“I FEEL I PITCHED IT RIGHT”

COURSE-DESIGNER Helen West was satisfied she had designed her intermediate cross-country course (above, being tackled by Tom McEwen and Braveheart B), which boasted half a dozen new fences and a revamped route, at the right level considering horses are so short of match practice. In all, 85% of 234 horses jumped clear.

“I feel I pitched it right,” said Helen. “The site is always a challenge in itself because of its natural features, but I had first time intermediates, as well as professional riders, telling me afterwards that they had had a good experience.”