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We are here! It is absolutely amazing and not like anything I could have imagined, everyone is so helpful and welcoming.
We arrived late on Tuesday evening as I decided to take it easy and not to rush. Although guess what — I did I managed to get lost getting into the event itself.
We drove past the caravans and then looped back round to where we started — it’s ok, we were just checking where everything was for later this week…
Bouncer has settled in to his stable very well, the yard is magnificent and ike no other event, I feel like I have stepped back in time 200 years.
I had a dressage lesson on Wednesday morning, then went to see Champion in the World of the Horse stand to get kitted out in some new hats and a body protector, all very comfortable and the body protector is especially light.
We then went to visit Sian at Equiture, also in the World of the Horse stand, who have beautiful brow bands, hopefully the extra sparkle will give us an extra mark.
My support team spent several hours in the afternoon prepping for the trot-up, Dave made bouncer look a million dollars and Amy took for a hand graze to dry off after his bath, much to his disgust.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The mud is… interesting, and we will be doing a lot of bathing this week.
I’m so pleased that we passed the trot-up, although I know Bouncer is fine I tend to get very worked up at vet inspections in case the horse does anything silly at that last minute.
After finishing this blog post, I’m off for an evening ride to do some canter poles, just to keep Bouncer happy and not too fresh, then a late night course walk — I’ll update you all on Thursday on what it is like.
Love,
Kirsty and Bouncer
Read our full Badminton preview in the current issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 26 April 2018), with course walk insight from Mary King plus full form guide for every horse and rider
Our bumper 24-page Badminton preview will be in our 10 May issue, including opinion from Oliver Townend, Mark Phillips and Peter Storr.
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Kirsty is an international event rider who has competed up to four-star level. She is also a mature student at Nottingham Trent University where she studies sports education and psychology.
