London 52 – the eventing celebrity who needed to be taught to go throughout nation

All of us have a tendency to think about nice eventers as pure cross-country horses, tremendous courageous and keen to tackle something. However Laura Collett is glad to confess that her high trip, London 52, has needed to learn to sort out this section.

“He’s by no means been the bravest horse,” she says. “When he was a younger horse, it was about constructing a partnership so he trusted what I used to be asking him. He most well-liked to leap over water than undergo it and coming from a leaping background, he knew how one can stroll and canter however to not trot.”

London 52 was foaled on 28 Might 2009, by Landos out of a Quinar Z mare known as Vernante.

Laura explains how she discovered him: “I used to be at Peter Thomsen’s yard in Germany taking a look at four-year-olds and noticed ‘Dan’ being exercised. It was early in his seven-year-old yr, he was fairly sassy and had a glance about him that caught my eye. He was out of my funds and I needed to speak properly to Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett in order that they joined me in shopping for him.”

London 52 turned heads from early in his profession – he was second in his first occasion, a BE100 in 2016 at Nunney, gained his first intermediate lower than a yr later at Withington and was aggressive by the degrees internationally.

By the point he competed on the British squad for the primary time, on the 2019 European Championships at Luhmühlen, he had already gained twice at CCI4*-S stage, together with within the prestigious eight- and nine-year-old championships at Blenheim Horse Trials, and been second 4 occasions at four-star.

London 52 wins the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim 2018 underneath Laura Collett.

However issues didn’t go to plan at Luhmühlen when the pair have been third after dressage however got here to grief on the remaining water fence.

“After that, Tina Cook dinner stated on the Sunday of the occasion, ‘Absolutely you’re going to take him to Boekelo? You don’t wish to end the yr on that notice,’” defined Laura in an unique H&H column in 2020.

Boekelo, the place the pair had been second in 2018 after which gained in 2019, proved a turning level. Beforehand, though Dan had appeared a star to the observer, to Laura he had at all times felt insecure.

Laura went on: “Between the Europeans and Boekelo, we went cross-country education a number of occasions. We handled him like a child, trotting to fences, making an attempt to construct his confidence and encourage him to belief himself as a result of he’s at all times been fairly a shy horse.

“Going to Boekelo, I simply needed to place issues proper – to win was a stunning additional. It felt just like the occasion was a turning level; now, Dan has perception in himself. He felt wonderful cross-country and completed understanding he’d completed properly. After Boekelo, he had eight weeks within the area to modify off and he got here again feeling and looking like a unique horse, bodily and mentally.”

After that, the pair went from energy to energy. They scored their first five-star win at Pau Horse Trials within the Covid-struck season of 2020, helped safe the British Olympic crew gold in Tokyo after which went on to win Badminton Horse Trials in 2022.

Laura Collett and London 52 on the Tokyo Olympics.

“Each time Dan does one thing nice, I feel it’s the very best day of my life, then he goes and does one thing else,” stated Laura.

Within the spring of 2023, London 52 was set to return to Badminton and defend his title, however an overreach put paid to that. As a substitute, he headed to Luhmühlen Horse Trials, the place he joined an unique membership of horses who’ve gained three completely different five-stars.

“He’s acquired such a fame that I don’t wish to let him down; he deserves to be a a number of five-star profitable horse so I’m simply glad I’ve allowed him to be that,” stated Laura after her win.

The pair helped Britain to a European crew gold at Haras du Pin later in 2023, ending ninth individually.

London 52: the groom’s view

Laura’s travelling groom Tilly Hughes says that London 52 is slightly nervous at occasions, however at residence he’s extra assured and cheekier.

“Within the morning, he’ll push the steady door and nudge you to rush up and take off his rug, although he’ll by no means truly exit,” she says.

“He may be naughty to catch. He’ll be grazing however as quickly as he sees you, he trots circles round you, which is nerve-racking as you don’t need him to injure himself. It’s important to depart and are available again – then he’s like, ‘Oh, I do wish to are available, I simply needed to play first.’”

Dan has taken Tilly to many prestigious occasions all around the world and he or she says he’s “considered one of my favourites, a extremely candy horse”.

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the trade on a high occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.