Getting Tiana Coudray’s Defender Burghley partner D’Artagnan up to the main arena today was no mean feat — the 12-year-old grey, who has “an incredible vigor for life”, required a fly mask, two leaders on foot, and copious amounts of polo mints.

“We had a bit of a disaster getting up here yesterday, and I thought this is it, our weekend’s over, because you have to ride through the middle of the Leaf Pit and Discovery Valley to get here,” said the US rider.

“That’s game over because he’s like a spaniel on speed at that point. He was up the hill and into the warm-up at about 700 meters a minute.

“So, trying to get a dressage test out of him was not looking promising. I didn’t have high hopes.”

For today’s trip to the main arena, the horse wore a fly mask, with a person leading on either side, handing out a constant supply of polos.

“We were force-feeding polos. Every time he’d start to look, give polos. I will try anything,” she laughed. “And actually, to be fair, it did work.

“If anything, he was maybe a little bit too quiet, which meant he missed some changes, which on another day he wouldn’t have, but look, we will take it. He was obedient. He was listening.”

Lessons learned at Burgham

Tiana acquired D’Artagnan, who is contesting his first five-star, when he was rising eight, and he has quickly climbed the ranks.

“He just gives you his entire heart and soul. If ever there’s a problem, it’s because he’s too enthusiastic,” she said. “He’s just a dream to train and there’s no other horse I’d want to be here with.”

Their preparation has not been completely straightforward, with a difficult run at Burgham a few weeks ago coupled with being named as reserves for the world championships.

“Burgham was a ‘try-out-things-that-don’t-work-in-all-three-phases’, tick that box and move on, so we’ve moved on,” explained Tiana.

D’Artagnan had been practising the dressage test for Aachen, where certain movements — including flying changes on the short side — were deliberately avoided.

But at Burgham, those same changes were required.

“So he actually did a nice test there, but he completely cocked up both those changes because he was going, ‘I’m not allowed; I’m not allowed to change,’” she explained.

In the showjumping, Tiana opted to test herself against the clock, anticipating a tight time allowed at the worlds, and they had two fences down.

Then came the cross-country.

“We were just not in the right headspace, and he went one way and I went the other, so all three phases — tick tick tick,” she said.

Tiana added that she has no expectations for Burghley.

“I just hope to give him the best ride I can, and give him every opportunity to do his job,. Then it’ll be what it’ll be,” she said.

‘Life’s too short’

Getting the horse here has been particularly meaningful for Tiana, who thought he might be sold.

“I was so lucky. Probably a year-and-a-half ago, there were some offers on him, and Annabelle [James], my groom, who owns him said, ‘No, life’s too short. You need to have fun,’ and so she turned them down.”

Co-owner Kyrle Arscott subsequently became involved in the horse in the spring, helping to secure his future at Tiana’s Swindon yard.

“I’m not saying that if big money came along we wouldn’t consider it, but it secured the situation, which has been amazing, and it’s just been so fun to have her [Kyrle] along.”

Main image by Tim Wilkinson

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