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Mr Smiffy and Andrew Nicholson
Mr Smiffy is currently our top competing horse. He has completed numerous three day events including Saumur***, Burghley****, Badminton****.
We bought Mr Smiffy with Mrs Janet Oliver, from Rodney Powell as a 7 year old in May 1998 with 11 points. Our stable jockey at the time, John Paul Sheffield rode him and took him to Advanced, winning Popler Park Intermediate. 11th CCI** at Vejer De La Frontera in Spain and 20 penalties at Achselschwang CCI*** in Germany.
JP produced the horse excellently as Mr Smiffy was especially strong and needed patience and tact. In 2000 JP set up on his own, so Andrew Nicholson took over the ride. Smiffy stays at home, with Tracie Robinson (Dressage Trainer to the British 3 Day Event Team) dealing with his dressage and Adam Padgett looks after his road work, fast work and is his groom.
In 2000 Smiffy was 9th at Saumur CCI***, 6th in the British Open at Gatcombe, 1st Burghley CCI ****.
In 2001 because of the Foot and Mouth crisis he went to Thirlastane and was 7th and then straight to Burghley where he finished 2nd.
2002 was his debut at Badmington, where he got slightly tense with the new dressage test (four flying changes) and finished in 10th place.
This amazing sequence shows the true athleticism of both horse and
rider to survive this near miss to go on and win Burghley CCI**** in 2000.
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