Isla qualifies for Badminton Grass Roots

YOUNG event rider Isla Moir will combine music with eventing at Badmintion Grass Roots in a few days.

With her horse, Westfalian gelding Cyenet, a 17.3hh 15-year-old, she will contest the BE100 alongside practising the viola for her exams just a few days after she returns to Aberdeenshire from the event.

Isla, who lives near Hatton, is studying Music at the University of Aberdeen and her best three runs at 100 level qualified her for a Wildcard to Scone Palace Horse Trials last year where she finished 4th and subsequently qualified for Badminton Grass Roots.

She sold her previous horse, who she evented, when she went to university, assuming she would not be able to do everything, but then three years ago aquired Cyenet (Cye) who had specialised mainly in pure dressage with his previous owner.

Isla keeps Cye and his best friend Fergus, a 9hh Miniature Shetland, at home and has been eventing at grass roots level since 2019.

She said: "My mum and dad have ridden all their lives, so naturally I wanted to get involved with that at a very young age, and I don't think I'll ever not be involved now!

"Cye is a total sweetheart, he's got the most amazing, gentle temperament but equally he switches on when you need him to, giving you such a confident feeling when riding cross-country."

At just 5ft 3in tall, Isla has a lot of horse to ride and has not found the showjumping as easy but she adds "the challenges make the successes feel so worth it" and cites Team Padfield and Caitlin with helping her turn Cye into an eventer.

"In our first season eventing we were 2nd in the BE90 at Blair Castle. We also qualified for the ACE Arena Eventing Championships at Aintree Equestrian in 2024, which was the most amazing experience riding alongside Aintree racecourse."

During winter Isla and Cye enjoy hacking, arena eventing and even trying out hunting but she has been without transport for a while this year which has made her preparation for Badminton more difficult.

"I’ve never qualified for Badminton Grassroots before and it’s been such a dream to go there. My mum is from that area so we’ve been to the International Horse Trials a lot, but it’s definitely a pinch me moment that I’ll actually be riding there - I don’t think it will feel real until I’m mid cross-country," she adds.

Her only practice event this year has been Kirriemuir BE100 where they finished 9th and she was helped by Caitlin who transported the pair to the event.

Isla has also trained with David Harland for jumping and Charlie Hutton in dressage, but mainly her parents have been her support.

"My dad is top groom - he always comes with me eventing, giving me course walking tips and helping me out with Cye. My mum is my main coach, she helps me with absolutely everything.

"We’re doing all of this at a very much amateur level - we only have Cye and we do it as a hobby because we love it.

"We pour a lot of time, effort and money into him, so we’re just aiming for Badminton to be a fun celebration of all the hard work we’ve put in. Not aiming for any placings, just to get through those cross-country finish flags would be amazing."

Badminton Grass Roots takes place on 5th and 6th May. The website is https://grassroots.badminton-horse.co.uk