Photograph by Celia
Hugh Hughs
Copyright of photograph
www.tyncelynphoto.co.uk
Lucinda McAlpine Has The X Factor!
West Country rider Lucinda McAlpine proved that she
and her Hanoverian gelding What A Boy still have the
X Factor, despite twelve months out of the
competitive arena. Devon-based Lucinda and 19 year
old What A Boy (stable name Borange ‘because he’s
big and orange’) performed a routine inspired by
music produced by Abigail Todd featuring well known
film and T.V detective themes from the Pink Panther
to Inspector Gadget. Lucinda who is also a Patron
of the Conquest Centre for Disabled Riders, Taunton
entered into the spirit of the X – Factor, by
sporting a false moustache and Clouseau raincoat.
The 500 strong audience clapped and cheered as
Lucinda and Borange performed breathtaking flying
changes and canter pirouettes in time to the music.
In her time out from competing, international
dressage rider Lucinda has been training horses and
riders, running clinics and demonstrating her
pioneering natural horse management methods.
Borange, who is a shining example of a naturalised
competition horse, competes straight from the field,
is unshod, unclipped and never wears a rug (except
the ones he wins one!)
The X Factor Dressage event was run in aid of
Children in Need and the Matthew Billing Trust.
Lucinda and Borange won the advanced class and were
overall champions on the day with their
crowd-pleasing routine. Audience members voted for
their favourite out of a field of 10 riders and
teams, and gave Lucinda and Borange a standing
ovation.
Lucinda commented: “After
a year out from competition it was quite a nerve
-wracking experience but as the evening wore on
Borange and I started to really enjoy ourselves and
had a lot of fun as he so loves performing to an
enthusiastic audience. The event is very well
organised and it was an honour to be able to do what
we love doing at the same time as raising money for
Children in Need and the Matthew Billing Trust. I
also have to thank my fantastic team of helpers
without whom none of it would have been possible”.
"I have to
admit to having a secret weapon in Abigail Todd,
who as a professional musician can edit the music
to get maximum impact from the choreography. I
could not recommend her highly enough if anyone
was thinking of putting together a programme to
music. We worked on attention to detail and even
my final CD had pictures of Clouseau on it so that
the sound man was in no doubt as to which one to
play !! "
Contact Abi
on www.abigailtodd.co.uk
DVD available
of X Factor Dressage from
Celia Hughs.
Copyright of photograph
www.tyncelynphoto.co.uk
email
celia@tyncelynphoto.co.uk
bowhayesfarm@btconnect.com
