Top British team rider announces birth of her second child: ‘Very proud and extremely lucky’

Six-time five-star winner Ros Canter and her husband Chris McAleese have welcomed their new baby.

Ros announced she was pregnant in August last year, withdrawing from selection for the European Championships at Blenheim Horse Trials but going on to ride at – and win – Burghley Horse Trials in early September with her top horse Lordships Graffalo.

The child is a girl, a little sister for the couple’s first daughter Ziggy. Ros shared a picture on social media of Lordships Graffalo (Walter) with his head over his door and his tongue out, as she held the baby in her arms in front of the stable.

“The newest member of the team is here! Walter welcoming her with his usual charm and sense of humour! Chris, Ziggy and I are very proud and feeling extremely lucky,” said Ros’s update.

Ros and Chris have not yet revealed their new daughter’s name.

Burghley posted on social media to congratulate Ros, describing the new arrival as “the first Burghley-winning baby – already a record-breaker!”

Paris Olympic team gold medallist Ros Canter had her first baby, Ziggy, in July 2019 and returned to eventing a month later.

She said after her Burghley victory last year that she would be aiming to ride at Badminton Horse Trials this year (6-10 May) – if she competes at Badminton, she will be defending the title she won for the second time last year with Lordships Graffalo.

“You never know with childbirth, it can throw all sorts of spanners in the works, but the plan is to be at Badminton next year,” she said at Burghley.

Ros did not compete again last season after Burghley but said her intention was to continue to train at home and that she was looking forward to having more time to help her team and watch them at competitions.

“They give me so much time – it’ll be lovely to be able to teach them, to go and watch them in competitions. They get abandoned when they go to places because I’m so busy so I’m looking forward to that too,” she said.

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