Barbury Castle, Wilts
ANDREW NICHOLSON’S record seventh victory in the CCI4*-S at Barbury may not have been over the strongest field he has ever beaten here, but it was certainly further proof of his exceptional skills as a horseman.
Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Swallow Springs, who was winning this class for a second time – he also took it the last time it happened, in 2019 – slipped around Alec Lochore’s busy cross-country track like silk. He was the fastest in the class with 7.6-time faults. A slightly awkward jump into the water in the main arena was the only point at which the Chillout 13-year-old looked anything but the perfect ride.
However, Swallow Springs was sent to Andrew by Donal Barnwell as a five-year-old because he was extremely naughty.
“Donal rang me up and told me he was very talented but too clever for his own good, and he was bucking everyone off,” said Andrew. “Arthur Pottier rode him until I got back from [winning] Kentucky with Quimbo. Arthur was young and keen and didn’t mind falling off. The horse bucked for two days with me but realized I wasn’t going to fall off. Then he tried turning very sharply mid-air over jumps, which did work for a while. Eventually, he gave up that sort of thing, and anyone can ride him at home now.”
Andrew’s wife Wiggy named him Swallow Springs after some natural chalk springs near Avebury – the (grey-colored) standing stones that gave Andrew’s four-times Barbury and three-times Burghley hero his own name.
“I like coming here, and it’s always nice to win,” said Andrew with typical dry understatement.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 15, 2021 من Horse & Hound.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 15, 2021 من Horse & Hound.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The joys of spring
With the hunters roughed off, Tessa Waugh is enjoying some time pottering around among the spring blooms, defuzzing the ponies and catching up on the postman's gossip
'That golden thread, and a zest for life'
In the latest of his series about great huntsmen he knew personally, Alastair Jackson remembers Tim Langley, who spent 30 years at the Berkeley
Notable leaves us Speechless
All-weather winners switch to turf to claim the first two Classics of the season and a globe-trotting son of Frankel scoops his biggest win at the age of nine
Faultless Faurie
Emile Faurie and Bellevue's mistake-free performance secures them an emotional freestyle win while “family horse” Goldstrike continues to step up
Dean proves untouchable
A Windsor debutante brushes aside some fierce opposition and a \"quirky and feisty\" chestnut mare follows in her sister's footsteps
Fuchs claims back-to-back victories
The sensational Swiss rider is richly rewarded with a “special” double on his phenomenal grey, with Robert Whitaker best of the Brits
Super-Bert's royal return
Beloved natives are the order of the day and two coloureds triumph under saddle
Welsh stallion is the perfect Example
A stallion bred in Holland is the top inhand pony, while a Connemara shines once more at his favourite showground
Gambler is the real deal
A coloured pony breaks records, perseverance with a tricky show pony pays and a working hunter pony is a standout winner
Slip collector organiser
Fi Norbury on the childhood thrill of being mistaken for a competitor, perfect grooming and Badminton’s crowds