EMILY GOES STRAIGHT INTO TOP GEAR
British rider Emily Baldwin and Drivetime have
set a new standard in the dressage arena and the pair is currently
in the lead at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.
Emily, 28, from Lamberhurst in Kent put in a
poised and polished test with the 13-year-old, gaining an average
mark of 71.78% and a high of 75% from Irish judge Eric Smiley at H.
“I was hoping for a good start as Drivetime is normally
well-behaved,” said Emily, who trains with grand prix dressage
rider Andrew Gould. “Because he is usually reliable in dressage it
also means that there is that bit more pressure to do well but I am
lucky to be able to enjoy this part of the competition more than a
lot of competitors.”
Drivetime is a Dutch-bred gelding by Rolls
Royce, a son of the influential Dutch show jumping sire Concorde.
Not surprisingly, Drivetime started his competitive career as a
show jumper before being produced for eventing by Terry Boon. Emily
acquired Drivetime four-years ago and last year gained her first
Badminton completion with him – albeit with a refusal at the lake.
“There are plenty of places for mistakes again this year – you’ve
really got to concentrate all the way round – and there are not
many let up fences,” said Emily who with Drivetime coincidentally
graces the front cover of ‘Badminton Revisited’ – the new book by
Press officer Julian Seaman that celebrates Badminton’s diamond
jubilee.