love that horse i judged rod on him at west wilts in a dressage class when he first got him and hadnt done an event on him and i remember asking rod if it was as good at the jumping part as it was on the flat and then ringing several people to tell them about this lovely youngster he had.
and the owners are sound and deserve a good win also. really good result all round.
Ive seen next to William Fox-Pitts' horses score
"MONARCH'S ARISTOCRAT(D) Mr William Fox-Pitt - R 46.5 46.50 " on the BE website. I understand that the horse belongs to Oli Smith he must be devastated. I wonder what happened.
i think someone said it fractured its pastern. W pulled up immediately and jumped off, ambulance was there v. fast, but there was nothing they could do.
yeh Oli had competed him at advanced and before that young riders for several seasons. William had only just started to ride him to give him a confidence boost before going back to Oli next year
Well done Rodney and well deserved sometimes I think that luck deserts him at the crucial moments especially in the Europeans and this win must surely make up for that.