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.

You might also be interested in:

‘I totally should retire – I’m far too old to be eventing’: Horse & Hound’s exclusive catch-up with William Fox-Pitt

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Tina Cook’s daughter Isabelle leads Brits to giant medal haul at eventing’s junior and young rider Europeans

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Darassas, who won Windsor CCI2* and finished 17th at Badminton with Lucinda Fredericks, has died.

The 25-year-old suffered from pulmonary edema — an excess collection of watery fluid in the lungs — and was put down yesterday (Monday, 23 March).

“We made him more comfortable and he did improve slightly from the drugs, but I didn’t want him to suffer with the high risk of him not pulling through,” said H&H blogger Coral Keen, who was Darassas’ last competition rider.

“He has enjoyed the past eight years being nanny to the youngsters and having lots of love affairs with the broodmares, so I hope he died a happy and content horse.”

Darassas also competed at FEI level under the name Biosthetique Esprit and as Espirit on British Eventing — he was renamed during a short-lived sale to Germany in 2004 when he was due to compete with Michael Jung, then a young rider. However, they didn’t click and he soon returned to the UK. He was always known by the stable name “Darley” although he kept the official names Biosthetique Esprit and Espirit.

Darley won Windsor CCI2* with Lucinda Fredericks in 1999 and was seventh at Boekelo CCI3* the same year. He was also seventh at Blenheim CCI3* in 2001 with Lucinda, going on to finish 17th at Badminton the following year.

He was eighth at Pau CCI3* that autumn before doing the dressage only at Badminton in 2003 — Lucinda then withdrew, announcing her pregnancy with daughter Ellie. Lucinda’s then husband Clayton took on the ride and the pair finished in the top 30 at Saumur and Blenheim CCI3*s.

When Darley returned from Germany in 2004 he was competed by Lucinda and Kate Jupp, before Coral bought him as a schoolmaster in 2005. The pair competed up to two-star level until the end of 2007 when Darley was retired at the age of 17.

“I had a wonderful time with him before he retired and he became a super granddad to our youngsters, keeping them in line,” said Coral. “He had a lovely three weeks back out in lovely new spring grass after being in the barn this winter. Although he was quirky, I adored him and had a huge amount of respect for him.”

Darley’s main quirk was a fear of being mounted, which developed after he had an accident as a youngster when he was spooked by someone wearing a crinkly coat getting on him from a milk crate.

Thereafter he needed twitching while he was being mounted. At one stage it was virtually impossible for him to be worked unless there was one person to twitch him and cover his eye and another to leg up the rider. Lucinda would sometimes remain mounted on him in the 10-minute box at long-format three-day events as she knew she couldn’t get back on in that sort of atmosphere.

“When I had him he was more relaxed about being mounted, but still needed the twitch so, as I was in a yard completely on my own, I used to poke it though the throat lash, get on, then quietly lean forward and release it before he realised I was actually on,” said Coral.

“He was never nasty about it, but he would have spun and become very frightened without his ‘dummy’ — the twitch wasn’t even tight. After time and with the one-to-one relationship we had, I was able to get on him on my own quietly, then in the end Dad could even leg me up at a event. However, I could never change my number bib or take off my coat while mounted.

“Having said all that, he was without a doubt the kindest, most sweet-natured horse I have known. Lucinda rode only him into her late stages of pregnancy and he was very safe once you were on top.”

View Darassas’ FEI record

View Darassas’ BE record

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Lucinda Fredericks has told H&H she is not scaling back following the sale of two of her top rides.

Last month she sold her share in her London Olympics partner Flying Finish (pictured) to the horse’s part-owner Richard Ames. The gelding will now be campaigned by New Zealand’s Caroline Powell.

“Of course that was a hard decision, but I needed to sell him to secure my future here at the yard [in Wiltshire], and now there is a sense of relief that it’s mine and I can do what I want with it,” she told H&H.

It’s been a tough few months for Lucinda, who is only just back riding after breaking her arm at Blair horse trials.

“I still have some nice youngsters, but I’d like a couple more,” she said. “It’s not been easy. I only started riding again last week and it’s been hard to convince people, and myself, that I can do it. But I still have the urge to get on and go. These things happen — I’ve bounced back before and I will now.” Continued below…

Two of Lucinda Fredericks’ top rides sold

The eventer has sold her top horse Flying Finish and another of her rides has been bought by US rider

She added that she will still be dedicating time to training, both here and abroad, but is looking forward to campaigning her young horses.

“I have the two Brit [Headley Britannia] babies [Britannia’s Mail and Little Britannia] who I’ll aim at Le Lion, as well as Cos I Will and Shelter Cove.”

Another of her horses — Mr Sydney Rocks — has also been sold, to US rider’s Allison Springer.

“His owners [Alice and Tim Page] have bought me a new one to ride [Rambo], so he’ll be out next year, which is exciting.

“I don’t want 10 horses, I just want a couple more I can do really well with.”

Ref: H&H Thursday 4 December, 2014

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Two of Lucinda Fredericks’ top rides have been sold.

Earlier this month the eventer sold her top horse, and London 2012 ride, Flying Finish — in order to secure her future at her base in Wiltshire.

“We are all so sad to say goodbye to Flying Finish, who has been my top horse for the past three years,” she said. “Flying Finish’s sale has been very important to securing my and Ellie’s [my daughter] future at Rosegarth as our home and training base.”

The 12-year-old gelding is to be campaigned by Kiwi rider Caroline Powell.

Flying Finish was found in Germany in 2009 by Donald Reid. He intended to take him to one-star, but due to business commitments this was impossible, and so Lucinda trained the horse.

In 2012 Flying Finish came second at Vairano CCI3* and second at Luhmuhlen four-star, ensuring he was selected for London 2012. The pair were in the Australian team that finished sixth overall at the Games.

Also that year the combination won the Express Eventing in London (November 2012) and the horse was named number two in the top 20 event horses of 2012.

“I will always be very grateful to [part owner] Richard Ames for stepping in to help me keep the ride on Flying Finish soon after the Olympics,” Lucinda added.

“We have had a lot of fun and success over the past few years. Flying Finish will now be ridden by Caroline Powell who is an amazing cross-country rider. I am honoured that she has taken him on, it will be exciting to see the new partnership competing next season.”

The last event the pair competed in was Blair Castle in August where they finished fifth in the CIC3*.

Meanwhile US rider Allison Springer has bought another of Lucinda’s rides, the 10-year-old Lenardo gelding Mr Sydney Rocks.

The horse has competed successfully at CIC3*.

Mr Sydney Rocks, previously owned by Tim Page, has also been campaigned by Clayton Fredericks and Christopher Burton.

“I know that the Pages could have sold this horse to a lot of different people, and appreciate them trusting me with his future,” Allison said.

“I also cannot say enough good things about the training he has had to date, as he has truly been brought up by some of the best riders in the world.”

The horse will move to her base in Virginia before being prepared for the 2015 season.

“I absolutely think Mr Sydney Rocks has all the ingredients to be a top horse, and I cannot wait to see where our journey takes us,” she added.

Related H&H news stories:

Pippa Roome: Let’s not be too quick to judge when owners move horses to a new rider

As news breaks of a top Canadian horse changing rider, H&H’s eventing editor speculates on what jockeys and owners go

Laura Collett parts from top rides

The successful British event rider will no longer compete Noble Bestman or her Nations Cup partner, Allora 3

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Lucinda Fredericks, William Fox-Pitt, Oliver Townend, Mark Todd, Michael Jung… there’s a world-class line-up for Luhmühlen Horse Trials this week, presented by DHL Paket (12-15 June).

The German 4-star is a final chance for riders from many nations to impress selectors ahead of them making squad choices for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG, 28-31 August).

For Britain, Oliver Townend will ride Karyn Shuter’s ex-racehorse Black Tie II in his first 4-star. The horse won a CIC3* at Burnham Market earlier this year and was 2nd after dressage at Bramham CIC3* last weekend, before being withdrawn.

William Fox-Pitt partners the Hon Teresa Stopford Sackville’s Cool Mountain (above). The reigning world individual silver medallist led the Brits to European team bronze here in 2011, when he was 7th individually. The Primitive Rising son is unlikely to trump Chilli Morning as William’s ride for WEG, but he could provide a useful reserve horse.

Many of the crack German pairs are starting in the CIC3* rather than the CCI4*, but Olympic, world and European champion Michael Jung is competing the CCI4* on FischerRocana FST. The 9-year-old is at his 1st 4-star, but was recently 4th in the hot CIC3* at Marbach.

Also for the home side Bettina Hoy will pilot Designer, recently 16th at Houghton CICO3*.

After having to pull up early at Badminton when Flying Finish knocked himself, Lucinda Fredericks returns to the venue where she and “Christi” finished 2nd in 2012. Also worth watching out for in the Aussie camp are Christopher Burton (Tempranillo) and Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), as well as Kevin McNab, newly returned to the competition scene following the lifting of his suspension.

New Zealand has 2 strong chances in Badminton refugees Tim Price (Wesko) and his wife Jonelle (The Deputy), while Mark Todd rides Oloa, who was withdrawn after a disappointing dressage test at Kentucky.

The longest journeys to Luhmühlen have been made by the American competitors, Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin. Phillip rides Mighty Nice — who was originally named Over The Vee and competed in his native Ireland by Joseph Murphy.

Boyd Martin, recently back competing after a broken leg, has 2 rides. Otis Barbotiere is on the comeback trail after being injured at the London Olympics, while this is a big test for Boyd’s new partnership with the former Ludwig Svennerstal horse Shamwari 4.

Luhmühlen is the penultimate event in this round of the FEI Classics. William Fox-Pitt is currently out in front, but Christopher Burton and Oliver Townend, currently 3rd and 4th, stand to gain ground this weekend.

Keep up with all the Luhmühlen action with end of phase reports on www.horseandhound.co.uk. Full report in H&H next week, out 19 June.

Luhmühlen entries

FEI Classics 2013/2014 (after 4 of 6 events)

1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 30 points

2 Sam Griffiths (AUS) 15

3 Christopher Burton (AUS) 15

4 Oliver Townend (GBR) 12

5 Maxime Livio (FRA) 12

6 Lauren Kieffer (USA) 12

7 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 12

8 Phillip Dutton (USA) 11

9 Harry Meade (GBR) 10

10 Bruce Davidson Jnr (USA) 10

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H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome reviews the first day of action at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2014 in a short video:

Report: dressage day one

Follow Friday’s dressage on H&H Live

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Lucinda Fredericks tells H&H about her fondest memories of Headley Britannia after she had to be put down earlier this month following an accident cross-country schooling.

1. First triumph

Our first event together was an intermediate at Aldon in 2002. Brit jumped so big over the viaduct into the first water that I managed to dislocate my thumb. I blew on it and smacked it back in on her neck and carried on. After we finished I had to go straight to hospital to see if it was broken. It was pretty amazing that we won the event despite me spending the cross-country trying to reposition my thumb. It was pretty disgusting.

2. Fighting spirit

After I got her home from Luhmühlen in 2005 Brit looked horrendous. She had lost weight, gone dull and didn’t want to do a thing. The vet came out and we decided to get her to hospital straight away. Unfortunately it was the same day as Paul Tapner’s wedding. She was on death’s door for 3 weeks with a virus and the vets said it would take her at least 6 months to recover. When we got her home she went out in a field behind the house and I had to dress up in white suit to touch her. But within 2 weeks she was running up and down the filed like spring Lamb. 3 weeks later she was jumping around an advanced intermediate at Highclere. The vets were pretty adamant that it would take her months to recover but she always told us what she wanted. She was so tough.

3. Technical brilliance

Her dressage at the Olympics in 2008 was outstanding. She did her test on the first morning of the first day and she led the dressage beating some incredible horse. For a horse that really didn’t move that well to see all the 10s come up for her flying changes was incredible. I am so proud of what we produced that day on a technical level. She gave me everything.

4. Biggest win

At Kentucky in 2009 I had planned to put 6 strides in before the big hedge into the water but Brit picked up on 4 and sprung into the lake. It completely put me off my line for the next fence so I had to make a big loop and take the alternative. When we came out of the lake we were 24 seconds down on the clock. Apparently all the riders watching back at the start said, “there is no way she is going to make up the time”. The last 4.5m of that course was the most exhilarating ride or my lift. I think it was the best I have ever ridden because I didn’t hook at all. She came in on time pulling my arms out. She came out the next day and looked great. I jumped the first cross-pole and she just felt right. I thought she would jump clear and she did. It was my best win with her.

5. Mother’s pride

My daughter Ellie first rode Brit when we stopped over in Aachen in 2009 when she was five. I got on Ben Along Time and she rode Brit and we trotted and cantered around the main dressage arena. Some of the most special memories that I have are of Ellie riding her. She did her first hunter trial on Brit last Autumn and rode her at various lecture demos. Everyone might I have thought I was mad but I 100% trusted Brit. She was a lady and her motherly instinct came out in how she looked after Ellie. The fact that she could go from being a Pony Club pony to a four-star horse is what made her 1 in a million.

6. Saying goodbye

I am so grateful that I had those 10 minutes to say goodbye to Brit and thank her for everything. They were very special to me. She was a professional until the end. We always had to undo her bridle to take it off and right up until she was put to sleep she still wouldn’t let me touch her ears. I have been so touched by the responses I have had since her death and to see how much she meant to so many people. It is not just the number of people that have written but it’s the thought that has gone into what they have said. We had a great life together I will be eternally grateful to her.

Take a look back at Headley Britannia’s career in pictures

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (10 April 2014)

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William Fox-Pitt rode 3 clear rounds inside the optimum time today in the CCI4* at Pau and holds the top 3 places overnight.

This is an incredible feat which opens the possibility of William writing a new record into eventing’s history books — several riders (including him) have notched up 1-2s at 4-star, but no one has ever managed a 1-2-3.

At present, William is 1st on Catherine Witt’s Seacookie TSF (pictured), 2nd on the Hon Teresa Stopford Sackville’s Cool Mountain and 3rd on Margie and David Hall and Judy and Jeremy Skinner’s Neuf Des Coeurs.

“It comes down to the joy of riding 3 experienced horses round a 4-star, who are good at their job and enjoy it,” he said. “As I said yesterday, I wish this was Sunday!

“When you have more than 1 ride, it’s always great when the first goes well. If you have a run-out or something goes wrong with the 1st and it’s a good horse, you think you could be looking at 3 with no clears.

“By the time you get to the 3rd, you think, ‘Do I really want to do this again?’ Your adrenalin is up and down through the day and by the end of the day it doesn’t rise quite so naturally. When the last horse is a really good horse like Cool Mountain — and there was nothing out there that was really worrying me on him — you do have to get on and say to yourself, ‘Come on, this is serious.'”

Pierre Michelet’s cross-country proved influential — there were 35 jumping clears from 72 starters, and just 9 inside the 11min 48sec optimum time.

Dressage leader Lucinda Fredericks was among the course’s victims, with Flying Finish running out at the arrowhead at 25c, the final water complex.

Andrew Nicholson had 20pen on each of his 1st 2 rides (Viscount George and Quimbo) at fence 20b, the 2nd of 2 arrowheads on a bending line.

He holds 6th with Nicky and Robin Salmon’s Mr Cruise Control, who finished just 2sec over the optimum and with a jumping clear — although he did go through the flag at the tricky corner at fence 32. Many riders went long here, including William on all 3 of his rides.

British rider Sarah Bullimore excelled herself today and holds 7th with the Gillespies’ Valentino V and 16th on My Last One.

Phillip Dutton sits 4th on Mr Medicott for the USA.

“He’s a little bit aggressive at the beginning of the course, so I tried to let him run himself deep and back himself off,” said Phillip, who has been riding the horse since July. “But it was as enjoyable as it can be.”

The home side’s Maxime Livio, a 26-year-old making his 4-star debut, lies 5th on Cathar De Gamel.

“I don’t have any experience of a cross-country as long as this and I thought he’d tire earlier, but he just asked me to wait after the last water jump and then he was fine,” he said.

Log back on tomorrow for a final update from Pau. Full report in H&H out this Thursday, 31 October. 

Pau CCI4* 2013 results after cross-country

1. William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie TSF (GBR) 41.5

2. William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain (GBR) 42.2

3. William Fox-Pitt on Neuf Des Coeurs (GBR) 43.2

4. Phillip Dutton on Mr Medicott (USA) 44.6

5. Maxime Livio on Cathar De Gamel (FRA) 46

6. Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 46.1

Full results and times from Pau

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Headley Britannia proved that age is just a number when she trounced her much younger rivals in the Express Eventing showcase at the CLA Game Fair (21 July).

The diminutive 20-year-old mare led throughout all three phases of the competition to complete on 21.45pen for Lucinda Fredericks. Their nearest challenger, Sam Griffiths riding Real Dancer, scored 28.25.

A delighted Lucinda told H&H: “It was bliss. It was just like getting back onto your old comfy sofa.

“She was the ultimate professional and felt no different to how she was 5 years ago.”

“This competition is ideal for her because it is less physical,” Lucinda added. “She just loved all the attention and was immaculately behaved.”

Brit was officially retired at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials (6 May) having amassed 1479 British Eventing points. Among her greatest achievements were wins at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky 4* events, plus team silver at the Beijing Olympics.

Although retired from top flight eventing, Brit is in regular work and is often ridden by Lucinda’s 9-year-old daughter Ellie.

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Eventer Headley Britannia (Brit) was officially retired at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials (6 May 2013). Ridden by Lucinda Fredericks, the 15.3hh mare — born in 1993 — has amassed 1479 British Eventing (BE) points during her career.

She won all three Rolex Grand Slam events — although not consecutively — and is currently the only mare to have done so, taking Burghley in 2006, Badminton in 2007 and Kentucky in 2009. Brit also has a silver team medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics to her name.

British Eventing (BE) is reminding riders to check they have clipped in their air jacket before going cross-country. This follows Lucinda Fredericks’ crashing fall at Tweseldown.

Lucinda suffered a rotational fall from Rovello II in the open novice on 7 March. She suffered a broken collarbone and six broken ribs. She was due to have surgery on 19 March.

“I was wearing my Point Two jacket, but became distracted and forgot to clip it on,” said Lucinda.

“If I had remembered, I would have possibly walked away with fewer injuries. It won’t be a mistake I’ll make again. I feel very lucky to be alive.”

Lee Middleton of Point Two told H&H that Lucinda’s momentary lapse of memory was all too common.

“Another rider at Tweseldown had a fall on the same day and forgot to clip it in. And I’ve seen some of the most experienced riders going round Badminton and Burghley and they’ve forgotten too.”

Mr Middleton said he would like to see the steward at the start box remind competitors to clip their jackets in. H&H put his suggestion to BE.

BE’s Chris Farr said he would ask officials to monitor the situation this season.

“We will include a reminder in the next officials’ newsletter that this incident has occurred and ask them to keep an eye on this issue,” he added.

“This incident highlights why BE insists that all competitors wear a BETA level three body protector and not just an air jacket.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (21 March 2013)

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Lucinda Fredericks is in Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, following a rotational fall from Rovello II in the open novice at Tweseldown last Friday (8 March).

The Australian rider, 45, has broken four ribs on her left side and her collarbone.

Lucinda will be assessed by specialists today to decide whether she requires surgery on her collarbone. She is expecting to remain in hospital until Thursday.

Her marketing and communications officer Emma Charlton said: “She is in quite a bit of pain at the present time, but feels incredibly lucky. She is extremely grateful for all the good wishes and support from friends, owners, staff and fans, and is comforted to know that so many people care.”

Her daughter, Ellie (pictured), visited her yesterday to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Lucinda’s senior groom, Emily Young-Jamieson, will continue to work the horses in their normal routine under Lucinda’s guidance while she recovers.

Rovello was unhurt in the incident. The pair finished second at Houghton CCI* last season.

Emma encouraged fans to send messages on facebook or twitter: www.facebook.com/LucindaFredericksTF or www.twitter.com/LucindaFred

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Headley Britannia will miss the first round of the new Express Eventing series as she has thrown a splint, says owner and rider Lucinda Fredericks.

Express Eventing reported on Friday (19 October) that the popular chestnut mare, who retired from top-level eventing earlier this year — would take part in the first round of the 2012-13 series at HorseWorld Live! in London on 17 November.

But Brit’s fans will have to wait until later in the season of the revamped indoor eventing competition next year to see her in action, Lucinda told H&H.

“How she can get a splint at 19 I don’t know,” said Lucinda. “She is perfectly fine but it’s a bit warm.

“It appeared two weeks ago and we are icing it, but she is not one to miss two weeks’ work then go to an event — I wouldn’t do that to her.”

Lucinda hopes to ride Brit in later rounds of the contest.

Brit was the first mare to win Burghley in 33 years when she took the four-star event in 2006 and the first mare in 53 years to win Badminton, in 2007.

She remains the holder of the lowest event finishing score at 4-star level, on 32.3 penalties, which she achieved in Kentucky in 2009.

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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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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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Michael Jung became the first person to win both classes at Luhm ¼hlen, Germany, when this afternoon he added four-star victory to the CIC*** win he confirmed in the morning.

The showjumping was influential and the home side’s reigning European and world champion had the second part of the double at fence 12 down with Leopin FST, but he still finished 5.2 points ahead of runner-up Lucinda Fredericks.

“The showjumping was difficult enough, but my horse gave me a really good feeling in the warm-up, which is a good confidence boost for you as a rider before you go in,” said Michael.

Lucinda added just one time-fault to her overnight score with Flying Finish to rise from fourth to second. The Australian potential Olympic candidates stay here tonight for further inspections by the team vet and their London squad will be named tomorrow.

“It would be a fairytale if Clayton and I were both to go to the Olympics again after Hong Kong,” said Lucinda. “We’ve had a fantastic week and I’m totally respectful of my horse. He tries hard and just wants to do a good thing for you.”

Three fences down apiece for Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen) and Oliver Townend (Armada) sent them spinning down the order to sixth and eighth. Oliver was also seventh on ODT Sonas Rovatio.

Andreas Dibowski’s fault-free round with FRH Butts Avedon elevated him to third and Andrew Nicholson’s one down on Calico Joe put him fourth.

Charlotte Agnew, 24, finished best of the Brits in fifth after a fantastic performance. Riding in her second four-star and her first on the home-bred Out Of Africa Two, she left everything standing this afternoon and just had four time-penalties to rise two places.

“I wasn’t sure I’d get round yesterday so I’ve just been taking it one step at a time,” said Charlotte. “I’m extremely proud of him.”

German Olympic short-list announced

The Germans have named Michael Jung on either La Biosthetique-Sam FBW or Leopin and Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo as almost certainties for London.

Seven pairs have been listed as frontrunners for the other three spots: Andreas Dibowski with FRH Butts Avedon, Ingrid Klimke with FRH Butts Abraxxas, Andreas Ostholt with Franco Jeas, Frank Ostholt with Little Paint, Dirk Schrade with King Artus and Hop And Skip and Peter Thomsen with Horseware’s Barny.

Three more combinations have been listed in a third group: Beeke Kaack with Judy, Kai-Steffen Meier with TSF Karascada M and Peter Thomsen with Cayenne GS.

Anna Warnecke, who fell off yesterday when Twinkle Bee stopped in the first water, has withdrawn from the selection process.

The team will be announced after Aachen (3-8 July).

CCI**** FINAL RESULTS

1st Michael Jung on Leopin FST (GER) 36.8

2nd Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish (AUS) 42

3rd Andreas Dibowski on FRH Butts Avedon (GER) 43.2

4th Andrew Nicholson on Calico Joe (NZL) 45.7

5th Charlotte Agnew on Out Of Africa Two (GBR) 47.2

6th Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen (AUS) 48.8

Full report from Luhmuhlen in H&H next week (out Thursday 21 June).

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The home side’s Michael Jung has moved up from second after dressage to take the lead in the CCI**** at Luhm ¼hlen, Germany.

European and world champion Michael (pictured) finished the difficult cross-country course 16sec inside the optimum time. He had just one hairy moment when Leopin FST, owned by Anke Hoyer, dropped his back legs on the boat in the first water – the HSBC Water Complex, fences 4 and 5abc – but apart from that he stormed round Mark Phillips’ track.

“I had a little problem at the first water, but apart from that he was really good – we are more together now than we used to be,” said Michael.

Dressage leader Lucinda Fredericks dropped to fourth with 9.2 time-penalties, but was delighted with Donald Reid’s four-star debutant Flying Finish. The Australian rider did well to hang on and get over the second element when the horse left a leg at the first log decorated with fish in the final water, the Jeep Big Four Station at 21 and 22.

“I nearly had fish for supper, but he’s a big horse with a lot of power, who tries so hard,” she said. “I can’t be disappointed with those time-faults – he only did his first CCI* exactly two years ago, at Houghton.”

Andrew Hoy recorded another of the five clears inside the time to rise from fourth overnight to second on Rutherglen.

“He’s really starting to come into himself,” said Andrew. “He was jumping well and listening to me.”

Having been sixth after dressage, Oliver Townend now lies third for Britain after a classy, fault-free round on the former Andrew Nicholson ride Armada, owned by Paul Ridgeon. And young Brit Charlotte Agnew had just 2.4 time-faults to move up from eighth to sixth on home-bred Out Of Africa Two.

The final pair to go, New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control, completed their round in silence due to a power cut across the venue and the surrounding area – commentary and television coverage as well as the internet went down. But 60 jumping penalties at the influential skinny at fence 19b, the HSBC FEI Classics Combination, put them out of the reckoning. However, Andrew does lie fifth on the Twenty Twelve In Mind syndicate’s Calico Joe.

Michael Jung also maintained his lead in the CIC*** when he finished bang on the 6min 30sec optimum time with Weidezaunprofi’s River Of Joy. The top three in this class are unchanged, with Germany’s Frank Ostholt second on last year’s individual bronze medallist Little Paint (two time-faults) and his Swedish wife Sara Algotsson-Ostholt third with Wega (1.6 time-faults).

CCI**** RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1st Michael Jung on Leopin FST (GER) 32.8

2nd Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen (AUS) 34.8

3rd Oliver Townend on Armada (GBR) 39.5

4th Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish (AUS) 41

5th Andrew Nicholson on Calico Joe (NZL) 41.7

6th Charlotte Agnew on Out Of Africa Two (GBR) 43.2

Picture by Peter Nixon/FEI

Luhm ¼hlen website

Log back on tomorrow for a final update from Luhm ¼hlen. Full report in H&H next week (out 21 June).

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Lucinda Fredericks is in pole position after dressage in the German CCI**** at Luhm ¼hlen.

Riding Donald Reid’s German-bred 10-year-old Flying Finish, Lucinda put in a smooth, elegant test to score 31.8.

“Dressage is usually a strong point for me and I was hoping to do a very good test,” said Lucinda (pictured). “This horse is still weak – he’s only started eventing two years ago, he’s tall and narrow and has a lot of growing and strengthening to do. But he’s got a wonderful attitude and a very trainable temperament.”

Lucinda predicted that the home side’s European and world champion Michael Jung would usurp her when he did his test later in the afternoon on Anke Hoyer’s Leopin FST. But the 13-year-old was slightly nervous in the arena and did not produce such good work as in the warm-up. Nevertheless, he lies second on 32.8.

Michael also leads the CIC*** having recorded a personal best score of 27.8 on Wiedezaunprofis River Of Joy yesterday. Most of the leading Germans have their best horses in this class – though Michael still has star La Biosthetique-Sam FBW tucked away – and the German shortlist for the Olympics will be announced after Luhm ¼hlen.

Andrew Nicholson has three rides in the CCI**** and he saved the best til last, slotting into third with the final horse of the day, Robin and Nicky Salmon’s Mr Cruise Control, the runner-up at Pau last year.

Andrew Hoy – who joins Lucinda in using this weekend to make a bid for a place on the Australian team for London – lies fourth on the smart nine-year-old Rutherglen.

“I took him to Kentucky and was disappointed with his dressage. He was very anxious in the atmosphere so here I changed the formula a little and had a ‘cold start’ – I only got on him 20 minutes before his test,” said Andrew, who has been working with British dressage star Laura Bechtolsheimer. “Here he did what I could produce for today – there’s still a lot more work to do, it’s not the finished article.”

Germany’s Andreas Dibowski – the winner here last year on Euroridings Butts Leon – is fifth with FRH Butts Avedon. Oliver Townend is best of the Brits in sixth having coaxed a relaxed test out of the former Andrew Nicholson ride Armada, owned by Paul Ridgeon. The top six riders all broke the 40-barrier, with Oliver scoring 39.5.

Recent Houghton CIC*** runners-up Charlotte Agnew and Out Of Africa Two are eighth for Britain (40.8), with Francis Whittington ninth on Easy Target (41.5).

Riders say Mark Phillips’ cross-country track will be influential. The CIC*** horses run first tomorrow, with the four-star competitors taking their turn in the afternoon.

CCI**** RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

1st Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish (AUS) 31.8

2nd Michael Jung on Leopin FST (GER) 32.8

3rd Andrew Nicholson on Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 34.7

4th Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen (AUS) 34.8

5th Andreas Dibowski on FRH Butts Avedon (GER) 35.2

6th Oliver Townend on Armada (GBR) 39.5

Luhm ¼hlen website

Picture by Peter Nixon/FEI

Log back on for more updates from Luhm ¼hlen over the weekend. Full report in H&H out next Thursday, 21 June.

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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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Owner-rider Lucinda Fredericks tells H&H about the little mare with the heart of a lion.

Fact file

Name: Headley Britannia

Stable name: Brit

Age: 19 (but don’t tell her)

Height: 15.3hh on her tiptoes

Sire: Jumbo

Dam: Alans Bambi

Discipline: eventing

Owners: Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks

Rider: Lucinda Fredericks

Groom: Emily (Emz) Young-Jamieson

Top results: the only mare to win Kentucky, Burghley and Badminton

Five things you didn’t know…

1 Two of Brit’s foals were born in the same year that she and their sire (Jaguar Mail) competed at the Beijing Olympics.

2 She was bred by Mike and Betty Hounsell – Lucinda Fredericks also rode Brit’s full-brother Headley Kingdom for his owner. “He was like a Rolls-Royce, whereas Brit is my Mini,” explains Lucinda.

3 Brit is not keen on water and had been eliminated in events prior to coming to Lucinda.

4 Brit likes to be first on the walker and to be ridden. If not, she pulls faces.

5 Lucinda has dislocated my thumb twice riding Brit, once when she was going cross-country and she banged it back into place on Brit’s neck while galloping round — ouch!

To read the full interview with Lucinda Fredericks about Headley Britannia see the 16 February issue of H&H

Get all the latest eventing news

Are you looking for a new eventer this season? View H&H’s online database of horses for sale

Headley Britannia is to retire, eventer Lucinda Fredericks has revealed to H&H in an exclusive interview in today’s magazine (15 March).

• Read today’s magazine for exclusive news of Brit’s retirement plan“Brit”, who is 19, will formally retire at Badminton Horse Trials (3-7 May) – the four-star event she won in 2007 – and not try for Olympic selection.Team Fredericks decided to draw a line under Brit’s amazing career having felt the preparation runs required, in the lead up to a possible Olympic entry, would be too risky.“She is so valuable to us that I could never forgive myself if I had asked her to compete one more time at this level and something had happened to her,” said Lucinda.Brit was the first mare to win Burghley in 33 years when she took the four-star event in 2006 and the first mare in 53 years to win Badminton, in 2007.When she won Kentucky in 2009, she became only the second horse ever to win three different four-stars (Pippa Funnell’s Primmore’s Pride was the first).But because of hard ground she has not competed at advanced level since coming second at Chatsworth in 2010.Her most recent outing was the open intermediate at Tweseldown last year, which she won.In December Lucinda told H&H that she hoped to compete her for “one more season” at top level.But she made the decision to retire Brit after a lot of soul searching.“She has been a part of our family for 10 years and owes us nothing more,” she told H&H.

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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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Oliver Townend will be the pathfinder at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (21-25 April).

The draw was revealed on Wednesday to coincide with the annual press day, which is also the first chance for the media to see the cross-country course.

Oliver still has four horses entered, of which he can only run two, so officially the first equine to compete could be Carousel Quest, ODT Master Rose or ODT Sonas Rovatio.

However, he revealed at Belton last weekend that “plan A” is for ODT Master Rose to go to Luhmühlen, while ODT Sonas Rovatio is entered for Kentucky, so the likelihood is that 2009 Burghley winner Carousel Quest (pictured) will lead the way at this year’s Badminton.

Oliver’s second ride, near the end of the draw, will then be Ashdale Cruise Master, who won the Grantham Cup at Belton last weekend.

Badminton final scores

Oliver, who triumphed at Badminton in 2009 on Flint Curtis, is one of seven former winners running this time, assuming Lucinda Fredericks (Prada) gets in from the waiting list. The others are William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Mark Todd, Mary King and last year’s victor Paul Tapner.

Lucinda (drawn as number 99) is the next rider to get in from the waiting list when someone else withdraws. So far, only five horses have been accepted from the waiting list this year — an unusually low number as 31 to 43 have eventually been accepted each year from 2008 to 2010.

This year is likely to be the lowest yet for acceptances from the waiting list, unless there is a late surge. Horses are accepted to replace withdrawals until 6pm on Tuesday, 19 April and all the wait-listed horses have been given a number in the draw in case they get in.

H&H blogger Ben Hobday has been drawn at number 54 with Uptons Who, so he is likely to have a first-day dressage time. The first debutante to take on the Badminton course will be Ireland’s Aoife Clark, who had both her Badminton rides in the placings at Belton and is number 10 with her first horse, Vaguely North.

There will be plenty of excitement right until the end of the competition, with Pippa Funnell’s Redesigned and Mark Todd’s second horse the final two runners. Mark has three horses still entered, but Major Milestone is entered for Kentucky, so his Badminton contenders are likely to be his world team bronze medallist NZB Grass Valley (number 18) and last year’s Blenheim CIC*** winner NZB Land Vision (number 130).

Meanwhile William Fox-Pitt has narrowed his initial five entries to three, with Pau runner-up Navigator, Burghley runner-up Seacookie TSF and world silver medallist Cool Mountain still in the running. It would therefore appear that Idalgo and Neuf Des Coeurs are his first choices for Kentucky (Navigator and Seacookie are also entered).

Don’t miss H&H’s Badminton preview next week (14 April issue): former winner Andrew Hoy walks the course, the equine characters who have won the Glentrool Trophy, what’s new this year, plus where to shop.

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Lucinda Fredericks will return to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials’ (22-25 April) starting line this year for the first time since her win in 2007.

With entries published on the Badminton website today, Lucinda is currently sixth on the waiting list, but is almost guaranteed a run — last year 31 horses were accepted from the waiting list.

Lucinda told H&H that it was a last-minute decision to enter Prada, ninth at Blenheim last year (pictured).

“It was never in my plan, but she’s suddenly turned a corner and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to ride at Badminton again,” she said.

“She cruised round Blenheim, so I’m not worried about her getting the distance or speed, although I’m not hugely hopeful about the dressage as that takes time. But I hope to give her a good run at Fontainebleau [France, 24-27 March] and hopefully be able to get her ready.

Badminton final scores

“It’ll certainly be a very different ride to ‘Brit’ [Headley Britannia, her diminutive 2007 winner] — like a Ferrari compared to a mini!”

The 11-year-old Prada is low mileage, having had most of 2008 and all of 2009 off work lame, which the Fredericks suspected was due to twisting her sacro-iliac jumping out of deep ground.

Front-runners and first-timers

William Fox-Pitt has the most horses entered this year, five. He has only won here once — in 2004 — but in Navigator, Macchiato, Idalgo, Seacookie TSF and Cool Mountain he has the luxury of five horses all with four-star experience to choose from.

Piggy French brings her World Equestrian Games (WEG) ride Jakata, but also 2009 European silver medallist Some Day Soon, who missed much of last season. And Tina Cook has entered her 2009 European champion Miners Frolic, who fell in The Lake last year but went well across country at WEG bar a technical 20pen.

Triple Badminton winner Pippa Funnell has two rides — WEG ride Redesigned and Mirage D’Elle — for her first attempt at Badminton since 2008. And fellow triple winner Mark Todd has three horses entered, Major Milestone, NZB Land Vision and NZB Grass Valley.

Oliver Townend will have to choose two from ODT Master Rose, Ashdale Cruise Master and Carousel Quest, while Mary King is also triple-handed at this stage with Kings Temptress, Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce.

Andrew Nicholson’s three entries include his WEG individual bronze medallist Nereo.

Badminton has attracted a particularly strong international field this year — less than half the accepted entries are British at this stage.

As well as the British-based foreigners, six riders are bidding to make the journey from the USA and three members of Canada’s silver-medal winning WEG team are also planning to cross the Atlantic: Hawley Bennett-Awad (Gin & Juice), Selena O’Hanlon (Colombo) and Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch (Port Authority).

Among the notable first-timers are H&H blogger Ben Hobday, former young rider European champion Laura Collett (accepted with Rayef and wait-listed with Ginger May Killinghurst) and Lauren Shannon, best British first-timer at Burghley last year with her Badminton entry Zero Flight. Lauren also has Quixotic third on the waiting list.

See the full entries

Read more about how the waiting list system works

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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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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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Listen to this week’s episode of the international eventing radio show, which is co-hosted by Lucinda Fredericks.

It includes interviews with reigning World Champion, Zara Phillips, Rolex Grand Slam Challenger, Oliver Townend and British Eventing Chief Executive Mike Etherington-Smith, plus Karen Dixon pays tribute to her multi-medal partner Get Smart and looks back on her incredible partnership with this top horse.

Listen to eventing radio show episode 68

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Read the latest Lucinda Fredericks news

Born Lucinda Murray in 1965, Lucinda Fredericks was successful for many years eventing for Britain, finishing sixth at Badminton in 1992 on Arctic Goose and earning a reserve slot for the Barcelona Olympics that year.

But Lucinda’s greatest results have come since she swapped to her husband Clayton’s nationality – Australian – in 2002.

Although she was a multiple winner at three-star level, wins at four-star level evaded Lucinda until she formed a brilliant partnership with the diminutive mare Headley Britannia, which has resulted in wins at Burghley (2006), Badminton (2007) and Kentucky (2009), plus a team silver medal at the Olympics in Hong Kong in 2008.

Lucinda has also ridden at grand prix level in pure dressage and was long-listed for the Sydney Olympics with Azupa Gazelle in this discipline.

Lucinda lives in Wiltshire with her husband Clayton Fredericks and their daughter Ellie (born 2003).

Lucinda Fredericks videos

Lucinda Fredericks and her gallant little mare Headley Britannia earned a standing ovation as they remained on their dressage score to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Lucinda burst into tears as she left the arena and was greeted by her husband Clayton, who won this competition in 2007.

A delighted Lucinda said: “Headley Britannia has been the most wonderful horse. What more could you possibly ask for? She’s come all the way from Wiltshire in England to beat some of the best in the world. I’ve had the best week of my life.”

The top three all jumped clear over Richard Jeffrey’s flowing track in Kentucky’s magnificent large arena, where the pressure on leading riders grew as the course was proving eminently jumpable and a mistake could prove expensive.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy was gracious in defeat after her gripping battle with Lucinda throughout the competition. She punched the air in delight after the 18-year-old Ringwood Cockatoo jumped with a clean round, just rattling one fence which luckily stayed in its cups.

Buck Davidson (USA), 33, scored his best ever four-star result, to finish third on his exciting new ride My Boy Bobby.

Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago de l’Ile remained on their dressage score to move up to fourth place, while Lucy Wiegersma was the best placed British rider in fifth on Woodfalls Inigo Jones after jumping a clear round.

William Fox-Pitt on Seacookie and Oliver Townend, who frustratingly had the last fence down on Carousel Quest, finished sixth and eighth, split by last year’s winners, Phillip Dutton on Connaught in seventh.

Four-star newcomer Tim Lips (NED) slipped from fourth to ninth with two rails down, but he won the HSBC FEI Classics Training Bursary worth $1,000, awarded to the highest placed rider competing at their first four-star.

The next leg of the HSBC FEI Classics series takes place at Badminton Horse Trials (7-10 May).

Results

1. Lucinda Fredericks/Headley Britannia (AUS) 32.3

2. Bettina Hoy/Ringwood Cockatoo (GER) 38.4

3. Buck Davidson/My Boy Bobby (USA) 40.2

4. Nicolas Touzaint/Hildago de l’Ile (FRA) 44.3

5. Lucy Wiegersma/Woodfalls Inigo Jones (GBR) 44.4

6. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie (GBR) 45.9

7. Phillip Dutton/Connaught (USA) 47.0

8. Oliver Townend/Carousel (GBR) 49.2

9. Tim Lips/Concrex Oncarlos (NED) 50.0

10. Stephen Bradley/Brandenburg’s Joshua (USA) 52.6

www.rk3de.org

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Kentucky in this Thursday’s magazine, on sale 30 April, ’09

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Lucinda Fredericks has taken over the lead at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, USA, with a thrilling round on a super-fit Headley Britannia, to finish inside the optimum time, the first time she has achieved this at four-star level.

Bettina Hoy is now second, having clocked 9.6 time penalties in a courageous and accurate round on the 18-year-old Ringwood Cockatoo amid temperatures of 85 degrees, albeit with a cooling breeze.

Both riders produced vintage performances of what do across country when it doesn’t all go according to plan. Lucinda lost her knitting when “Brit” launched into the Head of the Lake and had to think quickly with an alternative route. Bettina reacted equally quickly when Cockatoo took off alarmingly far out at the first of two big corners at fence 22.

“I had an exhilarating ride,” said Lucinda, “but it took me a while to get into it, as I only ride one horse at this level. But after the water, I think I started to ride better. She is feisty, but she is also careful, and you have to place her. It was easier at the big fences near the end of the course.”

Bettina was emotional after her ride. “I think the heat may have got to him, and I didn’t want to go any faster than felt right, and I had to help him. He owes me nothing and every competition is a bonus.”

Lucinda now has a fence in hand over Bettina in the final jumping phase, but the next riders are closely bunched together.

Buck Davidson punched the air as he finished clear on My Boy Bobby and retained his third place with just 1.2 time penalties. “I knew his not being a Thoroughbred would be an issue, and he did run out of gas, but he dug deep and I’m so proud of him. Show jumping is his best phase, so now I’ve done my job, I hope he does his.”

Tim Lips retained his fourth place, recovering from a couple of hesitant moments with aplomb. Nicolas Touzaint, inside time on Hildago de l’Ile, rose from seventh to fifth.

Lucy Wiegersma is best of the British in sixth after an impressively assured performance on Woodfalls Inigo Jones, a horse she has had since a foal. “He is always fabulous across country,” she said. “The big surprise is how well he went in the dressage. He has a tendency to get starstruck and he’s never seen anything like this.”

Oli Townend was a class act on Carousel Quest, finishing on a clean sheet and moving up one place to seventh. William Fox-Pitt is eighth after giving Seacookie a masterful ride.

William had a run-out with Navigator at a narrow brush fence at the Normandy Bank at 25, but the horse had lost a shoe at fence 9 and William put this down to green-ness. “He is was as good as I hoped.”

Nicola Wilson has risen 11 places to 15th after a brilliant round on Opposition Buzz. “Everyone says what a great cross-country horse he is, so I was a little nervous about getting it right. But he was super; he gave me a wonderful ride and was much calmer at the start. He can sometimes run through the bridle at the start of the course, but I had stuck to riding him over only very small practice fences and, as a result, he was much nicer.”

Mike Etherington-Smith’s course, with its flowing, forward distances, rode as well as expected and there were 30 clear rounds from the 46 horses who started across country; 38 finished.

The day’s only casualty was the sad death of Mike Winter’s horse Kingpin, which collapsed and died on landing at fence 10. The horse was found to have bled internally. Mike was taken to hospital, but discharged, and he withdrew his second ride.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report from Kentucky in next week’s magazine

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Bettina Hoy and Lucinda Fredericks, whose husbands have both won Rolex watches at Kentucky, produced outstanding dressage tests to lead after the first phase.

Bettina has the advantage, with the only sub-30 mark — 28.8 — on the wonderful Ringwood Cockatoo, at 18 the oldest horse in the field.

“He never disappoints me in this phase,” said Bettina, “but this time he was just fantastic, so supple. He owes me nothing.”

Bettina’s husband Andrew, who won Kentucky on Master Monarch in 2006, is back at home in Germany, working the couple’s young horses. They are currently based at Warendorf.

Lucinda’s husband, Clayton, who won Kentucky on Ben Along Time in 2007, is present to advise his wife about the cross-country phase, about which she commented; “It’s big and fair and I think it will suit Brit (Headley Britannia). I’ve got to try not to take too many pulls, because it’s going to be fast going and I’m a bit of a naughty one for taking a pull. But I’m feeling a lot better about it having made the decision to take the long route at the Sunken Road.”

Lucinda scored 32.3 on Headley Britannia who, at 15.2hh is the smallest in the field.

Buck Davidson, third on My Boy Bobby (39 penalties), also has the weight of family expectation on his shoulders. His father Bruce, who is also competing at Kentucky, is the most successful rider here, winning the 1978 World Championships and numerous other three-day prizes.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen across country because this is my horse’s first time at this level, and he’s not a full Thoroughbred, but he’s pretty fit and he’s been consistent this year.”

Buck got the ride on My Boy Bobby, an attractive Irish-bred liver chestnut found by Clare Ryan, last year. He was quick to credit training with Bettina Hoy last year for his improved dressage performance. “She’s changed the way I ride, and it feels amazing to be sitting up here with these two greats.”

Tim Lips, hero of the first day, is now fourth, ahead of best British rider Lucy Wiegersma, fifth with a well-ridden test on Woodfalls Inigo Jones, 43.2 penalties. William Fox-Pitt is sixth on Seacookie (43.5) and ninth on Navigator (46.7), and Oli Townend is now eighth on his new ride Carousel Quest, fourth at Burghley with Cressie Clague-Reading in 2006.

Nicola Wilson is 26th on Opposition Buzz (54.7) after an unsettled test, but the bold, galloping nature of Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross-country course should be just her handwriting.

Nicolas Touzaint, making his first visit to Kentucky, is seventh on his Badminton winner Hildago de l’Ile and Kentucky’s defending champions Phillip Dutton and Connaught are 10th on 47.

The cross-country phase starts at 10am Kentucky time (3pm British), with Buck Davidson first out on the course on Ballynoe Castle RM.

Full results on www.rk3de.org and video viewing on FEI.tv (www.fei.org)

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Rolex Kentucky three-day event, on sale Thursday 30 April, ’09

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Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) has had to pull out of the inaugural Express Eventing competition this Sunday at the Millennium Stadium due to a leg injury she sustained in a fall at Pau, France, at the end of October.

Express Eventing’s Stuart Buntine said: “This is a real blow for Lucinda and we hope she gets better very soon. Lucinda will not be replaced in the line-up at this late stage as there is not enough time for a replacement rider to train for the event.”

Lucinda suffered a nasty cut to her leg from one of her ride Jiggalong’s studs during a fall while competing in the CIC** at Pau (23-26 October).

The Olympic team silver medallist would have been one of the favourites to take the £100,000 first prize in Cardiff with her Badminton and Burghley winner Headley Britannia. She is one of the few event riders to have previous experience of dressage to music, having ridden to grand prix level in pure dressage.

The Fredericks’ Wiltshire yard still has a chance to take some of the spoils as Lucinda’s husband Clayton will be competing on his Olympic ride Ben Along Time.

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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 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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Six more top riders — including Lucinda Fredericks — have signed up to take part in the new Express Eventing International Cup.

The new eventing series — designed to condense the excitement of three-day eventing into a few hours, indoors —makes its debut in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 30 November.

Twenty riders will take part in the competition, which has a prize-fund of £250,000, with £100,000 to the winner on the day.

British rider Lucy Wiegersma, Australian Olympic silver medallist Lucinda Fredericks, French eventer Rodolphe Scherer, Italy’s Vittoria Pannizon, New Zealander Caroline Powell and American Philip Dutton have all signed up for the competition in the past week.

Riders previously confirmed include Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Clayton Fredericks, Belgian rider Karin Donckers and German Dirk Schrade.

The competition will start with a freestyle dressage programme, set to music, where riders will be judged on “artistic interpretation”.

They will then enter a combined jumping stage, with quick break to change tack between the show jumping and cross-country phases, still in the indoor arena.

For more information about Express Eventing International Cup, go to www.eeicup.com

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GERMANY has turned the tables on Australia following the cross-country phase of the Olympic three-day event in Hong Kong.

Dental surgeon Hinrich Romeike and Marius are now in the gold medal position, with teammate Ingrid Klimke and Abraxxas reinforcing this country’s dominance in second.

Germany leads the team medal standings too, while Great Britain has risen into bronze position behind Australia.

Four out of the five members of the British squad came home with clear rounds, with William Fox-Pitt and Parkmore Ed the fastest with 10 penalties to add.

Mary King and Call Again Cavalier have moved up from ninth to equal fifth place despite having to contend with running across country during a torrential downpour.

“I didn’t notice the rain. I was just trying to go so fast. It was a very busy course to ride,” said Mary, who added 18 time penalties after stopping the clock on 8min 45sec.

The 8min optimum set for Mike Etherington-Smith’s 29-fence cross-country course proved impossible to attain. Shane Rose and All Luck came the closest, stopping the clock on 8min 23sec.

Tina Cook and Miners Frolic have also entered the top 10 with a polished clear round for 17.2 time faults.

Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town were the only Britons to record a jumping mistake when they collected 20 penalties for a run-out at the influential penultimate fence, the Pagoda ditch and brushes at 27/28, when the gelding, like several others in the field, ducked out at the second part.

In a thrilling three hours of cross-country action at Beas River on an unseasonably cool and drizzly August day, Australia lost the advantage it had gained during the dressage phase when the individual leaders Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia notched up an expensive 27.2 time faults and dropped to 11th place.

“Sometimes you just don’t get into a rhythm on a course. I found it difficult to get her opened out on the first part,” said Lucinda.

Megan Jones and Irish Jester are now the best placed Aussies in the bronze medal position.

Karin Donckers relinquished her second dressage placing when notching up a raft of time penalties with Gazelle De La Brasserie.

US rider Becky Holder and Courageous Comet, who had been fifth, disappeared from the reckoning with a stop at fence 21, the Crouching Dragon, where they added an additional 20 penalties for crossing their tracks on their way to the alternative.

Gina Miles and McKinlaigh are now the highest placed American partnership in equal fifth, just behind Clayton Fredericks and Ben Along Time.

In all there were eight eliminations on course, including one for Andrew Nicholson who fell off Lord Killinghurst at the Pagodas when they were on track to set the fastest time of the day.

Amy Tryon made history by becoming the first competitor ever to be eliminated for a rider fall in international competition, a ruling which came into force on 1 August. She fell off a hard-pulling Poggio when he caught his right hoof and then stumbled at fence 10, the Birdcages.

FEI president Princess Haya said that cross-country day, during which there were no reported injuries to horses or riders, had been a good one for the sport.

“It was one of the most exciting days; a top level competition in which the standards of riding exceeded anything we have ever seen,” said the Princess.

Going forward to tomorrow’s show jumping, which will be held under floodlights at 7.15pm local time, following an afternoon final horse inspection at 4pm, 60 combinations remain in the competition.

Read the full results

Olympic photo gallery

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LUCINDA Fredericks and Headley Britannia will start the Olympic cross-country tomorrow in the gold medal position.

Their first-phase score of 30.4 was not bettered by any of the 25 horses who performed under floodlights and during high humidity at the final early morning dressage session at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

Ingrid Klimke and Abraxxas came closest to toppling Lucinda when they scored 33.5 which has left them in third place. They only relinquished marks in the medium trot when Abraxxas spooked at a camera.

“He’s always interested in the surroundings,” said Ingrid. “The atmosphere was quite electric in there.”

Mary King and Call Again Cavalier, second last to go, became the best of the British contingent when they broke the 40 barrier and slotted into ninth place. Mary’s score of 38.1, together with Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town’s mark of 43.5, has elevated the British team into fourth place, behind Australia, Germany and the US. In the individual standings just 8.9 penalties separates the leader from 10th placed Gina Miles.

Before the competition started the British squad was informed of the death of 23-year-old Emma Jonathan while contesting the CCI** at Hartpury.

“We were all devastated to hear the news,” said Mary.

But basically sprits have been high in the British camp. Sharon Hunt commented on the camaraderie among Britain’s squad members. “William and Mary have both been really helpful and have walked the course with me and told me here to shaved the time off.”

The dressage phase apparently did not appeal to Hong Kong locals. One is quoted as saying in the Sunday Morning Post that her family was “deeply bored” by the experience of spectating and that she didn’t believe equestrianism “is an appealing sport visually”.

This afternoon Hong Kong time the horses will be transported to the cross-country venue Beas River, where they will be stabled overnight in readiness for tomorrow’s 8am start.

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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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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Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) reminded the Australian selectors just how good she is when she took first place in the dressage in the CCI**** at Luhmühlen, Germany, this afternoon.

Lucinda made a last-minute decision to swap last year’s Badminton winner Headley Britannia into the four-star — she was originally entered for the CIC*** — and the little mare responded with her best score to date at this level, 32.6.

Although there are only 24 starters in the CCI****, the standard in the dressage has been high, with the home nation’s Simone Deitermann scoring 35.4 with Flambeau H 3 for second place.

Andrew Hoy provided the third sub-30 score with Moonfleet. He will be looking to put behind him a fall at Badminton’s Huntsman’s Close when he was in the lead after dressage.

Final rider Julie Tew is best of the eight-strong British contingent, lying fifth with Sir Roselier. Fellow Brit James Robinson is just behind her in sixth with his partner from the 2005 European Championships, Comanche. This pair re-routed to Luhmühlen after James fell off in the water at Badminton.

The CIC*** competitors did their dressage yesterday, with the top five places being taken by crack German combinations.

Bettina Hoy broke the magic 30 barrier with Ringwood Cockatoo, leading with 29.6. She is pursued by three German team members from last year’s European Championships — Ingrid Klimke (FRH Butts Abraxxas), Frank Ostholt (Air Jordan 2) and Hinrich Romeike (Marius Voigt-Logistik).

Up-and-coming German rider Beeke Kaack performed her best ever dressage test with Sinjang 2 — with whom she rode as an individual at the 2007 Europeans — to lie fourth equal with Hinrich.

The cross-country for both classes is tomorrow, with the CIC*** first, starting at 10.30am local time (9.30am in Britain).

Results and times from Luhmühlen

RESULTS AFTER DRESSAGE

CCI****

1. Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks, AUS) 32.6

2. Flambeau H 3 (Simone Deitermann, GER) 35.4

3. Moonfleet (Andrew Hoy, AUS) 39.3

4. SS Jett (Karin Donckers, BEL) 41.8

5. Sir Roselier (Julie Tew, GB) 45

6. Comanche 22 (James Robinson, GB) 45.2

CIC***

1. Ringwood Cockatoo (Bettina Hoy, GER) 29.6

2. FRH Butts Abraxxas (Ingrid Klimke, GER) 33.9

3. Air Jordan 2 (Frank Ostholt, GER) 34.3

4=. Marius Voigt-Logistik (Hinrich Romeike, GER) 36.1

4=. Sinjang 2 (Beeke Kaack, GER) 36.1

6. Stand By Me 4 (Linda Algotsson, SWE) 41.3

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Event riders Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks are returning to their gymkhana days — but it’s all for a good cause

Badminton heroine Lucinda and her husband Clayton will take part in gymkhana games in a “Celebrity Challenge” at a forthcoming charity evening in aid of the Mark Davies Injured Riders’ Fund and the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies.

The event is to be hosted by triple Olympic Gold Medallist Matt Ryan and his wife Marie on June 28 at their yard in Llandewi Rhydderch in Monmouthshire.

As well as the gymkhana, Matt will be performing a demonstration, and visitors will get the chance to tour the yard and meet the four-legged stable stars.

Matt said: “I’m really excited about this event. This is the first time we have opened our doors to the public since we moved to Wales, and we are really looking forward to it.”

Other riders lined up for the celebrity challenge are Irish team member, Austin O’Connor, and his wife, former international rider Kathrin.

There will also be a display by landscape designer Sarah Eberle, who won Best in Show at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. BBC rugby commentator and former Wales Captain Eddie Butler will be commentating the gymkhana.

Tickets cost £12 in advance and £15 on the night. Children under 12 get in for free. For more details (tel: 01299 403389).

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Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) raised the winner’s trophy at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this afternoon.

Lucinda had just one show jump down to claim the £55,000 first prize, having led throughout the competition with her Burghley winner Headley Britannia.

“I never believed I could bring the trophy home,” said the 41-year-old. “It was a schoolgirl dream, but it’s a lot of hard work and you’ve got to stick at it.

“I’ve sold so many young horses and had advanced horses sold from under me, and I’ve finally managed to keep a horse I’ve bonded with. I’m proud to have stuck at what I wanted to do as a young girl and I’ve been rewarded with two huge wins.”

American triple Kentucky winner Kim Severson was just 0.2 of a penalty behind Lucinda heading into the final phase. But she lowered two fences to give Lucinda that much-needed rail in hand and drop to third.

Badminton final scores

“My recent placings haven’t been so stellar with Winsome Adante, so I came here just hoping to get round and not have a fall or anything,” said Kim. “I mainly wanted to get over this hump and for us to get back together as a partnership.”

Germany’s Andreas Dibowski was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the show jumping shake-up, moving from fourth to the runner-up spot. He jumped clear with FRH Serve Well to complete a one-two for mares.

German dentist Hinrich Romeike also lowered two fences to fall from third to sixth with Marius Voigt-Logistik.

Sarah Cohen finished best of the British in ninth on Hide And Seek II, with Over To You ending his final Badminton as second best British horse in 14th. He and Jeanette Brakewell are the only combination to have completed Badminton seven times together.

View the final leaderboard >>

View readers’ photo gallery >>

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full 18-page magazine report, including fantastic photographs capturing the best of the action, a run down on the problem cross-country fences and former Badminton winner Ginny Elliot’s view on Lucinda Fredericks’ winning ride, on sale 10 May ’07.

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Final results after show jumping

1. Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks, AUS) 39.6

2. FRH Serve Well (Andreas Dibowski, GER) 41.6

3. Winsome Adante (Kim Severson, USA) 43.8

4. Bonza Katoomba (Matt Ryan, AUS) 46.2

5. Lord Killinghurst (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 46.2

6. Marius Voigt-Logistik (Hinrich Romeike, GER) 47.6

7. Snip (Joe Meyer, NZL) 48.2

8. Henry Tankerville (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 49.2

9. Hide And Seek II (Sarah Cohen, GB) 49.4 (pictured)

10. The Ghost Of Hamish (Peter Thomsen, GER) 49.4

Buy Horse & Hound next Thursday (10 May) for full report, analysis and photographs from Badminton.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full 18-page magazine report, including fantastic photographs capturing the best of the action, a run down on the problem cross-country fences and former Badminton winner Ginny Elliot’s view on the winner’s performance, on sale 10 May ’07.

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Results after cross-country

1. Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks, AUS) 35.6

2. Winsome Adante (Kim Severson, USA) 35.8

3. Marius Voigt-Logistik (Hinrich Romeike, GER) 39.6

4. FRH Serve Well (Andreas Dibowski, GER) 41.6

5. Air Jordan 2 (Frank Ostholt, GER) 42.2

6. Henry Tankerville (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 45.2

7. Hide And Seek II (Sarah Cohen, GB) 45.4 (pictured)

8. Bonza Katoomba (Matt Ryan, AUS) 46.2

9. Lord Killinghurst (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 46.2

10. Inonothing (Paul Tapner, AUS) 47.2

• Read H&H eventing editor, Pippa Roome’s latest report >>
• Read H&H Editor, Lucy Higginson’s latest blog >>
• Check out the latest shopping bargains >>

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full 18-page magazine report, including fantastic photographs capturing the best of the action, a run down on the problem cross-country fences and former Badminton winner Ginny Elliot’s view on the winner’s performance, on sale 10 May ’07.

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The top three after dressage keep their places following the cross-country at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. But the day was not without drama, with two horses losing their lives and problems for several well-placed combinations.

Dressage leader Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) finished 2sec over the time with Burghley winner Headley Britannia. She starts the show jumping 0.2 of a penalty ahead of America’s Kim Severson, clear inside the time on Winsome Adante.

“I did feel quite a lot of pressure today, but she was pinging all the way,” said Lucinda.

Germany’s Hinrich Romeike (Marius Voigt-Logistik) stays third, despite 3.2 time-penalties. He survived a dodgy moment at the Colt Pond (fence 14).

“He jumped big in and I was nearly out the front door,” said Hinrich. “I turned him like a lawnmower and I don’t know how, but he managed to get over the rail.”

Badminton final scores

Among the less fortunate was Polly Stockton, fourth after dressage with Tom Quigley, who retired after a stop going into the Shogun Hollow (fence 7).

Oliver Townend lost his 11th place when Tom Cruise II had a horse fall after jumping into the big parallel at the Grandis Choice (fences 10-11).

Sarah Cohen is the only British rider in the top 10, having risen to seventh with Hide And Seek II.

“He felt fantastic,” she said. “I didn’t have any hairy moments.”

Jeanette Brakewell, who lies 13th, said after finishing clear inside the time that this will be Over To You’s last Badminton. Assuming the 19-year-old completes, he will join Ballycotton as the only horses to have finished seven Badmintons.

“He doesn’t feel like an old horse, but the time comes to cut back,” said Jeanette. “He will still do one-day events.”

Out of 77 dressage starters, 22 horses were withdrawn. Mary King, who pulled out both of her rides, said she didn’t think the ground was good enough.

But Lucinda Fredericks said: “I was pleasantly surprised by how the ground rode for me and my horse.”

Event director Hugh Thomas thanked those who had worked on the ground round-the-clock over the past few days and said the team will have a re-think on how to cope with unusual conditions in the future.

Andrew Downes’s ride Skwal died after a suspected heart attack following his round. The other horse fatality was Jean-Lou Bigot’s Icare D’Auzay, who sustained a serious arterial injury when a flag broke as he ran out at the Vicarage Vee and speared him. The horse was stabilised under anaesthesia and taken to a vet clinic, but could not be saved.

RESULTS AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY

1. Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks, AUS) 35.6

2. Winsome Adante (Kim Severson, USA) 35.8

3. Marius Voigt-Logistik (Hinrich Romeike, GER) 39.6

4. FRH Serve Well (Andreas Dibowski, GER) 41.6

5. Air Jordan 2 (Frank Ostholt, GER) 42.2

6. Henry Tankerville (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 45.2

Visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk for a full scoreboard.

Log back on tomorrow for another two updates and a blog from H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome.

Buy next week’s Horse & Hound (10 May) for a full analysis of the event, pictures and more on the riders’ reaction to the ground conditions.

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Lucinda Fredericks (pictured) will be the leader going into the show jumping tomorrow after finishing just 2sec outside the cross-country time at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Dressage leaders Lucinda and Headley Britannia took two long routes — at the Shogun Hollow (fence 7) and the Colt Pond (fence 14). But the Burghley winner stormed home to add just 0.8 time-penalties.

“I could have gone quicker to the last but I just thought, don’t be stupid,” Lucinda told Radio Badminton. “She was feisty from start to finish which didn’t make my life as easy as at Burghley, where the hills took the sting out of her.”

Lucinda thanked the mare’s breeders, Mike and Betty Hounsell, and Emma Robson, who first brought the horse to the Fredericks’s yard when she was a working pupil there. “I love this horse, and you don’t get a horse like this very often,” she said.

Lucinda will go into tomorrow’s show jumping on 35.6. Even if Kim Severson, second after dressage on 35.8 on Winsome Adante, adds no cross-country penalties, Lucinda will be 0.2 of a penalty ahead.

Badminton final scores

Andrew Nicholson holds second position on Henry Tankerville, having finished exactly on the 12min optimum time.

“He’s a lovely jumping horse, but not the fastest,” said Andrew on Radio Badminton. “But I’m quite confident now that his stamina will get him to the line — I huff and puff more than him. It’s quite a relief for me when I see a jump because he speeds up.”

German rider Peter Thomsen (The Ghost Of Hamish) lies third, while Britain’s Nicola Wilson is fourth on Opposition Buzz.

Andrew was the only one of the first four starters to get home. Pathfinder Daisy Dick fell with Hope Street at the penultimate fence, the Rolex Turn, after which the second element of this was taken out of the course. The first element of the Countryside Quarry (fence 25) was taken out before the start, to reduce the number of drop fences.

Lucy Wiegersma and Beckli fell at the final element of the Spinal Injuries Association Sunken Road (fence 17), while Ruth Edge retired after falling from Marsh Mayfly at the Outlander Bank (fence 8).

Fifteen horses have been withdrawn so far, out of 77 dressage starters.

Andrew Downes’s ride Skwal (number 19) died from “a probable heart attack shortly after leaving the main arena”. He completed the course with a run-out at the Vicarage Vee and some time-penalties, finishing “full of running”, according to a press release.

RESULTS AT LUNCHTIME ON SATURDAY

1. Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks, AUS) 35.6

2. Henry Tankerville (Andrew Nicholson, NZL) 45.2

3. The Ghost Of Hamish (Peter Thomsen, GER) 49.4

4. Opposition Buzz (Nicola Wilson, GB) 50.8

5. WP In Limbo (Clayton Fredericks, AUS) 55.6

6. Bit Of A Barney (Louise Skelton, GB) 60

Visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk for scoreboard updates.

Stay in touch with all the latest from Badminton on Horseandhound.co.uk with twice daily reports from H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome; blogs from H&H Editor Lucy Higginson and Pippa Roome; a daily round up of the best shopping bargains; and a picture gallery of Badminton Horse Trials highlights after the event.

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