Countdown to Badminton: Meet first-timer Olivia Haddow

Olivia Haddow and her “naughty little coloured cob” Patris Filius caught the eye when taking seventh place after the dressage at Burghley Horse Trials last year. Unfortunately their Burghley debut ended with a spectacular fall at the first water, but this 23-year-old isn’t going to let a minor setback that like get in her way of her burgeoning eventing career.

This year she is heading to Badminton with 15.1hh (on his tip toes) Filius, who was sold as a three-year-old at Abergavenny Market before starting his eventing career under Vicky Tuffs. He joined the Haddow family as a Pony Club ride for Olivia’s younger sister, Ailie, but it was far from love at first sight for his current rider.

From humble beginnings — Filius is believed to be by a Gypsy Cob stallion out of a flapper mare — this clever coloured with the brain of a pony and the stride of a horse helped Britain win team gold at the Young Rider Europeans in 2005. Rating this as one of the best moments of her career so far, Olivia also describes finishing fifth in their first three-star competition at Bramham in 2006 as a highlight.

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