Biography
It will be the fifth consecutive visit to Badminton for British rider Louise Harwood (43), who runs her own yard near Eardisley in Herefordshire. Last year with Badminton entry Balladeer Miller Man she completed Burghley – the horse’s first four-star. The pair has previously been second and 12th at CCI3*. She also impressed on the racecourse in March winning the 12 horse St Michael’s Charity Flat race at Hereford on St Gallen from Olly Murphy Racing and helping raise £30,000 for St Michael’s Hospice.
Louise began eventing with the Radnor and West Hereford Pony Club also taking part in other equestrian competitions including mounted games, show jumping and dressage. Aged 16 she first competed in affiliated competition and was a member of the Welsh JRN team. Louise gained a BSc in biology from Cardiff University followed by a PGDip in Applied Equine Science at the Royal Agricultural College and worked part-time in marketing before turning to a career in horses. In 2003 Louise won the Welsh Championships and in 2006 competed at her first four-star completing with a double-clear at Burghley on the homebred Bit of a Barney. She competed and completed her first Badminton in 2007 with Partly Pickled – the full brother to Bit of a Barney – winning the award for ‘best first-timer’. After a good season in 2014 she was short-listed for the British squad for the WEG in France and gained 12th place at Burghley with Mr Potts. Her ride Whitson was BE’s top horse of 2014. She has six previous Badminton completions.
Louise who is married to Greg Harwood, is an instructor (BHSII) and an accredited BE coach. She trains for dressage with Adam Kemp.
Balladeer Miller Man is an Irish-bred 12-year-old gelding. He is by the thoroughbred Stormhill Miller (sire of Stormhill Michael) out of Kintara Pride by the thoroughbred Porter Rhodes. He was acquired by his owner as a four-year-old from Balladeer Event horses in Ireland and has been competed by Louise since a five-year-old. The pair completed Burghley in 2018.
Entries
Mr Potts
ID x TB,
United Kingdom,
2002
16.2hh , bay , gelding
Sire Old Leighlin
Dam Much of a Muddle (Roma Diamond Skip)
Breeder Jacqueline Skelton
Owner(s): Rider
Whitson
IDxTB,
Great Britain,
2003
16.3hh , bay , gelding
Sire Cameos Reflection
Dam Castle weir Rebel (Coosheen Liam)
Breeder Mr Roy Baker
Owner(s): Roy Baker & Emma Baker-Jones, Lyonshall, Herefords.,