5-star eventer Ivar Gooden enjoys competitors return following damage

Imogen King’s (née Murray) prime horse Ivar Gooden returned with a win at his first present since sustaining a leg damage 19 months in the past.

Ivar Gooden, recognized at residence as Sir Charles, is among the most constant cross-country horses on this planet at five-star, with a 100% leaping clear charge from six begins.

He sustained a leg damage in June 2021 and has spent the final 18+ months recovering, rigorously and steadily progressing via his rehabilitation. Final week, somewhat over a yr since he restarted ridden work, Imogen took him to his first showjumping present at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complicated on 10 January.

Imogen informed H&H the intention was to not be aggressive, however to present him a enjoyable outing.

“It was so good to have him out. He was actually good and actually loved coming again and truly doing one thing,” she stated. “We’ve been taking [his rehabilitation] very nice and gradual – we wished to present him the most effective likelihood doable.”

The pair topped the 1.05m, with Imogen having fun with a purple streak to win three different courses on completely different horses that day.

“He has been leaping at residence now for about six months, simply good and small, and we’ve began taking him to reveals as a result of he enjoys it,” she stated.

“We are going to see how he goes. It could be very nice if he might come again to do one other five-star, however he owes us nothing.”

She added that the thought is to begin slowly and see how he goes, with no huge plans and something they do shall be “for his enjoyment”.

The now 16-year-old gelding was sourced in Eire by Aivar Ward, who co-owns him with MS Workforce, at Goresbridge gross sales as a four-year-old.

He joined Imogen’s string as a teenager and the pair have since represented Britain on Nations Cup groups in addition to having fun with placings at five-star. Their prime outcomes embody eighth at Badminton and sixth at Burghley in 2019.

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On episode 17 of the Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s Hannah Lemieux chats to Ivar Gooden’s rider, Imogen Murray, to

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