‘He's Green, So I Kept Him Moving'

SPECTATORS at West Wilts could have been forgiven for thinking they were at Burghley, because the likes of William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Andrew Hoy and Laura Collett, without Burghley rides this year, were out in force.

- Catherine Austen

West Wilts (3), Wilts

But several amateur riders and younger professionals still came out on top. Holly Norris, who competes in dressage up to prix st georges level, took BE90 section L on Lisa Lessels’ Benevisum Volo at the horse’s second-ever event.

“We led the dressage with 20.8, which I was thrilled about because at ‘Fozzy’s’ first event, Solihull, we had some big, expensive mistakes and I was disappointed with the way I presented him, resulting in 33.5,” said Holly. “He’s very green across country so I kept him moving. West Wilts is very flat and as Fozzy was much bolder than at his last event, I didn’t realise he was covering so much ground; we ended up with four time-faults for going too fast. At least it didn’t cost us the win — I would have been mortified if it had.”