Headley Britannia
Encyclopedia
Headley Britannia, stable name Brit, is a mare
competing at the highest levels of the equestrian sport
of eventing
. Relatively small for the sport, her jumping ability, manoeuvrability and willingness propelled her to the top of the sport.
Headley Britannia is by one of the top eventing stallion
s in Britain, Jumbo, who first competed at the Advanced level with Andrew Nicholson
as a seven-year-old. The stallion has been a top producer of eventers, dressage horses (his get have reached Prix St. George), and Grade A show jumpers.
Headley Britannia's greatest accomplishments include a win at the 2006 Burghley Horse Trials
, the first mare in 33 years to do so, a win at the 2007 Badminton Horse Trials
, the first mare in 53 years, and a win at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three Day
. She came third at the 2006 Luhmuhlen Three Day Event, a great accomplishment after having taken a fall the previous year on cross-country and then contracting a virus which nearly killed her. She was an alternative to the 2006 World Equestrian Games
, but when not called, was switched to the Burghley Horse Trials
. She is one of only two horses in history to have won all three of the top four-star events (Badminton, Burghley, and Rolex), and has had a Breyer model made of her.
In 2007 her owners Katinka and Neil Thorburn gifted her to her rider, Lucinda Fredericks. After winning Badmintion she went to stud for embryo transfer. Both foals were by stallion Jaguar Mail and carried by surrogate mares.
The first of Brit's two foals was born in April 2008, a chestnut filly with a white star. Fredericks later confirmed that the second foal had been born in May 2008 this one being a dark bay colt. Strangely the foals resemble much like their parents, the filly, Little Britannia, is chestnut with a white star like her dam, and the colt, Britannia's Mail looking remarkably similar to his sire Jaguar Mail, dark bay in colour.
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
competing at the highest levels of the equestrian sport
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
of eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. Relatively small for the sport, her jumping ability, manoeuvrability and willingness propelled her to the top of the sport.
- Foaled: 1993
- Color: Liver chestnutLiver (color)Liver is a term used to describe certain types of dark brown color in dogs and horses.In dogs, it is a dark brown shade.In horses, "liver chestnut" is a term used to describe a chocolate-colored chestnut horse. A liver chestnut is the same genetically as a regular chestnut, but the shade is a dark...
- Markings: Star
- Breed: ThoroughbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
and Irish DraughtIrish DraughtThe Irish Draught horse is the national horse breed of Ireland which developed primarily for farm use. Today, they are especially popular for crossing with Thoroughbreds and warmbloods, producing the popular Irish Sport Horses which excel at the highest levels of eventing and show jumping.-...
blood - Height: 15.3 hhHand (unit)The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
- Pedigree: by Jumbo, out of Alan's Bambi
- Breeders: Mike and Betty Hounsell, Headley Stud
- Rider: Lucinda FredericksLucinda FredericksLucinda Fredericks is a champion equestrian sportswoman competing at the highest levels of equestrian eventing. She changed her nationality upon her marriage to Australian equestrian Clayton Fredericks, and now rides for Australia...
- Owners: Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks
Headley Britannia is by one of the top eventing stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
s in Britain, Jumbo, who first competed at the Advanced level with Andrew Nicholson
Andrew Nicholson
For the New Zealand ice speed skater with the same name see Andrew Nicholson Andrew Nicholson is a New Zealand horseman who was selected for six Olympic Games....
as a seven-year-old. The stallion has been a top producer of eventers, dressage horses (his get have reached Prix St. George), and Grade A show jumpers.
Headley Britannia's greatest accomplishments include a win at the 2006 Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
, the first mare in 33 years to do so, a win at the 2007 Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual Concours Complet International Four Star **** events as classified by the Fédération Équestre Internationale , which takes place in April or May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in...
, the first mare in 53 years, and a win at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three Day
Rolex Kentucky Three Day
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
. She came third at the 2006 Luhmuhlen Three Day Event, a great accomplishment after having taken a fall the previous year on cross-country and then contracting a virus which nearly killed her. She was an alternative to the 2006 World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
, but when not called, was switched to the Burghley Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, currently in early September...
. She is one of only two horses in history to have won all three of the top four-star events (Badminton, Burghley, and Rolex), and has had a Breyer model made of her.
In 2007 her owners Katinka and Neil Thorburn gifted her to her rider, Lucinda Fredericks. After winning Badmintion she went to stud for embryo transfer. Both foals were by stallion Jaguar Mail and carried by surrogate mares.
The first of Brit's two foals was born in April 2008, a chestnut filly with a white star. Fredericks later confirmed that the second foal had been born in May 2008 this one being a dark bay colt. Strangely the foals resemble much like their parents, the filly, Little Britannia, is chestnut with a white star like her dam, and the colt, Britannia's Mail looking remarkably similar to his sire Jaguar Mail, dark bay in colour.
External links
- Team Fredericks website
- Headley Britannia rules over land as well as water - article in the Independent