You’d be wise not to count this pair out based on the first-phase scoreboard alone—Caroline and “Cav” are the sort of gritty climbers who tend to shine brightest over the biggest, boldest tracks. They may not clock a sub-20 dressage score like some of their flashier counterparts, but their consistency, reliability, and cross country prowess have proven to be a winning formula. The pair topped the podium at Badminton last year and may have done similar at Burghley had a pesky 20 not resulted in Caroline calling it a day on cross country – this isn’t a horse that would have needed to finish jumping around after a small problem; better to save the result for a better day, and that day could come this weekend. Based near Newmarket in Suffolk, Caroline is no stranger to the sport’s biggest moments—she was part of New Zealand’s bronze medal-winning team at London 2012 and won Burghley in 2010 aboard the legendary Lenamore.

FAST FACTS

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Last 3 Results:

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• Ballendenisk 4-S* (1st - 30.5)
• Oasby Intermediate (2nd - 34.1)
• Blair Castle 4-S* (1st - 41.0)

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Fun Fact:

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• Caroline groomed for the great Ian Stark at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Did You Know?

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• Caroline made her Badminton debut 25 years ago this weekend, in 2000 with a gelding called Dalliance.

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Watch For:

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• In 2024, Caroline and “Cav” earned a 30.0 on the flat and added just some time across the country en route to their victory. Don’t completely count them out in the first phase: they’re certainly capable of going sub-30, and have done so at this level in the past.