With the 2021 eventing season well in the rear view, we check out who are the best event horses in Britain right now. They may be out on winter holidays – woolly, shaggy and happily enjoying the grass – but we can’t wait to see these 10 superstars, who topped British Eventing’s points list for 2021, out again next year.
Oliver Townend ( GBR) riding Ballaghmor Class during the cross country phase for the Olympic Eventing Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Sea Forest Cross Country Course in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021
Tim Price riding FALCO IV in Adv Section L, during the cross country phase of the BURNHAM MARKET INTERNATIONAL (1) held at Sussex Farm near Burnham Market in Norfolk in the UK on the 17th April 2021
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
This 12-year-old, owned by Sue Benson and ridden by New Zealand’s Tim Price, made a splash this season when he won Millstreet CCI4*-L in June and then took top spot in the five-star at Pau Horse Trials in October, in a performance which equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings rated the best of the year.
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3. Xavier Faer
1 - Tim Price & XAVIER FAER - Adv Section A - Little Downham International Horse Trials - Tuesday 28th September 2021
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark Photography)
Another ride for Tim Price, the more seasoned Xavier Faer had a very solid season with second in the five-star at Kentucky Three-Day Event and then third in the new Maryland 5 Star at the end of the year. He belongs to Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and his rider.
5. CHF Cooliser
20 - Tom McEwen & CHF COOLISER - Adv Section A - Little Downham International Horse Trials - Tuesday 28th September 2021
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark Photography)
The 11-year-old CHF Cooliser, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers and ridden by Tom McEwen, was quite an under-the-radar horse until the end of this year, when she topped third at Millstreet CCI4*-L and seventh at Blair Horse Trials CCI4*-S with second place on her five-star debut at Pau Horse Trials.
6. Lordships Graffalo
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
A direct reserve for world champion Allstar B for the European Eventing Championships, Lordships Graffalo very much looks like Ros Canter’s next team horse. Owned by Michele Saul, the nine-year-old was second in the CCI4*-Ls at Bicton and Blenheim Horse Trials and squeezed in two wins at CCI4*-S this year too.
7. Chilli Knight
Gemma Tattersall and CHILLI KNIGHT during the prizegiving, Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials, Sunday 5th September 2021.
Who didn’t fall in love with Corouet at the European Eventing Championships – if that hadn’t already happened for you earlier in the season? The diminutive chestnut home-bred, owned by his rider’s husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate, scooped the individual bronze medal with Sarah Bullimore.
9. Brookfield Inocent
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
John and Chloe Perry’s 12-year-old finished on his dressage score at the Europeans, a foot perfect performance which brought home team gold and individual silver with Piggy March.
A classy, rangey bay – who brings to mind rider Pippa Funnell’s stars of yesteryear – Billy Walk On excelled to finish second in the five-star at Bicton for dedicated owners Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw.
Of course, there are some notable omissions from this list of best event horses in Britain, including the Olympic individual silver medallist Toledo De Kerser, who is 14th in the rankings, but is probably subjectively the best event horse in Britain right now.
Who would you rate as number one? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com and we might print your views in a future issue of the magazine. Please include your nearest town and county.
Pictures by Peter Nixon, Benjamin Clark Photography and Nico Morgan Media
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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.
