meet this Burghley five-star first-timer

This week, 24-year-old Emma Thomas is making her Defender Burghley Horse Trials and five-star debut on Rebecca Velarde’s 10-year-old gelding Icarus.

“I will’t imagine I’m right here! I did the Pony Membership leaping right here 9 or 10 years in the past and I didn’t assume the five-star fences gave the look of they have been for me, however you dream and it occurs now and again in the event you’re fortunate,” says Emma, who’s primarily based in Warwickshire.

Emma Thomas purchased ‘Stix’ as a five-year-old.

“I began his occupation and it’s simply been probably the most implausible adventure,” says Emma. “He’s at all times been a bit of of a wild kid, however has additionally at all times had the ability and mind to be excellent. It took me 3 laps of a box to drag him up after the primary move pole I jumped on him! We’ve actually shaped one of the vital absolute best partnerships and I believe we’ve were given final religion in every different.”

Emma says that she has used cavaletti as a coaching instrument to lend a hand set up Stix’s enthusiasm.

“I’ve accomplished a large number of trot, pop after which forestall with him, and I’ve additionally performed round with a variety of bits and that has helped. The larger the fences, the extra rideable he’s now.”

Emma, who studied biology on the Royal Veterinary School sooner than being decided on onto the Wesko programme and now rides full-time, scored 38.5 within the first section with Stix and she or he was once visibly very emotional when she got here out of the world.

“It felt superb – I typically get slightly apprehensive using him within the dressage section because it’s now not his favorite, however I if truth be told broke into a smile at the centre line. I believed ‘I’m right here’ – I stayed within the second, however only for that little 2nd I let myself take it in,” she smiles. “I believe it if truth be told actually helped my check to assume ‘I’m right here, forestall being worried’. I actually sought after to get sub-40, so I’m over the moon.”

Emma, who began off in a using college sooner than getting her first pony when she was once 9, thinks that this yr’s Burghley cross-country monitor will swimsuit Stix.

“He’s an actual leaping and galloping specialist, so I’m taking a look ahead to it.,” says Emma, who additionally stocks her targets for the week. “I’d love to head double transparent as a result of he’s a excellent jumper, however general I’d like to finish and now not let him or myself down.”

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