Ros Canter has blasted into the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage lead with a super test this morning (8 May) on four-time five-star winner Lordships Graffalo.
The defending champions scored 23.7 and so sit 4.4 penalties ahead of the overnight leader, Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray with Cancaras Girl, at this stage.
Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo demonstrated a super frame during his test, with his nose just in front of the vertical. His trotwork was very secure and relaxed and he gained two nines from Angela Tucker at H and Amanda Miller at B for his mid-test halt.
If there was a moment of tension, it was towards the end of the walk, but the following canter work was excellent, including a nine for one of the changes from Amanda Miller – particularly pleasing as the changes have been where this pair have sometimes lost marks in the past.
Badminton dressage after a baby for Ros Canter
Ros had her second daughter Seneh three and a half months ago and so has made an impressive comeback to ride at Badminton.
“It’s been a funny few weeks, having just had a baby, and focus is a very different thing at the moment, so I’ve had to work really hard the last few days to make sure I’m in the right frame of mind,” said Ros Canter after her Badminton dressage test.
“I was possibly a little bit stressed this morning, but I gave myself a word, had a bit of time by myself, and came out with a real plan. So I’m just delighted that it paid off.”
Ros has Seneh with her at Badminton.
“I said goodbye to her a good hour and a half before my test, because I didn’t want to be anywhere near her – pumped a load of milk out my boobs to flatten me off a bit – and then away I go,” she said, adding that her older daughter Ziggy and husband Chris McAleese are coming to Badminton later today.
Talking about coming back from having Seneh to ride at the top level so quickly, Ros said: “It’s just been a process. It’s one of those things where, when you are on a timeframe, like I’ve been, you perhaps get on a little bit sooner than you ought to, and then you start worrying that the tummy is never going to knock back into shape and things like that. And then all of a sudden, it gradually just does.
“I just haven’t had the time to let it do that and then get back on. I’ve been doing it as part of the process, so it always makes me a bit worried in my head.
“But physically, I feel good and mentally, I feel good when I’m on a horse. There’s just lots to do at the moment and my time is pushed so it’s just trying to factor in those moments to be a mum and to be an athlete.”
Ros added that her flying changes weren’t on point this morning and explained how she has to balance that movement with “Walter”.
She explained: “I’m absolutely delighted because I think I rode them just how he needs me to ride a change. He’s not a horse that really would ever just choose to do a flying change, so I have to change the canter slightly. Last year I had the canter a bit hot and then I missed the changes, so it’s a really fine balance with him to get them relaxed, but on the ball.”
“She would have gone into her shell like a tortoise”
Harry Meade was first into the arena this morning with his second ride, Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter’s Annaghmore Valoner. The pair put in a super test, with the mare demonstrating lovely uphill balance, and scored 30.3 to hold sixth at this stage.
“For me with her, it’s all about the softness of her brain and then allowing everything to come out and up and in front of her, said Harry.
“She’s a horse that would naturally have gone into a shell like a tortoise, shrinking back with a short neck, and gone quickly and breathed heavily. And so for me, it’s all been about filling her with confidence and enjoyment, never ever making her feel like she’s done something wrong.
“If there’s a mistake, I say, ‘Sorry, that’s my mistake’ and then I do it again. It’s really important for her confidence that she’s able to exhale and then really grow and travel with that freedom and liberty and flair.”
Wills Oakden’s Badminton dressage performance
Harry was followed by Wills Oakden, who had an early mistake when Elspeth and Geoff Adam’s 11-year-old Keep It Cooley misunderstood the aids to change from shoulder-in to half-pass and cantered. They then pulled off a good test to receive a mark of 29.4. They sit in fourth at the break.
“We love the horse and he’s still young and immature at this level, so this week’s about just trying to give him mileage and exposure in this kind of atmosphere and around that kind of track,” said Wills.
“We’re delighted with him around his test other than that one mistake and it’s so annoying, because it’s normally his best movement as well, but it is what it is. Everyone has a hard luck story somewhere in the week and if that’s the worst that’s going to happen this week then that’ll be fine and we’ll move on.”
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