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‘Bold, brave’ horse who had kissing spine operation makes Burghley debut

Alex Robinson Alex Robinson

    • Tim Cheffings is aiming for his first Defender Burghley Horse Trials finish with his own and Emma Bryant’s Burghley debutant Gaston.

    Tim Cheffings last competed at Burghley in 2014 on Alinero Van Het Scharenberg, but he retired during the cross-country phase.

    Gaston, a Sanyo 12-year-old, has been with Tim since he was a just backed four-year-old. He’s recently showed promise by jumping round both Bramham and Blair.

    “I’ve seen him right through the ranks,” said Tim.

    Two years ago, Gaston had an operation for kissing spine. While his jumping has not been affected, Tim said that Gaston’s history means he can get tight in his neck during the dressage.

    “He has never been the easiest on the flat,” added Tim. “He tends to draw his neck back and he can be tricky to ride, especially in an atmosphere. Today he went round well before the test and I was like ‘oh this feels really good’. But he told me a bit of a lie and he tightened up in the arena.”

    Gaston’s issues came to the surface when Tim noticed the gelding wasn’t improving quite as he had hoped during training, as he explained: “He started struggling doing shoulder-in, and after some investigations we found he had kissing spine. Since he had it operated on he’s so much better, though I’m not quite getting the work I get at home at a competition yet. It doesn’t really affect him now, especially during the jumping and the galloping.

    “We try to work him long and low, which he finds quite hard. He likes to be up in front, and that’s how he jumps. He’s very easy to jump, though, as he loves it. I can just leave the rein alone and I let him get on with it.

    “During the cross-country he’s a bold, brave horse, so as long as he’s on his A game and I’m on mine all should be well.”

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    Alex Robinson
    Alex Robinson

    H&H showing editor
    Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.
    Alex Robinson

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