Royal Windsor Horse Show blog: inter-hunt relay chaos and cufflinks
“Do they let eventing journalists in here?” demanded Badminton Horse Trials director Hugh Thomas as we met in the Royal Box at the Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday.
Had I been quicker, I might have asked if they let horse trials directors in, instead of which I merely stuttered that I’d been invited (with an embossed invitation on card so thick I could barely fold it to get it in my pocket) so I had come.
So we chewed over Badminton a bit and then I sat next to British Equestrian Federation performance director Will Connell at lunch and we chewed over it a little more, so it wasn’t until after lunch when we spilled out to watch the inter-hunt relay that I really thought much about being at Windsor.
It’s a few years since I’ve been to this show, but its steeped in my blood through various family connections and I enjoyed my afternoon.
The hunt relay was chaotic but fun. A few falls, a nappy horse or two, a poor girl whose saddle slipped, depositing her off the side after her first jump. My favourite was the person whose team-mate fell beside her — I thought she was jumping off to give First Aid, but she merely wanted to grab the baton so her hunt could continue the race.
Then I did a little shopping. I can’t tell you what I bought — mostly presents and too many of the intended recipients read the H&H website. But if you go to Windsor, do check out Thomas & Co Ltd’s cufflink selection…
And then I retreated to the Royal Box, which I occupied for a while in solitary state (pictured), wondering if people were trying to work out which minor Royal I might be.
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I have to admit I only watched a few in the final Land Rover Open Show Jumping Competition, because it was freezing. Summer, it seems, was those few days last weekend. And I do think if you can no longer feel your hands and you’re not reporting, it’s acceptable to leave a show.
So I popped back onto the train. That’s a great thing about Windsor — being so near the station. Leave the car at home, have a glass of wine. Or, if summer ever returns, perhaps a Pimm’s?
Pippa
Read H&H’s full report on the showing, show jumping, driving and endurance at Windsor, out next Thursday (16 May).
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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.