BROTHERS IN ARMS

This year in a unique Badminton challenge two riders will be competing two sets of equine full brothers at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. It is fairly unusual for one rider to ride two horses, let alone full brothers and even more unusual for two riders to have full brothers – especially at the same event. If either – or both – complete the event it will be the first time that full brothers have completed in the same year – especially under the same rider.

Herefordshire based Louise Skelton (GBR) rides brothers A Bit of A Barney (no 2) and Partly Pickled (103). The two geldings, both plain bays with no white markings, are a year apart with 14-year-old Barney the eldest. Incredibly both are also homebred horses, bred by Louise and her mother, Jackie, out of Gerfuffle, a former point-to-pointer and family-favourite. Gerfuffle who is by the Thoroughbred Rhodamantade gave Louise her first taste of eventing success as the pair contested Junior Championships. When Louise was 18 Gerfuffle was put in foal to the local HIS Thoroughbred stallion Blaze O’ Gold. While the two geldings might be the spitting image of each other, in temperament they differ. “Barney is the dominant one as I think Pickle has had to live in his shadow for so long. Pickle however is naturally more talented and showy but what Barney lacks in talent he makes up for by trying –  much harder than Pickle,” said Louise.

New Zealander Dan Jocelyn is also vying to be the first to pull off the feat. He rides full-brothers Special Advocate (16) aka Rumpole and Special Attorney (101) aka Dan. Rumpole and the equine Dan were bred by their owner Jennie Hibbert from Daventry in Northamptonshire. “It is really nice for their owner to have them both here,” said Dan who has competed here on eight previous occasions. “Both are very different horses but they are both fit and well and have run well at their last events. However Badminton will be a big challenge for them – it is a challenge for anyone”.