Popular eventing grey Lenamore — who won Burghley at the age of 17— has now taken to the hunting field.
The New Zealand team stalwart, who is now 21, has been out autumn hunting with the Warwickshire and his owner Lexi Jackson.
“Everyone thought I was completely bonkers but he was actually very well behaved,” Lexi told H&H. “ I think it was probably ignorance. Everyone warned me —which I already knew — that he will probably be worse next time.”
Lexi is planning to take him out again this Saturday (11 September) and will then see what the ground conditions are like before deciding whether to do anymore with him this season.
“He really enjoyed himself,” Lexi said. “We even jumped a hunt jump. It would have been very embarrassing if he had stopped, but luckily he didn’t!”
The Seacrest gelding, bred by trainer Ted Walsh in Ireland, evented with Lexi up to three-star level before Caroline Powell took on the ride in 2004.
Caroline and “Ed” represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games — Hong Kong and London, winning team bronze at the latter — and the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 2006. They also completed Badminton seven times in a row, finishing in the top 12 five times.
“He doesn’t feel any different,” Lexi added. “He loves being out and about.”
