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I’m sorry. That must sting. A lot of people are a disappointment when the crap hits the fan, I find. As you said, you’ve got to focus on the people who do step up for you.

I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time. Yes I think they ought to have visited at least once. Perhaps they feel too guilty because it was their horse, even if it was an accident?

I think someone told me they have a high tolerance for pain too. ☹️

Poor pony.

I know, I just saw that about Mary.☹️ Nicola’s progress looks good. You could see in her video of her holding her drink that she’s committed and working hard at her progress. It all looks hopeful. Yes they’re being practical selling horses and boxes, but I really think she’s going to get...

Gorgeous! My first pony was a palomino and I’ve always had a soft spot for them.

She’s quite amazing, isn’t she. Never stops smiling, I bet the nurses and doctors love her. One thing about Nicola is that she always makes sensible decisions. I remember her hurtling towards a big brush fence at Bramham thinking crikey that’s fast. But she sailed past it, did a huge circle...

I remember that surface- they had a BE event there one year and you had to ride down the race track to get from the lorry park to the dressage, which was a little surreal. It was a strange event, not very good and o don’t think they ran it again.

When I evented in Italy in the 1990s you had to do a test before you could compete. We were allowed to compete at intermediate (which I thought was more like BE novice) because we had our BHSAI. It wouldn’t work here. People would be affronted. Everyone thinks they are so much better than...

It’s not that much of a freak accident if you think they used a thin piece of wood that could easily snap.. Back in the day they used to use garden canes for gymkhana bending poles. A friend’s pony impailed itself on one when it blew down in the wind. Nowadays they’re much sturdier.

Done. You just have to use a little imagination with some of the words. Stall means stable in this case, trekking means hacking.

Could you possibly post a picture- I can’t quite imagine it.

Ian Stark said he wanted the course to be a rider frightener, not one to trick horses in his pre Bramham interview. I am another that would rather a crowd be shocked and a horse put out of its misery straight away than it be transported away to be put down. People need to know what goes on in...

You’ve got to feel safe and enjoy it when you try a horse that’s going to be your first horse if you’re a novice.

Mine has looked dreadfully hairy (beardy particularly!) until April, then went bald, now looks superb with a lovely summer coat.

I often wonder that too. It must be so painful being transported across a bumpy field in a trailer with a broken leg. I think it’s perhaps because they’re very expensive, too level animals and owners need to make the decision?

Very sad. And strange. The Bramham leap has been there for years, it always did need attacking. Perhaps it was a strange distance this year? As for the other horse - was it up on the slope down towards the far water jump on the CCI course? I always felt the ground in those woods could seem...

Alright it was lame then!

It was held for a good half hour. There were stewards, chief stewards and vets buzzing around..

Thank you. Annagain I’ve regularly camped at Bramham and it was never that busy Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. I used to get a shock on Friday evening when I returned to the campsite and it had filled up! Obviously Saturday is busy everywhere, but when we’ve done Burghley on the Sunday we’ve...

Sending hugs. I bet it’s a shock for you.

There was a big controversy a few years ago at Burghley over a banned substance- young NZ rider who has gone back home (was he called Jock Padgett or something? My memory is awful). I think it was a mistake, or something in the feed. So they definitely test. (I say a few years ago, it’s...

I’ve never been able to work out where the camp site is. Where is it in relation to the course? Is it inside the road? Or across it where they do the grass roots dressage? Is it a long walk to the shopping village?

To be fair, a lot of people said that the first half of her round hasn’t been pretty and that the hold seemed to have worked out for her.

Yes that’s the theory, but it never looks pretty at Badminton. They push them up the hill, pull them back for the fence, then push on for the finish. There seem to be more ugly finishes/collapses at Badminton than Burghley or Bramham, for example, where the fences aren’t on a curve. I don’t...

My mare is my horse of a lifetime. She does everything I ask her, on the ground and under saddle, but she’s grumpy and definitely not a people person. I respect that. When she’s not being asked to do something her time is her time. I’d love her to be cuddly, but she’s not. She respects me and...

Poor Nicola, I hope her recovery is swift and comfortable. I knew it was pretty serious when there hadn’t been an update for days. Bet she’s still got that lovely smile on her face even now. I think “lives just down the road from here” might make it onto commentator bingo too. I think I like...

Poor Nicola. I hope she recovers quickly and comfortably.

OP you’d be exactly what I’d call a five star home. Somewhere I’d be delighted to send a horse.

If anyone is on Facebook there is a video on the badminton Facebook page showing inside the Xc control centre. It’s really interesting.