Huddersfield's Oliver Townend is adamant that he is in for a fine summer no matter where he ends up competing as he continues to make great progress aboard Armada.
Townend claimed an impressive second-place finish the last time he rode Armada at the Badminton Horse Trials in May having won the Burnham Market International with him previously.
His next big outing with Armada remains to be seen but it will either be representing Britain at the World Equestrian Games in late August or the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, which follow shortly after.
Burghley is an event the 31-year-old knows only too well having claimed victory there in 2009 with Carousel Quest while he finished fourth two years ago with Armada.
And whether it is the World Equestrian Games in Normandy at the end of August or Burghley at the start of September, Townend has enough confidence in Armada to state that good things lie in wait.
“He had the fourth-place finish at Burghley in 2012 and now second at Badminton so if we go to Burghley it will be exciting for the both of us,” said Townend.
“But to be honest I don’t know if we will be at Burghley this year; we will just have to see what happens. It will be up to the selectors whether I go to the World Equestrian Games or Burghley. Both are really special events and we will be ready for both but we will just see what happens. We want to be at all the big events and competing at the highest standard that’s for sure.”
At Badminton back in May, Townend and Armada finished less than three points shy of Australian Sam Griffiths who rode Paulank Brockagh to a winning score of 67.9.
Townend and Armada jumped from equal 34th after the dressage to fourth following the cross country before ending second following the showjump – a performance responsible for his confidence.
“It was an event that suits us down to the ground but the course was very tough,” he said. “The finish at Badminton was great and I think we did really well to come through it the way we did.
“The weather made it tough but Armada showed how good he is and he dug deep. The rest of the season is unclear as far as Burghley and the World Equestrian Games goes but I feel good about our chances.”
The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (4-7th September) has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
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