A team of UK-based farriers will be travelling to Cairo in March 2012 for a trip that will be of huge benefit to the local community. The farriers will bring comfort and easement to the working horses and conduct workshops and educational talks for local farriers and owners. The trip is only possible because of sponsorship and the auction will raise money for fares for those taking part.

Clayton and Lucinda  have both offered a lesson each to the lucky bidders. Check out the Cairo Farriers Facebook page for more information – the full background on the event can be seen here.

The story has also been covered by the Horse and Country  TV Channel.

“Now I need a gold. I had had silver individually at the world championships and silver at the Olympics. I need a gold. I have devoted my whole life to this.”

In a candid interview with Clayton carried by The Australian newspaper,  he reveals he will be bringing Ben Along Time (pictured right) after a two-year injury break to contend the four-star Kentucky event to qualify him for the Olympics. The article also reveals Headley Britannia, now 19, is being prepared for one last shot at Olympic glory.

“Lucinda and her latest mare Prada ( below  have been listed in the secondary “A” squad for the Olympics, a judgment Clayton describes as a “kick up the arse” for his wife because Prada’s dressage score is not yet of Olympic class. Almost 20 years in England may have rubbed off some of his rough edges, but Clayton still has the frankness of his native land.

“They have now installed a wall of mirrors along the edge of their equestrian arena so that Lucinda can work intensively on Prada’s dressage. The pair has worked on it “every day of the winter”, she said.

“There’s no doubting her bond with the horse she regards as her once-in-a-lifetime find. Her face lights up when she talks about “Brit”, just as it does when she talks about her daughter Ellie, 8.

“She has rested the mare from competition for the past two years, while keeping up her fitness and skills, in a bid to nurse her through to one more Games in the twilight of her career. They will do three competitions in the next five months in a late bid to qualify for the Olympics.

“I felt I went into the last Games 100 per cent fit and prepared and so did my horse but when it came down to it things were taken out of my hands and I couldn’t quite perform as strongly as I would have liked,” Lucinda said. “If I have the chance to go to London, I will be very strong.”

Clayton is quite clear what he’s looking for in the competition – nothing but the top prize.

“”Not many people get to stand on the medal dais with their wife (it is only possible in equestrian at the Olympics), but you don’t go to the Olympics to win silver, you go to win gold and we had a chance of that,” Clayton recalls.

“Now I need a gold. I had had silver individually at the world championships and silver at the Olympics. I need a gold. I have devoted my whole life to this.”

The full article can be seen on the website of  The Australian.

Lori Calame, owner of Denton Creek Farms, said  Clayton enjoys working with young people and is a gifted teacher. “It’s pretty exciting having him here,” she said. “This is his third year to come to our farm. It’s great to watch; he’s incredible”. 

Pictures from the training sessions have been shared on our Facebook page.

Clayton will be teaching a two day clinic at Galway Downs in Temecula, California on February 11 and 12, 2012. The first day will include stadium jumping and gymnastic work, while the second will focus on cross-country skills over the Ian Stark designed course. Clayton will also be offering private dressage lessons on Friday the 10^th. This clinic is being organized and offered by the Area VI Adult Riders, with significant support from Robert Kellerhouse, Del Mar Eventing and the Southern California Equestrian Center.

Lucinda and Clayton are outstanding trainers, regularly teaching in Europe, the US and Hong Kong. See our training section for more information on how to arrange local training sessions with Clayton and Lucinda.

Mr. Big Cat is a seven year old, 17.0hh Brazilian thoroughbred stallion by Tamango, co- owned by Clayton with Deborah Clarke.  Displaying the classical Thoroughbred attributes of speed, stamina and athleticism combined with exceptional good looks, he was imported from Brazil in 2009 and began his international eventing career in 2010. In his short competition career he has been placed internationally, qualifying for the World Championships for young event horses at Le Lion D’Angers in 2011.   His most recent results include finishing 8^th in the CCI1* at Fontainebleau and 3^rd in the CNC2** at Pontispool.  Mr. Big Cat possesses all the desirable characteristics of the modern event horse. Amazing paces, careful jumping technique and an exceptional ability to gallop cross country. This combined with his superb temperament and trainability makes him the ideal breeding stallion for eventing.  Mr. Big Cat is a very popular horse at Team Fredericks, and despite being a working stallion, his good-natured temperament make him an easy and uncomplicated horse to handle.

For more information on Mr. Big Cat please email info@teamfredericks.com or ring 01380 816636.  

Entry tickets for the show are £10 and can be bought in advance by email bbsh@bbsh.org.uk or ringing 07751 499041 or on the door. (www.bbsh.org.uk)

On the Equestrian Australia website Brett Mace, EA’s High Performance Manager, explained the composition of the Shadow Teams. “The “Elite” listed combinations are presently the front-runners for the Olympic and Paralympic teams. However, I am sure our “A” Squad members will make the most of every opportunity to claim a place on the team through exceptional performances in the lead up to London.” he said.

Clayton commented: “I am thrilled at the news of the three horses in the Olympic Squad and it also looks likely I will be the first Australian eventer to qualify for the London Olympics for 2012 due to being the highest ranked individual in the Olympic Rankings.   My prospects for the next Olympics with the strength of my team look solid and I also have some other horses to qualify this year including Ben Along Time and Brookleigh ( owned by Nikki Brooks). I would like to thank all the support that has been given from special Individuals, EA,WAIS, ASC and the AOC and reassure all my supporters I am working hard to do my part in turning the Silver team medal from 2008 into double Gold in London.”

Several owners have commented on the good news. Edwin and Peta McAuley, who own Bendigo III, told us: “”We are delighted that Clayton has made the cut into the Australian team front runners and that he has a strong string of qualified horses including Bendigo. We hope Clayton can help bring home gold for Australia in July.”

Tim and Alice Page, Rosie’s owners, said: “Very many congratulations to Clayton on getting three horses onto the Australian Elite Squad. There cannot be many riders anywhere in the world with three Olympic prospects. We are equally proud of Rosie [Dunge's Laurent Rosé] who had a most sensational 2011 season; 5th in her first 4* (Luhmühlen), 9th at Pau 4* and winning the World Cup event at Haras du Pin. She really is ‘Little Miss Consistent’ at all three disciplines of eventing time and time again.”

Andrew and Stacey Quarles, who share the ownership of Be My Guest : “We are very pleased for Clayton, Lucinda and all their owners to have the news of Clayton’s Elite squad nominations and that of Lucinda for the “A” Squad. 

“Moving here to the UK from The US has been made all the more enjoyable in the run-up to the Olympics by being able to take an ownership share for the year in Be My Guest.  Clayton and Lucinda are fantastic at drawing support for the sport of eventing by sharing the excitement with all their owners and supporters included in Team Fredericks.  Medals for Australia will be medals shared with an internationally diverse group of owners, horses and supporters no matter which horse earns them.”Having MacArthur on the 2012 National Eventing Futures Squad with Clayton puts the frosting on the cupcake.” they added.

Vicki Miller, part-owner of Prada, commented: “I’m delighted for Lucinda and Clayton that their hard work, talent and ability to get the best out of their horses has been recognized and am thrilled for the other Team Fredericks owners. With Prada rather less experienced than other horses on the squad, we need a good performance at Badminton for promotion but it’s certainly not impossible particularly with Lucinda at the helm!”

Meanwhile, the eventing schedules for both Clayton and Lucinda for the 2012 season have been released by the team. More details can be seen on the Event Schedule 2012 page.