This weeks Eventing Podcast episode is a special interview with the 2018 Horse Trials Support Group Scholars Laura Collett & Alex Bragg.

​Talking stats, stable superstars & plans for 2019 it’s a great insight into two of the most talked about riders on the British circuit.

Recently we held an exclusive yard visit for HTSG members at Laura Collett - here's a few clips from the day which was hosted by Laura and her mentor Yogi Breisner.
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Photos © Fiona Scott-Maxwell. Video © Michael Rogers

HTSG scholar Laura Collett has kindly offered to host a yard visit for HTSG members and guests on Saturday 27 October 2018.

Laura is based near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

The visit will start at 10:00 and last approximately two hours. Tea, coffee, cake and biscuits will be provided.  The morning will include a session with Yogi Breisner who is Laura's long-time mentor and trainer. 

​Please email Margie on mgibb@live.co.uk to reserve a place. Members are free of charge, guests £10. Numbers will be limited.

HTSG scholar Laura Collett had an incredibly successful weekend when she finished first and third in the prestigious CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses at the Ssangyong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials.

​Previous winners of this class have gone on to win 4* events and championship medals and Laura looks to have two stars in winner London 52, owned by our own committee member Karen Bartlett with Keith Scott, and Diana Chappell’s Dacapo (3rd).

“London 52 finds it so easy it’s scary,” Laura said of the nine-year-old she bought two years ago out of a showjumping yard. “He’s pure class. It’s some feeling riding a horse with a long stride like that. Yet again, I’ve bought a horse I don’t want to sell – I really don’t have much of a business head!”

Photos © Fiona Scott-Maxwell and MDR Photo

Watch Laura's winning interview with Blenheim commentator (& HTSG committee member) Spencer Sturmey...

HTSG Scholar Alex Bragg and his top horse Zagreb made up for an unlucky fall across country at Burghley a couple of weeks ago with a very close third place at the SsangYong Blenheim Horse Trials in the CCI3*.  They show jumped clear to finish on their dressage score of 29.6, just 1.2 penalities behind the winner.  Alex said: “Our aim was the top three – job done!” 

As well as Zagreb in the top 10, Alex finished an impressive 9th onboard one of his new rides for 2018 Barrichello, with whom he is building an impressive partnership.  Alex was also competing in the 8/9 year old class with Shannondale Percy.

As well as competing on three horses Alex hosted a master class in the main arena on Sunday morning and you can read more and watch a video right here on the website.

August was another very busy month for HTSG Scholar Laura Collett and it got off to the perfect start with two wins in the Novice at Smiths Lawn...

Straight after Laura headed back over to France for the CIC*** at Haras Du Pin on British number one ranked horse Mr Bass and also Finduss PFB.  It was another great ride for Laura and Mr Bass finishing 3rd!!

This result was even more impressive when we later found out Laura and Mr Bass had not been selected for the World Equestrian Games and Laura received that news during the event.

After such disappointing news Laura headed to Somerford Park with 7 horses and had another very successful few days with 3 wins and 2 more top 10 places...

After such a successful event Laura headed to Scotland for Blair Horse Trials and the Event Rider Masters finale and Laura was in contention for the series win.  During the event ERM filmed this tongue in cheek video of Laura and Chris Burton who was leading the series (and went onto win).

Laura had a very strong performance with London 52 who is still a young horse new to 3* and finished 8th and finished second in the series which is a fantastic result after such a consistent season.

Laura finished off the month with a 9 hour drive home from Blair and headed straight to Wellington Horse Trials on Bank Holiday Monday with 3 more horses!  

After the big disappointment of not being selected for the WEG team Laura had hoped to run Mr Bass at Burghley (where our members get full event access) but unfortunately he didn't feel a 100% right so just before the event he was withdrawn.  But don't worry as they will be back out next season aiming for the win at Badminton!

Both of our HTSG Training Scholars, Alex Bragg and Laura Collett, are in action at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials next week, and we are putting them to work!

Alex and Laura will be hosting a course walk (CIC course) on Thursday 13th September at approximately 11:30am. This will be a fantastic opportunity for HTSG members and their guests to get a detailed insight of the course and ask our scholars any questions. The course walk is free of charge to members, and £10 for guests (including a donation to the event's nominated charity). We would like to thank the organiser's of Blenheim for allowing this to happen.
​Please email mgibb@live.co.uk to reserve your place. Numbers will be limited.

We are very excited to announce that Alex has kindly agreed to present a Master Class on behalf of HTSG on Sunday 16th September in the Marlborough (Main) Arena at 10:00am. 

Alex will ride one of his horses and be joined on the ground by Spencer Sturmey. Please do join us for what promises to be an educational and entertaining session.

Tickets are available for the WEG supper being held on Saturday 15th September. All of the action from the cross-country at Tryon will be shown live on the big screen, as well as some exclusive behind the scenes footage from Team GBR. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The organiser's of the SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials have secured support for a dedicated Owners, Athletes and Trainers (OATs) facility for this year’s event, and as well as the owners of horses who are competing, they are very kindly offering members of HTSG to use the facility.

The facility will be supported by Theraplate UK whose wave vortex stimulation therapy products are aimed at equine, dog and human rehabilitation and are used by vets, rehab centres and several riders.

The Owners, Athletes and Trainers marquee will be located adjacent to the main arena collecting ring allowing owners and HTSG members to watch the horses prepare for CCI3* dressage and the show jumping phases of the 8&9-year-old CIC3* and the CCI3* as well as a great place to see the ‘south lawn’ loop of the CCI3* cross-country on Saturday.

There will be tables and chairs inside, a garden area with patio furniture, complimentary refreshments, daily papers and lifestyle magazines and from the sponsors complimentary tea and coffee and a welcome glass of fizz! 

Please ensure that you wear your HTSG badge to gain access to this facility.

Finally, we would like to wish Alex and Laura, as well as any HTSG members with horses competing, the very best of luck for a safe and successful Blenheim.

We look forward to seeing you.

With best wishes,

HTSG Committee

Barbury International Horse Trials was first up for Laura in July with 5 horses in action.  Two top 10 results in the CIC2* and an excellent 9th in the Event Rider Master CIC3*.

After Barbury Laura had a quick trip to Tweseldown and then onto Jardy in France with three horses, one in CIC1*, 2* and 3*.  Star of the three was London 52, finishing in 11th place in the Event Rider Masters CIC3* class.

Back on home soil Laura had a successful visit to Dauntsey Park with two young horses both winning their classes...

dAston Le Walls was the next event for Laura and again another busy one with 5 horses competing, 3 in the Advanced, 1 Open Intermediate and 1 Novice.  Laura's successful month continued with another double win, with Hanson DHI in the Novice and Dacapo in the Advanced 8/9 yr old class.

Sadly after this successful weekend Laura had some sad news to announce, which was that her recently retired four star campaigner Grand Manoeuvre (Milo) had been put down aged 14, just a few months after being retired.

The month was rounded out with British Eventing updating their leading horse and rider tables and we were very pleased to see that Laura had moved up to 5th in the rider standings and Mr Bass continued to hold onto his number one position.

Following Laura's brilliant second place at Luhmuhlen earlier this month she has continued to have a very successful few weeks with a 2nd place in the Event Rider Masters CIC3* at Arville on London 52.

The following weekend Laura headed to Great Witchingham Horse Trials where she had 3 top finishes.  To round up a very successful month Laura was very excited to announce that she had been added to the Team GB long list for the World Equestrian Games on Mr Bass.