There was no rest for Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing competitor Chris Salmon.
After completing his first three-day-event, the para rider is preparing to return to Keysoe later this week for the British Showjumping amateur and para show.
Chris, a trainee showjumping course builder, is classified as a grade III para showjumper and recently took up eventing.
“I have a muscle wasting condition that affects my hands and feet,” he explained.
“There are physio exercises that I can do, but even my surgeon told me not to worry about it too much as riding is the best thing [for me].”
Chris rode the 17-year-old mare Melford Solo, owned and bred by his mother Sue, in the 90cm class at the three-day-event, run in association with KBIS.
The pair scored 35.5 in the dressage, before jumping clear across country with 14.8 time faults. They clipped two poles on the final day to complete their first three-day together on a score of 58.3.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Chris made his British Eventing (BE) debut last year and has enjoyed success at BE90 level, finishing ninth in a BE90open section at Little Downham in October and jumping double clear at Horseheath in April.
“I’m aiming to compete at 1m to 1.05m showjumping and to event her at BE100,” said Chris, who hails from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
Learn more about the new 90cm champion who has some interesting breeding
The mare, known as “Snoopy”, is by Melford Ben and has competed up to intermediate level in the past.
“I just point her at a fence and she goes!” said Chris.
Before Chris took over the reins, the horse competed up to one-star level with Charlie Clover, winning Chilham CIC* in 2015, and was previously campaigned by Jane Buchan and George Witt.
Chris added she is now enjoying “an easier life” after undergoing rehabilitation for kissing spines last year.
“She’s brilliantand really looks after me,”he added.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
