Posted: 23rd February 2022 | Back to news feed
For event rider Amy Osborne the chance to compete at the prestigious BE100 Grassroots Championship at Badminton International Horse Trials was a dream come true. Having competed there in 2019 she is heading back this year after qualifying at Firle Place Country Show and Horse Trials last May.
Out of her mum’s old hunter, a shire x thoroughbred and by the stallion, Bollin William, Amy Osborne’s 14-year-old event horse, Walter Tate may not be bred to gallop, but what he lacks in movement, he more than makes up for in heart room.
For many riders the chance to gallop across the hallowed turf of the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire is an opportunity they thought they would never have until the introduction of the Grassroots Championship which has proved a huge success in recent years.
That could also be said for Amy until her dream came true three years ago and having had a taste of ‘the big time’ she couldn’t wait to try and qualify again and go back for more.
The talented duo held their run of form and qualified once more in 2020 only for the event to be cancelled due to the pandemic, but last year they set out to secure a place for 2022 and after a successful run at Firle Place Country Show and Horse Trials in Sussex they gained their ticket.
The journey to Firle was to say the least - long, with a 300 mile trip south from their Scarborough-base.
Amy takes up the story: “As there are only four chances to qualify for the championship I didn’t want to leave anything until the last minute so decided we would make the journey to Firle Place last May.
“We have friends near London who we stayed with before the event and used the trip as a holiday. I even hacked Walter Tate over the M25 which was something very different for both of us as we live quite remotely at home.
“As soon as we arrived at Firle Place I knew I was going to enjoy the event and loved the venue from the time we drove on to the grounds.
“It had a real championship feel and gives competitors who don’t qualify for Badminton the chance to experience the fantastic atmosphere in truly brilliant surroundings.
“I knew straight away I was pleased we had made the long journey and was also delighted when I walked the cross-country course that it was quite a tough track and thought it would cause a few problems which would be to my advantage.
“Being part shire Walter Tate isn’t the best moving horse for dressage, although he is still improving, but on the cross-country he is a machine and when I walked the BE100 track I was pleased it had a number of challenges.”
At the end of the section, Amy and Walter Tate took third place and had to wait until the end of the season to see if they had made it through to the championship, which they did and the countdown is now on to Badminton.
Added Amy: “As I will be at Badminton in May I won’t make it to Firle in 2022 but it will definitely be on my radar in 2023. It just shows you don’t need a pure thoroughbred to event and have fun.”
Amy works as a Health & Safety Administrator and as well as Walter Tate is also producing the five-year-old D’lux Fireball who she bought out of Ireland.
“I’m very excited about his future, he was fourth in the Novice Working Hunter at the Great Yorkshire Show and will compete in five-year-old classes this year.
“We are now busy getting Walter Tate ready for Badminton, he pulled a check ligament in September so it has been a slow journey back to full fitness but all is going well and I can’t wait for the championship in May.”
To find out more about Firle Place Country Show and Horse Trials visit www.bede-events.co.uk
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