Zara Phillips - My championship debut after becoming a mum

Are you all set for your first championship after becoming a mother?

Yes my preparation has gone really well. Every event I set out to contest with High Kingdom has happened and he’s been on good form. The main issue has been getting my own fitness back. I cycle and swim so it’s been a question of trying to fit that in alongside having a little person. Before you become a parent you don’t realise just how much time you had before your baby arrived.

Has your daughter Mia travelled to France with you?

No she hasn’t. She’s very small and because I’m part of a team I have to make sure that I have time to focus on my teammates. It would be a different matter if I was competing here alone.

Tell us about Aachen, your last major prep run before the WEG

Aachen [the CICO*** where Zara and High Kingdom finished 25th] provided us with some much needed match practice. I made the mistake of warming up for the dressage for too long so my horse became tired in the test and we didn’t get our best mark. But it was good to remind myself how long my warm up needs to be ahead of the World Equestrian Games. Aachen also gave us some great practice of show jumping in a big arena where you need to keep your horse travelling forward for the whole of your round.

Have you competed at Le Pin National Stud before?

No I’ve never ridden here before but I have competed in France, the last time being at Saumur in 2012.

What are your first impressions?

It’s a beautiful area. It was dark and very wet when we arrived yesterday but the rain has made the cross-country going good.

What are your medal expectations?

My horse is on good form and if he manages a personal best in the dressage — such as at Luhmuhlen last year when we finished second — I would hope to be up there fighting for it. We have to match that test or do an even better one, though.

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