As is the case for many competing at this year’s LeMieux Badminton Grassroots, BE90 competitor Phoebe Lagor juggles a career outside of horses alongside eventing.

She competes her own seven-year-old mare, My Quality Girl, or “Orla” as she is known at home while working as a police officer.

Phoebe and Orla put in a great performance in the BE90 championship class today (6 May), just adding four faults in the showjumping to a 34.1 dressage to finish in 38th place in a hugely competitive field of 95 starters.

“It’s a huge achievement – I didn’t really have any expectations coming into this week,” says Phoebe. “I just wanted to come, have a good time, and finish clear across country.” 

Phoebe purchased Orla as a three-year-old from an online auction, without seeing her in person.

“I found her on an online auction and I bid on her and won her unseen,” explains Phoebe. “I thought I wouldn’t win, then suddenly I was her new owner,” she laughs. 

Despite the risk, the choice has proved a good one.

“Orla had a kind eye and although she looked a bit scrawny, it’s ultimately worked out well,” says Phoebe.  

“She was so good cross-country”

Speaking of their cross-country round today, Phoebe says: “She was so good”.  

With limited preparation over the winter, the result was all the more satisfying.

“We didn’t do any dressage all winter, just three tests before this,” explains Phoebe, who also took part in just one one-day event at the end of April prior to coming to Badminton.

Speaking of her policing career, Phoebe explains that she responds to 999 incidents in West Cornwall.

“I work shifts that include early starts, late finishes and nights and riding has to fit around that. I often suffer from a lack of sleep, but I just have to keep on going and ride even when sometimes I don’t feel like it.”

Phoebe relies a lot on using beaches and the sea to get work into Orla.

“Even when you’re tired, riding by the sea will make anybody happier,” she adds.

A one-horse set-up

Coming from a non-horsey background, Phoebe has largely learned as she goes.

“None of my family are horsey,” she says. 

However, there is support behind the scenes, particularly from her sister.

“We call her head of operations – she does everything really,” says Phoebe, for who competing at the Badminton Grassroots Championships has been a long-standing goal.

“It’s my first time competing here, but I’ve always watched it,” she says. “I’ve made sure that I’ve taken moments just to look back and appreciate being here – it’s a dream,” she says.

“It’s just incredible to be here – it’s a dream for so many people, and we’re living it.”

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