Biography

British-based New Zealand Olympic rider Caroline Powell (51) competed here last year gaining her 15^th completion of the event (30^th Greenacres Special Cavalier). Last year with Badminton entry Greenacres Special Cavalier she was 6^th in the 5*L at Elkton (Maryland) and in 2022 was 5^th in the 5* at Pau – a first at the level for the horse. It will be a first 5* for her second entry CBI Aldo who completed Blenheim.

Caroline who is based near Newmarket in Suffolk was a member of the New Zealand Olympic team that won team bronze in London 2012 and was 29th individually with Lenamore with who she won Burghley in 2010 when Lenamore was 17.

Caroline arrived in Scotland from New Zealand in 1992 to work in Clive Storey’s point to point yard and raced five times before ‘retiring’. While there she took over the ride on Clive’s three-star horse Caliber finishing 12^th in her first three-day at Bramham. She then worked for former Badminton winner Ian Stark grooming for him in Atlanta in 1996. In 1997, she took over the ride on Jenny Leggate’s Cocky-Olly-Bird and competed at her first four-star (Burghley 1999) and the following year had her first ride at Badminton with Dalliance (11th). With Lenamore she was selected for her NZ team debut at the 2006 WEG (Aachen) and the pair was selected for the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2010 she won team bronze at the WEG in Lexington with Mac MacDonald.

Caroline is an Accredited BE trainer.

Greenacres Special Cavalier owned by Chris Mann, is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. Bred by Michael Callery of Greenacres Stud in Co Meath, she is by the leading sire Cavalier Royale out of a mare by the jumping stallion Touchdown. She was acquired from the breeder and has been produced by Caroline. The pair contested both 6 & & year-old World Championships at Le Lions – 17^th in both classes. In 2022 she was 3^rd in her first 4*L at Ballindenisk and 5^th in her first 5* at Pau.

CBI Aldo is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse registered gelding. Bred by Raymond Carroll he is jumping bred by Goodluck VDL out of a mare by Ramon. He was acquired by Caroline at the 2018 Monart sale in Ireland. In 2021 the combination was 8^th in the world six-year-old championship at Le Lions and last year completed Blenheim.