Keysoe to offer start fee refund in the event of un fit going

As The College Equestrian, Keysoe, Bedfordshire, gears up for their final British Eventing fixture of the year (August 24th – 26th) event organisers make a bold statement in regards to their cross-country ground conditions.

We are so confident in our ground management plans that we will give a full and unchallenged refund of start fees to any rider, who is eligible to start the cross-country, who does not believe that the ground is acceptable to run their horse on” Simon Bates, owner and organiser at Keysoe.

With ballot date due at 12noon on Friday 3rd August, entries were predicted to come in steadily but, like many events, are low in comparison to previous years due to the continuing challenging weather conditions that our sport has faced this season.

The Keysoe ground care plan regularly sees the spreading of compost and further agrivating prior to the event. Keysoe 3 is no different with over 100 tonnes of compost being spread on the cross-country course.

With all-weather dressage, including a new 10-minute arena, and all-weather show jumping, we are able to focus our efforts on delivering good going on the cross-country” continued Simon. “We have found that our routine of building a good organic matter covering, with good grass cover, a strong root structure and then agrivating close to the event day creates going that is more than acceptable.”

Burghley bound 4* rider Imogen Murray was confident of the ground in the recent unaffiliated fixture and plans to return with an increased number of horses.

I competed some of my young horses in the unaffiliated event at Keysoe last weekend and was very impressed by the quality of the going. So impressed that I have 7 horses already entered from BE100 to Intermediate and will be looking at adding an extra few to the entry list shortly” commented Imogen.

The August fixture will see a number of changes to the previous British Eventing fixture, with the cross-country course starting near the lorry park side of the course, which also gives the event fresh ground. Devoucoux Saddles will also arrive at title sponsors for this fixture in a season of support for the Bedfordshire venue.