Event rider to compete at Badminton championships
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EVENT rider Khara Findlater is set off on a round trip of over 1200 miles to take part in the Mitsubishi Motors Cup Championships held at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials.
The 20-year-old, from Halkirk, has been hard at work getting herself and her horse, Whaupshill Touché, ready for the event since qualifying for the BE100 class in September at the regional final held at Burgie Eventing Centre.
Khara and her horse, known by his stable name Ché, came second at Wee Burgie securing a personal best with a dressage of 31.3, a clear showjumping round with one unfortunate time fault, and a foot perfect cross-country ending on a score of 32.3. To take part in the regional qualifier the partnership had to finish in the top 20 per cent of riders in the BE100 section.
The Caithness Pony Club and Riding Club member has owned Ché, a 12-year-old, 15.2hh skewbald gelding, originally from Orkney, for nearly six years and they started eventing four years ago, going from strength to strength. Ché now has 40 foundation points.
Khara, who works in the dairy section at Tesco in Thurso, said:
“It was the icing on the cake for me. It has given me a welcome boost and made me more confident.
"I would love to make a career of eventing.”
She is hoping her trip to Badminton will give her the skills she needs to take her to the top.
The biggest competition the partnership has done so far has been the BE100 Scottish Championships at Hendersyde last August.
“It was a real learning curve for us. I found it a very daunting experience,” she said.
Earlier this month Khara kicked off the eventing season taking part in the BE100 section at Forgandenny, near Perth, where she came eighth with a dressage score of 35.8, a clear showjumping round and two time penalties on the cross country.
To help pay for the trip and the coaching required, Khara has been busy trying to get local funding. So far she has received assistance from Halkirk District Benefit Fund, Spirit of Caithness and Caithness Pony Club. Her farrier, Robbie Streight, is also providing sponsorship.
Over the past few months the young eventer has been receiving training with Russell Skelton and James Munro at North Highland College’s equestrian centre as well as other instructors visiting the area.
Amongst the team travelling to Gloucestershire with her will be her mum, Senga, who runs a bed-and-breakfast business in Halkirk, former Pony Club coach Jean Gunn and Maureen Coghill will be in charge of the lorry driving.
The cup is held over two days and Khara will be doing her dressage on Tuesday with her showjumping and cross country on Wednesday.
