An Olympic eventer who had spent six years trying to get to the bottom of a quirky horse tried riding him without a bridle – and was “blown away” by the outcome.

Sharon Hunt told H&H she had tried a variety of tactics to ride showjumper Igor more happily in a contact, but had always struggled to get him to stretch and open up. Inspired by equestrians such as UK trainer Connie Colfox and the Netherlands’ Yvet Blokesch of Feather Light Horsemanship, she tried first riding bitless, then without a bridle at all.

“I’ve been amazed,” Sharon said. “[Yvet] can ride basically a grand prix dressage test without a bridle, and I think that’s incredible. I think this sort of natural horsemanship can have a bit of a stigma with some people, who think it’s ‘pony patting’, but it’s not. It’s so skilful, it’s incredible. I thought I’d give it a go, and was blown away by the difference it made to this horse.”

Sharon has had 13-year-old Igor for six years and although he has been very successful in the showjumping ring, he had never been easy to ride.

“I think the whole issue was with his pecs and neck; he’d be bracing, he’d run against the rein all the time, and it obviously wasn’t helping his pec problem, his thoracic sling issue,” she said. “So I thought I’d just sweep it all back and see what happens. I can trot him around now on such a nice, loose rein. I’ve worked for six years trying to get him stretched like that; I’ve been working with him for so long and have finally found the key; just take it all off.”

Sharon said she has been trying to change not only Igor’s physical posture and movement, which will allow him to build the right musculature to support a happier way of going, but his mindset – and it is working already.

“He could be sluggish because he struggled to get going, and open his shoulder, then obviously he wasn’t wanting to take me forward,” she said. “And all of that has started to change within a week.

“Since I took the bridle off, the last two or three days, I’ve just ridden him in a hackamore, and I get the same response; he’s stretching. It’s like it’s triggered something, and he’s really happy to stretch.

“I’ve never been able to canter him on a soft rein and him stretch – now he puts his head on the floor and canters around happily, I can do changes like that. I hope all this will give him a better muscle memory and posture and a much softer way of me riding him. I feel like he’s making the decisions, not me, and that’s the biggest thing, and he’s been going so beautifully, this is heaven.”

Sharon said that after all her years riding, “I feel I’ve finally worked it out!”

“I’m obsessed with horses’ longevity, making it easier for them, making them stronger and fitter,” she said. “Anything that can make it fluid, harmonious, with no tension has to mean that you build good muscles and the horse has longevity. It has to.

“I think if we could train people to understand about how to keep them going for the long term, and be able to use their bodies better, that would be great, wouldn’t it? Keep it uncomplicated.”

Natural progression

Sharon said she had never ridden bridleless before, but as she had always tried to ride with less rein and more leg and seat aids, it was a natural progression. And this ties in to the reason she stopped eventing, which was a great deal to do with the heartbreak of getting a horse to a good level and then it going lame.

“I’ve always enjoyed doing a few brilliantly; I just like all the detail,” she said. “I’ve learned how to massage and tape, I do loads of the physio myself. Anything that can create longevity and help keep them going, to be able to use their bodies in a better way, because once they start to compensate, forget it. It’ll come out at some point, whether it’s in your training or soundness. It starts with a bit of tension, or they’re a bit one-sided.

“We used to try to hold them together a bit more, and you just cannot do that. You can tell the riders who do it properly because their horses stay sound year in, year out; you can tell they’re trained correctly, they ride correctly, they’re obviously producing them correctly.

“I was spoiled with Tankers Town; I did run him carefully and looked after him but he was obviously particularly tough, and then trying to find that again has been so hard. I realise now what an exceptional horse he was in that respect and how tough he was. But that’s why I think I’m so determined to start off on the right basis, and at least give them half a chance, because it is so hard.”

Harmony

Sharon added that she, like most riders, had been brought up with the traditional way of training and managing horses.

“I’ve been on this journey because I’ve made all the different mistakes,” she said. “I’ve done it all, because we didn’t know how to do it differently, and the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed learning how to do it in a harmonious way. I haven’t been competing as much, and although that means I’ve had the time to do it, I think people think I’m just not competitive any more.

“That’s not it at all. I’m more competitive than I’ve ever been, it’s just that I want to do it right, and I want it to last, and I want to win. So I’m looking forward to the moment they can come out and get great scores, and show that all this work is worth it.

“I really enjoy riding Igor now, and I trust him so much. It’s funny, because I was riding around, I thought ‘This horse used to bolt with me’, and now he’s so relaxed, Mr. Zen. He’s perfect.”

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More understanding is needed from owners when using training aids for lungeing and riding, research has suggested.

The study “Evaluating Horse Owner Expertise and Professional Use of Auxiliary Reins during Horse Riding”, by researchers at the Free University of Berlin, was published in Animals last month and investigated how much knowledge owners have regarding auxiliary reins, including side-reins, draw-reins and running martingales – and whether they are used appropriately.

Of 823 people who completed the study questionnaire, 199 used auxiliary reins “regularly”. Reasons for using training aids included problems with the horse “leaning”, external advice, or that owners had been used to using them since training started.

Of respondents, 296 used training aids mainly for lungeing, and most only attached auxiliary reins after the warm-up phase, but half of participants did not adjust them during the entire session. Three quarters could identify what the horse’s correct head position should look like, but 50% adjusted the reins too tightly and did not adjust them, even if the horse showed signs of breathing issues.

The researchers concluded that there is lack of information, and a need for clarification, among owners regarding the pros and cons of using training aids and the effects of the different reins used.

“The majority of participants felt they had sufficient knowledge about the use of auxiliary reins attributed to their experience as a rider. More serious violations were only recognisable in a small section of the respondents. However, against the background of animal welfare, these are to be taken very seriously in some cases and stopped immediately,” said the researchers.

“The goal must always be to use auxiliary reins for a short time in a problem-oriented way in the training and correction of horses in order to make these reins superfluous, and this knowledge must become an integral part of riding training.

“Further examinations should focus on the distinction of a running martingale versus the other auxiliary aids, as many riders would use the former as standard tack throughout a horse’s career.”

UKCC level three coach and Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt told H&H often riders are heavily influenced by whoever is training them at the time, and she believes there is a “time and a place” for training aids, if they are used in the correct way.

“Riders need to be trained correctly so they are only using training aids when necessary. This is really about the horse’s welfare – there is no point using something if the horse is unhappy, it’s not going to work,” she said. “You need to have a flexible approach because every horse is different and some take longer to understand things.”

Sharon added she was surprised that in the study, riders said they used training aids when the horse was leaning.

“A horse that leans is likely to lean more [with auxiliary reins on],” she said. “I think some riders need to look a bit deeper into the training when it comes to gadgets and think, ‘Why am I using this?’ They need to have an understanding of what they are doing, what they shouldn’t do, and the feeling they are trying to get from the horse.”

The British Horse Society’s (BHS) director of education Alex Copeland said the safe and correct use of tack is “critically important” to horse health and wellbeing.

“The BHS always recommends equestrians seek professional advice regarding the use of any piece of equipment or tack that they are not absolutely confident of using in the correct way,” he said.

In 2018, H&H reported on research that found riders think they know more about equestrian topics than they do, and “demonstrated an over-estimation of their equine knowledge regardless of qualification level”. The research was the first to provide evidence of the Dunning-Kruger effect, by which lower performers tend to be unaware of their lack of knowledge or ability, within equestrians.

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The bronze medal-winning Olympian on horses for courses, setting goals at every competition and why she no longer wishes her life away

Eventer Sharon Hunt and her former top eventer, Tankers Town, enjoyed great success internationally, including team bronze at the 2008 Olympics and winning Luhmühlen in 2010. Sharon is based in Suffolk, where she coaches alongside producing her team of horses.

I treat every horse that comes on to my yard as an individual. I work out their specific strengths and don’t make them into something they’re not meant to be.

For example, you can buy a horse intended for the event field but come to realise it was meant to be a showjumper. In the past I have persevered with a horse down the wrong path for too long and it just demoralises you both. Now I don’t stereotype them at all, and I make sure they have individual training plans so they can flourish.

Horses don’t just change for any old reason, and if they start behaving differently there is normally something wrong. You can get the odd horse who is particularly hot and sharp due to its breeding, but naughtiness is a man-made concept, and “bad” behaviour usually comes from poor management.

Planning for progress

Before a competition I make a plan for each horse, so I know exactly what it is I want to achieve. Is this outing a stepping stone for this horse, or is this his big day for him to prove himself?

You have to change your mindset and have goals beyond the rosettes. Even if you come away with no placing, you can be happy in the knowledge that you’re on track to reach your targets, or take action so next time you go out and achieve. It makes the whole process measurable.

I have learnt a lot about psychology in recent years. One year at Barbury, Tankers Town didn’t get out of the start box. It made me realise how important horsemanship is. It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you don’t have that partnership with a horse you’re not going to get the whole package. It goes back to mindset and listening to your horses.

It depends on the competition and the horse as to how I feel ahead of riding. The only time I would get nervous is in the start box, and this would only be if I didn’t think the horse I was on was good enough or if preparation hadn’t gone to plan. I don’t get nervous for the sake of it.

If I’m at a three-day event there is a different kind of pressure. My dressage test is the time I want to perfect everything, the cross-country is the time for adrenaline, and during the showjumping I have a desire to achieve.

I wish I could showjump like Scott Brash. He is a serious magician; the way he stays so still in the saddle when jumping those enormous fences. He never loses his balance and he makes everything look effortless.

Enjoy the journey

Don’t wish your life away and don’t keep looking for a better day ahead. Learn to enjoy the struggles along the way and appreciate the hard days, as there are plenty of them with horses. I remember when I was younger I was constantly looking forward and living for tomorrow.

I don’t believe in living in the past either, which is why I could never pick a horse I’d want back. Of course, we all want a string of top horses at any point in the game, but I’m lucky to have had rides that have got me where I am today.

It’s easy to miss certain horses, such as Tankers Town – whom I was so lucky to have at top level for so long – but they have all been part of my journey. I’m just determined to find and create another star.

Onwards and upwards.

H&H 13 August, 2020

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Eventer Sharon Hunt has paid tribute to her “horse of a lifetime” and Olympic team bronze medallist Tankers Town, who has been put down at the age of 25.

The brilliant but sometimes quirky chestnut gelding had a phenomenal career, completing 11 CCI4* (now CCI5*) events, as well as more than 50 advanced and three-star (now four-star) classes.

In his final season eventing in 2010, he won four of his starts, including a career highlight triumph at Luhmühlen CCI4* — the last time to date that a British combination took this title.

It was later that year at Pau where the three-quarters thoroughbred injured a tendon, leading to his retirement from the sport aged 16.

“That was his best year and I wish I’d had a bit more time with him — he threw a massive splint at Luhmühlen and in hindsight I probably pushed him too quickly as at Pau the tendon on the other leg went, I’ve always kicked myself a bit for that,” Sharon said.

“It took three years or so to get the leg settled, but after that you couldn’t see there had been a problem and he went on to have another six years of working normally.

“He had two four-star starts every year from a 10-year-old and I had no idea what a sound, tough horse I had until I tried to find another one — my vet always claimed he had pony-sized tendons and that was why he was so hardy,” she added.

“Jasper” was known for his intelligence and care across country and also became a strong performer in the dressage, earning himself British squad call-ups for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where they were on the bronze medal-winning team, and the 2006 World Equestrian Games, where they finished individual ninth.

He attended seven consecutive Badmintons, where his best finishes were fifth and sixth.

The 16.1hh gelding is also remembered for sometimes being difficult in the start box — leading to a disappointing elimination for the pair at Badminton in 2009.

“I always felt very safe on him, even though he could be a bit of a monkey to get on — he wasn’t cold-backed but he could be funny when you did up the girth and could plant and spin round, which is what the refusing to leave the start box evolved from,” Sharon explained.

“The catalyst was when the roads and tracks were cut [short format introduced], he got worse after that. At Badminton that year the finish line also crossed the start line and I hadn’t given it anywhere near enough consideration – someone finished as I was about to start and really that set him off.”

She added that people at the time had commented that the horse looked like he did not want to perform, but that could not be further from the truth.

“One of the things about him I didn’t fully realise when I was training him was that it was his desire to please and do well that made him quirky. He tried so, so hard,” she said.

“I also found out after he had retired that his dam — who was a very good point-to-point mare from the Busted line — used to try to lie down sometimes when they went to put a jockey on her. There was obviously a quirk in there — but it was nice we learnt to overcome it and went on to have such good results from him in his final seasons.

“One of the reasons I found our win at Luhmühlen so poignant was that it was all on us — I was no longer on World Class at that point and after a real disappointment at Badminton we picked ourselves up and won.”

Sharon also paid tribute to Jasper’s breeder Mary Blundell, as well as Sean and Sally Parkyn who “trusted me, buying a horse who was far too good for me at the time”.

“I was 21 when I got him and I didn’t have a clue, I couldn’t ride one side of him when I tried him as a four-year-old,” Sharon revealed. “He was so sharp he kept cantering all the time and I couldn’t make him trot. I persuaded my mum and dad to buy him for me and they were pretty trusting to let me have him.”

Jasper remained in work and was last ridden two days before he died, when Sharon took him to Rachel Upton’s yard for a “trot round and a little go through the water”.

Continues below…

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Sharon said. “He loved being worked, but he had Cushings [PPID] and suddenly it became more of a struggle.

“He was still being ridden normally and still jumped — I had backed off riding him a while ago and my niece had taken over. He was magic, so kind and really looked after her.

“He also taught a lot of people how to do half pass and changes, although I only let the good riders on him,” she added.

Sharon said that in his last few weeks he had started to “not look himself”.

“He had changed and was starting to look a bit disinterested,” she said. “I always promised him he wouldn’t be a field horse and he had the life he would have wanted.

“I will always be grateful for everything he did for me.”

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Olympic team bronze medallist Sharon Hunt is taking her eventing business in a new direction this year, concentrating on “quality over quantity” and focusing on her own training career.

The 35-year-old, who was part of the British bronze medal-winning team at the 2008 Olympics with Tankers Town, has recently qualified as a British Showjumping UKCC Level 2 coach.

“I’ve always enjoyed teaching, but never had enough time to do much of it before,” she told H&H. “I have my sights set on being a Level 3 trainer for both showjumping and eventing.”

The turnaround came over the winter.

“Last year was really difficult; everything that could have gone wrong did. My good horses went lame and I lost [promising intermediate] Cavalier Bertie in a fall at Weston Park. That’s when I decided I needed to rethink,” said Sharon.

She has downsized her eventing operation and is currently competing just three horses, headed by Burghley prospect Just Maisie II.

“I still want to compete at the top level, but it is no longer my primary motive for working with horses.”

Sharon, who has been mentored for her coaching exams by showjumping trainer Ros Morgan (née Bevan), also revealed that a switch in disciplines would not be out of the question in the future.

“I have some lovely careful horses at the moment and I am doing a lot of showjumping —

I enjoy that far more than going out and doing dressage,” said Sharon.

She is competing a six-year-old mare, Double Whammy II in Foxhunter classes.

“She’s not going to make an eventer, but I think she has the scope to go a lot higher in showjumping. It’s nice to have the option of doing something slightly different.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (30 May 2013)

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Tankers Town – with whom Sharon Hunt won a team bronze medal as part of the British eventing squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – has been retired from competition, aged 18.

But “Jasper” isn’t going out to grass just yet.

Although the chestnut gelding was famously tricky in the start box and feisty in the stable – throwing the odd vicious “left hook” – he is enjoying touring schools with Sharon.

She then talks to children about eventing and being an Olympian.

“He is an angel,” Sharon told H&H, “which is surprising as he’s not been a great lover of attention in the stable.

“But he is brilliant with the children – he stands still and lets them stroke him. We’ve had up to 100 at times.”

Jasper won Luhm ¼hlen CCI**** in 2010, represented Britain as an individual at the World Equestrian Games in 2006, finishing ninth, and twice finished in the top six at Badminton. But he injured a tendon at Pau two years ago.

“I thought he was going to come back this summer, but I couldn’t get him right,” said Sharon. “He’s been phenomenal. He’s started in 11 four-stars; four of those were long-format.”

Liz Bennett, head teacher of Chilton primary school in Stowmarket, Suffolk, said Jasper’s visit had been a great success.

“We are looking at courage and determination this term and what it is like to be an Olympian,” she said. “It was a way of bringing the Olympics to life.”

Sharon added: “My favourite question of the day was, ‘Could he jump the school?’

“Some of the children have never seen a horse before, so they’re always very excited.”

But not all youngsters have been quite so appreciative.

“My sister asked my seven-year-old niece if she’d like me to come to school and show my bronze medal,” said Sharon.

“She said, ‘I don’t think we need to see that – we’ve already seen a silver one’. “

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (7 June 2012)

Are you looking to buy an eventer? View our online database of horses for sale

View our pictures of Sharon Hunt

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Sharon Hunt has spoken for the first time about losing her promising horse, Cavalier Bertie, at Weston Park Horse Trials, Shrops (14-15 April).

The eight-year-old Cavalier Royale gelding was injured in a fall in the intermediate and had to be put down.

Writing on her Facebook page, Suffolk-based Sharon said: “I’m only now able to write about Sunday, the most awful day of my career so far.

“I had a terrible fall with Cavalier Bertie, who broke his elbow and had to be put to sleep.”

Sharon and Bertie fell at the Toboggan Run, a fence which – according to H&H eventing reporter Jo Prestwich – “otherwise caused little trouble”.

Sharon told H&H that Bertie was one of her best horses, in terms of potential.

“He was about to go advanced, at Chatsworth. I thought a huge amount of him. It is incredibly sad,” she added.

Writing in the new issue of Horse & Hound (19 April), Jo Prestwich said: “Two superb days of competition [at Weston Park] were marred by the death of Sharon Hunt’s intermediate ride, Cavalier Bertie.”

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Eventer Sharon Hunt has moved back to her parents’ yard in Suffolk after “outgrowing”

her base at Bedgebury Park in Kent.

She moved into Bedgebury last March after it was bought by Canadian businesswoman Gabriella Atkinson, but left last month.

Ms Hunt told H&H: “The yard was getting busier and busier and I expanded at such a rate that there just wasn’t room. It’s nice being home, but I do miss the indoor school – and the hills!”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 Septemer, 2011)

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Britain’s Ruth Edge is in her customary position after the dressage – in the lead – at the CCI**** in Pau, France. But she shares the top mark of 41.8 with Belgian rider Karin Donckers, another to excel in this phase.

Ruth is riding Two Thyme, with whom she also led the dressage at Burghley this year (see picture, right) before retiring across country. She was a little disappointed with her mark, saying: “We haven’t been in the 40s for a long time, and I thought he was better than at Burghley. The judge at C was very stingy!”

Karin Donckers, who was fourth individually at the World Equestrian Games last month, is competing the 10-year-old Lamicell Charizard in his first four-star. The pair were second in the World Cup event at Haras du Pin on their last outing.

Britain has a good grip on the top placings, with six riders in the top 10. Sharon Hunt lies third on her experienced Luhmuhlen winner Tankers Town, who scored 42.8, just ahead of American Boyd Martin, competing in Europe for the first time, on 43.2 with Remington XXV.

German rider Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois put up another good four-star score of 44.2 – not quite as good as their leading mark at Badminton this spring of 33.8, however. Sixth are Oliver Townend and ODT Master Rose on 45.8.

Lucy Wiegersma is seventh on 46.5 with Simon Porloe, another making a four-star debut. “There’s so much more to come from him,” said Lucy. “He’s lovely to ride – so well-balanced – and his canter is a joy to sit on.”

Emily Baldwin and Drivetime didn’t quite pull off the test they can do at this level, changing leads in the extended canter, and Emily looked disappointed with 46.7 and eighth place.

William Fox-Pitt was another to suggest that the dressage judges weren’t being exactly generous when he picked up 48 with Navigator, but said that the strong cross-country track meant it was unlikely to be a dressage competition.

Nick Gauntlett is 11th for Britain on Elektron, scoring 51, just behind the best-placed French rider, Pascal Leroy (Glenburny Du Leou).

Paul Horse Trials results after dressage

1= Ruth Edge (Two Thyme) 41.8

1= Karin Donckers (Lamicell Charizard) 41.8

3 Sharon Hunt (Tankers Town) 42.8

4 Boyd Martin (Remington XXV) 43.2

5 Kai Ruder (Leprince Des Bois) 44.2

6 Oliver Townend (ODT Master Rose) 45.8

7 Lucy Wiegersma (Simon Porloe) 46.5

8 Emily Baldwin (Drivetime) 46.7

9 William Fox-Pitt (Navigator) 48

10 Pascal Leroy (Glenburny Du Leou) 48.8

Read H&H’s full report on all the action from Pau in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 11 November, 2010

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Oliver Townend has withdrawn Ashdale Cruisemaster from Britain’s reserve list for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG, 25 September – 10 October).

Oliver was a non-travelling reserve, with Daisy Berkeley and Spring Along, Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town and Lucy Wiegersma and Woodfalls Inigo Jones.

But now he says he wants to concentrate on preparing himself and his horses for next year and qualification for the London Olympics in 2012.

He said: “Next year is going to very important in terms of qualification for the Olympics and it is in everyone’s interests here to prepare well over the coming winter. I want to start that preparation as soon as possible.”

And Sharon Hunt says she has had to withdraw from Burghley as Tankers Town is not fit.

She had given him time off in anticipation of a trip to the WEG in Kentucky and has not been able to get him ready in time for the four-star.

Oliver will be at Burghley next weekend where he will defend the title on board Carousel Quest, the grey who took him to glory 12 months ago.

But has decided not to take Ashdale Cruise Master, from whom he suffered a shocking fall at the Rolex Kentucky three-day event in April.

“I was going to take Ashdale Cruise Master as well but decided against that,” said Oliver, won both Badminton and Burghley last year.

“He has done enough this season and it is far more important that he is rested. After all, he is going to be an important horse for me in the next couple of years.

“It was a huge achievement for the whole team to win at Burghley last year and it will be great to try and do it again with Carousel Quest.

“He is a true Burghley horse, who has had a relatively quiet season and I’m sure he will rise to the occasion.”

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Sharon Hunt’s belief in her long-time partner Tankers Town was handsomely rewarded with a thrilling win at Luhmuhlen. It was her first four-star victory and a career best with the 16-year-gelding whom she broke in herself 12 years ago.

“I’ve always believed the horse was a champion, and now he is,” she said, admitting to “shock” at her victory which came when the overnight cross-country leader Ingrid Klimke hit two fences on Butts Abraxxas to drop to second.

The time proved influential in Luhmuhlen’s spacious arena and only two riders achieved completely clear rounds — Andrew Nicholson, whose rose to fourth on Mr Cruise Control, and France’s Regis Prud’hon, who would up in 12th and won the HSBC Training Bursary for the best four-star debut.

Andreas Dibowski wisely kept his foot to the floor in the floor and improved a place to third on the mare FRH Fantasia. More importantly, he now heads the HSBC FEI Classics by an impressive seven points, and will have a horse to go to Pau.

Oliver Townend and Ashdale Cruise Master hit fence 3 and were then victims of the extraordinarily tight time — only nine of the 32 finishers avoided time faults — but their fifth place was still a pleasing result.

“It’s only our fifth event together,” Oliver pointed out. “He’s a completely different horse in the dressage and cross-country now and it’s all a matter of forming a partnership, but at least I’ve qualified for the WEG now.”

British selectors had plenty of cheer, with five horses in the top 10. Two of them were Lucy Wiegersma’s, Woodfalls Inigo Jones, sixth, and Granntevka Prince, ninth, while Mary King was seventh on Apache Sauce.

Four more British horses completed: Andrew Downes with Loughnatousa Gypsy Diamond in 16th place, Pheobe Buckley on Little Tiger, 24th, Mary King on Kings Temptress, 26th, and Rebecca Gibbs, 27th on Ariel Spirit. Georgia Bale withdrew Beggars Belief and Julia Crowson’s Star Quality was spun at the final horse inspection.

Don’t miss H&H’s full report on all the action from Luhmuhlen in next Thursday’s magazine, on sale 24 June

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Ingrid Klimke is on course for her first four-star victory after giving Butts Abraxxas a superb ride across country at Luhmuhlen. “I’m thrilled,” she said, “everything went to plan and my horse felt fit and confident.”

Sharon Hunt was equally committed on a relaxed Tankers Town, who stormed around Mark Phillips’s reworked course where the big fences came relentlessly to finish second, less than four penalties in arrears.

Oliver Townend admitted to déjà vu when he fell off over the boathouse in the third water complex as Carousel Quest jumped in strongly and then got too close to the fence in the water. But he regrouped and produced a classic round on Ashdale Cruise Master, on whom he has improved one place to third.

“You’ve just got to get on the next horse,” Oliver said philosophically, “and a lovely ride like that makes all the difference when you’re having a downer.”

Lucy Wiegersma had the best two-horse record of the day and is in fifth and eighth on Granntevka Prince and Woodfalls Inigo Jones. She said of the latter: “He feels like an old pro now; he made it easy.”

But there was disappointment for Paul Tapner, who plummeted 20 places to 29th after a run-out at the coffin with Kilfinnie ll, and disaster for British riders Francis Whittington and Nick Gauntlett. The former suffered the day’s only horse fall when Sir Percival tipped over a wide brush fence leaving the arena and the latter called it a day when the stallion Chilli Morning refused to jump the little ditch in the coffin.

Andreas Dibowski, lying fourth on the mare FRH Fantasia, said the course was much improved from last year and, indeed, the statistics made for happier reading: 32 clear rounds and 37 finishes from the 41 cross-country starters with eight inside the optimum time.

Stay in touch with all the action in Luhmuhlen on Horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss our full report in H&H, on sale Thursday 24 June

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Read the latest Sharon Hunt news

Born in 1977, Sharon was a fairly late starter in eventing, only beginning competing in her late teens.

She sprang to prominence through her super partnership with the chestnut Tankers Town, with sixth place at Badminton in 2006 earning her an individual spot for Britain at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen that year, where she finished ninth.

Sharon was selected for the following year’s European Championships but missed out when Tankers Town suffered from bruised feet. The pair bounced back with fifth at Badminton in 2008 and subsequently represented Britain at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, winning team bronze.

Sharon used to be based at her parents’ home in Suffolk, near Bury St Edmunds, but she moved to Bedgebury, Kent, for the start of the 2010 season. She has since moved back to Suffolk.

Sharon Hunt videos

Sharon Hunt pictures

William Fox-Pitt will be riding the 2007 Burghley winner Parkmore Ed at this summer’s Olympic Games.

Selectors have chosen Philip Adkins’ 15-year-old Parkmore Ed over William’s two other possible horses, Tamarillo and Ballincoola, following last weekend’s (4-6 July) Barbury Castle CIC***.

William finished the Wiltshire event with all three horses in the top five, with Parkmore Ed second, Ballincoola fourth and Tamarillo fifth.

Mary King will be riding Edwin and Sue Davies and Janette Chinn’s 16-year-old Call Again Cavalier.

William and Parkmore Ed and Mary and Call Again Cavalier join Tina Cook with Miners Frolic, Daisy Dick with Spring Along and Sharon Hunt with Tankers Town to make up the GBR Olympic three-day event team.

The Olympic horses will have one final outing at Aston-le-Walls on 18-19 July, although some horses may not run cross-country.

Reserve horses are Daisy’s Hope Street, William’s Ballincoola / Tamarillo and Mary’s Imperial Cavalier.

Reserve combinations are Georgie Davies and Fachoudette, Pippa Funnell and Ensign, Rodney Powell and Zinzan II, Oliver Townend and Coup De Coeur, Lucy Wiegersma and Shaabrak and Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz.

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Sharon Hunt (pictured) is out of the British squad for the European Eventing Championships because Tankers Town needs a few weeks off to recover from bruised feet. This means he will miss vital fitness work.

“It’s only a short term problem, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time,” said Sharon, who finished ninth at last year’s World Equestrian Games on her squad debut.

“I’ll give him a couple of weeks off and then maybe aim for [the new four-star at] Pau at the end of the season. If he’s not right after a few weeks I won’t compete him again this year and will go to Badminton in the spring.

“He still needs a qualificaton for the Hong Kong Olympics next year, but I’ll be as patient as I need to be.”

First reserve Rodney Powell has been called up for the championships, which are at Pratoni del Vivaro (13-16 September), with the Johnsons’ Langarth Darcy.

Click here for a profile of Rodney Powell

Click here for a profile of Sharon Hunt

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Date of birth: 11/10/1977

Championship experience

Sharon and Tankers Town earnt their position as first reserve for the British squad at the World Equestrian Games with sixth place at Badminton last year. She was called up when Pippa Funnell’s ride Primmore’s Pride couldn’t make it to the Games and finished ninth, the second best British placing.

Recent form

Sharon withdrew Tankers Town when lying 14th equal after the dressage at Badminton, but went on to lead the dressage and finish fifth in the World Cup qualifier at Chatsworth.

The pair were then in the British team for the new CICO*** competition in Aachen, where they finished 11th to clinch their spot in the squad for this year’s European Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro (13-16 September).

But Sharon had to withdraw Tankers Town from the squad when he suffered from bruised feet in the middle of August, meaning he would miss vital fitness work.

Background

Sharon’s parents do not ride, but she is based at their home near Bury St Edmunds. She has produced nearly all her team of horses from youngsters herself.

Click here to see pictures of Sharon Hunt

William Fox-Pitt and Zara Phillips are among members of Britain’s 2006 eventing squad to receive a free Land Rover Discovery 3. As official vehicle to the British eventing team, Land Rover has also given Discoverys to Daisy Dick, Sharon Hunt and Oliver Townend.

The British eventing squad are looking forward to driving their Land Rover Discovery 3s

Zara Phillips, who has modelled for Land Rover in national newspapers, said: “There is a natural fit between Land Rover and equestrian sports. I am delighted to have their support not only of my own career but also for the team.”

The British team members will be driving their new cars as they prepare for the forthcoming European Championships in Italy (10-17 September 2007).

Land Rover has been associated with equestrian sport since 1980 when Land Rover supported training sessions and bursaries for young riders. The company continues as official vehicle supplier to a number of equestrian events including The Royal Windsor Horse Show, Bramham International Horse Trials and The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park.

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