2012 London Olympics

Rider declarations are in for the 2012 London Olympics and we are now anxiously waiting to hear if Alex and ESB Irish Fiddle get a run. OMG!!!
On a mission to get to London Olympics 2012


Olympic Preparations:

From Sarah & Alex

As you may know, 2011 is a crucial year for Alex to gain his Olympic qualification. Magenta (Maggie) and ESB Irish Fiddle (Fiddle) have been working hard with Alex over the winter to build on their successes last season. Fiddle is currently in Portugal at the moment preparing for the qualifier next week, Maggie is aimed at Fontainebleau and both are entered for Badminton.

Placed 21st at Blenheim Horse Trials 2010




CONGRATULATIONS Alex! Fantastic to see you both going well.

Horse Hero training video

What a lovely shot!

Update from Alex

Chatsworth is one of my favourite competitions. Although it's a long drive up there, Derbyshire is absolutely stunning and Chatsworth House is by far the most beautiful and striking of all the houses we have on the circuit, in my opinion. This was Fiddle's [ESB Irish Fiddle] first three-star for exactly two years (Chatsworth 2008) and for once, I felt we might do a respectable test.

Two years ago we did an appalling test for 61pen. So I felt, with his present way of going, I would be happy with a 55 penalty score. Unfortunately this was not to be! Even though he stayed forward throughout his test, with no grumpy old man bucking; even when he got both his changes and reined back when he was supposed to, we ended with a score of 64.

We put the dressage behind us and made our way up to the show jumping. Fiddle is an exceptional jumper but, as he's such a big and long horse, he needs to be helped and supported in front by the contact to keep his connection. At Withington I found I was actually going too far and holding him off the fences. This didn't matter so much at the uprights, but he was then struggling to make the width on the oxers and was coming down on the back rails. So going into the arena at Chatsworth, I was determined not to make the same mistake. Fiddle jumped a lovely clear after rattling the first.

So it was time to go cross-country! The course, as always, was beautifully built on lovely forward strides and on good old undulating turf. Fiddle set off like a bomb and I ended up having to anchor him into fence one to curb his enthusiasm! I saw a perfect galloping stride to fence four, a large trakehner. Fiddle has always been a bit funny about ditches and, on seeing it at the last minute, chipped a stride in. Somehow, he scrabbled over and we galloping on. I pulled my heart back out of my mouth and put it back where it was supposed to be. The rest of the course was amazing. Fiddle has such an enormous stride, he eats up the course for breakfast and finished wanting more!

As I finished, I gave him a big pat and loosed his girth, then heard over the loud speaker, "Alex Hua Tian has been eliminated, however, Irish Fiddle won't know what he's done wrong". In fact neither of us knew what was going on! It turned out that I accidentally jumped the World Cup fence out of the water instead of the normal three-star fence. I jumped the step, bounce to skinny instead of the step, one stride to skinny. I have to say, Fiddle jumped the harder fence like it was nothing!

So feeling the complete idiot I was, we loaded up the lorry and started our five hour journey home. Before I finish, I'd like to thank Emily, Sally and everyone at Dunston Hole Farm, Newbold, Chesterfield where we stabled on Saturday night. They were all hugely welcoming and made an enormous effort to make sure horses, riders and grooms were all comfortable.

Until next week

Alex

Alex & his parents at a function with the Chinese embassy



Alex's blog on the Horse and Hound website

Without a competition to look forward to at the weekend, I was really hoping for a nice quiet week. Apparently not! I've had a new (sort of) arrival to the team, ESB Irish Fiddle.

We bought him at the end of 2007; he was the last horse I bought for the Olympics. Unfortunately, due to incredibly complicated and annoying vaccination issues, he was stuck stateside for two months.

By the time he arrived in March, I had only three months to qualify him for the Olympics. It quickly became apparent that he was completely unfit and very weak, and to make matters worse he picked up a nasty virus and was rather poorly for a few weeks.

Despite all of this he was a very good boy and Alex Hua Tian riding ESB Irish Fiddle at Chatsworth 2008got his half qualification atChatsworth CIC*** (pictured right), but we had pushed him too far too early and he decided he had had enough!

The plan was to turn him out for six months to cool off so we could start again. However, school got in the way, and six months turned into a year.

Alex competing on Fiddle at Chatsworth HT





Sometimes ...


... only a mother could love 'em!

A younger ESB Irish Fiddle


CONGRATULATIONS Alex Hua Tian!

Hi Alex,

Well done on representing your country at the Beijing Olympics, 2008! Even though the results weren't what you had hoped for, you still made history by being the first equestrian rider ever, to represent China at an Olympic Games.

Your committment, professionalism and sportsmanship are a credit to you. Your dedicated sponsors, family and support team gave their all and worked so hard in your preparation.

This team effort sets a standard in our sport to which many should aspire to and which will raise the bar in the future. WELL DONE!

Here's to a vision for 2012! Good luck with your studies and in the future. I shall look forward to hearing more about your journey and I am so glad that Fiddle can be part of it, it would make his parents very proud. It does me!

All the best, Vanessa x

Fiddle & Scott at Adelaide International HT


Fiddle with Scott Keach













Thanks Scottie for doing such a great job producing Fiddle. x

Happy in my luxury truck!

CHATSWORTH HORSE TRIALS 2008



















Afternoon tea with Alex's parents, the Chinese Ambassador & Embassy staff

Alex & Fiddle at Chatsworth HT 2008