‘There’s a lot of squealing, but he’s so capable’
ARIEL GRALD and Leamore Master Plan (Simon) start their first Badminton with a real chance to be competitive. The US pair were 12th at Kentucky and 10th at Burghley in 2019 (pictured, below left), then third at Luhmühlen last year.
“I think the track will suit my horse”
ARIEL GRALD
“Badminton has been on my bucket list and I think the track will suit my horse, ” says Ariel, who chose Simon, a Master Imp son, as “a very gangly, awkward five-year-old” in Ireland for owner Anne Eldridge.
“He’s a big horse at 17hh and was very weak, but he’s always been a spectacular jumper and when I’m in the start box, I know he’s very capable at that level.”
The 33-year-old rider says Simon is “the sweetest horse in the whole world” on the ground, but quirky under saddle.
“There’s a lot of squealing and he can be cheeky, but never in a malicious way, ” she says.
“He has endless energy. If he’s doing something wrong, you have to keep his
