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‘She proves correct training does develop a horse’: US rider holds Badminton dressage lead overnight

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray has grabbed the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage lead, scoring 28.1 with her long-term partner Cancaras Girl towards the end of the first day of action (7 May).

    The 16-year-old mare, who belongs to her rider and Jatial Ltd, received consistent scores for her beautiful, elegant work, iced with a nine from Angela Tucker at H for her final flying change.

    This pair have completed here for the past two years, finishing 25th in 2024.

    Tiana said: “Two years ago, when she went into third overnight on Thursday night, I was in floods of tears because I couldn’t believe that this little horse had done that. Now I’m going to cry again – to go in the lead at Badminton is the sort of stuff you dream of as a kid.”

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    Tiana continued: “To be at Badminton is a dream – I had a little tear putting her on the lorry for her third Badminton, thinking that was pretty darn special, seeing as she was only supposed to be a project we were going to sell.”

    Tiana was an Olympian in 2012 with Ringwood Magister, but then had a long period away from the top-level of eventing.

    “I had a long period of not having a top horse and having to sell all my good horses and I had kind of resigned myself that I might not get back to top level again,” she said. “She’s the one that got me back here and so she will forever be the most special horse for keeping my career going.”

    Tiana said they call the mare “Nana” at home and she is a “demure, sweet little girl” who doesn’t do drama, although they do have to work hard to keep her eating.

    In terms of Cancaras Girl’s Badminton dressage test, the mark is a testament to training and time rather than talent, said Tiana Coudray.

    “I have a phenomenal team behind us – physios, vets, trainers – just developing that strength,” said Tiana. “She really pleases me because she proves that correct training does develop a horse. She wasn’t a flashy mover and she didn’t do a good test as a young horse.

    “But if you keep training and keep training, the theory is it’s supposed to make them stronger and more supple and athletic and she really proves that. It’s just been chipping away and letting her develop in her own time.”

    Tiana said she was actually a little disappointed with some small mistakes in her test today.

    “The flying changes have always been her highlight,” she said. “So it was a real positive when we got her to advanced and then to five-star, where she’s got four changes in a test.

    “We messed up our first one a bit today – she locked on to the cross-country jump and came off the aids. So that’s one of the places where potentially she could have another nine.

    “But overall it’s really exciting, and I’m really glad that the judges rewarded what we felt was happening at home.”

    British rider Will Rawlin grabbed second in the final stages of today’s dressage on 29.3, riding Ballycoog Breaker Boy, with Bubby Upton and Cola on 29.8 holding third at the end of the day.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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