‘I just couldn’t give up this opportunity and Ros has made it possible for me,’

Not many competitors can claim to have completed university exams in the same week as making their Badminton debut, but that is what US rider Cassie Sanger achieved on Monday evening.

She is a full-time student of journalism at Richmond University, USA, and started competing at five-star level last year, finishing 18th at Kentucky and 17th at Burghley on Redfield Fyre.

They scored 37.5 in the dressage at Badminton. ‘I am thrilled with my horse,’ she said. ‘We’ve been working hard with Ros Canter [with whom she is based when in England] and Amy Woodhead. Collection isn’t easy for him but he has got much stronger. The five-star test with four flying changes isn’t easy for him.’

‘I came to Badminton two years ago to watch and I am trying not to gaze around too much as it is an amazing place. The stables are so cool and everyone here understands how much hard work goes into just getting to Badminton.’

Cassie, at 21 the youngest competitor here, has been partly studying online and is a recipient of the Wilton Fair Grant (named after the 1987 Burghley winner) which enables young American riders to compete abroad.

‘I just couldn’t give up this opportunity and Ros has made it possible for me,’ she said. ‘I find that having my degree to concentrate on keeps me grounded, as this sport is full of highs one minute and lows the next.’