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#InternationalAl and Laine Ashker Complete at Burghley
When Equiflexsleeve sponsored rider Laine Ashker launched a campaign to get herself and her incredibly talented OTTB Anthony Patch (known as Al) to Burghley, we knew she would meet her goal and get to the Burghley House. And when they arrived, we knew that Al would safely take her through all three phases. It came as no surprise to us, then, when Laine and Al completed one of the biggest and toughest three day events in the entire world.
We loved following all of their progress on Laine’s facebook page and got her permission to share some of the highlights with our followers!
Of course, Laine and Al were among the best dressed at the jog, and they passed with flying colors, ready to move onto dressage. Al looked amazing as he jogged down the asphalt in front of an international crowd, while Laine proudly trotted her off track thoroughbred in front of the judge.
Al and Laine were all smiles coming out of the sandbox, as they put on a wonderful test to start their Burghley trip off with a solid 48.8 to lead them into cross country the next day!
The cross country course at Bughley is no joke. It’s widely considered the toughest in the world, and it’s certainly among the largest. When the famous Cottesmore Leap isn’t your biggest question of the day, you KNOW it’s a challenging course! Al and Laine made it through safely, and heading into show jumping meant that they only had one more phase before the incredible feat of completing at Burghley would be, well, complete!
Show Jumping at Burghley started off on a bad note, with the first ride in the ring falling with her horse. Luckily, both horse and rider were okay, but following an accident like that makes an already trickier course even tougher. As he does, Al came through and he and Laine put together a nice course to do what they had set out to do, and what we knew they’d be able to do – complete at Burghley! What a huge moment for Laine Ashker Eventing!
Laine posted the following message on her Facebook after her show jumping round:
We did what we set out to do: Complete. The next time I return I’ll be all the more wiser from this opportunity of a lifetime that each and every one of you helped me pursue. THANK YOU! -Lainey & Al
Now that she’s settled back into the states, Laine is continuing with her life at Laine Ashker Eventing, teaching lessons and schooling the other horses in her string. We love getting updates via social media, and we’re excited to see what her new Retired Racehorse Project thoroughbred, Call Him Paddy, will do this fall! Good luck Laine, and congratulations!
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