Daisy Berkeley (nee Dick) is back at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials for the first time since 2010 with ‘the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, loveliest person of a horse’ Diese Du Figuier, who is a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding.

The pair scored 32.9 for their dressage test on Friday morning to lie =23rd with Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do after the first phase. 

“It was a really good start. I think I probably slightly under rode him in his changes, because they’re normally really spot on and beautiful and I think I was just a bit wet, which meant they weren’t as good as they could be,” said Daisy. 

“He did a little head toss in his walk and that just brought us down to a five in that. I don’t know what the other marks were but we’ve got to clear around. 

“He’s such a spooky horse in real life, I can’t walk him. If the ground’s wetter in one area, he can’t go near it. If he’s in an arena and someone’s harrowed it the floor is lava, so for him to go in there with all that going on, and not bat an eyelid, I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Fond memories

Daisy is best known for her partnership with Spring Along with whom she represented Great Britain at numerous championships, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On Daisy’s last appearance at the Gloucestershire CCI5* in 2010, she finished on the podium with Spring Along.

“Last time I was here was on Spring Along and he finished third. I thought that would do me, I don’t need to come back here, and here I am again,” said Daisy whose father was Grand National-winning jockey Dave Dick.

“If I had a fiver for every time someone mentioned that [it’s been 16 years], I don’t need to win!”

‘He’s a delight’

Daisy credits Diese Du Figuier’s sweet character with getting her back to the top level of the sport.

“I’ve ridden quite a lot of horses in my life, and I don’t really feel like riding millions of horses anymore. I don’t like riding horses which you’re always having conversations with but he’s just the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, lovely person of a horse,” added Daisy.

“I mean, I love Spring Along but he could be quite tricky on the flat. This guy, he’s so sweet. When he comes in from his holidays, I’ll jump on. With the others I have to lunge to get on, then you’re clinging on to the neck strap and he’s a delight.

“You only have to look at his little face, he’s just so sweet and he’s been lovely to train.”

Image © Tim Wilkinson. 

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