The countdown to Burghley 5* is going to plan
Richard and Alfies Clover were joined by two of their up-and-coming novice eventers on the trip up North to Burgham International Horse Trials in Northumberland on the Scottish Borders.
After two quiet years of lockdowns, it was the second opportunity for Alfie to settle back into the high-octane regime of competing in top international eventing following their top ten finish at Badminton 5* in May. And true to form the pair went clear cross country:
“It was good to get a trip like this under his saddle before Burghley in September. He was buzzing – the atmosphere, the megaphones, all the bustle of a big event and Alfie was raring to go!” said Richard.
And was he fresh! His freshness led to some uncharacteristic exuberance in his dressage test which earned him some unwelcome faults in his score, and unusually for him, a pole down in the show jumping, but he bounded round the cross country and was in good shape after the trip.
So, the tempo hots up at Team Jones yard. Victoria helping funnel Alfie’s exuberance into the dressage paces, and as always, Alfie taking the jumping all in his stride.
Now it’s all systems go for Burghley 5* in September and the potential of a trip to Italy for the Eventing World Championships as a UK team reserve has Team Jones waiting in the wings.