Badminton champion Caroline Powell insists she is not feeling the pressure as she seeks to complete the UK 5* double at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
New Zealander Powell stormed to glory in Gloucestershire earlier this year on board Greenacres Special Cavalier and was a Burghley winner back in 2010.
But she insists the pair’s form and her history in the event count for little this time round.
Asked if she has a point to prove at Burghley, Powell said: “No. She’s not been here before, it’s a long course, it’s a hard course, I’m a little bit worried about the undulations with her because she is so big but if she struggles then I’ll be the first one to pull her up and if she loves it then we’ll rock on.
“She was really good in the dressage, I’m thrilled to bits with her. I think her training has come on so much and the work she can do in the arena is what she can do at home so chuffed to bits.
“I think because she enjoys the crowd so much and she really does believe she’s the centre of attention it just brings her up. Blair was really good prep for her.
“I love coming back here. You get here and it’s very special, then you remember your dressage nerves and cross country nerves and show jumping nerves, but it’s such a great week to be involved with. Win or lose or whatever it’s just great to be here.”
A rollercoaster summer for Powell saw her taste victory at Badminton before being named as the reserve rider for New Zealand in Paris.
That decision seemed to backfire as the Kiwis failed to record an eventing medal, missing out on the podium in the team event by just 1.8 marks as Team GB claimed gold.
“You can take it either way,” said Newmarket-based Powell, discussing her Olympic omission. “Either you make your mind up to take it well, I took it that we were going to make the best of training that we possibly could and if we got a run we got a run but if we didn’t we used it to our advantage.
“Once the selectors have made their mind up that’s it, it’s their decision to make that team.
“I’m not sure if this horse could make it to LA. We just take each day as it comes with her. She’s still young now so she might but I don’t know.”
Turning her attention to Saturday’s decisive cross-country test at Burghley, Powell says this year’s run will be just another in a long line of challenging courses.
“I think all the Burghley cross-country courses are big and very long, there’s just different questions this year,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter where you put the fences, it’s still hard.”
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (5-8 September 2024) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
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