Some top-level equine athletes are obvious stars from the off. Others are ugly ducklings who blossom into swans over time. For Yasmin Ingham, her top horse Banzai Du Loir definitely falls into the former category.
“He is one of the most naturally talented and exciting horses I’ve ever had the privilege of riding,” she said in an interview back in 2021, when Banzai was just starting to come to public attention.
Yasmin Ingham riding Banzai Du Loir at Aston-le-Walls in the spring of 2021.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Yasmin first tried Banzai in 2019, when he was eight years old. A Selle Français by Nouma D’Auzay, he had been produced by Axel Coutte in France and was bought by Yasmin’s loyal owner Sue Davies and her daughter Janette Chinn through event horse agent Rachel Wakefield.
“I honestly got on and didn’t want to get off,” said Yasmin. “He was just so powerful and excelled in every single phase – we did all three while I was there trying him. I was looking for faults and I couldn’t find any. Sue and Janette were super keen to get their hands on him.”
Early events
The first year Yasmin had Banzai Du Loir, 2019, she only managed to compete in a few events on him because she had a fall from another horse that summer. But they did finish the year with an intermediate win at Oasby in October. The pair’s first proper season should have been 2020, but of course with Covid-19, the year ended up being “very bitty”.
“But it was amazing to step up to four-star the end of 2020, and he had a great result at Burgham in his first four-star – he did a 27.9 dressage and jumped a double clear with two time-faults and ended up in the top 10 there,” said Yasmin.
The pair then went to the eight-and-nine-year-old championship, held that year at Burnham Market due to the cancellation of Blenheim Horse Trials, and stepped into the spotlight when they won this prestigious class.
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Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir representing Britain at the World Championships in 2022.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“He’s incredible in the dressage, fast, agile and brave across country and coming into the showjumping, he showed everybody he was jumping a clear and there were no two ways about it,” said Yasmin after her win.
The year after, 2023, was a tougher one for Yasmin. Banzai’s part-owner Sue Davies died in January. The horse now runs in the name of The Sue Davies Fund, plus Sue’s daughter Janette retains part-ownership.
Banzai may be a top performer, but he’s also a character to look after – his moniker is the banana emoji and he loves nothing more than a good roll.
In an interview at the 2022 World Championships Yasmin’s groom Alison Bell said: “He’s been rolling everywhere, digging holes and it’s just been chaos trying to keep him clean. More and more mud patches appear every time I bring him out for a hand-graze!
“We call him ‘Hippo’ at home – he spends about 10 minutes a time just on the floor, paddling around like a hippo – he wallows in any filthy patch he can possibly find all year round. Winter is the worst experience – I think he loves to get dirty so that you’re forced to brush him because then he’ll fall asleep and he’s got all the attention with all eyes on him.”
Listen to Yasmin talking about Banzai by listening to episode 54 from The Horse & Hound Podcast archive here, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.
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Yasmin Ingham riding BANZAI DU LOIR in Adv Section B, during the Aston-le-Walls Elite competition held at Washbrook Farm near Daventry in Northamptonshire in the UK on 31st March 2021
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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.
