Transferred from other thread:
Hello HRH Hermione, Yes, Zara is competing on her horse High Kingdom. This bay gelding is one of two horses she has who she feels are her best hope of gaining her a place on the GB Olympic squad next year. [Her other 'good horse' is Lord Lauries.]
Zara's superlative mount in recent years has been Toytown, but he has been prone to injury in the past [which was why Zara was forced to miss the Olympics in 2008 and 2004 - had Toytown been fit, I believe that there would have been a very good chance that Zara could have brought home an Olympic medal on both occasions, perhaps even gold - she was, after all, World Champion in 2006]. Toytown was officially retired after the Gatcombe Park Trials at the start of this month].
I am sure that most members of TRF know this, but Eventing consists of 3 disciplines: Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping. It is also known as a 'Three Day Event' because traditionally, Dressage took place on the first day, Cross Country on the following day and then Show Jumping on the final day. However, because of the ever-increasing number of entries, the '3 day event' is really a '4 day event' at some Trials. Incidentally, the term '3 day event' is never used by the horsey crowd - they refer to it as 'Trials'. The most famous 'Trials' is probably Badminton [held at the home of the Dukes of Beaufort (royal bastards originally!!]. The Royal Family used to turn out in full force for Badminton [and not because of the fact that the Princess Royal used to compete there] but because the previous Duke, known as 'Master' (but only to his close aquaintances!!!) was a close friend of the Queen and the Queen Mother]
Burley is therefore likely to be a real 'family affair' this year: Mark Philips has designed the course, Zara is competing and the Princess Royal is due to present the prizes on the Sunday. It promises to be a very jolly occasion; I'd better go and sort out my wardrobe, so that I do not let the side down!! I will of course take my trusty camera with me.
Hope this helps,
Alex
Transferred from other thread:
Fantastic, thank you for the information! I knew Zara has retired Toytown and was having a hard time finding another horse of his caliber. It'll be interesting to see how she does at this event, because it'll give an indication of whether or not she'll have a horse for the Olympics.
Have a lovely time, and please do share pictures if you're comfortable doing so.
Thank you again!
HRH Hermione, I have done a bit of cut-and-pasting from the 'Princess Royal' Thread, as I fear that I will be going futher and further off-topic.
Zara has from memory been eventing High Kingdom for around 4 years at various trials. She competes nearly every week during the Trials season, and I have seen her on HK at a few of these events. Again from memory, I can't remember
seeing her win yet on High Kingdom, but she has certainly been placed on several occasions.
Her other 'best' horse is Lord Lauries. Zara started competing with this gelding in 2010 and therefore he has had 'less appearances' than High Kingdom. I have seen Zara on Lord Lauries on several occasions and yet again from memory, she has not yet won on him, although I think that the pair have been placed on a few occasions, but less that High Kingdom.
Zara has been eventing around 13 or 14 horses [yet again I am relying on my memory] at various Trials over the past few years. In my humble opinion, I think that Toytown is far the best of any horse she has ridden over this period. However, with experience, it is
possible that High Kingdom
could rise to the challenge in my very humble opinion. Not sure about Lord Lauries, but then of course Zara has only been eventing him for half the time.
Zara certainly works very, very hard indeed. [I digress for a moment, but because Eventing - and indeed horse sports in general -is seen as 'elitist' by many people here in the UK, I sometimes think that riders do not get the recognition they or their sport deserve - shades of 'posh girls on their ponies' and all that which apart from being a shame is also inaccurate, because competitors do come from a more diverse background than is generally realised.]. On this basis, I think that Zara should be able to 'make' something of High Kingdom, but the trouble is that the Olympics are getting closer and closer and therefore High Kingdom in my humble opinion has got quite a 'step up' to make. I will also stick my neck out and say that - again in my very humble opinion - although I am the first to admit that I am not the best person to judge, as I enjoy watching the sport but would not rate myself an expert - that Toytown is the better horse of the two - an incredible horse in fact. I am old enough to remember Doublet, Princess Anne's wonderful horse, the sort of horse that only comes along once or possibly twice in an Eventer's lifetime, and I feel that Toytown is a 'Doublet' and High Kingdom is not.
Having said all of that, I am probably completely wrong. Which, if you think about it, is therefore 'good news' for Zara!
Thank you for your good wishes about next weekend. Horse Events in the UK are generally very enjoyable, even for those who are not 'horse fans'. There is always plenty to see and do: for a start, Land Rover have displays of their vehicles etc - they are principal sponsors of Burghley, and the shopping - Like at Badminton - is wonderful. This sounds odd, because people probably think 'why go shopping at a horse event?' but actually it is a good occasion for lots of 'country type' stallholders to come and 'set out their wares' - there is everything from tack to fine china, clothes to picnic sets. You can actually do a lot of present shopping at Trials - and indeed you even see members of the BRF doing just that on occasions. I usually make a start on my Christmas Shopping at Burghley.
I will keep you posted!
Alex