Swiss rider Nadja Minder takes home the accolade of best first timer at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, piloting Toblerone (Choccy) who at 19 is the oldest horse in the field into 24th.Its a childhood dream come true. We have such a partnership, said Nadja, 26, who lives on her familys farm at Illnau in the Zurcher Oberland in south-east Switzerland.I was actually very confident going into the cross country. I dont think you have that very often. I didnt really feel nervous through the whole week. I was able to eat something on Saturday morning and slept well. That shows how much trust I have in him. Nadja has been riding the veteran horse since her young rider days, when his owner, Nicole Basieux, handed over the reins. The owner produced him to two-star level, and then asked me if I wanted to take over the ride, because Id retired my other young rider horse, said Nadja. Now being on this journey together, its just unreal. When you dont even try really, and you get to this point, its so cool.We had zero worries about his ageNadja described Choccy, who was groomed by her mother Therese at Badminton, as being incredibly smart and said there are currently no plans to retire him.I really need to see and feel how hes doioing. With him being 19, you dont want to push them over the edge, she said. But I mean, we had zero worries this week with him. So it feels unfair to say hes 19 and so he needs to to retire. He loves the job, and today he felt on springs.Nadja partly credited Choccys longevity to the fact he started eventing relatively late on in life, taking part in his first international event at the age of 11.As he started so late, he doesnt have the mileage of other 19-year-olds, she told Your Horse. He also doesnt need that much preparation as he is super-professional and I just can go from show to show, and do whats necessary.Nadja and Choccy were pathfinders at last years European Championships at Blenheim, where the Swiss team came fourth and they finished 19th individually.Nadja made her senior team debut at the 2022 world championships, also aboard Toblerone, and they were members of the fifth-placed Swiss team at the 2023 European Championships in France.Their best five-star result to date is 16th at Luhmuhlen last year, and 20th at Burghley in 2024.Main image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentRos Canter and Walter gallop into the history books with sensational third Badminton victoryIt works, so I stick with it: Laura Collett on showjumping her mare in bitless bridleHome-bred who nearly died as a foal speeds to top end of the leaderboardThe post We had zero worries about his age: Oldest horse in the field finishes best of Badminton first timers appeared first on Your Horse.