Latest from Horse & Hound in Olivia-haddow

‘It’s not acceptable’: four-star rider chased by dog at Gatcombe

Rachael Turner — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:55:28 +0000

A four-star event rider has expressed her frustration after being chased by a dog on the cross-country at Gatcombe (see video, above, by Harveywetdog).

Olivia Wilmot was riding Zebedee De Foja in the advanced section at the Festival of British Eventing on Friday (5 August) when the incident occurred.

The pair had reached the end of a galloping stretch and were approaching fence 17 when a dog ran under the string.

The loose animal ran up to Zebedee, biting his tail.

Olivia managed to pull up her horse and the dog was eventually caught.

“Something didn’t feel quite right,” Olivia told H&H.

“As I was approaching the fence I could hear people shouting and saw this dog trying to jump up at me — he still had his lead attached.”

After the dog was caught, Olivia was able to complete her round and went on to finish seventh.

“Luckily my horse was very well behaved, he didn’t kick out or do anything,” she said.

“But he lost his concentration and I had to jump the long route of the next fences.

“It’s not acceptable at that level, as a rider it’s something you shouldn’t have to deal with.

“There are enough things for riders to focus on eventing, without having loose dogs to deal with as well.”

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Tim Henson, Festival of British Eventing event director, reminded visitors, officials and competitors that dogs should be kept securely on a lead at all times.

“We state this on every admission ticket, on various signs located around the event and our commentators reinforce this advice during the day,” he said.

“It is most unfortunate that on this occasion a dog became loose on the cross country course.

“We immediately asked our commentators to emphasise the message more strongly as it is extremely important to us that horse and rider combinations are safe.”

A BE spokesman added: “It is the responsibility of the owner to keep their dog on a lead and under control at all times and in addition some events have implemented additional policies, for example fining owners should dogs be found off a lead.”

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First-timer’s Badminton Horse Trials diary: day four

Horse & Hound — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:12:04 +0000

Well here I am, preparing for the long drive home, and the very proud owner of my first Badminton gold plaque. Now it’s all over it’s a bit of an anticlimax to be honest. Tomorrow it will be back to normal, working the other horses and then heading off to Chatsworth with Fortunesnight at the weekend.

But despite all that, I am still delighted with my little Patris Filius. He came out this morning feeling absolutely fine and flew through the trot up — I’m sure he thought all the crowds were there just to see him!

When I warmed him up for the show jumping he felt really good and when it was time to jump he tried really hard, but the show jumping does tend to be his weakest phase.

Unfortunately we both made some mistakes and ended up having five down, but right now I don’t really care — the only thing that matters to me is that I have successfully completed my first Badminton and no-one can take that away from me. Next year I will come back and make sure I do better!

Bye, Olivia

First-timer’s Badminton Horse Trials diary: day three

Horse & Hound — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:44:15 +0000

I am so pleased with Patris Filius. He has such a big heart and is so genuine. Even when I got things a bit wrong, he kept on jumping for me — I think it’s that bit of pony in him. He proved today that he has got the jump and the stamina to compete at this level — I’ve just got to learn to stay on a bit better!

I think being a bit young and naive at your first Badminton probably helps. I only watched a couple of riders go round early on as I didn’t want to see any problems that might make me question the plans I had made for us.

When the time came, it was good to finally get out on the course. Filius jumped great through the lake, but I had a bit of a wobble before the sunken road and decided to take the long route as today was all about getting round.

I had always planned to go long at the Colt Pond after my dunking at Burghley, but the turns seemed to knock him out of his rhythm and then he just didn’t take me to the hedges at fence 15. It didn’t help that I missed and asked him to go on a stride that he clearly thought was ridiculous! He lost a bit of confidence in me after that and the next few fences come thick and fast. Then he left a leg on the rail on top of the bank and I popped straight out of the side door, which was frustrating.

After we were reunited he jumped well through the hollow, but the ground under the trees between that and the Shooting Butts was quite soft and he found it hard work. I thought I was going to be in trouble at that point, but when we came out of the trees and back onto the better ground, he picked back up again and by the time we got to the houses we were back on form and he kept on going right through to the finish.

Badminton final scores

Today was a real endurance test for Filius, but I think we both learnt a lot from it. Touch wood he seems to be sound and didn’t look tired or stiff when he walked out for a graze this afternoon. Assuming all goes well at the trot-up tomorrow morning, it will be on to the show jumping. But to be honest, who cares about the show jumping?! I just wanted to get round today and I’m determined to enjoy it whatever happens tomorrow.

Bye for now, Olivia

First-timer’s Badminton Horse Trials diary: day two

Horse & Hound — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:01:47 +0000

I am feeling much better now that the dressage is over and done with. I really felt quite nervous before I went in as the reality of being at Badminton, doing what I have always dreamed of, finally hit me. I kept telling myself “just keep smiling and try to enjoy it.”

We scored 53.2 which I thought was quite good considering we had a Thursday afternoon slot and Patris Filius was still extremely full of himself, despite being ridden twice before the dressage. I was pleased with his trot work and did enjoy myself once we were in the arena. I know he can go better than he did — he dropped at little too much at the poll and came behind the vertical — but considering how hyper he has been, he managed to contain himself in the arena.

Watch Olivia’s dressage test

There is so much more atmosphere here than there was at Burghley last year. Looking back, Burghley seemed really quiet by comparison. The stables here are lovely, but much more busy with everyone going to and fro. Filius is loving all the hustle and bustle — he thinks being here is brilliant!

Badminton final scores

I’ve walked the cross-country course three times so far, including once with Ian [Stark], and I know what routes I’m planning to take. Every fence on the course involves a big effort, but it is particularly intense from the sunken road through to the hollow. I feel better now I’ve got my lines decided and there isn’t any one fence I’m more worried about than the others. I’ve just got to keep focused and do my job so that Filius can do his. I’m determined to ride him really positively and go for it.

Having got the dressage out of the way yesterday, Filius has enjoyed an hour grazing this morning and I’m about to take him for a decent hack to keep ticking over ready for tomorrow. Hopefully this afternoon I’ll get a chance to watch some dressage and take a trip round the trade stands. It’s the only chance I’ll get to do any shopping while I’m here, so I had better make the most of it. Then it is going to be an early night for me tonight.

Keep your fingers crossed for us tomorrow. Right now I’m taking it just one day at a time.

Bye for now, Olivia

First-timer’s Badminton Horse Trials diary: day one

Horse & Hound — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:44:38 +0000

Well the day of my dressage has finally arrived. I am riding my test at 16.52 so everyone keep your fingers crossed that Filius behaves himself!

He has been rather over the top since he arrived, so I have ridden him twice already today. It was quite eventful as he kept tanking off every time I asked for medium trot, plus a few times when I didn’t! We also had some dramatic leaping and unrequested sideways movements! Hopefully he will managed to keep a lid on it in the arena later and produce his best.

Filius loves to roll and has been trying to enjoy his favourite pastime at every opportunity. I managed to stop him rolling with his saddle on in the stable earlier today, and then when I walked him out in hand he tried to roll on the gravel outside Badminton House. Having rescued him from that, he dropped to his knees and got absolutely filthy as soon as his hooves touched the beautiful parkland. Time for yet another bath before the dressage!

Right now I’m feeling a little bit nervous, excited and anxious all rolled into one. To be quite honest I’ll be glad when the dressage is over!

Bye for now, Olivia

First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: one day to go

Horse & Hound — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:08:30 +0000

Click on the image below to view a video clip of Olivia Haddow and Patris Filius in action at the trot up in front of Badminton House, followed by Olivia sharing her thoughts on finally arriving at Badminton and the challenge that lies ahead on the cross-country.

Keep up to date with Olivia’s progress with her online diary on HorseandHound.co.uk throughout the event

First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: three days to go

Horse & Hound — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:56:53 +0000

So here I am, just about to start packing the lorry for Badminton — it all feels a bit surreal to be honest!

The weekend has simply flown by. I was busy at Withington with Bailey (Safehome) and Axil (Cool Dancer), while Filius had a nice quiet weekend at home — he wasn’t too amused about being left behind I can tell you, despite enjoying a lovely shiatsu masage on Friday.

I worked both the horses when we arrived at Withington and walked the course before going to stay with a friend, Niall Fergusson, where we had a very delicious supper!

Bailey was first to go in his section. He was very good and ended up in eighth place; he’s such a fun horse to ride you always feel like smiling. I thought I had been quite quick across country, but ended up with 12 time faults so perhaps not!

Axil was doing his first intermediate, but he felt really flat in the dressage and show jumping so I decided to withdraw him before going cross-country. He’s (hopefully) got lots more ahead of him so better to wait until another day.

Badminton final scores

Once the lorry is packed we will be heading off to Ian’s to put some last-minute polish on those flying changes. Filius also needs to have his feathers trimmed before we leave — he grows proper full feathers thanks to the Gypsy Cob blood in him! Once Mum’s been at him with the clippers, he will look all nice and handsome ready for his big week.

It’s not only Filius who has been having a spruce up. I’ve had to dig deep into my wardrobe to find something suitable for the trot-up. I’m not telling you what I’ve decided to wear — you will have to wait and see!

Thank you for all the lovely messages you have been sending. It’s amazing how much people care about a Badminton first-timer and her naughty little coloured cob. I hope I won’t let you down.

See you at Badminton, Olivia

Stay in touch with Olivia’s highs and lows during Badminton week with daily updates, including a video diary, on Horseandhound.co.uk

First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: five days to go

Horse & Hound — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:47:34 +0000

This week has been quite busy; it appears to have gone in a flash! On Tuesday I had Sport Scotland training with John Ledingham. I took Filius for his first jump since the disaster at Tyrella, so I was a little nervous but he was in fact just wild! He was so happy to be jumping again I could hardly hold him. We didn’t plan on jumping him over any big fences but John had to put up a couple of decent fences to try to get him to concentrate!

I also took Cool Dancer (Axil), Safehome (Bailey, a two-star horse owned by Kate Hunter), and Lunacruz, a homebred five-year old who I am hoping to start eventing soon. All the horses jumped well; they love the surface at Ingliston Equestrian Centre. I also had two short dressage lessons with David Gatherer-Bailey on Filius. He was still wild — he managed to kick my foot while we were attempting to do a flying change so there is plenty of work to be done before next week, but at least he is back to his cheeky self.

I think the earlier I arrive at Badminton on Tuesday the better, so Filius has time to settle in and realise he’s at a big event and then hopefully he’ll be on his best behaviour.

After we arrived home on Tuesday, I thought it would be a good idea to take Mick (Unitivo De Foja) and Fortnight (Fortunesnight) out jumping to Rowallan which is only a 20min drive away, so it was a quick turn around. Both horses jumped really well. Mick was a little bit fresh with a few leaps and bucks as he’s not been out to a competiton for a while.

We also had a trip down to the gallops this week. Filius was relatively well behaved — he has a habit of just taking off with me (he can go very fast and be very strong!) but he only did it once so I was quite happy with that. I also took the other three that have got three-day events coming up soon (Bailey is heading to Tattersalls CCI**, Axil is doing Tattersalls CCI* and Fortnight is going to Bramham for the under-25s).

Badminton final scores

This weekend I’m off to Withington Manor, which is a long way south for us but it’s definitely worth the journey. Axil is doing his first intermediate, Bailey is also competing in the intermediate and Fortnight was going for the under-25s advanced, but he managed to knock his other front leg and has given himself a tiny puncture wound so he isn’t going now. Horses!! Touch wood he’s been fine since he arrived in January and then this week he manages to knock both his front legs in the one week; I think he just didn’t fancy the long trip to Withington! I want him to be 100% for Chatsworth as that is an important one for him.

Filius is having his last shiatsu massage today (Friday) and he’s been newly shod although my farrier, Nick Deacon, is going to Badminton so he will be on hand if we need him. So that’s Filius nearly ready to go, we just need to survive the next few days! I’m leaving for Badminton on Monday as I’m going via Ian’s [Stark] for some final tuning-up — it will be a quick turn around as we won’t get home from Withington until late on Sunday night.

I just can’t believe how quickly time is flying by! Thank you all for your lovely messages. I’m sorry I don’t have time to reply to all of them at the moment, but they really do mean a huge amount to me. Hopefully I will have more time after Badminton.

Bye for now, Olivia

First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: nine days to go

Horse & Hound — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:33:26 +0000

For once I got to have a vaguely normal social life this weekend, which made a nice change. Friday night I went out in Glasgow — my cousin is over from US; he has very cool job working as a design engineer for Oakley (sunglasses that is, not horseboxes!) and Saturday I spent all day and night in Edinburgh with my fiance.

After Ivesley was cancelled, I thought I better go show jumping, but I didn’t want to take a lorry load of horses as this week is going to be quite busy for me and them. So I got Fortunesnight entered and I was getting him all ready to go on Sunday morning when I realised he had managed to bump his leg in the field on Saturday and it had come up slightly overnight so that was the end of that!

I thought that perhaps someone was trying to tell me something, and that I really shouldn’t be going anywhere, so I had a nice day at home instead. But then one of the four-year-olds, who has just been broken and turned away until after Badminton, decided to jump out of his field, again! He’s done this a couple of times, but not for a while. This time he was found wandering up the road — not so good! Luckily he is fine. I think he’ll make a great event horse but my sister, Mailin, is trying to steal him as her dressage horse!

The really good news is that Filius seems to be much better. I’ve ridden him in the menage and for once he was actually pleased to be going in the school; often he can’t really be bothered at home and drags me to the yard gate as if to say he’d much rather be going hacking!

Badminton final scores

Today (Tuesday) I have training with John Ledingham, funded by Sport Scotland, and I’m taking four horses. Filius is going so fingers crossed he goes well. This is the first time he will have jumped since the disaster at Tyrella. Then I’m taking the other two BSJA jumping tonight. It is going to be a busy day!

I’ve just had a scary, but very exciting thought — a week today I’ll be at Badminton! Keep the good luck messages coming — I may need them.

Bye for now, Olivia

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First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: 12 days to go

Horse & Hound — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:22:01 +0000

I can hardly believe how close Badminton is now. Thank you all for your good luck messages — it’s making Badminton seem real, rather that just a dream!

This week has been relatively busy, despite Filius being on ‘light work’ to allow his strained muscle to heal. I had two days show jumping training with John Ledingham, which was good, although I had been looking forward to taking Filius. I also had some training with Ian [Stark], which again I really wanted to take Filius to — he just hears Ian’s voice and knows to behave.

The good news is that Filius appears to be much better so fingers crossed he’ll back in full work this weekend. He’s been going out for lots of hacks, which he normally loves, but I think he’s getting bored of them now.

I made it to my Callanetics this week, which was very hard work, but no pain no gain is what I keep telling myself. And as Filius has not been allowed to go in the school, I was lunged on Cool Dancer (Axil) instead. He is totally different from Filius as he’s 17hh, nearly full TB and a lot sharper(!), but I’m finding it really good for my balance.

Badminton final scores

I was meant to be competing at Ivesley this weekend with Unitivo De Foja as he missed his first two events due to a pulled muscle in his shoulder, but unfortunately it has been cancelled. He’s raring to go but the cancellation means his first run of the season won’t be until Chatsworth.

I think I might do some BSJA jumping this weekend instead, although tomorrow (Saturday) I’m having a ‘normal’ day as my fiancé is graduating from ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) which involves a day out in Edinburgh, probably followed a few drinks, so maybe it’s a good thing there is no event on Sunday!

Bye for now, Olivia

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First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: 16 days to go

Horse & Hound — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:18:52 +0000

Our journey to Tyrella in Northern Ireland was much better this week. We didn’t get lost and luckily Ian [Stark] was on the same ferry so I managed to fit in a dressage lesson when we arrived.

Filius was foot perfect, which you think I would be happy with, but I’m so used to him being really cheeky that I wasn’t convinced by his behaviour. After my lesson I took him for a walk along the beach, which I though he’d like but he wasn’t keen on the sea. I think he thought it was going to eat him. I couldn’t even persuade him to put a hoof in the water!

I also had Fortunesnight and Cool Dancer with me so I rode them before quickly running round the novice course so I had time to walk the three-star course with Ian. The course was quite challenging with a few “rider frighteners” thrown in. There was a huge ditch and brush at fence 2, while the second water was a bounce in, five strides through the water then up a step to an angled brush on one forward stride. The next fence was a corner over a ditch with a nice(!) drop on it — I told myself it was good practice for Badminton’s Vicarage Vee!

Later on the course was a double of skinny hedges with an open ditch in front on a related distance, followed by a double of narrow triple brushes that were pretty big and had been designed so you could jump the corner of them on a straight line of four strides. With so much to take in I thought I had better go round again to make sure I had all my lines right, then it was off to the stables and bed!

Filius had an 8.30am dressage the next morning so we had an early start. He warmed up well and performed quite a good test, although I felt he was lacking a little sparkle. He scored 48.1 which left us in third place. Then I had a quick swap onto the other two for their dressage and show jumping.

Badminton final scores

Filius felt really raring to go when I warmed him up for the cross-country. He gave me a great ride, jumping clear through all the straight routes. The more difficult fences he jumped really well, but a couple of times he put in shorter strides over the straightforward fences which isn’t really like him — normally he loves taking a flyer when the opportunity appears! He picked up 18 time faults which I wasn’t bothered about as the aim was to clear over all the straight routes so mission accomplished.

After a couple of hours rest for Filius (not for me, I had to go cross-country on the other two) it was time for the show jumping. The course looked quite big but Filius has jumped plenty of big courses, such as at Kreuth CCI*** last year. We were lying seventh after cross-country, so I had time to give him a good walk about and watch a few competitors jump. Filius is normally easier to show jump after cross-country but he felt really flat — not tired, he just didn’t have enough spring in his step — and the show jumping turned into a bit of a disaster. I was worried that that was it; maybe he’d reached his limit, although I knew he had jumped courses as big before.

So back to the drawing board — what to do next? I decided to get him checked out to make sure he didn’t have any sore bits that would explain his unusual behaviour. It turns out he has picked up a muscle strain on his right side of his quarters, which happily explains why he lacked a bit of sparkle in the dressage, why he was chipping in short strides across country and why we picked up such a cricket score in the jumping.

So the plan of action is a week of long hacks, treatment with a magnetic pulsed boot that goes over his back and no turnout — which he’ll be sad about but at least he will get grazed in hand! And he is super fit already so he shouldn’t lose any fitness, and fingers crossed he will be back on form in time for the big B!

Bye for now, Olivia

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First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: 20 days to go

Horse & Hound — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:26:59 +0000

As you read this I will be on my way back to Tyrella in Northern Ireland for the third and final time this spring.

Patris Filius is doing the CIC*** as his final prep run before Badminton Horse Trials. I’m hoping that Ian [Stark] will be on hand to give me some help with the dressage when I arrive and also to walk the course with me. I’ve seen a couple of the fences and they look pretty big!

As Filius competed last weekend and was relatively well behaved, he has had a slightly easier time this week. He tends to go better at the big events when he’s fresh; I think he likes to have time to psych himself up! He also had a massage, which he loves, so I’m hoping he’s feeling on top form.

While he’s had an easier week, the same can’t be said for me. I’ve had a pretty busy time with Sport Scotland lottery-funded show jumping training with John Ledingham; taking my other horses cross-country schooling; and I’ve been getting my mum to lunge me on Filius to improve my position. Filius has such a bouncy trot that I feel as if I’m going to fall off when I have no stirrups or reins, but I keep telling myself it will be worth the effort!

As I want to be really fit in time for Badminton, I decided to start running from the yard back to my house about 2 miles away; it feels much further than that after doing a day’s work! I also go to a regular callanetics class, but unfortunately I missed it this week, so I’ll have to go for a double session next week to make up for it. Fingers crossed come 1 May I will be as fit and raring to go as Filius will be!

Badminton final scores

Bye for now, Olivia

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Badminton Horse Trials 2008: Olivia Haddow’s diary

Horse & Hound — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:53:22 +0000

Badminton first-timer Olivia Haddow shares her highs and lows with Horse & Hound as she prepares her “naughty coloured cob” Patris Filius for the biggest challenge of their career so far.

Meet H&H Online’s diarist, Olivia Haddow

Olivia’s diary

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Badminton final scores

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First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: 23 days to go

Horse & Hound — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:56:02 +0000

Meet H&H Online’s diarist, Olivia Haddow

Well, we are back from Tyrella in Northern Ireland and I’m pleased to report that Patris Filius has decided that the eventing season has now officially started and that it is time for him to get his act together!

He has gone some way to make up for his interesting (!) first outing at Lincoln, by finishing 10th in the advanced intermediate on Saturday.

Despite travelling to Tyrella the previous weekend, we somehow managed to get lost on the way, but even with that and the ferry to contend with, it took us less than 2hrs to get there.

The event is right on the coast — literally, there is just a fence between the course and the beach. Luckily the weather was much better than the previous weekend when we had to contend with a howling gale and snow! The ground is so sandy that the event is able to run regardless of the weather, which is vital when you need those all-important runs prior to a big competition like Badminton.

Badminton final scores

I gave Filius a school on Friday and he was very well behaved. Then I walked the cross-country course with Ian [Stark] and was pleased to see a testing water jump at fence 4; a good-sized drop into water followed by a skinny angled brush on the way out. The rest of the course was quite decent but not too technical.

We had an early start on Saturday morning but the rest of the day was quite relaxed. They do things a bit differently in Ireland; you get a dressage time, then a start time for the cross-country and a block time for the show jumping, so you can just turn up and go whenever suits.

We managed a much better dressage test than at Lincoln, although I was a bit disappointed with our score of 58.1. There is definitely still room for improvement before Badminton. Normally his medium and extended trots are his party piece but they didn’t score that well this time.

He flew round the cross-country clear inside the time. We started quite cautiously as I was aware of fence 4 and didn’t want a repeat of Burghley [when Filius jumped so boldly into the water that he unseated Olivia], but he jumped through on the straight route like a pro and cantered round the rest of course inside the time, so job done.

After the cross-country we were lying third, but as is so often the case, it was the show jumping that proved our downfall. I have learnt to live with it, but there have been so many events that we could have won if he could just jump a clear round. It started well but all went wrong in the combinations. Normally it’s the single fences we fault at, but that’s horses for you.

So now it’s fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan at our final run before Badminton back at Tyrella in the CIC*** this weekend. It’s getting quite scary now. I don’t like thinking about how close the big day is getting.

Here’s hoping that it all goes smoothly and that we survive it!

Bye for now, Olivia

View Badminton Horse Trials gallery 2007

First-timer’s countdown to Badminton: Four weeks to go

Horse & Hound — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:53:59 +0000

Meet H&H Online’s new diarist, Olivia Haddow

I’m about to head off to Tyrella in Northern Ireland for two weekends of competition to try to get Patris Filius in the right frame of mind before Badminton.

Living in Scotland it’s a shorter journey for me to go to Ireland, than it is to travel down the country to somewhere like Weston Park, and my trainer Ian Stark is designing the course so I’m hoping he will be on hand to help.

Our decision to aim for Badminton has meant that Filius is super fit already. He came back into work after his winter holiday in early December after having his pre-season health “MOT”. Getting him fit hasn’t been much fun. We had snow or rain pretty much every day so the fields and arena were completely flooded, but thanks to our horse walker and some local indoor arenas we have survived — just!

We have been out to a few dressage and BSJA shows, as well as a couple of arena events, before the eventing season got underway. Our first event was at Lincoln, which is absolutely miles for us to travel but it’s worth it as the course is decent and it is guaranteed to run.

Badminton final scores

Filius has never been so fit for the first event of the season so he was crazily wild, shaking and sweating with excitement. He had only vaguely managed to settle by the time we had jumped the last couple of cross-country fences — he would have happily gone round a few more times!

Following his rather over-the-top behaviour at Lincoln, we have decided to run him in the advanced intermediate this weekend and the CIC*** next weekend. I’m hoping that by competing back-to-back weekends he might start to settle down, fingers crossed! I’ll let you know how I got on in the AI early next week.

Bye for now, Olivia

View Badminton Horse Trials gallery 2007

Countdown to Badminton: Meet first-timer Olivia Haddow

Horse & Hound — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:30:48 +0000

Olivia Haddow and her “naughty little coloured cob” Patris Filius caught the eye when taking seventh place after the dressage at Burghley Horse Trials last year. Unfortunately their Burghley debut ended with a spectacular fall at the first water, but this 23-year-old isn’t going to let a minor setback that like get in her way of her burgeoning eventing career.

This year she is heading to Badminton with 15.1hh (on his tip toes) Filius, who was sold as a three-year-old at Abergavenny Market before starting his eventing career under Vicky Tuffs. He joined the Haddow family as a Pony Club ride for Olivia’s younger sister, Ailie, but it was far from love at first sight for his current rider.

“When we went to see him I thought he was just a naughty coloured cob,” Olivia tells Horse & Hound Online. “Ailie loved him, but I didn’t like him. He was really bolshy and so naughty: he used to wipe your legs along the fence in the manége, and even now sometimes he will stop and just refuse to move. It doesn’t matter what you do, he simply roots himself to the spot.”

Olivia’s first competitive ride on Filius came with just two days notice when her sister decided that she didn’t want to compete in the intermediate at Auchinleck Horse Trials on the Friday before the competition.

“I rode him on the Friday and Saturday and then went to the event on Sunday,” says Olivia. “I wasn’t sure we would get round but Ailie told me to ‘just keep kicking’ and it worked. We finished third and I started to change my mind about him.”

Badminton final scores

From humble beginnings — Filius is believed to be by a Gypsy Cob stallion out of a flapper mare — this clever coloured with the brain of a pony and the stride of a horse helped Britain win team gold at the Young Rider Europeans in 2005. Rating this as one of the best moments of her career so far, Olivia also describes finishing fifth in their first three-star competition at Bramham in 2006 as a highlight.

“The weather was really hot that year and lots people didn’t think we would make it round the course, but he was fantastic,” she says.

As well as taking Filius to Badminton with the aim of completion, Olivia has a new ride for this season in Fortunesnight, plus two exciting seven-year-olds (Unitivo De Foja and Cool Dancer) who she is hoping will follow in Filius’s footsteps.

“I believe in aiming high and if everything goes according to plan then winning Badminton and Burghley and representing Britain at the Olympic Games are among my aims for the future,” says Olivia.

In the meantime she is taking each day as it comes and is focusing on producing Flilius at his very best for Badminton in four weeks time.

“He has never been this fit so early on in the season and needs to settle down a bit if we are going to recreate our Burghley dressage score!”

Olivia Haddow fact file

Date of Birth: 23 May 1984

Lives: East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire

Top horse: Patris Filius, 15.1hh 14yo coloured gelding

Pony club: member of Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire Hunt branch, passed A test

Major eventing results

2003 Weston Park CCI** (Patris Filius) 4th

2004 Floors Castle CIC** (Patris Filius) 6th

2004 Barroca CH-EU-YR** (Patris Filius) 13th

2005 Sansaw CIC** (Patris Filius) 14th

2005 Segersjo CH-EU-YR (Patris Filius) 23rd and team gold

2006 Burnham Market CIC*** (Patris FIlius) 12th

2006 Bramham CCI*** (Patris Filius) 5th

2006 Gatcombe CIC** (Patris Filius) Completed

2007 Chatsworth CIC*** (Patris Filius) Completed

2007 Bramham CCI*** (Patris Filius) 19th

2007 Thirlestane CIC*** (Patris Filius) 9th

2007 Kreuth CCI*** (Patris Filius) 15th

2007 Burghley CCI**** (Patris Filius) 7th after dressage, fell on XC

Follow Olivia’s road to Badminton with her online diary on Horseandhound.co.uk

View Badminton Horse Trials gallery 2007