Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: I'm disappointed but this isn't going to be a dressage competition

Andrew Nicholson and Nereo , Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob OLD on the cross-country at Badminton 2017 , Chris Burton and Graf Liberty , Karin Donkers Fletcha van 't Verahof , Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot Ene HN , Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B'Neville , Lydia Hannon riding MY ROYAL TOUCH during the Oasby (1) Horse Trials at Foxdale in Oasby near Grantham in Lincolnshire, UK; on 13th March 2015 , Bouncer and Cortie being models , Ian Stark at Fence 17, 18 and 19 (Gatehouse New Pond) on the 2016 Cross Country Course of the Badminton Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials, in the grounds of Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire, UK on 18th April 2016 , Andrew Nicholson and Nereo , Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob OLD on the cross-country at Badminton 2017 , Chris Burton and Graf Liberty , Karin Donkers Fletcha van 't Verahof , Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot Ene HN , Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B'Neville , Lydia Hannon riding MY ROYAL TOUCH during the Oasby (1) Horse Trials at Foxdale in Oasby near Grantham in Lincolnshire, UK; on 13th March 2015 , Bouncer and Cortie being models , Ian Stark at Fence 17, 18 and 19 (Gatehouse New Pond) on the 2016 Cross Country Course of the Badminton Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials, in the grounds of Badminton House in the village of Badminton near Malmesbury in Gloucestershire, UK on 18th April 2016

(Image credit: credit unknown)

It was an absolutely amazing feeling to ride into that main arena here at Badminton this morning. Words really can’t describe it! Bizarrely I actually felt so comfortable and relaxed in there I lost my way for a split second and started doing the canter half pass a movement too early. I was just so in the zone it almost shocked me. It is a brilliant tool to have but I mustn’t get a step ahead of myself. After the bell rang to signal the error we recomposed ourselves, get back in the right zone and carried on, with thankfully no more errors. Luckily we haven’t been the only ones to go wrong in the new four-star test this weekend.

A quick bite to eat and after that it was off to walk the cross-country yet again. Having re-walked the course it really is most certainly not going to be a dressage competition! Eric Winter has built one mega track out there — I just have to keep pinching myself that I am about to be one of the lucky people that gets a chance to have a go at attempting these incredibly brilliant, beautiful, big and bold fences. I am honestly so excited to give it my best shot. Having said that, I am writing this the evening before — tomorrow morning I might feel a little bit different as the nerves start to kick in!

This evening (Friday) I have the big honour of being presented with my prize for winning the Horse Trials Support Group scholarship this year. It is so, so amazing to be given this opportunity, not only with the prize but with the further support that I am able to receive from more of the eventing greats like Ginny Elliot! However we better be getting an early night tonight in order to store up some energy for some seriously determined riding and lots of kicking tomorrow.

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Danielle is a professional event rider from Wiltshire. She has ridden up to three-star level and was selected to represent Great Britain at both the 2011 and 2013 young rider European championships and the 2015 senior European two-star championships where she won a team silver medal.

Danielle Dunn’s Badminton first-timer blog: I’m disappointed but this isn’t going to be a dressage competition

Badminton final scores

After my test there was a lot of press things to do, which is again something new, and even autographs to sign. But it was also incredibly nice to see my support team of friends, family, owners and sponsors waiting there for me.

Continued below…

Danielle Dunn’s Badminton first-timer blog: we’ve won already!