SuperFred jumps to victory and receives Winners Sash!

A few friends were putting together a team of four for the Show Jumping Team competition at Badgworth on 16 November.

Fred and I hadn’t competed in a show jumping competition since last July, and after his post Trailblazer championships (well deserved) luxurious ‘summer holiday’ in August, we were both still in the process of getting our bodies and brains fit and agile again.

But it sounded fun — and sometimes fun is the best reason to get back out there — so I agreed. In the days leading up to it, I thought I’d better pop him over a couple of fences, purely so he didn’t get too overexcited on the day. Fred loves his jumping. Loves it. He also doesn’t always believe that the human is a necessary part of the process!

The 70cm Team Class – A Flying Start

Despite our lack of recent practice, we absolutely stormed the first class. In the 70cm team round, Fred was amazing. After fence 2 he took such a big leap that I dropped my left rein — and although I managed to grab it again, I grabbed it upside down. So there I was… steering with my knees.

But somehow, we made every turn. And to top it off, we were the only clear round from all the teams, and Fred was the fastest by three whole seconds!

This meant not only did we win the team sashes, but Fred and I got to lead the lap of honour. He strutted around looking extremely pleased with himself. Honestly, I don’t blame him.

The 80cm Team Class – Fred Knows Best (Apparently)

Then came the 80cm team class, and this is where Fred decided that rider input was optional. In his mind, he was still very much in jump-off mode.

Instead of taking the normal route from fence 1 to fence 2, he cut in between two fences — a manoeuvre only appropriate if you're racing the clock in a jump-off… which we were not. I practically skimmed the wing of the jump he sliced inside of, and because we turned so tightly to get to fence 2, he knocked it.

This was the actual conversation:

FRED: Weeeeeee, I know what I’m doing, hang tight hoooman, I see a better line after fence 1

Me: Argh Fred, that wing nearly took me knee off!

FRED: You made it round… stop complaining, we superfast – Superfred - I see fence two, it’s teeny, I can make this without really trying…..

** CLUNK **

FRED: Ooops…………. You want to drive again hooman?

Despite the clunk, two of my teammates went clear. And because Fred and I were, once again, the fastest by a couple of seconds, our team finished on 4 faults — as did the others — meaning Fred’s whizzy antics actually saved us. Our 80cm team won too!

Two Sashes, One Very Proud Pony

One of my favourite moments was seeing the photos — Fred is so much smaller than everyone else, yet he’s standing the proudest, like he's' the champion of Badgworth.

And personally? In the 21 years I’ve been competing, I had never won a sash. Not once. To come home with two in one day, with my little speed-machine of a pony, was nothing short of fantastic.

Here’s to more adventures, more fun, and many more conversations with SuperFred. 🐴💚✨

The rounds .....

70cm

80cm