Happy 40th birthday to Nicola Wilson from us all at Horse & Hound

Madeleine Silver's avatar
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Published In Features
NICOLA-WILSON-GALLERY-12.jpg
Nicola Wilson riding OPPOSITION BUZZ during the dressage at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Stamford UK, September, 2013
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Today marks Nicola Wilson's 40th birthday. And what better way to celebrate than to take a look back at some of the eventer's career highlights — from a golden WEG in Kentucky to spending time at home with her late great partner Opposition Buzz in North Yorkshire. Happy Birthday Nicola!

2008: Burghley Horse Trials
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

2008: Burghley Horse Trials

Nicola and Opposition Buzz in the final phase at Burghley in 2008, where they finished in fifth place

2010: World Equestrian Games, Kentucky, USA
(Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)

2010: World Equestrian Games, Kentucky, USA

Nicola and Oppostion Buzz celebrate their team gold medal in Kentucky, USA

Taking it easy
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Taking it easy

Nicola heads out for a hack on Opposition Buzz with her team at home in North Yorkshire

2011: European Championships, Luhmuhlen, Germany
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

2011: European Championships, Luhmuhlen, Germany

Nicola and Opposition Buzz on their way to team bronze

2012: Olympic Games, London, UK
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

2012: Olympic Games, London, UK

2013: Burghley Horse Trials
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

2013: Burghley Horse Trials

Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz after the dressage at Burghley in 2013, when they finished in 10th place

2014: Chatsworth Horse Trials
(Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)

2014: Chatsworth Horse Trials

A true partnership
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

A true partnership

Nicola and Opposition Buzz pose for a photo. The multi-medalled 'Dodi' died at home in 2014 just seven weeks into his retirement

2014: World Equestrian Games, Normandy, France
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

2014: World Equestrian Games, Normandy, France

Nicola and Annie Clover during the cross-country phase of the competition in Haras National Du Pin, Normandy

2015: European Championships, Blair Castle, Scotland
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

2015: European Championships, Blair Castle, Scotland

Madeleine Silver
Madeleine Silver
Former features editor

A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.