Show Jumping
 | Phoebe Buckley riding Little Tiger owned by Dr Polly Taylor completed the show jumping at Badminton 2009 with 4 time penalties and a few poles down for a total score of 126.3. |
| More details and photos coming soon. Click here for the Badminton 2009 Photo Gallery, more pictures being added constantly. |  |
The Final Trot Up
 | Phoebe watches anxiously as Little Tiger is warmed up just before the Sunday morning trot-up |
there was a long pause-and we all held our breath- before the judges declared Little tiger fit for the final phase of the competition. She wasn't at all lame, it's just that she doesn't move quite as gracefully as some of the other big, imposing horses. As Polly put it "She just shuffles along sometimes" |  |
Cross Country
Phoebe completed the Cross Country on Little Tiger with one run out and just four time penalties for a total score so far of 92.3. (more photos of Little Tigers cross country in our Badminton 2009 Gallery). |  |
 | Zara retired her other horse "toytown" after just one stop which is a shame when so many people many people have come to see her. So here she is looking as bit dismal afterwards. |
little tiger grazing in the same place with the owner, the rider and the groom a few minutes later |  |
Ready for Cross Country
Little Tiger goes for Cross Country at 11:50 today, click here for live updates, sent by text by Mike when he doesn't have a Camera in both hands!
Update (10:00AM): Mike is in position for photographs by the Mitsibishi jump. Excuse the quality, sent from a camera phone, high quality copies to appear throughout the day!
Friday
Today (Friday) was day-off for everybody. Frostie and Phoebe went for a hack and jumped after the rain had finally stopped.
We watched some classy dressage (Yes Toytown did beat Frostie so let's see what the Daily Mail make of that one...) and we did get to see Frostie's husband, Catherston Liberator in the stallion parade. Simon, as you can see, is still confident.
Thanks to all who make this possible
Little Tiger at Badminton for the 3rd year running is a complete fairy story; she is tiny, far, far from a typical 4 star horse and it is thanks to Phoebe loyally sticking with her - through all the stops in the show jumping, all the less than 50% dressage - that we are all here at this great event once again. And this year the press have picked up on it, focussing, inevitably perhaps, on the rider, her unusual background and the contrasts between her and other riders, particularly Zara Philips.
As the owner, I would like to keep the record straight and to thank all the others who have made it possible: Jo Lawrence, Phoebe's parents, my daughter Eleanor, my husband Peter, Simon Grieve and Val Gingell. see below for how the whole thing is put together..
Dressage
Frostie did one of her best tests today. She was calm, the trot work positively fluent – and there was only one proper mistake – in the serpentine canters.
Well done both of them – pity it was not reflected in the marks. She still suffers from being small, and built “downhill”.
The Trot Up
6pm Wednesday 6th May 2009 and we are through the trot-up. Little Tiger was sound which is more than could be said for the rider, sporting very smart boots, unfortunately very slightly too small!
No worries: they're though to dressage (11.30 Thursday)
Tom Buckley-Phoebe's Dad, told me how much he was looking forward to Badminton week. Here he is taking the plaits out after the trot-up-if he looks tired it's because Frostie towed him round and round beforehand.
How it all fits together
Polly Taylor (Owner of Little Tiger):
Little Tiger, “Frostie” lives at home in my yard, and Phoebe Buckley comes to ride her daily. I fractured my pelvis about 6 weeks ago (yes it was a horse accident…) and have been unable to do anything useful since.
But, stepping into the breach; Jo Lawrence has run the yard immaculately and gets on so well with Frostie. My daughter Eleanor did so much when she was home from University over Easter. Phoebe’s parents have driven Phoebe and Frostie to all those lessons and events instead of me, Val Gingell, who bred her, has continued to support us and my husband Peter, who is not horsey, has backed us behind the scenes all the way. Mike Dixon, my business partner, event photographer and Frostie’s most loyal supporter got me to Badminton and is making sure no further injuries occur….
It is thanks to them all that we are here at all, with Simon Grieve who is grooming for us.