Festive stars: the teenager making waves at five-star on a second generation home-bred horse

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Published In Features
Alice Casburn and Topspin at Little Downham in October 2021
Alice Casburn and Topspin at Little Downham in October 2021.
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark Photography)

A 12 month progression from your first four-star to your first five-star is impressive by anyone’s standards – and that’s exactly what Alice Casburn achieved between October 2020 and October 2021. Not only that, she recorded a double jumping clear on her five-star debut riding a second generation home-bred horse, the then-13-year-old Topspin.

“I came out at the start of 2021 thinking I’d like to get my five-star qualification and do Luhmühlen 2022,” says Alice. “Topspin cantered round Aston and Houghton CCI4*-Ss like they were nothing. I picked Blair for a CCI4*-L because of the terrain – he’s a thoroughbred and I knew he’d probably jump clear on the last day, and he did.”

Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.