Professional eventer and Ballinger Equine Ambassador Harry Horton is preparing for the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park on 2 – 4 August 2019. Harry will be competing with D’arcy (Maybe This Time) in the Dodson and Horrell British Novice Championship.
Maybe This Time for Harry Horton
D’arcy (Maybe This Time) was home-bred by owner Mrs Judy Savage. Harry and D’arcy qualified in 2018 at Hartpury CCI2*L where he finished in the top 20% therefore gaining automatic qualification to the Novice Championships.
Talking about the run-up to Gatcombe today Harry said:
“This season has gone quite well for D’arcy so far. He’s jumped 2 double clears at CCI2*S level this spring/summer and has achieved some solid dressage marks too. He definitely prefers events where there’s a buzzy atmosphere and he’s not too fussed about your everyday ones!
“Preparations have been going reasonably to plan. I will keep galloping him every 5 days at home in the run-up to Gatcombe, with maybe a trip to Newmarket for some faster work if the ground stays hard.
“We should have a lot of fun at Gatcombe. It would be nice to jump a double clear, but to go clear cross-country is the main aim. It’s a very competitive class with past winners including the likes of William Fox Pitt on horses that go round Badminton and Burghley so it’s a big achievement to be going and we will doing our very best. D’arcy’s got a big heart and loves competing so it’ll be a good day out.
“After Gatcombe, D’arcy will have a mini break and all being well, we will pick up and compete in a couple of Autumn internationals before the end of the season. After that, he’ll enjoy a well-deserved, proper end-of-season break.”
Harry Horton is one of four Ballinger Equine Ambassadors, all of whom compete and all champion the Ballinger Equine commitment to integrity and excellence.
