So it wasn’t quite to be a repeat of last year for Oliver and Armada. Despite doing what Oliver described as his best ever 4* dressage test and jumping clear across country to lie in 3rd place for two thirds of the competition, Armada’s achilles heel – the show jumping – dropped them down the order to finish in 11th place.
Disappointing, but Oliver would forgive Armada anything after the cross country ride he gave him – and you can read what Paul Ridgeon, Armada’s owner, thinks of his horse here.
Photo © Trevor Holt