Posted on May 3, 2019 in Articles

Tom Rowland and Possible Mission make their Badminton Debut in the Dressage

Article sponsored by Le Jabot and Stock Company

First Timers here at Badminton : Tom Rowland and Possible Mission put in a lovely test here on their Badminton Debut. Tom Rowland and Possible Mission had a successful 5* run at Burghley Horse Trials at the back end of 2018 and have just put in a very reasonable dressage performance scoring 33.9 and will lie 34th going into the cross country tomorrow.

Tom is eligible for the Cotswold Life Trophy – which is awarded to the best british rider who is not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack Badge and whose permanent address is in the county of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Somerset.

He is also eligible for the Laurence Rook Trophy which will be presented to the highest placed British rider who has not previously completed this event.

We caught up with Tom after his dressage to see what his thoughts were on his test and the cross country course and combinations which lie ahead of them tomorrow.

It is your first time here at Badminton talk me through your Dressage test.

He was really good, I’ve known that it was going to be really busy this afternoon, but the big thing I have been trying to do is use the atmosphere to his advantage. I think I let the canter work get a little bit lazy and a little bit quiet and I need to be braver in that so I am disappointed. I thought the changes were alright but they obviously weren’t but he can just jump through them a bit. I am pleased with the overall impression of the test but disappointed with the finer details.

How was the atmosphere going into your first Badminton?

Well I am really lucky in that the atmosphere lifts him, so I would much rather in a way be here than in the middle of an empty field. I think it is a huge advantage to him. He is a very spooky horse so I will have to bear that in mind in the showjumping. He is learning his job and he knows now to show off in front of the crowds now a little bit.

Tom Rowland and Possible Mission Badminton 2019

What are your thoughts on the cross country Coursc?

I think it’s a big course and a long way round. Even once they have jumped out the lake at the bottom end they are kind of at the archway and they think they are back home, they have hacked out through that archway all week and yet you still have 3 minutes of jumping still to do so its just a long way round, it’s a big course and it’s very relentless especially in the vicarage ditch area. There are lots of places where you are not quite sure what you are going to get and you just have to ride what’s happening underneath you.

You walked the course with Chris bartle, What was the best piece of advice he gave you?

Chris is just very positive all round. So right from the beginning he said that the way in which you attack the first four/ five fences will set the tone for the rest of the course you know he’s very strong in saying this is Badminton kick on and get the job done, stay safely out the back of them. Not one specific piece of advice more about just getting the job done!

What are your thoughts on Fence 13ab Outlander PHEV Bank?

I think the majority of horses will shuffle in an extra second stride a sort of pat of the ground. It is a really good old fashioned fence. My horse hunted in Ireland as a three year old so I am hoping he might have done something like that before!. I think you will see some that will go on the one but the majority will fit in a little extra stride there – that’s my gut feeling and its a very nice profile with the roll top they can almost walk on up and over it. I think most of the horses here are good and sharp with their footwork.

The Mirage Water fence 17abc/18, are you going to go the direct route?

I think so because I think the alternative route is just as complicated I think that the third element 18 is separately numbered so in the back of my mind if they jump the water ditch a little bit difficult or a bit unsure there I think then you can do a circle, but I don’t really see what going into the colt pond achieves: I think it is just as complicated albeit in a slightly different way I guess if your horse doesn’t like corners maybe or ditches but I think I am going straight there really.

Tell me about your thoughts on fence 19ab Nyetimber Heights

I think most riders are going to jump the second from left there, thats definitely the preferred line. I think for most of the riders it is a very steep drop and the horses will definitely gain some momentum. When you walk it there is enough room in the bottom to hopefully swing out and come back to the second element. I think (famous last words) it walks better than it looks.

We wish Tom and Possible Mission the very best of luck for tomorrow . We shall bring you an update on how he gets on.