Alice Dunsdon’s Badminton blog: I’m sorry we didn’t do it

I don’t know what to say really. We didn’t do it.

Hilly (Fernhill Present) for some reason was not the horse I normally know across country. I wish horses could talk you and tell you how they are feeling.

He jumped through Huntsman’s Close well but as we came down to fence eight, the first water, he put the brakes on. I don’t know if he was surprised by the water or the crowd but on the second attempt he jumped it but still he was sticky.

I went on to jump fence nine, the Jack Wills Garden, which he jumped well then he was super through 10, 11 and 12, the Swindon Designer Outlet Mound. On to 13 a big oxer which he jumped well but coming up to fence 14, the Mirage Pond, he didn’t want to know and here we were eliminated.

I wish I could tell you why he stopped and I wish he could tell me. Back at the stables we checked him over and he seems well in himself and sound but maybe there is an underlying issue we don’t know about? When we get home I will get him thoroughly checked over again and have bloods taken in case there is a virus.

Badminton final scores

It could have been a lot worse and I am grateful we left the course in one piece and hopefully we will be back to fight another day.

Depending on how Hilly is we will try and qualify for Badminton again but his well-being is my top priority.

Thank you so much for all of your support and I am sorry we didn’t do it.

Continued below…

Read more from Alice Dunsdon:

Alice Dunsdon’s Badminton blog: ‘I was fully aware that I looked about as much ‘dressage’ as a hippo’

Alice Dunsdon’s Badminton blog: I had a huge trot-up day spot, so I rang my vet…

Alice Dunsdon’s Badminton blog: We’re in! Now how much cotton wool do we have?

Hilly is still a once in a lifetime horse and he has already broken records by being the first horse from the Northern Hemisphere to complete Adelaide four-star and the first horse to compete at all six four-stars around the world. I am very proud of him and he owes me nothing.

Thank you again for following my journey and hopefully we will be back at Badminton next year.

Love,

Alice and Hilly xx

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