Biography

It will be a first Badminton for Australian rider Isabel English (24) who is currently based near Billingshurst in West Sussex.

Isabel (Bella) comes from an equestrian family and was taught to ride by her parents and competitors Nick and Sarah who now run the Cil Dara stud near Brisbane breeding high quality sport horses. Isabel’s sister Elizma competed internationally in eventing and now competes in showjumping. Isabel started competing aged 10. In 2014 she was awarded International Queensland Rider of the year in 2014 and the Inaugural Best and Fairest Young Rider in honour of Rod Winchester.

Isabel acquired ‘Mouse’ when he was five and the pair has been together for 12 years.  They contested their first CCI1* in 2010 and came 12^th in their first CCI4* at Adelaide in 2013 – the pair has since completed on another two occasions.

In 2016 Isabel and Mouse left Australia for Germany where she spent three seasons as a working pupil to Michael Jung having the opportunity to compete his younger horses. She also bought a young horse that she is now aiming at the Blenheim 8/9year-old class. In 2018 she was named as a member of the Australian ‘Generation Next’ squad and at the end of the year Isabel moved to Sussex.

Isabel trains with Antonia Manca and Kevin McNab. She enjoys running and playing tennis

Feldale Mouse owned by Mrs Sarah English is a 17-year-old Australian-bred Connemara/thoroughbred gelding. He is by Domo Cavallo Praize (1975-’06) – considered the most successful ever Connemara pony stallion in Australia – and is out of the thoroughbred mare Zoe who is by Final Straw. He was bred by the former Australian team rider Felicity Cribb who completed Badminton 1994 in 10^th place on Carmody Street. Mouse was formerly known as ‘rat’ due to his quirky ways – Isabel says they parted company every other day – but was tamed with the help of Kevin McNab and her sister. Mouse is now described as ‘my dearest friend, one I can always rely on.’