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Badminton first-timers: Lydia Hannon — ‘I owe this horse everything’

Playlist 19 Videos New rider tops Badminton leader board after seven year absence from the event 01:05 History made at Bramham as first Japanese rider takes CCI3* title: disappointment for overnight leader 00:49 'She's a little star but also hysterical': Gemma Tattersall has commanding CCI3* dressage lead at Bramham 00:50 'I couldn't ride at all last week': Paul Tapner leads Bramham CIC3* 00:41 Shock result on final day of Badminton: record-breaker takes emotional victory 02:40 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: it didn't quite go to plan 01:16 'It was pure fun': nail-biting finish to cross-country at Badminton 01:27 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: I'm disappointed but this isn't going to be a dressage competition 01:31 'I can't believe it': Burghley winner leads the way at Badminton 01:01 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 'The biggest Badminton I've ever seen': riders' first reaction to the cross-country course 02:41 Frenchman leads the way at Badminton dressage: popular British combination withdrawn 01:26 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: so near, yet so far away 01:25 Badminton first-timers: Lydia Hannon — ‘I owe this horse everything’ 02:30 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 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

  • Oxfordshire-based Lydia Hannon explains how she joined up with her Badminton ride, My Royal Touch

    Lydia Hannon makes her Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials debut this year with My Royal Touch. Carol and Chris Harris bought the 13-year-old black mare by Touchdown for her some seven years ago.

    At the time, Lydia was working for New Zealand eventer Lucy Jackson.

    “They rang me up and said, ‘You need a decent horse — we know you can’t afford to buy one, so we’re going to buy you one and you run it’,” remembers Lydia. “I think I burst into tears. I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is ridiculous’.”

    Lydia Hannon riding MY ROYAL TOUCH during the Oasby (1) Horse Trials at Foxdale in Oasby near Grantham in Lincolnshire, UK; on 13th March 2015

    A man of action, Chris made contact with the Irish agent Clare Ryan and rang Lydia to say they were off to look at a horse.

    “I was like, ‘Oh my god, this shit’s getting real’,” says Lydia. “So we go over and try this black mare. She basically fell out of the stable, with legs everywhere, but I thought she was so beautiful. Mum said: ‘Look at her conformation, it’s terrible.’ I got on her and I had no idea what I was feeling for. Chris asked what I thought and I just turned around and said, ‘I feel so safe on her’.”

    My Royal Touch (“Missy”) had done a couple of one-stars under Irish rider John Bannon and she and Lydia moved up the grades together. Last year they completed their first four-star at Luhmühlen in Germany and then finished third in the CCI3* at Blenheim.

    Lydia Hannon riding My Royal Touch at her base, The Old Rectory in the village of Britwell Salome near Watlington in Oxfordshire, UK on 29th March 2017

    “We’ve learnt the ropes together,” says Lydia. “She’s been phenomenal, my crash test dummy. I’ve tried and tested everything to find out what works and what doesn’t. I owe her everything and wouldn’t be eventing without her. I love her to bits.”

    ‘They’ve given me a system’

    Over the years, Lydia has built up a support team who will be on hand to help her at Badminton.

    Jeremy Scott trains her in the showjumping and Andrew Fletcher on the flat.

    “They’ve given me a system to work the horses so that as you get up through the levels, nothing changes. Hopefully that leads to happy ponies,” she says.

    Nigel Taylor will walk the cross-country course with her.

    “Nigel makes me laugh,” she says. “I’ll be panicking and he says: ‘Lyds, just sit up and kick. Do as I tell you and you’ll be fine, but don’t do as I tell you and you’ll probably stuff up’. It’s worked for me at the big ones so far.”

    Lydia’s mother Della will be there, as well as Juliet Lock, a chiropractor who will work with Missy after the cross-country.

    Lydia Hannon riding My Royal Touch at her base, The Old Rectory in the village of Britwell Salome near Watlington in Oxfordshire, UK on 29th March 2017

    “She’s the first person I go to if any of the horses aren’t right,” says Lydia. “She’s been really good at helping me pick and choose where to run the horses — when they are physically good enough, fit enough, strong enough. She’s also great with my mental approach.”

    Finally, Lydia expects to have strong support from her sponsors, Saddle Doctors, who have been with her since junior days and supplements companies Lintbells.

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