For the first time in her career, Laura Collett called upon the services of a hunt horse to escort her to the dressage warm-up at the 2026 Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (8 May). Ive never been escorted up here before, but Ive seen other people do it and I thought, yeah, lets try that anything to make it safe, said Laura, who was riding Yvonne Fergusons home-bred mare, Bling.Shes just been so unsettled since Wednesday, so were just trying to do all that we can to keep her chilled and calm and it seemed to work, said Laura, who went on to explain what happened two days ago. I said to Tilly [Lauras travelling groom], that there arent many horses that scare me, but she does, because when she sees red, the red mist comes, and theres no thought process in what shes doing, and she just, she bolts. I was bolted with by Bling down the avenue on Wednesday luckily, no one was around, but when she goes, she properly goes. Then I had to come back past all the grassroots cross-country it was a pretty terrifying first day at Badminton for myself. So were just very happy we are here, and we survived, and were still going! Tricky, but feeling goodLaura and Bling put in a solid performance in the first phase to score 33.5 and sit in equal 27th going into tomorrows cross-country. She hates dressage and physically finds it difficult as well as mentally, explained Laura. Since just before Burghley, she started to think about maybe working with me and not 100% against me. Were definitely not fully there yet, but its a work in progress with her because shes tricky in her head as well, so everythings a bit of a mind game to be able to get her to work in a way that you would want her to.Laura said that Blings homework has been good, but going to a big event changes the game slightly. At home now, shes feeling really good, but its a whole different ball game when we go in an atmosphere and do a test like that. I was just very pleased that she didnt break in the counter canter because shes just about got her head around doing a flying change on a diagonal line, and then it was like, Oh, no, youve got to do medium and then stay counter counter, and then do a change, and shes being a bit like, eff you! Decide what you want, one or the other, not all three at once, but thats just a bit her mentality. If she allows herself to understand it, then shes fine, but shes not very good at giving herself that opportunity to listen. All things considered, I am very happy. Im looking forward to tomorrows cross country. Image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentHow to watch BadmintonI pumped milk to flatten me out and away I go: Ros Canter sails into the lead at BadmintonMare, 16, makes Badminton debut after recovering from tendon injury A very international top 10 at Badminton as defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo lead the way after dressageI was hypnotised: Simon Grieve combats confidence wobble to return to Badminton after six-year absenceChange in warm-up plan pays off for New Zealands Jesse CampbellIt makes him at ease: American rider uses nosenet in dressage testThe post When the red mist comes, she just bolts: Laura Collett puts a tricky couple of days behind her on complex mare appeared first on Your Horse.