Burghley at its Best

I was up at 5 am Saturday to help load around 50 chickens into crates for Anthony to take to a Chicken Show at Moreton In The Marsh. Once I had mucked the horses out I set off to Burghley it was XC day and I was supporting Louise Harwood, they had sent me a stable pass in case extra help was needed on their big day. Her 4* horse Mr Potts is homebred and by the same stallion as Icon and also my 3 year old Rif Raf .

 I arrived at their lorry in glorious sunshine and a fabulous day out began right there. Jackie and Louise allocated me the job of extra groom for the day and I was given the appropriate arm band so I could help with Potts etc. He was due a morning hack so once we had tacked him up and Louise was on board, I had some spare time so went off to walk the course. It looked huge, the undulations making it tougher still. I returned to the lorry stating it looked fine and Potts would do it easy, he's an amazing and experienced jumper and Louise is a very bold XC rider.

We went off to the riders TV tent to watch the first hour of XC. Right next to XC start, 8 huge TVs in a slightly stuffy tent, it was filled to the brim with the worlds top event riders. The atmosphere was tense and electric as we watched how the course was riding. As the first rider made her way round the course the riders clapped as she cleared each fence, a huge cheer went up as she jumped the last. A clear round was achievable and she had made it look easy. The more we watched the more rideable it looked although the Discovery Valley was causing some mishaps and a few uncomfortable moments even for some of those jumping it clear.

Next it was time to get Potts ready...

Once he was tacked up Louise headed off to one of the several warm up areas. Jackie along with Louise's husband Greg took everything we needed up to XC start, while I helped Louise with the practice fences. Potts was awesome and looking incredible in the warm up, very accurate,bold and neat.

Once Louise had set off XC we dived into the riders TV tent to watch her ride a fabulous clear round. There were some nail biting moments, Potts chipped in a stride at the Discovery Valley (as had many others) and he got a little spooked under the lion bridge. Poor Jackie was having kittens, she was shouting come on Potts all the way through, by the time he got to the lion bridge and he decided it was better negotiated from trot the whole tent joined in and were shouting "Go on Potts"

As she came to the last we ran out to meet her, it was fantastic to see her smiling face elated from a super round. We speedily began to wash Potts off and untack him, we were helped by Australian team vet Graham Potts whom Potts is named after as he had been the vet who dragged the reluctant Mr Potts out of his mother all those years ago. Graham had said he was an ugly foal and Jackie replied we will name him after you then!!  I had the treat of being allowed to lead superstar Mr Potts back to the stables, he didn't take long to cool off and stop blowing, he still had a lot of spring in his step too, all the riders warming up were asking me how he had gone. Photos below are of Jackie giving her star horse a treat after his XC round and of Louise being dragged back to the stable after grazing him. He's still looking keen even after XC!
A fabulous day, fingers crossed for SJ.