lizness
Well-Known Member
I love collecting and reading old books, currently reading a 1978 book about Burghley horse trials. Thought I would share some interesting extracts
"The cross country was 4 3/4miles, steeplechase 2 1/4 and the total speed and endurance test was 18 3/4miles" (1962)
I know that it is fairly recently roads and tracks have been taken out but this is really far to my mind! Horses must have been extremely fit.
But you could do this..
"James Templer who had run beside his horse to save it's energy for almost the whole of the roads and tracks... "
Lochinvar ridden by Shelagh Keslar was second at Burghley at the age of 6! (1963)
"Virginia Freeman-Jackson lost her hat at the sixth fence but rode her 15.1 1/2h veteran with great dash, hair flying, and did well to stay on when Sam Weller (horse) nearly fell at the coffin" (1966)
"The 1000-to-one Skewbald wins Burghley" "Popadom, whose sire was a thoroughbred but whose dam had spent most of her career pulling a cart, had disgraced his rider in the dressage at Stockenchurch the week before. Since then he had been subjected to merciless drilling and had hardly been allowed off the bit. At Burgley, three hours' work before the dressage had paid dividends, for in the arena he was completely obedient, straight and light on his feet. In spite of the fact that he was incapable of showing extension he was well rewarded and earned the very good score of 28 penalties." "She (Lorna Sutherland) was determined to cock a snook at those who said Popadom would not be fast enough to maintain his advantage...She returned with a bonus of 61.2, one of the fastest times of the day and good enough to maintain the lead, 10 points ahead of Questionarre" (about SJing)"Popadom could afford one fence down, bounced round without the semblance of a mistake and delighted the enthusiastic crown with a series of circus bucks on the lap of honour" (1967) Popadom went on to come 3rd in 1969, with a slower x-country time due to recent time off with a virus.
An afterthought...
As of when this book was written "You were most likely to win at Burghley if you were under 26, female and ride a bay gelding of eight years old or more"
"The cross country was 4 3/4miles, steeplechase 2 1/4 and the total speed and endurance test was 18 3/4miles" (1962)
I know that it is fairly recently roads and tracks have been taken out but this is really far to my mind! Horses must have been extremely fit.
But you could do this..
"James Templer who had run beside his horse to save it's energy for almost the whole of the roads and tracks... "
Lochinvar ridden by Shelagh Keslar was second at Burghley at the age of 6! (1963)
"Virginia Freeman-Jackson lost her hat at the sixth fence but rode her 15.1 1/2h veteran with great dash, hair flying, and did well to stay on when Sam Weller (horse) nearly fell at the coffin" (1966)
"The 1000-to-one Skewbald wins Burghley" "Popadom, whose sire was a thoroughbred but whose dam had spent most of her career pulling a cart, had disgraced his rider in the dressage at Stockenchurch the week before. Since then he had been subjected to merciless drilling and had hardly been allowed off the bit. At Burgley, three hours' work before the dressage had paid dividends, for in the arena he was completely obedient, straight and light on his feet. In spite of the fact that he was incapable of showing extension he was well rewarded and earned the very good score of 28 penalties." "She (Lorna Sutherland) was determined to cock a snook at those who said Popadom would not be fast enough to maintain his advantage...She returned with a bonus of 61.2, one of the fastest times of the day and good enough to maintain the lead, 10 points ahead of Questionarre" (about SJing)"Popadom could afford one fence down, bounced round without the semblance of a mistake and delighted the enthusiastic crown with a series of circus bucks on the lap of honour" (1967) Popadom went on to come 3rd in 1969, with a slower x-country time due to recent time off with a virus.
An afterthought...
As of when this book was written "You were most likely to win at Burghley if you were under 26, female and ride a bay gelding of eight years old or more"
