The top British rider, who heads to the Tokyo Olympics aboard the phenomenal Explosion W as part of the British Olympic showjumping team this month, was enjoying one of his final shows before he heads into pre-departure quarantine.
This week Ben was riding the exciting seven-year-old Point Break, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, in Bolesworth’s CSIYH*.
The Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet stallion is undoubtedly one to watch in the future. Bolesworth was the fourth international show for this high flyer, and his first international on British soil. He excelled all week, with a full-house of clear rounds and went home with two eighth place rosettes and a third in Sunday’s top quality seven-year-old final.
“Point Break is a great horse, he’s very exciting,” Ben told commentator Gareth Jenkins in an interview in Bolesworth’s international arena.
“We’ve had him since the end of last year and I thought we’d bring him to Bolesworth to experience the big show venue and all the horses and ponies – he is a stallion, so he has to get used to all of these things. He jumped great today, I was very happy with him.”
“The next two weeks will be all about preparation and Explosion and coming together as a team to get ready to travel,” he said.
“It’s hard when there’s expectations. There were probably not many expectations in London and the team managed to come through.”
He added that individually, all those on the squad have had big successes recently.
“I think it’s just about coming together, doing what we normally do every weekend and trying to get it right on the right weekend. It is a different format this time, so the individual [medals are decided ] first, and then the team. I think we have a good chance but I’m not going to put odds on that!”
Reflecting on the character of his Tokyo Olympic ride, Ben added: “Explosion is a lot bigger than everyone thinks he is. He is very friendly – he’s like a pet, you could put your dogs, your kids, everything with him, and he just wants to eat treats. He is very spoiled.
“But then when you get him ready and he has to go to work, he becomes very sharp and sensitive, which I think is what makes him good.
“I can’t get on without a stepladder and feeding him. Probably the hardest part is to get on him. Once I’m on he’s very spatially aware and he won’t let anybody hand me anything, I can’t take my jacket [on or] off, so if it’s raining. I’m getting wet! But that’s what makes him special. Honestly, I’m very fortunate to have had many great horses in my career, but he really is something else.”
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
