Amateur eventer Caroline Bridge and her son Thomas have won BBC’s Race Across the World – and the pair are planning their next adventure.

Caroline, 61, and Tom, 21, were seen reaching the end of their epic 14,000km race (8,600 miles) when the series final aired on BBC One on Wednesday (11 June), having beaten four other teams to win the £20,000 prize.

Race Across the World involves pairs travelling by land without the help of smartphones or bank cards – and with a limited budget of just over £1,000 per person. This year’s series started in Huanghuacheng, China, and the teams had to pass seven checkpoints in China, Nepal and India en route to their final destination, Kanyakumari, in the southernmost tip of India.

Caroline, who won the 2024 British Eventing BE80 grassroots league with her 14-year-old gelding Really and finished runner-up at the BE80 national championships at Chillington last month, told H&H the race win “hasn’t sunk in yet” – and she has had to get used to watching herself on television.

Caroline and Thomas finished last in the first leg, but the pair turned things around with determination and their brilliant bond.

“The hardest leg was China and we had a very rough start. I didn’t feel happy there, we couldn’t speak a word of the language and we really struggled,” she said. “You would queue three and half hours to get tickets for trains only to be told they wouldn’t accept cash, or there was the language barrier. I remember running over the bridge to the first checkpoint saying to Thomas ‘every second counts’ only for us to arrive and find out we were two days behind the others; we were absolutely crushed.

“One of the reasons I wanted to do Race was because other than eventing, I’ve never done something for myself in the world. I wanted to feel that I was capable of doing something and I wanted to show Thomas that no matter what you are, you can still nail it – but then in leg one all I’d shown him was that we were massive failures.”

But Caroline and Thomas went from strength to strength, while making some lifetime memories.

“My favourite country was Nepal, it was so beautiful and peaceful. The people are lovely, they have time for you, the food is gorgeous, and it’s just a slow, spiritual way of life,” said Caroline, adding that her race highlight was visiting an elephant sanctuary in India.

“I loved the sanctuary because I was back with animals and I could appreciate what they were doing for them. The sanctuary showed me the veterinary care, and how they rehabilitate the elephants after abuse. To be standing next to these animals, it was like being with a horse where you don’t need to do anything, you just be with them. The sanctuary was our calm in the cacophony of noise that is India.”

Caroline and Thomas had to get used to life without the home comforts of the UK.

“Some hotels didn’t have air conditioning or water – or we would be on a 19-hour bus journey, then had to go straight to a train and couldn’t change our clothes, and the loos in some places were a hole in the ground,” said Caroline.

“We didn’t have a clue what the time or date was, and you don’t know how the other teams are doing. You just keep going as fast as you can, but by the last two legs we were beginning to have an idea of our time and how to nail it, and how not to waste time. But it was often luck, if you get to a bus station there might be a bus leaving in 10 minutes, or sometimes it was four hours. You couldn’t plan your route and sometimes I took it far too seriously, Thomas had to remind me ‘It’s just fun, Mum, enjoy the moment’.”

Caroline said she learned a lot about herself during Race Across the World.

“I’ve always been happier sort of on my own with animals than I am with people because I can be anxious or worried I’ll say the wrong thing. But the thing Race did to me was, because you’re very quickly stripped of your dignity, you have no make-up, you smell, your clothes are dirty, all you have is the smile on your face and hopefully a kind attitude – and people still treated me just the same,” she said.

“You also get used to rejection; before I would not want to be with people in case they rejected me, but in Race you realised it wasn’t personal, people just didn’t speak the language or they couldn’t help. It was a good life lesson, not to fear rejection.”

Caroline and Thomas are planning their next adventure together, a month in Kazakhstan.

“Thomas asked if I would go to Kazakhstan with him and I said ‘Where’s that?’. We’re going to do it with rucksacks and rough it, because we learned if you want to enjoy the country it’s about doing home stays and talking to the locals,” said Caroline.

There is the eventing season to navigate first. Caroline is enjoying another superb season with Really, not finishing out of the top three in their five events so far.

“It’s all down to Really, he is an absolute joy. He’s so trainable and easy-going, he makes my life easy. If I do something wrong, he makes up for it and he’s like ‘I’ve got this, don’t worry’,” said Caroline.

“I really, really want to get to Badminton grassroots next year, so the trip will be around the regional finals, and then as soon as we can we’ll fill a rucksack and take off,” said Caroline.

Summing up Race Across the World, Caroline said it had been “one of the most eye-opening experiences”.

“To be immersed in another country’s culture, and to have to learn to let down all your natural defences. You have to learn to ask for help and learn to embrace other cultures, and it was good to know that I can do that,” she said.

“I’m learning to be more tolerant and to enjoy the simple things in life. I learned that my eyes see the same things as a youngster, but mine have responsibility and worry, and I’m trying to get rid of that and to be a little more carefree like my son is.”

Watch Race Across the World: the reunion at 9pm on Wednesday 18 June on BBC One. Catch up on the whole series on BBC iPlayer.

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Good news has been announced for eventing fans as it is confirmed that the BBC will continue to broadcast the Mars Badminton Horse Trials highlights programme for two more years.

This means all who want to can watch a round-up of the CCI5* action, plus the top 10 combinations showjumping, on the last day of the event.

“We are thrilled to announce that following a spectacular 2024 event, the BBC has confirmed it will continue to broadcast Badminton Horse Trials for 2025 and 2026,” said a Badminton spokesperson.

“The renowned horse trials, which is staged at the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate, has been broadcast by the BBC since 1956 and is among the broadcaster’s longest-standing sporting programmes.”

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This year’s highlights programme was broadcast live on BBC2 and BBCiPlayer and featured hosts Clare Balding and Nick Luck, with an appearance from Olympic eventing medallist Tina Cook.

“I always look forward to watching the BBC highlights programme as it captures all that Badminton is comprised of,” said Badminton event director Jane Tuckwell.

“We are delighted the BBC wish to carry on with their fantastic coverage of the event and look forward to the continuation of this long association.”

Live action from Badminton will continue to be shown on Badminton TV. The service was launched in 2022 and includes exclusive video coverage across the phases, with commentary this year provided from John Kyle, and guests Nicola Wilson, Nicole Browne, Piggy March, Austin O’Connor, and cross-country course-designer Eric Winter. The one-year subscription allows users to watch all the action on replay, plus all the content in the Badminton TV library, and for 2024 also included an exclusive preview programme.

Badminton Horse Trials takes place Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 May 2025.

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The BBC has no plans to broadcast any of the action from the Ecco FEI World Championships 2022 — but this could change before the event starts.

H&H asked what would be shown of the showjumping, dressage and para dressage competition, which runs in Herning, Denmark from Saturday (6 August) to the following Sunday, 14 August.

A spokesman said there are no plans to broadcast any of the action in the BBC schedule, for mainstream, red-button or catch-up viewing. He added that “this could change between now and the championships starting”.

When the World Championships last ran, as the World Equestrian Games, in 2018, there was live coverage, via the BBC sport website and the red button, of showjumping, dressage and eventing cross-country action, as well as highlights programmes on BBC2.

Last year’s European Showjumping Championships were shown on the red button, with a highlights programme on BBC2. There was also red-button coverage of the individual grand prix freestyle at the 2021 European Dressage Championships.

Britain sends strong teams to Herning in all three disciplines; the para dressage team are the defending world silver medallists, and Olympic champions, and the dressage team took team and individual bronze in 2018. The showjumpers were not on the podium four years ago but could well be set to change things this time round, with a squad packed with equine and human talent.

Keep up with all the action from Herning, including how and when you can watch, at our dedicated event hub.

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Record-breaking jockey Rachael Blackmore has been crowned world sport star of the year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards.

The 32-year-old Irish jockey was up against Formula 1’s newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen, tennis legend Novac Djokovic, Jamaican Olympic sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, super-middleweight boxing champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and American NFL quarterback Tom Brady, in the category. Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov won the award in 2020. All the BBC SPOTY awards are voted for by the public.

This year Rachael became the first female rider to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the first to finish as top jockey at the Festival, with six winners. She then rode the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times to victory at Aintree to become the first female jockey to win the Grand National.

Rachael was crowned world sport star during a televised ceremony yesterday (9 December) hosted by Gabby Logan, Claire Balding, Gary Lineker and Alex Scott.

Rachael said to win was “unbelievable”, and described the support from those that had voted as “incredible”.

“I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees. It’s overwhelming to think I’ve been given an award,” she said.

“[As a little girl] I think my dreams were so big that I never dreamt they could happen. It [this year] far surpassed anything I could ever have imagined. It was just an incredible year.”

Rachael said the response from the general public following her record-breaking achievements had been “brilliant”.

“For me personally they are such massive things to achieve, but when you can bring a bit of joy to other people that makes them even more special,” she said. “The reaction from everyone at home has been incredible and I feel very privileged to have had the year I’ve had.”

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Nominations are open for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year unsung hero award 2021.

The award honours sports volunteers in local communities who go “above and beyond” to encourage people to participate in physical activity and those who have made a “lasting impact” on their community through sport.

Nominees must be 16 or older and can be involved in the sport in any way from steward to coach. Last year’s winner was Sergeant Matt Rantana, who won the award posthumously for bringing the community together to rebuild East Grinstead Rugby Club.

“If they have showed passion for their community and encouraged people to take up sport, then they could scoop the coveted award,” said a BBC spokesman, adding the awards will be supported by Made for Sport, a charity that champions the power of sport to change lives and shines a light on the organisations who successfully use sport to tackle major social issues.

“Unsung Hero is about recognising those in the community that have inspired people to take part in sports. Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen individuals step out, make a difference and use sport to transform their communities. They are true unsung heroes and it’s a privilege for the BBC to able to shine a light on their inspiring stories,” said BBC director of sport Barbara Slater.

Nominations close on 17 October, following which, finalists will be drawn from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the 12 English regions. A judging panel, made up of former sports stars and people active in sports volunteering, will decide the winner, who will be announced at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on 12 December.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/unsunghero to nominate via video, online webform or email.

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A young show rider who has competed at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and the Royal International (RIHS) rounded off her 2020 with a nomination at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Wednesbury-based Isobel Lines, 20, was a finalist in the unsung hero category. The awards were screened live on Sunday 20 December and formula one racer Lewis Hamilton won the main award.

As well as an established showing rider, Isobel is also a beauty pageant queen and is the current Miss Black Country.

Isobel is a former sports scholarship student studying sports science at the University of Worcester where has been chair of the equestrian club for the past two years. She was crowned Miss Black Country earlier this year as the competition has continued online. She is due to compete at the Miss England Final in Birmingham which will now be held in April 2021

“It was such a pleasant surprise and honour to have been nominated,” says Isobel, who has recently been raising money for the Riding for the Disabled Association. “It is obviously disappointing not to have been able to attend in person but I was lucky enough to be part of the virtual audience.

“I have been utilising both my Miss England and chairman of the equestrian club positions to raise funds and awareness for organisations which have been struggling during the pandemic.”

Isobel has been riding since she was four and has competed at HOYS for eight successive years, as well as the RIHS for a consecutive decade.

In September, she was also rewarded with one of the Dudley Council for Voluntary Services Covid Heroes Awards 2020, for all the work that she has carried out in the local community during the pandemic.

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Looking ahead to the 2021 show season, Isobel is set to ride her Welsh section A stallion Thistledown Ice Warrior. Bred by Sandy Anderson and produced by Jill Rushton, Ice Warrior was the highest priced lot at the Fayre Oaks sale in 2019.

“We bought him as a four-year-old,” says Isobel. “2020 was our first season together and while it was a shame we couldn’t compete as consistently as we had hoped it was really beneficial for him. It’s important for youngesters and newly broken ponies to not be overloded with competitions and training. We were able to choose the shows we wanted to do and have fun at, which included the BSPS summer and Heritage championships.

“At the moment we don’t know what the situation will be for RIHS or HOYS but we will definitely be contenders for the M&M open classes when we can get out.”

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Scotland’s treasured draught horse the Clydesdale is to become a big star of the small screen this Christmas when the BBC airs a documentary about the battle to preserve the breed.

Like many of the British heavy horses, the Clydesdale horse is now classed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, having suffered the loss of its primary role since the onset of mechanisation.

Clydesdale: Saving the Greatest Horse is produced by the BBC, in partnership with Screen Scotland and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and follows Clydesdale enthusiast Janice Kirkpatrick as she travels to the Canadian Prairies to source a rare black mare from a bloodline “lost” to the UK.

Professor Kirkpatrick traces the story of the Clydesdale from its origins in the Clyde Valley, and meets the Canadian family who have bred these black horses for five generations.

Clydesdales were once numerous in their native Scotland, where they were first recognised as a breed in 1826, and went on to be so desired as a working animal that in 1911 a prized stallion sold for the equivalent of £1m. The animals were exported all over the world, where some of their bloodlines are still preserved.

“Once I realised that the Clydesdale was considered to be in the extinction vortex, I felt I could not stand by, I had to do something,” said Professor Kirkpatrick, a designer and graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, who now keeps Clydesdales on her farm on the Scottish coast.

The documentary covers her work to establish a global centre for the Clydesdale horse in Glasgow. The facility includes an animal genetics centre, farriery school, conservation and craftsmanship of leather and metal and a working rare breeds farm. It also plans innovative ways of engaging with local residents and the visitor economy, including through equine therapies and horse-centred tours and experiences.

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“It is the perfect place to give our most powerful and handsome rare breed a bright future. It will help to create highly skilled jobs, new businesses, networks, knowledge, partnerships for people who live nearby and for visitors,” Professor Kirkpatrick said.

“As the project develops, there will be opportunities to interact with horses and other animals, to use science, technology and economic activities to protect and secure the future of the breed, to design, make, repair and repurpose leather goods, to work in a forge, to study and interpret a world-class historic archive, to start a business and to have hands-on experiences by welcoming visitors or working in the city farm.”

The film will be shown on BBC Scotland on December 30 at 7.30pm.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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A BBC Countryfile presenter is the new president of an equine welfare charity.

Matt Baker will help promote County Durham-based Here4horses’ work of caring and rehabilitating sick, injured and neglected equines.

The charity, which launched in 2018 and is a member of the National Equine Welfare Council, also focuses on providing advice, information and training on all horse-related matters.

A spokesman for Here4horses, which has 34 ponies in its care, said former One Show host and County Durham-born Matt has had a “lifelong interest” in animals. The presenter, who recently raised £4m for Children in Need by completing his 10th Rickshaw Challenge, regularly returns to his home county to visit his parents, who farm near the charity’s base.

“There is an unbelievable spirit at Here4Horses. Founder Wendy Suddes and her team are just brilliant at what they do, giving every possible chance to horses and ponies that have been neglected and need help,” said Matt.

“The care and dedication is second to one, confirmed by the stable mates who come to greet you for a nuzzle. It is a very special place.”

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Here4Horses chair of trustees Nicola Endersby said Matt “stood out” for the president’s role.

“His connection with animals and links with the north are important to us. We also love his engaging personality and innate altruism,” she said.

“We hope he will play an integral role in increasing public understanding of equine health and welfare by arousing interest in our important work and generating support. The team are very excited for the future,” added Wendy.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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

Do you know an “unsung” equestrian hero who has made a difference during the pandemic, and is deserving of a prestigious BBC award?

There are 10 days left to nominate a volunteer for the BBC Unsung Hero awards 2020. The awards recognise volunteers who have positively contributed to their local community through sport during an “unprecedented” year.

A BBC spokesman said as well as the main award, new for this year is the Captain Tom: Young Unsung Hero award for a young volunteer aged 15 or under, who has made a big difference in their local community through sport during the pandemic. The award has been named in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore who has raised £38.9 million for NHS charities this year, thanks to walking laps of his garden and releasing a charity single.

“Both awards will see finalists from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and each of the 12 English regions. Four nominees from the English regions will join the national winners to form a top seven before the winner will be announced in December alongside the Young Unsung Hero,” said the spokesman.

A judging panel will be formed with current and former sports stars and active sports volunteers. The winners will be announced live at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards taking place on 20 December in Salford.

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“As we know, it has been a strange and unprecedented year, but we have still been fortunate enough to see plenty of sporting highlights which we look forward to honouring on the night,” said the BBC’s director of sport Barbara Slater.

“The ceremony will not only celebrate the very best of elite sport but will also reflect how ordinary members of the public and unsung heroes all over the UK have used the power of sport to keep the nation going through challenging times,” added the spokesman.

Nominations close on 25 October and can be submitted by video, online, or email by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/unsunghero.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Rising star of the weighing room James Bowen has made the final 10 in the running for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2018.

The 17-year-old champion conditional jockey is in only his second season riding as a professional after stellar pony racing years as a young teenager and a record-breaking season point-to-pointing in 2017.

Past winners of the prestigious award include Ellie Simmonds, Wayne Rooney, Tom Daley and Andy Murray.

James’ career highlights to date include winning the 2018 Welsh Grand National on Raz De Maree at Chepstow in January, the youngest ever winner of the race.

He also won the 2017/18 Stobart Conditional Jockeys Championship, riding 58 winners, and is leading this year’s contest with 38 victories — 25 ahead of nearest rival Bryony Frost.

In 2017, James smashed the record for the number of point-to-point winners ridden by a novice rider. Despite only starting the season on 12 March that year — his 16th birthday — he rode a winner on his first ride between the flags, going on to take 29 more that season.

The BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year will be announced at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards at the SSE Arena, Wembley, on Sunday (21 October).

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Also in contention are 100m WPA European champion para-athlete Kare Adenegan, 17, Commonweath and European medal-winning swimmer Freya Anderson, 17, European under-18 800m champion athlete Max Burgin, 16, and 2018 Wimbledon boys’ singles runner-up Jack Draper, 16.

Competing the shortlist are Commonwealth Games medal-winning gymnast Georgia-Mae Fenton, 17, British under-18 number one table tennis player Anna Hursey, 12, Castleford Tigers rugby player Georgia Roche, 17, Premier League footballer Ryan Sessegnon, 18, and record-breaking para swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton, 16.

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Nick Skelton and Sophie Christiansen missed out in the 2016 Sports Personality of the Year award — but Nick finished in third place, while Sophie came fifth.

Andy Murray won with 247,419 votes, becoming the first person to take the trophy three times, while triathlete Alistair Brownlee was second with 121,665. Nick garnered 109,197 and Sophie 37,284

Nick and Sophie were among 16 top athletes shortlisted for the annual award, and both were in the packed audience at the SPOTY ceremony in Birmingham tonight (18 December).

Eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie was nominated after she retained both her London 2012 individual titles in Rio in September, as well as team gold, while Nick won hearts across the world when he and Big Star took individual gold in Rio, following winning team gold in London 2012.

“You proved the best things come to those who wait,” host Clare Balding said to Nick.

“I certainly waited a long time, and I was getting near the end and running out of time,” Nick answered.

“Luckily, it all went right. When you have a horse like that, it makes the job a lot easier.”

Nick said he was honoured to have served his country for 40 years, “and won gold on my last chance”.

“I feel very privileged to be standing here with all these great sportsmen and women,” he added. “It’s terrific and it’ll probably be the last time I’m standing here as I’m running out of time.”

Nick thanked “everyone who’s helped me along the way”, including members of the public who contribute to funding Team GB by buying lottery tickets.

SPOTY would have topped an unbelievable year for Nick, who was also named FEI athlete of the year last month, won the British Showjumping award in October and took H&H‘s lifetime achievement award in November.

Asked by host Clare Balding what riding brought to her life, Sophie said she had started riding aged six, as therapy for her cerebral palsy.

“I’ve been really competitive all my life, and when I found a sport I could excel at, I wanted to be the best I could be,” she said.

Continues below…

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Only four equestrians have won the SPOTY award: AP McCoy in 2010, Zara Phillips (2006), Princess Anne (1971) and David Broome (1960), while Charlotte Dujardin finished fourth in 2014.

Andy Murray said: “It’s been an amazing year for British sport and I’m proud to have been part of it.”

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Fans of Valegro who have not been lucky enough to bag tickets to the dressage superstar’s retirement ceremony at Olympia on Wednesday, 14 December, will be able to watch it from the comfort of their home.

The BBC will be live streaming the ceremony to UK viewers on the red button as well as online, and the subscription online video service FEI TV will also be showing the event.

Between the BBC, FEI TV and olympiahorseshow.com, equestrian fans will be able to watch the action at Olympia on all but the first day of the show (13-19 December). Fans who can’t attend on the Tuesday, but want to follow the dressage grand prix, are recommended to login to our H&H Live interative written commentary service.

BBC Two will be broadcasting almost three hours of live competition on Sunday (18 December), as well as a highlights programme from 12pm-1pm on Wednesday, 21 December.

Article continues below

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• Watch Olympia’s emotional Valegro retirement video
• Valegro’s Olympia retirement ceremony confirmed
• Olympia offers fans the chance to meet Nick Skelton

This year’s event includes World Cup dressage, showjumping and driving, plus a host of popular features such as the Shetland Pony Grand National and displays from the Portuguese Lusitanos and Santi Serra.

Nick Skelton and Big Star are among the top showjumping combinations who are entered for the show so far.

The provisional TV times are as follows:

• Wednesday, 14 December: FEI World Cup dressage freestyle to music and Valegro’s retirement 19:30-22:35 — live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions, and FEI TV
• Thursday, 15 December: the Santa Stakes 12:00-12:30 — live stream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Christmas Pudding Stakes 18:45-19:50 – livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Cayenne Puissance 21:00-22:15 — live on the BBC live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
• Friday, 16 December: FEI World Cup driving leg 12:45-13:25 — live on FEI TV ; the Snowman Stakes 15:00-16:25 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the entire evening performance 18:45-22:25 — live on the BBC live on BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
• Saturday, 17 December: the Christmas Masters 15:15-16:15 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; FEI World Cup driving leg 18:30-19:15 — live on FEI TV ; the Martin Collins Enterprises Christmas Tree Stakes 20:45-22:15 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com
• Sunday, 18 December: the H&M Pony Club Mini-Major 12:30-12:50 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the Longines FEI World Cup jumping leg — 13:45-16:30 — live on BBC Two HD, online and connected televisions, and from 14:35-16:30 it will be live on FEI TV ; the H&M Ivy Stakes 21:00-22:25 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com
• Monday, 19 December: the Six Bar 12:30-13:30 — livestream on olympiahorseshow.com ; the entire evening performance 18:45-22:25 — live on the BBC red button, BBC online and connected televisions
• Wednesday; 21 December: highlights 12:00-13:00 – BBC Two HD, BBC online and connected televisions

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The nominees for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) were announced yesterday (29 November) and two star equestrians made the line up.

Nick Skelton and Sophie Christiansen are two of a shortlist of 16 stars up for the award that were revealed on The One Show.

The nominees will compete for the public vote on 18 December.

Eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie said she was “shocked and honoured” to be nominated for SPOTY in “such an important year for sport”.

“I know that many of the British public won’t know who I am because I compete in a minority sport,” she said. “This is why I need your help not to come last!

“I want to be voted for by the people because I stand for more than just an athlete.

“So please vote for me if you have ever overcome a challenge, believe in the benefits of sport, studied maths, have a disability but never let that stop you, work in an office, love riding and horses, went to university, always strive for better, go to festivals and gigs, are a computer geek and proud of it, fight for things you believe in or just like to support the underdog!”

Article continues below

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• Golden hat-trick for Britain on final day of Paralympic dressage

How to vote

Nick and Sophie’s chance of winning the title rides on a public vote — and H&H wants to make sure that they get all the support they can.

To vote online for free you’ll need a BBC iD.

If you haven’t already done so, you can register via this link: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality

Voting will open during the show, broadcast on BBC One, 5v live and on the BBC Sport website, on 18 December

You can also vote by phone — the numbers will be released during the show.

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More than 7 million viewers tuned in to see riding and road safety feature on BBC One’s Countryfile on Sunday night.

Presenter Tom Heap spoke to riders and the British Horse Society (BHS) to learn about the scale of the safety issue and to ask what could be done to help.

Among those he interviewed was Gillian Singleton, who lost her 19-year-old gelding Digby in a tragic road accident in September. The driver said he did not see them.

Shocking footage of vehicles passing fast and close to riders was also shown.

However, some of the advice given — not by the BHS — has sparked wide-spread heated debate. One interviewee said riders should not ride two abreast and said that dismounting is “the best thing” if your horse is getting fractious or nervous. This opinion is not shared by the BHS.

“We appreciate that any TV programme like this has to be balanced and show different opinions on a subject, that’s what makes it a newsworthy feature,” said BHS director of safety, Sarah Phillips.

“Our main aim at being part of the programme was to highlight what drivers should be doing when they approach a horse on the road and what riders can do to stay safe when they have to go onto our roads.

“The programme also featured other spokespeople appointed by the BBC and not BHS, who do not share the same views or opinions of the BHS.

“For example, we always advise riders to wear the appropriate safety clothing when riding, even if it is a sunny day.

“Wearing hi-viz does make a difference. Those extra three seconds in which drivers might see you could save your life and that of your horse.

“Wherever you are and whatever the weather, hi-viz for both horse and rider is essential.

“We don’t share the same views as the other spokesperson featured on riders riding two-abreast on the road, as we know in some circumstance this is necessary.”

A poll by the AA found 17% of drivers thought horses should be banned from the roads; 8% did not know the correct way to pass a horse and 6% had experienced a near miss.

According to figures from the BHS, there have been 2070 accidents and near misses involving horses on Britain’s roads in the past five years — working out at more than one per day.

In the same time frame, 36 riders and 181 horses have lost their lives on the roads.

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Ms Phillips added these statistics are just the accidents that have been reported to them and they believe the actual numbers to be “much higher”.

“We worked hard to put across the key messages of the BHS’s Dead or Dead Slow campaign to an audience that might not have heard about it and may not even realise the enormity of this problem,” she said.

“This was a great opportunity to highlight the dangers that horse riders face every day on our roads.

“We know it’s a sensitive subject and that opinions can be divided. We hope that out of the 7.2 million people that watch Countryfile, this feature has raised awareness on road safety for riders, and if it has prevented at least one accident on our roads involving horses, then this is a positive thing.”

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A teenager whose life has been changed by learning to ride has caught the attention of the CBBC producers.

The edition, to be broadcast on 17 February at 5.10pm, follows a pupil who was introduced to horses by the Emile Faurie Foundation.

The charity was set up by Emile Faurie 10 years ago to give underprivileged children access to riding. Over the past decade around 10,000 school children have been given riding lessons.

The teenager, who lives in Salford, Manchester, suffers from ADHD and after being excluded from school, is taught at home.

His mother approached the Foundation for help after he had visited Ryders Farm Equestrian Centre near Manchester.

“Usually we support schools not individuals, but he was an exceptional case,” said the Foundation’s Maryanne Horn.

The CBBC programme makers filmed the pupil spending time with Emile Faurie at his dressage yard in the Cotswolds.

Emile talks in the programme about how horses boost the self-esteem and confidence of the young people the Foundation helps.

The teen is now helping out at Ryders Farm and is hoping to pursue a career in equestrianism.

“We have helped a lot of kids and many have gone into the industry,” said Maryanne Horn.

“We have some heart rendering stories. Children find within a horse something they can relate to. It does change lives.”

This year to mark the 10th anniversary a range of fundraising events are being planned including a charity ball.

The CBBC programme is part of a six part series entitled: “My Life – Never Give Up.” It will be show on catch up TV after the screening.

For more details visit: www.emilefauriefoundation.org.uk

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AP McCoy picked up the BBC’s lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards yesterday (20 December).

On receiving the award AP thanked all the horses he’s ever ridden and the stable staff for looking after them.

“To any young person watching, all I can say is make the sacrifices because it’s worth it,” said AP in his acceptance speech.

The 20-times champion National Hunt jockey was presented with the award in Belfast.

AP McCoy bowed out of racing at the 2014-15 National Hunt season finale at Sandown in April after two decades at the top of his game.

“To be receive the lifetime achievement award is a big highlight of what has been an incredible year,” said AP. “It’s a huge honour.”

In 2010 AP became the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award — the year in which he won the Grand National on his 15th attempt aboard Don’t Push It.

“A previous Sports Personality of the Year winner and widely regarded as one of the greatest jockeys of all time, AP was the biggest superstar of racing until his retirement this year,” said Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport.

“It’s an honour to celebrate his illustrious career in Belfast, Northern Ireland, his home nation, with the lifetime achievement award.”

Apprentice jockey Tom Marquand finished third in the race to become Young Sports Personality of the Year.

He was among a shortlist of 10 young athletes. The award was won by gymnast Ellie Downie.

Tom picked up the champion apprentice title after riding 54 winners in his first season.

The 17-year-old from Cheltenham was 26th in the Flat Jockeys Championship, with just five fewer wins than Frankie Dettori in 2015.

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The BBC has confirmed it will cover Olympia, the London International Horse Show, for the next four years.

Jonathan Goold of the show said it was “great news for Olympia and equestrian sport in general”.

The sport has recently suffered cuts to its television schedule, with both Horse of the Year Show and Hickstead’s Derby meeting being lost from our screens this year.

Olympia has been broadcast on the BBC since 1971. The planned coverage will run from 2016 to 2019 inclusive, including BBC broadcast of the major classes, including the FEI World Cup showjumping qualifier, the World Cup dressage to music and the puissance.

“We’re pleased to be continuing our relationship with Olympia,” said Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport.

“It is always a great event in the run-up to Christmas, showing top showjumping and dressage with some of the best riders in the world, along with the festivities and events that make the show so special. With the 2016 Rio Olympics coming up, this is a great showcase for some of the best of Olympic sport for our audiences.”

However, the BBC is currently “exploring options” as part of £150m of cuts, one of which is a plan to cull the red button.

The BBC announced last month it is “exploring a phased exit from the broadcast red button service and focusing our interactive TV offer on connected televisions and iPlayer”.

A spokesman for Olympia told H&H the BBC has confirmed live coverage of the show. Should the red button be dropped, the content will still be streamed online.

If you’re not heading to west London this week, you can still follow Olympia from home.

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Twenty-times champion National Hunt jockey AP McCoy is to be honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

AP will be presented with the award in Belfast on Sunday night (20 December). The awards will be shown live on BBC One from 6.50pm-9pm.

AP McCoy bowed out of racing at the 2014-15 National Hunt season finale at Sandown in April after two decades at the top of his game.

Despite missing out on victory on his final day in the saddle, AP finished third on his last ever ride and retired on a total of 4,348 winners.

“To be receiving the lifetime achievement award is a big highlight of what has been an incredible year,” said AP. “It’s a huge honour and I’m thrilled to be accepting it so close to home in Belfast. I’m looking forward to what will be a very special night.”

In 2010 AP became the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award — the year in which he won the Grand National on his 15th attempt aboard Don’t Push It.

He secured more than 40% of the votes ahead of darts player Phil Taylor and heptathlete Jessica Ennis.

In 2013 he finished third in the SPOTY race, behind tennis star Andy Murray and rugby player Leigh Halfpenny.

“A previous Sports Personality of the Year winner and widely regarded as one of the greatest jockeys of all time, AP was the biggest superstar of racing until his retirement this year,” said Barbara Slater, director, BBC Sport.

“It’s an honour to celebrate his illustrious career in Belfast, Northern Ireland, his home nation, with the lifetime achievement award.”

AP is one of just four equestrians to have won the award — David Broome in 1960, Princess Anne in 1971 and Zara Phillips in 2006.

Charlotte Dujardin finished fourth last year, despite a huge push by the equestrian industry and an army of dressage fans.

Earlier this month fans were surprised not to see the AP on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominees list — and now it is clear why.

The shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award includes cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, footballer Lucy Bronze, heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, athlete Mo Farah, cyclist Chris Froome, boxer Tyson Fury, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, tennis star Andy Murray, swimmer Adam Peaty, athlete Greg Rutherford, rugby league player Kevin Sinfield and gymnast Max Whitlock.

The winner will also be announced on Sunday.

Apprentice jockey Tom Marquand is one of three finalists up for Young Sports Personality of the Year, the winner of which will also be revealed on the night.

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Equestrian sport on television could be further reduced if the BBC closes its red button service.

The organisation is exploring options as part of £150m of cuts, which also include a £35m reduction in sports rights spending.

The plans are to address a shortfall in funding due to more people using BBC iPlayer, mobiles and other online catch-up — meaning the proportion of households owning a television is falling, as a loophole allows viewers to watch catch-up TV without a licence.

The BBC announced it is “exploring a phased exit from the broadcast red button service and focusing our interactive TV offer on connected televisions and iPlayer”.

The BBC could not confirm to H&H how exactly the process would affect equestrian sport. Currently events including Badminton, Burghley, Olympia and the European Championships are shown through the red button service.

Badminton final scores

Judy Harvey, who provides commentary on the red button, told H&H it would be a “great loss” to dressage should it be cut.

“Nearly all our coverage is on the red button,” she said. “It’s hard to say whether it would be scheduled onto normal programming should it be cut, but the red button is a great thing for die-hard fans of sport and it would be a shame to lose it.”

Horse sport suffered a blow earlier this year when Sky announced in April it would no longer cover Horse of the Year Show.

At the same time Hickstead revealed that it was to move away from Sky Sports for the Derby meeting due to production costs, and use the broadcaster only for the Royal International.

“We always said that cuts to programmes or services would be unavoidable,” read a BBC statement. “Even after the new measures announced on 17 November, the BBC faces a long-term challenge to identify a further £550m of savings by 2021/22 and we will set out broad plans for this in the spring. We will inevitably have either to close or reduce some services.”

BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “The BBC has and is doing everything possible to make sure the impact on the public is minimised. Wherever possible we’re targeting savings by creating a simpler, leaner BBC.

“But cuts to budgets for programmes and services are unavoidable. No director-general wants to announce reduced spending on services that the public love. This is very tough, but the BBC’s financial position means there is no alternative.”

The £150m is part of the £700m overall savings the BBC must find due to the flat licence fee agreed in the summer and the need to fund the transformation the BBC must undertake for the future.

The importance of TV coverage

Part of the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 is based on attracting a new audience to the sport, and one way is through media coverage.

Since the last Olympics, equestrianism has been demoted from category C to D (with the bottom level being E), despite its popularity at London 2012.

When asked about whether the BBC cuts would affect the sport’s ratings, the IOC told H&H it was “hard to say”. The category was determined by the coverage during the Olympic period, however a spokesman said that sports provide data throughout the year, one part of which is coverage.

In April at the FEI sport forum Stefan Kurten from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said “ratings are king” but sports are expensive to air compared to other programming, due to rights hire, production costs, and there is “fierce competition” between sports events to secure a spot.

At London showjumping received a maximum TV audience of 37,069,919, dressage 17,738,025 and eventing 12,825,000

The sport was shown on 525 channels for London 2012, up from 388 at Beijing 2008. The broadcast hours were 99,982, up from 61,700, though the audience stayed fairly steady (3.7bn 2012 and 3.5bn 2008).

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World number one showjumper Scott Brash has said he is “not frustrated” about missing out on the chance to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

“I’m not frustrated about not being nominated. I focus on my job and it’s up to people outside of the sport to take notice,” he told H&H today (Tuesday 1 December).

No equestrians or jockeys at all made the line up.

“It’s a shame Charlotte Dujardin didn’t get into the top three last year [she finished fourth],” added Scott, “As a world record holder and winner of every major dressage competition going there is nothing else she could have done, yet it still wasn’t enough for a top three at SPOTY.”

The list of nominations for the award was announced last night (Monday 30 November) — but the recently retired AP McCoy and world number one showjumper were both notable absentees.

The lack of nomination surprised H&H readers. They also lamented the absence of jockey AP McCoy.

H&H Facebook fans said that equestrian sport is not receiving the recognition it deserves.

“It’s outrageous that equestrian sports and the acheivements of the riders are so poorly recognised in this country. Scott Brash has achieved more than anyone in his sport, at his level, in the world (not just the UK). When will this ever change?” questioned Tracey Stern.

Giselle Robinson added: “What a ridiculous thing. AP and Scott have achieved so much, sports personality is a bit of a joke.”

Sophie Pentecost said it was a “crying shame”.

“AP has had a wonderful career and Scott is right at the top of his game,” she added.

Despite being in the betting ahead of the announcement, Derby-winning jockey Frankie Dettori isn’t the running for the award either.

Earlier this year H&H readers campaigned for showjumper Scott Brash to receive a nomination after a phenomenal year that included him making history by winning the Rolex Grand Slam.

The 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist includes cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, footballer Lucy Bronze, heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, athlete Mo Farah, cyclist Chris Froome, boxer Tyson Fury, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, tennis star Andy Murray, swimmer Adam Peaty, athlete Greg Rutherford, rugby league player Kevin Sinfield and gymnast Max Whitlock.

The overall winner will be announced live at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 awards on 20 December following a public vote.

The award ceremony will be held in Belfast for the first time this year.

In 2010 AP McCoy became the first jockey to win the award — the year in which he won the Grand National on his 15th attempt aboard Don’t Push It.

In 2013 he finished third in the SPOTY race.

AP is one of just four equestrians to have won the award — David Broome in 1960, Princess Anne in 1971 and Zara Phillips in 2006.

Charlotte Dujardin finished fourth last year, despite a huge push by the equestrian industry and an army of dressage fans.

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

Racing and equestrian fans are surprised after National Hunt jockey AP McCoy and showjumper Scott Brash were not shortlisted for the BBC sports personality of the year award.

The list of nominations for the award was announced tonight (Monday 30 November) — but the recently retired jockey and world number one showjumper were both notable absentees.

Despite being in the betting ahead of the announcement neither AP McCoy nor Frankie Dettori are in the running for the award.

Earlier this year H&H readers campaigned for showjumper Scott Brash to receive a nomination, but he isn’t featured either.

Many fans on Twitter said that equestrian sport is not receiving the recognition it deserves.

“Disappointed that Scott Brash wasn’t nominated. What he’s achieved in showjumping this year is incredible,” said Ellen Gibson.

Lesley Murray tweeted: “No equestrians on the short list for #SPOTY so what Scott Brash and Charlotte Dujardin have done means nothing?? #Disgusting”

Quentin Smith said: “No @AP_McCoy on #SPOTY shortlist? Seriously? With an achievement that will never be bettered? How good do you have to be to merit inclusion?”

The shortlist includes cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, footballer Lucy Bronze, heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, athlete Mo Farah, cyclist Chris Froome, boxer Tyson Fury, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, tennis star Andy Murray, swimmer Adam Peaty, athlete Greg Rutherford, rugby league player Kevin Sinfield and gymnast Max Whitlock.

The overall winner will be announced live at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 awards on 20 December following a public vote.

AP McCoy bowed out of racing at the 2014-15 National Hunt season finale at Sandown in April after two decades at the top of his game.

Despite missing out on victory on his final day in the saddle, AP finished third on his last ever ride and retired on a total of 4,348 winners.

The award ceremony will be held in Belfast for the first time this year.

In 2010 AP McCoy became the first jockey to win the award — the year in which he won the Grand National on his 15th attempt aboard Don’t Push It.

He secured more than 40% of the votes ahead of darts player Phil Taylor and heptathlete Jessica Ennis.

In 2013 he finished third in the SPOTY race, behind tennis star Andy Murray and rugby player Leigh Halfpenny.

AP is one of just four equestrians to have won the award — David Broome in 1960, Princess Anne in 1971 and Zara Phillips in 2006.

Charlotte Dujardin finished fourth last year, despite a huge push by the equestrian industry and an army of dressage fans.

The 2014 award was won by Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, with golfer Rory McIlroy in second and athlete Jo Pavey was third.

Charlotte gained 75,814 votes from the public, 12.2% of the total placed.

To register to vote click here

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

Showjumping fans are campaigning for Scott Brash to be named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) following his historic win in the Rolex Grand Slam this year.

Scott picked up a €1m (£730,000) bonus earlier this month when he completed the hat-trick of grands prix — Geneva, Aachen and Spruce Meadows (news, 17 September).

And now the equestrian world wants to see him recognised for his endeavours.

A page has been set up by Amy Dennison from Stafford Barton Stud on Facebook, and within a week more than 15,000 people had liked the page.

“I was so sick and tired of other sports receiving all the recognition, and equestrianism isn’t getting what it deserves,” she told H&H.

“Once we have enough support I will send evidence to the BBC to show how strong the industry is.

“I’m very passionate about the athletes getting the respect they deserve. If it was golf or football they would definitely be on the list.”

The last equestrian to be crowned SPOTY was AP McCoy in 2010. The only showjumper on the rostrum was David Broome in 1960.

Last year the equestrian world was disappointed when Charlotte Dujardin narrowly missed out on being voted into the top three — despite a full campaign launched by the British Equestrian Federation.

“The more support we get the better for the industry to attract sponsors and owners,” added Ms Dennison.

The nominations are compiled by sports editors of national publications, with the final 10 open to a public vote in December.

Previous equestrian winners in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards:

• 1960 David Broome
• 1971 Princess Anne
• 2006 Zara Phillips
• 2010 AP McCoy

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World, Olympic and European champion — never before has a dressage rider held all three titles at the same time.

Charlotte Dujardin has taken the dressage world by storm during the past three years — and now she is breaking into the mainstream.

On Sunday (14 December) she will be up against nine other top athletes competing for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) title.

She’s the first dressage rider ever to be nominated, and if she wins will join an elite league of just four riders to have been crowned SPOTY since the awards’ inception in 1954.

And it shows just how far dressage has come.

“We know that the Olympics brought a whole different audience to the sport, but this will once again give us the chance to jump into another league. Just the fact that she’s been nominated gives the public a chance to see what a beautiful sport it is,” Carl Hester told H&H.

“It’s a fantastic Christmas present not only for Charlotte, but for dressage as a whole — Valegro is not just a horse, he’s a celebrity now.

There are so many so many successful athletes and the fact she’s up there is proof that the sport is growing.”

Winning over the public

Charlotte’s chance of winning the title rides on a public vote — and H&H wants to make sure that she gets all the support she can.

Equestrian stars including Carl Hester, Laura Collett and Tim Stockdale have all taken to social media to proclaim their support.

But she needs the fans to get behind her and vote on the night (see bottom of this story for details).

The rider, who picked up two individual golds and team silver at this summer’s World Equestrian Games (WEG), has already picked up the Sunday Times/Sky Sports Sportswoman of the year and BT Sport action woman of the year — showing she’s breaking through to the mainstream.

“It was fantastic to see Charlotte getting the recognition she so richly deserves when winning the Sunday Times sportswoman of the year award, but just securing a place on the final shortlist for BBC SPOTY is arguably an even greater achievement,” said British Dressage’s Jason Brautigam.

“There are some big names from golf, Formula One, football and boxing on this year’s list, so it is great that dressage is able to take pride of place alongside other higher-profile sports.

“It’s not only a unique opportunity for dressage to enjoy its moment in the spotlight, but also a perfect chance to celebrate Charlotte’s amazing achievements.”

The Dujardin effect — Olympia sales double

Before 2012 the average member of the public probably knew very little about dressage. They still might not know the difference between passage or piaffe, however the “dancing horses” at the Olympics propelled the sport into the public eye.

Since then, gold medals at the Europeans and WEG has led to further promotion for the sport.

“We are urging the equestrian community to get behind her and show their support as they did for Zara Phillips and AP McCoy to put equestrianism on the sporting map,” said a spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).

“Charlotte’s success has undoubtedly raised the profile of dressage; the sport is on a rising curve, not just at the top level but from the grassroots up. British Dressage membership is also on the up with an eight per cent increase since 2012.”

Olympia is also reporting the “Dujardin effect” having seen ticket sales soar this year — 11 out of 12 performances have already sold out.

“The introduction of dressage in 2003 broadened the appeal of the show, but since 2012, the ‘Dujardin effect’ and team gold medals at London 2012 and the European Championships is clearly having a huge impact on ticket sales,” said organiser Simon Brooks-Ward.

The Reem Accra FEI World Cup freestyle dressage for this year sold out at the end of October, and they are expecting the grand prix to be close to 70% capacity, compared to the 29% last year.

“People are clearly desperate to not only to watch the magical combination of Charlotte and Valegro perform over the two days at Olympia, but also to support the likes of Carl Hester, Spencer Wilton, making his Olympia debut with his exciting new ride Numberto, and Nikki Crisp.”

How to vote

> To vote online for free you’ll need a BBC iD. If you haven’t already done so, you can register via this link: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality

> Voting will open during the show, broadcast on BBC One, 5v live and on the BBC Sport website, on Sunday 14 December

> You can vote by phone: numbers will be released during the show

Ref: Horse & Hound; 11 December 2014

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Olympic dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer will be testing her athletic abilities against the best in the world in a one-off episode of the BBC’s Superstars programme.

Laura will join 15 other Olympic medal winners — including runners Mo Farah and Christine Ohuruogu — to compete in eight disciplines.

The eight men and eight women will compete in the 100m and 800m on the track, javelin, archery, 50m swimming, kayaking, a cycling hill-climb and a “gruelling” gym test.

Laura said: “There haven’t been many equestrian athletes over the years who have taken part in Superstars so I am looking forward to representing the riders, hopefully without causing too much embarrassment!”

Superstars was first shown in the 70s and 80s but ceased in 1985. It returned in 2002 for a one-off show for Sports Relief that led to a series in 2013.

The 90-minute programme will be shown on BBC One over the Christmas period.

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

Riders are being urged to nominate equestrian volunteers and helpers for this year’s BBC Sports Unsung Hero award.

The award, which is in its 10th year, recognises individuals who “go the extra mile to help out in local sport”.

Charles Runcie of BBC Sport told H&H: “We would love to receive plenty of nominations from horse sport, as for some reason we don’t get many from the equestrian world.

“I know there are lots of people out there helping to run events and shows for the benefit of thousands of riders.”

Nominations close on 29 October. The winner will be announced at the BBC Sports Personality event in December.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (25 October 2012)

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All the action will be available live via one of the BBC’s 24 Olympic channels. You can access these via the BBC red button if you subscribe to Sky, Virgin Media or Freesat, or at www.bbc.co.uk/sport NB: Not all of these channels will be available on Freeview. In addition, key live action and top stories are being covered on the main channels.

Scheduled times for equestrianism:

Monday, 30 July (eventing cross-country): 12.30pm-1pm BBC One; 1pm-1.45pm BBC Two; 1.45pm-2.45pm BBC One; 2.45pm-5.45pm BBC Three

Tuesday, 31 July (eventing showjumping): 10.30am-1.15pm BBC One; 2.30pm-3.45pm BBC One

Saturday, 4 August (showjumping team and individual first qualifier): 11.30am-2.15pm Freeview

Sunday, 5 August (second showjumping round): 11am-2.15pm Freeview

Monday, 6 August (showjumping team conclusion): 2pm-5pm BBC Three

Wednesday, 8 August (showjumping individual conclusion): 12.30pm-1pm BBC One; 1pm-1.30pm BBC Two; 2.45pm-4pm BBC Three

Thursday, 9 August (dressage freestyle, individual conclusion): 2pm-4.30pm Freeview and maybe BBC One

Read all the latest Olympic news

Check out what other equestrian programmes are on TV

The ancient art of hedge laying was given a boost when a BBC film crew turned up to record the Cotley Hunt’s fourth annual competition and combined meet on 17 March.

Cotley joint-master Mary Perry said the BBC filmed the competition, at Sadborow, Dorset, for a new wildlife series due to be shown next year.

“Luckily it didn’t rain and wasn’t windy, as they set up static cameras to film sections of the hedge,” said Mrs Perry.

Cotley talent prevailed in the open class, won by local farmer Stuart Drew.

The traditional country skill is undergoing something of a resurgence of interest, after BBC Countryfile presenter Matt Baker took part in a mock hedge-laying competition in February.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 April 2012)

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Equestrian fans will be able to keep a track of next year’s Olympics on BBC Sport Online.

For the first time the BBC will feature live video coverage online of every sport, on every day of the London 2012 Games

And you can start planning your Olympic diary with the BBC’s online guide, which can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/olympics.

The guide will be updated over the course of the next 12 months as more information is released.

“As host nation broadcaster, this online guide is the first step in realising our commitment to making every sport from every venue where it’s happening on every day of the Games available to the British public,” said the BBC’s Dave Gordon.

“From the start of the early morning action until the end of competition just before midnight, there will be live BBC Sport online coverage. You can look at the big picture each day, planning for those not to be missed events. If you want to spend all day watching the water polo or fencing or taekwondo or swimming, or any combination of the 26 sports, for the first time you can. The choice is yours rather than ours.”

The schedule for TV and BBC Red Button has yet to be confirmed and will be released nearer to the Games.

For more information visit: www.bbc.co.uk/olympics

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

Piggy French is to star in a BBC programme about the Olympics this weekend.

The event rider will be featured in British Olympic Dreams, which will be aired on Saturday (14 May) at 1pm on BBC1.

The programme focuses British athletes in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.

The BBC’s Ollie Williams spent several weeks finding out about the life of a top event rider in the run up to Badminton, spending time with Leicestershire-based Piggy and finding out what goes on behind the scenes.

“It was a privilege following Piggy and we were so lucky she did so well at Badminton — nearly winning was incredible,” said Ollie.

Badminton final scores

“We were all so nervous as Mark Todd went in the showjumping. She did brilliantly. Following the preparation was fascinating — from the yard, preparing for Badminton, to the lorry journey there and the actual event itself — all the raw emotion and excitement.”

There will also insight into the lives of a road cyclist and a beach volleyball player.

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A Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) pony took a star turn in Somerset recently, when he pulled a rag-and-bone cart for a new BBC TV series.

Troy, a nine-year-old pony on permanent loan to the Somerset Levels RDA carriage-driving group, spent three hours pulling a cart up and down hills outside Shepton Mallet for an as-yet unnamed series due to air in November.

“He was a star — he’s probably one of our best horses,” said the group’s chairman, Bob Hose.

“Troy has done all sorts for us — musical rides, weddings, fund-raising for the group, Windsor horse show — so he is bombproof and didn’t put a foot wrong.”

The series tracks the changes in Shepton Mallet from Victorian times through to the 1960s.

Volunteers for the RDA group struck up conversation with the film-makers earlier this year and suggested Troy for a scene set in the 1940s, about a rag-and-bone man collecting scrap and items for the town’s war effort.

Troy’s owner, Bev Trout, lent her teenage son David for the role of rag-and-bone man and her original trade cart for the wartime scenes.

“The pair took to filming like Hollywood stars!” added Mr Hose.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (2 September, ’10)

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The BBC has confirmed to H&H that it will not be covering the famous DFS Derby at Hickstead for the foreseeable future.

Earlier this month, Sky Sports announced that it will broadcast the Derby (25-27 June) and the Longines International Horse Show (29 July to 1 August) at Hickstead for the next four years.

A BBC spokesman told H&H it had decided to stop covering the event.

“With the increasing scheduling needs of an expanded sport portfolio it was felt the BBC could no longer give the event the coverage it merits,” said the spokesman.

In a statement on H&H’s Facebook page, Hickstead co-organiser Daisy Bunn said the BBC’s decision was initially “very disappointing”.

But Daisy added: “We are delighted that Sky Sports will be broadcasting all the action live and in its entirety — not just the Sunday as in previous years on the BBC, but THREE FULL DAYS of all the action as it happens, as well as behind-the-scenes features.”

• What do you think of the BBC’s decision? Discuss your thoughts in the H&H forum

• See this week’s H&H for more information about why the BBC dropped the Derby and whether Sky plans to broadcast the show jumping on freeview channels.

If you don’t have Sky Sports, don’t despair. You can follow all the action as it happens through our free ‘H&H Live’ service. For more information and to register for a reminder, visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/derby-live

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

The good news story of how nine stolen donkeys were found by eagle-eyed charity and Horsewatch officers will be told on BBC One’s Animal 24/7 on Tuesday 6 April.

Eleven donkeys were stolen from a field in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, overnight on 18-19 September last year.

The donkeys’ photos were distributed across the country by Horsewatch and in February World Horse Welfare field officer Nick White found one in a group of donkeys in Hertfordshire.

A few days Hertfordshire police’s equine liaison officer Karen Broad said she was called to some dumped donkeys in Watford and realised eight of them were the stolen animals.

Producers from the BBC series spent four days filming with the donkeys and their rescuers.

Helen Evans of Thames Valley Horsewatch, who was involved in the recovery, said: “It was quite an experience being filmed for the show and quite a slow process. I’m looking forward to seeing the end result.”

Two of the donkeys are still missing — Ruby, a chestnut yearling and shaggy-coated filly Jill.

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact Mrs Evans at helen.evans@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

• Animal 24/7 goes out at 9.15am each weekday on BBC One.

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

Racing fans will be able to feel closer to the action at this year’s Grand National (Saturday 10 April) as it is the first UK horse race to be shown on television in high definition (HD).

As well as broadcasting in HD two new high-speed cameras will be used at the course’s two most famous, and imposing fences — The Chair and Becher’s Brook — capturing the race for high speed replays.

There will be comprehensive live coverage from all three days of the Aintree festival across BBC One and BBC Two, Radio 5 live, BBC Sport online and red button, with the entire meeting shown in HD.

Clare Balding and Rishi Persad will be fronting the BBC’s television coverage and will be joined by former Grand National winning jockeys Mick Fitzgerald and Richard Dunwoody who will provide top class analysis from the paddock.

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

Olympic bronze medal-winning event rider Tina Cook will be adding a bit of glamour to A Question of Sport on BBC1 at 7.30pm this evening.

Tina’s team-mates include Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis and regular team captain and ex-England rugby star Matt Dawson.

“I was very privileged to be asked to go on the show. I’ve watched it ever since I was little and was on it once before, 10 years ago,” Tina told H&H.

“It was exciting to be surrounded by sporting legends like Denise – she’s so relaxed and made the filming really fun.”

The show was pre-recorded several months ago and Tina admits she’ll be squirming seeing herself on screen.

“I will be watching but I feel very uncomfortable seeing myself on TV. I’m sure my mum’ll call halfway through asking what they’ve done with my hair or something!”

Don’t miss Tina on A Question of Sport, BBC1 at 7.30pm, TONIGHT, Friday 19 February.

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

The BBC is to halve the number of days it broadcasts racing from around 29 to 13 from 2010.

It will continue to cover the Derby, Grand National and Royal Ascot meeting.

Fans of controversial Flat jockey Kieren Fallon will not want to miss a documentary about the disgraced champion to be shown on TV next week.

The BBC1 Inside Sport Special: Kieren Fallon — The Ride to Redemption goes out on Monday, 14 December at 11.20pm.

“My racing comeback has proven to all who doubted me that I am capable of becoming champion jockey for a seventh time,” said Fallon.

“Unfortunately headlines have left people with a distorted opinion of me as a person.”

During the show, Fallon tells broadcaster and former amateur jockey Clare Balding about his turbulent career, explaining how he wants to turn his life around following an 18-month racing ban after failing a drugs test for cocaine.

Fallon also talks candidly about his six-month ban for pulling jockey Stuart Webster off his horse, allegations of race fixing and alcohol problems.

He told H&H: “There are two sides to every story and now I have the chance to tell the public my side.”

The programme includes contributions from John Francome, Frankie Dettori and Sir Michael Stoute.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (10 December, ’09)

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

Dressage fans will be able to watch the FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle to Music live from the Olympia Horse Show (15-21 December) for the first time on the BBC’s red button and internet services on the evening of Wednesday 16 December.

The BBC’s decision to show the dressage live was taken following outstanding viewing figures of its coverage from the dressage finals of the recent Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships at Windsor in August.

Michael Cole, deputy editor BBC Sport, said: “The Olympia Horse Show is a great entertainment spectacle and also a hugely important sporting event on the build up to the 2012 Olympics in London.

“With the popularity of dressage increasing — highlighted at the recent European Championships — it was a natural decision for us to include it within our Olympia Horse Show package.

“We’re looking forward to giving viewers such extensive coverage of a fantastic show.”

The BBC signed a four-year broadcasting deal with Olympia Horse Show bosses HPower last year and will also broadcast the Accenture Christmas Puissance on Friday 18 December, through the red button service.

Highlights of the Accenture Christmas Puissance will then be shown on BBC2 on the afternoon of Saturday 19 December.

On Sunday 20 December, the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Qualifier will be live on BBC2.

And on the evening of Monday 21 December the entire evening performance will be shown live on the red button service.

Olympia Horse Show director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Dressage is on a meteoric rise in terms of public interest and we’re delighted the BBC has decided to include it in its Olympia coverage.”

Exact details of how to access the coverage on the red button service will be available ahead of Olympia. Check www.olympiahorseshow.com for more details a week ahead of the show.

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

Would Flat racehorse Sea The Stars get your vote in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards?

With six consecutive Group One wins in six months under his belt, the recently retired Sea The Stars has been hailed as a global superstar, making headlines around the world.

And H&H would like to see him win one final trophy as he retires to stud.

Though the BBC awards are really intended for humans, Nijinsky and his connections won the team award in 1970 and Bob Champion and Aldaniti won in 1981, so we believe Sea The Stars should have a similar claim.

Being Irish-born and trained, the horse does not qualify for the main BBC SPOTY (for Brits only), but could be eligible for the overseas personality award.

At the time of going to press, the BBC was not 100% clear on whether a horse would be eligible for the award — so help us to convince those involved that he should.

Unlike the BBC SPOTY, which is decided by public vote on the night of transmission (13 December) from a selection of 10 nominated finalists, the overseas personality award is decided in advance.

A BBC spokesman said 30 top sports editors would each be invited to nominate a favourite and second-favourite candidate for the Overseas Personality of the Year between 2-13 November.

She added that competition would be stiff as Sea The Stars would be likely to go up against sporting heroes like Roger Federer and Usain Bolt.

H&H is therefore urging you to join us in lobbying sports editors to make sure they don’t forget this colossus of the Turf in their nominations.

Lucy Higginson, Editor of H&H, said: “Let’s put Sea the Stars on prime-time TV once more by lobbying the sporting press — and those who compile the SPOTY shortlists — to include this once-in-an-era horse. Let’s face it, he is MUCH faster than Usain Bolt.”

The three-year-old was hailed as one of the greatest racehorses of all time earlier this month after he became the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (news, 8 October).

Lobby the papers

To help Sea The Stars win a BBC title, email the following sports desks putting his name forward.

sportletters@sunday-times.co.uk

sport@independent.co.uk

Sport@dailymail.co.uk

letters@thetimes.co.uk

sport@guardian.co.uk

sport@telegraph.co.uk

sport@thetimes.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 October, ’09)

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

People keep saying to me, “How was your day?” as I sit in the press tent at the close of cross-country day at Burghley Horse Trials.

“Good” I say, or “busy”, or “mad”. I haven’t seen any horses in the flesh today, because I’ve been in the press office doing our H&H Live service — an up-to-the-minute interactive written commentary of the action — with Carol Phillips, our website editor.

A few things came over loud and clear from the reader comments on H&H Live. One is how many eventing fans there are out there and how strongly they feel their sport should be on television. The fact that the BBC was not even showing the cross-country on the red button was not popular, and the fact the online delayed film at Burghley.tv didn’t seem to work for much of the day was greeted with horror.

H&H online was the only place to follow the action up-to-the-minute, and although the readers were grateful to us for it, they were obviously upset not to be able to see it for themselves. Come on BBC, can’t we have a change of policy on this for next year?

Another point is how much fans take a horse or rider to their hearts. The volume of reader comments went through the roof when we got to some combinations (sorry if we didn’t have time to publish your remark) — Caroline Powell (pictured) and the 16-year-old Lenamore were among the most popular ones.

And there was strong local support for readers from your area, or indeed country. By the end of the day, only about 74% of our readers were British, the rest were all over the world, from America to Beijing and South Africa.

Who stood out for me today on the cross-country? It’s easy to say the leading combinations, but looking a little further down there were a raft of impressive younger horses out there — the 10-year-olds Westwood Poser (Polly Stockton, sixth overnight), Seacookie (William Fox-Pitt, seventh) and Leprince Des Bois (12th with Germany’s Dirk Schrade), Mary King’s nine-year-old Kings Temptress (10th).

On the rider front, we’re lacking a stunning British first-time performance in the top raft — Kitty Boggis should have provided it but was so unlucky to fall in the arena after a superb round on Boondoggle — but there were plenty of heartening shows.

Aaron Millar (Stormstay, 29th) and Ginnie Turnbull (Instant Reaction (36th) both went clear on their debuts here, with Sarah Stretton (Lazy Acres Skip On, 46th) and Nicola Malcolm (McFly, 49th) both riding well too to come home with just 20 penalties on their jumping cards.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Oliver Townend has a fence in hand to take the Burghley title, strengthen his hold on first place in the $150,000-to-the-winner HSBC FEI Classics race and line up the $350,000 Rolex grand slam title if he can also add Kentucky next year. Can he do it? I wouldn’t bet against it.

Report of today’s action

Full results

Replay today’s action with our H&H Live written commentary.

Follow the show jumping live with H&H online’s up-to-the-minute written commentary, starting again tomorrow at 10.15am. Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghleylive to register for an email reminder and join in.

Don’t forget to buy H&H next week (10 September) for our 10-page Burghley special report including colour pictures, comment from course-designer Mark Phillips and full analysis.

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

FIVE para-equestrian drivers have taken on the Eggheads in BBC2’s quiz show.

Team captain Terry Kirby enquired about putting a team together after appearing on In It To Win It, a show hosted by Dale Winton.

“I asked one of the production team about it and got all the forms for Eggheads,” said Terry, who drives internationally for Britain.

Terry’s team-mates were James Marshall, Heather Clarke, Margaret Lupton, Lynsey Tyas, and reserve Rowena Coldwell.

“It was great fun and a good way of getting publicity for the sport,” said Terry.

The drivers signed a confidentiality contract before filming, so viewers will have to find out the result in June when the show is aired.

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

Badminton Horse Trials will move a day later for the next three years, to run from a Friday to Monday over the first May bank holiday weekend.

Since 1956, the famous horse trials has run from a Thursday to Sunday. But from 2010 until at least 2012, dressage will now be held on Friday and Saturday, cross-country on Sunday and the show jumping on bank holiday Monday.

The move, which was announced today, is to fit in with a three-year deal between Badminton and BBC television.

The BBC has agreed to extend its coverage of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials until 2012. Viewers will be able to watch guaranteed live red button and broadband coverage of the whole cross-country day (Sunday) as well as a two-hour programme on the Monday combining highlights of the cross-country and dressage phases and live conclusion of the show jumping.

Badminton director Hugh Thomas told H&H: “The BBC suggested [the date change] and we thought — why not? We asked people and no one thought there would be a problem, Badminton quite often runs over the bank holiday weekend anyway.”

Badminton final scores

The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials runs this year from 7-10 May. In 2010, it will run from 30 April – 3 May; in 2011 it will run from 29 April – 2 May and in 2012 from 4-7 May.

www.badminton-horse.co.uk

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A petition has been posted on the Downing Street website appealing against the BBC’s planned cutback of racing on television.

The channel is set to have its racing days cut from 29 to just 14 in 2010 — to the anger of fans and the industry.

Major races — including the Grand National and the Derby will continue to be broadcast but other races such as the Welsh National — which attracted 1.1million viewers on 27 December — face the axe.

It also means there would be no live racing shown on BBC between October and April.

As of today (Thursday 8 January) over 800 people had signed the petition including prominent names in the industry — like jockeys, trainers and journalists.

Signatures must be submitted by 2 April.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/bbcracing/

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Do you know someone who gives up their spare time for equestrianism and makes a real difference in their community?

The BBC is inviting nominations for the nation’s 2008 Sports Unsung Hero award.

Fifteen local winners will be chosen by each BBC English region, was well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

And the overall winning Unsung Hero will receive their award at the Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony on 14 December.

To nominate your unsung equestrian hero go to www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero

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The BBC has confirmed a four agreement to cover Olympia, The London International Horse Show — giving equestrianism in the UK a massive boost.

Olympia show director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “This is a significant new agreement both for Olympia and equestrianism in general.

“The BBC and Olympia have had a long-standing relationship and I am delighted that through the BBC, viewers will be able to see the best international show jumpers in the world performing at Olympia.”

The contract will run from 2008 – 2011 with the BBC committed to cover the Rolex FEI World Cup show jumping qualifier — which attracted 1.8 million viewers last year.

Michael Cole, deputy editor at BBC Sport, said: “Olympia is always a fantastic show and something our viewers have come to love watching before Christmas, so we are delighted to put our backing behind it for the next four years.

“As well as being a great entertainment spectacle, we see Olympia as one of many important sporting occasions on the lead up to the 2012 Olympics in London.”

Olympia runs from Tuesday 16 December to Monday 22 December 2008.

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Television viewing figures once again confirmed the growing popularity of horse racing as a peak of three million viewers tuned in to watch New Approach win the Derby on BBC on Saturday, 7 June.

A BBC spokesman told H&H: “We are very pleased the figures remained consistent on such a busy weekend of sport.”

The figures match those of last year when Frankie Dettori took his first Derby aboard Authorized.

On Friday 900,000 viewers tuned in to watch the Coronation Cup, won by the Aiden O’Brien trained Soldier of Fortune and the Oaks, won by Look Here.

In March H&H reported that a record audience of two million tuned in to Channel 4 to watch the clash between stablemates Kauto Star and Denman and in April the BBC’s coverage of the Grand National attracted 10.1million viewers, the highest number since 2004.

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The BBC will transmit live cross-country coverage from this weekend’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this year despite disappointing viewing figures in 2007, but on BBC interactive rather than BBC1 or BBC2.

Full action from Saturday’s cross-country will be shown live on BBC interactive — BBCi, available to anyone who owns a digital TV or digibox — and on Sunday, BBC2 will run a recap of dressage news, at least an hour of cross-country highlights and then show live at least the top six show jumpers.

“Last year, we learnt that people who love horses loved the live coverage, but they also had busy lives. They felt there wasn’t enough on Sunday,” said BBC head of sport Michael Cole.

For the first time last year, BBC2 broadcast live from 12.30-4.30pm on cross-country day. But it was marred by breaks in the action owing to rider withdrawals and a horse fatality — viewing figures reached the 400,000 mark.

Badminton final scores

“We also learnt that eventing is an unpredictable sport and we decided it was not good for the sport for the public to see a horse being treated for an hour,” added Mr Cole. “Delays like this are less important on interactive.”

During the coverage (Saturday 11-5pm on BBCi; Sunday 1-3pm BBC2), Mike Tucker will lead the commentary, with Clare Balding presenting with help from Tina Cook and other riders.

Mr Cole added: “Horses make beautiful viewing — Badminton is good TV sport and it’s one of my personal favourites.

“It’s only on occasionally and we hope that everyone who knows it is on will watch it.”

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The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and Countryside Alliance (CA) has dismissed as “second-class, emotional journalism” a BBC investigation that followed monitors trailing the Heythrop hunt.

BBC’s Inside Out programme on Good Friday followed Penny Little and Judy Gilbert while they “monitored” the Heythrop over four weekends last month.

MFHA chairman Stephen Lambert told H&H: “At one point, a fox was pictured running towards hounds, with the monitors trying to allege that hunting with intent was taking place. How you can hunt a fox when it’s running towards hounds, I don’t know.”

CA spokesman Tim Bonner said the BBC showed the hunt laying and following a trail, and an emotional outburst by monitors.

He said: “There’s no evidence to support any allegations — which the Heythrop deny.”

Gloucestershire police could not confirm that an investigation was taking place, despite reports in local papers that it was.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (27 March, ’08)

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The BBC will not be commissioning a second series of the horseracing drama Rough Diamond.

The programme, which was broadcast on Sunday evenings in February and March, was filmed on location in Ireland. The six-part family drama concerned the attempts of struggling trainer Aidan Doherty to hang on to his yard with the help of Ben, the teenage son he didn’t know he had.

The programme’s maker World Productions said it was “disappointed” by BBC Northern Ireland’s decision.

The series attracted an audience of 4.9m for the opening episode, but only 3.9m people watched the final instalment.

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The BBC is to review its live coverage of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials following “extremely disappointing” viewing figures from the event.

Michael Cole, head of BBC sport, told H&H that an average of only 400,000 viewers — and a peak of 500,000 — tuned in to watch the live cross-country action on Saturday, 5 May. On the Sunday, an average of 900,000 viewers tuned in, peaking at 1.2million.

“This made me personally very disappointed. These are bad viewing figures and below average, so while we won’t be making any snap decisions, we will have to review what we do next year,” said Mr Cole.

He said the gaps in Saturday’s coverage caused by riders pulling out and the fatal injury to the French horse Icare D’Auzay were part of the risk the BBC takes covering a sporting event live. But he praised Pippa Funnell and the “peerless” presenter Clare Balding for filling airtime on what was a “very sad day”.

He added that riders pulling out — including favourite Zara Phillips — and the sunny weather on 5 May would have had an impact on viewing figures, which would be analysed in more depth.

Badminton final scores

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (17 May, ’07)

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Pippa Funnell, Tina Cook and Ian Stark will be joining the BBC’s regular commentary team — led by presenter Clare Balding — at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

The BBC has dedicated even more airtime to the event this year. There will be live coverage on BBC2 from 12.30-4.30pm on the Saturday, while viewers with interactive TV can tune in at 10.50am. There will also be live streaming of all the cross-country action at bbc.co.uk/sport.

There will be further coverage on Sunday from 2-3pm, bringing viewers up to date briefly with the previous day’s action and then following the final show jumping.

Michael Cole, editor of BBC Sport said: “We had a great response last year from H&H readers. Please email comments on this year’s coverage to eventing@bbc.co.uk”

This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (3 May, ’07)

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