Georgie Spence’s Badminton Diary

Tottie-sponsored young event rider, Georgie Spence, competed for the first time at Badminton this year. It was also her first 4* event. The 19-year-old finished in 30^th place overall and was presented with a saddle from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers for being the British rider with the best score, who is under 25 years of age at 1^st January 2009, not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack badge and has not won the saddle before. Here she chats briefly about her experience:

Wednesday

“We set off on Wednesday morning with George (Running Brook II) looking super-shiny as I had washed him three times! It is only about 20 miles from our house to Badminton so we didn’t have far to travel.

I walked the cross-country course for the first time with my dad and two friends and was pleased to note that the fences didn’t seem to be quite as big as I had expected. We did the trot up at 5pm and George was fine. He was very fresh and seemed quite excited to be there.”

Thursday

“I went onto the Tottie tradestand to do some signings before walking the cross country course again, this time with Yogi Breisner. I could now see that the fences were very technical. I schooled George in one of the arenas and had a half session of dressage training with Pammy Hutton.”

Friday

“My dressage test was at 2pm and I felt fine. I took George down 25 minutes before the test and worked him in. He was very quiet and settled. In the test he made a mistake in his first flying change but overall I was pleased with him and we came out with a score of 57.6.

In the evening I walked the course once more with William (Fox-Pitt) and we discussed the lines and distances.”

Saturday

“Cross country day arrived….and so did the tension! This was the first time I have been nervous before the cross country – usually it’s before the dressage, and I was ‘mega-nervous!’

I took the options at the Colt Pond and Huntsmans as George can get quite strong and so I thought it best to give him a nice ride. He jumped really well and we finished with just time penalties. Completing the course was just the best feeling ever! I was full of emotion when I saw my parents waiting at the finish. It felt so amazing to have gone round clear.

Sunday

“George trotted up sound at the veterinary inspection but was very tired and didn’t do too well in the show jumping. However, just to complete Badminton was amazing and to win the saddle was real highlight.”