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“A Great Day for Sport”: Andrew Nicholson Debriefs on Europeans Cross-Country

By on Sep 21, 2025 12:47 pm -

Melody Johner and Erin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

On Saturday evening at the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships at Blenheim, the Swiss team were in bronze – on the brink of winning their first eventing medal since 1981 – and Andrew Nicholson, their cross-country coach and a vital cog in their march towards the top end of the sport, was a happy man.

It didn’t quite work out for them on Sunday: a medal slipped out of their grasp and they finished in that ultimately annoying position – where you have to pretend to be delighted but are actually gutted – fourth. But Andrew was still happy; he is proud of the Swiss and the progress they have made, and thoroughly enjoys being part of the red-coated support squad.

Andrew knows Blenheim very well, of course. He won the second-ever running of the CCI4*-L here in 1991 on Park Grove, took the 2012 eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S on Quimbo, has ridden dozens of horses round the track here over the years, and even announced his (partial) retirement during the event in 2021. There’s no one better to appraise Mark Phillips’ cross-country course and how it rode:

Nadja Minder and Toblerone. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I thought he had done a very good job when I walked it,” Andrew began. “I liked the way he got you into a good, quick rhythm straight off. The first two minutes were fast, but there were enough twists and turns that they weren’t just galloping and jumping. Then suddenly they got to the Dew Pond and had to take the speed off, have the suppleness, a bit of finesse, to jump the pinned fences down to the water.

And then from then on, for two minutes, it was intense. I thought what Mark did in the main arena – a big box, then five good, big strides to two angled fences, gave riders good preparation for the fences in front of the palace – the two big corners. They were the ones that everyone was talking about beforehand; in total there was something like seven jumping efforts in a minute, but people made a very good job of them.

And then, after so many jumps in a short space of time, you were going to be down on the clock. Do you then speed up a bit? Quite a few riders were on time going into the first main water crossing, but that makes me think that they had had to make some time up. It’s 60, 70m across the water – there, and on the way back. There’s no way you can make up time from then on. Then, coming out of the water for the first time, they had to push up the big hill, which makes the combinations on the other side of the water difficult. It’s just when the horses are starting to tire.

I think that’s probably why the corner in the water [20abc] caused so much trouble, and the oxer to the corner [22ab].

For me, the only thing I would think Mark didn’t get right was the coffin [25abc] – the long route was too easy. Someone told me a couple of people did the direct route, and I can’t understand why you’d even try. I thought the long route was much easier. It seemed to be incredibly smooth and pretty much risk-free.

If you could get to there, as long as you used your head, you’d get home.”

Andrew thought it was an exciting day’s cross-country [yes indeed…] and “all credit to Mark, and to the riders, who rode it positively and well.”

You can view a guide to the course below or here on CrossCountry App:

“It was a great day for the sport, I think. When you see Laura and Michi, two of the best riders in the world, going cross-country on two of the best horses, and they are working [hard]… I thought Michi would have been inside the time. I couldn’t believe when he was down on the clock at six minutes. He looked to be cutting the corners, turning up tight, everything smooth. And Chipmunk might be getting older, but he can gallop. It was good cross-country. It doesn’t matter at all that no one got the time. The horses weren’t finishing really tired, they looked good. I thought it was very well done.”

Switzerland’s Robin Godel and Global DHI. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Indeed, it was a course that may have given off an innocuous vibe, but as is the case with most smartly-designed courses, the devil lies in the details. A course that can play influence both on the clock and in the form of scattered problems, rather than one standout “bogey” fence, has done its tricks well.

While some questions — the first combination at 6, the Suregrow Dew Pond, (which Tilly Berendt described as “dimensionally diminutive pair of skinny triple-bars with a little pond between them, but crucially, the first element was set on top of a short, sharp mound, and because there had been nothing earlier on in the track to force riders to finetune their horses’ adjustability, many found that their mounts came up the mound and then ground to a halt, startled to find a speedbump suddenly in front of them”) and fence 22, the FEI Mounds, were two particularly influential questions, but in reality a few fences caused trouble for multiple pairs. In all, 52% of the starters on cross-country jumped clear.

For Andrew, the future for the Swiss is bright, and weekends like this, while the result may not have been the ideal, are demonstrative of this.

Melody Johner and Erin, whom Andrew rode up to three-star level, produced one of the best and fastest rounds of the day, and Andrew was delighted with both Melody and Nadja Minder, who was the pathfinder for the whole competition on Toblerone.

“Melody talks away to Erin,” he grins, “and he likes it. Both girls did an unbelievable job. I was disappointed for Robin [Godel, who had 20 penalties on Global DHI], but they all rode very well and they are getting more experience all the time at these big events.”

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream Replays] [BBC iPlayer Broadcast] [FEI YouTube Stream Replays] [Entries] [Scores] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

Vittoria Panizzon is Finding Firmer Footing Following Overturned Suspension

By on Sep 20, 2025 4:48 am -

Vittoria Panizzon and DHI Jackpot. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Vittoria Panizzon has ridden at nine senior championships for Italy, including three Olympic Games, but at the beginning of this season it seemed unlikely that she would make it to a 10th. She was entering the second year of a four-year suspension for a missed human dope test that seemed deeply unfair – Vittoria and the representative from Italy’s national anti-doping association (NADO) had failed to find each other at 5am on a very rural property that was difficult to access, with poor phone signal – and Vittoria’s attempts to get her ban lifted were frustrating, unsupported and very expensive.

However, the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finally annulled the ban at the end of April, and she had to put her foot down hard on the throttle to regain her place on the Italian team.

DHI Jackpot, the attractive grey, now 11, whom Vittoria turned to crowdfunding in the winter of 2022 to secure with Paris in mind, had had a couple of national runs with Susie Berry to make sure he was ready to go if Vittoria’s CAS appeal was successful.

“I’m very grateful to Susie – I’d worked him through the winter, but it was hugely helpful that she had him in work and ready to go; we didn’t know what the outcome would be, or how long it would take,” Vittoria said. “And she hadn’t changed my ‘buttons’, which was amazing because that’s a very stressful part of swapping horses and riders around at that level. I was able to hop back on and he went beautifully straight away.”

Vittoria gave DHI Jackpot a quick whizz round the open intermediate at Aston-le-Walls, then went straight to the CCI4*-L at Millstreet in Ireland to get his qualification for this Europeans.

“It was a bit of gamble – there aren’t many horses you can jump on like that and go straight round a four-star long and see the odd stride, but, luckily, it paid off,” said Vittoria with a wry smile.

It isn’t difficult to see the toll the huge stress of the past couple of years and the helplessness she has felt at an intractable and unfair process has taken on Vittoria. Always polite and articulate, she would clearly rather wait, however, until cross-country is over to wax very lyrical about DHI Jackpot’s talent and ability.

“His strengths and weaknesses complement my strengths and weaknesses,” she says, “and he was really concentrating today and trying [they scored 33.2 and lie 26th after dressage]. But we’ve had a short prep and I think he is still at a ‘changing’ sort of age. Some more events this year would have given me more time to figure out everything – what works, what doesn’t work. He is maturing, and he might need a bit more time.”

A good clear cross-country round would begin to give Vittoria a little mental compensation for a fairly dreadful couple of years, and help her find a firmer foothold on the sport and way of life she thought she had lost.

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [BBC iPlayer Broadcast] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

Freida Enjoys ‘the Number One Spot’ with Felix Vogg at Agria FEI Eventing European Championships

By on Sep 19, 2025 1:08 pm -

Felix Vogg finishes up his European Championships test with Freida. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I like a challenge,” said Felix Vogg in his deadpan manner.

His Blenheim Europeans ride Frieda has certainly been that; for the 12-year-old Casalito mare even to be here will have surprised people, and for her to have scored 29.2 and to be 11th after dressage is a victory in itself.

“A couple of years ago, she did nearly nothing, because she’s a bit difficult,” said Felix. “And at the beginning of the year when I said she should come here, a lot of people laughed.”

Felix bought Frieda as a five-year-old from British rider Willa Newton: “We saw her at one show, went to try her and really liked her. She had all the qualities you need [for eventing at a high level].”

There’s a “but”, though.

“She’s very horse-shy. And a bit long in the body and unbalanced, so it was quite tricky. She was always good at the lower levels, like two- and three-star, but it came to a point where it didn’t make sense to go four-star,” said the Swiss rider. “We got to the stage where there wasn’t any more progress.”

Felix Vogg and Freida. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Felix doesn’t really seem the “try anything, up to and including witchcraft” type, but apparently he is.

“We tried different stuff, like cowboys so that she isn’t horse-shy, and these horse-whisperers and the like – we tried everything, but she doesn’t want that, so we gave her away.”

I think he means “sent” rather than “gave”, although I cannot be sure. Anyway, Bettina Hoy, the great German multiple medallist and CCI5* winner, had Frieda for six months.

“She only had two horses and she had time all day long; at the time I was taking on a farm and I didn’t have so much time,” said Felix.

Time, patience and individual attention were clearly what Frieda needed. When she came back to Felix, she was still some way down his equine list of priorities, with the likes of Cartania, Colero and so on hogging the top spots as the build-up to the Paris Olympics began.

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“So this year I said, I have got to give her the chance and give her everything so that she can actually succeed. So she has the number one spot,” Felix explained. “I thought a lot about it, coming out of the winter, what I would do with her. So I ride her first in the morning, really early, when no one is there, so there are no distractions for her.”

He says that she finds dressage the hardest phase, so it will be interesting to watch Frieda over the next two days in the jumping phases.

Frieda has done well to be here at Blenheim, but so has Felix. He had a fall in the water at Saulieu in France in late August, hit some stones with his shoulder and was left with his arm “completely paralysed – it didn’t move anymore”, missing Burghley as a result.

“I had four hours of physio every day, stuff like that. It is quite painful, but Frieda is light to ride across country. She isn’t used to this many spectators – that’s why I took her to Aachen this year, and she was a little bit unsure there – and that can be energy-sapping for horses, so tomorrow I will ride her depending on how she feels, how she takes to it.”

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [BBC iPlayer Broadcast] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

From Vaulting to the World Stage: Hungary’s Noémi Doerfer Steps into the Spotlight at Blenheim

By on Sep 19, 2025 11:46 am -

Noémi Doerfer and Piltown Harry. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

More often than not, the path to riding at a senior championship is stony, steep and slow. Occasionally — aand cheeringly — it is not. Hungarian competitor Noémi Doerfer did her first 90cm class when eventing restarted following the first Covid lockdown in July 2020, and five years and two months later, here she is at a European Championship.

Noémi, who speaks accentless English but is also fluent in Hungarian (her mother still will speak nothing else to her) and German, explains — sort of.

“I had a little Haflinger mare, and for some reason I kept saying that I wanted to jump over wooden fences, but she wouldn’t really want to go,” she rattles off with a big smile. “And I got a dressage horse that ended up doing eventing up to four-star, so I kind of got into it with him, and it just kept rolling from there.”

Noémi grew up in Germany, and her first equestrian experience was in the world of vaulting.

“When I was six I said that I wanted to ride, and my mum said, ‘Great, but you’ve got to be able to tack up your own horse — I’m not helping.’ So she sent me vaulting, which was a great foundation. You develop super feel for the horse and you’re really balanced. When I was 10 I was allowed to ride ‘properly’. From the get-go I had a really good seat, and it all came together quite quickly.”

After leaving school she undertook an apprenticeship, and then went to Hong Kong to work in a riding school.

“My boss was British and so were a couple of colleagues, and when I said, ‘I want to event’, they said, ‘Well, go to England.’”

Fortunately, Noémi based herself at Irish rider Austin O’Connor’s Oxfordshire yard, and she gives Austin, his wife Amy and trainers Gill Watson and Tracie Robinson great credit for helping her get to where she is.

“I’ve basically learnt everything from them,” she says.

Noémi Doerfer and Piltown Harry. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

She was “lucky enough” to take over Piltown Harry, the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Harlequin Du Carel on whom she scored 37.6 in the dressage today, from Austin.

“He’s an absolute machine across country. As long as he sees the fences, he knows where he’s going. He’s not the biggest mover and he’s not the biggest fan of dressage; his little quirk, I’d say, is that you have to make him think it’s his idea, and then he will do the movements within his ability,” Noémi says.

She is now based back in Germany, in a showjumping yard half an hour north of Hamburg.

“At the beginning of 2023 I was talking through my plan for the 2024 Olympics and how to qualify for that as an individual. My plan was to do a lot of European events, so it made sense to be based there,” she says. Though the Paris dream wasn’t to be, she’s been able to gain valuable mileage in competitive fields at Luhmühlen, Sopot, and Arville.

Her family aren’t particularly horsey — “my sister can ride if I tack up the horse, twice a year, and my mum says she is too old now” — but they are very supportive.

“My dad is driver and videographer, my mum does a bit of the grooming…” says Noémi.

It’s her 27th birthday tomorrow, on cross-country day; we’re looking forward to cheering her on as she gives herself good reason to celebrate that night.

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

The Future is Bright for Norway as Yasmin Olsson Payne Makes Senior Debut at FEI Eventing European Championships

By on Sep 18, 2025 2:15 pm -

Yasmin Olsson Payne and Cos Me Will. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In 2008, Yasmin Olsson Payne was told she would never ride again. An accident while hacking with friends left her with a bleed on the brain and bad facial lesions, and many 11-year-olds would have thrown in the towel after that.

Seventeen years later, a scar on her face tells its own story, but here she is making her senior championship debut at Blenheim – the first Norwegian to do so, she thinks, since Heidi Bratlie Larsen rode at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

Today she scored 37.2 for 22nd place at this stage on the British-bred Cos Me Will, who is just nine.

“It’s nice to have got the first phrase out of the way. It’s amazing to be here and he tried hard – a little bit tense, but he’s only nine and I’m happy with him,” said Yasmin, who is married to British rider Hector Payne. “It’s nice for a smaller country like Norway [to have championship representation] to help put the sport on the map a bit over there.”

Yasmin Olsson Payne and Cos Me Will. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Cos Me Will was bought by owners Paul and Victoria Clark for their daughter Zara to do under-18s.

“It wasn’t his original plan to step up to four-star and to be here,” admitted Yasmin, “and he tries really hard.”

She explained: “Zara was doing her A levels and I rode him while she was studying for her exams, and he was seven so we thought maybe he could go to Le Lion to the young horse world championships – we thought that was quite a big step for him, but he took to it really well, and then Zara went to university. For the first year we both rode him a bit, and then last year I had him completely to myself. He takes it all in his stride and he loves the cross-country – hopefully he will be up for it on Saturday.

“There’s a lot to do out there – it’s quite intense from fence six until you’ve crossed the river [the River Glymne, Blenheim’s main body of water, which is crossed twice] and there will be big crowds, which will make the fences even harder to read. He’s not the quickest yet but his stamina is a real highlight.”

Yasmin Olsson Payne and Cos Me Will. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yasmin, who has a Norwegian mother but who grew up in Britain, said that there are quite a few riders in Norway competing at two- and three-star level, but going higher than that is hard, because of the distances involved in travelling to events.

“But I think we’d like to have a team for the Nations Cup series next year,” she said.

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

“It Keeps Me Fit, It Keeps Me Passionate, It Keeps Me Motivated”: Karin Donckers on 15th Appearance at FEI Eventing European Championships

By on Sep 18, 2025 2:14 pm -

Karin Donckers and Ceres De La Brasserie. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There are championship riders, and then there is Karin Donckers. The 54-year-old ever-jolly Belgian is making her 30th senior squad appearance – she was riding at championships before a good percentage of her rivals were born – and Blenheim is her 15th Europeans. Twenty years ago, when the European Championships last took place at Blenheim, she finished in that most irritating of positions – fourth individually – on the Irish Thoroughbred Gormley.

“It’s really nice to be back – England is England, everything is so horsey here, so green; it’s beautiful to ride in a park like this, and since Brexit we don’t come here so often because it’s all a bit more complicated,” said Karin with a grin.

“Riding at a championship never gets old [for me] – it keeps me fit, it keeps me passionate, it keeps me motivated, and as long as I enjoy it so much and I feel good and I have the right horse, I will do it.”

Karin was matter-of-fact about her dressage score of 34.9 on Ceres De La Brasserie, the 13-year-old daughter of Gazelle De La Brasserie, herself a homebred that Karin rode at two Olympics, two World Equestrian Games and two European Championships, by I’m Special De Muze.

Karin Donckers and Ceres De La Brasserie. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I was happy. Of course it can improve; she jogged in the walk and her flying changes aren’t established yet. She’s almost there, but then you feel the difference in an environment like this and in a championship test; it’s all a little more excited, so I need to work on that,” she said.

Is Ceres similar to her dam?

“In a way, yes – they have similar brains. She takes care of herself – she’s a clever mare and pays attention. She knows what she’s doing and that’s what I like across country – horses that think, and take care of themselves and of the rider.

At the peak of her career, Karin would lead – or near enough – the dressage at five-star level, and tell the media with a self-deprecating smile that she wouldn’t go fast enough cross-country to hold on to that. Usually true, but her horses are beautifully produced and skip around big tracks happily, so her thoughts on Mark Phillips’ cross-country course at Blenheim are worth heeding.

“It’s a proper track,” she underlined. “You have to come in your rhythm with the big fences at the beginning, and then from the second quarter to the end of the third quarter, there are a lot of technical distances that you have to ride. I will have to make sure that we have a bit of energy in the tank to be able to finish properly. But I don’t think it will be a dressage competition – it’s a really English course.”

EN is proud to welcome Horsepal onboard as the sponsor of our European Championships coverage! Horsepal is a newly-launched heart rate monitor brought to you by Tom MacGuinness, founder of Horseware and an FEI eventer and endurance rider, who’s brought his decades of knowledge to practice in the design of Horsepal. You can now purchase Horsepal directly to the UK and Europe — learn more here.

Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim: [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream] [BBC iPlayer Broadcast] [FEI YouTube Streams] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Horsepal]

Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad win the £45,000 ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup at Cornbury House Horse Trials

By on Sep 15, 2025 9:00 am -

Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad. Photo by Peter Nixon.

New Zealand rider Clarke Johnstone became the inaugural winner of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) Racehorse to Eventer Challenge at Cornbury House Horse Trials, which carries a £45,000 first prize – unprecedented in the sport of eventing at this level.

Clarke was riding Tim Boland’s Sparky Lad, an Australian-bred former Flat racehorse. The pair led from the start, adding nothing to their dressage score of 26.2 across country and then showjumping clear in front of a large crowd on Saturday to hold off second-placed Ben Lee Liles and Finch Fancy.

Sparky Lad, a son of Smart Missile out of the More Than Ready mare Lady Hepburn, ran on the Flat in Australia for leading trainer Chris Waller.

A delighted Clarke said: “This is the biggest prize I’ve won during my career – the prize is amazing and the initiative is fantastic, so thank you very much to Jayne McGivern, David Howden and Arena Racing Company. Ex-racehorses are wonderful athletes and they try their best for you. I hope that this class encourages top riders to ask their local racehorse trainer whether they have a horse that might suit eventing.

“That’s what happened with Sparky Lad – his owner, Tim Boland, runs Limitless Lodge, which is a leading breaking and pre-training yard just north of Sydney. He pre-trained Sparky and identified him as a horse that could go on to succeed in eventing. Sparky went into training with Chris Waller and this horse is what Tim described as a ‘handy horse’ in that he ran more than 30 times and clocked up over $250,000 [Australian dollars], winning four times and was placed six times.

“Sparky has such a beautiful mind – he is the same every day and tries very hard.”

Clarke and Sparky Lad are presented with prizes by Jayne McGivern, Caroline Cruddace – wife of ARC CEO Martin Cruddace – and David Howden. Photo by Peter Nixon.

As well as the £45,000 cheque, Clarke was also awarded the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup – a George III silver perpetual trophy. Every year, the winning owner in this class will receive the silver-plated horse shoe of a Derby winner – the first of which, for 2025, was that of Golden Horn, who took the world’s premier Classic race in 2015 and who is owned by Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, who conceived and created the ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup alongside David Howden, president and founder of Cornbury House Horse Trials. Sparky Lad also won his weight in KeyFlow horse feed.

Ben Lee Liles and Finch Fancy, a diminutive mare by Arvico he owns alongside Charlie Ainsworth, were second, finishing on their 28.1 dressage mark and taking home £2,000 in the process.

Finch Fancy ran in a point-to-point and three National Hunt bumpers.

“She’s very competitive at CCI3* level, but she’s not the easiest to ride as she’s quite feisty,” said Ben. “She loves cross-country and is a great jumper. I’ve had some extra help with my dressage recently from Douglas Hibbett to polish things up. We got a personal best in the dressage, so that was amazing.”

He explained: “Some friends of mine had her in training and ran her in bumpers and wanted to get her jumping, but she was lacking in confidence, so they sent her to me for a couple of weeks to see if I could help. When I jumped her, I thought, ‘Wow, here’s a thoroughbred who wants to go airborne over fences’. I did an 80cm clear round with her at the end of the week and she was brilliant, so I said to the owners after that that if they ever wanted her to have another career, I would have her, and now here we are.”

Alexander Tordoff and the lovely grey Jack Randall, who is owned by Louise Heard, were third. They added 1.2 cross-country time-faults to a 27.7 dressage.

“He’s heading to the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S class at Blenheim next week, so I brought him here for a confidence boost and to get him in a big atmosphere, and Cornbury has really delivered on that front,” said Alex. “His owner bought him for herself three or four years ago out of a field and having never been over a pole. He was very cheap and he’s turned out to be the most lovely, wonderful horse in every way, with a lot of ability and heart.”

Photo by Peter Nixon.

Jack Randall, by Cityscape out of a Sakhee’s Secret mare, ran 14 times on the Flat when trained by Tim Easterby and then Iain Jardine.

The ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge attracted 44 starters in its first year, and many figures from the racing world gathered at Cornbury House Horse Trials on Saturday to watch its conclusion, including Nicky Henderson, Kim Bailey, Ben Pauling and Nico de Boinville. The class was one of the highlights of this immensely popular horse trials, which features FEI eventing classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level, the British Eventing Young Horse National Championships and classes for under-21 riders supported by The Howden Way.

India Scores a Ground-Breaking International Success at Cornbury House Horse Trials

By on Sep 12, 2025 2:49 pm -

Manvendra Singh and Grand Marnier. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Manvendra Singh became the first Indian event rider to win an FEI international class on British soil for many years when he took section J of the Uvex-sponsored CCI2*-S at Cornbury House Horse Trials in Oxfordshire on Declan and Kitty Cullen’s Grand Marnier. The pair completed on their dressage score of 31.7.

“It was great to have a horse like this and I really enjoyed the cross-country. I really owe everything to my coach [Declan],” said Manvendra, 22, who is based with the Cullens in Co Armagh. “I’ve been riding this horse for four months and it has been a great journey.”

Declan explained: “Manvendra’s horse got injured and my daughter, Kitty, said, ‘You can ride my horse. This is only Manvendra’s third event with Grand Marnier; he’s done a brilliant job and we’re buzzing.”

Another up-and-coming young competitor on a new ride, Josh Levett, scored in CCI2*-S section H aboard Amelia Ludiman and Susan Ridley’s Gortin House. They added just 0.4 of a cross-country time-fault to a dressage mark of 30.0.

“I didn’t know what to expect here, because I only started riding this horse three days ago,” said Josh. “She is a lovely, straightforward horse and jumps brilliantly, so I knew I would have a good chance, but there were a lot of unknowns.”

Britain’s Caroline Harris, who is about to make her senior championship debut at the Europeans at Blenheim next week, won CCI2*-S section I with Gail Sinclair’s Isington Girl Power on their 30.1 dressage.

“I didn’t expect to win – she’s a late starter so is a bit behind all of the other seven-year-olds as she had a foal when she was four,” said Caroline. “This was a lovely way to finish her season.

“We saw her advertised on Facebook – the owners were looking for a horse to produce and sell. She had a mega jump and we thought she looked pretty cool, but she is still for sale.

“Cornbury is so good for educating young horses. This mare has never seen anything like this and it has been great for her to learn in this atmosphere. The cross-country is a big, bold track and rewards by positive riding.”

Jesse Campbell and Speedwell. Photo by Peter Nixon.

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell took top honours in Pragnell CCI3*-S section F aboard Karen Coumbe and Deborah Strang’s smart 11-year-old, Speedwell.

Fifth after the dressage on 29.9, they capitalised on a speedy double clear, picking up just 0.4 of a time-fault to win by 2.6 penalties, ahead of Tom McEwen and Maestro in second.

“He goes to Boekelo next for the Nations Cup and I wanted a competitive but good run, and Cornbury is a great event for setting horses up for three-day events at the end of the season,” said Jesse, who took on the ride of this gelding following the death of his wife, Georgie.

“Speedwell was produced by Georgie all the way up to four-star and it’s a real honour for me to ride him. She always said he would be the best horse in the world, and it’s amazing that I get to show people that. I love him – he’s a real trier, but also extremely talented.”

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone leads the way after the dressage and cross-country phases of the ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge with Sparky Lad. The 11-year-old Australian-bred and raced son of Smart Missile, owned by Tim Boland, finished comfortably inside the optimum time to maintain his dressage lead on a score of 26.2.

Clarke said: “I had a great round today. Sparky is always keen to run and I let him go; not too fast as he’s a very speedy little guy and his next aim is Strzegom CCI4*-L, but he jumped a great round. “We‘re obviously aware of the great prize pot for this class [£50,000], and so there is pressure that comes with it, but he’s a great jumper and we’ll be doing our best to jump clear tomorrow.”

The ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup – the brainchild of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud – concludes on Saturday morning with the final showjumping phase, which takes place in reverse order. Saturday at Cornbury will also focus on the best young horses in the UK, with the cross-country phase of The Howden Way British National Championships for five- and six-year-olds taking centre stage.

As well as superb equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities over the weekend of September 13-14, all in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.

All the cross-country action from Cornbury House Horse Trials will be shown live on Horse & Country TV’s streaming platform H&C+.

To buy tickets, see timetables of each class and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

Cornbury House Horse Trials: [Website] [Tickets] [Timetable] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

Tom McEwen Blazes Ahead at Cornbury House Horse Trials

By on Sep 11, 2025 2:26 pm -

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality. Photo by Peter Nixon.

British Olympic gold medallist Tom McEwen has made a flying start to Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September), winning two sections of the Pragnell-sponsored CCI3*-S on day one of the Oxfordshire event. This makes him the clear favourite to retain the Leading Rider accolade – with its accompanying £2,500 cheque – that he won in 2024.

Gloucestershire-based Tom took section A on James and Jo Lambert’s Cecelia Cobra, adding 2.4 cross-country time-faults to his leading dressage score of 29.1. He then rode Brookfield Quality, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, to victory in section D, again picking up 2.4 time-penalties across country to complete on a mark of 29.1.

“Brookfield Quality comes here most years before we head down to Pau [the French CCI5* in October], because the atmosphere is great and the cross-country course suits him down to the ground,” said Tom. “[New Zealand rider] Tim Price keeps saying he’s going to hit me – he’s desperate to be leading rider here; because of that, I’m determined to keep going and I’ve got a few more chances of a winner this week!”

CCI3*-S section B went to Jack Pinkney with Sara Brown’s Carpo Vivendi. They were quick across country for only 1.2 time-faults on top of their first-phase score of 33.5.

Jack said: “I first got the ride on this horse when he was five – he came to me because he was quite tricky and his quirk was bolting, but he just needed confidence and trust in his rider. He has come on so much and just wants to give you 110%. I really think he could be a five-star horse – he‘s got the heart.”

Jack and Carpo Vivendi are now aiming for the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S class at Blenheim. He explained: “There are some good, flowing combinations here with plenty to do, and there is a good atmosphere – there aren’t many events where you can get this kind of buzz. Also, having a good run up the hills here is great in preparation for somewhere like Blenheim.”

Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Kylie Roddy was a popular winner of Pragnell CCI3*-S section C on Anne and Colin Fox’s CCI5* horse, SRS Kan Do. The pair collected just two cross-country time-penalties to add to their 31.4 dressage mark.

“He loves it here – he was second last year so I thought we’d come back, and especially after the rain we’ve had, which is right up his street,” said Kylie of this 15-year-old. “It’s magical when these older guys have got so much love for the job.

“He’s a funny horse in that he has places he prefers and he lives for atmosphere; the clapping and the crowds, so Cornbury is perfect for him. It lifts him and makes him a superhero.”

The final Pragnell-sponsored class of the day, CCI3*-S section E, was won by Tom McEwen’s Tokyo and Paris Olympics team-mate Laura Collett. She was riding the experienced Dacapo, who is owned by Richard and Gillian Morris-Adams, Diana Chappell, Carolyn Taylor and Michael and Alison Smedley. They were the only horse and rider combination to make the time across country today, completing on their dressage score of 28.4.

“Dacapo was on flying form today; he had a lovely time. The ground actually got better and better – by the time he went, it was perfect,” said Laura, who won the Leading Rider Award here at Cornbury in 2023.

As well as superb equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities over the weekend of 13-14 September, all in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park..

All the cross-country action from Cornbury House Horse Trials will be shown live on Horse & Country TV’s streaming platform H&C+..

To buy tickets, see timetables of each class and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

Cornbury House Horse Trials: [Website] [Tickets] [Timetable] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

Collett is Crowned Queen of Scotland at Scone Palace International Horse Trials

By on Aug 24, 2025 2:35 pm -

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Laura Collett and London 52 have three Olympic medals and three CCI5* wins to their credit, but gained another crown this weekend by becoming the first winners of The Malcolm Group CCI4*-S class at the inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials.

Laura and London 52, who is owned by Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott, had been breathing down the necks of dressage and showjumping leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI throughout the event, sitting 0.2 penalties behind them in second. When Ros – Laura’s Paris Olympics gold medal-winning team-mate – picked up 0.4 of a showjumping time-fault for being just one second over the time allowed across country – Laura seized her chance. In a faultless cross-country performance round event director and course-designer Alec Lochore’s imaginative track, she and 16-year-old London cruised round to cross the finish line six seconds inside the time. They therefore leapfrogged ahead of Ros and Izilot and collected their 14th international victory.

Laura said: “I’ve been blown away by the event here at Scone Palace; everything has been phenomenal, which is a huge relief as this is “Dan’s” last run before the European Championships. It’s been the best preparation for him, and he loved performing in front of the enormous crowd.

“Dan felt great this week. He gets better and better with age. A couple of years ago, the water would have been a bogey fence for him, but he jumped in and out the best of my four horses. I’ll definitely be back here; it’s already on the calendar for next year.”

Ros said: “Izilot DHI has been an absolute pleasure this week. He’s been on form all year, so consistent and secure in all his work during every phase at every event. I feel like I’ve really found my way with him and he’s really matured.

“We’ve had a great but busy week at Scone. They’ve done a fantastic job for a first-time event, especially considering the infrastructure and the amount of people they’ve had through the door. The ground has been great, too. I take my hat off to the organisers. I was walking around and I thought ‘goodness me, how do they remember to organise absolutely everything’ – if I was an organiser I’d definitely forget to order the loos or something!”

Behind Laura and Ros in third place was another of Britain’s stars, Emily King, with Valmy Biats.

Jonelle Price and Capitaine De Hus Z. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Jonelle Price and David and Katherine Thomson’s Capitaine De Hus Z maintained their lead in The Malcolm Group CCI4*-L, despite finishing their showjumping round 0.4sec outside of the time. Their final score of 31.2, though, was enough to keep Tom Jackson and Hambro Sport Horses’ HH Moonwalk in second on 33.3.

“I was delighted with him across country, despite being a few seconds over,” Jonelle said. “He jumped super all the way around, though he got a little strong coming home, but that’s the nature of the beast. I was able to manage him and stay better on the clock. He’s a good jumper and coming into the showjumping ring on something like him is a nice feeling. Scone Palace has very much been the focus for him, but we’ll probably look for a five-star next. Myself, I’m heading to Wellington [in Hampshire] at 7.30am tomorrow morning!”

Emma Carmichael receiving her prize from Andrew Malcolm of sponsors The Malcolm Group. Photo by Peter Nixon.

An influential showjumping phase shuck up the results of The Malcolm Group CCI3*-L. Emma Carmichael and Joanna Craigs and Fiona Bell’s 14-year-old Tax Break, second after cross-country, produced a textbook jumping round inside the time, while section leaders, Alex Turnbull and Harelaw Wizard, rolled four, pushing them well down the leaderboard. This marked Emma’s first international victory.

“It’s a bit unexpected, to be honest, as we weren’t even sure if we were going to make it to Scone Palace,” Emma said. “I dislocated the C-joint in my shoulder three weeks ago and I probably shouldn’t be onboard as quickly as this. I’m all taped up at the minute, but it’s held together well this week.

“It was always the plan to get him [Tax Break] here, though. He’s done a few four-stars with me but we needed a CCI3*-L to get a CCI4*L qualification, and he’s knocked it out of the park.”

Tax Break was formerly ridden by Alice Picton-Jones, who competed him up to intermediate, and Emma bought him when Alice went to university.

Emma explained: “I thought he might be quite a nice horse to get going quickly because he’s a bit older. We got him in February and he’s gone from doing a couple of intermediates to jumping around three-and-four-star shorts – then winning here today.

“The cross-country is probably his best phase. He’s a real galloper; he’s so brave and is incredibly bold, straight and genuine. He fills me with confidence which allows me to ride positively. He’s a bigger, stronger horse than what I would normally go for, but he wants to do it and is very adjustable.”

Ros Canter aced the CCI2*-L aboard Kate James and Jo Needler’s eight-year-old Broadstone Lion Man, who was making his debut at this level. The pair stayed on their dressage score of 26 throughout.

“Leo” is a son of Billy Tudor bred by Amy Hawley.

“I really rate him,” said Ros. “Amy evented him until he was a six-year-old. I spotted him at a clinic and asked her if she would ever sell him as I really liked him. Funnily enough, he was for sale and I had two lovely owners who wanted to come in on a horse with me, so it all worked out well.

“He’s quite lazy, but once he’s going he’s off. He’s not idle all the way through his work, but he’s a bit of a teenage boy; he’s a bit hard to get out of bed!”

Scotland’s leading event rider Wills Oakden ensured the Perthshire locals were represented on the winner’s podium as he headed the CCI1* with David Kenwright’s Greystone Midnight Harmony.

Wills said: “I’ve had a fantastic weekend; I can’t thank the organising team and the Mansfield family enough for their hospitality. To have an event of this stature in our area is terrific. The volume of people who have come through the gates has been incredible. I hope everyone comes back next year.”

Riders from across the water dominated in the CCI2*P-S, with Ireland occupying three of the four top spots, only sandwiched by third-placed British rider Eva Bryant and Coolnaleen Rebel (36.7).

Molly Egan and Divine Fernando, fifth after the dressage on 35.1, were the only combination to finish inside the showjumping time. They bumped up a placing after the cross-country and a flawless clear later in the day advanced them into first place on a final score of 35.7. In second was Ireland’s Susan O’Brien and Ballinagore Aaron, just 0.2 of a penalty behind on 35.9.

The first Scone Palace International Horse Trials was acclaimed a huge success, with 27,500 spectators coming through the gates throughout the week and enjoying top-class sport in glorious sunshine.

Event director Alec Lochore said: “We’ve had a lot of very positive feedback. We’ve learnt an enormous amount about the venue, and there are many positives and, of course, some tweaks that will be made. It takes time to understand a new event site, and I’m immensely proud of what the whole team has delivered. We’ll learn, and hopefully we’ll do it bigger and better next year. The Mansfield family [who own Scone Palace] have taken a massive leap of faith in taking on the mantle of what was an enormously popular event [Blair Castle] and by investing in producing something really special here at Scone Palace.”

Scone Palace International (Scotland): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]

Jonelle Price Does New Zealand Proud at Scone Palace International Horse Trials

By on Aug 23, 2025 5:00 pm -

Jonelle Price and Capitaine De Hus Z. Photo by Peter Nixon.

New Zealand Olympic medallist Jonelle Price has maintained pole position in The Malcolm Group CCI4*-L after cross-country at Scone Palace International Horse Trials (August 21-24) on David and Katherine Thomson’s Capitaine De Hus Z.

Jonelle sped round the beautiful cross-country track in the grounds of Scone Palace and only collected 2.4 time-penalties, putting her on a score of 30.8 going into Sunday’s final showjumping phase.

“I had a lovely run on him,” said Jonelle. “Control has been a little bit of a thing with him and today has been a positive step in the right direction. He came home full of running. I’ve seen many happy rounds today.”

Britain’s Tom Jackson has held on to his second place with Hambro Sport Horses’ HH Moonwalk after adding 3.2 cross-country time-faults to his dressage mark of 30.1. And Jenny Caras (USA)’s clear inside the time on Jerry Hollis’s Somersby has whizzed her x places up the leaderboard to third on 35.1. Jenny was one of just three riders to remain on their dressage scores in this class; the others were Heidi Coy, fourth on MGH Jessica and Sam Ecroyd, now eighth with Mister Big Ears.

Alex Turnbull and Harelaw Wizard. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Alex Turnbull, 22, is in the lead on Charles Robson’s 18-year-old part-bred Clydesdale Harelaw Wizard in The Malcolm Group CCI3*-L after finishing inside the time to stay on her first-phase score of 29.5.

“He’s been working well in the lead up to Scone and he did a very good test, staying relaxed throughout. He’s an experienced horse and has done plenty at the higher levels, so my main aim was to keep him balanced and maintain that pace while being careful.

“The rail-ditch-rail combination was arguably the most challenging section; it was after a triple bar coming down a hill, and it really made me think.”

Alex is in her fourth year with Wizard: “He’s amazing across country; he knows his job inside out and totally loves it.”

Northumberland-based Emma Carmichael also jumped a clear round inside the time on Tax Break for second place going into showjumping with a mark of 33.2, while Japanese rider Kento Nagura is 0.5 of a penalty adrift in third on the highly experienced Vinci De La Vigne.

Ros Canter is in first place in two classes at this stage – the CCI2*-L after cross-country with Broadstone Lion Man and The Malcolm Group CCI4*-S after showjumping on Izilot DHI.

Broadstone Lion Man, who belongs to Jo Needler and Kate James, added nothing to his dressage mark of 26 to remain 2.2 penalties ahead of Canada’s Rebecca Howard (Dolmen Cooley), with Emma Lawton (GBR, Dinnarthall Sea King) third on 28.9.

It looked as though Ros might lose the lead in the CCI4*-S to her fellow British Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett when Izilot DHI, owned by Ros and Alex Moody, picked up 0.4 of a showjumping time-fault for exceeding the time allowed by just one second. Remarkably, however, Laura and the great London 52 did the same, and the pair stayed in their original positions, with Ros going into Sunday’s cross-country on 22.3 and Laura on 22.5, which should set the huge crowds enjoying the action at Scone Palace for a truly exciting finish to this class.

Both riders will be aware, though, of Emily King and Valmy Biats lurking in third on 25.2 and Tom McEwen – the third member of that gold medal-winning squad last summer in Paris – fourth with a mark of 26 on Brookfield Quality.

Wills Oakden received a dunking when he came off his CCI4*-L ride, Keep It Cooley in a water fence, but there was some compensation when he took the lead in the CCI1* after showjumping on Greystone Midnight Harmony from Eliza Bell and Ridgebarn Rummage. Ireland’s Molly Egan tops the pony CCI2* class going into cross-country on Divine Fernando.

As well as international eventing, there are two full days of British Showjumping classes at Scone Palace this weekend. A thrilling Malcolm Group Scone Palace Grand Prix commanded the attention of the crowds in the King’s Arena this afternoon.

Miles O’Donnell and Jackpot DS. Photo by Peter Nixon.

A 24-strong field was whittled down to a final handful who contested the jump-off. Eventer Tom McEwen, who has seven horses here at Scone Palace this week, was first to go on eight-year-old mare Kilcannon Mischief. The pair produced a seamless clear in a time of 50.67 and were tipped for victory until the last combination, Miles O’Donnell and his family’s 10-year-old Jackpot DS (Jack), pushed them into second after zipping round in 50.33.

“In show jumping there aren’t many shows that give you the chance to ride in front of such a big crowd,” said Miles, who lives just outside of Cupar. “The first round was technical and twisty, and the jump-off gave you options; you could go as tight and as fast as you wanted. I had to make sure I was just that little bit quicker than Tom!”

Jack was a relative late starter and has only recently found his stride as a jumper, as Miles explained: “We took a bit of a punt on him, actually; he didn’t start jumping until he was about eight. We had a slow start together but this year it’s all just clicked. He’s got the biggest heart of any horse I’ve ridden and he gives you his all; always 110%.”

Scone Palace International (Scotland): [Website] [Timing/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Live Stream]

The Price is Right for Jonelle at Scone Palace International Horse Trials

By on Aug 22, 2025 6:12 pm -

Jonelle Price and Capitaine De Hus Z. Photo by Peter Nixon.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price is in the lead in the feature class at Scone Palace International Horse Trials, The Malcolm Group CCI4*-L, after dressage.

Jonelle, a multiple CCI5* winner, scored 28.4 on David and Katherine Thomson’s Capitaine De Hus Z, a new ride for her this season, giving her a narrow margin over second-placed British competitor Tom Jackson and Hambro Sport Horses’ HH Moonwalk, who go into Saturday’s cross-country on 30.1 penalties.

“He’s a new horse for me, so this year has been about getting to know him,” Jonelle said. “His former rider Ginny Thomasen has done all the leg work with him, and it’s been a case of making him feel more like my horse. His test yesterday was a step further in that direction. He’s a nice-moving, attractive horse so now we’re getting a clear round [in the dressage] we can think about adding some more ‘spice’ and I can be a bit braver in the mediums.

“He’s a cheeky, game little horse. He’s experienced at this level, often not the easiest across country as there’s nothing there to back them up. The control has been the main issue for him and I’m heading out tomorrow with a few questions that I don’t know the answers to yet. He’s a very good jumper; scopey and up for the job. I hope he can go out there and be fast on the clock while remaining respectful of the fences. I’ll tell you those answers tomorrow at about 1.30pm!”

In third place at this stage is Tiana Coudray (USA), with a mark of 30.8 aboard Coeur De L Esprit Z. Other U.S. riders in the CCI4*-L field are Lauren Nicholson, who’s 15th after dressage on Landmark’s Jungle Gold and Jenny Caras, 16th with Sommersby.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI. Photo by Peter Nixon.

British Olympic gold medallist Ros Canter took a commanding lead in The Malcolm Group CCI4*-S class riding her own and Alex Moody’s 12-year-old dual CCI5* winner Izilot DHI, former world champion Ros scored 21.9. This gives her a 6.9-penalty advantage over her Paris Olympics team-mate Laura Collett, who sits in second with 28.8 on a new ride, Alex van Tuyll’s home-bred Count Onyx.

“I’m delighted with ‘Isaac’,” said Ros. “He felt elastic and was relaxed at the same time. It’s lovely to be back in Scotland with space around us and fantastic support from the crowds.”

According to equestrian sport statistics company EquiRatings, Ros and Laura’s scores are the two best at CCI4*-S level on Scottish soil since 2008. Emily King is also in a highly competitive position with the Burghley-bound Valmy Biats after posting a score of 25.3.

Ros Canter and Broadstone Lion Man. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Ros has also taken pole position in the CCI2*-L on Jo Needler and Kate James’s Broadstone Lion Man, a British-bred eight-year-old by Billy Tudor who is contesting his first international event. They are on a mark of 26. Canada’s Rebecca Howard is in the runner-up spot currently on Dolmen Cooley, who scored 28.2.

The Malcolm Group CCI3*-L has another New Zealand rider, Ginny Thomasen, at the head of affairs after dressage. Ginny – who rode Capitaine De Hus Z before Jonelle took over at the start of this season – produced a score of 26.1 on her own and Phillippa Levy’s Katchafire. Second to them on 25 penalties are Alex Turnbull (GBR) and the veteran Harelaw Wizard, who, at 18, is just four years younger than his rider.

British rising star Heidi Coy remains on top in the CCI1* with 27.8 on Deborah Remijn’s Heggeland St Louis, while Eva Bryant and Colnaleen Rebel are ahead for Britain with a mark of 34.3 in the CCI2* for ponies.

Cross-country at Scone Palace starts at 8.30am on Saturday (August 23); tickets are available on the gate and online. For more information, including a full timetable, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sconehorsetrials.com. Action from all three phases of the international eventing classes can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.TV.

Scone Palace International (Scotland): [Website] [Timing/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Live Stream]

Harry Meade to Head Out First at Defender Burghley

By on Aug 19, 2025 10:46 am -

Harry Meade and Et Hop du Matz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

World number one Harry Meade will be the first rider to go at Defender Burghley 2025 (4-7 September) on his own and Mandy Gray’s Et Hop Du Matz – and the last, on Dinah and Stephen Posford and Juliet Carter’s Annaghmore Valoner.

As the only competitor with three horses entered for the Lincolnshire CCI5*, Harry’s rides have been drawn 1, 24 (Cavalier Crystal, owned by Charlotte and Peter Opperman) and 60. There are 60 entries in total, but no rider is asked to carry supposedly unlucky number 13.

The 2024 Defender Burghley champions, Ros Canter and Archie and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo, will set off late in the day as number 53.

There are five former Burghley-winning riders in the 2025 field: Piggy March (2022) has been drawn 23 on Maidwell Mavericks’ MCS Maverick, while Caroline Powell (2010) is number 30 on High Time V, owned by Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West, Tom Craig and Annabel Jenks. Tim Price (2018) and his 2024 Burghley runner-up, Joe and Alex Giannamore’s Vitali, secured number 40 in the draw. And Oliver Townend (2009, 2017 and 2023) and Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent are number 50.

To see the complete drawn order for Defender Burghley 2025, please visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk/competition/cci5

 A full preview of this year’s cross-country track will feature shortly on Burghley TV, which will broadcast every moment of the action from Defender Burghley 2025.

To find out more about Defender Burghley (September 4-7 2025) and to purchase tickets and hospitality, visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk.

Defender Burghley: [Website] [Tickets] [Entries] [Burghley TV]

Strong Entries for Scone Palace International’s Inaugural Running

By on Aug 8, 2025 10:30 am -

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Peter Nixon.

Double Olympic team gold medallists Laura Collett and London 52 are among the exceptionally good entries for the international eventing classes at the inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials (August 21-24).

The pair, who also have three victories at CCI5* level to their credit, including at Badminton in 2022, will be favourites to win the Malcolm Group CCI4*-S – but will face fierce opposition in the 90-strong class from both of Laura’s Paris 2024 team-mates, Ros Canter (Izilot DHI) and Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality, Cecilia Cobra, Maestro, Quintus and Shannondale Arnold). The competitive field also includes top riders from the USA, China, Japan, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Brazil, and leading Brits such as Izzy Taylor and Emily King.

The Malcolm Group CCI4*-L class features Scotland’s leading rider, Wills Oakden, with his Blair Castle 2024 winner Keep It Cooley, New Zealand’s multiple CCI5* champion Jonelle Price, American World silver medallist Lauren Nicholson, Badminton and Burghley heroine Piggy March and many other well-known names.

Lauren Nicholson and Larcot Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

And while the present group of stars each have multiple horses competing at Scone Palace, we are delighted to welcome back Ian Stark – former European champion, Olympic medallist and CCI5* winner – to international competition. Ian, 71, is familiar to anyone who has had an interest in horses in Scotland in the past few decades, and will be riding seven-year-old CCS Dance Monkey, whom he owns with the Duchess of Devonshire, in the CCI2*-L class.

As well as Perthshire-based Wills Oakden, who is bringing four horses to Scone Palace, Scottish competitors include Louisa Milne Home, Bella Innes Ker, Gordon Murphy, Cameron Swales, Douglas Crawford and Sarah Farnsworth. Fiona Malcolm, whose family the Malcolm Group are sponsoring the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and the Scone Palace Grand Prix, is competing Jalisco in the 98-runner CCI1*.

Scone Palace’s Event Director Alec Lochore said: “We are absolutely delighted with both the number of entries and their quality, and can’t wait to welcome British and international riders to experience Scottish hospitality at Scone Palace. The site is looking fantastic – this is a truly spectacular venue – and we hope that all competitors have a great week.”

Scone Palace International Horse Trials is the most exciting addition to the national calendar in years, and takes place in the beautiful grounds below Scone Palace in Perthshire, with all the advantages of the excellent permanent facilities of the adjacent Perth Racecourse.

Scone Palace is holding international eventing classes at CCI4*-L, CCI4*’S, CCI3*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI1* and CCI-2 Pony 2* level, as well as the Scottish Grassroots Eventing Festival, comprising the Scottish Grassroots Championships at BE100 and BE90 level, and “open” British eventing BE100 and BE90 classes. These will take place on Wednesday, 20 August and Thursday, 21 August.

As well as this extravaganza of eventing, Scone Palace is holding two full days of British Showjumping classes from 90cm to 1.30m on Saturday, 23 and Sunday 24 August – including Saturday’s £1,000-to-the-winner Scone Palace Grand Prix, sponsored by The Malcolm Group.

There are a multitude of showing classes on Thursday, 21 and Friday, 22 August, and arena eventing, riding club competitions and Pony Club Games.

Scone Palace is on the northern outskirts of Perth, and has excellent accessibility from the newly opened Cross Tay Link Road over the River Tay from the A9 and the A93 and A94.

There will be superb shopping with a carefully curated selection of local and national retailers, excellent food and drink options and hospitality packages, and great evening entertainment.

For more information, including a full timetable, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sconehorsetrials.com.

Halo Takes the Crown at Burgham International

By on Jul 26, 2025 5:34 pm -

Piggy March and Halo. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Piggy March boosted her chances of British team selection for the European Championships with a convincing victory on Jayne McGivern’s Halo in the Project Pony-sponsored CCI4*-S section C at Burgham International Horse Trials (24-27 July).

Piggy’s finishing score of 19.8 with the 12-year-old Holsteiner stallion is a Burgham CCI4*-S record; the pair added nothing to their dressage mark in the subsequent jumping phases, floating easily round David Evans’ cross-country track within the time allowed.

“He’s been amazing – he really has felt on top form, and I’m genuinely really excited about this weekend; I put pressure on myself because I know what a great little horse he is,” said Piggy, who has won medals at World and European Championships for her country. “I want to put him in a position to try for championships – I know that Britain is an incredibly strong nation and there are lots of brilliant horses and riders coming up and I am not in the early days of my career, but I am still very competitive and would love to try to do it still.

“Halo was put on the planet for those sorts of classes [championships] and I wanted him to come here and do a solid performance and look like the sort of horse I know he is. I wanted to make this happen and happen very well. He was very polished, very consistent and it made for a very happy day. He’s a wonderful little horse.”

Piggy and Halo clearly relish eventing in Northumberland: they won the inaugural CCI4*-S at Belsay in May.

Wills Oakden and Keep It Cooley repeated their 2024 second place in this highly competitive class, completing on their dressage score of 25.3. Their next target will be the new event at Scone Palace in Perthshire in August. Third, just 0.6 of a penalty behind Wills, were Tom Jackson and Hawkeye.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, the 2024 winners, led after showjumping but cruised round the cross-country for four time-penalties and fifth place, behind Clarke Johnstone and Sparky Lad in fourth.

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Tom McEwen and his 2024 Paris Olympics team gold medallist JL Dublin took the second CCI4*-S section, which this time was sponsored by local company Holme Dodsworth Metals. Tom and the Deirdre Johnston, Jo and James Lambert-owned Diarado 14-year-old were faultless in the showjumping and cross-country, completing on their dressage mark of 23.4.

Tom said: “‘Dubs’ has been fantastic. He came out very fresh for all three phases; he flew round the cross-country, and it was so nice to have such a well-built track that was really flowing to ride with a few different striding patterns. As a ‘prep run’ for the autumn – hopefully the European Championships, if we are selected – it has been perfect.”

It was Tom’s second international victory at Burgham 2025 – he had already won WL Straughan & Son Ltd CCI3*-S section A on Brookfield Danny De Muze.

Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall were second in CCI4*-S section D behind Tom on their dressage mark of 24.4, with Sarah Bullimore and the homebred Corimiro third on 26.2. World champion Yasmin Ingham (Gypsie Du Loir) and Laura Collett (Count Onyx) were fourth and fifth.

On Sunday, the final day of Burgham 2025, the focus turns to the two CCI2*-S classes. Willa Newton and Da Vinci are in the lead in the NIS Group Ltd and Encon Technical Solutions-sponsored section E with a dressage score of 24.8, ahead of Ros Canter (Club Class, 27.5). In the Jack-Thomas Watson CCI2*-S section F, Danielle McCormack is in pole position aboard Hildare Trust Me on 28.3, giving her a slim margin over Jago Jackson and Barrington Highlight K on 28.5. Jago, 17, is also the only rider still with a chance of winning prize-money in the Northumberland Challenge, which unites the three Northumbrian events of Belsay, Alnwick Ford and Burgham. He is in fifth place in CCI2*-S section E on Cooley Top Boy, on whom he won the CCI2*-S at Alnwick Ford in June, having already finished third in that class at Belsay in May. Jago must finish third or better at Burgham on Cooley Top Boy to take home a potential total of £8,000.

Sunday at Burgham not only offers top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog shows, have-a-go dog agility, hobby horses for children to “ride”, and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.

Burgham also features an excellent range of tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick.

Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.

Burgham International (UK): [Website] [Timetable] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Live Stream]

Piggy Marches to the Top at Burgham

By on Jul 25, 2025 2:28 pm -

Piggy March and Halo. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Piggy March has soared to the top of the leaderboard in CCI4*-S section C, sponsored by Project Pony, at Burgham International Horse Trials (July 24-27).

Piggy posted an exceptional dressage mark of 19.8 aboard Jayne McGivern’s lovely grey stallion Halo to overtake Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent, who go into Saturday’s showjumping and cross-country in second place on 23.9. Izzy Taylor and Barrington Alice are third on 24.5.

Piggy said: “Halo was spot on – fabulous in his body and brain. He’s really come on; he’s beginning to feel more established, stronger, with more consistency and strength to his body and his work. He’s always felt very special and I’m delighted he is starting to get the marks that correspond to what he feels like.”

CCI4*-S showjumping starts at 8am (3am EST) tomorrow morning at the Northumbrian event, with cross-country commencing at 9am (5am EST). The cross-country can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.tv.

Piggy added: “The cross-country looks very inviting with some good questions. This is Halo’s first run since the CCI5* at Luhmühlen; he feels fit and well and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

There was no change to Thursday’s top three in Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S section D. Caroline Powell is in first place with a score of 23.3 aboard Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s 10-year-old Legally Grey. Caroline has half a penalty in hand over Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Izzy Taylor is also third in this section, this time on SBH Big Wall with 24.4.

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Danny De Muze. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Double Olympic team gold medallist Tom McEwen proved he has another exciting young horse on his hands after winning WL Straughan & Son Ltd CCI3*-S section A on Brookfield Danny De Muze. The seven-year-old, who is owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, added just 0.8 of a cross-country time-fault to his leading dressage score of 20.8 to stay ahead of Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella (22.9). New Zealander Jesse Campbell finished third on his Tokyo Olympics ride Diachello, also with a finishing score of 22.9.

Tom said: “He’s been amazing, to be honest. Piggy [March, from whom Tom has inherited the ride] has done a fantastic job producing him, as only she could do. He’s only done one intermediate and then this [three-star], which I thought was quite a strong track. I know the courses here all jump beautifully, but it was probably the punchiest one I’ve seen, so I was really pleased with him.

“He’s perfect – a really placid character at home who puts everything into it when he comes out at a competition. He did a stunning test here, handled the showjumping well and was very cool across country.”

Elizabeth Barratt and Big Boss Melo. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Elizabeth Barratt, 19, headed up AW Jenkinson CCI3*-S section B on Barratt Eventing’s Big Boss Melo. The pair completed on their second-placed dressage score of 26.5 to win the class, which also acted as the final selection trial for the British team for the European Young Rider Championships in Poland in August. They are the reigning Young Rider National Champions, having won at Bicton in June.

Elizabeth said: “He’s been amazing all week. I was sp pleased with his test, because he can get quite tense and stressy, but he was really with me and I couldn’t have asked for much more from him. He jumped like his always does – amazingly. He has his own unique technique, but he tries so hard and gets the job done. We were held at the start of the cross-country, which hasn’t happened to me with him before, so that was a new experience, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all.

Fourteen-year-old Big Boss Melo was bought by the Barratts from France a year ago.

“It took us a bit of time to adjust to each other – he had been ridden by a man over there – and he is big, strong and bold-moving, but we seem to have gelled quite now,” said Elizabeth, who is very much hoping for a first British team appearance next month.

Jemima Howden – also on the young rider squad short-list – took the runner-up spot on her father David’s Van Kaunitz on her dressage mark of 28.1, while yet another highly competitive under-21, Finn Healy, was third on Greannanstown Monbeg Joe. In fact, the next five placings in this section were all filled by British young rider team hopefuls – Isabelle Cook (Mexican Law, fourth), Josh Levett (This Ones On You, fifth and Huberthus AC, eighth), Anya Strilkowski (K, sixth) and Elizabeth Barratt, (Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau, seventh).

Saturday and Sunday at Burgham not only offer top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog show on both days, have-a-go dog agility, and hobby horses for children to “ride”, unaffiliated showjumping on Saturday and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.

Burgham also features an excellent range of tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick.

Visit www.burghaminternationalhorsetrials.co.uk to find out more and to buy tickets.

All the cross-country from Burgham is being shown live on ClipMyHorse.tv.

Burgham International (UK): [Website] [Timetable] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Live Stream]

Oliver Townend Tees Up Another Big Burgham Win

By on Jul 24, 2025 2:09 pm -

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Oliver Townend has won Burgham International Horse Trials’ feature class – the CCI4*-S – an impressive seven times since 2016, and he has given himself the best possible chance of adding to that tally by leading the dressage after day one at the Northumbrian event.

Riding his 2024 Burgham winner, Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent, the former world number one scored 23.9 in Project Pony-sponsored CCI4*-S section C. This gives him a narrow margin of 0.6 of a penalty over Izzy Taylor and Barrington Alice. Scotland’s Wills Oakden is in third with 25.3 on Keep It Cooley.

Cooley Rosalent, the 2024 Kentucky CCI5* champion, finished runner-up at Badminton this spring, and Burgham is only her second run back after her post-five-star break.

Oliver said: “‘Rosie’ feels fantastic. She feels a lot stronger again than she has felt previously; she’s developing all the time and I felt that some of her work was as good as it has ever been. She’s still slightly fresh, but more than anything this is a very important preparation run for a big event in the autumn.”

Oliver also triumphed in AW Jenkinson intermediate section J on a new ride, HK Horses’ Thunder Bird Z.

“I’ve only had him a very short time, but he’s won both of his first two runs with me within 10 days, and he’s very good fun to ride. He’s a beautiful horse who has been well-produced by Richard Howley and Morgan Kent of HK Horses,” said Oliver.

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell is in pole position in Holme Dodsworth Metals CCI4*-S section D with a dressage mark of 23.3 aboard Nicholas and Fiona Lambert’s 10-year-old Legally Grey.

Caroline said: “He was bought for Fiona Lambert’s ‘big birthday’ as a three-year-old and he’s the most stunning horse. Everyone has been very patient, and it’s lovely to show people now what he can do. There’s a lot more to come from him, which is very exciting.”

Caroline has half a penalty in hand over Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall are third on 24.4.

Tom McEwen tops section A of the CCI3*-S, sponsored by WL Straughan & Son Ltd, after dressage on Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Danny De Muze. The pair pulled off a score of 20.7, giving them a clear lead of 2.2 penalties over Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella.

In the Houghton Country CCI3*-S section B, Bubby Upton is in the lead with a mark of 24.9 on Magic Roundabout IV, owned by her mother Rachel and the Zebedee Syndicate. Sitting in both second and third is Elizabeth Barratt on Big Boss Melo (26.5) and Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau (28). Elizabeth therefore is in prime position in the final trial for selection for the British team for the European Young Rider Championships next month.

Other winners today at Burgham included Lizzie Baugh, who took the Cussins Homes Open Intermediate on En Taro Des Vernier, and Clarke Johnstone, successful in Project Pony Intermediate section J1 on Ceralda. Novice section winners were Sean Henderson, Clarke Johnstone and Indie Vaughan-Jones.

Burgham continues on Friday (July 25) with showjumping and cross-country for the CCI3*-S sections and dressage for the CCI4*-S and CCI2*-S classes. On Saturday CCI4*-S showjumping and cross-country take centre stage.

Saturday and Sunday at Burgham not only offer top-class sport, but also great fun for families, friends and children. There is a fun dog show on both days, and hobby horses for children to “ride”. There’s unaffiliated showjumping on Saturday and a Thoroughbred and Ex-Racehorse Show on Sunday, alongside grassroots eventing classes.

Burgham also features great tradestands and lots of delicious, locally-produced food and drink and public bars. It is situated in beautiful, tranquil Northumbrian countryside not far from the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick. If you’re looking for a family day out that’s really affordable this summer, you can’t do better than Burgham International Horse Trials (July 24-27) – visit the Burgham website here to find out more and to buy tickets.

Burgham International (UK): [Website] [Timetable] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Live Stream]

Cornbury House Gets Ready to Host Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup

By on Jul 16, 2025 9:00 am -

Former racehorse Bhodi, with rider Mike Jackson, owner Emily Oppenheimer, Piggy March and David and Fiona Howden. Photo by Boot Creative.

As Cornbury House Horse Trials (September 10-14) approaches its sixth anniversary, the Oxfordshire event provided further proof of its position in the front ranks of the British equestrian scene with the official launch on July 4 of the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup.

This new class, with its £45,000 first prize – a reward unprecedented in the sport at British Eventing Novice level – is a joint initiative between the Howden family’s Cornbury House Horse Trials and Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud. It is designed to encourage and promote second careers in eventing of racehorses who have come off the track and those thoroughbreds who didn’t make it to the racecourse.

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup will run alongside the British Eventing Young Horse National Championships, supported by The Howden Way, Cornbury House Horse Trials’ immensely popular under-21 classes at Young Rider, Junior and Pony level, open CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S sections and national intermediate classes.

Jayne McGivern, who stands the brilliant Derby winner Golden Horn at Dash Grange Stud, said: “I have been trying to launch this class for more than four years, so words cannot describe how thankful and delighted I am that Cornbury House Horse Trials is as invested in creating value for ex-racehorses as I am. Thoroughbreds are especially suited to high-level eventing, being fast, athletic, intelligent and brave. I can’t wait for the best riders in the UK to showcase the skills of these fantastic horses to the world.”

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup winner will be awarded a George III silver perpetual trophy, and each year the successful owner will receive the silver-plated horse shoe of a Derby winner – the first of which, for 2025, will be that of Golden Horn, who took the world’s premier Classic race in 2015.

The special guest at Cornbury House on Friday was Bhodi – a former Flat racehorse who is now being aimed at the inaugural 2025 Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup. Bhodi, a Niarchos-bred son of Dark Angel out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, was owned by Jayne McGivern and ran 10 times on the Flat when trained by Sir Michael Stoute and then Kevin Frost. Top British event rider Piggy March took Bhodi on when he was four and retrained him for eventing, and the pair won a Novice class at Cornbury House Horse Trials in 2022. He was then bought by current owner Emily Oppenheimer, who evented him successfully for fun before passing on the ride to Gloucestershire-based professional rider Mike Jackson, who has moved the sweet-natured 10-year-old up to Intermediate level this season.

Piggy, who was delighted to meet up with her former charge at Cornbury House last week, said: “I had Bhodi straight out of training, and he took to eventing and to a new way of life like a duck to water. He is very intelligent; a clever horse who had seen the world before and was always a pleasure to work with.

“I’ve had two racehorses for Jayne, who has been a great supporter of mine over the years, and both have been very successful as eventers. One is Bhodi, and the other is Our Old Fella, known as ‘Polo’, who went up to CCI3* level with me. Polo is a little bouncy ball of a fun, athletic chap who has now gone on to give [former Grand National and Gold Cup-winning jockey] Mick Fitzgerald’s son Oscar a real leg up in his career as an event rider. Oscar is the new junior national champion, and I’d like to think that Polo has given him a lot of fun and experience.”

She continued: “The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup is being held at Novice level, which is achievable for a lot of people, and it is so exciting to have the chance to aim at an incredible prize like this. It will be great to see more people appreciate the aptitude that thoroughbreds naturally have for eventing and make this class a real target.

“The great thing about Jayne is that she is passionate about her racing, but she does everything for the love of horses and for the sport. The same is true of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ founder and president David Howden; they, and more and more people in racing are determined that their horses should have happy lives after their racing careers, whether that is in other equestrian sports, as pets or in retirement. Thoroughbreds love to run, they love to jump, they love to be busy and to have jobs, and eventing can be the perfect second careers for them.”

Mike Jackson added: “Bhodi is a joy to deal with and comes out every day with his ears pricked. Thoroughbreds are built for speed, which is obviously important for eventing, and they are very intelligent. For generations they have been bred to thrive in a variety of different circumstances and big atmospheres. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP), which David Howden launched last winter, and this amazing class at Cornbury are a great way of opening a door to second careers for racehorses and helping and supporting them towards and through that.”

As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders alongside young up-and-coming talent, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is unique in its offering with a focus on local, sustainable food and drink from its neighbouring farms playing a huge part, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.

Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information about the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup, all of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ classes, the 2025 timetable and to buy tickets.

A New Japanese Star Emerges at Belsay (2)

By on May 30, 2025 3:20 pm -

Yuya Segawa and Vegas De L’Elfe. Photo by Athalens.

Japanese riders have taken the sport of eventing by storm in recent years, and the newest star in their firmament, Yuya Segawa, shone at Belsay by scoring his first European international victory in the NIS Group Services/Encon Technical Solutions CIC2*-S.

Riding Vegas De L’Elfe JRA, 25-year-old Yuya show jumped clear and added just 1.2 cross country time-faults to his second-placed dressage mark of 30.2 to take the competitive class by less than a penalty from Scotland’s Louisa Milne Home.

Yuya, who is based in Leicestershire with eventer Richard Jones, only took over the ride on 16-year-old Vegas De L’Elfe from fellow Japanese rider Shunto Takahashi in April.

“He is a great horse who has a lot of experience and knows his job and I think I will learn a lot from him,” said Yuya. “He felt very confident across country and it was fun to ride him.”

Belsay formed the first element of the 2025 Northumberland Challenge, which offers a huge prize-pot of £61,000 to riders who win or are placed in the CCI2*-S, CCI3*-S and BE100 at the three Northumbrian international events of Belsay, Alnwick Ford (18-22 June) and Burgham (24-27 July). Yuya now has his sights set on Alnwick Ford and Burgham – and his ambition is to ride for Japan at the Olympics.

Louisa finished second with her own and Susie Wilks’ Future Plans on 32.2, while rising British star Jago Jackson, 17, was third on Cooley Top Boy.

Katie Magee and Agadir Gano. Photo by Athalens.

Local riders also made their mark on Friday afternoon at Belsay. Barnard Castle’s Katie Magee enjoyed the perfect Bramham preparation run by winning the Galbraith Intermediate Novice on Angela Hislop’s Agadir Gano.

“Our bit snapped across country at Belsay (1) two weeks ago, so today was all about testing out a new bit and checking we had brakes,” said Katie. “The course was fantastic and the ground is amazing, so we’ve really enjoyed it. The fact that the Belsay team has run two brilliant events in two weeks is incredible – I think we should have two Belsays every year!”

Will Murray, who lives in Durham, won the Evelyn Partners/HorseQuest Novice Masters’ on Linda Philipson’s seven-year-old mare Drumrankin Idha.

“I’m very lucky – I’m a part-timer rider these days; I’m the lead coach for British Eventing in the northern region – so I just turn up and ride a couple of days a week, and the team at Linda’s do all the fitness work. My showjumping coach Philippa McKeever came to warm me up today, which was a big help, because I thought it was a proper track. The mare finds the cross country very easy and she’s naturally very fast. I’m a lucky person to ride such a special horse.”

Local rider Lucinda Atkinson has held on to her lead in the Barbour CCI2*-L on PRF Made In England with a faultless cross country round, adding nothing to her dressage mark of 27.4. Eliza Bell (Macgyver) and India Wishart (BP Quinnton) are second and third.

In the Lycetts British Junior Championships, the podium remains unaltered after cross country. Lucy Standish is in first place on Global H on 25.9. Second is Ella Howard (Marchwood, 27.8), with Oscar Fitzgerald third with 28 on Super Cillious.

Annabel Ridgway has kept the top slot going into the final showjumping phase in the Project Pony British Pony Championships on Akim De L’Arquerie ahead of Maisie Greening (Kilnaspic Lily) and third-placed Alice Fraser (Bookhamlodge Pennylane).

Izzy Taylor has maintained her lead in the Hambro Sport Horses CCI3*-S on Bayaanaat with a dressage score of 26.2, but Willa Newton has slipped into second on Hartacker with 26.2. India’s Shashank Kanumuri is third on 27.8 with Gideon II.

A busy Saturday at Belsay starts with dressage for the national intermediate classes at 8 a.m. (3 a.m. EST) and CCI3*-S showjumping at 8.30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. EST). Cross country commences at 10.30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. EST). There is also a BSPS show in the Castle Arena, a fun dog show, lots of children’s entertainment, excellent shopping and delicious locally produced food and drink available.

To purchase tickets for Belsay and to find out more information, please visit www.belsayhorsetrials.com. All the cross country at Belsay will be shown on Horse & Country TV’s live streaming platform H&C+ here.

Izzy Taylor In Charge of CCI3*-S at Belsay (2)

By on May 29, 2025 2:49 pm -

Izzy Taylor and Bayaanaat. Photo by Athalens.

British rider Izzy Taylor has the Hambro Sport Horses CCI3*-S at Belsay International Horse Trials under control: her three rides in the class occupy first, third and fourth places after the first day of dressage.

In the lead at the Northumbrian event with a score of 26.2 is the former racehorse Bayaanaat, a nine-year-old by the Derby winner New Approach owned by Izzy, Lavinia Taylor and Caroline Goodwin. Dassett Showman is third with 28.2 penalties, and Barrington Boy is fourth on 28.6.

“All three horses tried incredibly hard in tricky windy conditions,” said Izzy. “Bayaanaat is a massive trier who did me proud today. He’s really learning that he’s a good horse and is getting confident in himself. Dassett Showman is a relatively new ride and I was delighted with how his brain stayed with me throughout. Barrington Boy is a young horse and there were some great highlights of his test day, but he struggled the most of the three in the conditions.”

Scotland’s Wills Oakden slotted into second with 28.1 on Geoff and Elspeth Adam’s Mile Beach.

Indian rider Shashank Kanamuri delivered a cool performance in windy weather that meant the letters surrounding the dressage arena were blowing down as he rode his test. The 20-year-old, a second-year economics student at Loughborough University, scored 29 on Wellfields Casino Royale to lead the NIS Group Ltd/Encon CCI2*-S.

Shashank Kanamuri on Wellfields Casino Royale. Photo by Athalens.

“This is only my third-ever ride on him – he’s very new to me – and I’m still getting used to him,” said Shashank. “He’s really scopey, and I think there is a lot of potential for us as a partnership.

“I was going across the diagonal in long-rein walk and some of the letters flipped down and we had to pick our way through them, but he was really focused. He’s got a super-positive mentality and he just gets on with whatever he is asked to do.”

Shashank has only 0.3 of a penalty in hand over Japan’s Yuya Segawa, second on Vegas De L’Elfe JRA with 30.2.

North Yorkshire-based Lucinda Atkinson is in pole position in the Barbour CCI2*-L on PRF Made In England with a mark of 27.4, ahead of Eliza Bell (Macgyver, 29.6).

In the British Junior Championships, sponsored by Lycetts, Lucy Standish is in first place on Global H with a dressage mark of 25.9. Second is Ella Howard (Marchwood, 27.8), with Oscar Fitzgerald third with 28 on Super Cillious.

Annabel Ridgway tops the Project Pony British Pony Championships after scoring 24.6 on Akim De L’Arquerie, ahead of Maisie Greening (28.1, Kilnaspic Lily) and Chloe Chan (28.3, Blennerville Rua).

While dressage for the CCI3*-S continues tomorrow (Friday, 30 May), cross-country for the junior and pony championships, the CCI2*-S and the CCI2*-L starts at Belsay at 9am. There is also a National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) show, and other activities and entertainment include a fun dog show. British Eventing national classes also start on Friday.

To purchase tickets for Belsay and to find out more information, please visit www.belsayhorsetrials.com. All the cross-country at Belsay on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be shown on Horse & Country TV’s livestreaming platform H&C+ – see the link list below to access more information.

Belsay (2): [Website] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]

March’s Halo Shines at Belsay

By on May 19, 2025 9:00 am -

Piggy March and Halo. Photo by Athalens.

Piggy March was a very worthy winner of Belsay’s inaugural CCI4*-S, taking the RBS Brewin Dolphin-sponsored class on Jayne McGivern’s grey stallion Halo.

Piggy, a former winner of both Badminton and Burghley, was second after dressage with a score of 22.1, just behind 2025 Badminton heroine Ros Canter, who scored 21.6 on Izilot DHI. Both show jumped clear, but Piggy was faster across country for just 2.8 time-penalties. Ros’s 8.8 time-faults dropped her to sixth in the 96-strong class.

“He’s such a cool little horse,” said Piggy. “This is an amazing event and definitely one to come back to. Fair play to [cross country course-designer] Adrian Ditcham; he’s given us a track we’ve all had to think about – it’s opened our eyes and we’ve had to ride at it.

“Halo is beautiful to ride. He was quite keen across country today – I gave him a kick at the start and he was like, ‘OK, we’re off!’ He’s a super little character. He’s brave and he’s hungry and he flies around.”

Piggy has entered the 12-year-old Holsteiner for the CCI5* at Luhmühlen and also for the prestigious CCI4*-S at Aachen, and will make a decision when she sees how Halo has come out of his adventure in Northumberland. Her Belsay victory will have strengthened her chances of being part of Britain’s team for the European Championships at Blenheim Palace this September.

“I’d love to go to the Europeans. I think he was put on this planet for championships – he’s exactly that type of horse – and I’d love to give it a go,” she said.

Izzy Taylor rose up the order with an excellent speedy cross country round to take second place on Jane Timmis’s SBH Big Wall.

Izzy said: “He’s been super. He did a lovely dressage test; a few little fresh mistakes, but that’s fine – hopefully he’s going to Bramham for the CCI4*-L, so he’s very fit. He did a lovely clear round showjumping and then a very cool round cross country.”

Izzy echoed other riders when she congratulated the Belsay team, led by organiser Laura de Wesselow, on a very successful first event at four-star level.

“It’s a beautiful venue,” she said. “The work that has gone into it is unbelievable. As riders, I don’t think we could be more grateful for what they have managed to produce. The going is second to none – you really can’t fault it – and from my perspective, as a preparation run for events such as Bramham and Luhmühlen, it has been perfect.”

Sarah Bullimore celebrated her birthday by finishing third on her homebred Corimiro, while Bubby Upton was fourth on It’s Cooley Time. As well as sixth place on Izilot DHI, 2024 Burghley winner Ros Canter filled fifth with MHS Seventeen.

Samantha Lissington and Quantas R. Photo by Athalens.

Australia’s Samantha Lissington won the Chaser Communications Advanced class on Quantas R, owned by The High Flyers.

The nine-year-old grey, by Qualito, led after dressage with a score of 29.6, showjumped clear, and even 18.4 time-faults weren’t enough to knock the pair off the top spot. They finished 1.3 penalties ahead of Emily King and Jackpot.

Samantha said: “We’re here preparing for the four-star at Royal Jump in France in a couple of weeks’ time. I was really pleased with his dressage; he was very rideable and easy and stayed with me. He did a lovely showjumping around quite a tough, technical track with a tight time, and I went out on the cross-country just wanting to put the tools in place for our next outing and didn’t particularly worry about the clock.

“He’s pretty phenomenally talented and has been from the get-go. We really rate him as a championship horse for the future.”

This was the first of two events at Belsay in May. When Chatsworth decided not to run in 2025, Laura de Wesselow stepped in to run “Chatsworth at Belsay” and a first four-star for the popular Northumberland venue, and it will be followed by Belsay’s well-established annual fixture from 28 May-1 June, featuring international classes from CCI1*-CCI3* and the Pony and Junior Natiofnal Championships.

Laura said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and actually incredibly proud. I think it’s something about being up north – we always worry about the fact that we aren’t as good as the southerns, but we smashed it! It was a challenge. We only found out in late November that we’d got it, and it’s only a ‘one-year wonder’ as far as we know at the moment, but I hope it’s not. We’ve thrown everything at it, everyone’s loved it, I think Adrian Ditcham has been a genius with the track, Rob McSkimming has worked really hard building the course – everyone has worked so hard to pull off today, and all we’ve had is great feedback, so I’m thrilled for everyone who has worked so hard.”

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays on H&C+]

Millar and ‘A Real Showman’ Top CCI4*-S at Belsay (1)

By on May 16, 2025 1:51 pm -

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon. Photo by Athalens.

Aaron Millar and KEC Deakon are in pole position in Belsay’s inaugural RBC Brewin Dolphin-sponsored CCI4*-S after the first day of dressage at the Northumberland horse trials.

Cirencester-based Aaron, who is making his first trip north to Belsay, scored 25 on Heidi Bates’ 15-year-old, a son of Chacoa.

Aaron said: “He was really good. He’s an older horse; he’s used to working at these big events, and we are hoping to use this as a final prep for the CCI5* at Luhmühlen in Germany next month. I always think that in their calendar running up to CCI5* they need one significant run, and this is it.

“He’s quite a character. He loves an atmosphere; he’s a real showman. Out of all the horses on the yard, he’s the one that watches the lorry go out and wants to be on it and to go to events. He genuinely lives for it. He’s a real businessman – he comes in and gets the job done.

“This is the first time I have been to Belsay, and I love it. It has got atmosphere, but there’s also a really nice vibe about it – I think it’s amazing. The cross-country is a proper track, a proper test.”

Second in the CCI4*-S on a score of 27.5 are Izzy Taylor and SBS Big Wall, while Hayden Hankey is in third with 28 penalties on Fools In Love.

Suffolk’s Bubby Upton is in the lead after day one in the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S with a dressage mark of 27.5 on her own Auckland 7, an eight-year-old by A La Carte. Australian rider Isabel English is second on 28.6 with Cil Dara Dynamic, while John Westmore is third on Oughterard Quality with a score of 29.1.

Storm Straker and Temeraire. Photo by Athalens.

Two qualifiers for the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Finals at Defender Burghley Horse Trials took place today at Belsay.

Local rider Jack Mantel, fresh from a successful CCI5* debut at Badminton Horse Trials last week, won the five-year-old class on Krista Brown’s Adonis Couture, a son of Joris Couture.

“I had him last year as a four-year-old and he won the Burghley Young Event Horse class at Bramham and went to the final at Burghley,” said Jack. “He’s been back with his owner over the winter and only came back to me two days ago. But he hasn’t forgotten much and he was brilliant. He’s got such good movement, is a real showman and I think he’s an exciting horse for the future.

“It was a very good track today and it’s a great series. It’s great to get these young horses out and about without putting too much pressure on them.”

North Yorkshire-based Storm Straker won the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier for four-year-olds on her own Temeraire, who is by Timolin.

Storm said: “I’ve had ‘Thor’ since he was a two-year-old, and have produced him myself. I really like bringing young horses to Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers; I think it is a great introduction to their competitive career. This is his first competition, and it has been such a great atmosphere for young horses. I’m delighted to have brought him here. To have such a great result was unexpected, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him.”

Dressage for both international classes continues tomorrow (Saturday, 17 May), and the showjumping and cross-country phases of the Forsters LLP CCI2*-S also take place. Showjumping and cross-country for the feature RBC Brewin Dolphin CCI4*-S will take place on Sunday (18 May).

To purchase tickets for Belsay and to find out more information, please visit www.belsayhorsetrials.com.

All the cross-country at Belsay (1) May 16-18 and Belsay (2) May 28-June 1 will be shown on Horse & Country TV’s live streaming platform H&C+.

Belsay will host two events in 2025: Belsay (1) 16-18 May will be the Chatsworth replacement fixture with international classes at CCI4*-S and CCI2*-S level and Advanced and Novice national classes. The cross-country courses for this event will take a completely different route to that of Belsay (2) 28 May-1 June, which features the British Junior and Pony Championships, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and CCI1* international classes and BE90 to Open Intermediate national classes.

Belsay International CCI4*-S (UK): [Website] [Entries/Timing/Scoring] [Live Stream on H&C+]

Bird Takes Flight at Badminton

By on May 12, 2025 2:00 pm -

Tom Bird (GBR) and Cowling Hot Gossip. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

There’s something rather cool about completing your first Badminton when you’re the youngest rider in the field. Tom Bird, 23, has two Burghleys under his belt before this week, but now he’s done the “double B”.

Cowling Hot Gossip, on whom Tom jumped clear across country with 26.8 time-faults, was the first horse Tom backed, when the horse was five and Tom was 15. Three show jumps down today for 39th place did little to dim the glow of achievement.

“It’s been a dream come true to ride at Badminton and to complete it,” says Tom. “Three down shows there is room for improvement but I’m delighted with him. I’m really proud.”

At Burghley last autumn, the pair skittled seven rails.

“He actually had ulcers quite badly then, which won’t have helped the situation,” Tom says, “but he finds it really tough at this height, square… He’s very brave, which is great out on the cross-country, but he’s not always overly bothered if he touches a rail. We’ve been doing a lot of work with Chris Bartle, just really working on trying to have a better canter to enable him to use himself as much as he can. And I think I started well, then I went a little bit ‘empty’ to fences four and five and had them down and paid the price. Then the round got better and better as as I settled and he settled. I’m over the moon.”

Tom was spotted living it up at the lavish Project Pony party on Saturday night, but he refused to be drawn on any antics, saying that he was “very sensible and home before midnight”.

“Yesterday was a huge achievement, and everybody knows that you’ve got to take the good days when they come, because there are plenty of not-good days.”

Cowling Hot Gossip, a 13-year-old by Away With The Faeries, is, Tom says, “a laidback character 90% of the time. But he can go from being very chilled to explosive in a millisecond, and that’s what happens sometimes in his dressage, like with his flying changes on Friday.

“But he’s inquisitive, the most cuddly, lovely horse you’ll ever meet. He’s a great character. We love him.

Burghley this autumn is the plan, and Tom hopes to have two horses at the Lincolnshire five-star – Cowling Hot Gossip and Rebel Rhyme, who have completed a Burghley apiece so far.

“For me at the moment it’s all about just getting mileage and experience at the level, and hopefully the results will start to come.”

MARS Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays] [EN’s Coverage]

EN’s coverage of MARS Badminton Horse Trials is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.