A Year to Remember - local

Photos: Adam Fanthorpe A YEAR TO REMEMBER

DETERMINED LOCAL EVENTER BUBBY UPTON REFLECTS ON A SEASON OF HIGHS AND LOWS

Eventer Bubby Upton says horses and ponies have been her love and passion ever since she can remember.

“My siblings gave up riding but I never wanted to,” remembers the British under 25 champion. “Since I could walk I was on a pony, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds. Until a recent, freak fall that saw me injured, it had been an exciting year for myself and my team.” Bubby has represented Great Britain five times now. Yet the self-confessed perfectionist says she is always striving to get more out of herself. “If I am not winning, I am learning,” she reflects. “I have learned to channel my competitive instinct over the years and I do have big goals! I have a great team around me, and the most amazing horses.” Bubby graduates from university in 2022, and ultimately wants to win gold at an Olympics. “Each of my horses has characteristics to take them to the top of their game,” says this dynamic eventer. Bubby’s early riding career started at the Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club; she took part in the 2014 Pony European Championships with her ponies Alfie XI and Howen Loganberry, aged just 15. She went on to win team and Individual silver at the Europeans on Alfie XI, before moving onto horses.

A tally of medals In 2017, with Eros DHI, Bubby was crowned Junior European Champion. Her new ride Cola III won the British 7 Year Old Championships (3-star) at Osberton the same year, the horse’s first time at the level, while in 2018, Bubby completed her first CIC4* at just 19-yearsold at Burgham with Fernhill Rockstar, finishing fourth. 2019 saw nine top five finishes at three and four star level, plus an individual Silver and Team Gold at the Young Rider Europeans with Cola III, adding to the staggering tally of seven European medals that Bubby had achieved at youth championship level.

One of eventing’s brightest stars These successes firmly put the now-22 year old on the international eventing map. A third at the young horse championships in 2020 with Cooley As Ice, and two top ten finishes at the four star at Burgham, helped cement what was to be a something of a training year due to the pandemic. One of eventing’s brightest stars well prepared for a fantastic year of competition in the first half of 2021. However, this meant that Newmarket-based Bubby was well-prepared for a fantastic year of competition in 2021. She won the CCI-long under-25 4-star with Cannavaro at Bicton, becoming the British under-25 champion, and placed fourth with Cola III at the same event. Bubby was third with Magic Roundabout IV at Houghton at four star (the horse’s first event at this level!), and has had many top five placings at every level, this season. A string of talented

youngsters including It’s Cooley Time and Hevaska H are also waiting in the wings, meaning Bubby is well placed to continue to chase her dreams at the highest levels. 2021 also saw Bubby, who works with an array of top-level sponsors and brands, join forces with lorinery ...“If I am not experts, Bomber winning, I am Bits. “I am learning. I have unbelievably impressed with the learned to channel improvements that my competitive I have felt in my instinct over the horses’ way of going since using years and I do Bombers, and in have big goals!”... the horses’ comfort,” she says. “There’s an individual solution for every horse within the range. There’s actually an unbelievable choice of over 45 thousand cheekpiece and mouthpiece combinations in total, in sweetiron, titanium and synthetics, so there’s a bit for every horse, rider and discipline,” Bubby says.

Join the conversation at facebook.com/BomberBlueBits UK Absolute Horse and Bomber Bits wishes Bubby a speedy recovery.

CASE STUDY - Cola III

“Cola has a very sensitive mouth, so I was interested to try the Ultra Comfy Lock Up from Bomber bits. They can make bespoke bits, so I tried a titanium version.

“The centre joint of this bit has been double locked, to ensure that the angle over the tongue remains correct, even when the reins are taken up and released, but it retains the individual lateral aids; it has a more forward, curved mouthpiece than a conventional snaffle. “The shape of this mouthpiece allows more room for the tongue, and so distributes pressure more evenly; it also helps to reduce pressure points on the bars of the mouth. It’s often recommended for the more sensitive mouthed horses. “Titanium is an interesting metal – it’s very antimicrobial due to the natural titanium dioxide layer on the bit, meaning bacteria can be reduced and naturally destroyed it always has a pleasant temperature as well, so it doesn’t conduct heat and change temperature. I also find it is good for producing saliva, which helps with the horse’s relaxion response. “It’s early days but I am pleased with the bit so far, and if we can keep this horse comfortable in the mouth, Cola really has the world at his hooves!” Bubby, real name Isabelle, says.

(The sweet iron version of this bit is pictured.)