Sara Squires won the British Equestrian Trade Association CIC3* at Bramham Horse Trials today, beating a host of top names in the process.

The former special needs teacher, who only started riding full time in 2009, stayed on her ninth-placed dressage score of 47.8 to take the class on Nick and Jackie Budd’s Orto.

“I came here for a qualification and the top 10 would have been really good,” said Sara. “But he’s the best horse I’ve sat on cross-country, as long as I do my job.”

Pippa Funnell was second on Carole Toliver’s Mirage D’Elle, who has four-star mileage.

“It was a very different ride to doing the CCI on Or Noir De La Loge,” said Pippa, who was pleased with the younger horse even though she lost her dressage lead with a stop. “I really enjoyed riding my second horse — it’s amazing how much you can trust the more experienced ones.”

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone took third with Incognito III, who is coming back from injury.

“I wasn’t too worried [seeing the problems on the cross-country] as he’s very experienced. He’s got a small stride so you have to be quite positive, but he’s really honest and easy,” said Clarke.

Dressage leader Mark Todd showjumped clear on NZB Regent Lad, but the grey stopped at the rail into the Woodheads Seed Hollow at fence 10/11ab.

“He wasn’t going from the word go, so maybe he’s a bit jarred up,” said Mark. “It’s not like him to stop at something like that.”

Results and times

Log back on for final reports on the CCI classes tomorrow. Full report on Bramham in H&H next Thursday (13 June).

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Well it’s a case of mission accomplished — our first four-star and we have finished inside the top 20. I feel honoured to have been part of what other riders have called ‘a vintage Burghley’.

When the roads and tracks and steeplechase were removed for the sport I was gutted, but in hindsight there is no way that a horse like Sky [Star Prospect] would have the stamina to have competed in long-format at four-star level. The change has opened the sport up at the highest level to different types of horses, which in my opinion is a good thing.

Unfortunately Sky was a bit sore this morning after yesterday’s efforts and so I felt a bit nervous before the trot up. She got held, which wasn’t a nice feeling, and it was a huge relief when we made it through. You don’t want to go out at this stage after getting round yesterday.

She didn’t jump brilliantly in the show jumping. She wasn’t really listening and was a bit on her forehand. It is her weakest phase and I’ve got to learn to put in to practise what I’ve been working on with Matt Lanni. It’s something we need to improve on for next season, but before that she is going to enjoy a well deserved holiday!

It was great jumping in the afternoon session with all the atmosphere and crowds in the arena. And taking part in the final presentation was amazing; that’s when you know you have really made it as a rider!

Looking ahead I’m hoping that we will be able to get into Badminton in the spring. If not we will probably go to Luhmuhlen instead. Next year Sky will be 15 and I definitely want to repeat my four-star experience while she is still fit and able. Competing at four-star has always been my dream and now I’ve tasted it once, I want to do it again.

Before I go I’d just like to say to any amateurs who share my four-star ambition: anything is possible if you are committed and have the right horse — this result is proof of that.

Sara

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There are no words to express how I am feeling at the moment. I’m both relieved and overjoyed in equal measure. Sky [Star Prospect] was a really good girl and gave me a fabulous ride round the course. She looked after me and kept jumping all the way.

I felt nervous this morning and waiting for my turn wasn’t easy. The course was causing a lot of problems and there were the ground conditions to think about as well. It was a bit deep in places on the turns, but even at the end of the day the ground held up OK. I’m glad we didn’t get too much rain today.

The course rode really well and rewarded positive, attacking riding. I am lucky that I had a very straight horse as it was the biggest question I have asked of her and at no point did she feel like she was losing confidence. She just kept galloping and jumping. She can be a nightmare sometimes and really carts your round, but today she was relaxed, listening and gave me a great ride. It was really enjoyable.

We took the long route at Discovery Vallery, as planned, and the right hand log at Capabilities Cutting. I decided to take this route on my final coursewalk this morning after the second element was changed from a corner to a single rail. Unfortunately I took the ornamental pig on the landing side with me. I caught it with my foot and it really hurt, but Sky didn’t even notice!

I really set her up for the goose in the water and the first mushroom fence. Eric Winter warned me this morning to take extra care there as he thought it might catch people out. It can be good walking the course with a course designer! The ground was also quite deep through the woods. She brushed her legs on it but stood up well on landing.

I had planned to take the straight route through the arena, but we didn’t get a great line and she felt a little flat so we circled away for the final fence. I was doing quite well on time until then, but I didn’t want to have silly mistake that far round the course.

So here I am at my first four-star and we are inside the top 20 going into the final day. I’m certainly aiming to stay there. Now I’ve got to concentrate on tomorrow.

Sara

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Well that’s the dressage done and every part of me is completely drenched.

The weather wasn’t too bad this morning, but the rain has got heavier and heavier throughout the day. And then when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse, the heavens opened just as we entered the arena!

I am really pleased with how Sky [Star Prospect] coped with the conditions. She looked like we had been cross-country when we got back to the stables. While the ground is holding up really well, the centre line was pretty ploughed up. Initially she felt a little tense, but then she relaxed into the atmosphere, and we even scored an 8 for one flying change!

My trainer Elizabeth Winter came to warm me up before the dressage, which was a real help. She was very positive and kept me calm and focussed before we went in. I really enjoyed it and I think we produced the best test we could. Our best ever score at three-star is a 51 and today we scored 54.5, so not bad at all.

I’m really excited about tomorrow. I walked the cross-country course with Nigel Taylor yesterday evening and I’m going to go and walk it again now.

I’m planning to take the long route at The Discovery Vallery (fences 6 and 7abc), as it’s a massive question so early on the course and I don’t want to pick up 20pen at this early stage. I think she would probably jump it but I’m not going to take the chance.

The other fence I’m not quite sure about is the Land Rover Arena Fence (27, 28ab, 29). It’s a very strong two strides in, or three very short ones, so a lot will depend on how Sky is feeling when we get there. I’m quite late to go tomorrow so I’ll watch a few people first to see how it’s riding.

The ground is going to be deep by the time I get on course, but Sky ran really well in heavy ground at Thirlestane so I’m going to be positive, attack and remember to keep hold of her head.

Wish me luck.

Sara

Watch Sara’s video blog

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Horse & Hound’s diarist Sara Squires talks about the challenges ahead and her hopes for her first four-star competition.

Sara Squires’ diary: 21 days to go

Sara Squires’ diary: 14 days to go

Sara Squires’ diary: 6 days to go

Sara Squires’ diary: 1 days to go

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Our journey to Burghley starts tomorrow as I’m going via Newmarket for a friend’s wedding. On Sunday I will be visiting Matthew Lanni for a final jumping tune up and then it’s on to Burghley on Tuesday to get settled in.

Since my last diary I’ve had a good flat lesson with Elizabeth Winter when we went through the test. I had it videoed so I could watch it back afterwards, which I found really helpful. Sky [Star Prospect] has also done some gymnastic jumping and she did her final piece of canter work yesterday.

When we first started her fitness work Sky was really enthusiastic about it, but as she has got fitter, and has realised she is going to have to work up the same hill five or six times in a row, she has become less keen. Yesterday I took some friends with her to help inspire her to put a bit more effort in and that seemed to do the trick.

She has had her final check up with my physio, Sarah Price, who will also be visiting us at Burghley. Sky tends to have quite tight hamstrings so Sarah is a regular visitor. She also helps puts me back together, which is very handy! I’m suffering from a very sore neck at the moment so it was good to see her.

Now the event is nearly here I’m feeling quite excited. I’ve read H&H’s coursewalk with Tina Cook and I’ve watched the video coursewalk on the Burghley website. It looks like a really interesting course and it’s not too long at 11min 30sec so it should suit Sky.

You can’t really judge any course properly until you walk it for yourself, but the Cottesmore Leap really does look terrifying! I remember walking up to it years ago and being amazed at the size. Also the big table on Winner’s Avenue looks enormous in the photos with Tina lying on it. Hopefully it will look smaller in reality.

There are some serious questions early on in the course but I’d like to think that I will take most of the direct roots. Sky prefers not to be pulled around too much, so that will suit her if we keep going straight.

I’m number 75 which means I will be doing dressage on Friday. This will be first time that I’ve had Friday dressage in all my international runs so there will be no boozing for me on Thursday night! It will be nice to have time to watch the dressage on Thursday though.

Fingers crossed everything goes according to plan between now and then.

See you there.

Sara

Keep in touch with Sara’s first Burghley with her diary updates on Horseandhound.co.uk/Burghley08 throughout the event

View the full list of Burghley entries

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I am pleased to report we had quite a good weekend at Thirlestane. Sky [Star Prospect] produced the best test she has ever done to stand 12th after dressage, which was a great start.

Unfortunately we then had 3 down in the show jumping, but it was a tough course and there were only 5 clears across the advanced classes so I wasn’t too disappointed. The track was big, the poles light and the ground deep, while the going in the warm up was horrendous, so we did OK.

We didn’t go that quick across country but finished 14th. I was pleased with how Sky jumped as the course didn’t really suit her. The fences came thick and fast and she is quite strong so I felt I was constantly pulling her around. But she was accurate and jumped all the straight routes.

There were plenty of ditches and a big drop, so it was all good preparation for Burghley. Longer courses that give us time to get settled into a rhythm normally suit us best, so fingers crossed that will be the case next month.

I’m glad I made the effort to go to Thirlestane as I was also entered for Highclere but that has been cancelled, so it will be a case of just keeping Sky ticking over at home until the big day now.

I’ve had a jump lesson with Eric Winter [course designer at the Blenheim Horse Trials] this week and have a flatwork session with his wife Elizabeth planned. We will also be doing some canter work and probably some gymnastic jumping to keep Sky thinking, but it’s important to keep her sweet and not pressurise her as the big event gets closer.

Everyone around me is getting very excited now, but I can’t allow myself to get excited until she is on the lorry and we are on our way. While Sky is a very tough and sound horse normally, you just don’t know what might happen!

Speak soon,

Sara

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Welcome to my Burghley diary. Years of early mornings and late nights have gone into getting my tricky Irish grey mare Star Prospect [Sky] ready for her (and my) four-star debut and I can’t wait.

I work full-time with children in foster homes, ensuring that they get the educational opportunities that are rightfully theirs. It is a really rewarding job and I do enjoy it, despite all the travelling it involves. I’m not sure I am cut out to do horses full-time.

Although it is fairly flexible, working full-time does make eventing difficult. I don’t have time to ride many horses so have to focus my time and efforts. It’s not too bad when it’s daylight, as I can ride early or late, but once the clocks change it’s really hard.

Star Prospect [Sky] is by Prospect Pride out of a Skyboy mare, and is Irish through and through. She came over to England as a 6-year-old and when I bought her as an 8-year-old, she really hadn’t done much.

She only cost me £2,500 because she can be difficult, but she is a great jumper. She doesn’t cope well with pressure and when I got her rearing was her favourite pastime. We started eventing in 2003 and we did our first one-star at the end of that season. At the end of 2005 we finished 8th in the two-star at Weston Park. Since then we have competed in a number of three-stars with varying success.

We had some problems on the cross-country with her being too strong, but a bit change to a pelham appears to have done the trick. She also didn’t see the point of going over narrow fences, when it was so easy to go around them! But now she gives me a great feeling across country. Whatever way you look at it, eventing is a dangerous sport and for all her faults, she makes me feel very safe — there isn’t anything that she wouldn’t jump.

She can be very good, or not, in the dressage. It all comes down to how tense she is on the day and what the atmosphere is like. She runs on her nerves and is on a load of calming supplements. Olympic Horse Feeds have also been a huge help with getting her feeding right. The show jumping can be a bit hit or miss. At the start of the season she was jumping clear or having just 1 down. More recently it’s been more like three. You just can’t tell how it is going to go with her.

I’ve always dreamt of doing a four-star and when I get to Burghley I am going to be achieving a lifetime ambition. I am a very competitive person and if Sky performs as well as she could, then she will be in with a chance of a top 10 place. Being realistic I want to achieve a personal best and get my qualification for Badminton in the spring.

We are off to Thirlestane Castle CIC*** this weekend. Wish us luck! I’ll let you know how we get on early next week.

Sara

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