Over To You completes his seventh Badminton cross country

Over To You (no. 55) and British rider Jeanette Brakewell completed their seventh – and final – Badminton cross-country course. If they complete the competition tomorrow they will make their own record. They will be the only combination to have completed Badminton on seven occasions. They have been placed on each of those – 1998 – 16th; 1999 – 9th; 2003 – 3rd; 2004 – 7th; 2005 – 5th; 2006 – 4th. In 2004 they fell at the gate into Huntsman’s Close – their only Badminton blip – and retired. 

The combination also have won four European team Gold Medals and two Olympic Team Silver Medals. 

“It was fantastic and just so nice to be here,” said Jeanette. “He made it easier than last year and was galloping much easier, he doesn’t mind the top of the ground. He is such a good sound horse that just gallops and jumps but that’s the Thoroughbred for you.”

This year will be the last appearance at Badminton for Mark Johnson’s Irish bred chestnut who at 19-years-old is the oldest horse to compete at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. 

“It is a bit emotional for me,” said Jeanette. “He doesn’t feel like an old horse, more like a five-year-old, but the time comes to cut back a bit. He won’t retire totally and will still do one-day events.” 

Ballycotton, was the first and is the only other horse to have completed on seven occasions. He completed six Badmintons with Andrew Harris and once with Sarah Longshaw.