim for Burghley instead.

    Bouncer and Cortie being models

    Bouncer is feeling very fit, fresh and feisty which would be fantastic if I hadn’t had woman flu all week. I have however, carried on riding and Bouncer hasn’t missed out on any day’s training.

    During the summer months Bouncer lives out at night and as I have three to turn out, Bouncer kindly walks himself to and from the field — if I let him do this then he lets me catch him in the morning — he really is a funny boy.

    We have now ridden through the Badminton test I am actually excited. I really like these new tests.

    Last week we had an exciting Friday having a photo shoot with one of my sponsors, Teddy Edwards. Bouncer thought that being a super model definitely wasn’t his next career option — he did manage to perform but Cortage was a much better model and will definitely get a recall next time we have a photo shoot. I must say a huge thanks to Teddy Edwards for all their support — it is an exciting venture and the clothes are just fantastic. I think my favourite item has to be the Belvoir coat — it is quilted and waterproof so great for horse trials.

    We went cross-country schooling last week. My super five-year-old Kilcoltrim Katxi (Kitty) was amazing. I think she might just be my next top horse. We purchased her from the Monart sale in Ireland in 2015 and is a very exciting prospect for the future.

    I also managed some long hacks in the beautiful sunshine we had last week (I actually now have tan lines). With it being the Easter holidays at uni I have had some more spare time. Naturally I spend it on the yard with the horses and I’m sure this means I can consume more chocolate that I usually do (my athlete’s diet).

    Cortie

    I have been lucky enough to fit some grooming in for the team at home too. We ventured off to Breckenbrough Horse Trials and all the horses performed exceptionally. Niall Griffin and Polly Jackson Griffin (on whose yard I am based) stepped some of their youngsters up to novice and they all went clear with great sub-30 dressage marks. I love a day’s grooming especially when the babies that you knew from breakers are now all grown up.

    Next week I am planning on going off showjumping and we have our last run at Kelsall Hill open intermediate. Hopefully we will have a good run and I will update you all on next week’s news.

    Kirsty and Bouncer

    You may like...