It’s never too late as Katie Magee can testify as she makes her debut at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials aged 43.
Magee, who was raised on the family farm at Catterick, North Yorkshire, and her 11-year-old British-bred gelding Treworra will compete in the blue-ribbon three-day event between May 8-11.
“It’s taken a lot longer than I would have liked, but I have got there in the end,” explained Magee who has never even been to Badminton as a spectator which adds to the excitement.
“I had a four-star mare enter for Burghley but picked up an injury. Covid then hit and it has taken another few years to finally get to the top level.
“I have watched Badminton every year on television since I was young, but it doesn’t seem real to be going there to compete. I cannot wait to get the wagon packed.”
Magee added that Treworra, whose stable name is Wilf, is being kept in cotton wool in the build up to Badminton to minimise the risk of picking up an injury
It has been quite a journey for Magee who comes from a non-horsey background and began competing in pony trials aged 15 and later worked in a handful of racing stables.
Magee, who now lives at Barnard Castle, County Durham, has produced Treworra since the age of five and last year she took part in her first five-star event when she and Wilf were 13th at Pau in France.
Her goal is to compete Badminton and believes Wilf is a horse tailor made for the Gloucestershire event.
“Wilf is a lovely, big, old fashioned cross-country horse and I am hope he is able to show what he is capable of,” she said.
And Magee still has strong links to Yorkshire as she is trained with Northallerton-based Nicola Wilson, a former Olympic Games medallist.
“I have done a lot of training with Nicola over the last couple of years and she has helped me up my game to another level,” she explained.
Treworra is owned by Harrogate-based Angela Hislop, a renowned owner, who Magee says she is indebted for long-standing support.
Magee, who has 12/14 working horses among the 20 on her yard, said: “Angela sent Wilf to me when he was aged five and Agadir Gano, another advanced horse.
“I have five horses from Angela who has made a huge difference. I would probably have given up but for her. I have a lot to thank her for.”
Hislop is also part owner of Ballaghmor Class, Oliver Townend’s 18-year-old grey, who is one of the sport’s most successful ever horses.
Townend, who was raised in Huddersfield, will be looking to win Badminton for a second time following his triumph in 2009.
He will be competing on Ballaghmor Class and Cooley Rosalent, two horses with impressive track records.
It would be hugely emotional if Ballaghmor Class, who is known at home as Thomas, should win in what will probably be his last Badminton.
The pair have twice been runner-up and had four top-five finishes but narrowly missed out on top spot.
Townend has also had success with 11-year-old Cooley Rosalent as they won the five-star event in Kentucky last year.
In the recent four-star event at Burnham Market (April 11-13), a warm-up for Badminton, Cooley Rosalent, who is known as Rosie, finished first with Thomas third.
Two other riders with Yorkshire links will be competing will be Olympic Games team gold medallist Tom McEwan and JL Dublin, who was ridden by Nicola Wilson until her career-ending fall at Badminton in 2022, and Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky which was bred by Richard Dennis, from North Yorkshire.
· Magee’s husband Ciaran, who also comes from a non-horsey background, has learnt to ride and recently competed in his first BE80 event at Northallerton and is aiming to compete in a championship next year.