‘It’s mind-blowing’: meet Badminton first-timer Amanda Pottinger and her ‘gutsy’ little thoroughbred

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Amanda Pottinger Badminton Horse Trials
Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding clear the LeMieux Leap at Badminton Horse Trials.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Riding is in the blood of Badminton Horse Trials debutante, Amanda Pottinger, who is from New Zealand. Her mother, Tinks, was fourth at the Gloucestershire event in 1988 and was also an Olympic team bronze medallist in the same year.

Amanda’s Badminton mount, Just Kidding, is a diminutive thoroughbred who is by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus – a horse who also subsequently set a record at auction, selling for US$70m to Coolmore Stud, making him the world’s most expensive horse. Just Kidding is 16 now and is owned by Amanda Pottinger and her family.

Gemma Redrup
Gemma Redrup
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.