Posted on May 2, 2019 in Articles

Double Clear Dan :The Dressage Horse Turned Eventer Finishes 5th In The MMCUP

Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company

With one double clear under his belt on Bailey, Dan puts in another outstanding performance on Billy and bagged himself 5th place at this very prestigious venue in the Mitsubishi Motors Cup BE90! This horse has done dressage up to Prix ST George and was just let out to event to keep him fresh for the dressage last year! He is 17years old and ran round the track like a spring chicken and made it look super easy!

Talk us through your showjumping on Billy

When I got on Billy for the showjumping he felt really flat, so I was a bit concerned to be honest as he has to be up for it to get the best out of him. On going into the ring he really perked up and he was how I wanted him – energetic like a bouncy ball really. We had no issues and he didn’t touch anything and it was a very smooth round so I am chuffed to bits with him

Talk me through your cross country round

He went great, The rain had come at that stage and I was mindful of the ground being a bit greasy. I was also concerned with the atmosphere for him as well. After the first couple of fences he was settled and took to it like a duck to water. The time was always going to be tricky for Billy and he was pretty much flat out all the way round. Mainly because of the weather, it had rained so I was checking him more into the fences so loosing a bit of time and I had to make it up in between. He did have a spook at the bridge crossing which wasn’t actually a fence but that was the only thing he spooked at. He was foot perfect no mistakes all the way round

How was he at the water

He was good. He did have some encouragement from myself as there was a lot of spectators around that area so I just wanted to make sure he focused on the fence rather than what was around the fence but he was foot perfect no hesitation whatsoever

What have you enjoyed the most about being here?

The whole thing if I am honest. Everything about it is brilliant. Right from when you first roll up in the horsebox to now where the competition is over but we get to enjoy the 5*. The experience of having the prizegiving in front of the big house will be something I will never forget. It was great!

Why did you choose to come to the MMCUP?

For grassroot riders it is a brilliant initiative. You can celebrate your eventing at this level. We all know how difficult it is to just place in a standard British Eventing Class, there is always 40 riders in it so then to go on to a regional final where they are all placed riders to get there and to get through that to here you are rewarded with your efforts. It is no mean feat to get here. You have to try and take a step back and just enjoy the achievement of actually being here.

To finish 5th you must be pleased

Delighted. Slightly frustrated how close he was to winning. I think he was three marks off winning but yeah if you had said both horses in the top 30 I would of been happy with that but to finish on their dressage scores is a big thing for me so yeah I am chuffed to bits!

Jo Titterton gives her thoughts on her beautiful 17 year old dressage horse Billy’s performance

Just brilliant absolutely brilliant. We are disappointed with the dressage mark. I don’t think going right at the end of the day – 68th horse to be judged – did him any favours at all. We are obvoiously absolutely thrilled with 5th but being just three marks off wining just makes it a little bit gutting as well when you are so close, but no I am chuffed to bits. Who would have thought that he would have been as good as he is, he is a horse of a lifetime I wish I could find another one or bottle him and turn him into peter pan so he wouldn’t get any older! Although I think Dan is getting a few ideas talking to people in the stables as someone was just competing on a 20year old so maybe next year you might see the return of Vision B!

What will Billy do now, have you any plans?