Highley Sprung leaps to success (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Highley Sprung leaps to success

LOUISA Lockwood was tantalisingly close to securing victory over a field of international eventers, including Britain's Olympic gold medallist William Fox-Pitt, at the weekend's Burgie Horse Trials in Scotland.

The Winterborne Stoke rider, aboard her long-term charge Highley Sprung, shared the lead with the Olympian after giving a stunning dressage performance on day one.

But she ultimately had to settle for second place, albeit four places ahead of Fox-Pitt.

The result represents a remarkable return to form for plucky 12-year-old Highley Sprung, who was pushing for top honours when she came to Louisa three and a half years ago.

She was halted in her tracks by persistent injury troubles, which have sidelined her for almost two years.

Forced to requalify for high-standard competition, she was taking part in only her second event of the year.

Louisa said: "I've always known she was a good horse and had the ability to do well. It was a case of getting her right for competition.

"She's spent most of the last two years walking around her stable!

"I was hopeful for her all along, but she has only had one other run and you can never be absolutely sure how much she's remembered."

After a storming start, both Highley Sprung and Louisa struggled to cope with the hot and humid conditions for the cross country event and picked up a costly penalty.

She said: "The ground was very hard going.

"There were a lot of extremely tired horses and a lot of fallers, which meant that we set off an hour and a half later than we should have done."

The incident-packed cross country set up a thrilling finale in the show-jumping, with a number of horses and riders very much in contention.

Highley Sprung was in her element. Louisa steered her through a perfect round, keeping up the pressure on the challengers snapping at her heels.

One by one, sapped by the heat, they made errors.

All but young Italian prospect Vittoria Panizzon and her mount Rock Model, who kept their cool, passing Louisa and Highley Sprung to claim victory at the final hurdle.

Louisa finished a close second.

She said: "I'm really pleased with second place.

"Obviously it would have been nice to have won - I'm afraid I did end up just watching the final round and hoping for a fence to fall - but it wasn't to be.

"Considering her problems, Highley Sprung did very well."

Highley Sprung will now be given a well-deserved rest at Winterbourne Stoke before a decision is made on whether she is fit to resume her march back to the top.

Louisa is constantly on the lookout for new eventing horses to join her string and can be contacted on 01980 621199.

Vicky Brake has secured a second qualification for Gat-combe after steering Imperial Cavelier to victory at Syde Park Horse Trials on Sunday. The novice joins Loughnatousa Iceman, who made the grade at Longleat earlier this month.