enthused Alfie. “H.d’or is a lion hearted horse and we’ve enjoyed many electric competitions including sharing the Olympia crown with Guy Williams aſter clearing over 7ſt last year. There aren’t many Puissance competitions held in the UK so we will try and get out to as many as possible.”
Alfie and H.d’or had only competed in one Puissance prior to their crowd raising Olympia performance but Alfie has proved himself to be as cool as a cucumber in and out of the ring. “I don’t really get that nervous, I just try and keep my head down and get on with the job”, says Alfie. “I’m more worried about getting through the first round. H.d’or can be quite tense when he first enters the arena and clocks those red bricks!” There is no doubt, that it takes a special kind of equine to become a successful Puissance and Derby contender and H.d’or has got it all going on. “He is very, very brave and very, very special”, says Alfie. “He has the scope to jump the tallest of walls as well as the ability to compete in the Derby and at Grand Prix level.”
Back at home, Alfie’s day starts with the lark but with the welcoming difference from conventional competition yards; with a blast or two up the gallops! “We are out in the stables between 5.30 and 6.15am when Minty will kindly start mucking out whilst I start riding my string’, explains Alfie. “We then try and slot one or two racehorses each up on the beautiful Ridgeway gallops here in Wantage for Mum and Dad; it really blows the cobwebs away and sets you up for the day.”
All Alfie’s horses are schooled at home with a special homemade style of fence for H.d’or on the run up to entering a Puissance. “We will very rarely jump a course of jumps at home but I do a lot of pole, grid work and hacking ”, explains Alfie. “In the run up to a Puissance competition we will load the lorry up with about
30 bales of shavings and build a makeshiſt wall in the arena, it just gives H’d’or a little heads up on what’s about to come.”
Three or four times a week, Alfie enjoys teaching riders of all abilities. “I give lessons here at home and love seeing people progress”, say Alfie passionately. “It’s hard trying to fit everything in during the competition season but I strive to fit in as much time teaching as I can.”
Every rider has that one horse (or pony!) of a lifetime and Alfie does not have to think too hard to name his. “I have been blessed to have ridden some exceptionally talented horses but it has to be Montezuma II!’ beams Alfie. “I would be very surprised if there’s a pony in the UK today that could match what he gave to me in my final year of ponies.”
Many showjumpers that make the transition from ponies to horses will admit that it can be a testing time. Unlike other riders, Alfie had the advantage of being brought up in racing and that foundation put him in good stead. “I was lucky enough to ride lots of different horses from a very early age, so moving on from ponies wasn’t a shock for me”, says Alfie. “I also had the honoured benefit of being based with the Fletcher’s which gave me the rides on some terrific horses which makes it a lot easier.”
Looking to the future, Alfie strives to keep doing what he is doing and to grow his string. Sponsorship and owners are fundamental to any equestrian athlete and Alfie is more than aware and grateful to his. “I am lucky to have some fab owners and I’m kindly sponsored by CWD Saddles, Espayo Equestrian, Free Jump Stirrup Systems, Filly Fabbri Boots and Dodson and Horrell”, says Alfie. “My sponsors and owners are amazing and the support they give me and the horses is fundamental to our continued hopeful success.”
Wantage's Alfie Bradstock part of Exciting Climax for TheraPlate UK Puissance at Bolesworth Castle
A
lfie Bradstock from Wantage, Oxfordshire and Elliott Smith from Cullompton, Devon delighted the crowds during the TheraPlate UK Puissance with a joint win at The Equitop Bolesworth Young Horse Championships.
Alfie and the energetic gelding H.d’OR cleared the 2m 20cm wall in the fiſth and final round, continuing their puissance success at Bolesworth.
Please mention Central Horse News What’s On when responding to advertisements
Elliott and the big jumping Flamboyant III were on top form and cleared the wall in style to share top spot.
A total of seven combinations began the maximum five-round contest, and three made it through to the final round, including Nick Benterman and Cartos Z who gave it their all but unfortunately took bricks out in the final round to claim third.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
