The reigning European Champions, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, have slotted into second place after the first session of dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (9 May).
Ros and ‘Walter’, who helped Britain to team gold at the Paris Olympics last year and went on to win Burghley CCI5* a few weeks later, pulled off a customary stylish test marred only by mistakes in two flying changes, worth double marks, which attracted several 4s from the judges.
“I was really pleased with it actually,” said Ros of their test. “I got a little bit distracted at the beginning because he started sneezing, which isn’t always a good sign, but he then settled and he was great.
“The changes have always been been something he’s struggled with and I probably didn’t help him quite enough in those. I think I thought he was more established than he is, so that’s my fault, hands in the air for that one — he was amazing.”
Ros added that Walter enjoys competing in front of a big crowd. They won here in 2023 and were second in 2022.
“He loves it. He never really gets rattled by noise and the clapping and things like that,” she said. “It’s just a hard movement [the flying changes] for me to practice with him because once he knows they’re there he almost drops the contact and I can’t ride him up.”
On social media ‘looking chubby’
Walter has been in work since December, following a long holiday after his Burghley win in September.
“He had time out getting fluffy and enjoying his holidays and then he came in end of December time and did a good month of hacking. He didn’t really start to do anything exciting until February,” said Ros.
“The inner me wants to train all the time, so I’ve tried to keep that at bay a little bit and give him the time that he needs.
“I mean he knows his job now — he’s an absolute professional. There was a very hairy picture of him on social media looking pretty chubby.
“It’s amazing how once he knows Badminton’s on the card he strips himself up. He knows how to get himself ready!”
‘A privilege to ride across country’
Ros added that she has walked the Eric Winter-designed cross-country track and has “nearly” got a plan in place for her round tomorrow.
“Walter’s not a huge fan of jumping things with things over the top of them and there’s quite a few of those so that will be a bit more of a challenge for us,” she said.
“But I’ve got every faith in the horse. He’s a privilege to ride across country and I just hope that I can do him justice.”
Images by Tim Wilkinson
