Budgie smuggling at Hickstead? Tiny feathered interloper spotted at bath time

One might not expect to come across budgie-smuggling at Hickstead – but there was a similar case at the Agria Royal International Horse Show yesterday (23 July).

Three people who were bathing a pony were surprised to see a different type of feather, when the tiny green interloper landed on someone’s head.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

Budgie smuggling at Hickstead? Tiny feathered interloper spotted at bath time

It turned out the small intruder was Chip, who had gone missing in the area a day ot two earlier, and whose small owner was very distressed as a result.

“On hearing their missing bird had in fact flown the nest to visit the showground, the owners flocked straight to Hickstead to collect him,” a spokesperson for the All England Jumping Course said.

“Chip was reunited with a delighted Sienna, and Emma received a reward for finding him.”

The spokesperson added that the team hoped Chip enjoyed his bird’s-eye view of the showing and showjumping action.

Emma added: “Three of us were bathing a pony when he just landed on my friend Gemma Scott’s shoulder and then jumped on to my head. Gemma’s mum managed to wrap him in a horse hood and had a box in her horsebox that she put him in.

“He seemed really friendly and I just thought we would have a bigger audience placing it on the Facebook page.”

Emma is at Hickstead as her daughter is riding 128cm show pony Broadgrove Dimension and first-ridden M&M contender Thistledown Snow White.

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