In our latest Equestrian Conversations Blog Post we catch up with our Brand Ambassador, Chloe Marsh, to find out about her week at the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships held at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials.
We’re so proud of Chloe for qualifying for the championships, it is an amazing achievement to make it there especially as Chloe and, her husband, Thomas welcomed a baby girl, Ottilie, to the world in January, giving Chloe just a few months to prepare her and Marley for the event. Chloe has had Marley since he was a foal, and has produced him up through the levels, making their Badminton adventure even more of a special experience and achievement.
It is fantastic to have Chloe waving the G&G flag, with both her and Marley wearing some of our kit. Chloe wore the Kerrits Griptek Breeches in White and Competitor Show Koat in Navy. Marley wore the Sixteen Cypress Dressage Pad for the first phase and G&G Jumper Saddle Pad for the Show Jumping and Cross Country phases.
How was the lead up to Badminton? Were you happy with your preparations given the weather was not playing ball and so many events were cancelled?
I really enjoyed the lead up to Badminton, although it all had to be meticulously planned having just had a baby! I tried to take him out jumping once a week, whether that be a lesson or arena hire as I don't have an arena at home. The cross country and gallop practice was tricky because of the weather. I have some great friends that let me use their gallops, I usually use the fields around the farm but they were so wet. All my cross country hires got cancelled so we went straight to Larkhill without a xc schooling run which was a bit daunting but Marley was brilliant. We only had one event cancelled due to weather but luckily they put on an unaffiliated so we managed two runs before Badminton which was a lot more than most! I considered myself very lucky.
Talk us through the week from arrival until leaving?
We arrived at Badminton on the Monday afternoon, we had our dressage on the Tuesday and both jumping phases on the Wednesday. The heavens opened on Monday when I was just about to ride, it worried me as Marley prefers good ground and doesn't like it too wet. Once the heavy shower had passed I took him for a quick hack whilst my husband watched the baby. We booked an air BnB as camping in May with a 4 month old in tow might have been a bit much even for us! We had a lovely meal at the local pub with some friends on the first night and the friends had kindly agreed to sort Marley out in the evening and first thing the next morning.
We arrived at Badminton on Tuesday morning with enough time to stud, plait and take him for a hack before our lunchtime dressage. Marley had other ideas and tried to get me off on our way to the hacking route so I had to school him instead! My dressage instructor kindly met me in the working in area and warmed us up, ironically Marley was a tiny bit flat after his exuberance in the morning but I was really pleased with our test. We achieved everything I wanted to. It was then time to walk the cross country course, I walked it twice. The course was definitely our biggest challenge to date. I didn't sleep well the night before as I was quite nervous, I still felt a bit out of practice with jumping.
My brilliant jump instructor met me in the Show Jumping working in area on Wednesday, warmed us up and walked the show jumping course with me. Marley felt amazing, he jumped a fabulous clear and made it all feel effortless. There wasn't much time after the show jumping before the Cross Country so we got changed and headed straight down, I didn't have anyone in the warm up with me so I was trying not to get nervous. Marley flew out the start box and over the first question, I'd stopped feeling nervous and started to enjoy the feeling. We had a small blip coming out of the water, he's quite exuberant in his gallop and I genuinely don't think he saw the fence as the water was quite deep and he generates lots of splashing! We came around again and he popped it perfectly, he then made the rest of the course feel easy including all of the major questions, I was absolutely ecstatic with him. I couldn't believe it when we crossed the finish line!
I had so many friends and family supporting us, it was really overwhelming and I was so grateful. We even had time to go shopping and test out the delicious food too. I didn't stay for the rest of the week with little Ottilie, I watched on the TV with friends which was just as good.
What were your highlights of the week?
My first highlight was trotting down the centre line and having a pinch me moment, I remember saying to Marley that we were actually riding at Badminton!!
The other highlight was crossing the Cross Country finish line with Thomas and Ottilie waiting for me, it was such an amazing feeling.
Who was there supporting and helping you? We know how important people like this are to one’s success!
I had so many people supporting me, I couldn't quite believe how many people had made the journey to watch. I couldn't have done it without my husband Thomas, who was there to take control of baby Ottilie. I also had some good friends Lauren and Olivia who are from back home in Leicestershire, they helped me get Marley looking the part and it was so lovely to spend time with them. And then I also had all of my Dorset support crew, everyone who had helped me so I could ride whilst having such a young baby turned up to support us. I don't think I want to list the names in case I forget someone but there were lots of them including Chloe and Lucy who were so amazing with helping me ride, train and get ready for Badminton. They say it takes a village, it definitely does and I have the best village.
What are your plans and goals for the rest of the season?
I don't plan to do too much more Eventing with him, it doesn't get much better than Badminton Grassroots Championships for someone like me. The plan is now to take Marley side saddle, in just two outings he's managed to qualify for the British Dressage associated Side Saddle Championships which I'm thrilled with. Marley will also be coming to Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the first time this year. We are doing the team Eventer's Challenge and will be a part of 'A Bit on the Side' Side Saddle display team too. He's definitely an all rounder!!
Photos courtesy of Daydream Equine Photography and Cath Blount
