Hilary has travelled across the Atlantic to escape the European winter and has been competing for the last two weeks at Thermal’s Desert International Horse Park, near Palm Springs in California. She has travelled with long-time companion Oaks Milky Way and a recent acquisition Keatingstown Skorphults Joker. Joker is a 10-year-old Conthargos gelding, who Hilary has been riding since September and the new partnership is looking promising.
Last week at Thermal, Hilary and Joker had a very solid week of results finishing no lower than fifteenth in three CSI5* classes ranging between 1.40m and 1.50m. The first two classes of the three, clear rounds were recorded which were rewarded by a pair of twelfth places, with just a single rail in the third class placing them fifteenth.
They have followed up these performances with a double clear tenth placing in a 1.45m class just a day ago.
This week, Milky has joined the party with some very successful results. On Wednesday, Hilary and Milky were placed ninth with a clear round in a 1.50m single round class and they have followed this up with magnificent seventh in the 1.55 CSI5* Grand Prix. They were one of only 11 clear rounds, however, during a very fast jump off round where they were on track for a podium finish, a single rail down knocked them back to seventh.
We look forward to seeing what the weekend holds!
Photos Credit: Kim Gaudry