Tom Woodward pulled off the debut Mars Badminton Horse Trials test of his life to sail into the lead aboard Low Moor Lucky on a score of 27.9.
The 23-year-old rider, who is one of the youngest riders in the field, has produced this horse — who was backed late at the age of nine and is now 18 — from BE100 level.
“It’s pretty surreal [to take the lead],” said Tom. “We’re local, in Hartpury, and I used to come here every year to watch as a kid and we’d stay in the old campsite as a family. I used to look at the jumps out there on the course and think, ‘how do you ever do that?’
“I was probably 13 when I decided I wanted to try and do it. I’ve just been incredibly lucky to find a partner like [Lucky] because he’s just immense. I can’t thank the horse enough. He’s put me on the map and allowed me to pursue a career in the sport.”
Quietly confident
Tom confessed that he was quietly confident about achieving a good score.
“I didn’t tell anyone, but he did a 25 at Blenheim last year. I’ve always known how capable he is, but because we’ve learnt together I’ve been very green and it’s taken me two years to actually catch up with his capabilities on the flat,” said Tom.
“He had a bit of time off last spring and I was fortunate enough to have two four-star horses in my string and I learned so much. They wouldn’t be as capable as he is on the flat, but I had the time to learn my craft at that level.
“Then when you get back on him, it’s just like going around on train tracks and if you give him the right instructions he just does it. He gives an amazing feel.
“So I quietly hoped and yeah thankfully it came off. I want to say a big thanks to Lisa White, my dressage instructor. She’s made a massive difference to us and I’m very pleased for her as well.”
‘Feral’ Lucky’s last chance
Low Moor Lucky was broken in as a nine-year-old when he was given “one final chance” after being very naughty to ride away.
“He was actually bred by a family friend of ours, Richard Dennis, and I’ve now had six horses from him now,” said Tom.
“They’re fairly feral, but they’ve all come good. Richard rang me and said if you can get them on the lorry you can have them.
“One’s just done his first three-star and one’s doing her first two-star next week at Belsay. They’re all very, very well bred.”
Lucky is sired by Luidam.
“He was one of them who was pretty feral but you wouldn’t know it now. He’s Mr Cool,” added Tom.
“He only did his first BE event in the September of his ten-year-old year, so he’s 18 but fairly low mileage.
“We’ll get through this week and then see what else he wants to give. If he decides one’s enough, that’s fine by me. He doesn’t owe me anything. We’ll just play it by ear and see how it goes.”
A big flashy boy
Tom and Lucky’s path to Badminton has included under-18 championships and top results at three-star level.
“We never bought him thinking he’d do this, he was just meant to be a nice horse for me to learn on,” said Tom.
“He’s not so much a modern type — he’s a fairly big lad, by Louis Dam, and a big flashy boy. He wouldn’t be the most natural galloper but he’s got fitter and fitter each year and we’ve worked hard at the fitness for here.
“Hopefully we’ll be in good form to go as quickly as we can.”
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class now lie second, ahead of Gemma Stevens on Chilli Knight, with eight more horses to go this afternoon.
Images by Tim Wilkinson
