William Fox-Pitt celebrates his 56th birthday today (2 January). The event rider needs no introduction with 14 five-star, more than 50 three-day event and more than 20 international one-day event titles to his name. He has competed at five Olympic Games and countless senior European and World events, where he has amassed a number of medals.
Although he has now taken a step back from competing at the top level, William has been a British team regular for many years, representing Team GBR at several Olympic, World and European games. He has been British number one multiple times and was the first British rider to become the World Number One in eventing. He has won Badminton twice; in 2004 with Tamarillo and in 2014 with Chilli Morning, who is the only stallion to have ever won the event and he also has notched up a remarkable six Burghley titles to boot.
Here we take a look at his stellar career to celebrate his birthday…
1. Stunning, an ex-racehorse by Ring The Bell, was ridden up to CCI4*-L level by Mark Todd before joining William’s yard in 1999. He was fourth at Kentucky CCI5* in 2002 but he was a real three-star specialist, with wins at Blenheim, Thirlestane, Chatsworth and Lulworth to his name as well as taking the Britsh Open Championship in 2003. Before his death, aged 26 in 2012, Stunning enjoyed hunting with the Portman in his retirement with William’s head groom Jackie Potts.
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2. Successful four-star horse Macchiato was an Argentinian-bred horse by Octante who raced in Australia before William bought him from a video. He won at Luhmühlen on his CCI5* debut as well as claiming CCI4*-L wins at Blair and Bramham.
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3. William with his wife Alice Plunkett and two of their children, Oliver and Thomas
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4. William with Tamarillo during a photocall for members of the British Olympic Eventing Squad for Athens Olympics in 2004 at Waresley Park, Bedfordshire.
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William Fox-Pitt with his horse Tamarillo during a photocall for members of the British Olympic Eventing Squad for Athens 2004, during a press confrence at Waresley Park, near Sandy, Befordshire.
(Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images)
5. Winners of the gold medal-winning team at the senior Europeans at Pratoni in Italy in 1995. Left to right: Charlotte Bathe, Tina Gifford (Cook), William Fox-Pitt and Mary King.
Winners of the Gold Medal in the European Three Day Championships which took place at Pratoni, Rome in Italy, sponsored by Frizzell are (l/r) Charlotte Bathe, Kristina Gifford, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King.
(Image credit: Press Association Images)
6. Moon Man on his way to winning one of his two British Open Championship titles at Gatcombe.
Moon Man, ridden by William Fox-Pitt, jumps the fence with the house in the background at Gatcombe Park, to go on to win the the Doubleprint British Open horse trials Championship.
(Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images)
7. William with his Athens Olympics teammates at a photo call at Windsor in 2004. Pictured front row from Left, Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, and Sarah Cutteridge (Cohen). Back Row, Yogi Breisner and Leslie Law.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 28: The British Olympic Equestrian team are announced on the second day of the Windsor International Horse Trials at Windsor Great Park on May 28, 2004 in Windsor, England. Pictured front row from Left, Pippa Funnell, William Fox Pitt, and Sarah Cutteridge. Back Row, Yogi Breisner and Leslie Law, (Photo by Carl De Souza/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
8. William and Ballincoola on their way to winning Burghley in 2005
STAMFORD, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 03: William Fox-Pitt and Ballincoola in action in the Cross Country during the 2005 Burghley Horse Trials on September 4, 2005 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
9. William and Seacookie, who had several top four-star (five-star) placings including a win at Pau in 2013. They’re pictured here competing at Chatsworth in 2008
William Fox-Pitt, Seacookie
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10. Highland Lad on his way to winning Burghley in 2002
Highland Lad - William Fox Pitt
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
11. William and Tamarillo competing at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez in 2002 where they won a team bronze medal
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12. Chilli Morning en-route to winning Badminton in 2015, becoming the only stallion to do so
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13. Fernhill Pimms at Blenheim in the eight- and nine-year-old CIC4*-S in 2013, where he won
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14. Team GBR at the London Olympics in 2012. Left to right: Zara Tindall on High Kingdom, Tina Cook on Miners Frolic, Mary King on Imperial Cavalier, Nicola Wilson on Opposition Buzz and William on Lionheart
Olympics Eventing Showumping 31 07 2012 PODIUM - NICOLA WILSON - ZARA PHILLIPS - WILLIAM FOX PITT - MARY KING - TINA COOK - LIONHEART - MINERS FROLIC - HIGH KINGDOM - IMPERIAL CAVALIER - OPPOSITION BUZZ
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
