From the Burghley Website!!
FROM CALIFORNIA TO BURGHLEY
American Kristi Nunnink will be making her debut at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this afternoon with her mare R-Star - just one of five mares competing here this year. The pair has made their first trip across the Atlantic specifically to compete at Burghley.
Kristi (50) grew up and still lives in California. In her earlier years she ran a busy livery and training yard and was a regular competitor up to three-star level.
In 2004 having lost her top horse Kirsti never imagined that in less then ten years she would be back at top level. But that was before ‘Rosie’ arrived in the yard. The 11-year-old grey mare has taken Kristi back to the top of her game – although the journey has not been without it’s setbacks.
At the beginning of 2011 whilst competing at Lexington the pair suffered a rotational fall. Kristi broke her ribs and elbow and three days later, was in hospital for a planned hip replacement meaning the pair was out of competition for the summer.
During this time Kristi met up with former Burghley winner Bruce Davidson (1974 –Irish Cap) who offered to help the pair get back on their feet. Kristi drove Rosie the 3,000 miles to Bruce’s East coast yard where they stayed for two months before competing at Lexington in April where after a glance-off they were 23rd. They then won their next event the CIC3* at Kalispell and has been based back with Bruce for the four months prior to travelling over to the UK.
“Everything has come together for us both,” says Kristi. “I am super excited to be here and a little nervous but we really felt this was the right course for Rosie as she is super bold and this is a super bold course.”
Rosie who is now described as a ‘horse of a lifetime’ is an American-bred mare of Holstein descent. Her sire is the German-bred Riverman who was exported to the US as was her dam Marisol who is by Corofino. “Rosie is a lovely mover and loves to jump and to me is very special,” said Kristi.
Kristi (50) grew up and still lives in California. In her earlier years she ran a busy livery and training yard and was a regular competitor up to three-star level.
In 2004 having lost her top horse Kirsti never imagined that in less then ten years she would be back at top level. But that was before ‘Rosie’ arrived in the yard. The 11-year-old grey mare has taken Kristi back to the top of her game – although the journey has not been without it’s setbacks.
At the beginning of 2011 whilst competing at Lexington the pair suffered a rotational fall. Kristi broke her ribs and elbow and three days later, was in hospital for a planned hip replacement meaning the pair was out of competition for the summer.
During this time Kristi met up with former Burghley winner Bruce Davidson (1974 –Irish Cap) who offered to help the pair get back on their feet. Kristi drove Rosie the 3,000 miles to Bruce’s East coast yard where they stayed for two months before competing at Lexington in April where after a glance-off they were 23rd. They then won their next event the CIC3* at Kalispell and has been based back with Bruce for the four months prior to travelling over to the UK.
“Everything has come together for us both,” says Kristi. “I am super excited to be here and a little nervous but we really felt this was the right course for Rosie as she is super bold and this is a super bold course.”
Rosie who is now described as a ‘horse of a lifetime’ is an American-bred mare of Holstein descent. Her sire is the German-bred Riverman who was exported to the US as was her dam Marisol who is by Corofino. “Rosie is a lovely mover and loves to jump and to me is very special,” said Kristi.
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