The young horse CCI4*-S “kingmaker” class at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials is always one of the highlights of the eventing calendar and this year’s batch of rising stars look set for a bright future.

The list of former champions from this eight- and nine-year-old class is bejewelled with five-star winners and medallists. London 52, Cooley Rosalent, Faerie Dianimo and Oslo are just a few of the winning graduates who have gone on to top-level success.

Cases could be made for any of the 105 entries in this year’s class, sponsored by GFS Saddles, to be on a list of ones to watch, such was the wealth of impressive young talent. H&H has already covered those who finished towards the top end of the leaderboard, plus many who were in with good chances during the week and a sprinkle of others with nice stories, through our Blenheim coverage on this website and in the magazine.

But there were many others who put in impressive performances and who had interesting stories. Here are five others who stood out at Blenheim last week...

Blenheim Horse Trials eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S: who else caught our eye?

Rosa’s Party (10th)

Australia’s Sammi Birch and this lovely eight-year-old chestnut mare, who is by the late Party Trick, scored 28.3 in the first phase and jumped double clear with 10.8 cross-country time-faults to finish 10th. Rosa’s Party is owned by the Party Horses Club and was bred by Nick Gauntlett.

“She’s just a joy to work with,” said Sammi, after the pair’s dressage test. “She is just something else – she has the most incredible brain. She hasn't done a lot. She's only been eventing for two years, but she just loves it. It’s exciting.”

Faerie Good Golly (16th)

This royally bred mare is out of Badminton winner Classic Moet and by the late advanced eventing stallion Upsilon. The eight-year-old, born by embryo transfer, is ridden by Jonelle Price and looked a double for her famous dam as she soared across the country.

Faerie Good Golly is bred by Tim and Jonelle Price and is owned by her rider, Maggie and Mark Woolhouse, Colin Reece and Ines Wagner.

Kilcoltrim Cooley (18th)

Kitty King’s ride in this young horse championship looked class in every phase. The eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse is owned by Marshall and Sarah Riley and is the reigning British novice champion.

The Plot Blue son, bred by Aileen Doyle, joined Kitty from Clare Abbott in 2025 and the partnership has had a phenomenal 2026 season, jumping double clear on every start and stepping up to advanced.

The pair were sixth after the dressage on a score of 27.8, and Kitty told H&H at the time that it was a case of “taking each phase as it comes”.

“It’s about giving him a good experience for the future,” said Kitty.

The pair picked up 17.6 cross-country time-faults to finish 18th.

La La Land D’Arville (30th)

This pint-sized grey is a half-sister to Hooney D’Arville, the home-bred mare with whom whom her rider Lara de Liedekerke-Meier won Luhmühlen CCI5* 2024 and has twice jumped clear across country at Badminton.

Lara told H&H that she had brought La La Land D’Arville to Blenheim to give her more exposure to this kind of atmosphere.

“She’s as fierce as she is small! Her heart is really big and she loves eventing, especially cross-country. She has the heart of a lion, she just loves it,” said Lara.

La La Land D’Arville, who is owned by Five Star Eventers and her breeder Larga Sprl, is by Herald 3 and out of Nooney Blue.

The Highlander (42nd)

The Diacontinus son, bred by Nicole Nehm, is already a two-time winner at four-star level. He hasn’t had a single jumping penalty this season (national or international), and has kept a flawless international jumping record throughout his career.

The big grey, ridden by Tim Price, was fourth in this class in 2025 and finished down the order in 2026 owing to a steady cross-country run, but looks a very exciting type for the future.

He is out of a Stakkato mare and is owned by Gillian and Stephen Brooker, Ginny Rusher and Glynn Norcutt.

• View full results from the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To catch up on all the equestrian news from Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

This year’s Agria Blenheim Horse Trials results were as exciting as ever, with riders scooting up and down the leaderboard until the final top 10 were settled on Sunday afternoon.

Tom McEwen dominated, scoring a one-two in the Agria CCI4*-L as well as winning the GFS Saddles young horse CCI4*-S on Brookfield Danny De Muze.

Let’s check out the top 10 from the showcase class, the CCI4*-L…

Blenheim Horse Trials results: the CCI4*-L top 10

Tom with his two horses in the CCI4*-L, The Fieldmaster and Brookfield Quality, plus his team. His grooms for his five horses were Amy Bliss Bennett, Molly Walker and Adam Short.

The Fieldmaster moved up from fourth after dressage with the second fastest cross-country round, just three seconds over the optimum time.

Tom piloted Brookfield Quality, owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn, to second place. This 17-year-old horse is hugely experienced, with three top-five placings at five-star. Here he added four cross-country time-faults and one showjump down to a 26.5 dressage, which had left him third after the first phase.

Sam Ecroyd steered two horses into the top five, finishing third on Vicki and Stewart Irlam’s Jackpot, who was previously ridden by his girlfriend Emily King. The pair moved up from overnight sixth in the final showjumping phase, in which they added just 0.4 of a time-fault, and made a 16-place rise on their dressage rank of 19th.

Owners join the top three riders on the podium in front of Blenheim Palace – still partially covered in plastic because of an extensive roof restoration project.

Fourth-placed Speedwell, owned by Karen Coumbe, Colin Graves, Deborah Strang, Hannah Caven and rider Jesse Campbell, jumps the brush fence out of the first long water crossing on the way to fourth. Putting some blips earlier in the season behind them, New Zealand rider Jesse is now considering a tilt at five-star at Kentucky Three-Day Event next April on this former ride of his late wife, Georgie.

Sam Ecroyd built on third in the CCI4*-S at Bramham Horse Trials and third at Millstreet CCI4*-L with the 11-year-old Bloomfield Manuscript, owned by Joe and Kate Walls and Tricia and Rob Sargent, with fifth here.

At Millstreet, his showjumping let him down. One down here was a significant improvement and the pair again showed their speed across country with just 3.6 time-faults on a day when only one pair, 11th-placed Oliver Townend and Sommersby, made the target. Like Sam’s other horse, Bloomfield Manuscript climbed up the leaderboard, as he was 17th after dressage.

A showjumping clear sealed sixth for Gemma Stevens and Chilli’s Jester, owned by Chris and Clare Mathias and Chris and Lisa Stone. The horse is a full-brother to her recent Defender Burghley Horse Trials winner Chilli Knight.

Wiltshire-based New Zealand rising star Tayla Mason and Joopiter take seventh, up from 51st after dressage. The horse is owned by Tayla, her mother Sonya, Therese Miller and Katherine Corich and like her top horse Centennial, was bred by Sonya, by Euro Sport Centavos. His dam is Tayla’s young rider horse, Just Joop.

Young Australian rider Oliver Barrett re-routed after a fall at the eventing World Championships and finished eighth on his parents Craig and Prudence and brother Jesper’s Sandhills Briar, on whom he won Adelaide five-star in the spring. The pair led the dressage, but slipped down the order with 19.2 time-faults on Saturday. They finished on a good note with a showjumping clear.

Oliver was part of the mixed Australian-US team who took on the British Rising Lions in the Blenheim Challenge team competition. The Stars & Stripes came out on top, taking the majority of the £70,000 prize-money, which was split between riders, grooms, the US youth programme and US-based non-profit Work to Ride.

It was another good weekend for Tom Jackson, who rode Brookfield William – owned by the familiar Brookfield names of Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry – into ninth place. The 10-year-old gained four places with his showjumping clear on Sunday.

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone secured 10th on Sparky Lad, who won the big-money ex-racehorse class at Cornbury in 2025. The son of Smart Missile belongs to Waratah Equestrian PTY Ltd. Their top-10 placing was achieved despite a frangible breakage across country – without it, they would have been third.

• More from Blenheim in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, dated 24 September. To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Tom McEwen and precocious talent Brookfield Danny De Muze blazed to glory across Blenheim’s turf to win the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses.

Tom and the eight-year-old, who is owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, were the first combination down the centre line on Thursday morning and the last to leave the startbox as leaders on Sunday afternoon.

As was the case with Saturday’s CCI4*-L cross-country, time was a major player in who came up the leaderboard – and who went down.

He could afford a smattering of time-penalties to hold his lead. Nobody had made the time before he set off – Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Kilroe Tiger were the quickest at three seconds over the optimum time of 6min 54sec.

Tom put his foot on the gas and “Danny” responded. Their round was fast while never compromising on quality, the result was an electrifying performance and a new prince to add to the roll of honour in this “kingmaker” class.

“Every time I asked, he gave me a bit more,” said Tom, for whom this was the first of a record-breaking double of Blenheim Horse Trials wins today.

“I gave him a few breathers on the way round, then pressed him again, and he grew in confidence.

“It was a hard course to make the time, not only because Blenheim is renowned for its terrain. The time was tight – there’s the water crossings, but also the distances are a little bit on the tight side, so with that many gear changes, it was hard work. What a special horse to win the Le Lion seven-year-old world championship last year and come and win this as an eight-year-old.

“It was in the planning, but you never really know, and there were so many great horses out of the 100-odd that started.”

Burghley runner-up Katie Magee and Cushlas Indigo climbed to second from sixth after showjumping as a result of their silky smooth cross-country round.

“Hopefully the sky is the limit for him,” said Katie, who rides the nine-year-old for Sharon Parnaby. “His owner bought him as an unbroken three-year-old; she saw him in Ireland and he is one of those few horses who has ticked every box on the way up and made it feel easy, which is amazing considering what he has achieved.

“He has this lovely expression on his face, he is just so happy everywhere he goes and that’s why he has found it so easy.”

She added: “I thought it was a good course, that early water is always quite a big question, and is one that leads onto the next level for them. There’s the crowds, the huge expanse to jump into, and it’s so early on in the eight- and nine-year-old class. I watched a bit and it seemed to ride really well, both my rides had lovely trips round, and the ground felt good.”

Bubby Upton enjoyed clear cross-country rounds on all three of her rides in this class, two of which came home with rosettes.

Sancerre De Tiji, who Bubby owns with Caroline Owen, was the yard’s star this week, finishing third. His big galloping chestnut has a real ground-eating stride, and he devoured today’s course. His flashy friend Light Up E, owned by Lucy Hughes, rose from 31st place after dressage to ninth in the final standings, thanks to his great jumping performances.

“It’s been an amazing week,” said Bubby, who also finished 23rd with Auckland 7, and has stressed throughout the event that Blenheim this year was about building these horses for the future, rather than the result on paper.

“To have two in the top 10 is unbelievable. I like to really try to protect and preserve my young horses and they wouldn’t necessarily have as many wins or as much experience perhaps as others. But then when the time is right to go, and the feeling they gave me today when I did finally let them go, was just incredible. I’m so proud of them, and that their training and the whole system shines through on a day like today.”

Tom Jackson was fourth on My Star Turn, Yasmin Ingham finished fifth with Kinda Corvette, and Padraig grasped sixth aboard Kilroe Tiger.

• View results for the young horse CCI4*-S at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Tom McEwen scored a record-breaking double at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials, winning the CCI4*-L aboard The Fieldmaster an hour after soaring to victory in the GFS Saddles young horse CCI4*-S on Brookfield Danny De Muze.

When Tom cantered into the CCI4*-L showjumping on his overnight leader, The Fieldmaster, he knew he had already won.

His other ride, Brookfield Quality, was in second overnight and Tom had jumped him out of order earlier in the afternoon. Brookfield Quality (“Norris”) tipped the final part of the treble, but ultimately this did not lose him a place – and by Tom’s last round, the only horse that could finish above Norris was The Fieldmaster.

That rail meant The Fieldmaster (“Trev”) could also afford a pole and still win. He rattled the upright at fence three, which stayed in place, then cashed that in at the Agria oxer at 10. He jumped the remaining two fences beautifully to win by 0.1 of a penalty over his stablemate.

The last time a rider achieved a one-two in this class was William Fox-Pitt in 2000, who won aboard Stunning and was runner-up with Tamarillo. Nobody has ever won both the CCI4*-L and the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses in the same year.

“I brought five very special horses here, so I’m very lucky,” said Tom. “It’s nice for Tom Strawson, who brought ‘Trev’ around here last year as an eight-year-old, and for him then to come back again and win is amazing.

“He’s obviously called The Fieldmaster, Jo and James Lambert and Penny Barker own him, and Penny's late husband, Fred, was a master of the Quorn.

“When I saw the hunt outside, I thought that was probably an omen, a nice touch. He was so relaxed he could have probably done with them blowing the horn, I think!”

He added: “Both horses jumped brilliantly. I just had an easy rail coming out the treble on Norris, who jumped a superb round. Trev also jumped a super round – the pole was my fault, I knew I had to get a bit of jump back into him, so I gave him too big a shot. What a day!”

Tom knew he had a strong string coming into this week, each of the five had chances, but to dominate with this much style is a spectacular achievement.

“You come here with no expectations, and I gained a lot of understanding from Trev yesterday. I gave him a couple of presses, and he just absolutely accelerated,” said Tom.

Norris, who is owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn, is an “elder statesman” of the four- and five-star eventing scene these days. Blenheim has long been his happy hunting ground, and at the age of 17, he has recorded his best ever finish at this event.

“Norris has been a superstar; although I'm delighted that Trev won, it’s a shame they couldn't share it, and I couldn’t have somehow found 0.1 somewhere else, because Norris is always a bridesmaid, and he’s just an absolute star. What a great old boy,” he said. “All my horses have been fantastic this week.”

Blenheim Horse Trials results: Sam Ecroyd enjoys a week to remember

Sam Ecroyd climbed from 19th after dressage to third aboard Stewart and Vicki Irlam’s Jackpot, who was previously ridden by his partner, Emily King.

“I was really hoping I had an outside chance of maybe a top 10, I’m just so thrilled with them both,” said Sam, who also finished fifth with Bloomfield Manuscript.

“Jackpot is such a good horse. Emily has ridden, produced and done everything with him. He’s so straight and easy. She just thought that he would really suit me, my weaknesses are his strengths, he is so smart on the flat and such a special jumper.

“He can get a tiny bit strong when you go really fast across country. There are not many people who would just give you their five-star horse, so thank you to her.

“Bloomfield Manuscript was in the lead at Millstreet in the CCI4*-L this year and I didn’t ride a very good round, I got a bit nervous. So I was just conscious to show that he can do it, he’s a good horse and he jumps really well. So my focus was to do better for him this time round.”

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Speedwell lowered the first fence in an otherwise spotless round to finish fourth, in between Sam’s two horses.

“He was pretty perky this morning, he has certainly grown into himself – he’s getting stronger and stronger all the time. He’s a superstar,” said Jesse, who is now eyeing a trip to Kentucky with the 12-year-old gelding.

“Towards the back end of last year, we started to really develop and get to know each other pretty well. I’ve learnt to ride him across country in a slightly different way, he’s great. I love this horse.”

He added: “I thought it was a great showjumping course. It was technical, it took a lot to jump a clear round, we saw Sam move up quite significantly and there were quite a few problems. I think that’s the way it should be, it should be a challenge on the last day, it shouldn’t be a freebee – the more courses like that, the better.”

Gemma Stevens was sixth aboard Chilli’s Jester, the full brother to her Burghley-winning ride Chilli Knight. Tayla Mason was the most notable major climber at the business end of the leaderboard, rising 44 places from 51st after dressage to finish seventh on Joopiter.

• View full results from the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Two horses were withdrawn ahead of Sunday’s trot-up at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials and all those presented passed without a hitch.

Jaeger Master, one of Alex Bragg’s three rides in this Agria CCI4*-L class, was withdrawn before this morning’s horse inspection. He held 45th place overnight. Both of Alex’s other horses sailed through the trot-up.

Harry Dzenis’s Emerald Endeavour was also absent from the final trot-up. The 11-year-old was in 30th place after cross-country.

The trot-up itself, happily, was entirely uneventful. Horses looked to have come out of yesterday’s cross-country well, and appeared bright-eyed and glossy in the early morning sunshine.

Zara Tindall presented Classicals Euro Star out of order, before the rest of the starters, but that was the only minor deviation to proceedings.

Ground jury president Nikki Herbert, and fellow members Judy Hancock and James Rooney, gave the nod of approval to all 50 horses remaining in the CCI4*-L field.

Overnight leader The Fieldmaster (pictured, below), ridden by Tom McEwen, breezed through – as did his closest challengers, Brookfield Quality (also ridden by Tom), who is in provisional second, and Oliver Townend’s ride Sommersby, in provisional third.

The first session of CCI4*-L showjumping starts at 11.30am in the Palace Arena. The second session, for the horses at the business end of the standings, will start at 2.40pm.

• View start times and results for the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Oliver Townend spearheaded the leaderboard leapers on CCI4*-L cross-country day at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials, soaring onto the overnight podium with his fault-free round on new ride Sommersby.

Tom McEwen heads into tomorrow’s showjumping holding the top two places – provisional first with The Fieldmaster (30.4) and second on Brookfield Quality (30.5). Oliver and Sommersby have climbed from 32nd place after dressage to hold third overnight.

“I was having a beautiful ride, that was the most confident that I’ve felt him up until being held,” said Oliver, who rides the 14-year-old for owners Jennifer Caras and Jerry Hollis, and is on a score of 34 ahead of the showjumping.

“He’d had a great spin until then, but fair dues to him, he didn’t feel that confident once we got going as his blood had gone back down again, and every time I asked him a question, he answered it very well.”

The Olympic gold medallist was held on course for around 20 minutes before the HorseHage Roll Top (fence 13) – just ahead of the lake – while Tom Rowland’s horse, The Mail Man, was attended to following a fall further on course. Thankfully, Tom and The Mail Man both walked away.

Oliver has been riding Sommersby for around eight weeks and the pair have been in the ribbons at all four of their starts together.

“He’s a very talented horse and Jenny [Caras] has done a beautiful job producing him,” said Oliver, adding the 14-year-old gelding had lost his way a little and that he is in the saddle to help give the horse a confidence boost.

“The first part of the course for me was as beautiful a ride I’ve had here since I won the eight- and nine-year-old class on Cooley Rosalent. He really felt in the bridle and beautifully looking for the fences. Fair dues to him [for getting going again]; hopefully the more runs he gets under his belt where he gains confidence while he is going, the more positive it is.”

The cross-country time played a major role today. The dressage results were tightly bunched, meaning any faults were costly. It also meant that almost any competitor could earn a place in the top 10, right to the end of the class – the lowest dressage score of the CCI4*-L was 48.5, and the cut-off for the top 10 after cross-country is 43.6.

Sam Ecroyd powered up the standings with his two rides, Bloomfield Manuscript (35.7) and Jackpot (37.6). Bloomfield Manuscript was 17th after dressage, while his stablemate was in 19th. They now hold fifth and sixth respectively.

“Bloomfield Manuscript is such a cool cross-country horse,” said Sam, following the first of his two rounds. “It’s probably the biggest test we’ve had in terms of difficulty and fitness, and the course hasn’t ridden super smoothly – it’s proved troublesome for quite a few. So I was probably a fraction more cautious than I would have been on him on some of my previous runs, so we had a few time-faults, but time is hard to get here, so it’s great.”

Zara Tindall and Classicals Euro Star are in seventh (39.5), skipping up from 12th after dressage.

“He was very good everywhere. He’s a bit of a tricky one in the sense that he pretends he’s all brave, but actually I think he’s quite an anxious person, so this year has been a bit up and down,” she said. “I’m so pleased as he has stepped up; he’s a cool little horse and I hope he draws loads of confidence from this too.”

Jack Pinkney and Monbeg Stone Town are new faces at the business end of the standings, hiking 19 places from 27th to eighth (41.9).

New Zealand’s Tayla Mason and Joopiter are among the biggest climbers so far. They were 51st after dressage and rocketed into provisional 10th (43.6) thanks to their speedy cross-country clear, where they picked up just 5.2 time-penalties – that’s a rise of 41 places.

“He is very fast up the hills – he’s kind of a one-pace man, he’s just as fast up a hill as he is across one,” said Tayla. “I don’t know where I could have gone faster, he was totally galloping the whole way around. He is really rideable, he’s about 17.2hh and goes in a snaffle. He is the absolute gentleman and that is his biggest quality. He’s such a trier, all he wants is to do the right thing.”

Other notable gains outside the top 10 include Izzy Cook and Cymoon “F” Z powering from 30th to 12th (44.9), Samuel Jeffree and Santorro from 34th to 16th (46.2), Alice Casburn and LSS Ile De Re from 38th to 18th, plus Izzy Taylor and Barrington Revelation rising an enormous 42 places from 61st to 19th.

• Read the report on Tom McEwen’s leading performances in the CCI4*-L on Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country day

• View start times and results for the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Tom McEwen swept Agria Blenheim Horse Trials in his run of blazing form to head both classes overnight – plus a runner-up spot for good measure.

Tom started his day with a clear showjumping round at the crack of dawn to regain his lead in the GFS Saddles young horse CCI4*-S. By teatime, he had completed two belting cross-country rounds in the Agria CCI4*-L, climbing into provisional first with The Fieldmaster (“Trevor”) on 30.4 and second on Brookfield Quality (30.5). A good day at the office.

“Trevor was awesome,” said Tom. “He reacted, listened, got the positive distances when he went, listened to me when I really had to hang on and say, ‘That stride really isn’t there’. I honestly couldn’t be happier with him. He really answered every question.

“When I got to the top of the hill for the last few fences, I asked him to press and he just opened up. I’m absolutely delighted.”

Blenheim has been a happy hunting ground for Brookfield Quality (“Norris”). The now 17-year-old has great course form, finished fourth here in 2023 with Tom and fifth in 2021 with Piggy March. This quirky talent has developed into one of the real stalwarts of top-level eventing, and showed his class again today to join his stablemate on the provisional podium.

“Norris was amazing. He had a super smooth start to his round and relaxed him into it, then we tried to make up as much time as we could towards the end,” said Tom. “He’s a phenomenal horse. He’s an elder statesman and he’s as straight as a die.”

The time was tight, opening the door for those further down the leaderboard to climb if they could get close to the optimum of 10 minutes and eight seconds.

Of the 72 starters, 33 jumped clear across country – a smidge under 46% of the field. Only Oliver Townend and Somersby finished the day on their dressage score, finishing bang on the optimum, and leaping 29 places from 32nd after the first phase to hold third overnight.

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country: ‘I hope people appreciated that this is a classy horse’

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Speedwell, second after dressage, delivered one of the smoothest rounds of the day, cruising through the parkland to add 8.4 time-penalties to their dressage score. They’ve dropped a couple of places to fourth, but are just 4.2 penalties off the leader.

“I’m over the moon. He hasn't had the easiest season, we had a great run earlier in the year at Strzegom, then I made a stupid mistake at Bramham, and then things haven’t gone to plan through the rest of his year,” said Jesse. “I was hoping to get him to the worlds, then we went to Hartpury and we had a muck-up there. I was feeling it today; I was quite apprehensive about how today would go. I was confident in my plan and he came out and was just fantastic.”

After Hartpury, Jesse took the gelding cross-country schooling with Jonelle Price for a tune-up.

“She said, ‘There’s nothing really to do – he’s jumped all the tough stuff’, so that was really good,” he said.

“In the past, if it hasn’t gone quite right, I would feed-back on that and think, ‘Oh that last combination wasn’t good’, or I look for inspiration. Actually, just staying in the moment and just jumping each jump has been my motto over the last few weeks. I did that at Burghley, and it worked really well for me, so that was what I was hoping for today.”

He added: “It’s a huge thing for me riding this horse, because Georgie really felt that he would be an absolute superstar, and it’s a lovely responsibility for me to take on. I want to show the world that he is a superstar. So for him to put in a performance like that… and I think the round itself, while it wasn’t super speedy, it was speedy enough and it was smooth, and I hope people appreciated that this is a classy horse.”

Provided Speedwell comes out of Blenheim well, a trip to the US for Kentucky CCI5* could be on the cards.

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country: how did the dressage leaders fare?

Sam Ecroyd enjoyed a super day, sailing into the top 10 with Bloomfield Manuscript (35.7) and Jackpot (37.6), who are in fifth and sixth respectively.

Dressage leaders Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar enjoyed a great spin across country. They picked up 19.2 penalties and are just outside the top 10 (11th) ahead of the showjumping on 44.8.

“It was hard work, he was pretty keen – he really wanted to take me, but he jumped everything great,” said Oliver. “Not once did I think he wasn’t going to jump something. Ideally, I would have liked to have been a bit faster, but I’m just happy that we got round clear.”

Australia-based Oliver extended his Europe trip to divert to Blenheim after the disappointment of parting company across country at the eventing World Championships in Aachen.

“Whatever I do this week is never going to change what happened in Aachen, that’s something I have to live with, but it’s nice for me personally to come here and know that the horse and I can still be good enough,” he said.

Faults were generally well spread. The corners and treasure chest question (9abc) on the palace lawn, GFS Saddles Water (16abc), oxer-corner-brush combination at the furthest point on the course (18abc) and rail-ditch-arrowhead Cross Country App question (20abc) were the most influential fences.

Several of the riders mentioned they had to work quite hard on this year’s course, including Tom, who mentioned that there could have been more flow in places. Course-designer Jay Hambly said he was pleased with the overall picture of cross-country day. He also named a couple of spots that perhaps didn’t ride as smoothly as he had anticipated, for example 9abc in front of the palace, and already has ideas about possible positive tweaks for future Blenheims.

Looking ahead to the final phase, Tom does not have a rail in hand, on either horse, but does have the luxury of being ahead of the rest of the field with two horses.

The trot-up is scheduled for 8am tomorrow (20 September). The first showjumping session is set to start around 11am, and the final at around 2.30pm.

• View start times and results for the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Danny De Muze are back in pole position in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses after a text-book clear showjumping round at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials today (19 September).

The pathfinding pair were first into the arena before 8am this morning and have regained the lead they held for much of the dressage.

The eight-year-old gelding, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry, is effortlessly scopey. The quality he showed in the first phase was replicated over the coloured poles – his record in this phase, in all phases, is excellent. He has only ever had two rails in his eventing career, one in April 2025 and one in March 2024.

Overnight leaders Astier Nicholas and Hitchqote Du Coudray started the day on their superb dressage score of 23.5, but dropped 28 places after tipping three rails. After rolling poles at the first, the second and the fourth fence, their round improved.

Bubby Upton and Sancerre De Tiji held on to their provisional runner-up spot. The flashy eight-year-old chestnut, who Bubby owns with Caroline Owen, has an enormous jump. He finished a second over the optimum time, a buffer he could afford, and is now 0.1 of a penalty ahead of leaderboard climbers Izzy Taylor and Barrington Boy.

One of Bubby’s other rides Auckland 7, who shared second place overnight with his stablemate Sancerre De Tiji, toppled a couple of rails and collected 0.8 of a time-penalty, meaning that he will head into cross-country in 31st place.

Bubby had said after her dressage tests that the jumping phases are “building blocks” for these promising young horses.

“It’s not about the result they pull off this weekend. It's all about what they’ve shown in terms of promise for the future,” she said on Friday (18 September).

Australia’s Sammi Birch and Rosa’s Party (28.2) have climbed from seventh to fifth by virtue of their classy showjumping clear. Katie Magee and Cushlas Indigo (28.4) have also risen a couple of places, from eighth to sixth.

Time was relatively tight and the red British Horse Society upright at fence nine caught out a couple, as did the second part of the multicoloured double at 10ab. But on the whole, the course rode well.

The tightly packed leaderboard has loosened a fraction – the top 14 horses after dressage all held sub-30 scores. After showjumping, only the top 10 remain on scores in the 20s. But as less than 10 penalties separate the first 40 placings, any jumping or time-penalties across country tomorrow will be influential.

• View results and times for the young horse CCI4*-S at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Speedwell delivered the best test of the day in the CCI4*-L at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials on Friday, while reigning Adelaide champions Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar have maintained their overnight lead.

Jesse and Speedwell’s test sheet was richly seasoned with eights, plus a sprinkling of nines for their canter work and mid-test halt.

“He’s a very special boy, he loves it in there and he is just a delight to ride,” said Jesse, who owns the 12-year-old with Karen Coumbe, Colin Graves, Deborah Strang and Hannah Caven.

“I was just trying to stay in the moment. It felt pretty good to me, there were no major blots or boo-boos, so I’m very happy.”

He added: “He is very diligent and he tries incredibly hard. He's very sensitive, so if he makes a mistake, he really takes that quite personally.”

Jesse headed up to the arena yesterday to get a feel for what the ground jury were rewarding this year.

“I watched Oliver Barrett’s test last night, and that was quite a good thing to go away with and really take on board,” he said. “We have a variety of ground juries that we ride in front of, and they all are looking for certain things, and different things. So it was important for me just to have a bit of an understanding of what they were going for.”

Tom McEwen, who finished Thursday in second place with The Fieldmaster, remains on the provisional podium – but with a different ride. The 17-year-old Brookfield Quality, who has been placed in this class twice – with Piggy March and with Tom, now holds third on 26.5.

“I’m delighted with him,” said Tom, whose test with Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s gelding coincided with a chilly breeze arriving to rustle around the arena.

“There were a few little mistakes, but he was fantastic. For Norris, wind isn't the perfect thing to come along. Like all the microphone muffs on the side are all now blowing in the wind, and that spooks him every single time he goes past one.

“I get on with him so well, and I absolutely love him. Nowadays we keep him quite fresh before a test – I went out for a little hack this morning, because he’s so well behaved in there – I just wasn't quite expecting the wind. But I wouldn't have changed anything even if I knew it was coming.”

Tom and The Fieldmaster are now in fourth (29.2), with Gemma Stevens and Chilli’s Jester – who held second after the first day of dressage – are in fifth (29.6).

Today’s new entrants to the upper end of the scoreboard include New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone on thoroughbred Sparky Lad in provisional sixth on a score of 30, and Sarah Hedges with Igna (30.1) who holds equal seventh with Alex Bragg (Jaeger Master).

Sarah said that the 13-year-old gelding, who she owns with Susan McCance, has shifted from not being a fan of the first phase to a horse who now “loves showing off”.

“I’m really proud of him and he’s getting more and more rideable,” said Sarah, crediting working on the basics and “good advice from good people at the right moments” for helping their progress.

“I think there’s more to come from him – I’m not very experienced, so we muddle through together. It’s taken a long time; we’ve got a real partnership now and he actually understands his job and wants to work with me.

“I train with Hannah Moody a little bit, whenever I can, and I ran through my test last week with Sarah Higgins and she just gave me a few little tweaks, which was really helpful.”

Cross-country starts at 11.45am tomorrow (Saturday) and the Clarke will be pathfinder aboard his first ride, Cooley Stirling.

• View start times and results for the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

French Olympic medallist Astier Nicolas and Hitchqote Du Coudray collected a perfect 10 as they soared to the top of the dressage standings in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S young horse championship at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials.

Astier and the nine-year-old, known as “Alfred” by his friends as a nod to the play on spelling on Hitchcock that inspired his official name, were among the last to go in this huge kingmaker class.

Their score of 23.5 featured a 10 for their excellent mid-test halt, a smattering of nines for their canter work, plus plenty of eights. Only once did their numbers dip below a seven, a rogue 6.5 for an early piece of trot-work, which is testament to the overall quality of their performance.

“He gave me a very good feeling,” said Astier, who has been riding the gelding for four years.

“He’s a very gentle horse. He’s one of these very serious ones. He always tries to please. He got quite worried when he got in, but I had the time to do two laps around the arena, which was good, and then he was focusing more on me than on his own stress, which is his quality, and the quality of the very good horses. It's brilliant.”

Hitchqote Du Coudray, who is owned by Etienne Grivot, Mathilde Grivot, S.A.R.L. Ecurie Brillantissime and his rider, has an exemplary international record and is stepping up to four-star for the first time at Blenheim.

“I’m not used to these scores – I’ve been I’ve been running after them all my life, and sometimes I get one, but not often!” said Astier.

“I’ve been working with Holly Woodhead, and I must say that she's done great work in telling me off, and it's going well.”

Holly stepped up to play an even bigger role this week in the pair’s preparation for Blenheim.

“I've had a funny week,” said Astier. “I travelled over on Saturday, arrived Saturday night with Holly and James [Avery, Holly’s fiancé. They are good friends and I stayed with them at the beginning of the week. The horse had Sunday off, I rode on Monday, and the day after I had a very bad back – I couldn’t get out of bed – so Holly rode him. I managed to jump him on the Wednesday, and I feel better today.”

The fact that a sub-30 mark was not enough for riders to guarantee their place in the provisional top 10 reflects the quality of this 104-strong class. A total of 14 competitors broke the 30 barrier, and less than 10 penalties separate the top 36 places at this stage.

Friday’s competitors gave the CCI4*-S leaderboard a good shake. Thursday’s overnight leaders Tom McEwen and Brookfield Danny De Muze now hold fourth place, with Bubby Upton now filling second with two of her three rides.

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage: lightening strikes twice for Bubby Upton

Bubby’s first ride today, Auckland 7, was the first to topple Tom from his lofty perch. The pair sprang into the lead after the first coffee break on a score of 26.9. Remarkably, Bubby then earned the exact same score for her second test of the day, piloting Sancerre De Tiji into equal second with his stablemate. Bubby owns both horses with long-term supporter Caroline Owen.

Bubby, who trains with Amy Woodhead – Holly’s sister, said today’s result is “too special for words”.

Reflecting on her test with Auckland, she said: “I’m just so pleased that hr was able to pull it off today in the arena. Saturday and Sunday are another day, and there’ll be big challenges for him. This time last year, he was doing his first two-star at Belsay, so we've come a long way,” she said.

“We went and found him in Germany from a lovely family who'd bred him, and it's been quite the process really finding the right tool for him, because he's a real internaliser and worries, but doesn’t necessarily feel like that. But with the help of my amazing dressage coach, I feel like today we nailed it and did her proud.”

She added: “I think his changes were unbelievable; I felt like I actually rode them and did him justice in them. I was actually saying to someone earlier that I’ve never come out of that test and thought, ‘Damn, I crushed it’. And today, I think it's the first time, on the most inexperienced horse, that I actually think I rode it okay!”

Following her test with Sancerre De Tiji, a horse she has had from a four-year-old, Bubby said: “Obviously, this is only the first phase, but I'm so aware that the next two phases are just building blocks for them. It's not about the result they pull off this weekend. It's all about what they've shown in terms of promise for the future.

“I think the absolute world of this little guy, Sancerre De Tiji, he is an absolute superstar. I’ve always believed in him so much, and he thinks he's a champ. So we had to just kind of try and control that ego in a way that doesn’t ever get rid of it because it makes him a star, but to try and get him to listen to me a bit more than maybe he would like to most of the time.”

Izzy Taylor now holds fifth with Johnny Hornby’s Barrington Boy (27.4) and Kitty King is in sixth on British novice champion Kilcotrim Cooley, who is owned by Marshall and Sarah Riley.

Showjumping starts at 7.50am tomorrow morning (Saturday) and the class concludes with the cross-country on Sunday.

• View results and times for the young horse CCI4*-S at Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

As Ros Canter entered the arena with Armscote Explorer in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S young horse class at Blenheim, it marked a very special moment for the mare’s owner/breeders Kate Willis and Mel Pritchard.

Kate and Mel have only ever bred two horses – both out of former racehorse Winsome Wendy – and both are competing at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials this week. The grey nine-year-old Armscote Explorer, who is making her Blenheim debut, and her full brother, Ditchford Explorer, who is ridden by Ben Way and competing in the Agria CCI4*-L.

“We’re over the moon, it feels very surreal,” Mel told H&H. “It’s quite a family affair because I bought the mum from my father-in-law Peter Pritchard, who is a racehorse trainer. She wasn’t the best racehorse, but she was an amazing eventer, and then we bred these two from her, and they’ve both just turned out to be wonderful.

“We’re so grateful, happy and lucky.”

Both horses, who are stabled next to each other this week, are in touch with the sharp end of the leaderboard in their respective classes. Ben and Ditchford Explorer scored 34.9 – some nine penalties off provisional leaders Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar (25.6). Ros and Armscote Explorer earned a mark of 30.7, to hold provisional 15th place at Friday lunchtime, less than a pole away from current leaders Bubby Upton and Auckland 7 (26.9).

“I had the dam in the yard to sell and I loved her so much that I kept her,” said Mel. “I evented her at very low level, then a friend of mine competed her a little.”

When they decided to breed from her, Ben and another friend suggested that Cevin Z could be a good choice, as his strengths could complement Winsome Wendy’s thoroughbred qualities.

“Their mum was really laid back. We’ve always said that ’Billy’ (Ditchford Explorer) was a bit like a Labrador; he would follow me around fields and pick up buckets! Both of them are very laid back, and they’ve always been like that, and very friendly,” said Mel.

“Shane Borland broke them both in and said they were so easy, and they’ve always been the kindest, loveliest horses to have.”

Sarah Way, who rode the distinctive five-star horse Dassett Cooley Dun for Mel and Kate, initially competed both siblings. When she stopped eventing, Ben took over the reins of one and the other went to Ros.

Ros added: “She’s a sweet, sweet-natured horse. The owners are fantastic and we are just thoroughly enjoying her.

“I’m delighted with her, she’s got a fantastic brain.”

Ros added that the mare’s changes are there, but not on a straight line yet, which is one of the particularly tricky questions in this four-star test.

“She did her first CCI4*-S at Scone and I practised them on a straight line the week of that, and lost them completely. So I’ve just been rebuilding a little bit,” said Ros. “I haven’t done any on a straight line until today, as I just thought that she’s just not quite there yet. But she got one really well, and just did a really level test, which is what she’s very good at.”

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Beltane’s Prince Chilli has won hearts at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials where he is making his four-star debut with 2026 Burghley runner-up Katie Magee.

Eye-catching is widely overused when it comes to describing horses – but this gorgeous big skewbald is the exception.

The British-bred nine-year-old, who is owned by Ann and Valerie Robson, is out of Nicola Wilson’s former advanced mare Beltane Queen and by Badminton winner Chilli Morning. Beltane Queen’s CV boasted numerous podium places at four-star, plus 19th place at Badminton 2015.

“He has a real pedigree for the sport,” said Katie, adding that they haven’t measured him to know just how tall he is – after all, a number, really, would be just that.

“He is obviously a very tall chap, he’s here to do his first CCI4*-S, so it’s all learning for him this week.

“He is a lovely horse. He tries so hard, he’s very big and still has a lot of strengthening to do, but he’s incredibly genuine and lovely.”

Beltane’s Prince Chilli has had a solid season so far, including many top 10 placings at intermediate and a cross-country jumping clear in his first advanced. This week, he is competing in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses and is in mid-division after the opening day of dressage, on a score of 40.6.

“He did his lateral work really nicely, it was just a shame that we got an extra change and then missed a change, but he did some lovely work as well so there’s lots to be excited about,” said Katie.

“He has a brilliant temperament, he moves really well and he has a huge scopey jump. His only real downside is his size and it’s just a case of trying to look after him, making sure that we keep him happy, and building for the future.”

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Tom McEwen held the lead he set at 9am this morning in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S young horse championship with Brookfield Danny De Muze to end the opening day of dressage in the top spot at Agria Blenheim Horse Trials.

The eight-year-old, by I’m Special De Muze, won the seven-year-old world champion title in Le Lion last year and comes to Blenheim following a run of excellent 2026 form. He has jumped double clear in all nine starts this season and is rarely the wrong side 30 in the dressage.

The pathfinding pair set the standard and their score of 27.2 remained out of reach for the 48 competitors that followed into the arena.

“He’s had a nice year getting prepped with this being his main target,” said Tom, who rides the gelding for owners Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry.

“This test is an unbelievably difficult test, especially for eight- and nine-year-olds – the flying changes on the centre line, it’s very tight, and it’s obviously setting horses up for the Olympic and five-star tests and, for example. That’s fantastic, but for eight nine-year-olds, it's a tough test when they’re learning.

“So I was absolutely delighted with how he went about things, and he was nice and relaxed.

“He has had a nice quiet year, popping round, getting a bit of experience quietly at four-star to hopefully come here and go nicely.”

He added: “He’s very easy and a great jumper, he does it in his own style. If you saw him in the stable, you’d think he was really quite impassive, but he’s got plenty about him. Fingers crossed he’s one to go up the grades.”

The business end of this young horse championship class has a real international flavour, with riders from five different nations filling the top five places.

Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella, who Therese owns with Lena Nystrom, have also held fast to the provisional runner-up spot they bagged before lunch on a score of 29.1.

“She doesn’t have any weaknesses really,” said Therese. “She really loves her job.”

This flashy chestnut mare is so light on her feet over the ground, their trot work flowed and their first change was a particular highlight.

“She was very rideable, she doesn’t really care about atmosphere, she went in and did her job, which she loves,” she said.

“I’ve known her since she was a foal. I collaborate with her breeder, so I’ve had her since she was five, so we’ve done the whole journey together.”

New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Cooley Corpello, owned by Jeanne and Mark Swallow, were the third combination to break the 30 barrier and have slotted into provisional third on 29.4.

Germany rider Ben Leuwer and gorgeous dapple grey Zuccini MN, a nine-year-old owned by Staade von Paepcke Eventing Horses GbR, earned a nine for their entry and sailed into provisional fourth (30.1).

“We’ve had him in our stables since he was four years old, so we’ve educated him all the way through,” said Ben. “It’s always long journey, but we are happy – he does a super job, he’s a very big horse, so it’s not too easy for him on 20m and to get him properly into the corners, which is absolutely necessary in that kind of test. But we are so pleased, that was a very nice test.

“He had a very nice second flying change and all in all, his bend was better.”

Australia’s Isabel English is in fifth on home-bred Cil Dara Bombay S (30.2).

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage: Adelaide winners lead the way

Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar, who produced the best test of the morning, remain at the top of the standings in the Agria CCI4*-L, but they have been joined on the provisional podium by a new face.

Tom McEwen, probably Blenheim’s busiest rider with five horses across the two classes this week, inched into second late this afternoon with The Fieldmaster on 29.2. The nine-year-old gelding is owned by James and Jo Lambert and Penny Barker, and was bought from Tom Strawson for Tom McEwen to ride ahead of this season.

“Tom Strawson rode him here last year in the eight- and nine-year-olds, and he went very well across country,” said Tom.

“We’ve just been getting to know each other all summer with the aim of coming here.

“I might have just overdone it a little bit with the work outside, but he’s fantastic – every time he comes out he delivers a ‘clear round’ and works really hard in there. He really listens, really tries and that’s all you can ask.”

He said that the horse’s attitude is one of his real qualities, and added: “He’s very laidback, but there’s plenty about him at the same time, and he is a very kind person. He’s so good across country, he’s quick, sharp, nifty and looks for flags. And his showjumping has been coming on all year. I’m delighted with him.”

Gemma Stevens and Chilli’s Jester are now in provisional third (29.6). Burghley re-routers Alex Bragg and Jaeger Master also delivered a smart test this afternoon to hold fourth (30.1).

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Adelaide winners Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar lead the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials dressage standings at Thursday’s CCI4*-L lunchbreak, after rerouting from the eventing World Championships in Aachen.

Oliver, 22, and the 10-year-old, who is owned and bred by Oliver’s family, scored a huge new international personal best of 25.6 and soared to the top of the leaderboard shortly before lunch on the opening day of dressage at Blenheim.

The duo glided through the early trot work and scored a nine for their mid-test halt, continuing to earn lofty marks from the ground jury for their quality canter work.

“I thought during the middle of the test that it was going pretty well,” said Oliver. “We got the trot work out of the way and his walk felt really good. Usually the walk is a good testament as to how the rest of the test might go, and he walked super. Then I was able to really ride him in the canter.”

He added: “One of the biggest things is that he has a fair bit of presence about him. He is a beautiful horse in general. He can be a little bit high octane on the ground – he wants to know what’s going on everywhere around him, but as soon as I get in the saddle, he is always there with me. I think that’s probably his greatest trait: when I ride him, he’s always tuned into me.”

Oliver and his team made a quick decision to re-route to Blenheim Horse Trials after he and “Briar” parted company on the cross-country at Aachen. The pair had a solid prep run in the CCI3*-S at Cornbury last week, their eventing debut on British soil, before coming for their first tilt at Blenheim.

“Our first event [in the northern hemisphere] was Aachen and that didn’t quite go to plan, and we had to decide quickly whether or not to stay over and do something else. On the Sunday of the showjumping at Aachen, we had to put all of this into place,” he said.

“I’m really fortunate to have been at Sammi Birch’s for the last couple of weeks. It’s been amazing. She’s a great friend and I’m really grateful that she’s welcomed Briar and me. It’s been a little bit wet, everyone’s been telling me how dry it’s been, but nothing to frighten me away just yet!”

Gemma Stevens and Chilli’s Jester, a full-brother to her Burghley-winning ride Chilli Knight (“Alfie”), hold second on a score of 29.6 in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L dressage results at this stage.

The 10-year-old, owned by Chris and Clare Mathias and Christopher and Lisa Stone, finished on the podium at Scone CCI4*-S last month, and cut an elegant picture in Blenheim’s Palace Arena this morning.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with him, he’s still really green. He might be 10, but he has been a slow developer and has had to have some time off in his life, so I’m thrilled with the way he went in there and that he produced the best work for where he is at the moment,” said Gemma, adding that her highlights were his relaxation and that his lateral work felt “more stable and much more connected”.

“That’s the first time he’s scored in the 20s at a four-star.”

Chilli’s Jester is a talented, beautiful horse in his own right. Given his famous brother’s recent glory at Defender Burghley Horse Trials, there will of course be interest in whether there are similarities between the two.

“There are for sure similar traits,” said Gemma. “Their work ethic is amazing, and his gallop is amazing too. He actually moves much better than Alfie, he’s much straighter and he has more scope on the flat for the dressage. But whereas Alfie never lacks confidence, Chilli’s Jester would lack a bit of confidence. So it’s funny how he has the attributes to be better, but he has to believe it first.

“It’s all about confidence with him. He’s quite a tall horse and it’s taken a bit of time to get him to believe that he can hold his neck up and be in that frame without losing his balance.”

Gemma credited her “amazing team” for keeping Chilli’s Jester, and all her horses, going at home while she’s been away at events this season.

“I couldn’t do any of this without them,” she said, naming Georgie Driver, April Kitchener, Hannah Lavender, Leah Clarke, and her two apprentices Molly and Georgia.

“They are all amazing, we work really well as a team and communicate. That’s what makes it possible.”

New Zealand’s Ginny Thomasen is in provisional third with her own, Phillippa Levy and Ross Milne’s Katchafire.

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage: early bird catches the worm

Tom McEwen is one of the busiest riders at Blenheim this week, so was always going to be pathfinder in at least one class on at least one horse.

He was first to go in the GFS Saddles CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses with Brookfield Danny De Muze, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry.

The 2025 seven-year-old world champion set a so far unassailable lead of 27.2. Sweden’s Therese Viklund and Sella are their closest rivals at this stage (29.1), while Australia’s Isabel English completes the international top three on home-bred Cil Dara Bombay S (30.2).

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

How to sum up the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country course in three words? Angles, bumps, water.

Jay Hambly is the new cross-country course designer at Blenheim Horse Trials this year. The CCI4*-L course features 26 numbered fences and horses will get their feet wet four times.

The track follows the same route as previous years at Blenheim Horse Trials and while many questions are in the same places as past events, the overall course has a slightly different feel to the European Championships track from 2025.

Five key questions on Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country

The Blenheim Water Dew Pond (6ab)

The Blenheim Water Dew Pond is the first serious question on course. It’s right by the shopping village and will be the first time that horses get their feet wet. The skinny bitty frangible arrowheads of 2025 are gone and have been replaced by brush fences. These look more inviting (to my eye!), while remaining a good accuracy question.

Competitors ride up a little mound and jump the first (6a), before running down and splashing through the dew pond, then heading out over an angled fence on dry land (6b).

There are longer alternatives at both elements here, which will take a few extra seconds.

Corner Treasure Chests to Corner (9abc)

There’s often a decent question on the lawn in front of Blenheim Palace. This year it is a test of rideability and accuracy. Riders will come to this with, hopefully, the benefit of having just had a good jump through similar looking fences (Hill Rise Treasure Chests, 8ab) in the Palace Arena.

There are a few different routes through this. On what I make out to be the most direct route, competitors jump a solid corner (9a) followed by a deep, solid chest fence (9b). They then face a choice on the direct line to 9c (another solid corner) – do they go the braveman’s route and slice inside the sculpture, or give themselves a fraction more space and go around it? There are alternatives at 9b and 9c, so riders could also mix and match a little and I think we might see a few different routes through this.

Murlac Hanging Brush (14abc) to Agria Water Crossing Question (15ab)

I was slightly torn in my mind about where this question actually starts. By this point on the course, riders will be starting to feel the cumulative effect of how all the previous fences have ridden. The ride that they have through the undulating ground of The Miele Roller Coaster (11ab) to Ha Ha Oxer (12), and then the HorseHage Roll Top (13) will all have a bearing – hopefully a positive one.

The direct route at the Murlac Hanging Brush (14abc) is just one jump, the skinny brush we saw at the 2025 Europeans. The longer option here is a loopy three-jumping effort that will take up a lot of time, and you cannot avoid jumping into the water.

After this, competitors gallop across the lake and come out over two skinny brush fences on a curving two strides. There are options at both of these.

The GFS Saddles Water (16abc)

There’s no time to dry off as the next question is another water fence. Competitors gallop up the hill to the GFS Saddles Water (16abc), which comprises a big log into water – riders can’t avoid this – followed by an angled brush-topped log in the water (16b), then onto dry land to a skinny arrowhead.

Oxer to Corner to Narrow Brush Oxer (18abc)

The furthest point on the course tends to have a decisive fence. This year, competitors on the direct route head up a mound to a frangible open oxer, then run down to an open corner (also on frangible devices). Like the fence in front of the house, Jay gives riders the choice of slicing in front of some decoration, or going round on a wider line. The final element is a big boxy brush on a related distance. Riders are committed to the ‘a’ and ‘c’ elements, but there is an option for ‘b’.

*Bonus extra* Cross-Country App Question (20abc)

The title says five key questions, but who doesn’t want just one more? We’ve seen similar here on many previous Blenheim courses, but there’s often one or two who want an extra little look at the ditch at this light-into-dark question, which is why it’s earned a spot among the key fences. The straight route here is over a rail (20a), followed by a ditch (20b), then an open arrowhead (20c).

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Agria Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

One horse was held and all were ultimately accepted at the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials first trot-up today (Wednesday, 16 September).

John The Bull, ridden by Ireland’s Susie Berry and owned by Helen Caton, was sent to the holding box. The 15-year-old gelding, who was third in this CCI4*-L class in 2021 and has competed at five-star with Susie, was given the nod of approval when re-presented before the ground jury of Nikki Herbert (president), Judy Hancock and James Rooney, and vet Caroline George.

Horses looked fit and, on the whole, relaxed in the balmy September sunshine at the first Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up, sponsored by British Horse Feeds – summer has not slipped through Britain’s fingers quite yet.

George Bartlett’s ride, Lukas, a 15-year-old gelding who is owned by Sir John Peace, Victoria Peace and Charlotte Cole, was asked to trot again after breaking into canter, and waved through on his second run.

John Wesmore’s ride Oughterard Quality, owned by Michael Westmore, enjoyed a good snort, while Alice Casburn’s exciting nine-year-old mare LSS Ile De Re, owned by Sally Witte and Alice’s mother Caroline, held it together during the trot up itself – before heading back to the stables with a spicy flourish.

Licence To Cooley, owned and ridden by John Tilly, won the British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet prize for the horse in the best condition. The Worshipful Company of Farriers’ award for the best shod horse, judged by farrier Stephen Hill, went to Ed Eltham’s ride Indigo VIII, owned by Stewart and David Baker-Meadows.

Beautiful tailoring was a key theme on the fashion side. Structured jackets, paired with smart trousers, featured heavily, from elegant trench coats, to well-cut blazers, and stylish waistcoats in a wide range of styles and fabrics.

HiHo Silver awarded prizes for the best-dressed – Susie won the ladies’ prize for her embroidered jacket, paired with silver cowboy boots. Jack Pinkney won the men’s award for his three-piece checked suit. He rides Monbeg Stone Town in the CCI4*-L, a nine-year-old who he owns with Duchess Chica Norfolk and Lady Catherine Carleton-Smith.

Elsewhere there was a sprinkling of smart summery co-ords, such as Katey Cuthbertson’s pale pink patterned blazer with matching shorts, and flowing dresses – including the ballet pink dress and matching hair bow worn by Canada’s Shelby Brost.

All 77 horses presented will go forward to the dressage, which starts at around 10am tomorrow (Thursday) in the Palace Arena in front of the house. The CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses starts around an hour earlier, also in the Palace Arena.

• Times, when available, will be posted on EventingScores

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news throughout Agria Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Whether you love to take a little piece of the magic home, you prefer to purchase in advance or you can’t make it this year, the 2026 official Blenheim Horse Trials merchandise has been created just for you.

Rydale is the official merchandise partner of this year’s Agria Blenheim Horse Trials and its limited edition collection features rich wine and navy tones along with special event embroidery. The collection covers a range of clothing and accessories for men, women and dogs.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite items from the official Blenheim merchandise collection below, so that you can get the look even if you’re watching Blenheim on TV from home.

2026 official Blenheim Horse Trials merchandise

Shop the full collection now at rydale.com

• For unlimited access to the latest product news, buying guides and reviews, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Five-star horses, 2026 world medallists and former winners head up the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials entries for next week’s event (17-20 September).

Tom McEwen’s experienced five-star ride Brookfield Quality leads the entries for the CCI4*-L, which has 74 listed to start plus an eight-strong wait list.

Tom also has Isa and The Fieldmaster in the class and his eventing World Championship team-mates Laura Collett and Gemma Stevens bring forward the promising Balancero and Chilli’s Jester respectively. Chilli’s Jester is a 10-year-old full brother to Chilli Knight, who won Defender Burghley Horse Trials last week with Gemma.

Up-and-coming stars are well represented in the class. Multi-medalled youth rider Isabelle Cook brings forward Cymoon “F” Z, with whom she was seventh in the CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in the spring and second at Millstreet CCI4*-L in July.

Tom Bird will ride Lenny, the nine-year-old mare with whom he helped Britain to team gold at the inaugural under-25 World Championships at Millstreet, in her first CCI4*-S and US rider Olivia Dutton will make her Blenheim debut on her under-25 world individual bronze medallist Jewelent.

Others to keep an eye on include Jesse Campbell and Speedwell, who were among the New Zealand reserves for the worlds, 2024 Blenheim runners-up Daisy Berkeley and Diese Du Figuier and Sam Ecroyd with Blomfield Manuscript, who was third in the CCI4*-S at Bramham Horse Trials but was let down by his showjumping at Millstreet CCI4*-L.

Felicity Collins and RSH Contend Or are also ones to watch, having finished in the top seven in this class twice.

Zara Tindall is among the former Blenheim winners riding, with Classicals Euro Star in this class, and she is on good form after her recent British open win with Class Affair.

The CCI4*-L wait-list includes three horses their riders hope to re-route after they failed to finish at Burghley – John The Bull (Ireland’s Susie Berry), Jaeger Master (Alex Bragg) and Santoro (Australia’s Samuel Jeffree).

Blenheim Horse Trials entries: CCI4*-S

A bumper 108 horses have been accepted to start in the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S.

Two horses who have won at the young horse World Championships in Le Lion d’Angers will start among the favourites – last year’s seven-year-old winner Brookfield Danny De Muze for Tom McEwen, who also rides Shannondale Arnold, and the 2023 six-year-old champion Barrington Alice, under Izzy Taylor.

Izzy’s horses had a delayed start to the season because she broke her leg badly in March, but have returned on good form. Izzy also pilots Barrington Boy in this class, an eight-year-old who was national six-year-old champion two years ago and who recently won the CCI3*-L at Scone.

Ros Canter has a ride in this class in Armscote Explorer and Laura Collett will bring forward Romany Cricket, bred by her co-owner Nana Dalton, who rode his dam Romany Piper at Blenheim.

All four members of Britain’s gold medal-winning team ride in this class; Gemma Stevens is entered with Chilli Morning clone Chilli Morning IV, who was eighth in the class last year.

Cushlas Indigo will also be one to watch – he was British intermediate champion last year and is ridden by recent Burghley runner-up Katie Magee.

There are 14 nations represented in the Blenheim Horse Trials entries, and the new team competition, The Blenheim Challenge, adds interest.

Blenheim also has a new cross-country course-designer this year in Canadian Jay Hambly.

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Next week’s Agria Blenheim Horse Trials (17-20 September) will showcase the work of a course-designer who is leading on a major track in the UK for the first time, with Jay Hambly responsible for the course.

Canadian Jay, 52, says he is “super thrilled” to have the job at the Oxfordshire event, which hosts a CCI4*-L and an eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S.

“I have many friends in the UK and they’re super excited about it. I wouldn’t never downplay it – to come to Blenheim, to design in the UK, doesn’t happens for a lot of people outside of the UK,” he says, referencing US designer Derek di Grazia at Defender Burghley Horse Trials as one of the few other instances.

Jay says he isn’t one who’s good at pushing himself forward. His involvement at Blenheim has grown out of longstanding friendships with British designers and course-builders who have been, and still are, associated with Blenheim.

Like most course-designers, Jay rode up to advanced level.

“I went through Pony Club, got my A test and then I lived at a place called Checkmate, which in North America was a famous eventing facility in the late 80s and early 90s – before we really had star levels, there was Checkmate, Kentucky and Fair Hill,” he says.

“As a kid, to pay for riding horses and being a working student, I would work for Checkmate and help David Evans build. The designer was Mark Phillips and the technical delegate was always Mike Etherington-Smith. So that’s the group who taught me – David, Mike, Mark, and then also Mike Tucker, and later, Ian Stark and Derek.”

Looking for ways to pay for “his hobby and habit of riding”, Jay became a course-builder and then a designer. These days, he still competes but not at the top-level – typically his business is in producing ex-racehorses through the lower levels and selling them ono.

On the course side, he was on the build team for the Olympics in 2008 and 2020. He is the designer at events such as Bromont, Rebecca Farm, the grand prix eventing showcase at Bruce’s Field and the American Eventing Championships at Kentucky, as well as assisting Derek at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Jay has been responsible for the track at several Central American and Caribbean Games and is lined up to do next year’s Pan American Games in Peru.

Blenheim cross-country course: a similar route to 2025

Jay assisted Mark Phillips in designing last year’s European Championships track at Blenheim and then – strongly encouraged by previous Blenheim designer David Evans, who is still the event’s course-builder – he went through the process of applying to take over as designer, with confirmation he had the job in the late spring of this year.

He says the permanent features of the site at Blenheim – the lake, the stabling, the arena and the tradestands – mean that the route is fairly constrained and for this year at least, people should not expect major changes to that, although he will look to make some more alterations in the future.

“In the four-star short for the eight- and nine-year-olds, you want to keep the jumps out in front of those horses so it’s not too complicated for them to pick up the lines – you’re trying to encourage those horses to get more confident, finish better than they started and become team horses in the future,” he says.

The Blenheim cross-country course for the CCI4*-L will be somewhat softened from the European Championships last year.

Jay explains: “I have added a combination earlier, because last year the Dew Pond was the first combination, so this year they have something to do before they get there. And I tried to spread the efforts out a little bit more, to have it feel a bit more balanced, as last year it was very intense from the ditch and wall at the start of the trade fair through to the rollercoaster piece of ground.”

Apart from the first and last fences, the two courses use pretty much completely different fences in order to ensure the best possible ground for the horses.

Jay says the organising team at Blenheim have been “amazing” and he’s actually done much of the work remotely rather than by being on-site.

He explains: “Because I know the venue and the fences, I did a lot of it on a computer. I would go back and forth with David – nobody knows the ground better or obstacles available better David.

“Yes, you have to go to the venues to finalise layouts, put the jumps in place, to see how the ground works and where the lumps and the bumps are. But you can get your distance, your track, your concept finished before you ever get there, when it’s a place you’ve been to before.”

When we spoke in late August, Jay had an onsite course walk with Mark Phillips planned, with enough time for tweaks to be made after that as necessary.

And what does Jay hope people will say about his Blenheim cross-country tracks?

He doesn’t want it to be a memory test, where riders end up eliminated by jumping the wrong fence because of the number of options, and he says he doesn’t have a particular trademark style.

“But I would hope that when it is all said and done, people feel it’s hard enough because it needs to be a competition,” he says.

“I think you can really reward people with time, so I hope the time is difficult and if you ride flawlessly, you get rewarded without time-penalties and then I hope that trickle down happens so people are appropriately rewarded with less time-penalties for riding well.

“And I would hope people feel like their horses are better for having done it at the end, that things were clear to them and their horse, and any mistake was what happens on cross-country.”

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

British and US riders will go head to head in a new invitational team eventing competition with a £50,000 prize pot at Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (17 to 20 September).

“The Blenheim Challenge” will run as part of the CCI4*-L class and will involve British riders from the Rising Lions taking on the US Stars & Stripes. Rising Lions is a privately funded initiative designed to give up-and-coming riders more opportunities at high-profile events.

The competition has a privately funded £50,000 prize pot, which will be split between riders, grooms, a youth programme and a charity.

Riders invited to represent the Rising Lions and the US Stars & Stripes are yet to be announced.

Blenheim event director Katrina Midgley told H&H the horse trials is “really excited” to welcome the Blenheim Challenge to the fixture.

“It brings a completely new dimension to the CCI4*-L without changing the integrity of the competition itself,” she said.

“The riders will still be competing for individual honours in one of the most prestigious CCI4*-L competitions in the world but there will now be this additional team contest running alongside it. We hope the head-to-head format will give spectators another storyline to follow throughout the three phases and create some friendly rivalry along the way."

She added that the format draws on inspiration from golf’s Ryder Cup scoring system.

“The aim is to create a simple head-to-head contest that spectators can easily follow and get behind, while leaving the established CCI4*-L competition unchanged,” said Mrs Midgley.

The riders from the two teams will compete within the main CCI4*-L as normal but before each phase there will be a draw so each member of the team is paired against a rider on the opposing team for that phase.

The rider with the better score in each individual match wins one point for their team for that phase. If their scores are equal, each rider receives half a point. There will be four points up for grabs in each phase (based on two teams of four riders). The team with the highest overall points total from all phases will win the challenge.

Commenting on The prize money for The Blenheim Challenge, which is larger than the total for the main CCI4*-L class (£48,000). Mrs Midgley said the money has been privately raised by the team behind the Rising Lions.

“No funds have been diverted from any other classes to support this, so it is all additional prize money that would otherwise not be available as part of BPHIT [Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials],” she said.

“It is great to see new initiatives like this bringing more money into the sport, particularly as a number of different groups will benefit from this additional pot.

“A large part of the prize fund will go to the riders, but amounts are also allocated for the grooms of both teams, the youth programme of the national governing body of the winning team and an equestrian charity selected by the winning team.”

Rising Lions supported a squad of British riders contest the CCI4*-S at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in May and Blenheim will be the first of its initiatives on home soil.

The Blenheim Challenge teams

Rising Lions

Jess Rimmer and The Spice Merchant
Josh Levett and Huberthus AC
Izzy Cook and Cymoon “F” Z
Barnie Brotherton and DHI King Nelson

Stars & Stripes

Oliver Barrett (AUS) and Sandhills Briar
Grace Taylor (USA) and Bandito Van Polderzicht
Tommy Greengard (USA) and That's Me Z
Olivia Dutton (USA) and Jewelent

• View the full entries for Agria Blenheim Horse Trials

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Samantha Lissington coasted to victory in the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S results at the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials (Sunday, 21 September) with her flying nine-year-old grey, Quantas R.

Gemma Stevens was runner-up on Cooley Park Muze with another exceptional performance – clocking the second-fastest time (2.8 time-faults) over the cross-country track to back up their second-placed dressage. Sarah Bullimore franked the form book, finishing third with last year’s Boekelo fifth Corimiro, 4.5 penalties adrift.

Sam has made no secret of how highly she rates this bold-striding nine-year-old, owned by the High Flyers Syndicate. He floated over Blenheim’s undulations to finish on his dressage score of 22.4 – a copybook performance in every phase for a pillar-to-post victory.

“I really wanted to win this and I knew he was capable, but it’s one thing saying it and another delivering,” Sam said. “So I’m really happy I’ve got him to the place where he can show off in the dressage.

“There was a lot of pressure in the showjumping, where it could have been won or lost, and then being last to go cross-country. Knowing Gemma is fast, I had to assume she would be inside the time on her top horse and I only had one second to play with.”

Sam came in bang on the optimum time as the only combination to finish on a clean sheet.

“Quantas is outrageous,” added Sam. “He has so much length of stride, that it looks like he’s going in slow motion but he feels fast. There’s a lot of power to deal with, and our journey has been about managing that power, knowing he had all the talent and capability in the world.

“It’s been about getting the rideability with the power, jump, speed and everything. He’s sharp and can spin – he spent one winter getting me off every day, three times in one week. He has a quirky side, but he’s becoming the ultimate professional. He’s got to be a strong contender for the World Championships.”

At times it felt like the Sam and Gemma show, with both riders piloting three horses apiece, of which all six finished in the top 15. And it was an absolute showdown at the end of the reverse order cross-country phase. Once Corimiro had secured third position, it was a duel between the top two, with just over as second splitting them.

Gemma Stevens runner-up in Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S results

Second last to go, Gemma set out in determined style on nine-year-old Cooley Park Muze. They laid down the gauntlet with the fastest time of the day so far, with Quantas cruising out on course. Quantas is already a winner at four-star long, and he showed how comfortable he is at this level with a stunning round, finishing with plenty of running.

Gemma was delighted with how “Rex” took on the challenge, having only started eventing in 2023.

“We’d had a crack at four-star at Hartpury and we had the wrong bit and it caught me out,” said Gemma. “I’ve changed from a soft nathe running gag to one with a lozenge with sides and that small thing makes such a difference as I now have more control over his stride, and he was absolutely wonderful. He got a little bit tired at the end and he used to give up a bit, but today he dug deep.

“I really hope he’s a top horse – but my other two horses I had here are also seriously exciting for the next two years.”

There was little to split the the top three, with Corimiro also outstanding in all three phases. Sarah revealed that she broke her collarbone three weeks prior to the event, and had an operation only two weeks ago.

“I am chuffed to bits, he’s a fabulous, fabulous horse,” Sarah said. “He’s one of those that you just want to get up in the morning and ride. He loves his job. He’s been wild all week, as we’ve been short of match practice, so to even make it here has been quite good.

“He was quite strong today and has such a massive stride; he thought this was all easy-peasy. I thought I was slow and was berating myself, because I haven’t got my full strength back. But he makes it feel easy, he’s a megastar – he’s probably the best horse I’ve had, and he’s got a great brain.”

Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S results: how the cross-country phase unfolded

This class, which is widely considered a championship for young horses, has heralded the arrival of certain superstars on the world stage, namely the new European champion London 52, who won in 2018, and the 2022 world champion Banzai Du Loir (in 2020). There’s every chance graduates from this class will be in the line-up for Los Angeles 2028, when they will be at their peak.

David Evans’ track had 23 numbered fences in a time of 6min 53sec, and there was plenty to challenge these up-and-coming stars. The first water complex in particular at fences eight and nine, was an eyeful. Horses approached the lake downhill with three chunky fences on a left-hand curve, culminating in a log drop into the water. After galloping through, they had to negotiate a tightly angled double of brushes.

The big log into this water did cause a number of stops, including four horses almost in a row, but this batch of top-notch eight- and nine-year-olds by and large found the cross-country well within their capability, yielding a 73% clear rate. David had been clever with the course, adding in time-consuming loops, and making most of the mounds and the double lake crossings to slow horses down. Time had the biggest impact, with only the winner finishing inside.

A thrilling finale

The top 20 ran across country in reverse order – with a few exceptions where Sam, Gemma and Tom Jackson had multiple well placed rides. The top 17 after showjumping were covered by 10 penalties, equating to 25 seconds, and just 7sec separated the top three.

Gemma was the cross-country trailblazer on Chilli’s Jester, the full brother to her five-star winner Chilli Knight, who was lying 18th after the first two phases. She set the standard with a comfortable clear for 5.2 time-faults. This proved a very quick time, with no one able to better it for the next two and a half hours. Gemma then bettered her own time with 3.6 time-faults aboard her second ride Chilli Morning IV, who moved up from 14th to eventual eighth. This set up a compelling final 40 minutes with the top-placed combinations jostling on the leaderboard.

Sam had the benefit of two clear rounds under her belt before setting out with Quantas R, with her overnight sixth Lucas Stone clocking eight time-faults to drop one place to seventh, when Tom Jackson and four-star debutant Brookfield William clocked a faster time.

The first horse to drop out of the top 10 was George Hilton-Jones’ ride Feardorcha Diamond MH, from 10th. He was reluctant to canter through the lake and petered out at the angled brushes. George retired after a second run-out. Next out, Austin O’Connor was going brilliantly until an unlucky tumble when his ride Diamond Mistress, lying ninth overnight, stumbled after after the “Narrow Ditch” at 14a and tipped Austin off.

But tidy rounds from Tom Jackson (Brookfield William), Phoebe Locke (Renkum Jitterbug, 10th), Fiona Kashel (Monbeg Kazador, fifth) and Tim Price (The Highlander, fourth) put the pressure on the top three.

This premium class may have had to play second fiddle to the European Eventing Championships on this occasion but it was an absolute thriller, and exciting to dream about what these top-class young horses may achieve in the years to come.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim European Championships and other major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘He has scope for days’: jumping phase proves no obstacle for dressage leader in Blenheim’s young horse CCI4*-S

Quantas flying high as world number nine soars into the lead in Blenheim young horse class

‘A shock today, but I knew he had that score in him!’ Gemma Stevens takes impressive dressage lead with jumping star in Blenheim young horse class

Burghley first-timers: Samantha Lissington — ‘I grew up sailing around the South Pacific’

Meet the Kiwi eventer who has recently relocated to the UK — and who swapped a childhood on a boat

‘We’re delighted to bring loyal readers this benefit’: H&H magazine subscribers get free website access

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

Samantha Lissington maximised on her dressage lead at the Agria Blenheim Palace Horse Trials with a stunning showjumping clear in the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S. This was aboard her third ride in this class, the High Flyers syndicate’s Quantas R.

“He’s pretty phenomenal,” said Sam. “He’s got scope for days, and it’s really about trying not to make a rider mistake. He’s something else.”

Sam also moved up from 10th to sixth with Lucas Stone, thanks to a fault-free round.

The showjumping was split into a morning and late-afternoon session, with an interlude of European Championships cross-country as the filler. Because of the championships, the showjumping took place not in the main Palace Arena but in a temporary ring in the park. There was a big atmosphere, with a packed stand and crowds three deep lining the ring as people stopped to watch on their way to and from the Europeans cross-country track.

The top two from the dressage were jumping on either side of the break, and it was Gemma Stevens who laid down the gauntlet with her brilliant jumper Cooley Park Muze in the morning. The Rex Syndicate’s nine-year-old has won a 1.35m Derby and the Eventers’ Challenge at Hickstead already this season and demonstrating all their pure showjumping experience, they added nothing to their second-placed dressage score of 22.9 to give Quantas R no breathing space.

“He’s gone from strength to strength having only started eventing two years ago,” said Gemma. “He’s a big, green baby but he has the most amazing brain.”

Sarah Bullimore’s Corimiro, third after dressage, was also clear inside the time to maintain her 24.8 score ahead of Sunday’s cross-country, while Fiona Kashel and her striking dark grey Monbeg Cazador added 1.2 time-faults but retained the fourth spot she held after dressage.

Tight time for Blenheim horse trials showjumping phase

It was noteworthy that the top three all jumped clear inside the time, as it gives the impression that the showjumping was straightforward. But although there were plenty of clear rounds, the time was very tight, and only 25% of the 86 contestants finished fault-free.

Sam’s clear with Quantas R was in the afternoon session after the course was doused with rain. She explained that she tweaked her style after knocking a fence down en route to Quantas winning at Royal Jump CCI4*-L in the summer, despite watching Gemma’s bold round with Cooley Park Muze.

“At Royal Jump, I took a stride out and had one down, so I didn’t want to do that today,” she said. “I made him do the conventional strides even though the time was tight, and had to find some extra places to make up the time. It added some extra pressure, but I think [a tight time is] good for the class to mix everything up.”

Gemma had full confidence in her expert jumper to take out the strides.

“He has a massive stride which is fantastic in some ways but it can make you a bit slow because you’re always waiting on a distance and it’s really tight in that arena,” she said. “But I left a couple of strides out and that really worked. He is the ultimate jump-off horse because he’s got such a good brain so it never fazes him. I can go flat out and next time just slow down – it doesn’t bother him.”

The cross-country starts tomorrow (Sunday, 21 September) at 9.30am with Gemma Stevens first out on David Evans’ track with Chilli’s Jester. The top 16 will run in reverse order, meaning Quantas R is due to run at 1.36pm.

Gemma said: “There’s a lot to do, but my horse is ready for the step up and I hope he’ll take it on, understand what he’s got to do and believe in me. Then he’ll have a holiday and be ready to do some really exciting things next year.”

CCI4*-S results after showjumping: top six

• Samantha Lissington and Quantas R (NZL): 22.4
• Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze (GBR): 22.9
• Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro (GBR): 24.8
• Fiona Kashel and Monbeg Kazador (GBR): 26.2
• Tim Price and The Highlander (NZL): 26.3
• Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone (NZL) and Phoebe Locke and Renkum Jitterbug (GBR): 29.5
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim Europeans, including the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘A shock today, but I knew he had that score in him!’ Gemma Stevens takes impressive dressage lead with jumping star in Blenheim young horse class

Quantas flying high as world number nine soars into the lead in Blenheim young horse class

‘Probably one of the nicest horses I’ve had’: Gemma Stevens on cruise control to win second Hickstead eventers’ title

‘One hell of a feeling’: Laura Collett seizes the lead on a topsy-turvy cross-country day at the Blenheim European Championships

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Samantha Lissington brought three horses forward to the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S class at Blenheim Palace, and saved the best for last. She topped the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results on Quantas R with a smashing score of 22.4, a huge personal best at any level for this nine-year-old horse who already has several top-10 finishes at four-star under his belt.

“I knew there was a chance he could be the winning test, because I have so much faith in the quality of work he’s producing, but it’s one thing thinking it and another being able to deliver it,” said the New Zealand rider, who is based in Wiltshire. “I was thrilled we could execute it all on the day.”

The grey, owned by the High Flyers, impressed from the word go, scoring a nine from Les Smith, the judge at C, for his first halt. He went on to score a 10 for his final halt while, in between, there was a string of eights and nines. Only once did his marks dip to a six, for the extended walk. The halt proved particularly satisfying.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a 10 before!” said Sam. “Last season our halt let us down so we’ve worked on it a lot. It was a pity he left a hindleg behind in [mid-test] halt as he never does that.”

Another detail Sam has tweaked is the extended trot – which earned a nine.

“He has such length of stride that he can almost look slow because he’s in such a rhythm, so it’s an art to show the extensions,” she explained. “I had to take a risk and I felt I was careering around – like I’m flying. He has a lot of harmony, and I’ve been able to add the expression this year.”

Sam, the world number nine, has gathered impressive strength in depth and quality in her string this season, and Quantas is one of a number being primed for the Los Angeles Olympics. With his prodigious success last season, Sam deliberately held him back from doing a four-star long until this year to save his mileage while he was gaining strength.

The major players in the dressage phase

Gemma Stevens had set the target on Thursday evening with Cooley Park Muze leading on 22.9. But with over 40 competitors – including pre-competition favourite Coromiro (Sarah Bullimore) – performing on the second dressage day (19 September), even that super score would be under pressure.

While Thursday played out in blustery conditions, Blenheim was bathed in an Indian summer for Friday’s competitors. But it wasn’t until five horses from the very end that Sam managed to take the shine off Gemma’s leading score.

While Coromiro – fifth at last year’s Boekelo aged eight – came close, scoring 24.8 to sit in third, only Quantas could sneak ahead.

Tim Price was first in on his third ride and laid down his challenge with a 28.8 on Gloire De Marchenval to go in the mix at the top of the leaderboard. They lie seventh overnight. Tim was also last of all to go on The Highlander and slipped into fifth on 26.3.

Barrington Alice was one eight-year-old tipped for a potential podium spot under Izzy Taylor, having finished top-10 in her first CCI4*-S at Scone last month. She has delivered a string of sub-30s this season, so her mark of 30.2 was a touch below par to put her in 14th.

Placing are tight at the top, so time will be pivotal over Sunday’s cross-country track, designed by David Evans. If time-faults come into play, Gemma is just over a second behind Sam, and 10 seconds cover the top five. A single run-out will prove extremely costly, with 20 penalties covering first to 81st.

Sam is looking forward to tackling the course, and predicted a tough time test, as well as singling out the first water crossing – a chunky fence into the big, open lake, coming out over two angled brushes on a one-stride distance.

“The first water crossing is tough – it’s a big question, particularly with the crowds and the open lake – and there’s no room for error,” she said. “The rest of the course, [the designer’s] trying to slow us down so time will have a big influence. My horse can be fast – but also strong.”

But first, the competitors have to test their accuracy and scope over the showjumping phase, which starts at 8am on Saturday. Second on the leaderboard Cooley Park Muze is due in the ring at 9.06am. Half the field will jump in the morning, before a break while the European Championship cross-country takes place. Sam is scheduled to jump Quantas R at 4.57pm.

Blenheim Horse Trials eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S dressage results: top six

• Samantha Lissington and Quantas R (NZL): 22.4
• Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze (GBR): 22.9
• Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro (GBR): 24.8
• Fiona Kashel and Monbeg Kazador (GBR): 25
• Tim Price and The Highlander (NZL): 26.3
• Sian Coleman and Kilroe Frolic (IRL): 26.8

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim European Championships and other major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘A shock today, but I knew he had that score in him!’ Gemma Stevens takes impressive dressage lead with jumping star in Blenheim young horse class

Who goes when? Check what time all the Brits and leading contenders will be tackling the European cross-country course

Britain sits in overnight silver at Blenheim Europeans as Laura Collett and London 52 charm the judges – and the crowd

Olympic champions deliver only sub-20 score to hold individual gold after Blenheim Europeans dressage

How to watch the European Eventing Championships at Blenheim live, wherever you are

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Gemma Stevens has stamped her authority on the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S class, leading the first day’s dressage phase by 2.1 penalties at the Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

Gemma was riding her Hickstead Eventers Challenge winner Cooley Park Muze, a nine-year-old gelding owned by the Rex Syndicate, who is known for his exceptional jumping ability and scored a huge personal best in this phase for 22.9.

“This was completely not expected!” said Gemma. “He’s still very green, having only evented for two years, since he was seven. But I’ve always believed he could get a really good score, it was just about getting it together on the day.

“He has the most amazing brain, he’s not bothered at all by any sort of atmosphere. Today he was really with me, happy and settled.”

Gemma was first into the GFS Saddles arena with Chilli’s Jester, scoring 33.3, but it was her second ride Cooley Park Muze who sauntered into the top spot towards the end of the first day of dressage. Fiona Kashel and Monbeg Cazador, who were 13th in this class last year, sit in second on 25. Gemma noted that the four-star test plays to her dressage leader’s strengths.

“He has an incredibly light contact, and I rode him in a thick rubber snaffle with a very loose noseband,” Gemma explained. “I managed to get him taking the bit more forward than I have done in his three-star tests. The four-star test suits him because you can ride him more forward and he likes being ridden like that.

“He has the most amazing canter, he’s very good at his sideways work and it all came off and the judges absolutely loved him.

“Even though it’s a shock today, I’ve known that he has it in him to do that sort of score. I just hope we can now do him justice and carry on like this for the rest of this show and career going forward. He’s a very exciting horse.”

How the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage phase played out on day one

For a long while, it had been a day of tight scores at the head of the leaderboard, ever since New Zealander Samantha Lissington was second into the arena on the Finnish-bred Lucas Stone, scoring 29.5 for top spot, where she stayed until lunchtime.

Australia’s Kevin McNab snuck into the lead by 0.1 of a penalty with Wilfred Lancer, and then Britain’s George Hilton-Jones crept ahead by the same tiny margin, for 29.3, aboard Feardorcha Diamond MH on the horse’s first attempt at four-star. Samantha also steered her second ride, Malibu TS, into this bracket for 29.8.

Finally the 29 deadlock was broken midway through the afternoon when Fiona Kashel sailed out in front on her own and Frank Breach’s Monbeg Cazador, who scored 25, and the floodgates opened. Gemma conjured by far the horse’s best mark at any level, before Sian Coleman also came into the mix with Kilroe Frolic on 26.8.

At the end of the day one, here are the dressage standings:

• Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze: 22.9
• Fiona Kashel and Monbeg Cazador: 25
• Sian Coleman and Kilroe Frolic: 26.8
• George Hilton-Jones and Feardorcha Diamond MH: 29.3
• Kevin McNab and Wilfred Lancer: 29.4
• Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone: 29.5

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim European Championships and other major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

From trying cross-country on a whim to competing at Blenheim Europeans in five years: meet Turkey’s first senior championship rider

How to watch the European Eventing Championships at Blenheim live, wherever you are

‘Probably one of the nicest horses I’ve had’: Gemma Stevens on cruise control to win second Hickstead eventers’ title

‘I’ll moan for 10 minutes then move on!’ Piggy March ‘frustrated’ with blips in her Blenheim Europeans dressage test

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Excitement is building ahead of this week’s Agria Blenheim European Eventing Championships (17–21 September). However, it will have a slightly different backdrop in 2025 as the palace is undergoing a £12m roof restoration, which is due to be completed in 2027.

This means that the main façade of Blenheim Palace, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, is currently under wraps to allow the restoration project to take place.

Blenheim Palace roof restoration: what you need to know

This monumental £12m undertaking “aims to preserve the palace’s historic architecture and safeguard its heritage for future generations”.

The work is necessary as a combination of age – Blenheim Palace is over 300 years old – climate change and penetration from rainfall have led to the declining state of the roof, attic timbers and ceilings below.

The area of the roof in question – almost an acre in size – is only served by six downpipes; excess rains mean leaks are commonplace.

“This is a crucial new undertaking that we must deliver if we are to secure the future of wall and ceiling paintings of international importance, while also protecting the palace from further damage,” says Kelly Whitton, head of Built Heritage. “We’re not just maintaining a structure; we’re safeguarding a legacy.”

The restoration project started in July, and the white wrapping and scaffolding were in place by the end of that month.

The construction of the scaffolding took 137 days to complete and involved 70,000 scaffold fittings and around 31 miles of scaffold tubes.

The objectives of this project, as stated by Blenheim Palace are:

• Improve environmental stability of two internationally important ceiling paintings
• Reduce health and safety risks from stone fall
• Prolong the lifespan of stone by slowing the rate of decay
• Complete outstanding fire compartmenting works in roof voids
• Increase capacity of roof gutters to reduce further risk of water ingress
• Improve energy efficiency where possible and practical

Two thirds of this project is being privately funded by Blenheim Palace, and Blenheim is “therefore seeking further support from a variety of trusts, foundations and individuals to bridge the current funding gap.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim Europeans, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘Riders need to know their horses well’: watch Kitty King walk key fences on the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course

Take a first look at Kitty King walking the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course

Going for gold: team aiming to retain Britain’s European eventing title confirmed

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Kitty King, who has competed at five European Championships, winning four medals, previews Mark Phillips’ course for the forthcoming 2025 Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course, with the event taking place between 17 and 21 September.

Course-designer Mark Phillips is in charge of Blenheim’s track for the first time this year and has made some alterations to previous years although the direction in which the track runs remains mostly the same.

“T year’s course has a similar feel to past events at Blenheim,” says Kitty. “The direction it takes is mostly the same, but Mark Phillips has introduced and re-introduced some questions.”

The 2025 Blenheim European Eventing Championships cross-country course features 31 numbered fences.

“I feel the course is appropriate for the level given it has to cater for lots of different nations with varying levels of experience,” says Kitty. “I think it’s of a similar level of technicality to other European Championship tracks I’ve seen. It’s difficult to say how strong some of the angled combinations will be without the brush inserted at this stage, but it could make it look a lot more tricky.

“Mark is testing the rider’s ability to know their horse and their horse’s footwork and their ability to maintain a line at the correct speed – it’s very clear for the horses what the questions are, as long as riders can achieve this.”

Kitty has assessed and rated each of the fences in an exclusive Horse & Hound course walk in the current (11 September) issue of the magazine – out now.

Kitty King walks the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course

Watch below as Kitty walks the direct routes at three key combinations on the 2025 Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course…

The Suregrow Dew Pond (fence 6abc)

After jumping fence five, you are suddenly into the throngs of tradestands, cameras and spectators, with a lot for horses to look at.

The direct route involves going up a mound to a narrow triple bar where horses will be able to see the water at the bottom of the bank behind.

“How they jump this and use their footwork down the bank will determine how many strides they will get to the final part, which is another narrow triple bar,” explains Kitty. “Although the distance walks on four strides, many will get five and maybe even six if their horse scuttles cautiously down the bank.”

There are long route options here that will add a minimum of five seconds.

Churchill Corners (fence 11abc)

Built on a straight line in front of the palace, this combination includes a box-type fence, followed by a moving four strides to a tricky corner, followed by another moving four strides to another tricky corner.

“This should ride OK if horses stay on their line,” states Kitty. “As you get closer to the corners, the angle becomes more severe and this is a serious test. There are alternatives to parts b and c, but each option will take five or six seconds.”

FEI Mounds (fence 22ab)

This combination comes at the top of a two-minute climb and marks the highest point of the course. There is a right-handed rollback approach to part a, which is an open oxer on top of a mound, before horses run back down the mound and up another mound to an open corner on a tight angle.

There will be some strategically placed trees on the right-hand side of the base of the bottom of the second mound, which will mean riders won’t be able to ride a curve to reduce the angle to the corner.

“The oxer is big, so horses will still have to be jumping well at the top of the climb in order to jump it well,” says Kitty.

Again, there are options here, but they are twisty and time-consuming and will take even more petrol out of the tank.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from the Blenheim Europeans, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Take a first look at Kitty King walking the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course

Going for gold: team aiming to retain Britain’s European eventing title confirmed

Laura Collett and London 52 enjoy ‘perfect’ Europeans prep run at Scone Palace

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Preperations for the 2025 Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace (18–21 September) are in full swing as Britain gets ready to host its first senior championship in a decade.

Grandstand tickets for Sunday’s showjumping final have sold out, the number of tradestands is up on previous years and there will be new lakeside hospitality lodges, as organisers plan for bumper crowds.

The BBC will broadcast some of the competition on iPlayer, Eurosport has plans to show a highlights programme and the championship will also be streamed on FEI TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.tv “Britain is a very strong eventing nation and I think a lot of the other nations do look to us, so it’s really important that we deliver a gold-standard event,” event director Katrina Midgley of Stable Events told H&H.

“For us as a nation, it’s immensely important to get it right, and that we give a platform for all the nations to be able to show their horses and sportsmen at the best that they can be.”

Designs for Captain Mark Phillips’ cross-country course are done and it will start to take shape on the ground in mid-August. Visitors can expect to see a mix of “some old favourites and a few new additions”, as well as the return of certain fences that “will bring the action right into the centre of the tradestand village”. Ensuring the best footing is a priority. Blenheim’s course-builder David Evans is based on site and has deep knowledge of the ground, and ground-measuring expert Mark Lucey is also on board.

General ticket sales are “strong” and the early decision to have a larger grandstand has been rewarded with huge demand for ticketed seats for Sunday’s showjumping, which has now sold out. There will also be some free unreserved public viewing space around the arena.

“On an average year, we’re looking at around 30,000 people attending – we would hope to double that this year, and we’ve certainly got the capacity for it. We also have the infrastructure, which is important, as you can’t have people queuing for an hour for the toilet and missing the action,” said Mrs Midgley.

She added: “I am constantly blown away by the support and the enthusiasm and drive that I have from those surrounding me.

“We’re an events company, so we’re used to putting on large-scale events – that isn’t new to us – but running a European Championship, that’s new to me, and it puts everything on another level. But I have the most amazing team around me, including the people within the sport, British Equestrian, UK Sport, the FEI, they’re all very supportive. Everybody’s moving towards the same goal, which is to make this an amazing event.”

British Eventing chief executive Rosie Williams told H&H holding the European Championships at Blenheim is “a hugely exciting moment for our sport and a real honour for British Eventing”.

“It’s not only a chance to showcase world-class eventing on home soil, but also an opportunity to inspire the next generation and bring new audiences into the sport,” she said.

“Blenheim has a special place in the hearts of many riders and fans, and to see it become the stage for such a prestigious championship is fantastic for British equestrianism as a whole.

“We’re proud to support the event and are looking forward to a week that will celebrate everything we love about eventing – the partnership, the skill, the atmosphere, and the sense of community that makes it so unique.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘We’re delighted to bring loyal readers this benefit’: H&H magazine subscribers get free website access

Your guide to Blenheim European Eventing Championships tickets if you want to be there to see the action in person

‘I was honoured to be asked’ says top British course-designer called up for Blenheim Europeans

Visitors’ guide to Blenheim, Great Britain – home to the 2025 European Eventing Championships

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

If you’re paying a visit to the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, whether or not it’s for the famous horse trials, you might want to add on a couple of nights in one of the hotels near Blenheim Palace.

This year, Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials will host a CCI4*-L set against the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Palace, so we’ve rounded up a great selection of hotels near by, including nearby guesthouses and B&Bs at a range of price points, to help anyone who is planning to attend.

We’ve listed the accommodation below split by category and in order of distance from the venue (OX20 1UL). Many of these options are likely to get booked up well in advance, so we recommend you don’t hang around.

Hotels near Blenheim Palace

Jump down to:

• Budget hotels near Blenheim
• Mid-range hotels near Blenheim
• Luxury hotels near Blenheim

Budget hotels near Blenheim Palace

Mid-range hotels near Blenheim 

Luxury hotels near Blenheim 

• To stay up to date with the latest equestrian news in the run-up to Blenheim Horse Trials, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Captain Mark Phillips has been named as the cross-country course-designer for Britain’s home eventing European Championships this autumn.

The Agria FEI Eventing European Championships will run at Blenheim from 18 to 21 September. Long-standing Blenheim course-designer David Evans – who built designer Derek di Grazia’s Tokyo Olympic cross-country course – will be one of the assistant designers.

H&H columnist Mark, a four-time Badminton winner and Olympic, world and European team gold medallist, designed Burghley for some 30 years, before Derek took on the tenure ahead of the cancelled 2021 event. He has designed courses across the world during his long career, including the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon and the Festival of British Eventing for many years at Gatcombe.

“In recent times I’ve been cutting down on my course-design duties and have concentrated more on a course adviser role at many of the major events both in this country and the US to help with the development of the next generation of designers,” said Mark.

“I was honoured to be asked and am looking forward to designing this year’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championship cross-country course at Blenheim.

“I’m also very happy to continue my adviser role and help the FEI with their specific request to help younger designers. As such, they are flying Jay Hambly over from America and I’ve already had help from David Evans and Helen West with the initial plans.”

The last time Blenheim hosted the Europeans, in 2005, Zara Tindall – Mark’s daughter – won individual and team gold medals with Toytown.

The box office for spectator tickets opens today (6 January).

This is the third year that Stable Events has organised the horse trials and event director Kartina Midgley said that hosting the Europeans is “the cherry on top” of this milestone year.

“We’ve been dedicated to reviving this incredible event and 2025 is going to be a landmark year!” she said.

“It’s the 20th anniversary of Blenheim’s last hosting of the FEI Eventing European Championships – so many people have told me they were there in 2005. We’re going to make sure 2025 is an experience they’ll never forget either.”

Blenheim 2025: further updates

The regular CCI4*-L class will take a year off this year, while Blenheim hosts the Europeans. The CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses will go ahead as normal.

H&H had previously reported that it was hoped Britain would be able to field eight individuals, rather than the usual two, as host nations previously did.

An FEI spokesperson told H&H in December that under FEI rules, at all championships and Games, the host country is limited to the same number of riders and horses as the maximum for foreign countries.

This means that if seven or more teams are entered – as is usually the case at Europeans – the maximum will be two individuals per country, in addition to the team.

If five or six teams are entered, it would be three individuals per country. If there are four or fewer teams, it would be four individuals per country.

“Any change to the rules would require an overall modification to be approved by the FEI General Assembly,” added the spokesperson.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

British venue to host eventing European Championships in September 2025

Eight training gems from Dickie Waygood and Laura Collett including coaching tips, straightness and Laura’s next big star

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 eventing European Championships will take place in Britain next year, at the Agria Blenheim Horse Trials in Oxfordshire, from 18-21 September 2025.

Britain’s host duties for the eventing European Championships seem to run on a 10-year cycle – Blenheim Palace previously ran the European Championships in 2005 and this is the first senior eventing championship to be hosted in Britain since the event was held at Blair Castle in Scotland in 2015.

“It is a great honour to be bringing the FEI Eventing European Championship back to Britain,” said Katrina Midgley of organisers Stable Events.

“Blenheim is such a fitting backdrop, with the Palace and the spectacular parkland cross-country course, and we look forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters for a truly memorable occasion. Thanks must go to the teams at British Equestrian, FEI, British Eventing, Agria and UK Sport who have been instrumental in securing this exciting fixture.”

UK Sport’s head of major events Esther Britten added: “Delivering major events like this continues to demonstrate the UK’s reputation as one of the world’s leading hosts, creating extraordinary sporting moments that reach, unite and inspire the nation.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with the teams at Blenheim and the FEI on this exciting event which will showcase the best British athletes on home soil.”

This will be the 37th running of the bi-annual eventing European Championship, which started in 1953, the 12th occasion that Great Britain has been the host nation, and the 35th anniversary of the first international horse trials at Blenheim.

Britain has dominated the eventing European Championships since its inception, accumulating a total of 20 gold medals in the individual category as well as 24 team golds. One of the individual winners was Zara Tindall (then Phillips), who took the title at the last Europeans at Blenheim in 2005 on Toytown, while Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo were the most recent champions, at Haras du Pin in 2023. Britain also took the team title on both those occasions.

“Blenheim is long established as a popular and beautiful eventing venue and we are very much looking forward to the FEI Eventing European Championship taking place there,” said FEI eventing director Catrin Norinder.

Next year will be Agria’s first as title sponsor of Blenheim.

“Could there be a more thrilling way to celebrate the third UK birthday of our game-changing lifetime equine insurance than by becoming Blenheim’s title sponsor for the 2025 Agria FEI Eventing European Championships?” said Vicki Wentworth, chief executive of Agria UK.

“Agria celebrates another birthday next year – the 135th since it was founded in Sweden – and we can’t wait to host the best riders in Europe, plus owners and horse fans from far and wide at Blenheim on its 35th anniversary. It’s a brilliant event that always produces a memorable competition.”

What are your favourite memories of the 2005 Blenheim Europeans? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com with your full name, nearest town and county, for a chance to be published in Horse & Hound. 

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Delight as new title sponsor secured for Blenheim Horse Trials

Andrew Nicholson: ‘Credit to British events where it’s due’

Meet the striking skewbald mare – with a fantastically fun name – making her five-star debut next week

World number one and Burghley re-routers head huge entries for French five-star at Pau – plus a rider swap post-Paris

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Andrew Nicholson on which autumn fixtures on the British eventing circuit have impressed him

As we proceed through the autumn three-day events, at home and abroad, there are some British horse trials that I think deserve recognition.

Cornbury is a great event site and works very well for the three young horse championships it holds – for five-, six- and seven-year-olds. It has much more of an international feel about it than many events at that level, with a spectacular main arena and a lot of atmosphere.

With so many classes at Cornbury, the timetable can’t be easy to put together, and having the open intermediate and the CCI3*-S on the Thursday meant that several of the Blenheim-bound horses, including Tim Price’s CCI4*-L winner, were able to run.

I did prefer the cross-country warm-up in its original site, on the far side of the main arena, rather than on the fairly small, cambered bit of ground it now occupies near the lorry park.

However the whole thing has a smart, championship-type feel about it, and the extra prizes, such as each winning rider getting their bodyweight in Hawkstone beer, were innovative and well received. And owners love the excellent hospitality and big screen on which they can watch all the cross-country.

Using the terrain

I haven’t been to South of England for a few years, and I was quite hard on the cross-country course in this column the last time I went, as I thought they hadn’t used the hills well enough. I was really pleased to see that the track now utilises all the undulations and the natural terrain in the way it used to – up and down, into the dark and then back out into the light. Proper old-fashioned cross-country.

I only had one ride, in the intermediate on a six-year-old that has been going pretty well, and I felt I had to work quite hard round there – in a good way. It dawned on me afterwards that most of the horse’s novices, and certainly his intermediates, have been on flat tracks. South of England should have been very good for him.

Because the ground was so varied and hilly, you just had to sit and ride, rather than carefully count your strides everywhere. It felt like proper cross-country riding; most people had time-faults, and most horses coped very well with the demands of the course.

The other thing that impressed me was that the horse trials was held alongside the South of England Autumn Show, which had lots of countryside sports activities. The place was very busy and they stopped the showjumping in between classes for a hound parade. The arena was packed with children who were invited in to meet the hounds and it was great.

I presume the public were there more to attend the show than the horse trials, but the kids were hooked on the hounds, and when I jumped afterwards, there were loads of them on the fence line watching the cross-country. They were walking into the lorry park to have a look – it got them interested.

These sorts of things will help shows to survive and both sides of the event must have benefited. Full credit to the organisers in every way.

Why so difficult?

I thought the courses at Blenheim were quite soft, and I can’t quite work out why so many riders made it look difficult. They often looked to be going a gear too slow and adding strides too early on in lines they shouldn’t have been adding in, and then the fences became more difficult because they weren’t riding forward to them.

I have probably never walked round the four-star at Blenheim while it was happening, and I was impressed with how many people were there. That is possibly what makes the course harder than it walks, if the horses and riders aren’t used to crowds.

The eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S attracts a high calibre of horse and, a bit like Le Lion d’Angers for seven-year-olds, Blenheim plays a key part in introducing them to crowds at a relatively early stage in their career.

● Which events have impressed you the most this year? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout HOYS. Maryland, Pau and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Major international horse trials ‘opts out’ of 2025 calendar, but aims to return in 2026

Take a look at a new frangible trakehner to be used at British event for first time

‘This year has been a challenge!’ Update from rider injured in Blenheim fall

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Eventer Louise Harwood broke her femur and damaged her arm, shoulder and pelvis in her fall at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials last weekend.

The five-star rider and Blues Cloud fell on the cross-country course of the CCI4*-S eight- and nine-year-old class and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in a stable condition. Blues Cloud was uninjured in the fall.

Louise said yesterday (25 September) that she had undergone one surgery and was due to have another operation.

“Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials didn’t quite finish as desired!” she said. “A little trip down the road to John Radcliffe Hospital following [the] fall with Cloudy.”

Louise, adding that she had “perplexed” the doctors as to which of her injuries were new and which old. On 15 June, she sustained fractures to her skull, vertebrae, ribs and shoulder blade in a fall from a muck trailer. She had returned to competition a month before Blenheim, and had since finished in the top 10 at Wellington and Cornbury.

“So far it has been determined that I have bust my left femur, which was operated on Monday with a nail insertion,” she said yesterday. “I have definitely acquired a nasty new smash-up to my humerus and shoulder joint, which is going to be mended by op in the next few days.

“The pelvis is a bit damaged too and it has yet to be decided the best course of action. There are quite a few ribs broken, but just have to avoid coughing and laughing (which is fairly easy) at this stage.”

Louise thanked all those who had visited her: Lucy Jackson, Claire Rumney, her husband Greg Harwood and mother Jackie.

“Thanks for all of your get well messages, they are much appreciated,” she said. “Thanks to all my owners, supporters and sponsors. This year has been a challenge!”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Update issued after five-star rider suffers fall at Blenheim Horse Trials

Five-star rider back in action two months after spinal surgery from muck trailer fall

Five-star rider recovering from spinal surgery after fall from muck trailer

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Tim Price added a first Blenheim title to his already incredible tally of international victories when topping the leaderboard in the 2024 Blenheim Horse Trials results aboard Happy Boy in the CCI4*-L.

The British-based New Zealander had competed at six previous Blenheims prior to this one since he moved to the UK 19 years ago, but until today (22 September), the Blenheim winner’s trophy had eluded him.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old gelding owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hadn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen,” explained Tim after his dressage, which left him equal fourth on 25.4, a score he added just 1.6 cross-country time-faults to, to seal victory by 5.7 penalties, maintaining his overnight lead in the process.

“I do not take these days for granted. He was cool, wasn’t he?,” said Tim after the showjumping, which was a victim of the weather, with the final 10 horses jumping in deluge of approximately 8mm of rain. “He tried really hard in the ground – the going, especially the treble, had taken a turn for the worse, but he’s a fighter.”

Tim made no secret of the fact Happy Boy was eliminated for three run-outs at a corner in an open intermediate at Cornbury House Horse Trials last week, but said that this horse’s character can sometimes display itself in this way when preparing for a big run.

“That’s often been the way when he’s been on form, where he can get a little tricky and then he’s gone on to do something fun and special,” smiled Tim. “Don’t get me wrong, I was a little bit worried – it wasn’t just one run out – so we went cross-country schooling at Rosamund Green Farm on Monday and had to go through a few things with him, with some repetition, but I was still a bit dubious.”

Following this blip, Tim opted to take one long route during yesterday’s cross-country.

“Thankfully the long route I took at the second water didn’t cost me the win, but that decision was based on our result at Cornbury and our schooling session on Monday.”

Happy Boy is a horse that has shown oodles of promise throughout his career and Tim drew on past experience with him to help net a clear round in today’s showjumping; a course that provided 15 clear rounds inside the time from 58 starters.

“He won the world seven-year-old championships at Le Lion – he was seventh or eighth going into the showjumping that year where the final phase was held on grass [before the event added an all-weather arena] and it was very, very wet and I had that in the back of my head today. Based on that, I had to ride him positively and a bit quicker than I normally would, just to give him confidence that he could jump out of the ground.”

Blenheim Horse Trials results: “I’m over the moon”

Daisy Berkeley secured her best CCI4*-L result since winning this class on Springbok IV in 2006, finishing runner-up with Diese Du Figuier.

“He’s a very good little horse,” said Daisy of this 11-year-old gelding who rose from sixth after the cross-country. “I knew I had to keep motoring with him because the distance was long at the first part of the treble and I’d seen some horses struggle with it, so I just turned the corner and trusted his carefulness as I was very forward to it.

“He jumped beautifully but I did nearly get jumped off at the first fence as I couldn’t grip the saddle in the rain and I thought ‘if I get jumped off after everything we’ve done this week, that would be a disaster!’”

Daisy explained that the decision to compete Diese Du Figuier, who she co-owns with her mother Caroline Dick, Camilla Case and Martha Ivory, came as a result of being unable to complete at Blair Castle last month.

“Coming to Blenheim hadn’t been my original plan – we went to Blair and he was third after cross-country, where he gave me a beautiful round and then he had a bruise, which meant he was too sore to showjump. We re-routed here and I would have been chuffed to bits with a top 10 placing and now I’m over the moon.”

On being the highest placed British rider in this class, Daisy, who is 52, joked: “Probably the oldest too!”

“When I was walking the cross-country, I was thinking ‘I might add a stride here’, but then I thought, actually, just grow a pair and ride him for the distances and trust him to be a good horse and he really was a good horse. It’s lovely to come back here and have a podium finish.”

When asked about the possibility of taking this horse five-star, Daisy said: “I think he would cope but this old lady [referring to herself] might not. I was so nervous before the cross-country – although as soon as I was on him, I was fine, but it’s the build up and I don’t know if my nerves could take it.

“I like watching other people jump round five-stars, but who knows? If he keeps doing what he’s doing, then maybe – my husband might have something to say about it though!”

Germany’s Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, who led the dressage on 22.8, dropped from second after the cross-country to third after lowering the middle part of the treble – they also picked up .4 of a time-fault to complete on 33.2.

“The whole competition here has been amazing, but the ending was not so good,” said a dejected Jérôme, who, with this 14-year-old gelding, has enjoyed great international success, including finishing seventh individually at last year’s European Eventing Championships. “He got a bit careful warming up because there was water everywhere and then he was not quite sure. He slipped a lot yesterday and he remembered that. He wants to be careful and the ground was slippy again today. In the end I have to be happy though and he kept trying for me.”

The USA’s Jenny Caras capitalised on a fast double jumping clear with Jerry Hollis’ Sommersby to rise from equal 23rd after the first phase into eventual fourth, adding 2.4 cross-country time-penalties to a 32.2 dressage, with the time-faults costing her second place.

“I was hoping to be top 10 – I wanted to do the most competitive test I could and I knew he was capable of finishing close to whatever score he started on,” explained Jenny. “I wasn’t sure where that would leave me, but he’s done what he needed to do and I’m just a little bit annoyed about my time penalties now.”

German rider Calvin Böckmann and the incredibly consistent The Phantom Of The Opera further cemented themselves as a combination that should never be overlooked when finishing fifth.

The 23-year-old, who co-owns this striking chestnut gelding alongside Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann, endured something of an up and down week. They entered cross-country day in sixth after a 25.8 dressage, and were it not for activating a frangible device for 11 penalties during their cross-country, could have been challenging for at least second place today. As it was, they came into the showjumping in 13th and an immaculate clear round meant they leapt up the leaderboard.

“In general, I’m very happy with my placing – of course, I’m still gutted thinking about the 11 penalties, but my horse has done so much for me this year and had brilliant results and it wouldn’t be fair if I wasn’t more than grateful and proud and happy about this result,” explained Calvin, who was the alternate for his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics with this 13-year-old. “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I’m very happy and looking forward to maybe coming back here next year.”

The next two places in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results were filled by Alex Bragg, who dropped from fourth to sixth after picking up 8.8 penalties in the showjumping with Ardeo Premier, and Tom McEwen, who finished seventh with James and Jo Lambert’s promising 10-year-old mare Isa, a relatively new ride, who is one to be noted for the future.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘I think the world of him’: rider makes history en route to victory in Blenheim CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds

Update issued after five-star rider suffers fall at Blenheim Horse Trials

Three held with one out at final Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up, plus Zara Tindall among overnight withdrawals from top 15

‘Cheeky chappy’ comes good on influential cross-country day in Blenheim’s CCI4*-L

‘I wanted to give up’: Blenheim rider bounces back from ‘rubbish season’ to impress with ‘cheeky’ horse

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Padraig McCarthy became the first Irish rider to win the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses at Blenheim Horse Trials today (22 September) with the classy eight-year-old home-bred gelding, MGH Zabaione.

The pair headed into Sunday’s cross-country in 10th after the showjumping, but a speedy cross-country round, where they clocked the third fastest round of the day with just four time-faults, was enough to propel them to the top of the leaderboard.

This young horse CCI4*-S has a history of serving as a stepping stone to five-star greatness. Analytics firm EquiRatings has counted 26 graduates who have gone on to win a five-star, including six former winners of this young horse championship.

“I expected to get a very good result – he’s done three four-stars now and he’s been placed every time,” explained Padraig. “I didn’t expect to win it, especially with where we were after the showjumping, but to win is a huge thrill.”

Padraig said he “thinks the world” of MGH Zabaione, who he owns alongside Peter Cattell and Diane Brunsden.

“He’s probably the most complete horse I’ve ever ridden. He’s won at every level so far; two-star, three-star and four-star and I bred him, so it’s really exciting.

“It’s amazing for the owners too – they believed in me when I said the horse was a really good one when I sold him to them when he was a four-year-old.”

Padraig commented that this son of Zavall VDL has now finished for this season, but that he has high hopes for the years to come.

“I hope he’ll be a good one for championships in the future.”

Of the 88 cross-country starters, 74 jumped clear around the David Evans-designed track, but only one – Sam Ecroyd and Bloomfield Manuscript, who finished fifth – finished inside the 6min 49sec optimum time. The weather played a part in this with rain falling for most of the competition.

“I think there was plenty to do and it was quite slippery, there were lots of twists and turns,” said Padraig. “Horses always get a little tired here, but luckily MGH Zabaione does his training on the hills in Dartmoor and was really fit – he stayed really with me all the way and I think that’s what got me the win. He’s got a great length of stride and I could keep using his gallop. He’s an incredible horse that makes my job easy.”

Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S young horse results: “He’s exceptional”

Dressage and showjumping leaders Georgie Goss and Kojak slipped to second by .4 of a penalty when they picked up 8.8 time-faults across country.

“I’m so proud of him. There’s that natural disappointment of moving down to second, but if someone had offered me that placing on him last week, I would have snatched their hand off,” said Georgie, who switched from riding for Britain to Ireland in 2023.

Kojak, a nine-year-old Georgie co-owns with Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson, caught the eye throughout the competition, scoring 27.7 in the dressage, before following this up with a double clear jumping performance.

“He’s an exceptional horse and I’m so, so proud of what he’s done today,” said Georgie of the son of Namelus R. “I was going as fast as I physically could – he lost a shoe about halfway round and had a few slips, and I’d like to think that would have been the difference between winning or not, but he slipped, picked himself up and jumped the fences and galloped and galloped.

“I think he gave me more than [I thought] he had this weekend. He gives me 110% of everything he’s got at every single event and every single day. He’s quite green for the level and my intention coming here was for him to have a nice round and get used to the crowds, but then as soon as he performed the way he did in the dressage, we had to kick on.”

Georgie hopes this result will catch the eye of the Irish selectors.

“We’ll maybe do a CCI4*-L at the beginning of next season to qualify for the Europeans – I’d like a green jacket!” she laughed.

Caroline Harris proved she has a potential star in her yard when finishing third with eight-year-old Cooley Mosstown. They were equal 12th after the dressage and then added four showjumping faults before jumping clear across country, picking up 1.2 time-faults – the second fastest round of the day – which was enough to propel them up the leaderboard on to the podium, finishing on 36.9.

“I know he’s a very good horse – he came fourth at Le Lion last year [in the seven-year-old World Young Horse Championships], so I was hoping for a top 10 finish here,” commented Caroline of this horse, who is owned by Gail Sinclair, Karen Dunford and Dinah Posford. “I was pretty disappointed to have a pole down, because he’s a really good jumper and it felt like one of our best rounds.

“He’s phenomenal – he‘s only been eventing two seasons and he makes it feel so easy. He was unreal across-country.”

Caroline explained that Cooley Mosstown, who is by Celtic Hero BZ, showjumped in Ireland as a five-year-old before she purchased him from Cooley Farm when he was six.

“I started eventing him in the May of his six-year-old year and won his first CCI4*-S this year at Mallow and I really rate him – he’s a top, top horse.

“He tries super-hard but he’s sharp in the sense that he sometimes tries too hard and then panics, but he gives me everything and I think he’s one to go all the way with.”

Caroline hopes to aim Cooley Mosstown at the CCI4*-L at Bramham next season before bringing him back to Blenheim Horse Trials for the eight- and nine-year-olds before perhaps having a tilt at the CCI4*-L at Boekelo.

Piggy March and Dassett Arthalent were fourth (37.1) with Sam Ecroyd and Bloomfield Manuscript fifth (38.4). Jonelle Price and Full Monty De Lacense took sixth (40) and Caroline Powell and CBI Aldo finished seventh (40.2).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Update issued after five-star rider suffers fall at Blenheim Horse Trials

‘He jumped his socks off’: exciting prospect leads Blenheim’s young horse class after two phases

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

An official update has been issued after five-star event rider Louise Harwood suffered a fall at Blenheim Horse Trials today (22 September).

Louise was riding the nine-year-old Blues Cloud, who is owned by Jennifer Evans-Bevan, when they fell at the final part of the James Hallam Insurance Brokers water complex at fence 10ABC.

The statement, which was issued by Blenheim Horse Trials, said: “Following a fall at fence 10c in the CCI4*-S eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Oxfordshire, Louise Harwood (GBR) was immediately attended to by the onsite medical team and has been transferred by road to the John Radcliffe hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.

“Her horse, Blues Cloud was assessed by the on-site vets, walked back to the stable and is uninjured.

“Our thoughts are with Louise and all of her connections.”

This fall comes a month after Louise successfully returned to competition having recovered from serious injuries sustained in a fall from a muck trailer on 15 June. Her injuries included fractures to her skull, ribs and shoulder blade – and some vertebrae, on which she had surgery. Since her return she has secured top 10 placings at both Wellington and Cornbury House Horse Trials.

Blenheim is the first competition Louise has ridden Blues Cloud at since her summer injury, but they jumped clear across country in this class last year and have completed some intermediates this season.

Louise, who has more than 20 five-star completions to her name, was also competing Native Spirit in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim and they completed yesterday’s cross-country with 20 penalties.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Five-star rider back in action two months after spinal surgery from muck trailer fall

Five-star rider recovering from spinal surgery after fall from muck trailer

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Three horses were held at the Blenheim Horse Trials final CCI4*-L trot-up and four others withdrawn overnight ahead of Sunday’s (22 September) horse inspection.

Sixty horses were brought forwards to the trot-up, held in front of Blenheim Palace and all but one were accepted by the ground jury of Andrew Bennie, Les Smith and Nikki Herbert, supported by vet Alison Butler.

The first to be held was the second of Ireland’s Ian Cassells’ two rides, Shanbo Super Flex, who was 18th after yesterday’s cross-country. The 10-year-old mare was then withdrawn from the holding box.

Cutting Edge, the ride of New Zealand’s Vicky Browne-Cole was also sent to the holding box, but was accepted upon reinspection. They go into the showjumping in 37th.

Gemma Stevens’ ride Jalapeno III, who had an unfortunate run out at the last combination yesterday, was also sent to the holding box but was passed when reinspected. They currently hold 24th.

There were some notable overnight withdrawals, with three of the top 15 after the cross-country opting not to present their horses at the final Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up.

These included Zara Tindall, who was seventh after the cross-country with Classicals Euro Star, plus Kenzo Power B, the second of David Doel’s rides, who was in 11th and Italy’s Florencina R, the mount of Giovanni Ugolotti, who was holding 13th. In addition, Sammy Oliver’s Kellyspa Van T Asschaut was withdrawn from overnight 38th.

The final showjumping phase gets underway at 11.30am with a break in the middle of the day before the top 25 jump for the placings from 2.45pm.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

‘Cheeky chappy’ comes good on influential cross-country day in Blenheim’s CCI4*-L

‘He jumped his socks off’: exciting prospect leads Blenheim’s young horse class after two phases

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

British-based Irish rider Georgie Goss has maintained her dressage lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results in the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds.

Riding the classy Kojak, who is owned by Georgie, Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson, Georgie jumped one of 30 clears inside the time allowed from 95 starters.

“He jumped his socks off – it was a perfect track for me: it’s a very jumping track, with long galloping lines, and he gets quite long and forward anyway, so I actually end up having to work quite a bit,” explained Georgie.

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone has maintained second place after the first two phases in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results in this young horse class riding the talented grey Rocket Man, a nine-year-old owned by Clarke and his family.

“The track rode how I thought it would – it’s quite a big arena, and the jumps are quite airy, so it’s quite a careful track,” said Clarke. “This horse is a very good jumper but he was very excited today, so he wasn’t always 100% listening to me, but I’m delighted with him.

“Tomorrow will be his biggest test so far, but he’s jumped one four-star, where he was clear. We weren’t going for the time at that one, though, and it’s always a bit different when they’re under pressure — but I think he’s a lovely cross-country horse and he should be up for it, so I think he’ll be brilliant.”

Piggy March and Olivia Davidson’s Dassett Arthalent capitalised on a clear round to head into the cross-country in third, having been sixth after the dressage.

“He’s a good jumper, and I knew he could jump a good round, it was just about keeping him focused,” stated Piggy. “He’s naturally careful, which helps. There’s obviously an atmosphere in there, and you do have to get a gallop on.”

The cross-country phase for this class is set to get underway at 9.30am tomorrow (22 September).

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

‘Cheeky chappy’ comes good on influential cross-country day in Blenheim’s CCI4*-L

‘I’m hoping he will be a team horse for me next year’: Blenheim’s young horse CCI4*-S highlights ones to watch

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Happy Boy have cemented their place at the top of the Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results with a clear round, clocking just 1.6 time-faults around a track where only one combination finished inside the optimum time.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hasn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen,” explained Tim after his dressage, which left him equal fourth.

Tim opted to take the long route at fence 15abcd, the James Hallam Insurance Brokers water complex, which prevented him from finishing inside the optimum time around the David Evans-designed track.

“I was deciding all the way up to fence 15 about going long. He hasn’t had the smoothest 18 months with things getting in the way of play, so step one was to get him back on track with a good round and step two was to make good decisions based on him being a bit of a cheeky chappy sometimes,” said Tim, who also holds eighth after the cross-country with his own, Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattell and Lucy and Ben Sangster’s Chio 20.

“I found Happy Boy was galloping so well and got into three-day event mode, as opposed to ducking and diving at one-day events. The clock was looking good but he was also travelling so well, I was in two minds about taking the direct route, because he can sometimes wobble and it’s one of those jumps where as a rider, you didn’t have the opportunity for plan B – you have to jump the element in the water and then channel your horse through, so the decision I made I think was a good one because I was up on the clock and I thought he would run home too.”

Dressage leaders Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice have slipped to second after notching six time-faults and they now sit 1.8 penalties behind Tim and Happy Boy.

“I heard there was a lot of trouble with people having the MIM Clip at fence 19a [The Subaru Quest; a rail, ditch, arrowhead],” commented Germany’s Jérôme. “I was on my minute markers but then after coming out of the top water [fence 15], he needed a bit of time, so I let him breathe and he recovered and jumped well through fence 19.

“I then tried to be fast coming home but I wasn’t fast enough. The ground was a bit slippery for him, so I lost a bit of power, strength and balance through his body.”

Ireland’s Ian Cassells really impressed with a smooth round aboard 11-year-old Kellys Quality, who is owned by Patrick Murphy, and is contesting his first CCI4*-L.

“He’s a bit inexperienced and his natural shape is quite downhill,” said Ian. “He can be quite strong, so I have to be strict with myself to go forward galloping and then really get my body up but keep my reins long to allow him to use his neck and I have to really trust him that way.

“His owner is amazing – I’ve had this horse for five years, he was bought for under €10,000 out of Goresbridge sales and this is the first time that Patrick has had a horse at this level, so I’m really happy for him and for his trust in me.”

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results: riders capitalise on speedy rounds

Debbie and Neill Nuttall’s 11-year-old Ardeo Premier built on several top-20 finishes at four- and five-star level with Alex Bragg to clock the equal second fastest round of the day for 0.8 time-faults. This was enough to propel them from 25th after the dressage to fourth.

“It rode exactly as I walked it apart from I saw a horrendous stride in the main arena to the box brush, where I floated a bit to it and he was very good to me to go through there clear,” admitted Alex. “He’s not the fastest horse in the world, but if you can stay on your minute markers, you’re always in with a chance. He’s super smooth and speedy through the combinations and I’m so pleased with how he’s grown up.

“Although he did Luhmühlen five-star, the reason for coming here was to see if he would be suited to a domestic five-star and I think now he could have a Badminton in him.”

Aaron Millar and Count Onyx were the sixth combination on course and this 10-year-old CCI4*-L first-timer, owned by Alexandra Van Tuyll added just 2.8 time-faults to their 29.4 dressage to now sit in fifth.

Daisy Berkeley and her own, Camilla Case, Martha Ivory and Caroline Dick’s 11-year-old gelding Diese Du Figuier were another combination to catch the eye, adding 4.8 time-faults to a 27.9 dressage to sit just behind Aaron in sixth.

Zara Tindall appears to have a strong five-star prospect in her stable in the form of her own and Judith Luff’s Classicals Euro Star. This 10-year-old grey gelding finished incredibly strongly, just adding 3.2 time-faults to their 30.4 dressage to go into tomorrow’s final showjumping phase in seventh.

“He’s had a bit of an up and down year with having issues jumping a ditch rail, corners and skinnies, which all happened at intermediate level,” explained Zara. “But I’ve realised he likes these bigger tracks. He’s got all the potential and he’s so quick and has a lot of jump and gallop, which is so exciting.”

Gemma Stevens, who was second after the dressage with Jalapeno III had a very unfortunate run out at the final combination on course when the mare didn’t seem to lock onto the final narrow element after a big table on a turning line. Heartbreakingly this is where Gemma and this mare fell when in contention last year. They did however complete this time, notching just 5.2 time-faults to leave them in 28th after the Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country results.

New Zealand‘s Jesse Campbell and Diachello, who were third after the first phase, jumped clear up until having a sticky jump into the second water at fence 15, which then made their distance and line to the angled brushes in the middle of the water impossible to achieve, meaning they ran out. Jesse opted to retire after this.

The only rider to finish clear inside the 10min 12sec optimum time was Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy aboard Christopher and Sarita Perkins’ MGH Mr Messack, who stopped the clock with nine seconds to spare. They go into tomorrow’s showjumping in 15th.

From the 75 cross-country starters in this class, 46 jumped clear and 64 completed.

The final horse inspection for the CCI4*-L gets underway at 8am with the showjumping to follow.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

Blenheim first-timer impresses the judges to shoot into CCI4*-L dressage lead

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

“I wanted to give up horses completely,” says Fred Powell, who is competing Grafiba at this year’s Blenheim Horse Trials. “We had a rubbish season last year where we fell a couple of times.”

Fred’s turnaround is nothing short of admirable and, heading into today’s cross-country phase in the CCI4*-L (21 September), Fred and ‘Raffy’ sit in eighth on a 26 dressage score.

“Amy Penny [event rider], my best mate, told me I wasn’t giving up and she’s been my rock. So I’ve kept going and kept grafting,” explains Fred, 27, who is based in Wales.

He left school at 17 to pursue a career in horses and set up a yard at home.

“Mum and I made our own stables and we bought and sold horses to make money and then people started sending horses to me,” states Fred. “Then Covid hit and owners took horses away due to costs so I went and worked for Andrew Williams and Vicky Tuffs at GHF Equestrian.

“I took three horses with me and Andrew and Vicky gave me an amazing opportunity to be second rider to Vicky, and I got to ride some fantastic young horses. Then their business came to an end in 2023 and I went back home and that’s where I am now.”

Fred is frank in explaining what life is like in his quest to make a career out of eventing.

“Running a business as an event rider is really hard to make work financially, and I don’t have any staff, but we’re making it work. I think people are scared to say how tough it is, but I’ve got an amazing support network around me.”

Raffy was purchased by mother and daughter, Jackie and Jo Forrester, six years ago when he was five after Tim Price initially produced him. He was intended to be a horse that Jo could compete at the lower levels.

“Raffy did a light suspensory while competing at BE100 and Jo asked me to ride him while he was being brought back into work. Then she said ‘Fred, I’m not getting back on him’, and I’ve kept the ride from that point,” says Fred, who describes this son of Grafenstolz as a “cheeky” character.

“He can be quite nappy and a bit of a stresser in a weird way and he almost gives a little bit too much, but he doesn’t have a nasty bone in his body and he likes his own space – you can’t namby pamby him as if you spend too much time with him, he gets annoyed.

“His trickiest phase is the showjumping and Kim Belton has been a great help lately and has helped settle him, which has been his biggest issue. He doesn’t like touching a fence, so when he did, he got really worried about it and compounded the issue. But as long as we can keep his brain, he is amazing.”

Fred and Raffy have enjoyed some strong results this season, including finishing third in the competitive CCI3*-L at Hartpury last month and they also jumped clear across country to finish 15th in the CCI4*-S at Blair Castle too.

“Raffy’s owners have been amazing this year about letting me do my own thing with him this season and trusted me, and that’s really helped,” smiles Fred, who was delighted with their dressage performance here.

“He was wicked. He hasn’t been to many big places and he napped all the way up to the warm-up, but he really rose to the occasion in the arena and he did some really cool bits of work. He’s a lovely, big mover.”

Fred’s aim this week is to “come home happy and safe”.

“I really do believe in him,” he says.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

‘Being at Blenheim in riding boots, rather than sat in the stands, is surreal’: meet the former PE teacher tackling her first CCI4*-L

Blenheim first-timer impresses the judges to shoot into CCI4*-L dressage lead

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

British-based Irish rider Georgie Goss (née Spence) and Kojak hold the lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds dressage results at the end of the first phase (20 September).

Kojak, a nine-year-old owned by Georgie, Molly Fisher and Samantha Wilson, performed an eye-catching test to score 27.7, which puts them 1.7 penalties ahead of day one leaders, New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man.

“I’ve been working with Liv [dressage rider Olivia Oakeley] and Ian Woodhead a lot and he tried his heart out,” explained Georgie of the son of Namelus R. “We’re not established with the changes, but we somehow managed to get them both in the test. If anything, he can get a little bit flat, so I was pleased that there was enough atmosphere to keep him awake.”

Georgie has had the ride on Kojak for three years and she says she “liked everything about him” when she purchased him.

“I mean, just look at him – he’s beautiful, he moves, he jumps, he gallops, although he’s not the fastest in the world, but he’s learning to gallop and I’m very much hoping he will be a team horse for me next year.

“He’s just one of those horses that just keeps giving and always gives his best and always tries.”

Sweden’s Sofia Sjoborg and Govalent, a nine-year-old she co-owns with Juliet and Mattias Sjoborg, are third on 30.1.

“He’s never really seen an atmosphere before, so I was just hoping to keep him relaxed and with me,” said Sofia of this gelding by Valent, the sire of five-star horses Cooley Rosalent and Jewelent. “He’s quite long and still quite weak and has a lot of muscling up to do still, so I was thinking a mistake-free test would be nice and then anything above that was a bonus.”

Samantha Lissington, who is another Kiwi to impress so far this week, sits fourth with the impressive eight-year-old grey gelding, Quantas R. Owned by The High Flyers, this son of Qualito is on a score of 30.2.

“He’s a proper horse but he’s obviously only eight so he’s got a bit of a disadvantage against the nine-year-olds,” stated British-based Sam. “His change to the right has taken us all year to get – it was consistently a relaxed, late change behind. So we’ve done a lot of work on that with Gareth Hughes, who has actually really helped us use anticipation and activation at home to get the change, because he has quite a relaxed way of going and didn’t realise he was doing anything wrong.”

From a field of 95 starters in this class, only two combinations scored sub-30.

“It’s a bit irritating to score just over 30 when I thought it was a sub-30 test, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him,” Sam said frankly. “He could have gone in there and been impressed by the atmosphere, but he stayed with me the whole way.”

Blenheim young horse CCI4*-S dressage leaders after day one, Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man, have been relegated to second, while the Netherlands’ Andrew Heffernan and SSK Cape Cooley are fifth on 30.3.

Piggy March and Dassett Arthalent are sixth on 30.7, Louise Bradley and Ardeo Mandela are seventh on 30.8 and the top eight Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results are completed by Norway’s Yasmin Olsson-Sanderson and Cos Me Will on 30.9.

The showjumping phase of the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds gets underway tomorrow (Saturday 21 September) at 7.45am.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Blenheim first-timer impresses the judges to shoot into CCI4*-L dressage lead

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

‘Being at Blenheim in riding boots, rather than sat in the stands, is surreal’: meet the former PE teacher tackling her first CCI4*-L

‘He tried really hard’: eye-catching grey secures day one lead in Blenheim’s young horse CCI4*-S

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

There is a new leader in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L dressage results at the end of the second day (20 September). Germany’s Jérôme Robiné riding Black Ice scored 22.8, thanks to a beautiful and confident test on this combination’s first visit to the event.

Black Ice, a 14-year-old owned by Dorothea Von Zedwitz, was fifth in the five-star at Luhmühlen and seventh individually at the European Eventing Championships, both in 2023, and more recently finished fifth in the Nations Cup CCI4*-S at Arville last month.

Jérôme and this striking gelding were awarded a smattering of nines from the judges, including for the two flying-changes that carry a coefficient.

“He’s very calm in his mind and there are no surprises when you go into the arena,” explained Jérôme, 26. “He has very good flying-changes and he has a big, forward canter and nice movement and it’s easy for him.

“I had to work on his flying-changes in the past, but he’s good now. It’s not easy for him in his body as he is long, but he moves well and now he’s established.”

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell briefly shot into the lead before Jérôme stole it from him as the next rider in. Jesse scored 23.3 with his own and Kent Gardner’s Diachello and sits in third going into the cross-country after Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno III slotted into second towards the end of the day.

“He’s always promised to deliver a really good test and for whatever reason, things haven’t quite gone to plan for him – he’s such a big, loose moving horse that it‘s not been easy, but he’s getting better and better with age,” explained Jesse of this 14-year-old Diarado, with whom he was part of the New Zealand team at the Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s fun to bring him here and enjoy it. I was taking it all in and staying focused – he needs a bit of riding because he is so big and loose and needs a bit of putting together, but I’m delighted with him. He has good changes and that really helps with the coefficient marks in those moves and you can make up some ground with that.”

Speaking of tomorrow’s cross-country, Jesse hopes that the rain – which has only made a very brief appearance so far at Blenheim this week – stays away.

“He prefers the top of the ground, but we’ll see what we’ve got.”

Gemma Stevens and Chris Stone’s 16-year-old mare Jalapeno III scored 23 to sit .3 of a penalty ahead of Jesse.

“We can really do it, but she’s a woman of her own mind and if she’s a little bit not in the mood, then we’re on a 27 – if she’s really with me and in the mood, she can get a 22 or 23 and today she decided that she was in the mood.,” explained Gemma, who was sixth at Badminton in 2023, seventh in the CCI4*-L here in 2022 and fourth in the same class in 2021.

“She is a proper lead mare and we have to come to an agreement and we came to a good agreement today and was beautiful to ride.

“She knows what she likes, when she likes it, how she likes it and who she likes.”

Speaking of her test, Gemma said: “I thought the trot was super-consistent for her today, which I then knew I could carry on into the canter and I could enjoy it because she’s got a beautiful canter and changes – she can do tempi-changes at home when she’s with me and she felt like she was really with me.”

Joint Blenheim dressage leaders after day one, Tim Price and Tom Woodward hold fourth on Happy Boy and Low Moor Lucky respectively on 25.4, while Germany’s Calvin Böckmann is sixth on 25.8 with The Phantom Of The Opera.

The USA’s Phillip Dutton and the nine-year-old Denim are seventh on 25.9, Britain’s Fred Powell and Grafiba are eighth on 26 and the top 10 are rounded off with Piggy March and Halo on 26.2 in ninth and Ireland’s Ian Cassells and Kellys Quality in 10th on 26.5.

The CCI4*-L cross-country gets underway tomorrow (Saturday 21 September) at 11.30am.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

‘Being at Blenheim in riding boots, rather than sat in the stands, is surreal’: meet the former PE teacher tackling her first CCI4*-L

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Wizz Leyland is one of just a handful of riders contesting this week’s Blenheim Horse Trials who combines a job outside of horses with competing at four-star level.

She rides her own 15-year-old grey gelding, Cruise The Town – Boris, as he is known at home.

“I worked full-time with horses for [event rider] Angus Smales as soon as I left school and I thought ‘right, I’m going to make a go of this’, but as I got further into that, I realised there’s not a lot of money in it,” explains Wizz, 31. “So I had a change of plan, went home to Northumberland and picked up a job for Bedmax in 2021 as the head office is three miles away.”

Wizz started off as a lorry driver for the bedding company.

“I have my HGV and they had a lorry and so I started driving that for them, delivering bedding two or three days a week – I started early in the morning, which meant I could ride in the afternoon,” she says. “It was great fun and I loved it then after a year, they conned me into working in the office.

“I started out combining working in the office and lorry driving and now I’m full-time in the office as operations manager and I love it. I’m very grateful to Bedmax for allowing me to combine riding with work.”

Wizz states that the two horses she competes – she has a two-star horse, as well as Boris – have to possess easy natures in order for her to combine working with riding.

“They’re very good at understanding head torches when there’s so few daylight hours in the winter,” she laughs.

Boris found his way to Wizz while she was working for Angus.

“I’ve had him since he was seven and I’ve done everything with him. Angus bought him from Ireland and so he was on the yard while I was working there. I started riding him and fell in love with him – he is very special.”

The pair scored a career highlight when finishing second in the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk in 2021, but it hasn’t been entirely plain sailing for them.

“We’ve made lots of mistakes together and he had an injury in 2022 – he picked up a cut while jumping around the cross-country at Bramham and it ended up requiring a joint flush on the operating table the following morning. While building him back up from that, he picked up another small tendon injury, which put him out for a year.

“We gave him plenty of time to recover and I walked him for miles in hand, like a big dog. He owes me nothing, but he’s getting better with age and he’s still low mileage.”

Of Boris’ character, Wizz chuckles when she describes him as “weird”.

“He needs to know who you are – he’s not good with strangers and men, in particular.”

Wizz says she would love to complete at Blenheim this week.

“I really want to gain my MER [minimum eligibility requirement] for five-star as I would love to be in a position to enter one and to be able to say I got him there.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

‘Being at Blenheim in riding boots, rather than sat in the stands, is surreal’: meet the former PE teacher tackling her first CCI4*-L

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

“Being here in riding boots, rather than sat in the stands, is surreal,” says Sophie Callard, who is competing Brookfield Benjamin Bounce at this year’s Blenheim Horse Trials, in what is a first CCI4*-L for both horse and rider. “Blenheim is a special place for me as mum first brought me here when I was 12 and I have visited every year since.”

Sophie has always been a keen eventer, starting in the pony ranks before progressing through juniors and young riders.

“But dad was very adamant that I wouldn’t ride as a career, so I had to go to uni,” explains the smiling 30-year-old. “I studied sport science and then went on to teach primary school PE for five years, which was amazing – I loved it.”

Then, just before Covid hit, Sophie started doing a bit of riding for Brookfield Equestrian’s John and Chloe Perry, whose yard is in the same Berkshire village as the school Sophie taught at.

“Then when Covid hit, we were on three-week rotations at school where we worked for a week teaching the children of key workers and then had two weeks off, which is when I would ride at John and Chloe’s.

“It was at that point Chloe suggested I should work for them full-time, which was always a dream of mine, but it was just a case of making the leap. I still hack past the primary school now and the children will run to the railings and shout ‘Miss Callard!’ to me.”

Sophie’s job with John and Chloe mostly involves her producing the young Brookfield-prefixed horses.

“They usually arrive as four-year-olds and I produce them until the end of their five- and sometimes six-year-old years before they then go onto their designated riders,” says Sophie. “John and Chloe are also really amazing at allowing me to build my own string with new owners coming in while based on their yard around their horses.”

When asked if it is difficult to see horses she has produced be sent off to new riders, such as Piggy March and Tom McEwen, Sophie is adamant in her answer.

“I love nothing more than to see the horses I’ve produced going well with their riders, knowing that I’ve played my part – that’s really satisfying. We have a lovely relationship with all of the riders as the horses progress and Piggy helps me when we’re at these sorts of events – literally like my right arm – and walks the courses with me and is just amazing.”

Brookfield Benjamin Bounce, or simply Bounce as he is known at home, is a ride that Sophie took on for the 2023 season having been competed to CCI4*-S level by Tom McEwen. The 12-year-old was owned by John and Chloe, plus Alison Swinburn, and it was the latter who was responsible for securing Bounce for Sophie to ride.

“It was an amazing thing for Alison to do in order to allow me the chance to break into the higher levels of eventing,” Sophie says.

“Bounce is just amazing – he can be a bit tricky in that he’s a bit of an odd character. He’s a bit of a worrier and is definitely a one person horse. I just have him here this week and no groom, so I get to do absolutely everything with him and he loves that. When I ride others on the yard at home, he hates it. He’s my little mate and we‘re just friends – yes, he’s a bit quirky, but I love it and he tries his heart out for me.”

Speaking of her goals for this week, Sophie states she wants to “enjoy it”.

“We’re here to have a lovely time and to hopefully gain a completion with solid results in all three phases – that would be amazing.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and the striking grey, Rocket Man, have taken the lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds dressage results at the end of day one (19 September).

Rocket Man, a nine-year-old owned by Clarke and his family, really caught the eye and were the only combination in this class to break the 30 barrier today, scoring 29.4.

“I expected him to do a good test – he’s a beautiful mover and is pretty level-headed most of the time, but this would be the most buzzy atmosphere that he’s been in and he coped well with that,” explained Clarke. “There were certainly a good few things that could be improved, but he tried really hard and he’s in the lead after 49 horses, so I’m very happy.”

Britain’s Eliza Bell initially produced Rocket Man, who is by Diacontinus, up to CCI3*-S level before Clarke took on the ride halfway through 2023. This horse completed his only other CCI4*-S run at Marbach in May 2024.

Speaking of his test today, Clarke said: “The changes were both clean, but they just need to become a bit more established – he’s still in the learning phase of those. He’s normally very good in his halts, but I felt they could be better on both centre lines. The trot work felt super good and his canter work could be better, but it was a good effort by him.”

Britain’s Louise Bradley currently holds second with Alison Garlick’s Ardeo Mandela. The nine-year-old scored 30.8 in this his first four-star.

“I knew it was all there, but I just didn’t know if it was going to come off,” Louise said. “He’s not done changes in a test before, so I was really pleased to get one of those. His level of work has improved recently and he’s been really connected and taking me, so I was hoping it would be quite smooth and he wouldn’t react to the atmosphere.

“I was most pleased with how he went in and felt like he enjoyed himself, rose to the occasion and wasn’t bothered by the crowd, which makes me think that I’m going to be able to take him on a big stage one day.”

Louise purchased this son of S. Creevagh Ferro from Ireland when he was five and he most recently finished sixth in the CCI3*-L at Hartpury and 11th in a CCI3*-S section at Cornbury House last week.

“I have produced him all the way through and because he’s quite a big horse, we’ve taken our time,” she explained.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price sits third in the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results with Jackie Olivier, Kate Holmes and Jo Pidduck’s Full Monty De Lacense on 31.2, while her compatriot Caroline Powell is fourth on 31.4 with CBI Aldo. The top five is rounded off by Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and MGH Zabaione on 32.1.

There are 47 combinations to come on Friday, with the CCI4*-S dressage for eight- and nine-year-olds resuming at 9am.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Two riders share the top spot in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L dressage results at the end of the opening day (19 September). New Zealand’s Tim Price, who is riding Happy Boy, and 22-year-old British rider Tom Woodward and his mount Low Moor Lucky, both scored 25.4 with fault-free tests.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hasn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen – things have got in the way of me actually starting competitions – but we’ve got that all under control now and we know a lot more about him,” explained Tim. “He’s ready to go five-star, but we’ll just get this done and we’ll get back on track for a five-star next spring.”

Tim described Happy Boy as “an unassuming little character”.

“But time and time again he’s really tried hard when it counts – I just really like this horse. He’s like putty but although he’s quite short and compact. He always wants to lengthen his body a bit and it’s up to me to have him round and be able to ride him forward in a soft way.”

Tom Woodward was emotional upon completing his test with his own 17-year-old Low Moor Lucky, who is another horse to have overcome setbacks to return to competition.

“He’s had quite a bit of time off this year with niggles and I know what a great horse he is and it’s been frustrating to not be able to have him out competing – I’ve been longing to get him back out,” said Tom, who events full-time from his base in Hartpury, Gloucestershire. “I’m not one to get emotional, but I do feel emotional today because I just love this horse. He was my first horse off ponies and I did my first ever two-star on him, he gave me my first international win, and he’s just been the dream.”

Tom explained that Lucky felt “magic” in his test today, with the flying-changes being a highlight – the second change earnt two eights and a seven from the judges.

“We’ve worked towards this all year really and I couldn’t be more pleased with how he felt – he’s a delight to ride out every day,” said the young rider, who trains with Lisa White, Sarah Verney and Carol Broad, who is one of his owners, for his flatwork. “We campaigned him at four-star last year and I probably wasn’t quite established enough in my riding to get the marks out of him that he deserved.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of other horses at four-star this year, which has enabled me to really develop my craft on the flat and now I’m able to put that into Lucky and it’s all come together.”

Tom’s aim for this weekend is to “enjoy having Lucky back”.

“He’s run in a couple of open intermediates recently and has felt in amazing form. The last time I did a four-star on him was here last year, so I’m just buzzing to get back out and jump around the cross-country because he loves it and I love it, so I can’t wait to get out there and give it a good crack.”

Twenty-three-year-old German rider Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom Of The Opera, who were alternates for their national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, currently sit third on 25.8.

“I’m actually very, very pleased – I think I can say that dressage is not our strongest discipline, because sometimes he can become a bit fresh,” explained Calvin, who was second in the competitive CCIO4*-S in Aachen earlier this summer and most recently won the CCI4*-S Nations Cup at Arville. “We were here last year and he was quite fresh then, but this year we could just keep it together so much more and test by test, it’s getting better and better.”

Calvin picked out his half-passes and halts as particular highlights today with the 13-year-old he owns alongside Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann.

“Usually he’s a bit on fire and doesn’t love to stop and halt!”

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results: “A little unicorn”

Britain’s Fred Powell, 27, and Jackie and Jo Forrester’s 11-year-old gelding Grafiba, is fourth on 26 after producing a personal best at this level, while Piggy March and Jayne McGivern’s wonderful grey stallion Halo are fifth on 26.2.

“His changes were very good and on the whole, he’s pretty solid in this phase,” said Piggy. “Maybe there’s still one more half a gear to go with him, but he’s consistent – he feels really nice, he’s relaxed, he’s working well, he’s enjoying it and he didn’t make any mistakes. He’s lovely to work with and a little unicorn.”

Ireland’s Ian Cassells and Kellys Quality are sixth on 26.5, Daisy Berkeley and Diese Du Figuier are seventh on 27.9, while Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Jefferson JRA are eighth on 28. Rounding off the top 10 in the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results, the USA’s Katherine Coleman is ninth on Monbeg Senna on 29.1 and Aaron Millar is 10th on 29.4 with Count Onyx.

There are 37 combinations to come on Friday, with the dressage for the CCI4*-L resuming at 10.20am.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course

One held at first Blenheim trot-up ahead of a bumper week of eventing action

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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 Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country course is ready and waiting to be tackled by competitors.

David Evans returns as course-designer for the Oxfordshire event for a seventh year. He has designed both of the 2024 cross-country courses at Blenheim Horse Trials – the CCI4*-L and the short-format CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses.

Take a peek at what horse and riders in the CCI4*-L – jumping the red numbered flags – can expect on Saturday (21 September)…

Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L cross-country course gallery

Fence 1: The Cross Country App Flower Bed

Fence 2: The KBIS Table 

Fence 3: Supastuds Oxer 

Fence 4abc: Brookfield Bold Question 

A big table on a related distance to a corner, lettered bc

There is also an alternative for the bc option of two separately lettered houses

Fence 5: Blake Morgan Flyer 

Fence 6: Strawmax Straw Pellets Table 

Fence 7ab: Game Fair Combination 

Fence 8: The Volare Way 

Fence 9ab: The Volare Landing 

Alternative at 9a and b 

Fence 10: Open Oxer 

Fence 11abc: Voltaire Rollercoaster 

Fence 12: Silverhand Escape 

Fence 13ab: Water Edge Challenge 

Fence 14: Water Edge Point 

Alternative fence 14 

Fence 15abcd: James Hallam Insurance Brokers Water Complex 

Alternatives for fences 15bcd – all jumped in the opposite direction to the direct route 

Fence 16: British Horse Society Canal Turn 

Fence 17abcde: The Isuzu Challenger 

Alternative for the cd elements – the route involves a 180-degree turn between the two elements 

Fence 18: The Duke’s Table, sponsored by Estribos 

Fence 19abc: The Subaru Quest 

Alternative fence 19c 

Fence 20: Bucas Leap of Faith 

Fence 21: The Flower Meadow Picnic Table with Fortnum & Mason 

Fence 22ab: Horslyx Balancer Offset Brushes 

Fence 23: Suregrow Brush 

Fence 24ab: Karcher Solution 

Fence 25: British Eventing Support Trust Finale 

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

One held at first Blenheim trot-up ahead of a bumper week of eventing action

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

One horse was held at the 2024 Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L first trot-up this afternoon (18 September).

The second of Gubby Leech’s rides in the CCI4*-L, Direct Ballytarsna Ducarel, owned by Penelope and Katie Canbourne, was sent to the holding box, and passed on re-presentation at the Speedi-Beet sponsored Blenheim Horse Trials first trot-up. All 81 horses presented before the CCI4*-L ground jury of Andrew Bennie, Les Smith and Nikki Herbert were accepted to go forward to the first phase, which starts at 10.20am tomorrow (19 September) – the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds dressage starts at 9am tomorrow.

Emorka P, the mount of France’s Alexandra Pierquin, was asked to trot again, then given the nod of approval in front of the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Palace in glorious autumnal sunshine.

Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up: best dressed awards

Hi-Ho Silver sponsored the best dressed awards at the first horse inspection.

New Zealand’s Vicky Browne-Cole was awarded the best dressed female rider prize. Competing in her first CCI4*-L at this week’s event, Vicky wore a white blouse with beige tailored trousers and a matching beige fedora and loafers, completed with gold-rimmed sunglasses. She rides her own 13-year-old grey mare, Cutting Edge, at Blenheim this week.

The best dressed male award went the way of Great Britain’s Tom Crisp. He wore a three-piece suit, with blue jacket and trousers and a tweed waistcoat, brown suede brogues and sunglasses. Tom rides 10-year-old Dassett Rock Star, who is owned by Helen Smith, at Blenheim this year. This duo completed the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds here last year and finished 17th with a clear cross-country round in the CCI4*-L at Bramham this summer.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Organisers of Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials are “delighted” to confirm Agria as the event’s title sponsor.

The insurer has committed to a three-year deal from 2025.

“I have been impressed with Agria’s game-changing policies and how horse owners have embraced Agria and its unique lifetime equine insurance. So we could not be more delighted to welcome the company as our title sponsor next year,” said Katrina Midgley, organiser of Blenheim on behalf of Stable Events. “Agria’s three-year sponsorship commitment demonstrates its strong support for Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and the wider sport of eventing. We look forward to working closely with a partner that has horse welfare at its core.”

The event, which runs this year from 19 to 22 September, features CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds and CCI4*-L classes.

Some 800 grassroots riders will also contest the riding and Pony Club eventer challenges, and the Retraining of Racehorses regional championships.

British Eventing (BE) ran Blenheim Horse Trials until 2020; that December, The Jockey Club was awarded a five-year contract as organisers. The Jockey Club ran it for two years, and current organisers Stable Events took over last year.

Agria UK CEO Vicki Wentworth said: “As a Swedish-born company which insured its first animal, a horse, over 130 years ago, we’re very proud to be joining Blenheim as the title sponsor in what will be the 35th anniversary of its first event.

“We are a company that believes in giving every horse access to the best possible protection and veterinary care, so we’re delighted to be supporting an event which hosts horses ranging from Olympians to family fun horses and former racehorses — and we are already a partner of RoR. We very much look forward to helping Blenheim thrive over the coming years.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the National Dressage Championships, Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Start of new era for Blenheim Horse Trials as British Eventing steps away

‘We have all loved seeing competitors of all levels enjoying their sport, and their owners proud of what they and

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Blenheim Horse Trials is a significant date in the British autumn eventing calendar as it plays host to a prestigious CCI4*-L as well as a CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds, which is a great opportunity to spot some potential five-star heroes of the future. This year’s event takes place on 19-22 September – if you want to attend then book your Blenheim tickets now – but if you aren’t able to attend in person, here’s how to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live.

If you prefer the additional online security offered by a VPN connection, check out the NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, plus a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

Keep up to date with Horse & Hound

Horse & Hound will have a reporter on site at Blenheim from Wednesday onwards, who will be on hand to provide online reports from both classes. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com/XHH-brandsite for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

For detailed analysis of all the action, don’t miss our full Blenheim Horse Trials report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 26 September 2023.

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live

Although there will be no terrestrial TV coverage available from this year’s Blenheim Horse Trials, you can follow all the cross-country and showjumping action on H&C TV+. If you aren’t already signed-up to H&C, either you can take out a 12-month subscription at £74.99 or £7.99 per month, or choose the pay per view/event pass option at £17.99, which gives you 30 days access to the event.

The cross-country is scheduled to start at 11.30am on Saturday 21 September for the CCI4*-L, while you will also be able to watch the showjumping phase for the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds from 7.45am.

On Sunday 22 September, you will be able to watch the final horse inspection, followed by the cross-country phase for the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds and showjumping for the CCI4*-L.

H&C’s coverage of Blenheim will have expert commentary from Nicole Brown and Ben King.

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live with a VPN

While it is not necessary to use a VPN to access Horse & Country’s live stream, if you would like to protect your online viewing from being monitored by third-parties, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you do this. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, such that the servers and services you’re accessing aren’t able to track what you’re doing. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to Horse & Country on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Blenheim Horse Trials, Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

Places to stay near Blenheim so you don’t miss any of the eventing Europeans’ action

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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

Defender Burghley Horse Trials has revealed its charity partner for 2024 as the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

The charity was launched by the late Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir, to fight motor neurone disease. Doddie made 61 international appearances for Scotland on the rugby pitch, and was a keen rider in his youth, eventing on the Scottish circuit. He remained interested in horses throughout his life.

The charity’s plans for Burghley (5–8 September), include a tug of war involving rugby players and event riders.

“Our founder, Doddie Weir, loved his horses and riding was one of his favourite pastimes – although at 6ft 6in, it had to be a big enough horse!” said Paul Thompson, the charity’s director of fundraising and communications.

“This partnership is therefore especially meaningful to both the Weir family and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and we’re excited for it to get under way.”

Badminton final scores

He added: “To be associated with such a prestigious event means a great deal to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and this will make an important impact on our ability to invest in vital motor neurone disease research.”

In an interview with the Scottish Field in 2017, Doddie said: “I’d say most of my rugby skills came from my time with the horses: I had a decent core which allowed me to get plenty of height in the air and manoeuvre during line-outs, and the ability to see ahead when correcting a stride or making a turn mid-air transferred to line-outs too. he explained. “But the bigger picture was learning line-out calls and when you’re used to learning showjumping courses and dressage tests, this was a big influence.”

Burghley event director, Martyn Johnson said the partnership “is fantastic news”.

“We hope to help this very worthy charity, which funds, guides and enables the best research to find a cure for motor neurone disease, to raise both awareness and funds,” he said.

“The celebrity tug of war, ‘Pulling Together For MND’, should be great fun for our weekend spectators and be a real spectacle ahead of the main event cross-country on Saturday morning.”

People will have the option to add a small donation to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation when buying tickets for this year’s event.

Badminton Horse Trials partners with LeMieux for official collection

Mars Badminton Horse Trials has welcomed equestrian clothing and products brand LeMieux as its official equestrian partner.

LeMieux is producing an official Badminton collection, in the blue and gold colours associated with the event, which will include saddle pads, fly hoods, grooming kits, headcollars, lead ropes, base layers, socks and hat silks.

Badminton director Jane Tuckwell said that the five-star is excited to be working with LeMieux on the new range, which “will further broaden our range of merchandise.

LeMieux managing director Dan Mahoney added: “LeMieux’s collaboration with Badminton further solidifies our commitment to providing exceptional equestrian products.

“This partnership not only celebrates the heritage of Badminton but also showcases LeMieux’s dedication to quality and innovation in the equestrian industry.”

Blenheim partners with Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason will be providing picnic hampers for the first time at this year’s Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (19 to 22 September).

Picnics for two will be available to pre-order via the Blenheim box office and can be collected from Fortnum’s Giant Hamper, in the palace grounds.

Harri Le Seelleur French, senior events partnerships manager at Fortnum & Mason said: “Offering our picnic hampers at the horse trials is an exciting opportunity for us. Our penchant for picnics began in the 18th century when the then fledgling company began to supply hunters and travellers with baskets of provisions for their journeys.

“Fortnum’s encourages joyful living, and what could be more joyous than soaking up the action at Blenheim, feasting on a picnic prepared by Fortnum & Mason?”

Event Organiser Katrina Midgley added: “We are delighted that our visitors will get to relish these luxury hampers whilst enjoying everything going on at the horse trials.

“The wonderful fresh ingredients that make up the hamper menus sound fantastic and offer an indulgent experience to those who purchase the hampers.”

New Hickstead sponsor for 2024

The All England Jumping Course has welcomed Equine Giveaways as a new sponsor at Hickstead.

The online equestrian competition website will sponsor the Equine Giveaways Royal International Stakes at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (23 to 28 July).

“For many years now, Hickstead has been one of our favourite venues to visit, so we are absolutely delighted to be able to become a sponsor at the Agria Royal International Horse Show,” said Krystina Tissot, co-founder and co-director of Equine Giveaways. “Teaming up with such a prestigious venue is a very proud moment for ourselves, our fantastic equestrian community and Equine Giveaways as a whole.”

The two companies have also teamed up with Ariat, for a “Hickstead experience” competition.

“We are honoured that a new, forward-thinking company such as Equine Giveaways has chosen to work with us at Hickstead,” said Simon Gaskin, sponsorship and marketing manager for the All England Jumping Course.

“We are very much looking forward to the Equine Giveaways Royal International Stakes, and welcoming the prizewinner of this once-in-a-lifetime competition, which I’m sure will attract lots of interest from equestrians.”

Discover Newmarket signs deal with National Horseracing Museum

Discover Newmarket, the town’s official tourism service, has entered a new partnership with the National Horseracing Museum.

Discover Newmarket will manage visitor services on behalf of the museum, looking after all its commercial aspects including day-to-day management.

Noel Byrne, chief executive of Bedford Lodge Hotel and chair of Discover Newmarket, said: “We have always had an excellent working relationship with the museum and this new agreement builds on the support that we have been providing for the last year.

“Our extended partnership ensures that we work even closer together to attract visitors to our internationally recognised town.