Khara rides to history at Badminton
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KHARA Findlater has made history after becoming the first rider from Caithness to compete at the world premier three day event competition Badminton Horse Trials.
The 20-year-old from Halkirk took part in the Mitsubishi Motors Cup on her 15.2HH coloured gelding Whaupshill Touche with the pair putting in a decent performance to finish 44th in a field of 79.
After the first two stages, Findlater was in 10th place scoring 32.9 in the dressage and jumped clear in the showjumping section. But after picking up 20 penalty points and 7.6 time faults on the run out, they dropped to 44th.
She said it was a tough competition but was pleased to have performed so well against some of the best riders in her class from across the UK.
“I am pleased with how I did,” she said.
“It could’ve been better in the run out but it was a tough and technical course.
“I was however happy with how my horse performed and it was amazing to be part of.”
Findlater qualified for the event after finishing second in her class at the Burgie Horse Trials in Moray earlier this year.
She said that experience was nothing compared to the atmosphere at Badminton 2017 last week.
“It was a thrilling experience to be able to run round the course especially as it was alongside the international course,” she said.
“I have never competed in front of crowds like that before.
“At most shows I’ve competed in, there may have been at most 30 people at one fence.
“But there must have been a few thousand who were watching at Badminton.”
Findlater has only competed in event riding on Whaupshill Touche, who she has owned since 2011.
She was inspired to take up event riding by riding coaches Jean Gunn and Maureen Coghill.
She will not be competing at Badminton 2018 but does have hopes of competing as a professional rider in the future.
She said: “Hopefully I am going to go away to England after this season with my horse to compete at other events in the future. If I ever become a professional rider, hopefully I can compete at four star level in the future.”
