AEL readers will be familiar with the photos taken for us by Tazzie Eggins at many Australian events, but Tazzie has also turned her hand recently to writing for us too. In this article she updates us on the progress of Kate Beadel and her OTTB Cloud who we met at their first competition together in 2013 at Wandin
Kate and Cloud ready for cross country at Colac
Wandin 2013 saw a very familiar face return to the world of eventing - with a new name, a new horse, and very low in the grades!
When asked why she was returning after over 10 a ten year absence, the past Australian 3 Day Event champion Kate Beadel (nee Farrell) says it is only because "this one is the one, he’s got the potential to be anything" of her horse, Cloud. Kate had so much given up making a comeback that her first few events of the season saw her riding dressage at competitions in a jumping saddle.
Her inspiration, Cloud, is a grey gelding purchased at a William Inglis Tried Horse Sale at Oakland Junctions, for Kate to train as a racehorse. Although he was actually purchased as a racehorse, both Kate and her mother Maggie took one look at him at the sales complex, exclaimed "That will jump!" and, after a few races, Kate pulled the pin on his racing career. After several months of re-education, thanks to Paul Brent, 2013 saw Cloud’s introduction to eventing competition.
The jumping saddle was well used, even for dressage, at the first few competitions of the season
The first competition was at Wandin Park, a place that is so special to Kate so it was a fitting return, even if it was only at Preliminary level.
"Wandin is special to me, I've had a lot of success here over the years and I wouldn't mind my ashes being spread here when I die" giggled Kate when An Eventful Life spoke to her at the start of the season.
Cloud placed at Wandin, his eventing career was underway and so was Kate's return!
The event at the Friends of Werribee saw a naughty grey horse in the warm up arena, but somehow he held it together in the main arena
“His dressage still needs some tweaking, ‘Racehorse Cloud’ often surfaces and it's something we need to work on" admits Kate. Tooradin saw the step up to Pre-Novice level, where again ‘Racehorse Cloud’ surfaced in the dressage arena
"He take my breath away on cross country, so any naughtiness I've endured in the dressage arena is quickly forgotten' Kate says and, with zero jumping penalties since their second competition, she may have a point
Gobbling up the ditch at Colac
At Colac Horse Trials, Cloud faced the biggest course and test he had ever seen to date but he just gobbled the fences up like the reincarnated 4* horse Kate claims he is.
“That's why I made a comeback, this horse is the whole reason for me being here, he is just amazing, I love him to bits" says Kate with a grin ear to ear as she looks over photos taken of them together on the cross country.
The season ended at Lakes and Craters, a qualifier for the 2014 Melbourne 3 Day Event ..... a careless rail in the showjumping cost them a place, but Kate is still pretty happy with the way the whole season went
Show jumping at Colac
“His dressage still needs work, I still need a bit more control on cross country, but overall I’m rapt with the way the season has gone. I'm leaning towards maybe Pakenham as his first comp back next year in the Pre-Novice, then maybe a 1* start and aiming for Melbourne Three Day in June. He’s only 7 years old, so I will only going to take him to Melbourne if I feel he is 100% ready and coping with everything I'm throwing at him, but so far so good"
So, with Cloud in the paddock, is it holiday time until then??
"Oh hell no! " says Kate laughing "I have a couple of ‘retired’ racehorses I'm working on at the minute - they are nice eventing types. There is an unraced two year old being educated hopefully to race early next year, so there’s still early morning track work and no forgetting the kids and husband!"
There is still plenty to do in the off season; Kate riding trackwork (above) and Rockabye Baby, a horse trained by Kate and sporting her colours (below)
We’ll be following Kate and Cloud this year as they continue their eventing career, starting at Pakenham Horse Trials on 1st & 2nd of February
