It's like driving a Ferrari

A former five- star campaigner dances in the rain before bad weather stops play

- By ELLIE HUGHES

Allerton Park, N Yorks

THE rain came down in droves, forcing the abandonment of the second day of competition, but before the weather had a chance to wreak total havoc Eloise Briggs and Touch Too Much splashed their way to a win in the BE100open.

The 18-year-old Touch Too Much (Possum) belongs to Caroline Clarke, who campaigned him to five-star before handing over the reins to her friend last year.

“When Caroline rang me and asked me whether I’d like to ride Possum because she wanted him to enjoy a quieter life I couldn’t believe it,” said Eloise, who has a PhD in equine biomechanics and now works for her family’s agricultural land management business. “It was like being asked to be your best friend’s maid of honour.”

Despite the veteran gelding’s extensive CV – he completed 11 four-stars and made two appearances at five-star with Caroline – it took a while for the new partnership to blossom.

“I couldn’t ride one side of him to begin with,” admitted Eloise, who was dispatched to Jane Bartle-Wilson for lessons. “Possum was so much more refined than anything I was used to – like driving a Ferrari when you’re used to a Golf.”

Eloise was thrilled with their sub-30 dressage score of 29.3.