Rosie said “Romy” had been feeling fitter and better than ever as she prepared to return last week (7-11 May) but the 13-year-old mare suffered a fatal injury just beforehand.
“She was such an amazing horse,” Rosie told H&H. “She’d already been through a lot; she had an injury in 2023 and was saved by the amazing vets from Gibbs Marsh, Amanda [O’Gorman] and Hetty [Hill]. She shouldn’t have survived that – and then she went to Badminton the following May; we didn’t think we’d still have her so that was amazing. And then this happened.”
Rosie took the ride on Romy in 2021 and the pair had success up to the top level, including a podium finish in the CCI4*-L at Blair in 2023.
“She was amazing,” Rosie said. “We’d been working so hard on her dressage and that was all coming together. She’d always been an amazing jumping horse and across country, I’ve never sat on anything like her.
Rosie Bradley-Hole and ROMANTIC during the Cross Country phase, Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 11 May 2024
(Image credit: Nico Morgan)
“She was so brave, so honest, she knew where the flags were. She’d just always jump between the flags.
“She had an amazing ride at Badminton last year, she gave me her all, and we had her fitter this year; she looked great, and she was ready to go. We were so pleased with where she was, and positive about her being able to jump another clear round and get closer to the time this year, but it obviously wasn’t meant to be.”
Rosie added that Romy was a horse who loved her job, and was loved by everyone.
“She knew where her legs were, was so careful showjumping, and just ate up the Badminton fences last year, like they were nothing. Those big tables and everything, and she found an extra gear.
“She was very workmanlike but the more you did; every level she went to, she just got better and better and showed what she had in her, the engine she had. And she was such a nice person as well, so easy-going there, not mareish and so easy to deal with in every way. Everyone loved her at the yard, she was lovely. Sarah was the best owner, and so supportive in everything we did.”
She added: “Everyone’s been so nice and kind and supportive. I’m very lucky to have a very strong team around me, my husband and family, keeping me together.”
Rosie Bradley-Hole (GBR) riding Romantic during the cross country phase of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, held in the park land around Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire in the UK, between 8th - 12th May 2024
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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.
