A win for Lucy at Forgandenny Horse Trials with a horse who nearly died as a foal but is now "blooming" as an eventer

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Lucy Anne James and MFS Don De Niro at Forgandenny. Image by Action Replay.

LUCY Anne James was delighted to secure a win in the BE90 with her MFS Stud bred eight-year-old MFS Don De Niro (Oscar) who she described as a "late bloomer" after he nearly died as a foal from a gastro issue and concentrated on dressage before turning his talented hooves to BE eventing.

After a dressage score of 23 at Forgandenny, Lucy and Oscar were then clear showjumping and cross country with just a few time penalties.

Lucy bought Oscar, who is by Don Aqui, and bred by the MFS Stud in Morayshire, from Caitlin Padfield, who had backed him, and Lucy began riding him two years ago.

"I fell in love with him when I wasn't looking for a horse!" says Lucy. "Caitlin had bought him as a foal and I started riding him after I started helping at her yard in winter 2024 when he was a six-year-old.

"I bought him last year. Caitlin had done a few events with him but he wasn't the biggest fan of water. Last year we qualified for the BD Nationals at Prelim Silver but he was still a bit green and sharp at the finals.

"He's really matured and he got me back into jumping and eventing as I'd been doing mostly dressage the last five to six years after I dislocated my hip falling off a young horse.

"He's going from strength to strength and we are hoping to qualify for the Badminton Grass Roots Championships."

Perthshire-based 5* rider Wills Oakden won both the Open Novice (with Cooley One More Time) and the BE100 (Loverboy Van Overis Z) at Forgandenny, along with a 2nd in the Novice riding Ortega in Section N and a 4th in the BE100 Open with Greystone Midnight Harmony.

Kick On Events was established in 2018 and took over running Forgandenny Horse Trials along with Floors Castle International and Hoptoun. They now just run Forgandenny in Perthshire twice a year, with the second horse trials taking place on 15th and 16th August.

The results are:

Horselyx BE80 Section A: 1st Niamh Cameron (Tullyoran FullIrish), 2nd Heidi Young (Pretty Boy), 3rd Emily Allan (Cairnview Corry), 4th Lucy Millar (Up Sticks And Go), 5th Emma Maguire (Cousin Kenzie), 6th Natasha Crockatt (Beyond Gold).

Horselyx BE80 Section B: 1st Kirsty Stark (Harrys Emperor), 2nd Isla Roberts (WS Just Look), 3rd Phoebe Redman (Ebony Nectar), 4th Nicola Barrett (East of Eden), 5th Lorraine Mackenzie Strong (Chris), 6th Caroline Craig (Hello Dandy).

Horselyx BE80 Section C: 1st Morag O'Mara (Lorrah View), 2nd Blythe Ewert (Ballyell Patchwork), 3rd Laura Whitfield (Valley of Dreams), 4th Alison Wild (Cookie Bain), 5th Becka Henderson (Earn Valley Bricin), 6th Emma Fletcher (Strike It Lucky).

Horselyx BE80 Open u18 Section D: 1st Mercy Duffy (Zanzabars Rebel), 2nd Imogen Dall (Emperor's Dream), 3rd Rose Willis Fleming (Gregclare Leo), 4th Robyn Coulson (Castleview Hill II), 5th Elizabeth Bain (Gizmo), 6th Emilie Hutt (Heidehofs Montana).

Tick Tack BE90 Section E: 1st Rebecca Fraser (Cierania), 2nd Claire Johnstone (Hanleen Armani), 3rd Zoe Guild (Larkin About), 4th Ryan Kilburn (Templefarm Tiger's Eye), 5th Ella Pigg (Haydon Henry), 6th Etti Dale (Eclipso).

Horsehair from Claire BE90 Section F: 1st Alexa Ekin (Kilcorban Blue Brigade), 2nd Annie Broad (Gemini Firebird), 3rd Rona Gunn (Oakingham Raphael), 4th Jada Kane (Cuthbert), 5th Elizabeth Jeffrey (Harlequin Moon), 6th Georgina Wood (Mockbegger Rich Tea).

Tick Tack BE90 Section G: 1st Henny Walker (Mr Balou), 2nd Milly Morrison (Cwmtysswg Estafan), 3rd Mia Newcombe (Morse), 4th Gemma Kennedy (MBF Royale Mint), 5th Gabrielle Job (Woodview Bui), 6th Iona Campbell (Hotshott).

Tick Tack BE90 Section K: 1st Barry MacLenna (Commander Imp), 2nd Harriet Graham (Veravera), 3rd Charlotte Collins (Sir Firefly LS), 4th Rebecca Howie (MB Magnum Bright Angel), 5th Jane Smith (Achilty Little Imp), 6th Ella Daniels (Rehy Volunteer).

Horsehair from Claire BE90 Section L: 1st Lucy Anne James (MFS Don De Niro), 2nd Lauren Oag (Candy Reign), 3rd Smanatha Martin (Touchdown Danny), 4th Mia McIntosh (Gregduff Barney), 5th Zara Lean (Topper Boy), 6th Janice Scott (Agent Ken).

Tick Tack BE90 Open Section M: 1st Fin Marsden (Dolman Deck Hand), 2nd Emma Carmichael (Ma'a Nonu), 3rd Douglas Crawford (Chacco Nomara Blue Z), 4th Douglas Crawford (Puddledub Difdae), 5th Laura Fenwick (Dreamsea), 6th Emma Carmichael (Kash to Burn).

Baileys BE90 Open u18 Section Section G: 1st Emma Drummond (Dunrath Rerward), 2nd Kate Crooke (Maisie), 3rd Evie Smith (Trevallion Spritzer), 4th Ruby Gray KEC Valencia), 5th Mille Herdman (Ardagh Bobby), 6th Scout MacGillivray (Bartholomew II).

Baileys BE100 Section H: 1st Emma Carmichael (Cooley Climate), 2nd Sarah Houlden (Polly's Britannia), 3rd Morven Pringle (DVS Raindancer), 4th Douglas Crawford (Omard Vivienne), 5th Ferne Collier (Kirtle Karlos), 6th Lyndsay Stewart (Archdale Cavalier).

Baileys BE100 Section I: 1st Morven Pringle (Secret Affaer VII), 2nd Honor Casely (Lafforcry), 3rd Aidan McGowan (Rehy Ripple), 4th Emma Carmichael (Loughan Kentucky), 5th Ella Pigg (Cruising Bright Bat), 6th Douglas Crawford (Ballukilcross Foxs Rebel).

Baileys BE100 Section S: 1st Wills Oakden (Loverboy Van Overis Z), 2nd Emily Gillespie (Simon Says), 3rd Sebastian Roldan Olivera (Powergirl), 4th Clare Hicks (Leedaun Larry), 5th Freya Gaitskell (First True Whisper), 6th Fin Marsden (Derrynalicka Copper).

Baileys BE100 Open Section T: 1st Stephen James Runciman (Grantstown Vision), 2nd Hannah Broadhurst (WSH Sacruz), 3rd Stephanie Lynch (Journeys Atlas), 4th Wills Oakden (Greystone Midnight Harmony), 5th Rachel Arnott (Hey Listen), 6th Mia Newcombe (Van Wilder).

Baileys BE100 Open u18 Section R: 1st Henrietta Tennant (Ringwood Dalto), 2nd Coco Oakes (Star of Hollymount), 3rd Savannah Gordon (Rainbows Little Rock), 4th Sophie Smith (Finnerty), 5th Logan Thomas (Lagadette S), 6th Rosemary Lawrie (Her Kings Gambit).

Stonepack Novice Section N: 1st Emma Carmichael (Qualitys Snap), 2nd Wills Oakden (Ortega), 3rd Sophie Allcroft (Dolmen Dazzler Q), 4th Gemma Kennedy (Sierra), 5th Jack Mantel (Ogue MBF), 6th Olivia Graham (Cornsay Grenadier).

Stonepack Novice Section O: 1st Wills Oakden (Cooley One More Time), 2nd Sebastian Roldan Oliviera (Mister Cotton Candy), 3rd Cameron Swales (Olievi-Alve D.V), 4th Jack Mantel (Woodbuc Forever), 5th Jack Mantel (King Patrick), 6th Joshua Fearnley (Marco Polo TN).

Stonepack Open Novice Section P: 1st Jack Mantel (Crispr Cas Z), 2nd Jack Mantell (Russeljacket), 3rd Emily Orpwood (Dinadan), 4th Eilidh Costelloe (Oldtown Lucky Penny), 5th Steven Renton (Corranvale Rolling Thunder), 6th Cameron Swales (Millies Law).

Stonepack Open Novice u18 Section Q: 1st Emily Lawson (Faerlie Frisky), 2nd Emily Lawson (Faerlie Similar), 3rd Alba Mclean (Lissyegan Mikie Lou), 4th Caitlin Jack (Geneva Van De Vallei), 5th Tara Kane (Annaveigh Vahey).