Twilightslastgleam completes Kentucky: ‘Coronary heart is what issues’

Vettings have a priceless place within the horse world, giving patrons additional details about a horse they’re contemplating shopping for, however each every so often a horse comes alongside who defies his bodily limitations to carry out on the highest stage. Twilightslastgleam is one such horse.

“He’d by no means cross a vet. Vettings don’t matter, coronary heart does,” Jennie Brannigan declared tearfully after ending the cross-country on the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion final Saturday on the 14-year-old thoroughbred.

Twilightslastgleam was bred by his proprietor Nina Gardner, by Nationwide Anthem. He has a fused again and Jennie and her group additionally need to handle points in his stifle and the very fact he has dangerous ft.

“I’m simply emotional as a result of it’s actually laborious for him to do it and he does it, bless him,” mentioned Jennie. “He had a tough build-up as his ft had been sore, he missed some work and we didn’t know if we had been going to convey him. I used to be making an attempt to care for him across the course as I simply wished to convey him dwelling.”

The pair completed with 1.2 time-faults and had been the primary mixture to finish Derek di Grazia’s observe after pathfinder Sara Kozumplik pulled up Rock Phantom when she had issues on the first water and Hannah Sue Hollberg, who ought to have been second out, withdrew Capitol HIM.

Jennie and Twilightslastgleam completed Kentucky in sixteenth place, the horse’s third completion at five-star as he was within the prime 20 at Maryland 5 Star in 2022 and Kentucky final yr. He additionally gained the CCI4*-L at Bromont in Canada in 2022.

Twilightslastgleam was in coaching to race, however moved throughout to eventing when it was clear that profession didn’t go well with him.

Jennie was additionally tenth at Kentucky on her different trip, FE Way of life, who was twelfth at Burghley Horse Trials final yr and likewise belongs to Nina Gardner and her husband Tim.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the trade on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.