Trevor Breen: I’ve got an extra Derby ride

In the run-up to the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting, Trevor Breen will be blogging about his Derby horse, Adventure De Kannan

The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting is now less than a week away, and I can’t wait.

I’m pleased to report that Adventure De Kannan (pictured top) is going well after picking up a minor injury earlier in the season. I’ve been working on his fitness, going on the gallops and doing some canter work, and last week I took him to his first show since his return to work.

We went to the new CSI3* at Bolesworth to do some of the smaller classes, to make sure Addy was jumping fit and could withstand several days of competition. He felt really fresh, and was obviously pleased to be back out competing — he hated having to stay at home and he’s delighted to be getting lots of attention again.

I’ve also got another horse to compete in the Equestrian.com Derby, which is really exciting. Patricia Brown’s Loughnatousa WB won the Derby in 2012 with Paul Beecher (pictured right) and was placed 5th last year with Michael Lonsdale, so he’s a horse with a great derby record. He seems a really nice horse, a little bit sharp, but he definitely wants to do the job. I’ve only ridden him 3 times so I’m in at the deep end a bit, but if things go right and we can click quickly, he’d have a good chance of jumping well.

I’d absolutely love to win the Derby and now I’ve got 2 horses capable of doing it, which is amazing. I want them both to do well, but I have to say, winning on Addy would be the sweetest because of the years of training I’ve done with him, and having come so close with him for the past couple of years.

There are no more shows for Addy between now and Hickstead, so I’ll just do a bit more training, jump a replica Dyke and practise on my Derby bank at home, and then it’s just a case of keeping him fresh and ticking over.

We’ll head down to the showground on Wednesday, with around 14 horses – 10 of my own rides and 4 ridden by my wife Caroline. Our daughter Mia will be coming too so it’s a bit of a Breen invasion! Caroline is hoping to do the Speed Derby this year, and it would be great if we could both do well in that class.

I love coming to Hickstead. My brother Shane is based there, so it’s like a second home to me. I love the tradition and sense of history of the showground, and looking at the boards that list all the past Derby winners, people like Eddie Macken and Paul Schockemöhle. To have my name up there too would be unreal.

Watch classic Hickstead Derby winning rounds

Be part of this year’s Equestrian.com Derby – join the Hickstead Derby Community

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