Declan Cullen, oldest rider at Burghley Horse Trials, and his skewbald

Declan Cullen is the oldest rider at this yr’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, elderly 56, and this five-star debut has massive importance for him as he additionally rode his mount Seavaghan Ash’s sire, Glenhill Gold. Each horses are skewbald, an extraordinary sight in top-level eventing.

“I’ve left it overdue in existence to take in this problem so I’m glad,” mentioned Declan after scoring 35.2 in his dressage these days. “He used to be fabulous out of doors and it’s other whilst you cross in with the strain – I didn’t trip as I did out of doors, so I did depart marks in there.”

Declan gained the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk 2011 on Glenhill Gold, who additionally lined two mares for The overdue Queen throughout his stud profession. The Irish rider two times just about made it to Badminton Horse Trials on Glenhill Gold, however adjustments in qualification necessities intended that as an beginner rider with simply a few horses, he wasn’t in a position to head.

“My spouse Becky rode at Badminton in 2004 on a horse known as Wee Scorching Toddy and that lit the flame in our bellies for the game,” mentioned Declan.

“For a few years I used to be going to hand over – it’s onerous financially, motivationally, in relation to horse energy. All of us query the trouble and praise as we don’t get the similar rewards as different sports activities so it’s a credit score to all of the riders and house owners who stay going. I saved going as a result of I assumed Seavaghan Ash used to be a five-star horse. I am hoping he proves that.”

Declan purchased Seavaghan Ash – named after the townland (a reputation for a small space of land in Eire) the place he used to be born – as certainly one of a bunch of 3 foals. He named him Cassidy – the opposite purchases had been Butch “and the palomino used to be Sundance”.

Becky subsidized Seavaghan Ash whilst she used to be pregnant.

Declan says: “He’s a sloth, Mr Laid-Again. He’s idle, however he has a really perfect temperament and he’s a really perfect soul-mate. His father used to be courageous, daring, fair and authentic. He’s a chip off the previous block – an identical however with a little extra blood in his genetics, however no longer in his engine. He simply loves the straightforward existence.”

The Irishman works for Pegus Horse Feeds as an equine feed marketing consultant, running with various prime efficiency horses, and likewise has his personal consultancy trade, Cullen Equine Answers.

Declan Cullen described himself as “the grandfather of the home” some of the Burghley Horse Trials competition and mentioned it’s a dream and a fairytale to compete right here. He and the skewbald Seavaghan Ash sit down 18th after the primary day of dressage and can now development to Saturday’s cross-country.

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H&H mag editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand enjoy of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and world CCI2*-L point, and has labored within the business on a peak tournament backyard. Pippa enjoys not anything greater than immersing herself within the game on the absolute best point, reporting from the five-stars and world championships, together with the Olympics.