LETTER OF THE WEEK

Sir — Regarding Catherine Stuart’s letter of the week (5 July) on pot-hunting in eventing, although I sympathise with the disappointment of putting in a good performance and still not being at the top of the rankings on the day, there are other factors to consider.

After looking up the results of the event mentioned, it looks like the horse and rider who won on their dressage score of 24 are a new combination — perhaps they were having their first run together and opted for a BE80(T) to be safe. I’m sure they will quickly move onto the next level.

I don’t think people stay at the level they are at just so they can win each time and I don’t think a handicap system would help the sport at all.

In fact, it could lose combinations — whether it be from fear of the next height, previous accidents to horse or rider or the lack of scope to move up a level.

I compete at BE90, my mare is just 15hh and most of the time is pretty consistent at this level. I have tried training and competing at BE100 but she finds the horse strides in the showjumping difficult to reach and the cross-country time hard to achieve.

I neither want to damage my mare or cause an accident by competing at a level that is beyond us.

I think it’s unfair for people to make assumptions on what level people should ride at and how it’s not fair to others. Everybody is beatable if you put in enough training and effort! Kate Ingram Fordingbridge, Hants

The writer of letter of the week wins a bottle of Champagne Taittinger