Dual sportswoman Liz Halliday came away from the Hartpury International Horse Trials last weekend pleased with her runs on both Fox (Red Letter Day II) and Bud (Newmarket Malt) in the CIC*** and CCI* competitions.

The event marked Fox’s first return to international three-star level competition since the Houghton Horse Trials in May, and although he didn’t secure a high overall placing, his performance brought Halliday confidence that he is on top form.

After starting the Dressage test second in his section out of the 80-strong field, Fox was unlucky to receive a very average score from the judges despite performing quite a good test. He made up for the disappointment though by jumping strongly in both the Show Jumping and Cross Country tests. Just one rail down followed by a clear round on a difficult and influential cross country course meant that Fox was definitely back on form at this top level.

“Going early in the dressage is never good news and I think his score suffered for that,” admitted Liz. “He was a bit wild in both the show jumping and cross country rounds but despite that he jumped really well and enjoyed every minute of it.”

Bud was also in good form, although Liz admitted frustration after a couple of small mistakes in the CCI* Show Jumping test cost the pair a shot at victory.

Going into the finally day of the International three day event, Liz and Bud were in 3rd place out of the 100-strong field following a strong Dressage score of 47.0 and a clear and fast Cross Country round. Sadly, in the finally Show Jumping phase two rails down proved costly, and they would have to settle with a final position of 20th as a result. Despite the disappointment, Liz remained positive about the performance and improvement in Bud - a horse that she has only been riding for a couple of months.

“I've not had many runs on him yet and he’s a big horse that isn’t yet adjustable in the show jumping,” Liz explained. “It’s a bit disappointing as he jumped very well generally, and I think I just didn't quite give him the ride he needed to the two fences that we had down, but I am confident that we will improve on that with time."

“All and all, the event was a really good experience for him and there were a lot of positives to take away from it. I think that Bud is really going to be a top horse, and I just have to take my time getting to know him and getting him stronger. For the most part the whole weekend was very positive and definitely worth the trip."

“I’d like to thank my sponsors Immunall for their continued support this year - my horses have never felt so well and they both recovered amazing after their tough Cross Country rounds.”

"I would also like to thank my new partners Cyclo-ssage for helping my horses and myself throughout the weekend! I noticed an immediate difference in my horses after using the Pro Equine Massage System on them and I am sure that I will see huge improvements in all of my horses with regular use of the product. I also think the Pro Personal Massage System will be travelling with me to both horse events and the race track from now on and will definitely become an essential part of my competition and training programme."

Liz will next be back out with a different form of horsepower when she races at OultonPark next weekend in a 1965 GTA Alfa Romeo. She will then drive straight back home in time to compete with four horses at the Highclere Horse Trials on Monday 30 August.

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