Grassroots Championships 2014 Cross Country Course

Who Wouldn't Want To Gallop Up Here?!

Having just walked the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships 2014 Cross Country Course for the first time (ever) today, and posted the full course up on the Grassroots website, here's a few quick thoughts of my own:

Hambleden 2014 - Intermediate Day

Jessica Ayre Riding The Lovely & Expressive Gaudy Night

Another great day at the Symm International Horse Trials at Hambleden today, albeit in more misty, overcast, and beset with heavy rain at the end of the day. Sunday is Intermediate Day and thankfully there were a few greys competing to make photography worthwhile.

Olivia Craddock & Coco De Cara - Winners of Intermediate Section P

Hambleden 2014 - The Bluebell Event

Harry Meade

Laura Collett

Hambleden Horse Trials is renowned for the carpet of bluebells in the woods that provide the setting for a good proportion of the event. It's also one of my favourite events. Here's a few of my photos from the event.

Badminton 2014 Cross Country - Italian Style

A New Position For Mitsubishi's L200

The spring season is in full flow, and that means Badminton is just round the corner! As we head into Easter weekend and one of my favourite events (Hambleden), the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is knocking on the door, and my free time becomes an ever increasing tug of war between family time, Badminton commitments and 'me' time.

The traditional Press Preview Day was bathed in crisp, warm spring sunshine, and had a little extra buzz, and seasonal vigour with the promise of a whole new cross country course with a little Italian style courtesy of Badminton's new course designer, Giuseppe Della Chiesa!

Giuseppe Della Chiesa

Guiseppe has been involved at Badminton for many years as Technical Delegate or assistant TD, and even in some of Hugh Thomas's previous courses you can see the occasional Italian influence. I received the course description written by Giuseppe for the programme the other day, and even this has a distinct Italian flavour to it, which is amusing and refreshing. (you can also read it in the official Badminton App or the Badminton website)

I've been itching to write about the changes for months now having spent a few days with Guiseppe on the course during his visits. I won't provide a detailed blow by blow, fence by fence account of the course, as you are best off reading what Giuseppe has to say, or the plethora of press related course walks being published with senior riders' views, however here a few of my highlights:.