Olympic medallist Clayton Fredericks will design his first five-star cross-country course at next year’s Adelaide Equestrian Festival (15-18 April 2027).

Clayton was part of the Australian silver medal-winning eventing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and won individual silver and team bronze at the 2006 World Championships. In recent years, his focus has turned to designing cross-country courses and coaching.

Only a handful of people have designed at the highest level, so this appointment is significant news both for Clayton’s own course-designing career and in the context of the wider sport.

He will succeed Britain’s Mike Etherington-Smith; Mike will stay on in the role of course advisor, and Ewan Kellett will support Clayton as assistant course-designer. Mick Pineo will continue as cross-country lead at the fixture.

Clayton said he is “incredibly honoured” to accept the position.

“Adelaide is one of the world’s iconic eventing competitions, combining elite sport with a spectacular city setting,” he said.

“Having competed at Adelaide in the inaugural year of 1997, I have a deep appreciation for the event’s history and significance. My goal is to build on the outstanding work of Mike Etherington-Smith and the festival team by designing courses that are challenging, fair and, above all, safe for both horse and rider.”

Mike said he is “absolutely delighted to see Clayton take on this challenge”.

“Having worked closely with him at a number of venues around the world, I have seen first-hand his passion for the sport, his attention to detail and his understanding of what makes a great cross-country course,” he said.

“I have every confidence that he is the right person to design the Adelaide course.”

Clayton also holds other international course design and assistant designer roles. This includes serving as assistant to Burghley’s course-designer Derek di Grazia at this year’s event, alongside fellow assistant Andrew Heffernan. Clayton and Andrew are doing a masterclass on the Thursday (3 September) of Burghley.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival event director Kirsty Withers said Clayton’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the event.

“Clayton’s achievements as both an athlete and course designer have earned him enormous respect throughout the global eventing community,” she said.

“Together with Ewan, Mick and the best course-building team in the region, this exceptional group will continue to strengthen the Adelaide Equestrian Festival’s reputation as one of the world’s premier five-star events.”

She added: “I’m also delighted that Mike Etherington-Smith will continue his long-standing association in his new role as course advisor, ensuring his invaluable knowledge and experience remain part of Adelaide’s future.”

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Olympic medallist Clayton Fredericks (pictured, bel0w) will be among the judges for the 2026 Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse finals (4 September).

The final, which is held during the week of the CCI5* Defender Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, has an £8,000 prize pot in 2026 and this is Dubarry’s 18th year as sponsor.

Clayton, who has won Olympic and World Championship medals for Australia and is now a cross-country course-designer, will assess “potential to gallop” for the top 10 finalists in both the four- and five-year-old sections.

Christina Klingspor and Angela Tucker, frequent faces on championship and CCI5* ground juries, will judge the dressage. Dutch Olympic rider and national team coach Andrew Heffernan and five-star rider and young horse producer Nicky Roncoroni will judge the jumping. Vet John Killingbeck will assess “suitability and type”.

Clayton, Angela, Andrew and Nicky have all competed in the CCI5* at Burghley, and produced horses to the highest level. Christina has officiated at Burghley as a ground jury member three times, most recently in 2025, and she was president of the ground jury at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“We are delighted that such a knowledgeable and experienced panel of international judges are able to join us at Burghley this autumn,” said Burghley event director Martyn Johnson.

“The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse classes have enjoyed a real renaissance in recent years; we modernised the format, have greatly increased prize-money and the recognition that the winners receive and have looked further afield for judges for the finals.

“There is no doubt that these finals are showcases and training grounds for the future superstars of the sport of eventing and are very important for breeders, owners and riders.”

A total of 19 qualifiers will run in the UK and Ireland through the 2026 season, starting at Mars Badminton Horse Trials on 6 May.

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US-based Australian event rider Clayton Fredericks said goodbye to 29-year-old five-star winner and Olympic medallist Ben Along Time on 16 August.

“There are no words to describe what he meant to me and the people who were lucky enough to be part of his life,” said Clayton.

“Although demanding in nature, he was a true friend and partner. Ben was a strong-willed horse with a distinct self-opinion, which fuelled his remarkable career. Whenever I was asked what made him so special, it was his ability to perform at his best at the biggest competitions. He seemed to know when it mattered and I could always count on him.

“He was the horse that made me believe as a rider I could match it with the best in the world.”

Bred in Ireland, Cavalier Royale son Ben came to Clayton when he was based in Wiltshire, as part of a group of horses from Donal Barnwell. The rider often named his horses after places in Australia; Ben’s name is a variation on Bennelong Point, where the Sydney Opera House stands, and a tie-in with another of Clayton’s five-star horses, the chestnut Bound Along, who was two years older.

Ben and Clayton’s first big win was in the World Cup Final at Malmö in 2005. He went on to win four more times at three-star (now four-star) level – the World Cup Final in Deauville in 2008, Chatsworth in 2006 (also a World Cup leg) and 2008 and Saumur CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2006.

He also won at five-star level at Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2007 and was an individual silver medallist at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, where he led the Australians to team bronze, and a team silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, where he was seventh individually.

In all, Ben was placed in the top 10 internationally 24 times during his long career.

“Upon retiring from eventing, Ben returned to Beas River in Hong Kong to be spoilt by his owners, Edwin and Peta McAuley, and had a great time doing some dressage and hacking. When it was time to step down again, Edwin and Peta amazingly sent him to me in Florida to retire and I am forever grateful that he able to live out his years in Ocala enjoying his retirement,” said Clayton.

The rider paid tribute to the important people in Ben’s life, including Edwin and Peta, “the most amazing owners for their support and love for Ben always”, the grooms and working students who looked after him “and a special thanks Rachel, Jack and Larry our neighbors in Ocala, who loved and cared for Ben and provided the most beautiful field for Ben to live out his years with his best friend, Cash”.

Clayton concluded: “Ben Along Time will be remembered not only for his impressive achievements and resilience, but also as a cherished friend. His legacy in the equestrian community and in our hearts will endure, as we continue to be inspired by his spirit and the profound impact he made.”

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Five daughters and sons of five-star riders, plus one five-star horse, have been selected among the British squads heading to next month’s junior and young rider eventing European Championships in Montelibretti, Italy (13-17 September).

Multi-medalled eventer Tina Cook’s daughter Isabelle, who won individual silver and team gold at last year’s junior championships, heads up the junior squad this time. She has been selected with her partner from last year’s event, Mexican Law (owned by Jim Chromiak), with Turbo (owned by Shaun Lawson) as a direct reserve horse.

Joshua Levett, son of Australian championship rider Bill, joins Isabelle on the junior squad, riding Elisabeth Murdoch’s This Ones On You.

Anna Price, whose mother Patricia Price rode at the top level on Riva Ruel in 20o4 and 2005, has been selected for the junior championships with Keep Happy, owned by her father Tim Price – no relation to the New Zealand eventing world number one of the same name.

The five-star horse on the list is 17-year-old Bayano owned by Rebecca Salt and Caroline Harris. He won Bramham Horse Trials CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) and completed Badminton Horse Trials and Luhmühlen Horse Trials with Caroline’s daughter Flora, before moving to his current rider, Pippa Royle.

Annabel Finston (Grafelles) and Jasmine Underwood (Indian Girl G) complete the junior squad.

On the young rider squad, Ellie Fredericks – daughter of five-star winners Lucinda Fredericks and Clayton Fredericks, who are now divorced – makes her British squad debut, riding Lucinda’s Pure Trendsetter.

Daisy Bathe, daughter of British championship rider Charlotte Bathe (née Hollingsworth), joins her on the squad riding her grandmother Mary Hollingsworth’s Mexican Wave.

In addition, Finn Healy, who competes on young rider squad with Amy Hawley’s Treamble, is the son of a four-star rider in Sarah Healy.

Barnie Brotherton (his mother Naomi’s DHI King Nelson), Maja Hullah (Articus) and Millie Juleff (her own and her father Darren’s Donateur) have also been selected for the young rider squad.

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The latest Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals have been published for the event this week (1-4 September).

The home side’s David Doel has withdrawn Gillian Jonas’s Galileo Nieuwmoed, on whom he finished sixth and took the best first-timer prize at Badminton Horse Trials in the spring.

Australia’s Clayton Fredericks has pulled out Diana Crawford and Hugh Wrigley’s FE Coldplay, while Britain’s Rose Nesbitt will have to wait for another year to make her debut with EG Michealangelo.

Sarah Hughes reported on Facebook last week that her Barrichello, ridden by Ireland’s Cathal Daniels, has been taken out of consideration for Burghley and the eventing World Championships, and admitted to a rehabilitation and fitness centre owing to a “minor injury”.

Unsurprisingly, Tom McEwen, Ros Canter and Yasmin Ingham have all withdrawn the horses they will ride on the British squad at the World Championships later in September – Toledo De Kerser, Lordships Graffalo and Banzai Du Loir. It is expected that Oliver Townend will similarly withdraw his worlds ride Ballaghmor Class, although he is still in the draw at present.

The crowd will still have a chance to see these horses because the British squad for the worlds will practise their dressage tests in the main arena at Burghley after the dressage finishes on Thursday.

Similarly, Boyd Martin is among the Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals with the Turners’ Tsetserleg TSF, who is on the US squad for the World Championships.

Oliver Townend has five entries for Burghley and can only start on a maximum of three of them. With eight horses now having been withdrawn from the 68 who were in the drawn order, plus two of Oliver’s, the maximum starting field for Burghley will be 58 combinations.

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Lynn Symansky and RF Cool Play, who were fourth equal after dressage, are one of two withdrawals ahead of today’s Maryland 5 Star cross-country.

The US rider said she had made the decision as she had been ill yesterday and “Coolio” is also new to five-star and “on the lighter side of fitness and runs”.

“It’s not a decision I take lightly, as he’s a great cross-country horse sitting in fourth position at his first five-star,” she added. “While we often thrive in less than ideal circumstances, I feel it’s in the best interest of the horse to reroute to Tryon.

“Even the most oxymoron of a ‘soft five-star’ is not to be taken lightly, and this track is the opposite of that. It will be an incredibly exciting yet gruelling day of sport, and I predict Ian Stark is just as nervous as the riders until today has come to a close.”

Lynn also wished her fellow competitors the best of luck for the day ahead.

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US-based Australian rider Clayton Fredericks has also withdrawn FE Stormtrooper, who was 31st after cross-country at Maryland 5 Star.

By doing the dressage, Clayton has ensured he has still started at all the world’s five-stars even with this new addition to the calendar, though he will have to return to Maryland to lay claim to having completed them all.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Find out who had to withdraw from Kentucky at the last minute and what USEF director of sport Will Connell said about Oliver Townend’s chances of winning…

By Nancy Jaffer

A dusting of snow this morning (21 April) greeted riders in Lexington, Kentucky, for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, but it gave way to afternoon sun in an area known for its mercurial weather. After the snow melted, it left the Kentucky Horse Park grounds a brilliant shade of green, a lovely backdrop as all the horses presented for the five-star went through the Kentucky first trot-up 2021 with no holds.

Late withdrawals included Clayton Fredericks’ FE Always In Time (number 31), Sara Mittleider’s La Paz (number 46), Waylon Roberts’ Lancaster (number 54) and Holly Jacks-Smither’s More Inspiration (number 57). This left a field of 63 to present to the ground jury.

The trot-up at this event usually draws a crowd of hundreds standing 10 deep to watch their favorites, but with the US Equestrian Federation Covid protocol that bans the general public, only a few dozen owners, sponsors and volunteers were able to cheer for many of the biggest names in the sport. They included William Fox-Pitt with Oratorio; Phillip Dutton, the last American to win the event 13 years ago, who brought his top horse, Z, and Oliver Townend, the victor in Kentucky’s last two runnings, 2018 and 2019. He brought not only his double winner, Cooley Master Class, but also the majestic gray, Ballaghmor Class.

Will Connell, the USEF’s director of sport, was asked if he believed Oliver could win again. He thinks it’s difficult to comment about medals or results in 2021 “because people haven’t been out competing much this year.” But he noted that the Kentucky roster is “just a list of top riders, isn’t it? You’ve got a collection of athletes all capable of winning five-stars.” At the same time, he added, “Oliver hasn’t come here for a holiday, so stand by, he’s going to be out to try and get it.”

Looking at the bigger picture, he said, “It’s fantastic to be back at a five-star in this historic setting.” It’s special not only because last year’s edition had to be cancelled due to Covid, but also because a grassroots fundraising effort enabled the 2021 5-star to be held when it, too, faced cancellation.

“Being able to get some really high-class European and New Zealand riders over here has been great,” said Will, citing “the American system of waivers through the US Olympic Committee that have allowed foreign riders to come over. Having the foreign riders here is really going to challenge the U.S. riders to step up to the mark. Saturday’s cross-country is going to be very interesting.”

Dubarry of Ireland presented best-dressed awards to the most fashionable male and female riders in the Kentucky first trot-up 2021. Will Faudree’s camouflage pants and army green tie apparently put those wearing traditional tweed in the shade, as the judges saw it.

The female winner was another US rider, Meghan O’Donoghue, chic in her brass-buttoned black military-style jacket and knee-high black suede boots. The jacket she bought in Washington D.C.’s posh Georgetown section the day before she headed south; the boots were borrowed from fellow competitor Liz Halliday-Sharp.

Meghan, who will be riding Palm Crescent, said she is “thankful, so thankful and honoured” to be at Kentucky after the “whirlwind of events” that meant it could be held.

“These horses do so much for us. These kinds of competitions are the pinnacle of our sport; to miss something like that would be detrimental to some of these horses’ careers.”

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A British horse is among the withdrawals from this week’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (22-25 April).

Richard Coney and Mermus R Diamonds had been due to make their Kentucky debut but the pair dropped off the starter list this week. The combination completed their first five-star at Pau Horse Trials, France, in October 2020 finishing ninth.

Jonelle Price will be stepping into the role of pathfinder on the first of her three rides, Grappa Nera, following the withdrawal of Clayton Fredericks and FE Ophelia. Clayton said the mare, who would have been making her five-star debut, “didn’t make the trip this time” but he was “excited to arrive” with his two other rides; FE Always In Time and FE Stormtrooper.

Kentucky marks Grappa Nera’s first appearance at five-star level. Jonelle and the 10-year-old mare took second in the CCI4*-L at Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland last August. Jonelle’s other rides are 2018 Badminton winner Classic Moet and Grovine De Reve.

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US rider Chris Talley has withdrawn Unmarked Bills. The pair had competed at Fair Hill International Horse Trials (9-11 April) as their final preparations for Kentucky but Chris said the 12-year-old gelding was not “feeling himself” in the showjumping phase, and following vet checks the decision was made to pull out of Kentucky.

“The truth is, it’s an easy decision because his wellbeing will always come first and foremost,” said Chris.

“The hardest part is to see a horse who has given so much to so many, not feeling like his typical self. We are optimistic that he will be back to his fighting self, looking for those cross-country flags with a fire in his eyes, but no matter what, one thing is clear to us and that is that he owes absolutely nothing to anyone. I am grateful to be surrounded by such special people who make a decision like this so easy.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 draw has been done and Clayton Fredericks will be the pathfinder at this year’s event (22-25 April).

The US-based Australian is one of six riders with three horses in the mix – these six all have one mount at the start of the competition, one in the middle and one at the end.

Clayton – who won the event in 2007 on Ben Along Time – will wear the back number one on FE Ophelia, who makes her five-star debut after recently finishing 15th with a steady cross-country round at Carolina International CCI4*-S.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price heads out second on Grappa Nera, with Oliver Townend the first Brit at number four on Tregilder. Oliver also has the double Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class at number 34 and 2017 Burghley winner Ballaghmor Class at number 68.

Ballaghmor Class will be followed into the arena and chased round Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track by a horse who many home side fans will be pinning their hopes on – Tsetserleg TSF, ridden by Boyd Martin. This pair were second to Oliver and Cooley Master Class in 2019.

Will Coleman, Buck Davidson and Boyd are the three US riders with three horses in the line-up and they start their campaigns with Dondante (number three), Jak My Style (number six) and Long Island T (number five) respectively. Buck will also be the final rider on the course, as number 71 on Carlevo.

Phillip Dutton (Fernhill Singapore, number seven), one of four Kentucky Three-Day Event winners entered, starts the rotation of two-horse riders, who are mixed in with some single-horse riders in the early part of the draw.

Article continues below…

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Three-time Kentucky winner William Fox-Pitt has an early start in the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2021 draw, having been allocated number 14 on Oratorio II, the horse he recently substituted for Little Fire.

Among other contenders flying over from Europe, Harry Meade and Superstition will start at number 50 and he will be followed by fellow Brit Richard Coney (Mermus R Diamonds). Germany’s Anna Siemer will be out soon after them at number 56 with FRH Butt’s Avondale.

Tim Price fields Bango (number 18) and Xavier Faer (number 59), while fellow New Zealander Jesse Campbell takes 49 on Diachello. British-based Australian Kevin McNab wears number 36 on Scuderia 1919 Don Quidam.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Canada’s leading international event rider Jessica Phoenix has won her appeal for a place on her country’s Olympic team.

British-based Canadian Kathryn Robinson had been chosen to ride on the team with her own Let It Bee ahead of Jessica, who was listed as reserve with two horses — A Little Romance (pictured) and Bentley’s Best.

Following the initial selection, Jessica and the horses’ owners appealed the decision through the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC)— which they won in a hearing dated 11 July. The summary of proceedings was released on Monday (25 July).

Following the publication, Canadian eventing team coach Clayton Fredericks said he stands by his statements explaining why Jessica was left off the team.

“We have a great group of riders in their final preparations for Rio and as a coach I am looking forward to the Games and helping our riders perform at their best,” he said afterwards.

“As the eventing team coach my focus has always been on the performance of the athletes and helping them achieve their personal best in competition.

“The aim this year was to have as many combinations as possible achieve their qualification for Rio and be in form and ready for a major games such as the Olympics.

“It is never an easy job selecting and particularly so this year with so many great combinations available to represent Canada.

“As a selector I had to consider both the soundness and performance information available to me and that, ultimately, is what I based my decision on.

“While I respect the appeal process and eventual outcome, I stand by my statements and the process that was followed.”

Eva Havaris, CEO of Equestrian Canada, said the organisation “respects and supports” the appeal process.

“One of the great things about our country and our Canadian sport system is that we have a process in place that honours fair play and integrity,” she added.

“We look forward to seeing a full team of Canadian eventing athletes kick off the equestrian portion of the Games.”

What happened?

According to the notes of the SDRCC hearing, Equestrian Canada recommended five targeted competitions for prospective team members during 2016, but no particular event was compulsory.

Jessica and her owners submitted that she has been Canada’s leading eventer for the last 10 years and satisfied “all nomination criteria” to be on the team.

They argued the selection panel did not properly apply nomination criteria and should have chosen Jessica with Pavarotti or A Little Romance (two of her possible four rides).

In a statement, Clayton Fredericks said Jessica’s withdrawals at Carolina International CIC3*, Kentucky CCI4* and Bromont CIC3* were not part of a team decision and “went against” his advice as team coach.

“In each instance the withdrawals were communicated to me by [her] on the day of cross-country close to competition time,” he said.

“This pattern of withdrawals has raised concerns regarding Jessica’s level of competitiveness and her readiness to be competitive at the Olympic Games.”

He added he has had concerns regarding the fitness programme of Jessica and her declared horses.

The hearing heard that although Clayton had concerns, he had not reviewed vet reports of Pavarotti or A Little Romance between Jersey Fresh in May and the selection panel meeting on 22 June.

Clayton acknowledged he thought Pavarotti and Bentley’s Best should have run at Bromont, but denied that he told Jessica failing to run the horses would prevent her from being on the team, as she claimed.

He also denied telling Don Good (owner of Pavarotti and Bentley’s Best) at Bromont that he thought he and Jessica were hiding something from him regarding Pavarotti’s soundness.

Jessica argued that she and Pavarotti’s owner were concerned the recovery time between Bromont and Jersey Fresh — a little over three weeks — was too short, so chose not to run him across country.

Jessica testified that Clayton arrived at the barn in Bromont and was “very agitated”.

“He told her, ‘you were in the driver’s seat for this selection and now you have completely ruined your chances not just on Bentley’s Best and Pavarotti but on the other two mares as well,’” read the summary of proceedings.

“Ms Phoenix testified that Mr Fredericks said ‘he could no longer help but was going to spend his time preparing the people who wanted to do this’.”

Graeme Thom, a former chef d’equipe and chair of the eventing high performance committee, testified that Jessica’s scores on all of her horses beat Kathryn’s.

“That Kathryn completed Badminton is very impressive and normally this type of an outing would trump any three-star result,” he said. “However, Kathryn’s time penalties were so numerous (53.2) that her four-star result is not impressive enough to stand on its own.”

He added “neither of the three horses” (Pavarotti, A Little Romance and Let It Bee) will win an individual medal, but the question is which will contribute most to the team’s overall placing.

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The decision

Arbitrator the Hon Robert Armstrong QC summed up that he accepts Clayton “earnestly believed” both of Jessica’s horses needed another cross-country run before the selection panel met.

“However, he became a man with a mission on this issue and my assessment, unfortunately, is that he lost it,” he said.

He added “all the evidence” shows Jessica to be Canada’s leading event rider and ruled that she be included in the team along with A Little Romance, with Kathryn moved to reserve.

The three other eventers on the Canadian Olympic team are Rebecca Howard (Riddle Master), Colleen Loach (Qorry Blue D’Argouges) and Selena O’Hanlon (Foxwood High).

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Is Clayton Fredericks the only event rider to have completed all 6 of the world’s 4-star events?

A discussion arose on Twitter last week — started by Zoe Brown (@zoegroomevent), who is head girl to Emily Llewellyn — about whether any rider has achieved the feat of finishing at Badminton, Burghley, Luhmühlen, Pau, Kentucky and Adelaide CCI4*s.

Several “eventing geeks” became involved in the conversation and while multiple names including Christopher Burton and Jock Paget were suggested, on closer examination all but Clayton were missing at least 1 event from their CV. Australia’s Wendy Schaeffer has started at all 6 events, but not completed Pau.

The FEI database is not complete as far back as some of the older 4-stars have been running, but Clayton confirmed last night on twitter that he has completed Adelaide CCI4* on a horse called Forman Material. He has also finished at the 5 northern hemisphere 4-stars.

British rider Alice Dunsdon is currently on a quest to complete all 6 4-stars on 1 horse, Fernhill Present. Following her run at Rolex Kentucky this year, she is planning to target Badminton and Adelaide next year to achieve the full house.

American rider Colleen Rutledge has already completed the 5 northern hemisphere 4-stars on Shiraz, but said last year at Badminton that she has no imminent plans to go to Adelaide, because of the prohibitive cost.

World number 1 William Fox-Pitt also holds a special place in the northern hemisphere 4-star records, as he has won all 5. But he has never ridden at Adelaide.

Can you name another rider who has completed all 6 of the world’s CCI4*s? If so, email H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome.

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Craig Barrett won the final four-star of 2012, at Adelaide, Australia, last weekend (22-25 November).

Riding 10-year-old mare Sandhills Brillaire (pictured), Craig — a 42-year-old professional rider from New South Wales — became the first person to simultaneously win a four-star and take the HSBC training bursary for a first completion at the level.

This victory was particularly special for Craig and his wife — Australian performance director Prue Barrett — because they bred both Sandhills Brillaire and both her parents.

Craig bred the mare’s sire, Staccato — by Salute out of a thoroughbred mare by King Of Babylon — and Prue bred her dam, by Galveston. Staccato, now 20, also sired last year’s Adelaide winner Panamera, ridden by Stuart Tinney.

“I don’t know if that has ever been done before”, commented Craig. “I have a paddock full of them; I’m not sure if they are as good as Brillaire, but we have to look at purpose breeding horses.”

Craig’s win places him second in the HSBC FEI Classics standings, behind Burghley winner Andrew Nicholson.

Small field

Just 14 four-star combinations started at Adelaide, after one was lost at the first horse inspection. This was slightly disappointing as while this event has long had smaller entries than the northern hemisphere CCI****s, there were 31 starters in both 2011 and 2009, although 2010 and 2008 were smaller years with 19 combinations apiece. The Horseland CCI** was well supported with 54 starters.

Shane Rose led the CCI**** after dressage on 45.8 with APH Moritz, with Craig Barrett second on his other ride Wendela Jamie and Stuart Tinney third on Pluto Mia.

Wayne Copping’s cross-country track was shortened by about 30sec in deference to the expected high temperatures on cross-country day, while organisers also ordered extra ice and water trucks and installed water-spraying archways and sprinklers for cooling the horses.

Stuart Tinney was the first rider to fall foul of the bogey fence at 13 — a triple brush arrowhead sited in water just a stride after the horses came off a dark island shrouded in shadows from trees.

British technical delegate Alec Lochore explained: “There was definitely something the horses didn’t quite understand. Some horses jumped it beautifully, but it was more than just a coincidence that six horses ran out to the side. It could have been the jump into water, or the light and the shade.”

Craig also had problems here on Wendela Jamie, while Shane retired after two stops elsewhere on course.

Remarkably, just two of the starters managed clear jumping rounds, with Craig’s 0.8 time-faults on Sandhills Brillaire propelling him up the order ahead of Natalie Blundell, who had 5.6 time-penalties on Algebra. Murray Lamperd — one of three to complete with 20 jumping penalties — moved up to third on Under The Clocks.

Eight horses completed the cross-country, with one failing to make it through the final trot-up. None of the remaining seven showjumped clear, but the leading three all held their positions, with Craig’s one fence down and three time-faults the best performance.

20,000 spectators

A number of British-based riders were at Adelaide offering course-walks and masterclasses, including William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Hoy, Sam Griffiths, Christopher Burton, Clayton Fredericks and Paul Tapner.

Event director Gillian Rolton declared the event an outstanding success, with nearly 20,000 people attending across the four days.

“The Australian International 3-Day Event has continued to prove itself as one of the world’s greatest equestrian events, with spectators treated to world-class riding over three, action-packed days,” she said.

Gillian added that the local South Australian Government and Adelaide City Council are both now fully behind the event, which takes place in parks in the centre of the city.

“Running this event is a huge commitment, but we need an event of this stature in this country,” she said.

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Australian eventer Clayton Fredericks has told H&H that his new job as coach to the Canadian eventing team indicates “a winding down” of his top level competition.

“I am not going to completely retire but I have been wanting to focus on coaching for a while,” he said.

Clayton moved to the US from Team Fredericks’ Wiltshire base last month and the rider has admitted it was to boost his prospects of becoming the Canadian coach.

His appointment was announced on Friday (26 October).

“I didn’t like to say anything prior to getting the job but I knew I had a good chance [of being appointed], although there were some very strong candidates, and I hoped it would improve my chances,” said Clayton.

His base will remain in Florida, where he already has South African eventer Hayley Parker on his yard and US eventer Sinead Halpin is due to move in in the next few weeks.

And he hopes to attract further pupils.

The Canadian event team’s recent performance peaked with team silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

But, with three fallers on the cross-country, their London Olympics result was disappointing.

“A lot of people had bad luck at London,” said Clayton with a wry laugh, referring to his own fall from Bendigo on the course.

“Canada has some really good, solid riders, particularly the young ones, and some exciting prospects.

“It’s very important to have a sound strategy of where the horses run and how often and to bring other horses on. We need to increase the depth of horses available.”

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Clayton Fredericks will be the next coach of the Canadian eventing team.

The Australian event rider takes over from David O’Connor — who moves on to coach the US team — in January 2013.

Clayton recently moved to a new training centre in Ocala, Florida.

Canadian chef d’equipe Graeme Thom said: “We are all very excited that Clayton has accepted the position and cannot wait to get underway in 2013.

“His background and personality will be a great fit with our riders.”

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Clayton Fredericks will be basing himself in Ocala, Florida, from next month.

The Australian eventer is taking 35 stalls at Charles and Anne Koch’s Oak Lane Farm and hopes to have 10 horses training from there by January 2013.

Team Fredericks announced last month that Clayton was looking for an American yard, to be used as a training facility, whilst his wife Lucinda would manage the European side of their business.

The Ocala yard will also be a US base for the Fredericks’ Southern Stars Saddlery brand, run from Perth, Western Australia, by Clayton’s brother Kelvin.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for me at a time when I am shifting my focus to coaching to be able to offer clients the perfect environment in which to prepare for competitions at all levels here in the States,” said Clayton.

“I thrive on challenges and exploring new horizons in eventing and there is clearly enormous potential here in Ocala to develop the sport with the landscape that Oak Lane Farm presents.”

Clayton will compete four horses at the Fair Hill International CCI3* in Maryland (19-21 October).

Among his international clients relocating to Ocala is South African Hayley Parker and her advanced horse Pigrela des Cabanes.

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All horses and riders who fell on the cross-country at Burghley (1 September) are understood to be well and have suffered no serious injuries.

Course-designer Mark Phillips and some riders have pointed to the soft ground to explain some of the falls. This year, the Cottesmore Leap (fence 21) – which, despite its yawning ditch, rarely causes problems – was the scene of some heavy falls.

Clayton Fredericks and Walterstown Don fell here when the horse hit the fence hard with his forelegs, firing Clayton over the hedge.

“Despite the severity of the fall, ‘Walter’ has suffered no serious side effects,” said Clayton, who was badly winded.

“He was checked by vets and is now in perfect form,” he wrote on his website.

Sam Penn and Seven O Seven – riding at their first Burghley – fell at the same fence. Again, the horse hit the fence with his forelegs.

“I fully expected to look over the hedge and see him on his back with his legs in the air,” Sam told H&H. “But he’s just got a graze on his bottom.

“We will probably find an open intermediate for him to run in, just as a happy run to finish the season,” she added.

Sidney Dufresne pulled Quincey up after he hit the Cottesmore Leap hard. The horse was hopping lame on his offhind, but staff at Mark Todd’s yard, where the French rider stayed for Burghley and Blenheim, say Quincey is “fine”.

And Will Faudree, whose Andromaque fell at the Land Rover Dairy Farm steps (fence 19), said she trotted up sound and had flown home to the US.

“The ground was deceptive,” Will told H&H. “With hindsight, I may have asked her to go too fast – she got tired.”

At the press conference after cross-country day, Mark Phillips said: “We saw lots more horses getting tired and the time becoming influential.

“More horses fell in the Cottesmore Leap than usual. Riders pressed the button but didn’t get a response.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (13 September 2012)

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So, to tackle the elephant in the room before he gets a chance to think about charging, let’s talk about the fact two American riders who missed out on Olympic selection top the dressage leader board at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Firstly, being a selector is a thankless task. If your team wins a medal, everyone forgets your part in the success; if they don’t, everyone remembers to say you did badly.

There must be a horrible feeling of conflict for those American selectors now – hope for their riders to do well here at Burghley, but the creeping dread of knowing the rumbling criticism after a disappointing Olympics will be massively intensified if Sinead Halpin and Allison Springer finish in the top two spots they currently hold.

Statistically, looking from London to Burghley there should be little in this leader board to surprise us. As I analysed in H&H’s preview (30 August issue), Burghley in Olympic and world years is generally won by an Olympic rider on another horse (three of the current top six) or by a pair who were well in the running for a team spot (two of the current top six).

Many thought Sinead was a shoe-in for the American team. Why wasn’t she chosen? I don’t have the definitive answer to that because selectors don’t have to justify their decisions to the press.

Today, Sinead herself spoke about the fact Manoir De Carneville had a slight nosebleed at the final trial at Barbury, which may have been a particular concern with Greenwich being such a public venue – I assume she meant that it was likely officials would quickly pull up any horse with visible blood to protect the sport’s image and the American selectors had that in mind. She also said, ironically after today, that she was struggling with the dressage at the time of selection.

Tonight at the press conference, we saw Sinead, Allison and Clayton Fredericks all try to express the depths of their Olympic disappointment in just a few words. Clayton did ride there, but fell across country when Bendigo III put a stud through his overreach boot.

“Anyone who’s spent time in this sport knows you spend your life picking yourself up,” he said tonight after pointing out that London has been these riders’ focus for four years. And Allison, speaking about many years of ups and downs with Arthur, said: “This sport is heartbreaking. You have to believe in yourself and your horse.”

A Burghley win might not quite be the same as an Olympic gold. But it sure wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.

Can Sinead or Allison become America’s first Burghley winner since Stephen Bradley won in 1993, nearly two decades ago? Can Clayton clinch his first British four-star win? Stay tuned for the next two episodes.

Report of today’s dressgae

Follow every phase of Burghley as it happens using H&H Live, our interactive written commentary supported by Baileys Horse Feeds. Review the dressage and join in tomorrow at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2012live.

Make sure you buy H&H next week (6 September) for our 10-page special Burghley report, with full analysis of every phase, comments from dressage expert Sally O’Connor and former winner Ginny Elliot and more.

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Americans dominate at the end of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials dressage with Sinead Halpin (pictured) and Allison Springer holding the top two spots.

Sinead is out in front after scoring 36.3 with Bernadette Cogdell’s Manoir De Carneville and being the only rider to break the 40-barrier.

“I’ve been working hard on the dressage recently and I’ve been a bit confused about what’s good and what’s not good,” confessed Sinead, who was a surprise omission from the American team for London. “I knew I was liking the test today – but to get [a score in the] 30s is a bit of a surprise.”

Sinead bought the Selle Francais “Tate” in France while she was working for William Fox-Pitt having heard about him through British agent Rachel Wakefield – who had not seen him herself but had been tipped off by a friend.

“It wasn’t love at first sight – he was a bit skinny and a bit funny looking,” she said, adding that he’s still a bit skinny. “But David O’Connor and William both advised me to buy a horse I liked riding and I did just like riding him.”

The Gaub son put his foot through a metal door straight after his purchase and severed his hindleg extensor tendon, which, as Sinead said succinctly tonight, “sucked”. But last year they were third at Kentucky and then 15th here at Burghley.

Allison Springer, who is currently second on 40, was also shortlisted for the Games with her long-term partner Arthur IV, owned by herself and her parents William and Carolyn.

“I had hoped for a more relaxed horse today,” she admitted. “A year ago he would have thrown in a bunch of spooks, but I knew what I could push for and what I couldn’t. There wasn’t a lot I could push for, so I just tried to be accurate.”

Today’s action at Burghley was very different to yesterday’s with many classy tests and horses excelling in the warm sunshine. Last night’s leader Ruth Edge is now 13th.

Clayton Fredericks was the first to really make a splash this morning and he now lies third on Michael Lee and Peter and Jackie Wallis’s Walterstown Don, a CIC*** winner at Burnham Market in the spring this year.

“We’ve worked hard on the dressage to be in this position, but after this year, I had no anticipation of what was going to happen,” said Clayton, who fell at the London Olympics when his ride Bendigo III was tripped up by his own overreach boot as he descended the steep drop fence.

Three riders are equal fourth on a score of 41, well in touch with the top three: recent Barbury winners Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, defending champions William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk and Germany’s Kai Ruder on the stallion Le Prince De Bois.

Tomorrow’s cross-country action starts at 11am and few would predict this will be a dressage competition, so expect changes to the leader board before the day is out.

Follow every phase of Burghley as it happens using H&H Live, our interactive written commentary supported by Baileys Horse Feeds. Review the dressage and join in tomorrow at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2012live.

Make sure you buy H&H next week (6 September) for our 10-page special Burghley report, with full analysis of every phase, comments from dressage expert Sally O’Connor and former winner Ginny Elliot and more.

LAND ROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS DRESSAGE RESULTS

1. Sinead Halpin on Manoir De Carneville (USA) 36.3

2. Allison Springer on Arthur IV (USA) 40

3. Clayton Fredericks on Walterstown Don (AUS) 40.8

4eq. Andrew Nicholson on Avebury (NZL) 41

4eq Kai Ruder on Le Prince Des Bois (GER) 41

4eq. William Fox-Pitt on Parklane Hawk (GBR) 41

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Four days on from Britain’s eventing team silver, the dust has settled a little for me. I’ve worked on some non-Olympic pages for Horse & Hound and I’m starting to get into the non-equestrian Olympic sports.

It’s back to normal for riders too – I see on twitter that William Fox-Pitt is at Purston Manor today and Aussie Clayton Fredericks is heading off to Malmo, Sweden, for their World Cup event.

Watching the Olympic dressage and showjumping on TV over the past few days, I’ve been struck by an obvious fact which it’s easy for us all to forget. Horses are still horses. Sounds silly, but these Olympic equine athletes are so well trained, so primed, so close – in the nicest possible way – to being machines, that sometimes I think we lose sight of the fact they all have a brain of their own. And that they don’t know this is an Olympics, they don’t even know what the Olympics is, and they have no idea what rests on them.

On Thursday, Canadian dressage rider David Marcus’s Chevri’s Capital became upset in the arena and was eliminated for resisting for too long. In seconds, the Canadian team’s hopes of any kind of result were over, because in dressage all three scores count – a fact which frightens me with horses’ propensity to get injured and three clear days between the two tests which count for the team medals. Let’s not even think about that.

And now today, we’ve already seen three showjumpers eliminated from the first round of their contest, a pair for two refusals and one for a fall. I’m a little hazy on the showjumping rules, but I understand this isn’t disastrous for their teams, but it certainly ain’t good.

Each time something like this happens, I’m triply grateful for our eventing team silver. Because more than any other sport, anything can happen in horse sport and the margins were so fine in the eventing contest that a shiny medal could have turned to nothing if one horse had refused to play ball.

On a related note – bear with me – I felt for BBC presenter Clare Balding last night, when she got some stick on twitter for not “appreciating” British swimmer Rebecca Adlington’s bronze in the 800m freestyle. Clare felt obliged to apologise on twitter and on telly for not getting the tone quite right after the race.

I don’t think Clare had to do that. I’ve blogged before about the fact that riders’ reactions to their performance depend on their expectations and that’s true in every Olympic sport. Of course it was great for Rebecca to get a bronze, but it wouldn’t have been good reporting for Clare to pretend this was everything the swimmer had hoped for when she started favourite for gold.

The media have a duty to put results into context to make coverage interesting and truthful – that means making it clear whether a bronze is an out-of-this-world performance or a slight disappointment.

It’s a line we’ve had to tread in this week’s H&H and I hope we’ve got the balance right between celebrating the fantastic achievement of a British silver, but not ignoring the tinge of disappointment that it wasn’t a gold. We didn’t have much time to make those judgement calls going to press on Tuesday night, but I imagine in broadcasting it’s 100 times harder.

Like everyone else, I’m now desperately hoping the Brits can give us the all-out delight of the team gold in the dressage. I’m lucky enough to have a ticket to go to Greenwich on Tuesday – and I just can’t wait.

Pippa

Full coverage of the Olympic eventing in the issue on sale now (dated 3 August). Reports on the Olympic dressage and showjumping team contests in the issue out FRIDAY, 10 August.

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The appeal process has run its course and the Australian eventing team for the London Olympics has been confirmed as the original five combinations:

• Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen)
• Christopher Burton (Holstein Park Leilani)
• Clayton Fredericks (Bendigo)
• Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish)
• Shane Rose (Taurus)

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Equestrian Australia has confirmed that the appeal against the London Olympic eventing team selection has been dismissed.

This isn’t necessarily the end of the issue though, as riders have 48 hours to decide whether to take their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Last week the Australian Olympic eventing team was announced as Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), Christopher Burton (Holstein Park Leilani), Clayton Fredericks (Bendigo), Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish) and Shane Rose (Taurus), but athletes lodged an appeal within the 48-hour permitted period, which was heard by an independent tribunal.

It is not known which rider or riders protested, although Sam Griffiths said online that there were three objections.

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There has been an appeal against the Australian eventing team chosen for the London Olympics.

Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), Christopher Burton (Holstein Park Leilani), Clayton Fredericks (Bendigo), Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish) and Shane Rose (Taurus) were nominated to the Australian Olympic committee for selection this morning at 8am, after the names were revealed on Wednesday.

However, Equestrian Australia has confirmed in a press release “that during the 48 hours given to athletes to appeal against the nominated team, athletes have lodged an appeal which will be heard by an independent tribunal in due course. The final team selections will be advised by the Australian Olympic Committee.”

Neither Equestrian Australia nor the Australian Olympic Committee are making any further comment until the appeals process has run its course.

It is not known which rider or riders appealed, but forum speculation this morning centres around bias towards riders based in the northern hemisphere. All but Shane Rose of the riders named are based in Britain.

The difficulties of selecting a team when the potential candidates never compete against each other on a level playing field because they live so far apart has long been an issue for both Australia and New Zealand. For this Games, New Zealand has chosen to run its high performance programme from Britain and it’s likely that the whole Kiwi team will be British-based.

Discuss this in the H&H forum

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The Australian eventing team for the 2012 London Olympics has been announced:

• Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen
• Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani
• Clayton Fredericks and Bendigo
• Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish (pictured)
• Shane Rose and Taurus

Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks are the first – and likely to be the only – married couple to be named for an eventing team for London. They were both on the silver medal-winning Australian team at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, as was Shane Rose.

Lucinda and Andrew Hoy both made late bids for selection with eye-catching results at Luhm ¼hlen last weekend. Andrew is a six-time Olympian (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004), triple Olympic team gold medallist (1992, 1996 and 2000) and an individual silver medallist (2000).

Listen to Lucinda talk to Chris Stafford Radio about being selected

Podcast by Chris Stafford Radio

Listen to Andrew talk to Chris Stafford Radio about being selected

Podcast by Chris Stafford Radio

Christopher Burton, who rode on the Australian squad at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, makes his Olympic debut. He has shown excellent form recently, including doing a one-two at Saumur CCI***, with his named horse Holstein Park Leilani finishing second to Haruzac.

The Australians are expected to be serious medal contenders at the Games.

The obvious omissions from the team are Sam Griffiths on Happy Times and Paul Tapner on Inonothing and twitter is abuzz with talk about their non-selection this morning.

The selection process allows athletes a 48-hour period to lodge an appeal against the nominated team and the final team selections are expected to be confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee on Friday.

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Two weeks after his fall in Saumur, Clayton Fredericks won and was also placed second at Renswoude CCI*** in Holland (10 June).

The Australian eventer was in hospital for more than a week after a fall on the cross-country course at Saumur CCI*** in France on 19 May.

His horse Be My Guest, “Lottie”, trod on his stomach.

But he hopes his win at Renswoude will assure him a place at the Olympics.

Clayton said: “Bendigo, who won, felt amazing and was the fastest on the cross-country course where no one got the time.

“I was quite anxious about the cross-country as the three horses in front of me did not make it past the fourth fence, a huge ditch and hedge into the woods.

“However, Walter [Walterstown Don who came second] the first of my rides sailed through to huge roar from the spectators.

“I hope this will now stand me in good position for a crack at an individual medal in London.”

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Clayton Fredericks is back in the saddle after being released from hospital in France over the weekend.

The Australian eventer suffered a fall on the cross-country course at Saumur CCI*** in France on 19 May.

His horse Be My Guest, “Lottie”, trod on his stomach.

Clayton arrived home yesterday evening and was out riding with his wife Lucinda this morning (29 May).

He said he was “feeling fit and well and looking forward to the run up to London”.

He also thanked all his friends and fans for their “incredible support and kindness” over the past few weeks.

Clayton will be going to Renswoude in the Netherlands to compete in the CIC*** between 7-10 June.

Then it’s off to Luhm ¼hlen (14-17 June), where Bendigo is entered in the CIC*** and Walterstown Don will be gunning for Olympic qualification in the CCI****.

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Clayton Fredericks is recovering in hospital following a fall on the cross-country at Saumur CCI*** in France on Saturday.

The Australian event rider was riding Be My Guest (“Lottie”) when the accident happened.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance for tests, then was moved to another hospital at Angers and stayed in overnight for observation.

Clayton took to his Facebook page to reassure friends and fans who were worried about him.

“I’m absolutely fine, frustrated to be lying here in hospital,” he said.

“It is just cautionary as it appears Lottie stepped right on my stomach.

“I will be scanned in a few days and hopefully on my way back and to London [Olympics] preparations!” he added.

Clayton’s wife, Lucinda, who was competing at Little Downham, Cambs at the weekend posted on their website:

“He needs a few quiet days and hopefully will come home early next week.”

“Lottie is ok, too,” she added.

Fellow Australian Christopher Burton impressed the Olympic selectors with a 1-2 at Saumur. He won with the less experienced of his two horses, Haruzac, while Holstein Park Leilani was second.

New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson was third with Viscount George, while Mark Todd qualified his second string, NZB Grass Valley for the Olympics with a seventh place finish. His top horse, last year’s Badminton winner NZB Land Vision was ruled out of the Games with the recurrence of an old tendon injury earlier this month.

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Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks say they have seen “great changes” in their horses since switching to a new feeding system.

The Fredericks, based near Devizes, Wilts, have been using Fodder Solutions – a fresh feed diet – for several months.

Clayton first saw the system in his native Australia. Now manufactured in the UK, Fodder Solutions Feeding Systems provides a daily supply of fresh feed.

Barley seed is placed in special trays inside the system. Over a period of six days, the seed is irrigated and temperature-controlled and sprouts into an 8kg “mat” of fresh green feed.

“The horses are a lot stronger and more supple, but in a relaxed way,” said Clayton.

“I like the fact that I can increase quite significantly the amount of protein in their diet to build muscle without the risk of tying up.

“The mares can get very stressy but they have been much more settled,” he added.

Once the seeds have sprouted, the 8kg mat is pulled from the system and taken to the stables. The mat is put in the feeders for the horses to eat.

For horses in competition work, additional seeds – such as sunflower and lupin – can be sprouted, provided higher levels of protein, oil and starch.

Liam McGreevy of Fodder Solutions said the systems could be manufactured to any size, to suit both small and large yards.

“We have several systems of various sizes feeding horses in UK and Irish yards from racing and carriage horses to happy hackers,” he said.

“The feed is proving itself to be cost-effective and very beneficial to horses – which is shown in their condition and performance,” he added.

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The final 50 of 100 shares in a pair of Headley Britannia’s foals – whom their owners believe to be together worth £200,000 – are now on sale.

And Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks expect them to sell very quickly.

“The first 50 shares [released in August 2010] were bought by six people as an investment opportunity,” said Clayton.

“We expect a similar number to buy the rest. They are a really valuable commodity.”

“Brit” had a colt, Britannia’s Mail, and a filly, Little Britannia, by embryo transfer in 2008.

The pair are by Jaguar Mail, who was ridden by Swedish showjumper Peter Eriksson at the 2008 Olympic Games – where Brit also competed.

Shares went on sale on 8 December, costing £1,850 plus VAT for a 1% stake in both.

“We don’t know yet how far the horses will make it up the grades, but they have all the potential,” said Clayton.

And as shareholders get a stake in the pair’s breeding potential, the stallion alone is a great investment, he added.

The horses, who will be four years old in 2012, are now backed and in light work.

Another of Brit’s foals – Ruby, by Grafenstolz – is on the ground and two, by the Fredericks’ stallion Mr Big Cat, are due next year.

“Milly [Little Britannia] is just like Brit in temperament but taller,” said Lucinda. “Marley [Britannia’s Mail] is a really cheeky boy, with masses of character.

Their movement, attitude and athleticism shine out even at this early stage,” she added.

Headley Britannia was the first mare to win Burghley in 33 years when she claimed the four-star event in 2006.

The following year, 2007, she became the first mare in 53 years to win Badminton.

The Fredericks are producing the horses and came up with the scheme so they can guide them through their careers.

Lucinda said: “The plan is to produce them both through to the British young event horse (BYEH) classes, then take them to Le Lion d’Angers as six- and seven-year-olds.”

A British Eventing spokesman said around 42 event horse syndicates

are registered.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 December 2011)

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Clayton Fredericks’ time-penalties on today’s cross-country in the CCI**** at Pau, France, have been reduced from 2 (5sec over the optimum) to 1.2 (3sec over the optimum). However, this does not alter his placing from the provisional standings and he and Bendigo still lie third.

Clayton appealed because his path at the first water was blocked by a steward and he had to alter his line to avoid him.

Christopher Burton (pictured) is therefore the confirmed overnight leader with Holstein Park Leilani, with William Fox-Pitt second on Oslo.

The first eight horses are all within one fence, so tomorrow’s showjumping will be tense.

Read full cross-country report

Pau website with full results and start lists

Log back on tomorrow to find out who wins Pau and don’t forget to buy H&H next week for a full report (20 October issue).

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Australia’s Christopher Burton provisionally holds top spot after the CCI**** cross-country at Pau, France – but that could change after an appeal by Clayton Fredericks.

Christopher, 29, had a faultless round today on Jean and Jade Finlay’s Holstein Park Leilani, finishing 15sec inside the 10min 39sec optimum time.

“I had a super round – it was the first time I’ve ridden one of Pierre Michelet’s courses, but I thought it was a great track to ride,” said Christopher. “After our fall at Burghley [at the Cottesmore Leap] it’s good to come here and go so well and prove she is a quality horse.”

This would be Christopher’s second win at four-star as he also won Adelaide in 2008 on Newsprint, who should have been the pathfinder here today but was withdrawn as he was not on top form after the journey.

Clayton Fredericks was first equal with Christopher after dressage, but he finished 5sec over the time with the McAuley’s four-star first-timer Bendigo, which dropped him to third in the provisional standings.

However, the ground jury are currently reviewing Clayton’s two time-penalties.

“I had to alter my line at the first water because of a steward raking there and doing a dance on my line, so I’m asking for some seconds to be removed,” he explained.

Meanwhile William Fox-Pitt had a fantastic day, riding three clears inside the time. Oslo has risen from third to second, Lionheart from ninth to sixth and Macchiato from 13th to ninth (all provisional results).

William did have dodgy moments at water fences on both Macchiato and Oslo. Oslo dragged his back legs over the house into the second water (fence 21a), tipping the skinny up. This resulted in a hold of some 40min because the fence fixings had pulled the ground away so it could no longer support the obstacle. Eventually the fence was taken out of the competition for safety reasons.

Meanwhile Mary King retired her better-placed horse, Apache Sauce, after a run-out at the corner at fence four, but went clear in the time on Imperial Cavalier, who provisionally lies 10th.

This leaves the result of the HSBC FEI Classics $150,000 ( £94,800) first prize on a knife edge. William must win tomorrow to beat Mary to it – and even if he wins, she must finish below eighth to drop to second. If William does not win, Mary takes top spot in the Classics regardless of where she finishes.

Andrew Nicholson now lies fourth on Mr Cruise Control, up from sixth equal by going clear in the time, while Lucy Wiegersma’s 0.8 time-penalties keep her fifth on Simon Porloe. These standings are unlikely to change as regardless of the result of his appeal, Clayton will still be in the first three.

France’s Astier Nicolas (Jhakti Du Janlie) lost his fourth place after dressage with 20 penalties at the corner which formed the second element of the final combination on course, fence 28b.

Pau website with full results and start lists

Log back on for more updates from Pau and don’t forget to buy H&H next week for a full report (20 October issue).

PROVISIONAL RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1.Christopher Burton on Holstein Park Leilani, AUS 43.7

2.William Fox-Pitt on Oslo, GB 44.2

3.Clayton Fredericks on Bendigo, AUS 45.7

4.Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control, NZL 46.2

5.Lucy Wiegersma on Simon Porloe, GB 46.3

6.William Fox-Pitt on Lionheart, GB 46.7

7.Frank Ostholt on Mr Medicott, GER 47.3

8.Nicolas Touzaint on Hildago De L’Ile, FRA 47.5

9.William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato, GB 50

10.Mary King on Imperial Cavalier, GB 51

Australia holds the upper hand in the CCI**** at Pau after dressage, with Clayton Fredericks (pictured right) and Christopher Burton sharing the lead on 43.7 penalties.

Clayton’s ride Bendigo, who belongs to his long-term supporters Edwin and Peta McAuley, is at his first four-star, but won Saumur CCI*** earlier this year. Today the 12-year-old’s trotwork was particularly impressive.

“He’s not absolutely reliable in that he’s a show off and when he comes into the arena he knows he’s on show, which can work against him, but today his attitude was really good and it’s nice to be able to go in and ride positively, without thinking the horse is about to explode,” said Clayton.

Just two horses later Christopher piloted Jean and Jade Finlay’s Holstein Park Leilani (left) to equal Clayton’s score. The 15-year-old mare was Christopher’s ride at last year’s World Equestrian Games, but disappointed at Burghley.

“I let her down in the dressage and then we had a fall at the Cottesmore Leap, but now I get to come to Pau and enjoy the French hospitality and do the test I know she can do,” said Christopher, who won Adelaide CCI**** in 2008 on Newsprint, the pathfinder here.

The focus coming into this event was on Mary King, who will secure the 2011 HSBC FEI Classics first prize this weekend – unless William Fox-Pitt wins and she finishes lower than eighth.

At present, that looks possible. Mary’s first ride Apache Sauce led last night, but now lies 11th. All eyes were on Imperial Cavalier this afternoon and though Mary looked to have the lid on his exuberance, some tension came through and he could only score 51 for 18th.

Meanwhile William lies third on Oslo, who performed well apart from a blip in the final canter serpentine.

“He’s got presence and he loves the tension,” said William. “That mistake was cheeky, but he has his own opinions and that’s part of the game – it’s hopefully what makes him an exceptional horse.”

William also has Lionheart, another nine-year-old, handily placed in ninth, but a lot can happen on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country track tomorrow and Mary’s horses do have more experience at the level than William’s two four-star debutants. With even higher temperatures predicted for tomorrow than today’s 25 °C, the weather may also play a part.

Also for Britain, Lucy Wiegersma (Simon Porloe) sits in fifth and Ruth Edge (Nick Of Thyme) lies equal sixth with New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson (Mr Cruise Control).

Astier Nicolas (Jhakti Du Janlie) is best of the home side in fourth, with 2007 Pau winners Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago De L’Ile eighth. Surprisingly, the best German is only 10th – this is Frank Ostholt with his 2008 Olympic team gold medallist Mr Medicott.

With 69 starters, Pau boasts its largest ever four-star field this year.

Pau website with full results and start lists

Log back on for an update after cross-country tomorrow and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (20 October issue) for a full report from Pau.

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1eq. Clayton Fredericks on Bendigo, AUS 43.7

1eq. Christopher Burton on Holstein Park Leilani, AUS 43.7

3. William Fox-Pitt on Oslo, GB 44.2

4. Astier Nicolas on Jhakti Du Janlie, FRA 45

5. Lucy Wiegersma on Simon Porloe, GB 45.5

6eq. Ruth Edge on Nick Of Thyme, GB 46.2

6eq. Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control, NZL 46.2

8. Nicolas Touzaint on Hildago De L’Ile, FRA 46.3

9. William Fox-Pitt on Lionheart, GB 46.7

10. Frank Ostholt on Mr Medicott, GER 47.3

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Listen to Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks discussing branching out into a new tack and equipment business, their breeding programme including foals syndicate, and their plans for the 2011 eventing season and beyond, in episode 115 of the Eventing Radio Show.

And don’t miss the chance to listen to Clayton’s musical talents in the new theme music for series two of the TV series Team Fredericks at the end of the interview!

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Caroline Powell showjumped clear this afternoon to win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on the Mackinnons’ Lenamore.

It was a hugely popular victory for this 17-year-old grey, who has been so consistent at four-star level, and for Caroline, New Zealand’s first winner since Blyth Tait in 2001 — as well as an early wedding present for owner Lexi Mackinnon, who produced Lenamore and next Saturday marries Henry Jackson, who does some field mastering for the Warwickshire.

“When we arrived on Wednesday I said to Lexi that I hadn’t got her a wedding present yet, and she said, ‘Oh you can win Burghley’ so now I don’t have to get her a wedding present,” joked Caroline after her win.

Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest — bidding to become the first pair to win the event twice in a row — lowered both the orange and green parallel (fence 6) and the second part of the double (fence 7) to drop from second to fourth.

Meanwhile William Fox-Pitt moved up to second by adding just one time-fault on Seacookie. This single fault and Oliver’s penalties gave Caroline a fence in hand as she entered the arena, but Lenamore never looked like hitting anything.

“It was nice to know we had a bit of breathing room, but I was equally determined not to use it,” said Caroline.

William said: “Seacookie is a brilliant horse and hopefully he’ll have his day. To be in second place to Caroline and the amazing Lenamore is an honour.”

Clayton Fredericks showjumped clear on Be My Guest II, who he has only been riding since June, to move up from sixth overnight to third.

“She’s a very good jumper, but she’s extremely bold and likes to charge down to a fence, which from a rider’s point of view is difficult — you think you’re on a good stride, but the stride gets closer and closer and suddenly you are underneath the fence,” said Clayton. “I have to use my skill to keep her away from the front of the fence — which has been a combination of bitting [she is in a W snaffle] and leaning well back!”

Mary King’s single fence down on Apache Sauce moved her up a place to fifth, while William Fox-Pitt rose from eighth to sixth with a clear on his second ride, Macchiato.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week (9 September) for a full 10-page report from Burghley, including comment from cross-country course-designer Mark Phillips.

All H&H’s online Burghley coverage

FINAL RESULTS

1.Caroline Powell on Lenamore (NZL) 38.7

2.William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie (GB) 42.9

3.Clayton Fredericks on Be My Guest II (AUS) 45.8

4.Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest (GB) 47.6

5.Mary King on Apache Sauce (GB) 48.8

6.William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato (GB) 48.8

7.Mary King on Kings Temptress (GB) 49.3

8.Clea Phillipps on Lead The Way (GB) 49.9

9.Anna Warnecke on Twinkle Bee (GER) 51.5

10.Francis Whittingon on Sir Percival (GB) 52.3

Full results

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How much of a die-hard Team Fredericks fan are you?

If you’ve followed the golden couple of eventing’s every move on Horse & Country TV, you can now buy the theme tune — Will to Win — from iTunes.

The three-minute song costs 79p from the website.

Filming for the second series of Team Fredericks — which follows the fortunes of Australian eventers Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks and their horses — began on 21 June and the show is due to come back to British TV later this year.

The theme song was written by Gavin Courtie, who plays bass in Clayton’s band Snatch, and Liz Radford.

And the blurb for the tune says: “The Will to Win lyrics reflect the competitive nature of Team Fredericks and make us want to get out and train that horse. We hope this song gives you the inspiration to win.”

A second version of the song, with Clayton singing, will be available in due course — bringing a whole new meaning to hoof beats!

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 August, ’10)

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Clayton Fredericks has been pictured as you have never seen him before for the latest edition of the CHIO Aachen magazine.

The Aussie eventer pulled on ripped denim and shook out his locks to be snapped dressed as Guns ‘N Roses rock legends Axl Rose and Slash and Angus Young from AC/DC for the magazine.

Clayton is no stranger to power-chords as in his spare time he’s lead singer in the band Snatch.

Unfortunately he’s in Australia at the moment and was unable to chat to H&H about his secret rock ‘n’ roll side but a spokesman for Aachen said he “really let rip” for the shoot entitled For Those About to Rock — and we do salute you Clayton!

The magazine can be purchased at the CHIO offices at the showgrounds or alternatively it can be ordered directly by email (conny.muetze@chioaachen.de). It costs €6.50.

You can browse through selected pages online at: www.chioaachen.de.

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Watch more Badminton 2010 videos

Follow Clayton Fredericks as he competes at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2010 with The Frog.

In the first video we see Clayton as he settles The Frog into the stables. In the next episode we catch up with Clayton as he walks the cross-country course. Friday’s episode sees Clayton reflect on an excellent dressage test, which scored 46.5pen and left him in sixth place overnight. This episode includes footage of his dressage test. More video diaries will be added as they become available.

Badminton Horse Trials official website

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Event rider Clayton Fredericks is to meet with the land agents for Salisbury Plain and local police to try to resolve a dispute over access.

Since buying his yard on the edge of Salisbury Plain 10 years ago, Clayton has used a road owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to access the Plain for hacking.

But the road is not a public right of way and over the past two months a land warden working for Defence Training Estates (DTE), which manages the military and public use of Salisbury Plain, has filed eight reports of Clayton riding on it without authorisation.

“This is half a mile of road that we have always used — they are being absolutely pedantic,” said Clayton. “We don’t go on the grass and don’t interfere with military training.”

A ban would force riders on to the main B3098.

“Three years ago, I had a nine-year-old advanced event horse who had been placed at Badminton killed on that road,” said Clayton. “Common sense should prevail here.”

MoD police have spoken to Clayton about the matter and are arranging a meeting to discuss a permit or licence.

An MoD police spokesman told H&H: “MoD land is a dangerous place to be when military exercises are being carried out. Unrestricted access is not possible.

“It is possible to get a licence to allow additional access to the Plain, which is subject to agreement between any individual and the MoD.”

But Lt Col Nigel de Foubert from DTE told H&H that Clayton is riding where he is not allowed — and the MoD is not prepared to issue a licence.

“We’ve had this argument with him in the past and we’ve been very patient,” he said.

“Mr Fredericks does not and never has had a right of way. This is a training area for low-flying jets and helicopters. Pilots know where the bridleways are and riders need to stay on them.”

Lt Col de Foubert said the public can use 350km of bridleways when the military is training, and a further 150km when it is not.

“We believe this is sufficient. We have a duty of care as Salisbury Plain is a dangerous area if you don’t abide by the by-laws,” he said, adding: “We are not prepared to give Mr Fredericks a licence because we do not want him there.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (27 August, ’09)

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Clayton Fredericks (pictured) led from start to finish in the Dodson & Horrell British novice championships at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe this afternoon.

It was the Australian’s second win in the class — he also won on Tennyson in 2004 — and he paid tribute to his ride Bendigo III’s owners, long-term supporters Edwin and Peta McAuley.

“The success of the McAuley’s horses is a tribute to the way they conduct themselves as owners — they let me get on with what I feel is best for the horse,” said Clayton, who took the open championship at Gatcombe in 2006 on the McAuleys’ Nullarbor.

“I’m really pleased Bendigo won here today, as he was bought as a replacement for Nullarbor, who we sadly lost at Saumur last year,” he added.

Fellow Aussie Bill Levett was second on his own and his wife Jenny’s seven-year-old One Two Many NJ.

“I wasn’t going to run quickly, but the ground is very good and in the last two or three events he’s matured and tackled everything very confidently,” said Bill. “He’s always had potential, but I’ve had the handbrake on until now.”

Emma Castle scored a blow for the less-well known riders when she took third on Caroline Webb’s Castle Larchfield Purdy.

“It’s all due to the European CIC** Championships,” said the Warwickshire-based rider who finished 17th at the event Hungary last month. “The training was invaluable, as was the confidence it gave me.”

Advanced sections

Daisy Dick won the first of the two advanced sections this morning, putting in the fastest cross-country round to take the section on her 16-year-old Spring Along, the recent winner of Barbury CIC***.

“He’s a legend and we’re rather enjoying ourselves at the moment,” she said. “The best thing is he feels so loose and jolly in himself.”

Listen to Daisy Dick’s interview

Kitty Boggis took the other advanced on her mother Jane and Joanna Jones’ Boondoggle. Kitty is in her second season with the New Zealand thoroughbred, who came from Tim Price.

“Show jumping is his Achilles’ heel — that’s why Tim sold him — and we have struggled with it, but he’s jumped three clears already this year and he only jumped two last year,” said Kitty. “He jumped beautifully today.”

British open and intermediate championship update

Mary King (Imperial Cavalier) and Lucinda Fredericks (Headley Britannia) currently jointly hold the lead in the British open championship, with Clayton Fredericks (Ben Along Time) third. There is still a final session of dressage to take place for this class tomorrow morning.

In the British intermediate championship, William Fox-Pitt holds first place after dressage on Neuf Des Coeurs, with his other ride Corofin Flyer second equal with Piggy French on Flying Machine.

BRITISH NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1. Clayton Fredericks on Bendigo III (AUS) 25.1

2. Bill Levett on One Two Many NJ (AUS) 28

3. Emma Castle on Castle Larchfield Purdy (GB) 28.5

4. Oliver Townend on ODT Arctic Fox (GB) 28.8

5. Oliver Townend on ODT Sonas Rovatio (GB) 29.9

6. William Fox-Pitt on Oloa (GB) 29.9

Full results and times for Gatcombe at www.bdwp.co.uk/gat

Log back on tomorrow to find out what happens in the British open and intermediate championships and don’t forget to buy Horse & Hound next week for a full report from Gatcombe, including Tina Cook’s column.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Read the latest Clayton Fredericks news

Born in Australia in 1967 and a champion in the showring in his youth, Clayton Fredericks first made his mark on the international eventing stage with the chestnut gelding Bundaberg, being selected to represent Australia at the 1995 Open European Championships.

Having met Lucinda (n ©e Murray) during a stint in Britain in the mid-1990s he settled here and has since become one of the leading international riders.

His honours include winning individual silver and team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, team silver at the 2008 Olympics, double World Cup final wins in 2005 and 2008 and a victory at Kentucky in 2007, all with long-standing owners the McAuley’s Cavalier gelding Ben Along Time. He was also British open champion in 2006 with Nullabor.

Clayton is chairman of the Event Riders Association. He lives in Wiltshire with his wife Lucinda and their daughter Ellie (born 2003).

Clayton Fredericks videos

A former groom of international eventing stars Andrew Nicholson and Clayton Fredericks, Lou Holmes, has won the 2009 Crufts Friends for Life award, with her dog, Brock.

The 7-year-old Collie cross Australian Shepherd dog works with the Lowland Search and Rescue Team to bring home missing persons.

Owner and trainer Lou said: “Brock was nominated by the Kennel Club, as a result of his work with the team.”

Lowlands is a voluntary organisation that has helped to find countless missing people.

Lou, who has been involved with the team since she was a child, said: “As soon as I got Brock I knew he would be perfect, so I trained him up and started taking him to the searches.”

Brock was voted for by the public, beating 5 other finalists, and received his award on Sunday in the Crufts main arena, at the Birmingham NEC.

Lou, who groomed for the Fredericks for five years before being forced to retire due to a knee injury, has owned Brock since he was a puppy.

She said: “He was really great and he definitely deserved to win. It is safe to say he got an extra large dinner on Sunday.”

Brock was responsible for finding the body of government scientist Dr David Kelly in 2003.

Five years ago he was also awarded a Chief Constable Commendation from Thames Valley Police for his work.

www.friendsforlifebrock.co.uk

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A Dubai-based fraudster, who has previously tried to con people selling their luxury yachts and holiday homes, has turned his attentions to British horse owners.

Using the alias Craig Hamper, the scammer tried to defraud international three-day eventer Clayton Fredericks in December.

Two members of the H&H forum — user names JetSet and Pathelschoice — also reported being contacted by a Craig Hamper with enquiries about horseboxes they were selling.

In a similar ruse to one reported by H&H (news, 30 June 2005), the conman offered Clayton the full asking price for a horse after viewing photographs online and exchanging emails.

“I rang him back several times to check his story and could not get any real answers, but at the same time there wasn’t any reason for me to say I wouldn’t sell him the horse.”

Clayton was nervous about providing his bank details to the “buyer” so set up a separate bank account.

A little later, Craig Hamper sent an email to Clayton claiming his secretary had made a “terrible mistake” and had sent £20,000 more than the agreed price.

He asked for the extra cash to be returned when it arrived in the Fredericks’ account.

However, a diligent bank employee was suspicious when a banker’s draft arrived filled out in the horse’s name rather than in Clayton’s.

She queried it with the bank and found it to be fraudulent.

A Craig Hamper has also been linked to fraudulent attempts to buy property in Sardinia and yachts in Ireland.

Joey Dujardin of yacht broker Boatshop.ie told H&H Craig Hamper had targeted his clients.

For this article in full, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (5 February, ’09)

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Several riders confirmed today that they plan to bring their Olympic horses to the new Express Eventing competition at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 30 November.

At a press conference in London Clayton (Ben Along Time) and Lucinda Fredericks (Headley Britannia, pictured right), Mary King (Call Again Cavalier) and Caroline Powell (Lenamore) said they would be riding their Hong Kong horses in the new condensed format event. Lucy Wiegersma plans to ride Shaabrak, who was second at Badminton this year.

“It’s a really exciting concept and will hopefully bring new people into the sport,” said Mary King, who is taking Call Again Cavalier to the four-star at Pau before this event. “It’ll be interesting to see if it develops into a tour of events and whether a specific type of horse will be suited to this competition.”

Britain’s Olympic double bronze medallist Tina Cook is the latest person to sign up for Express Eventing — she will bring either her Hong Kong ride Miners Frolic or her older advanced horse First Flight II to Cardiff.

China’s Alex Hua Tian will bring his Olympic ride FBW Chico to the Express Eventing. The 18-year-old has come back to earth with a bump since Hong Kong — he is now back at Eton studying for his A levels. He is keeping FBW Chico and one other horse, Magenta, and selling the others he acquired in the course of his Olympic bid.

Organiser Stuart Buntine, who has been working on the idea behind Express Eventing for nearly a decade, also revealed more today about how the event will work and the theory behind it.

Express Eventing website

Ticket details and programme

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Clayton Fredericks has become the second rider in eventing history to win a second HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Final. Linda Algotsson’s won the opening two competitions in 2003-04.

His achievement is all the more remarkable, as both wins were on Ben Along Time, who only six weeks ago picked up Olympic team silver in Hong Kong. Clayton’s first win was in Malmo, Sweden in 2005.

“I bought Ben Along Time as a 4-year-old, and he has been such a good horse in championships, so this means the world to me,” said Clayton. “The World Cup is a really important competition for me. My win in 2005 gave me confidence to go on and win other competitions.”

Cross-country

Clayton Fredericks survived a sticky moment on Saturday’s cross-country in Deauville, France, when Ben Along Time left a leg jumping into the water complex at fence 20, pitching his rider on to his neck. They quickly recovered to complete the course without penalty.

Unfortunately Lucinda Fredericks, who was in second place after dressage, was not so lucky. Headley Britannia made a rare mistake at the penultimate obstacle and clipped the narrow rails. The mare remained on her feet, but Lucinda didn’t remain in the plate. “I think I just got a little blasé,” said Lucinda modestly.

Mistakes were scattered around the cross-country track. The huge corner at fence 4 collected some notable scalps, with refusals for world number 1 and H&H columnist William Fox-Pitt, who retired Kaleidoscope, Andrew Nicholson on Henry Tankerville and Rodney Powell on Zin Zan ll.

Show jumping

Rolf Luedi’s up-to-height show jumping track in the sand arena produced only three clear rounds. These included a brilliant performance by Britain’s Laura Collett, 19, who finished 13th on Fernhill Sox at her first HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Final. Other clears came from Stephen Bradley on Brandenburg’s Joshua (18th) and Andrew Nicholson, 26th on Henry Tankerville.

Ensign rose to the occasion magnificently for Pippa Funnell, only catching the very last upright with a hind leg. Pippa was visibly frustrated with herself, but the error would not have made any difference, as Clayton, now with two fences in hand, only touched one rail to take the title.

HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Final results

1 Clayton Fredericks/Ben Along Time (AUS) 36.1 + 4.8 + 4 = 44.9

2 Pippa Funnell/Ensign (GBR) 41.1 + 4.8 + 4 = 49.9

3 Frank Ostholt/Air Jordan (AUS) 43.3 + 3.6 + 4 = 50.9

4 Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam FBW (GER) 45, 0, 8 = 53

5 Nicolas Touzaint/Hildago d’Ile (FRA) 45.7 + 0 + 8 = 53.7

6 Kai Ruder/Le Prince des Bois (GER) 43.3 + 2.8 + 12 = 58.1

7 Eric Vigeanol/Coronado Prior (FRA) 51.3 + 4 + 4 = 59.3

8 Cedric Lyard/Jessy Mail (FRA) 50.9 + 5.6 + 4 = 60.5

9 Andreas Ostholt/Lady Lemon (GER) 52.2 + 2.4 + 9 = 63.6

10 Kevin McNab/Gameplay (AUS) 58 + 0 + 8 = 66

Don’t miss H&H’s full report and colour photos from Deauville, plus William Fox-Pitt’s column, on sale Thursday 25 September

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Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks lead the 39-strong field at the HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup Final at Deauville, France, at the completion of the dressage phase.

Clayton and Ben Along Time produced an attractive, supple test to score the only sub-40 mark. He has a convincing lead of 4.1pen over his wife on Headley Britannia.

“Both our horses feel as though they’ve been on holiday,” said Lucinda. “They seem fine after their travels to Hong Kong. We came here last year and enjoyed it so much that we wanted to come back. I’m not feeling under any pressure.”

America’s Allison Springer and Arthur made an impressive HSBC FEI World Cup Final debut and is lying in =3rd with Pippa Funnell on Ensign. William Fox-Pitt is currently sitting in =9th place on Kaleidoscope, alongside Andrew Nicholson with Henry Tankerville.

Laura Collett, 19, is the youngest rider in the field, after quickly rerouting from Blenheim. She is in 18th place on 52.8pen.

“I just brushed off the mud and came,” said Laura. “The cross-country looks quite tricky; there are lots of arrowheads.”

HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup Final after dressage

1. Clayton Fredericks/Ben Along Time (AUS), 36.1pen

2. Lucinda Fredericks/Headley Britannia (GBR), 40.2pen

=3. Allison Springer/Arthur (USA), 41.1

=3. Pippa Funnell/Ensign (GBR), 41.1

=5. Frank Ostholt/Air Jordan (GER), 43.3

=5. Kai Ruder/Le Prince des Bois (GER), 43.3

7. Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam FBW (GER), 45.0

8. Nicolas Touzaint/Hildago de l’Ile (FRA), 45.7

=9. William Fox-Pitt/Kaleidoscope (GBR), 50.0

=9. Andrew Nicholson/Henry Tankerville (NZL), 50.0

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AUSTRALIAN husband and wife duo Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks are lying in first and second place at the Olympic three-day event in Hong Kong after the first session of dressage.

Clayton, who was sixth into the arena at the Sha Tin venue at 7.05am, earned a score of 37 penalties with Ben Along Time, but he relinquished his lead when Lucinda and her Badminton and Burghley winning mare Headley Britannia performed their test towards the end of the first morning session.

Britannia’s mark of 30.4 for this slightly shortened version of a four-star test was a personal best at top level and included a perfect 10 from judge Christian Landolt for her final flying change.

“She always gets good marks for her changes,” said Lucinda. “She’s not flashy, but very correct and the judges appreciate this and that she shows big differences with her little body. However, the dressage is the easy part for me and we’ve got a long way to go from here.”

pro-Tibet protest

Mid-way through Clayton’s test there was a pro-Tibet protest in the stands which was quickly quelled by the on-site security. Although Clayton was aware of the noise and commotion, which lasted around a minute, Ben Along Time’s concentration was not affected.

America’s Gina Miles and McKinlaigh were the only other pair to break the 40 barrier, earning 39.3, a personal best for them which has left them in third place.

Britain’s pathfinders Daisy Dick and Spring Along scored 51.7, which has left them in 13th place. The 15-year-old bay lost marks for spooking during his test.

“It had been so soft and beautiful up to that point,” said Daisy. “I’m disappointed with my mark, but at the same time we all know what he’s capable of and it could have been in the mid-sixties.”

Disappointment for Britain

William Fox-Pitt is lying in 11th place after a tense Parkmore Ed gained a mark of 50.2.

“He’s been lit up since he’s been here, but I had hoped he would do better than that,” said William.

First into the arena this morning, Mark Todd, who has returned to the sport after an absence of eight years, is occupying ninth place with Gandalf.

At the end of this first dressage session and with the next due to start at 7.15pm Hong Kong time, Great Britain is lying off the pace in sixth place in the team standings. Australia leads, with the US in second, Sweden in third, Germany in fourth and Italy fifth.

Stay in touch with all the Olympic news as it happens on HorseandHound.co.uk and don’t miss H&H’s full report from the Olympic eventing in Hong Kong — on sale Friday 15 August.

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A post-mortem on Clayton Fredericks’ eventer Nullabor, who died at Saumur CCI*** on Saturday, has revealed he broke his neck, as suspected.

The vet confirmed that the 11-year-old had broken his fifth cervical vertebrae.

Nullabor slipped on a galloping stretch of the course, landing awkwardly on his neck, Clayton told H&H.

But on a happier note, Lucinda’s ride Mr Alligator, whom she pulled up lame with a suspected fractured stifle at the same event, is now sound.

The Fredericks’ vet now thinks he had hit a nerve, causing temporary unsoundness.

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Clayton Fredericks has told H&H that he is “devastated” after the death of 11-year-old Nullabor at Saumur CCI*** on Saturday.

The horse died instantly of a suspected broken neck after a fall on the flat early on the cross-country course with the Australian rider.

Clayton said: “It was on the flat, between fence two and three, a galloping section, we came to the corner, he was set to turn and he slipped and stumbled.

“He went down very quickly and must have hit his neck in the wrong position.”

The Fredericks bought Nullabor as a three-year-old and he was Clayton’s second ranking horse after Ben Along Time.

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Clayton Fredericks (pictured) leads the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after the first morning of dressage, despite performing his test in a torrential downpour.

His ride Nullabor, who led the dressage at Burghley last year, picked up plenty of high marks — including a 10 near the end of the test — to score 38.1.

“I was more focused on the job rather than worrying about the weather,” said Clayton afterwards. “He did a good job and I’m very pleased — he feels stronger and more established now than he was at Burghley.”

William Fox-Pitt was thrilled with 2005 Burghley winner Ballincoola, whose mark of 44.1 puts him second at this stage.

“He’s getting back to how he was when he led the dressage at Burghley twice,” said William. “He’s got fantastic potential, it’s a case of making him relaxed enough to show himself off.”

Badminton final scores

World champion Zara Phillips is just 0.7 of a penalty behind William, riding Glenbuck, a horse she took on after the death of Irish rider Sherelle Duke at the end of 2006. It is the 13-year-old’s first attempt at four-star level.

“He’s never been in an arena like that, but he chilled out in there — he obviously another one who likes the big occasion,” she said, referring to her top horse Toytown, who normally produces his best work at important events.

The riders say their first impressions of the cross-country are that it is a strong track and will be influential.

“It looks pretty full on,” said Polly Stockton, who lies fourth with Tom Quigley.

“You’ve got to be on your toes from fence five all the way through,” said William, who said the work that has been done on the ground through the winter is immediately obvious, despite the recent rain.

“I hope the work pays off as much in the wet as in the dry. But there are more than a dozen fences where all the horses will have to jump in the exact same spot and there it will inevitably get deep.”

Clayton remarked: “Normally a late draw is good, but I’m pleased I’m going early with the rain.”

RESULTS AT THURSDAY LUNCHTIME

1. Nullabor (Clayton Fredericks, AUS) 38.1

2. Ballincoola (William Fox-Pitt, GBR) 44.1

3. Glenbuck (Zara Phillips, GBR) 44.8

4. Tom Quigley (Polly Stockton, GBR) 46.7

5. Apache Sauce (Mary King, GBR) 51.7

6. Ira D’Islea (Pierre Marie Dubois, FRA) 53.5

Live scoreboard

Keep up to date with twice daily reports from Badminton on www.horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy H&H next Thursday (8 May) for a 16 page report, with comments from Carl Hester, Ginny Elliot and William Fox-Pitt.

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It’s a curious thing how the success of one horse on a yard can seem to rub off on its stable-mates. Last year Clayton Fredericks’s wife Lucinda won Burghley Horse Trials. This year, less blond but almost as pretty, Clayton was the first-phase leader.

“I’m disappointed. I’m sure there were more people here last year to listen to Lucinda,” jibed Clayton at his post-test press conference.

In the interim, Team Fredericks has won Badminton and Lexington.

But for a while, it seemed the conventional format of the best dressage tests occurring on the second day might be blown away. Three-quarters of Friday’s riders performed their tests in blustery conditions, and still no one bettered Andrew Nicholson’s Thursday mark on Lord Killinghurst.

Then arrived Clayton Frederick and Nullabor, a great big bull of a horse who is apparently a bit of a pig in the stable — and broke the 40pen barrier. Clayton may lack his wife’s grace in a dressage saddle, but increasingly he’s matching her prowess in this discipline, and rode the counter canter especially with immeasurable tact. Now he will face added pressure — or incentive, depending which way you see it — across country tomorrow on the horse he scratched at Badminton. This will be Nullabor’s first four-star attempt in Britain.

With the European Championships only a fortnight away, the 2007 Burghley Horse Trials field may not be a vintage one, and it may be a tad cooler here than we’d like, but Burghley retains its customary buzz. It’s one of the most visitor and shopper-friendly events of them all.

The ground rarely cuts up and there’s even a Pedigree-sponsored lacky topping up the doggy watering bowls alongside the Members area. Surprisingly stylish crowds meander between gourmet food and funky clothing stands, and today’s must-have invite is to the book launch of William Fox-Pitt’s new autobiography.

Tomorrow, style makes way for the rough and tough of cross-country. I’ll be tackling it in trainers with a three-wheeler baby buggy. I just hope I’ve done enough fitness work for the hills.

Click here to read a report of this afternoon’s dressage action.

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