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The road to the Badminton Mitsubishi Cup: if you have a dream, go for it!

Playlist 18 Videos The road to the Badminton Mitsubishi Cup: if you have a dream, go for it! 03:31 Leonora Smee’s blog: these are a few of my favourite things (I wouldn't be without them) 03:21 Leonora Smee's blog: it was an emotional moment that words just cannot describe 07:10 Leonora Smee's blog: packing for all eventualities 02:21 Leonora Smee's blog: see behind the scenes of an incredible show in St Tropez 05:25 Leonora Smee's blog: hoping my luck continues 03:37 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: it didn't quite go to plan 01:16 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: I'm disappointed but this isn't going to be a dressage competition 01:31 Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: the cross-country is one thing, but first I have to survive the dressage 02:14 Leonora Smee's blog: come and have a sneaky look inside my horsebox 04:22 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: so near, yet so far away 01:25 Kirsty Short's Badminton first-timer blog: Badminton's cross-country course looks right up our street, but will we or won't we? 00:26 Leonora Smee's blog: Polos are key 09:59 Leonora Smee's blog: One of my most useful schooling tools 04:53 Leonora Smee's blog: How is this going to help me in competition? 04:09 Meet new H&H blogger Leonora Smee 04:33 H&H dressage editor’s Area Festival video diary: Disbelieving the results of my small and fairly average horse 05:03 H&H dressage editor’s Area Festival video diary: Playing with the 'proper' horses 04:42

  • I can’t believe it is all over again! All the work and all preparation has finished — no more worrying about fitness and getting ready for the Badminton Mitsubishi Cup. I have spent months panicking about how to get Sara (Donner Sara B) to eat and drink this year as she wouldn’t last year, but we didn’t have a problem, though I think when she realises that she will no longer be getting apple flavoured water at home she won’t be impressed!

    Once again, showjumping proved to be my nemesis and we had two poles down. The cross-country course however was amazing. It was tougher than last year but rode brilliantly and the feeling of flying round will keep me smiling for the rest of the season.

    It is now time to sit back with my glass of Prosecco and watch the big boys at Badminton, and maybe start thinking about if we could actually make it back here for a third attempt, but next time at BE100.

    Continued below…

    I hope you have enjoyed following our story and all I can say is, if you have a dream then go for it! Until 2014, Sara and I had only managed one BE (British Eventin) placing after three years together and now we have made it to the Mitsubishi grassroots championships twice. Anything is possible if you work hard enough and believe in yourself. Good luck to everyone for the rest of the season and kick on.

    Love Carrie (and Sara)

    Read the full Badminton preview in Horse & Hound magazine, out now and don’t miss our 25-page Badminton report, on sale Thursday 11 May, including expert opinion from Oliver Townend, Mark Todd and Peter Storr

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