Charlotte knew from an early age that her ambition was to compete internationally in eventing. As she gets set to tackle her first ever 5* with Last Touch, known at home as Jack, we caught up with her to find out how her preparation has gone and how she’s feeling ahead of the big event.
For those that don’t know, quickly sum up your career to date:
After a fun few years medalling at Pony and Junior level I then moved onto Young Riders. I left school to gain experience at different yards such as Irish Olympian Aoife Clarke’s, The Billy Stud and in Germany with Dirk Schrade. Now we’re flying solo!
Side note – we reckon Charlotte’s playing down her success here; in 2012 she became the only U16 rider to qualify and compete at National Championship level in all three disciplines and in 2010 became the youngest ever rider to compete at the National Pony Club Championships in all three disciplines. She competed at the Pony Europeans in 2012 and 2013, claiming Team Silver and then Team Gold as well as competing at the Young Rider Europeans in 2015!
Describe Last Touch:
Last Touch is known as Jack at home – he is the cleverest horse on the yard, so self-assured and opinionated. It is what makes him so great cross country but a bit more tricky in the dressage. He has always had a wicked sense of humour and knows exactly how to wind me up but we love him for that… most days!
How long have you and Last Touch been a partnership?
This is my fifth season together with Jack. His owner, Lucinda, lent him to me over the summer in 2015 and we have progressed through the levels from Novice. Our top achievements to date include getting to 5* level, a top ten at Bramham CCI4*u25 2018, 3rd at Burnham Market Advanced as well as being first reserve for the Young Rider teams. Another huge milestone for us was jumping double clear in our ERM debut at Blenheim Palace when I was 18.
What are you most looking forward to about this week?
Competing in my first 5* is hugely exciting and being abroad always makes it more of an adventure. Jack thrives in the jumping phases so I cannot wait to see what the whole week brings.
How has your prep gone?
Jack has had a good spring. He had two intermediates at Weston Park and Bicton. Both were perfect prep runs and he had two steady spins there before we headed to Chatsworth for the CCI4*s. It is a gorgeous event and one that we both love, the ground was not too hard and the hills brought on his fitness nicely ahead of Luhmühlen.
