Excitement levels are building in H&H HQ ahead of next week’s Horse of the Year Show (7-11 October 2015). It’s the culmination of endless toil and preparation — and a showcase of some the equestrian world’s great and good. But sometimes, those bright lights and big crowds at the Birmingham NEC can get too much to handle…
1. ‘I’ll just slip through this gap here…’
Yazmin Pinchen has a mishap in the Squibb & Davies National Junior Foxhunter Chanpionship jump off in 2008.
2. Don’t look behind you…
Things seemed to be happening in slow motion for Joe Clayton and Rockim in last year’s Puissance.
3. Ouch!
Emily Stephen and The Irish Pixie get into trouble in 2005. But the onlookers don’t look too worried…
Continued below…
We’ve all been there — one minute you’re enjoying the ride of your life and the next you experience that
15 riders reach the point of no return
4. ‘I’m not going anywhere’
Antonia Platt wows the crowds with some acrobatics to stay aboard Blow The Budget.
5. Getting familiar with the surface…
Showman Simon Charlesworth hits the deck when the saddle slips after a stunning gallop on the hack champion Pearly King in the 2013 supreme.
6. ‘Let’s pretend that never happened’
A slightly battered and bruised Simon brushes himself down before excusing himself from the arena.
7. An almighty pile-up
The 2013 Prince Philip Cup final gets heated as competitors take a tumble in the sack race.
8. ‘I don’t like the look of that… at all’
Jake Saywell’s mount Perfect Rouge has spotted something he’s not keen on…
9. ‘Let’s get out of here — ASAP’
Chateau de Brion Quainton makes a speedy escape from the flying bricks in the 2012 Puissance with Chloe Aston on board.
10. A dramatic dismount
Tina Fletcher makes an unintentional dismount from Unique IX in the 2011 Puissance, which puts her out of action for three weeks with whiplash and concussion.
11. Catching some air
Ryan Prater and Safaro crash through the Puissance wall in 2009.
12. Sit tight!
Ellen Whitaker’s Ladina B demonstrates her characteristic feistiness in the 2009 Puissance.
13. ‘Yes, thank you very much — that trophy is for me’
Billy Twomey’s Fantasia lets the crowds know who’s the champ after claiming The Dick Turping Stakes in 2008.
