Richard Jones and Alfies Clover are back!

Team Jones on song and ready to finish the year in style

After nearly two years off the eventing competition trail and with only one 5* Horse Trial in two years to enter, Richard Jones and his top ride Alfies Clover hit the ground running at this month’s Bicton 5* International Horse Trial. He just pipped gold winning Olympic team member Oliver Townend to take sixth place and the top male rider in a leaderboard that boasted five lady riders above him! You can see a highlight picture of Richard and Alfies Clover in the recent Horse & Hound magazine review of the Bicton event here.

Richard and Alfies Clover on their way to sixth place at Bicton

“It was a fabulous round from Alfie – good dressage, foot perfect cross country picking up few time faults and just one jump down in the show jumping – all to be expected from their first time out with the big guns after nearly two years,” said a very happy Richard. “I’m more than delighted, and so is the horse – he loved every minute of it and is ready for more.”

Indeed there will be more as Richard and Alfies Clover look to a 2022 season with the two major 5* events, Badminton and Burghley, on the priority list.

And there is still work to be done with more action for the younger horses as this eventing season draws to a close. Next outing is Osberton International Horse Trials at the end of the month, 29 September to 3 October, where Richard will compete the yard’s two up and coming youngsters, Lady Tattersall and Dollyblue, in the 2*-Long.

Talking of up and coming youngsters, another Team Jones member Ben Perry will also be at Osberton International Horse Trials, riding his talented mare Karla in the CCI-L 3*. Ben hopes to end his year on a high after finishing sixth in the Young Rider CCI3* championship and having already done enough this year to qualify for 4* events going forward.

So it’s all go at the Team Jones yard in Rutland. Let’s hope the team ends what has been a memorable year on an equally memorable high!

About Team Jones Team Jones is based at Lowlands Farm in Rutland. Richard Jones is emerging as a top international eventer – in the top ten at Burghley and at Blenheim in 2018 – and his wife Victoria is going from strength to strength, building her international dressage career. The team has just finished a cross-country training field to add to their facilities so that training can go on for youngsters and established eventers alike. Team Jones is sponsored by leading horse feeds manufacturers Dodson and Horrell, saddle pad designer Sedelogic, e-bikes provider Eco Voltz, sports photographers Julie Priestly, artist and photographer Deanne Ward, Stierna Equestrian Sportswear, equestrian glove distributor Hirzl UK, and IBA International media relations consultancy. Find out about what’s happening at www.teamjonesequestrian.com, follow them on Twitter and Facebook, and check out the Instagram account.