Greenacres Particular Cavalier – discover out extra about this Badminton winner

Greenacres Particular Cavalier, an untypical stamp of an occasion horse, is making her mark on the prime of the game underneath British-based New Zealand rider Caroline Powell. We caught up with the horse’s connections in late 2023, previous to her 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials victory. Here’s what you should find out about this proficient mare with the center of a lion.

Have to know

Yr foaled: 2013
Breeding: by Cavalier Royale out of Greenacres Contact (by Landing)
Breeder: Michael Callery
Rider: Caroline Powell
Proprietor: Chris Mann
Best achievements: third Ballindenisk CCI4*-L, ninth Bramham CCI4*-S, third Blenheim CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds, fifth Pau CCI5* 2022; seventh Aachen CCIO4*-S, first Ballindenisk CCI4*-S, sixth Maryland CCI5* 2023, winner Badminton CCI5* 2024.

How rider Caroline Powell discovered Greenacres Particular Cavalier

“My companion Greg Kinsella and his mom Gwen have been taking a look at horses in Eire – I obtained a name from Greg saying, ‘You’ve obtained to come back and see this mare now’. A good friend of mine and I jumped on a airplane and went to attempt her. ‘Cav’ was a just-broken four-year-old, huge and inexperienced, however felt like she had a adequate motor.

“She’s not your typical stamp of an occasion horse, however she’s obtained a coronary heart of a lion and good paces. Cav is a princess in character – she’s obtained essentially the most stunning head and he or she is aware of she’s proficient and definitely holds courtroom over everybody on the yard.

“She went to Le Lion d’Angers as a six- and seven-year-old – she’s at all times stated sure to the subsequent step. She loves her job and every single day she needs to work.

“She is a bit headstrong and the pair of us are fairly a very good match – we’ve had discussions the place we’ve come to a mutual settlement! She’s not a mare you may inform what to do – it’s important to say ‘Fairly please’ and play a little bit of a recreation. She received’t stroll over a pole on the bottom, however she fairly fortunately goes out and jumps round huge tracks and is an out-and-out jumper. She’s been allowed to have her personal character and we’ve labored with it – if her character had been taken on, she most likely wouldn’t be the place she is now.

“Our thirtieth place at Badminton in 2023 didn’t look nice on paper, however she got here on a lot for the expertise and we knew what we had in her after that. Maryland, Pau and Blenheim have been all essentially the most wonderful experiences. She has been essentially the most sensible horse for her proprietor – Chris Mann’s motto is #lovingthejourney and we definitely are.

“It will be very thrilling to get to the Olympics, however we’ll take issues in the future at a time.”

Groom Tristan Hudson on caring for this particular mare

“I went to Caroline for some classes and he or she requested me if I want to groom on a contract foundation for her firstly of 2022, so I’ve been concerned with Cav since then.

“She is fairly distinctive. She is aware of precisely what she needs and when she needs it – and it’s far simpler to appease her! For her to carry out in addition to she did at Pau as a nine-year-old was unimaginable and our journey to Maryland was unbelievable – you solely take particular horses on these journeys, which makes it all of the extra wonderful.

“I at all times get nervous watching and need them to do properly. All I hope for is for them to come back again protected and sound – that’s all that issues.

“Cav at all times appears to rise to the event – she is aware of what the job is and wouldn’t allow you to down, that’s for certain.”

The choose’s view, by Judy Hancock

“I first judged Greenacres Particular Cavalier at Houghton four-star in 2021. Like many mares, she is slightly lengthy within the again and croup excessive, and subsequently at that stage she was scuffling with self-carriage and the uphill steadiness required for the extent. Nonetheless, once I judged her at Maryland within the autumn of 2023, there was a large enchancment.

“Her paces are right, however not the most important, however she is rideable and Caroline is ready to get the most effective out of her now. She is correct, has right rhythm, is in a very good steadiness and is sweet within the contact. Consequently no marks are thrown away. She additionally produced 4 clear and straight flying modifications at Maryland, which continues to be fairly uncommon at five-star degree.

“She is a robust and scopey jumper and, together with her rideability, she should be a pleasure throughout nation. Her showjumping is constant and he or she jumped a brilliant clear spherical in Maryland. With these property, possibly we can be seeing her in Paris in 2024? She and Caroline are definitely worthy of it.”

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Gemma is an skilled journalist, having been a part of the H&H staff since 2014, who’s obsessed with all equestrian sports activities, together with racing and point-to-pointing. She has loved using out for prime trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took half in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting skills have taken her to quite a few five-star occasions round Britain and Europe, in addition to European championships.