The apple connoisseur: Badminton leader Laura Collett’s groom Tilly Hughes on how to keep London 52 happy

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Published In Features
Laura Collett's groom Tilly Hughes on her charge London 52
Laura Collett trots up Badminton winner London 52
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Laura Collett’s groom Tilly Hughes is breathing a sigh of relief after her charge London 52 delivered the goods in the dressage phase at Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian. “Dan”, as the 13-year-old gelding is known at home, produced a fabulous score of 21 to take the lead after the conclusion of the dressage.

“There’s always pressure with him, because everyone knows how good he is in the dressage,” says Tilly. “It’s nice that he came out and did what we all know he can do, and get the mark he deserved.”

Martha Terry
Martha Terry
Features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.