Irish event rider Sam Watson tells H&H about the home-bred eventer who loves wet going.
Fact file
Age: 13
Name: Horseware Bushman
Stable name: George
Height: 16.2hh
Breeders: John & Julia Watson
Owners: yes please!
Rider: Sam Watson
Groom: Hannah “Sparkles” Bailey, Sam’s fianc ©e
Top results: 3rd Barbury CIC*** 2009, 13th Badminton CCI**** 2010, 1st Hopetoun CIC*** 2011
Four things you didn’t know…
1 Although a smashing-looking foal, Bushman didn’t look much as a youngster and the Watsons failed to get even £5,000 for him at the end of his six-year-old season.
2 He has crossed the Irish Sea more than 20 times.
3 Bushman is consistent: he has picked up 5.2 time-penalties at all three major championships – Fontainebleau, the World Games and Luhm ¼hlen.
4 He didn’t win an event in the UK until 2011, when he won three in a row – Tweseldown open intermediate, Aston-le-Walls advanced and the CIC*** at Hopetoun.
To read the full interview with Sam Watson about Horseware Bushman see the 7 June issue of H&H
Are you looking to buy an eventer? View our online database of horses for sale
Read all the latest eventing news