Badminton 2010

From The Talland International School of Equitation

We'd like to offer huge congratulations to the following riders from Talland who rode at Badminton this year:

• Daisy Berkeley and Springalong who were the best of the Brits at Badminton this year (3rd)
• Nick Gauntlett for achieving a double clear on Chapel Amble (21st) and competing strongly with Rocket Science (33rd)
• Duarte Seabra - who's crash course in dressage paid off with excellent results! (32nd)

And sincere condolences to Louisa Lockwood and her team at the very sad loss of Desert Island. Our best wishes to Lucy Wiegersma as she heads off to Luhmuhlen.

Dreams do come true at Badminton

A personal account from Kyrle Arscott, the owner of Chapel Amble

Nick and Team Gauntlett made dreams come true for me at Badminton 2010 as the owner of Chapel Amble - our beautiful, hugely talented, difficult, feisty and self opinionated little black mare.

The Arscott Family bought Amble from a dealer in Kent 5 years ago - she had just arrived from Germany and she looked ghastly - thin as a rake and punch drunk from the journey. She was missing the foal that had just been weaned from her. A very sorry sight - but Sally rode her, she moved like a dream and she popped an 18" pole very neatly and I fell in love with her. Five years later after many trials and tribulations and some success - we accepted that she was a man's ride and she went to Nick - and the dream became reality.

Nick would be the first to admit that it has not all been plain sailing - she is and always will be a very difficult ride but with patience and determination Nick produced from Amble a performance at Badminton that was breath taking - a double clear that was acclaimed by professional trainers and riders - the BBC commentary team of Ian Stark, Tina Cook and Mike Tucker - the press - and Nick and Amble's huge following of friends, supporters and admirers.

Obviously I am full of admiration for Nick and his team - particularly Lewis - but others who deserve a very special mention are Pammy Hutton for never giving up, Jane and Mike Gauntlett and my 'minder' Alison Scrivens and also Sally and Freddie de Giles who both taught Amble so much.

Of course Nick had another great ride at Badminton on Rocket Science but that is someone else's story...

Do you have a story to share? Please forward it to the secretary!