Harry Meade has withdrawn two of his three horses at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials before cross-country day, on a difficult afternoon for his team yesterday (10 May).
The horse who was third at Burghley Horse Trials, Cavalier Crystal, completed the dressage phase on Thursday, finishing equal 44th, but Harry felt the mare was lacklustre.
He wrote on social medial: “Cavalier Crystal was really good in her test yesterday, although slightly lacking her usual exuberant movement; she seemed quiet in herself and my gut was that something was amiss. We ran some routine blood tests and are not totally happy with the results. After her podium finish at Burghley last year we felt the track here would really suit her but I’m not happy to ask her to start across country if she’s not 100%.
“We’ll keep monitoring her and hopefully she’ll be back to her usual self quickly.”
Badminton final scores
Badminton Horse Trials: Harry Meade withdrawn on Red Kite
His final ride Red Kite was due to perform his dressage test late on Friday afternoon, but was withdrawn beforehand.
“Red Kite came out of his stable to warm up for his test this afternoon and wasn’t sound,” Harry said. “He’s been seen by the farrier and currently has a poultice on his foot.
“At the same time a family member at the event collapsed and was taken to hospital. Thankfully all seems OK on initial checks, but it’s been one of the most stressful day’s competing I can remember and I haven’t even competed today.”
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However, Harry does still have the grey five-star stalwart Away Cruising in the competition, who is due to set out on cross-country at 1.46pm today.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
