Golden Willow (horse)
Encyclopedia
Golden Willow is the youngest horse to ever win the Badminton Horse Trials
. The five-year-old won the first year of the event, in 1949. Today, horses must be a minimum of seven years old to compete in the difficult competition, and most horses that compete are no younger than 10.
Golden Willow was imported from America in 1948. He began running in hunter trials, winning four his first autumn in England. The horse was very hot and quirky, but his experienced rider managed to do quite well on him. However, Chedden did take several precautions with the very strong horse: he always rode him in a gag bit
while on cross-country, used a tight standing martingale, and tied a piece of string from the saddle to his belt so that if he fell off he might still have control of the horse. But Golden Willow was very talented, with tremendous scope and a great jump.
Golden Willow competed in the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials
in 1949, the first year of the event. There he had an impressive cross-country run, clearing the Irish Bank in a single jump, and went on to win. He returned the next year, only to finish fifth, although it is believed by some that poor time keeping robbed the horse of his second win. Kidston then sent him into training as a racehorse, which was a mistake, as the horse could not mentally take the rigors of training. On his first gallop he ran away with his jockey, and did not stop for fourteen miles, after his tendons broke down. After eighteen months of recovery, he was again sent beck to train, but he simply ran away and broke down again.
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
. The five-year-old won the first year of the event, in 1949. Today, horses must be a minimum of seven years old to compete in the difficult competition, and most horses that compete are no younger than 10.
- Foaled: 1943
- Color: light bay
- Breed: American ThorougbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
- Breeding: by Cloth of Gold (by Sir Galahad II), out of Pussy Willow
- Owner: Mrs. Eleanor Home Kidston
- Rider: John Shedden
Golden Willow was imported from America in 1948. He began running in hunter trials, winning four his first autumn in England. The horse was very hot and quirky, but his experienced rider managed to do quite well on him. However, Chedden did take several precautions with the very strong horse: he always rode him in a gag bit
Gag bit
The gag bit is a type of bit for a horse. With two sets of reins, the gag bit gives a rider the ability to use either a standard direct action or a gag action. In this, the gag bit is related to a Pelham bit and a double bridle...
while on cross-country, used a tight standing martingale, and tied a piece of string from the saddle to his belt so that if he fell off he might still have control of the horse. But Golden Willow was very talented, with tremendous scope and a great jump.
Golden Willow competed in the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
in 1949, the first year of the event. There he had an impressive cross-country run, clearing the Irish Bank in a single jump, and went on to win. He returned the next year, only to finish fifth, although it is believed by some that poor time keeping robbed the horse of his second win. Kidston then sent him into training as a racehorse, which was a mistake, as the horse could not mentally take the rigors of training. On his first gallop he ran away with his jockey, and did not stop for fourteen miles, after his tendons broke down. After eighteen months of recovery, he was again sent beck to train, but he simply ran away and broke down again.