Bubby leads the Badminton-bound Cola down the drive at her parents’ house near Newmarket, where she keeps the horses. Bubby has combined her university studies in Edinburgh with competing a string of nine from Suffolk
Horse & Hound takes a tour round Bubby Upton’s yard near Newmarket in Suffolk, as she prepares for her first crack at Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, with Cola III. Bubby was European junior champion with Eros DHI, and took the British under-25 crown at Bicton last summer on Cannavaro, and holds a glut of other championship medals. As she winds up her university degree in sports management this summer, Bubby stands on the cusp of very exciting professional senior career. She has five advanced horses who could be aiming for five-star this season, plus her young rider star Eros DHI to campaign at four-star.
Bubby Upton's yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The British under-25 champion Cannavaro takes in the view from his double-aspect stable. Cannavaro is being primed for a tilt at Luhmühlen CCI5*.
Bubby Upton with Cola III at her yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
“Cola is very chilled in general, but he can really spook when you are riding him”: Bubby rides past the paddocks aboard Cola, who is notoriously spooky to ride. Her horses enjoy plenty of turnout, typically going out at night in the summer months.
Badminton final scores
Bubby Upton with Jefferson 18 and Clever Louis owned by Dr Geoffrey Guy and Mrs Kate Guy from Chedington Equestrian at her yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Bubby with her two new advanced rides, Clever Louis and Jefferson 18. She acquired the rides after Bicton last year, after meeting Dr Geoffrey and Kate Guy – they have since become her owners and their business Chedington Equestrian her new sponsor.
Bubby Upton with (L to R) Jefferson 18, Clever Louis, Magic Roundabout IV, Cannavaro and Cola III along with Pumba and Zazu at her yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Five horses gunning for five-star. Each one has potential CCI5* entry pencilled in for this season – Bubby made her debut at the level at Pau last autumn, finishing 12th on Cola. From left to right: Jefferson, Clever Louis, Magic Roundabout IV, Cannavaro and Cola, plus the family bull terriers!
Katie Dutton, Bubby Upton's Groom, with Cola III at Bubby's yard in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
A kiss for Cola. Head girl Katie Dutton spends a quiet moment with the stable star.
Katie Dutton and Emma Pearson, Bubby Upton's Grooms, with Bubby Upton and Cola III at Bubby's yard in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
“It’s such a team effort to do all those early starts and late finishes,” says Bubby, pictured with grooms Katie and Emma Pearson. “I’m the lucky one who gets to pick up the prizes but it’s an astronomical team effort with how much I put on my plate.”
Bubby Upton with Eros DHI at her yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
“He is my best friend – he’s taught me both how to win and how to lose,” says Bubby of Eros DHI, the 15.2hh whom she has partnered to multiple European youth championships. Although he will be kept to four-star short this season following injury, Bubby adores riding him: “He’s like putting on an old pair of shoes.”
Bubby Upton's yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The tack room is awash with rosettes and sashes.
Bubby Upton's yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Plaques to record the major events at which Bubby has already competed – this wall will be filling up fast over the next few years.
Bubby Upton's yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The exercise board.
Cross Country facilities at Bubby Upton's yard at her parents house in the village of Herringswell near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk in the UK, on the 26th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Bubby does most of her cross-country schooling over the course on her parents’ farm. It started out with grassroots fences for her mother Rachel when she was competing, and has since developed as Bubby has moved up the levels.
Don’t miss the full interview with Bubby in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound, which is out today (5 May).
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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.
