Bruni ready to put on an arresting top display

That new home turned out to be ideal for the multi-talented Bruni. Tracey and Paul Brown are both officers with the mounted branch of South Yorkshire Police and have supported the charity for many years.

“I had seen Bruni working at a couple of football matches when he was with the West Yorkshire Police and I thought he was a lovely horse.

“My sister already had a retired police horse and I asked if we could be considered as owners if he ever became available,” said Tracey.

Consequently, they were more than happy to take on the 16.3hh Danish warmblood when the opportunity arose, rather sooner than they had expected.

Once Tracey and Paul started working with him, Bruni proved to be an excellent all-rounder. He does eventing, show-jumping and dressage with Tracey and competes in tent-pegging competitions with Paul.

In this, riders pick up small tent pegs with a hook while galloping. Tracey has also hunted and done team chasing with Bruni.

“I’m really pleased with him. He has a big talent for dressage and I’m also eventing him at the moment. So far as his behaviour goes, he can go into the main arena at something like the Royal Windsor and never go out of a walk but he always spooks at a log at the end of our country lane. I think he’s in the right job now,” said Tracey.

Their busy schedule includes qualifying for the Trailblazers national final in dressage at Stoneleigh in August. They also won a trophy for novice and elementary dressage in their local Sykehouse Arena’s winter points league.

Other successes include winning a riding club one-day event at Osberton and a fourth place in the BE100 class at the recent Bishop Burton Horse Trials.

Tracey and Paul, who live at Burgh Wallis near Doncaster, are busy preparing for the annual Royal Tournament at Melton Mowbray next week in which members of the services compete. The team from South Yorkshire Police won the team jumping competition there last year and were second in the King’s Cup. Paul will also be competing in the tent pegging with Bruni.

Now 15, Bruni has been with the couple for nine years. The rearing incident that got him banned from the police force has never resurfaced and, so far as Tracey is concerned, he will be a hard act to follow, though she says: “I still think we have a long way to go with him, particularly with the dressage. But I like him to do a bit of everything, he really is a good all-rounder.”

KATHRYN BEAN, who is a member of the British Trec team, had a successful weekend at the English Trec Championships at Upleatham, Redcar. Kathryn won her section, competing as a Level Four individual, riding Millicent Millie.

The competition involved navigating a 40km ride over Eston Moor, followed by the second phase of control of paces and then a PTV course which involves obstacles that would be encountered while out riding.

Kathryn featured on the BBC’s Countryfile programme earlier in the year demonstrating what the sport of Trec involves.

RIDERS at Skipton Horse Trials this weekend will be facing a new challenge. Several major changes have been made to the cross-country course, which has been designed this year by Ronald Alexander.

Over 500 competitors will be taking part in the two-day event at Funkirk Farm, Carleton. Among them will be Matthew Wright, fresh from winning the Express Eventing Series qualifier at the Bolesworth Showjumping Classic in Cheshire.

Opportunity to get an expert insight into what dressage judges expect

DRESSAGE enthusiasts who want to learn more about the skill of judging should head for Ledston Equine Centre on July 2.

A forum called Through the Eye of the Judge is being organised by the northern region of British Dressage when the speakers will include Olympic judge Stephen Clarke.

The day will offer an insight into how, when and where judges’ marks are gained in dressage at all levels.

There will also be expert insight into the horse’s way of going and test riding.

People are welcome to attend for either a half or a full day.

The morning session will look at the movements of a range of levels from prelim to Prix St George and there will be a wide range of ridden horses to study at each level.

The afternoon will focus on different tests from each level. Spectators will be able to watch tests ridden at each standard from novice upwards.

Tickets range from £20 to £45 and are available from the northern region’s page on the British Dressage website, www.britishdressage.co.uk.

THREE British riders have been invited to take part in the equestrian test event at Greenwich Park prior to next year’s Olympic Games in London.

They are William Fox-Pitt and Gaucho, Piggy French with DHI Topper W and Pippa Funnell, who will ride Billy Shannon.

They will be among riders from 20 other countries who will be testing the facilities at Greenwich Park during three days of competition in the CIC two-star event, which runs from July 4-6.

“While it will give all the athletes a feel for this brand new venue, more importantly it is about helping the organisers, staff and volunteers prepare for next year,” said Yogi Breisner, Britain’s world class performance manager for eventing.

The following weekend, the Modern Pentathlon World Cup will take place at Greenwich Park.