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‘What will selectors be willing to forgive?’ H&H’s eventing expert on what Bramham means for World Championship selection – for Britain and beyond

Pippa Roome — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:40:34 +0000

H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome rounds up what last week’s Yorkshire showcase means for the British and others hoping for a ticket to Aachen

And so, with Defender Bramham Horse Trials over, we take stock again on where we are with regards to eventing World Championship selection.

Let’s start with the easy part. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin’s win in the CCI4*-S surely confirms their place in the British team. They are unbeaten in their four runs this year, two of them at CCI4*-S in competitive company, and those results added to their championship record over the past two years must be enough to put them on the lorry to Aachen.

Beyond that, it’s more complicated and the question for many nations will have to be, “What are selectors willing to forgive?” Few combinations offer perfect form so it’s all about what errors can be overlooked or what known weaknesses they would prefer to take on.

Britain’s Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time were very impressive winning the CCI4*-L. A year ago, their victory gave them a straight path to the Europeans. But from there, it all went pear-shaped, with three falls. Bubby talked brilliantly at Bramham about reassessing, starting training with Andrew Nicholson and putting a new system into action. And she put the talk into action.

One good result doesn’t wipe out past problems. The selectors will have to decide if that’s really behind this pair and if they’re willing for the World Championships to be the next testing ground for that.

Bubby and “Finn” offer the ability to win an individual medal on their best form and that has to be attractive. The selection policy says places “may be used to provide championship experience”, which plays in their favour – both horse and rider are young and Bubby is a serious, well-supported professional with more young horses coming through and potentially decades of British team service ahead of her.

My hunch? I think Bubby has a real chance of a spot.

I don’t think CCI4*-L runner-up Selina Milnes is in the running; she is not on the World Class programme and, while she and Cooley Snapchat have had other good results, they don’t have a consistent body of form.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir, who were fifth? I think the 10-year-old mare is quite likely Yasmin’s next British team horse – and her great first-phase performance would be valuable at a championship – but I also think she’s still inexperienced and her few time-faults and single fence down at Bramham confirm that. They may well be among the nominated entries (nations can submit up to 15 at this first entry stage) but I don’t think they’ll be selected.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

I didn’t mention Katie Magee, fifth at Badminton on Treworra, in my last selection piece and perhaps I should have. That result has to put her somewhere on the British selection radar, but she isn’t on the World Class programme and, much as eventing is a sport where athletes have longevity, as a rider who has come to five-star later (she’s 44), it’s harder to reconcile a rider with Katie’s profile with the “experience for the future” aspect of selection. Her seventh at Bramham on the beautiful Cushlas Indigo adds weight to Katie as a true top-level rider, but I don’t think she’s going to Aachen.

Ultimately, the Brits are lucky – there were no serious disappointments at Bramham from those in the running and with those who have played their hand already this spring, those who were at Bramham and Caroline Harris at Luhmühlen Horse Trials this week with D. Day, they are probably spoilt for choice.

If I’m forced to choose, I think the British squad will be Laura Collett (London 52), Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), Gemma Stevens (Flash Cooley) and Bubby Upton (Its Cooley Time), with Tom Jackson (United 36) and Harry Meade (Annaghmore Valoner) as first reserves.

Eventing World Championship selection: beyond the Brits

Bramham was more interesting for some other nations.

For Ireland, Aoife Clark was extremely impressive with her dressage score finish for fourth in the CCI4*-L on Full Monty De Lacense. They were a relatively new combination when they fell at the Europeans last year and this puts that firmly behind them.

Joseph Murphy has had three years away from the team scene, but Calmaro was 12th last time he made a squad appearance (2023 Europeans) and eighth in the huge CCI4*-S at Bramham must give him a chance.

Also for Ireland, Susie Berry looks to be building a good partnership with new ride Strangford (14th in the CCI4*-S) and Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (17th in the CCI4*-S without being foot to the floor) consolidated their European team silver last year.

A run-out at the influential Defender combination for MGH Zabaione, the 2024 Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old champion, will have been frustrating for Padraig McCarthy. Would selectors prefer to take him on Pomp N Circumstance – who led last year’s team silver but had 20 jumping penalties across country at Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring – or will they pass him by completely?

New Zealand mixed good results – second in the CCI4*-S for Samantha Lissington, who bids for her championship debut on Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, and fifth for Jonelle Price, who surely confirmed her spot with Millstreet CCI4*-S winner Senor Crocodillo – with the curveball of a dressage lead but cross-country run-out for Jesse Campbell and Speedwell. Again, what will selectors forgive?

For the USA, Tamie Smith was well up after dressage in the CCI4*-S on Lillet 3, Kentucky winner at the same level, but misjudged her line to a corner and fell across country. Can the selectors look past that? Maybe. None of the USA’s developing riders were outstanding at Bramham to elbow her out and Wiltshire-based Tiana Coudray, third in the CCI4*-L on D’Artagnan, hasn’t been to a championship since London 2012 and isn’t part of their performance structure.

Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan claim third in the CCI4*-L at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

What’s next on eventing World Championship selection? Nations have to put in their nominated entries – up to 15 combinations – by 6 July and then their definite entries (the actual squad, bar injury or illness) by 27 July. While we expect some nations to announce squads before that deadline, there’s another month of speculation ahead…

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‘Without the metal in my back, I was never meant to be able to function’: quote of the day from Bramham winner Bubby Upton on the pilates, surgery and drive that have taken her to the top

Pippa Roome — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:27:47 +0000

British five-star event rider Bubby Upton suffered serious spinal injuries in a fall in August 2023, an accident which could have left her unable to ride or even walk, and she had her third back surgery as a result last autumn.

Still only 27 years old, she has made an incredible comeback to the top-level of eventing – but few people see what goes into keeping her body functioning to allow her continued success.

During Defender Bramham Horse Trials last week, where Bubby Upton won the CCI4*-L for the second year in a row, she talked about having a third back surgery in November last year.

“The rod in my back had snapped in half in July,” she said, adding this didn’t make the second half of the season easy. “But it was almost a relief finding that out, because we couldn’t get on top of the pain and the symptoms that I was struggling with for a long time and that explained them.

“I’m so grateful to my incredible surgeon Dr Ivan Timofeev, who’s done all three surgeries. We didn’t actually want to do this surgery, but we weren’t left with a choice, because that was two consecutive years where the rod had snapped in half, despite having shortened it for the second year, because of just the sheer force that goes through it, I guess, with what we do as event riders.

“I basically don’t have the structures any more to hold up my spinal column – without the metal, I was never meant to be able to function. So we’re now relying on full muscle strength. So it’s pilates and the gym to focus in on those muscles that will hopefully allow me to do this for longer.”

Bubby’s surgery at the end of 2024 – her comeback season – set her well back and necessitated a long recovery period. This time, the surgery was quickly a positive for her.

“I have genuinely felt like a new person since my last surgery,” she said. “I feel nearly back to the Bubby that I was pre-accident. I’m now riding nine, 10, 11 horses a day, pain-free, and it’s the first time in two-and-a-half years that I’m on no painkillers, so it’s amazing.”

Bubby Upton on her recovery: the mental game

Unsurprisingly, talking about her accident and comeback is emotional for Bubby.

“It’s been a hell of a journey,” she said. “The horses are what got me through it. There was a long period where riding was out the picture, we were focusing on walking again and getting basic life back, but I guess probably subconsciously I never lost hope and faith in getting back on a horse again and that gave me more strength than I can ever do justice to in words.

“I never thought I’d be back competing at the top of the sport and I’d accepted that, but riding again was enough for me at that point. And then I guess when I got back on the goalposts just kept moving and before I knew it, I was starting the season at Poplar Park, and then I was back at Badminton eight months after the accident.

“It was just truly the most humbling experience of my life. It put everything into perspective, or a totally different perspective. How I see things now is totally different. I always thought I was pretty tough and strong, but you realise what you’re capable of in those moments when you’ve got to fight that extra bit.”

Bubby Upton at home with her double Bramham winner Its Cooley Time. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Boots and Hooves)

The fact the injury happened in a freak accident away from a competition has helped Bubby mentally with getting back to eventing.

“If it had been competing, it probably would have been a totally different challenge to overcome, but I was able to separate it from the sport in terms of the competing,” she said.

“I’m nowhere near as brave on young ones as I used to be anymore. I used to get on any horse and think that I was pretty invincible, which I proved I am not, so I’m much more careful on quirky youngsters now, but apart from that, it hasn’t affected me at all.

“It’s just demonstrated to me that inner strength that I have and reaffirmed – not that I needed it reaffirmed – the love that I have for what I do.”

Bubby also talked about how her horses helped her when she was first home after her accident.

“When I came to see them in my electric scooter, they were just so gentle with me. They kind of balanced their heads on me and I just felt like they knew and they were just that crutch that I needed at that time,” she said.

“Just seeing them gave me that strength to fight and be back for them. Horses are just there for you whenever you need them and they’re not judgmental and are loyal as hell.”

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‘I never lost faith in him’: emotional Bubby Upton keeps her Bramham title after turbulent year

Pippa Roome — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:28:40 +0000

Bubby Upton topped the Defender Bramham Horse Trials results in the CCI4*-L class this afternoon (14 June), making an emotional return to form with Its Cooley Time after a series of falls since the pair won this class last year.

“I won this last year and subconsciously thought the world was my oyster, but I really believe and hope that now it is,” said Bubby.

She continued, tearfully: “I’ve never lost faith or belief in him, it was just a question of tweaking a few tiny little things and not losing faith in the fact that so much of it was so good.

“When a few times on the bounce, it goes wrong, it’s quite easy to lose faith in the whole system. Thank God I’m surrounded by such amazing people. We just made a few small tweaks here and there and I really feel like this past year has been the making of us.”

Bubby and the 11-year-old grey, owned by his rider, Susan de Zulueta, Hilary Russell, the Duchess of Norfolk, Jane Dear and Susie Holland-Bosworth, had just 0.9 of a penalty in hand when they went in to showjump today but put in a very assured clear in the time.

“Like I’ve said before, what a freak. He jumps like a jumper, goes across country like a point-to- pointer and flicks his toes like a dressage horse. You can’t really ask for more.

“As I’ve also said before, the line is thin with him [because he is such sensitive horse so things can easily go wrong], but I genuinely wouldn’t want to be sat on another horse coming to the last day – maybe apart from Cannavaro,” said Bubby, referring to her 2021 under-25 national champion.

“The pair of them are just extraordinary and they make my job so easy, so it’s a pure joy and privilege to go in with that pressure on a horse like him.”

Bramham Horse Trials results: clears on the podium

Selina Milnes and Cooley Snapchat at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Selina Milnes also showjumped clear to keep second, with just 0.8 of a time-penalty, on the Ruckers’ Cooley Snapchat.

“He is a really good jumper — he’s only ever had one rail at a long format, at Pau last year – so I was quite confident going in,” she said.

The more dramatic part of the day for Selina was the final horse inspection. She and her team trotted the horse up last night and he was fine, but this morning after she had ridden him – and with her farrier brother Greig and vet husband Scott having left – he suddenly went lame.

“I think he literally just stood on a stone and there were no farriers here, but we grabbed Rich Taylor, who’s from our area, from the coffee queue to help us get the shoe off. He had some bruising on the inside of his heel and they padded it all out and he’s good now,” she said.

The horse had the shoe off and back on within an hour before the trot-up and was sent to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection.

Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan take third at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray put in a fault-free round, just three seconds over the time, to move up from fourth to third with Annabelle James, Kyrle Arscot and her own 12-year-old grey D’Artagnan.

Tiana said: “He’s the most gorgeous animal through and through. Like all of mine, we picked him up through Facebook and didn’t know what he was going to be. He was a big, weak baby – rising eight but he had done very, very little, and he’s just been the most incredible horse.

“His temperament is unmatched. He’s got a heart the size of the world and if he ever makes a mistake, it’s only because he didn’t know the answer. He’s so honest and so, so generous. This spring, the strength is coming and the trajectory he’s been on has been stratospheric.

“He was amazing three weeks ago at Belsay, which is the first time we’ve really felt the pieces were all starting to be there. Anything could have happened this week, but I’ve got so much faith in him, I know he’s going to give me absolutely everything he can and because his body’s stronger now, he can just give me so much more.”

Yasmin Ingham dropped two places in the Bramham Horse Trials results, finishing fifth on Gypsie Du Loir, who knocked the second part of the double at six with her hind legs. Four faults for Katie Magee and Cushlas Indigo also cost them two spots and they wound up seventh.

Clears elevated Tom McEwen and Quintus from ninth to sixth and Ireland’s Aoife Clark and Full Monty De Lacense from eighth to fourth, the only pair to finish on their dressage score.

“I took over the ride in March last year and he is very, very sensitive horse – he’s so kind and gentle and genuine, but he is a real worrier and that’s partly why I’ve got him, because Jonelle Price thought he would be better suited to smaller yard,” said Aoife, who was on the silver medal-winning team at last year’s Europeans with the horse but had a fall across country.

“This week is the most together we’ve felt. He really suits me, because he’s all blood, he’s so fast-thinking and agile, but it takes a bit of time to cement a partnership. I think the winter was important – we just did loads of hacking and a winter of me just being his human and him settling into his work was key.”

Lizzie Baugh finished eighth on Piltown Concorde, Alex Bragg ninth on Jaeger Master – a horse he has worked hard on to change his balance and way of going – and Yasmin Ingham had another horse in the top 10 with Goliath Du Loir landing 10th.

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‘The track was challenging enough without that curve ball’: Bubby Upton holds Bramham lead despite tack malfunction

Pippa Roome — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:23:34 +0000

Bubby Upton has retained her dressage lead in the CCI4*-L after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials cross-country action today (13 June).

Defending champions Bubby and Its Cooley Time – owned by his rider, Susan de Zulueta, Hilary Russell, the Duchess of Norfolk, Jane Dear and Susie Holland-Bosworth – had 3.6 time-faults. But Bubby punched the air as she crossed the finishing line, consolidating her comeback to form with this grey after three falls in the past year.

Bubby Upton had to contend with her martingale breaking at fence three on the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course, not ideal as “Finn” naturally has a very high head carriage. On a galloping stretch between fences she managed to lean down and grab the loose part and tie it around her breastplate so at least it wasn’t flapping between the horse’s legs.

“He’s not the easiest horse to ride cross-country on a normal day and the martingale is a pretty key piece of equipment for him, just keeping his head a bit lower, otherwise it is quite literally in my face, and he’s not really looking at what’s going on in front of him,” said Bubby.

“The track alone was challenging enough, without that extra curve ball thrown in. I didn’t realise for a bit what had happened but his head position was constantly changing – it was like having a completely different horse under me.

“I had to take extra time at everything, but even if I wasn’t able to put him on perfect lines, thank God he oozes talent as that got us out of a few situations today. I can’t fault him in terms of his talent, his mentality. He just never gives up – he’s such a fighter.”

Bubby sits just 0.1 of a penalty ahead of Selina Milnes and the Ruckers’ Cooley Snapchat, whose clear inside the time today moved them up from fifth after dressage to second overnight.

“I didn’t know how fit he was as I haven’t had a run since the start of May, but the girls at home have done an amazing job,” said Selina, who is coming back from breaking her ribs just before the start of the season and then triggering them again a second time the Monday after Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

“He’s been here twice before so we know he does cope with the hills and he was gunning the whole way round. He didn’t miss a beat,” she added.

A fault-free round also meant a rise of three places for the 2024 Badminton winners, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier.

“She is opinionated, but she has dropped the bridle a bit this year, which makes it easier for me,” said Caroline.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir recorded 5.6 time-faults, which dropped them from second after dressage to fourth, while 3.2 time-penalties meant Wiltshire-based US combination Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan slipped just one spot to fifth.

Katie Magee was the first of four to make the time today, on British intermediate champion Cushlas Indigo, and was rewarded with a rise from equal 13th to sixth.

New-look Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course

It was a pity that those watching on screens were unable to get a full view of how course-designer Andrew Heffernan’s reworked cross-country track rode, because the coverage of this class was sparse, with a very limited number of fences shown due to technical issues.

However, from what could be gleaned, the course appeared to work out well in general, with a good spread of problems and positive reactions from riders.

“It was a bit different to ride compared to the last 30 years that I’ve been coming here, but I think Andy builds amazing tracks – the fences had beautiful profiles and the horses can read the questions,” said Caroline Powell.

The Defender combination at fences 5ab and six, a narrow brush oxer followed by a right-hand turn to two angled brush shoulders, was the first influential fence. The fact horses ran into the intense section of the course in the park bowl, where most of the crowds gather, early on the new route was perhaps a factor here.

This early problem was soon followed by the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond (fence 7abc and 8ab), which consisted of a log bounce in, then a skinny box hedge in the water and a step to bird bounce out.

MCS Maverick, third after dressage with Piggy March, ran too free here and ended up on an awkward stride at the step, stumbling up it and stopping at the bird.

The usually strong cross-country combination of Isabelle Cook and Cymoon “F” Z also came unstuck here when they were a long way off the skinny in the water and the horse floundered on landing, resulting in a fall for the promising young rider.

Fence 16ab, the Coopers Marquees Corners – two open right-handed corners around a blind left-hand bend – also caused their fair share of penalties. Gemma Stevens and Chilli King, who had been 10th after dressage, were among those who faulted here.

The second element of the straight route through the water at fence 18abc, the triple brush arrowhead, was taken out of the course two-thirds of the way through the competition for safety reasons, because the ground on take-off was degrading. Those who had jumped the fence before it was removed from the course all had their time reduced by two seconds (so 0.8 of a time-penalty was taken off their initial score).

Ibble Watson and Aristoteles S J, eighth following the first phase, had three run-outs at this fence before it was taken out and Daisy Berkeley retired in this area after 20 penalties at the second pond, at 19ab, with Diese Du Figuier, who had been seventh after dressage.

Four combinations came home inside the 10min 2sec optimum time – Katie Magee (Cushlas Indigo, sixth), Selina Milnes (Cooley Snapchat, second), Caroline Powell (Greenacres Special Cavalier, third) and Aoife Clark (Full Monty De Lacense, ninth).

“I’m satisfied, but not over the moon,” summed up course-designer Andrew Heffernan.

Andrew said he thought the new route basically worked and explained he wanted to eliminate the downhill start, which has contributed to some early falls here, and take out the pull to the finish so the track was less punishing on the run home.

“The idea of this event is to get horses ready for five-star and the good rounds were very good. I will tweak it for next year – I thought it could be more flowing.”

Andy said it was a positive that fewer horses made the time this year than last – “it made it more of a competition” – but that while the track had been on the soft side last year, this year it was a little too strong.

Fifty went to post in the CCI4*-L today, with 34 (68%) finishing and 25 (50%) jumping clears.

Sadly, Charlie Foxtrot, owned by Michael and Sophie Payne and ridden by David Doel, suffered a “fatal cardiovascular catastrophe” around fence 22.

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Bramham leader Bubby Upton on today’s test, her new cross-country system after recent falls and her latest back surgery

Pippa Roome — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:08:54 +0000

Bubby Upton has set herself up to defend her CCI4*-L title by taking the lead in the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage this afternoon (12 June).

Bubby and the athletic grey Its Cooley Time punched in a mark of 24.2, topped by a 10 from Swedish ground jury president Christina Klingspor at C for her final centre line and halt.

“I think I had him in the best place I’ve ever had him in before a test,” Bubby Upton told H&H after her Bramham Horse Trials dressage. “I made a mistake in my test at Kronenberg and at Belsay, so I was determined not to do that today.

“He’s an unbelievable horse in all three phases and it really is just about making sure that I have him in the right place because he is so sharp and so sensitive, so the line is very thin between unbelievable and not so good, but I was thrilled with how he performed in there.

“Something crashed in the middle of my test because I heard a huge racket and in my last half-pass, I could feel him try to blow underneath me, and I was like, ‘No, we’ve literally got three more movements to go.’

“So the last two movements sadly were a bit disrupted by that, because he just lifted up in his frame and became quite tense, but we managed to navigate our way through them, as opposed to riding it like the rest of the test felt like I could, but he did absolutely nothing wrong. He was pretty much perfection today.”

Bubby Upton: “We’ve gone back to the drawing board”

Bubby has not had an easy ride with the 11-year-old – who belongs to his rider, Susan de Zulueta, Hilary Russell, the Duchess of Norfolk, Jane Dear and Susie Holland-Bosworth – since their win here last year; they had falls at the European Championships and Pau last autumn and Kronenberg in March.

Bubby explained: “I described him last year here as a freak of nature and he really is that, but now he’s so much more experienced, what used to back him off in terms of greenness doesn’t any more. So that’s run me into trouble in the past. I have ridden him too generically, like my other horses, which has created mistakes on my part.”

After Kronenberg, Bubby started training with Andrew Nicholson.

She said. “The mistakes I had at the end of last year were me finding out things with him – like at the end of a five-star, he still had as much reaction and engine as at the start and I’d never had a horse like that before, so that was me learning on the job. Kronenberg was disappointing because it was more a flaw in my system.

“We’ve gone back to the drawing board, stripped everything back and adapted my system because he’s like no other horse in the world in the way he goes – he’s a complete freak in terms of his talent but he’s also really sensitive, with an unbelievably high head carriage.

“I put the new system into action at Belsay and training before here, so I’m really confident with what I need to do – now I’ve just got to go and do it.”

How a third back surgery has helped

Bubby suffered serious spinal injuries in a fall in August 2023 and had her third surgery as a result in November last year, because the rod in her back had snapped in half in July.

“It was almost a relief finding that out because we couldn’t get on top of the pain and the symptoms I was struggling with and that explained why,” she said.

“So I have genuinely felt like a new person since my last surgery – I feel nearly back to the Bubby that I was pre-accident. I’m now riding nine, 10, 11 horses a day, pain-free, and it’s the first time in two and a half years that I’m on no painkillers. As always, I’m so grateful to my incredible surgeon, Dr Ivan Timofeev.”

Bubby no longer has the structures in her back that would usually hold up the spinal column.

“Without the metal, I was never meant to be able to function, so we’re now relying on muscle strength, so in Pilates and the gym, I’m just really focusing on the muscles that will hopefully allow me to do this for longer,” she said.

Bubby has 0.6 of a penalty lead over Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir, with yesterday’s leader Piggy March and MCS Maverick in third.

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‘It’s mean to make us jump that ditch five times!’ Gemma Stevens, Harry Meade and Bubby Upton react to Badminton cross-country course

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:57:27 +0000

Fair distances but “mean” to make us jump that ditch five times – that was Gemma Stevens’ assessment of Eric Winter’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for this year’s competition.

The course comprises 32 numbered fences, with an optimum time of 11min 30sec.

“I think it’s a really fair course. I think he’s set fantastic distances, which I really like – I like it when designers don’t try and trick you,” said Gemma.

“You’ve got to be on your A game from number one to very last fence. There’s not really a let up anywhere. He’s making us jump the Vicarage Ditch five times – I feel like that’s quite mean, it’s scary enough just once.”

Badminton final scores

The Vicarage Oxer at fence 16 is another of the times horses and riders cross the Vicarage Ditch. (Image credit: Lucy Elder)

Gemma added: “It’s going to be that typical five-star cumulative effect of the whole round. I don’t think you can pick out one particular fence. As riders, we’ve got to be accurate, we’ve got to look after our horses, and we’ve got to balance them and make sure they’re confident.”

Georgie Goss was another to mention the area around the Vicarage Ditch, saying: “I’d say 80% of the course looks really nice and the other 20% looks really horrible.

“I think the Vicarage line is always a rider frightener, but my bogey fence at the moment is the ditch to the rail [Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard at 22ab]. I did that a couple years ago when it was a ditch to the log and it never rode that well. But hopefully the more I walk, the smaller it’ll get.”

Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab) on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for 2026. Credit Lucy Elder (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry Meade said after his first dressage test that he’d only had an initial look round in the dark last night, but he felt the route was slightly different from the horse’s point of view.

He said: “It covers the same ground, but actually for the flow of the horses, the intensity and the breathing gaps are slightly different. I didn’t think there was anything that was overly problematic, but I’ll have a better look this afternoon.”

Bubby Upton said she prefers the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course running this way round – anti-clockwise.

“Of course it’s massive and really difficult, but I think for my horse Cola, it will be a nicer way around for him,” she said, adding that the five-star stalwart doesn’t have a lot of thoroughbred blood (48%).

“I felt last year when we got through the Mayston Equestrian Hollow [fence 26abc this year] that he had done a huge effort and then I was like, ‘Oh my god, we’ve still got so much left to do.’ Whereas I hope this year we’ll jump that fence and feel like I can then ease him back a little bit more to get home.”

Kylie Roddy also said the track is more horse-friendly and has more flow than sometimes.

“It looks like the horses can see what they’re about to jump,” she said. “Sometimes it can be a bit blind and a bit bouncy off the trees, whereas I think they have found better flow for the ponies.”

The Spillers Sustainability Bay at fences 20abcd on the Badminton 2026 cross-country track. (Image credit: Lucy Elder)

Simon Grieve said he’d “be a bit disappointed” if the course wasn’t big, bold and quite scary.

He said: “I think the Mars Lake [fences 9ab and 10ab] is pretty serious and I just can’t ever get away from the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee [fence 25ab]. And the water at the top [Spillers Sustainability Bay – fence 20abcd] as well is very technical. It’s one big fence after another, and that’s what makes it such a challenge.”

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‘He has such natural presence’: Bubby Upton leads Badminton dressage with sub-30 test

Oscar Williams — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:59:56 +0000

Bubby Upton has gone into the lead after the second morning session on the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage (Thursday 7 May).

Riding Cola, the 16-year-old gelding who has carried her from two young rider medals to a fifth consecutive Badminton, the pair were favourites to produce one of the best tests of the day.

They delivered a confident performance, only marred by some tightness behind in the changes, finishing on 29.8 penalties – a little below their six-test average.

“He was on the edge, how he’s been a bit all year, to be honest,” Bubby said. “A bit between fresh and too fresh.”

Badminton final scores

Bubby continued: “I wouldn’t say it was a perfectly polished test, but he’s more established at the level now, and he’s such a beautiful horse; he has such natural presence anyway.”

Cola, who is forever changing as he gets older, is now producing his best work, but warms up for just 15 minutes.

“I actually felt today I probably needed five minutes more,” she added. “We went in a little on eggshells and I rode my first couple of movements very quietly, just to ease him into it.

“Then he felt like he got into the groove, particularly after the walk – he really relaxed in the walk, and then the canter was very good.”

Sarah Bullimore “disappointed” after Badminton dressage

Sarah Bullimore with the talented 10-year-old Corimiro, who is out of Sarah’s championship mare Lilly Corinne, were next to go, and another combination expected to challenge the top of the leaderboard.

However, a mistake in the medium canter and subsequent change, knocked their score to 32.1 penalties.

“I’m disappointed – I feel I let him down,” Sarah said. “The trot work was lovely, but his changes are normally beautiful, and they just weren’t quite on the button today.”

Corimiro is contesting his first Badminton, and Sarah felt the atmosphere had got the better of him.

“We forget he is only 10, and it’s his first Badminton,” she said. “He’s seen some big atmospheres, but nothing like this. You can’t replicate it – it’s another step up.

“But he loves the crowd. When we came out, we stopped at A where everybody was applauding and he just stood there and went, ‘Oh, for me, all for me’ – he does love it. Perhaps he loved it a little bit too much, and we just weren’t quite on the same wave for the changes.”

Sarah hasn’t yet walked the cross-country course – “It all gets quite hectic” – but has the rest of the day and Friday to do so.

Georgie Goss and Feloupe split the British pair, sitting second after the second session on 30.8, with Sarah and Corimiro third on 32.1, and Tom Jackson and United 36 fourth on 32.2.

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‘Thank you for everything’: five-star horse retires aged 19

Becky Murray — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:31:56 +0000

Five-star event rider Bubby Upton has confirmed the retirement of her long-term partner and under-25 national champion Cannavaro.

The KWPN gelding, owned by Bubby’s mum Rachel, has bowed out aged 19.

“The event seasons will look slightly different from now on due to the absence of Cannavaro. Happy retirement my boy,” said Bubby.

“For ever a team favourite and for ever a champ in our eyes.”

Cannavaro was a former showjumper, whose first season of eventing was 2016 with previous owner Lucy Morgan. Bubby took on the ride in 2017, competing in junior and then young rider classes; the pair finished the 2018 season third at their first advanced, at Little Downham.

The following year Bubby and Cannavaro made their CCI4*-S debut at Burgham, finishing 12th. In the summer of 2021 they won the under-25 CCI4*-L at Bicton then in September won the Little Downham CCI4*-S. That autumn they made their five-star debut at Pau, but pulled up across country; on their return the following year they finished sixth.

“A multiple CCI4* winner, top 10 at CCI5*, twice CCI5* leader after dressage, U25 champion, shortlisted for senior championships, selected for junior and young rider European Championships,” said Bubby.

“But his greatest accolade of all, and what I will for ever remember him for and be eternally grateful for, is his heart of gold and his relentless inner fight for me. Time and time again this enabled him to achieve things and exceed expectations beyond what I ever thought was possible.”

Cannavaro missed the 2024 season to injury, but made his comeback in 2025. The pair were part of the Nations Cup squad at Aachen, helping Britain to third. Their last competition was at Pau in October, where they were lying second after cross-country, but withdrew at the final trot-up.

“Thank you for everything, Joey,” said Bubby.

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Two horses not accepted at Pau’s final trot-up, including trophy contender

Martha Terry — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:47:14 +0000

The dressage leader Cannavaro is out of Pau Horse Trials, after Bubby Upton elected to withdraw him from the hold box at the final trot-up at Pau Horse Trials. The 18-year-old was lying second after cross-country after clocking 4.8 time-faults, just 0.4 of a penalty adrift of top spot.

Grace Cooper’s ride, Cedarmount Cavalier, 42nd after cross-country after one run-out, was also held and withdrawn. Selina Milnes’ Cooley Snapchat (31st overnight, also incurring 20 penalties) was the third of three horses sent to the holding box, but passed on reinspection.

Forty-one horses came before the ground jury for the final trot-up at Pau Horse Trials, after two New Zealand horses – Hiarado, ridden by Jonelle Price, and Abigail Long’s mare Henton Audacious – did not present. Hiarado had been the best placed of Jonelle’s three rides after all logged cross-country clears, in 17th.

Abigail and Henton Audacious’s (Daphnee) impressive five-star debut might have come to an end, but they have certainly caught the eye. They were the surprise stars of the dressage phase, finishing fifth, and completed a clear but steady round cross-country to lie 21st.

Abigail posted on her Instagram: “Unfortunately Daphnee’s time at Pau has come to an end… she wasn’t quite right this morning and so we have pulled her before trot up. Her health and well being comes first and we will be back to fight another day.

“She has exceeded all expectations this week and to come out at your first 5* and get a PB on the flat and to boss it around the XC!!! I couldn’t have asked for more from her. She has proven she is capable of competing against the world’s best and we will be back to do it again.”

There were 43 horses left in the competition after the cross-country phase on Saturday evening from the 53 starters. There were eight eliminations – two for accumulated refusals, five rider falls and one horse fall – and two retirements.

This leaves a field of 39 to tackle the Pau showjumping track, designed this year by Yann Royant, which has historically been influential.

The new top three are currently Sarah Bullimore, aboard Corimiro, 0.9 of a penalty ahead of Tim Price on Jarillo. France’s Benjamin Massie lies in third on Filao De Perle, on the same score of 31.2 as his compatriot Astier Nicolas on Dirty Old Town. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed have now moved up to fifth, only 2.4 behind the leader.

Just one rail covers the top 10, so expect a shake-up with even time-faults proving costly.

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Update on fallers and disappointments from Pau Horse Trials, including Bubby Upton and Oliver Townend

Martha Terry — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:13:45 +0000

Although 60% of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country field went clear, there were a few falls and plenty of hard-luck stories, without any major injuries reported on Saturday evening (25 October). While six horses did go inside the time, there were a number of well-placed individuals who could have slotted into a podium position ahead of showjumping, but dropped out of contention.

The first significant upset was Bubby Upton’s first ride Cola, a five-star stalwart who was lying close-up in 12th after dressage on 30.3. He was storming round when he misjudged the final element of a three-part combination, four fences from home. This complex featured a house on top of a mound, curving round to the right over two more houses on forward distances, with the camber pulling horses away to the left.

Cola, owned by Rachel Upton, was a bit long at the final element and dived over it, tipping Bubby on to the turf.

“He was giving me a classic Cola ride, making it feel pretty easy on a not-easy course,” said Bubby. “He was well up on the time, so for him to fall, when he was just trying to help me, felt really tough to take as he did not deserve that. When I jumped clear on Cannavaro, I felt it was all thanks to Cola because he gave me so much belief and information.

“Cola was flying round, so it was really unfair, but he’s absolutely fine, which is a relief. It’s frustrating that he had to do a whole round on 15-year-old legs not to have a score on the board, but hopefully we can come back next year and put it right.”

Bubby’s spirits were briefly lifted by Cannavaro’s superlative clear, which would secure second place, but fell off again at the same fence on her third ride Its Cooley Time, owned by the Five Time Syndicate, who had been lying sixth on 28.5. She was unbalanced over the middle element and thrown out of the saddle, and although the grey tried to scrabble over the final part, Bubby had no chance of staying on.

“I’m not sure how I could have ridden Cola any differently at the fence he fell at, whereas my last horse I let him down,” Bubby said. “I made a mistake and rode him too much like he was Cannavaro and didn’t trust the engine that I still had underneath me. He made up too much ground and got underneath the b/c element and still tried to jump the d element even though I was around his neck. I’m gutted for him because he should be jumping for the win tomorrow but I have no doubt he will have his day.”

Emily King was the only other rider to fault at this combination, when her first horse – five-star debutant Jackpot – stopped at the second house in an otherwise decent round.

However, Emily later had a freak fall at fence two from Valmy Biats – who had been in a very competitive position in eighth after dressage on 29 – when the horse seemed to catch a leg on the table. Both horse and rider were back on their feet, with Valmy galloping off as though he was expecting to have to do the course on his own.

Emily’s was one of five rider falls, but all walked away. Alex Bragg’s Ardeo Premier was the only horse fall, at fence 24. This was an angled brush a stride after coming up a step out of the final water. Happily, both horse and rider are fine.

“He had a moment of hesitation and the timing of the jump was wrong,” said Alex. “Such a shame but we live to fight another day.”

Disappointment for Townend and McEwen

The two pairs tying for second after dressage, on 26.1, Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class) and Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality), both faltered at exactly the same fence, having been clear up to that point. Brookfield Quality broke the frangible pin at the corner in the third water at 21, then ran out at the final triple brush. After jumping the alternative, Tom put his hand up to retire the 16-year-old (owned by John and Chloe Perry, and Alison Swinburn).

Tom put on his Facebook page: “Knowing how competitive and genuine he is and with him being that bit older, I decided to just pop through quietly and then save him for another day. Of course, it’s a real shame when things don’t go quite to plan, but he is happy and well which is the most important thing. He’s had a great season and will now enjoy a very well-deserved holiday.”

Towards the end of the afternoon, it was Oliver’s turn to shake up the leaderboard. By that stage, Brookfield Quality was out of the running and the dressage leader Cannavaro had added 4.8 time-faults, so a decent time would be sufficient to take over top spot.

However, Ballaghmor Class also clattered the frangible corner, and although he continued to complete with just 1.2 time-faults, the 11 penalties of damage was done.

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class jump into the water at fence 21. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Oliver was philosophical afterwards, despite his grand old campaigner losing his 100% clear record at five-star stretching back to 2017.

“He doesn’t know he’s had a pin,” said Oliver of the 18-year-old, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. “He’s gone through all the flags at every five-star I’ve ever asked him. It’s just sad for him to have this pin on his record, but he is a legend, one of the best cross-country horses there will ever be. I am so proud of him.

“He was so honest and made it all feel so easy,” Oliver continued. “He was keen and making all the distances so easily and so when I said ‘whoa’ for the three strides in that water [before the corner], he was actually polite, finally, and came back to me, so I ended up miles off the corner.”

This combination was particularly influential, although errors came all over the track. French rider Sebastian Cavaillon produced one of the five rider falls over the Pau Horse Trials cross-country when Black Pearl Z scrambled over the corner, while Lithuanian Aistis Vitkauskas broke the frangible in what was otherwise an impressive round for just 2.4 time-faults.

Kylie Roddy (SRS Kan Do), Grace Cooper (Cedarmount Cavalier), Mary Edmondson (Lionel II), Tiana Coudray (D’Artagnan) and Kevin McNab (Faro Imp) also incurred penalties here, at the final triple brush element.

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‘He said, “hold my beer Mum, I’ve got this”’: five-star newcomer scorches round Pau cross-country to lead despite malfunctioning stopwatch

Martha Terry — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:18:39 +0000

Corimiro, a nine-year-old on his first attempt at five-star, coasted into the lead in the Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase. Ridden by Sarah Bullimore, the chestnut breezed round an influential track 11sec inside the time to move up from 11th after dressage to top spot to set up a tantalising showdown in the final phase. The top 10 are covered by just one rail.

At 10min 55sec, Corimiro – owned by Brett Bullimore, Bruce Saint, Christopher and Susan Gillespie – clocked the second-fastest round of the day over Pierre Michelet’s influential track.

Remarkably, Sarah’s stopwatch malfunctioned before halfway, meaning she rode on feel alone.

“I just let him travel and he’s got such a phenomenal stride,” said Sarah, who rode Corimiro’s mother Lilly Corinne to finish 13th at Pau in 2017, the year after her son was born.

“He’s only nine, so I wasn’t riding him specifically to make the time, just travelling comfortably. When he finished, he was saying ‘where next, where next?’ I had to say, ‘you’ve finished, whoa!’ He felt like he could go round again.

“He was unreal. The only place I changed my plan was to hold for four strides in a couple of the distances after watching everyone this morning, so I had to make sure I got him back, and he was quite strong. It’s like he said, ‘Alright Mum, I can see it, hold my beer!’.”

The overnight dressage leaders, Bubby Upton and Cannavaro, held on to a podium spot in second after adding 4.8 time-faults to sit just 0.4 of a penalty adrift of Corimiro.

Pau is the 18-year-old Cannavaro’s first five-star since finishing sixth here three years ago, and boosted Bubby’s spirits after falls on both her other two rides, Cola and Its Cooley Time.

“To be out of the sport for two and a half years, and to come back and do that at 18 years old, with about 20% thoroughbred – it’s all down to his heart and the trust he has in me,” said Bubby of Cannavaro, owned by her mum Rachel. “There is no other reason why he should do that; he dug so deep, he was just extraordinary.

“He owes me nothing, and I was only going to do this if he felt up for it. But he just loves his job so much – it means the world to me. It’s why we put in the hours and why I spend the time with them, and give them all the love and trust, because of the rewards of days like today.”

Dressage leaders Bubby Upton and Cannavaro at the “Oops” drop fence. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How the cross-country phase played out

With Sarah leapfrogging up the leaderboard 10 places to depose Bubby from the top, the end of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase was full of suspense. Half of the final 10 riders could have taken the lead with clears inside the time. Even into the final four, three – Boyd Martin (Cooley Nutcracker), Bubby (Its Cooley Time) and Tim Price (Jarillo) – could have relegated Sarah.

But none could do it. Tim and Jarillo – owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, James and Rachel Good – did best of this trio, stopping the clock for 4.4 time-faults to take third place overnight, despite taking a long route at the third water – which claimed several notable victims. These included Oliver Townend’s Ballaghmor Class, nursing second spot, who broke a frangible pin at the middle corner element; and joint-second Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality). Tom’s horse also incurred 11 penalties for the pin, then ran out at the third element and Tom elected to retire after jumping the final triple brush in that combination.

“I should have gone straight at that water!” said Tim. “But it’s an unpredictable fence and you could ride it well and it still doesn’t come up right every time. It’s one of the only frangible fences on the course and you don’t want to knock one of those down. So I decided that I was good on the clock at that stage though I lost a bit coming home. I decided to play the percentages this time.”

Tim Price and Jarillo negotiatie the “Coffin” fence at Pau 2025. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

France as a nation is scantily represented at their home five-star, but two of their riders gave exhibition rounds of how to ride a Pierre Michelet track. Both Astier Nicolas (Dirty Old Town) and Benjamin Massie (Filao De Perle) started cross-country in 21st place, and stormed round well inside the time. Benjamin sits in fourth by virtue of being 6sec closer to the optimum time, with Astier the faster round.

Last year, Benjamin fell over one of the final fences in the arena, so made amends this time.

“I think the French riders have an advantage with Pierre Michelet’s courses because we jump them every month, so we are used to them,” Benjamin said. “Astier and I were both up on our clocks even before we went on to the racecourse [where historically riders expect to make up time].”

David Doel riding his own, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas’ Galileo Nieuwmoed earned redemption after falls at both Badminton and Burghley this year with a smashing round, inside the time, to climb from 26th to sixth.

“He was absolutely magic,” said David. “We had him a little ruder again, a bit perkier as he was just a bit too quiet and settled at Burghley. We put a bit of the anger back in the tank and although the dressage was not as good, he jumped round really neat and tidy. He’s been round the five-star here three times and the old three-star as well so he’s a Pau professional.”

There were six horses inside the time from the 53 starters, the first being Sam Ecroyd and Boleybawn Macrae, a five-star newcomer. They were 16sec under the 11min 6sec optimum, by far the quickest all day. This propelled them up from 37th after dressage to 12th, only 4.5 penalties behind the leader.

Sixty percent of the field jumped clear. There were eight eliminations and two retirements. Besides five rider falls, there was one horse fall, Ardeo Premier and Alex Bragg, but the organisation reported no major injuries to horses or riders.

Top 10 overnight at Pau Horse Trials

Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro: 30
Bubby Upton and Cannavaro: 30.4
Tim Price and Jarillo: 30.9
Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle: 31.2
Astier Nicolas and Dirty Old Town: 31.2
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 32.4
Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte: 33
Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B: 33.2
Grace Taylor and Game Changer: 33.5
Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker: 33.5
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Two 18-year-old horses in podium positions after outstanding dressage performances at Pau five-star

Martha Terry — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:24:54 +0000

After a long day of dressage at Pau Horse Trials, with all 53 competitors going before the judges, Bubby Upton sits at the top of the leaderboard. Bubby is triple-handed at this year’s French five-star, and has taken top spot with her second ride Cannavaro on 25.6, who is competing at five-star for the first time since 2022.

“He’s such a special boy and it’s amazing to have him back here at 18,” said Bubby. “He came back at the start of the year [after time off] and the plan was Aachen and I thought that might be his last event, but he came out of that so well, we thought ‘let’s get him as fit as possible and if he holds up to it let’s go to Pau’. I just hope I do him justice.”

They produced a beautifully soft and consistent test, with fabulous halts – scoring eights and 8.5s – framing a mistake-free performance.

“Although he’s 18, he’s only had six years eventing as he was a showjumper until he was 10 and has had two years out,” Bubby said. “His paces have really developed over the past three or four years.”

Bubby also lies in sixth place on 28.5 with five-star debutant Its Cooley Time, who was entered at Pau after his tilt at the Blenheim Europeans came to an early end with a rider fall. Her first ride Cola – second into the ring – is 12th on 30.3.

“Cola – there was an element of being second into the arena; he was amazing,” said Bubby. “He does the same test every time, he’s so consistent and lovely to ride in the area. He’s a joy and he loves it. He’s a horse of lifetime, he’s taught me so much.”

Its Cooley Time secured Bubby’s third top-12 placing, as the penultimate horse in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase.

“Its Cooley Time is at the other end of the spectrum compared to these two, with it being his first five-star, so for him to do what he did today – I was thrilled. He is very, very spooky and sharp, but because here it’s on a surface we have the luxury of being able to familiarise them in the arena.

“As I was going in he spotted the cameraman, so he spooked, and I was a little bit soft in the second flying change and I thought he would pop it but he didn’t. Naturally, of the three, he’s the most gifted in the dressage and I’ve had him since he was five and within my current system, with my trainer Amy Woodhead, which makes all the difference.”

With Tom McEwen posting 26.1 earlier in the day, Oliver Townend joined him on that score to take joint-second with another 18-year-old, Ballaghmor Class.

“I couldn’t be happier with his performance,” said Oliver. “He went in like an old pro, and was pretty push-button.”

Tim Price was another three-horse rider to steer two into the top 10. Last to go on Jarillo, a flashy white-socked chestnut owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, and James and Rachel Good, he posted 26.5 to take fourth. Less than one penalty – 3sec of cross-country time-faults – cover these top four.

“He’s such a lovely horse, so talented,” Tim said. “Life comes physically so easily to him, but mentally it’s quite tough. He’s a sharp little guy.

“He’s very spooky, horse-shy, but in the arena he’s a joy – easy peasy!”

Tim Price and Jarillo at Pau 2025 dressage. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Jarillo seemed to grow in confidence as the test went on, absolutely nailing all four flying changes, which come towards the end of the test and have caused so many to falter this Pau.

“He’s coming of age,” said Tim. “He’s realising that it’s a safe space in the arena and he can stay with me like he does at home.”

Tim also holds ninth place with Happy Boy on 29.1, 0.1 of a penalty behind Emily King and Valmy Biats. Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker round out the top 10.

Emily’s ride produced some outstanding moments, including a nine for the final halt, but too many 6.5s pegged the mark back. Emily admitted that some “strange flying, cobwebby things” were a little distracting for both horse and rider.

“I kept wanting to swat them away, so he was probably thinking the same,” said Emily. “We had a few little wobbles and a little lack of rhythm but generally he was really good.”

Top six after Pau Horse Trials dressage

1, Bubby Upton and Cannavaro: 25.6

=2, Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality: 26.1

=2, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class: 26.1

4, Tim Price and Jarillo: 26.5

5, Abigail Long and Henton Audacious: 27.9

6, Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time: 28.5

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‘I have no doubt he’d have eaten up the rest of the track’: Bubby Upton reflects on fall at Blenheim European Championships

Martha Terry — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:45:27 +0000

Bubby Upton confirmed that both she and her horse Its Cooley Time are “fine, all good” after being eliminated for a rider fall in the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country phase.

This year’s Bramham winners were competing as individuals for the British squad, which runs in partnership with Agria, and were up with the leaders in eighth after dressage on a score of 28.9.

The 10-year-old grey, owned by Bubby and the Five Time Syndicate, were cruising round until the Agria Water Crossing at fence 19. Here, horses had to gallop through the lake and out over a sharply angled brush, where Its Cooley Time stumbled to his knees on landing after a slightly awkward jump, giving Bubby no chance of staying in the saddle. There were no other penalties at this fence.

“I was probably a bit deep [into the fence] and then he jumped it really well, but obviously landed with not enough momentum, and pecked on landing,” explained Bubby. “It was a real shame, because he was giving me an incredible feel and I was full of confidence and excited to tackle the rest of the course.”

“I’m gutted for him”: Bubby Upton on Blenheim European Championships fall

Bubby was straight back up on her feet, and led Its Cooley Time off the course.

“The most important thing, obviously, is that he’s absolutely fine – and I’m fine,” she said. “We live to fight another day. I’m just gutted for him because he was just flying, and made it feel so easy. I guess it doesn’t always go your way.”

It was a tumultuous day for the British riders, with four of the six-strong squad having rider falls. Bubby went late in the day, the 43rd rider out on course, by which time only Tom McEwen had jumped clear for Britain.

“I watched the first out, the Swiss rider [Nadja Minder] and she did an incredible job, and she did everything I was planning on doing,” Bubby explained of how she spent the day leading up to her round. “I probably should have just watched the first one and walked away, but you’re there to support your team, so I watched the rest of the [Brits].

“You try not to take notice of it and I had my own plan. It was all going swimmingly. I have no doubt he would have eaten up the rest of the track as well. Such a shame that it happened at a bit of an insignificant fence.”

This was Bubby’s first senior championships but there is no doubt many more lie ahead. In the meantime, it’s her compatriot Laura Collett who is bidding for gold in tomorrow’s showjumping phase (Sunday, 21 September), with Tom sitting handy in bronze position behind Germany’s Michael Jung.

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Bubby Upton becomes fourth British rider to fall on extraordinary Blenheim Europeans cross-country day

Pippa Roome — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:08:41 +0000

Bubby Upton has fallen on the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course, as Britain’s nightmare day continues to unfold.

Senior championship debutante Bubby and Its Cooley Time were going well, with the young horse’s grey ears pricked, until the Agria Water Crossing, the angled brush shoulder out of the first long run through the lake.

As most combinations have, the pair brushed through the higher brush on their left, but “Finn” tripped on to his knees on landing, tipping Bubby off. She was quickly back up on her feet.

Bubby Upton is the fourth British rider to be eliminated for a fall on Blenheim European Championships cross-country day. Team pathfinder Yasmin Ingham came off Rehy DJ at the FEI Mounds (fence 22abc), Piggy March was catapuled from Halo in the GFS Saddles Water (fence 20abc) and individual Caroline Harris was also ejected from D. Day at the FEI Mounds.

Seven pairs have been eliminated on the cross-country course, four of them British. The others are Irish team member Aoife Clark, who had a horse fall with young Full Monty De Lacense, Italian individual Dan Bizarro, who fell off Stormhill Riot, and Belgian team rider Wouter de Cleene, who fell from Quintera.

In the tranche of individuals around Bubby, Germany’s Calvin Böckmann, 24, put in the fastest round so far, riding The Phantom Of The Opera. Calvin, the youngest rider here, incurred 5.6 time-faults.

Tom McEwen, who finished with 6.8 time-penalties, is the second fastest rider of the day so far and the one bright point for Britain so far. He has the best score of those who have finished, with another 10 pairs or so to go. Calvin holds second of the “in the clubhouse” scores, with Switzerland’s Mélody Johner in third after she clocked eight time-faults with Erin.

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Bubby Upton moves into fourth after her Blenheim Europeans dressage test: ‘We got the warm-up right today’

Pippa Roome — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:53:28 +0000

Bubby Upton impressed in her Agria Blenheim European Championships dressage test this afternoon (Friday 19 September) to take fourth at this stage, with seven more horses to go.

The 10-year-old grey gelding Its Cooley Time, owned by his rider and the Five Time Syndicate, presented a very attractive, elegant picture in the arena as he and Bubby made their senior championship debut and they scored 28.9. She slips ahead of fellow Brit Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ) and French team member Sebastien Cavaillon (Elipso De La Vigne), now equal fifth, by 0.1 of a penalty.

Its Cooley Time looked to have progressed in his work since winning the CCI4*-L at Bramham Horse Trials in June, appearing softer, more supple and relaxed, with better self-carriage and less reliance on the rein. It was unfortunate he tripped into the mid-test halt, although it was perfectly square.

“Its Cooley Time was fantastic in there,” said Bubby. “He’s a very sharp, sensitive horse, so the timing of the warm-up was really important with him today. I feel like we really got it right today, me and my coach Amy Woodhead – I’m so grateful to her for everything she’s done. She’s seen him right from the start and knows what we’ve come through to get here.

“The stumble into his halt was a real shame, because trot halts are a big highlight for him. That obviously interrupted the halt and then also the rein back as well, but obviously it was no fault of his. Then in his medium canters, I think he saw the boxes, saw the crowds, and was like, ‘Ooh’, I was like, ‘No, concentrate.’

“But I’m just so proud of him. It’s such a fine line with him because of his sharpness and sensitivity, so overall we’re thrilled with how he coped and I guess, more than anything, how exciting it is for the future.”

Bubby Upton talked after her Blenheim European Championships dressage test about how she refined her warm-up after a practice two weeks ago at Defender Burghley Horse Trials, when all the British squad, which runs in partnership with Agria, had the chance to ride their tests in the main arena after the dressage on Thursday.

She said: “We worked him quite ‘down’ [in his frame] at Burghley in the warm-up, then we didn’t give him enough time to establish in his test frame, which showed in the arena, whereas here we had him ‘up’ for a bit longer, so he had time to settle into his test frame, which seemed to work really well.”

Bubby added that the test used here doesn’t suit Its Cooley Time as well as the one used at Bramham in June, but that she has been working since then to improve various aspects of the horse’s work, including the connection.

“Also at Bramham, we worked him so that he was a bit quieter in the arena, whereas now we’re riding on a bit more power,” she said. “But you can’t ride too much, because then if he gets a little bit hot and bubbles over, you lose the connection and length of the neck. So it’s a really fine line with him.

“He’s quite immature still for a 10-year-old and inexperienced, so he’s strengthening and changing the whole time and it’s just ensuring that the training evolves with him as well.”

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‘I didn’t realise the cross-country jumps were so big!’ – meet Bubby Upton’s groom Kirsty Campbell, who’s switched sports from showjumping to eventing

Pippa Roome — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 19:32:49 +0000

Kirsty Campbell, groom to Bubby Upton and her ride Its Cooley Time at this week’s Agria Blenheim European Championships, has only worked for the British event rider since last November, having been in the showjumping world before that.

“Showjumping is more relaxed. In eventing, with the three different phases, you’ve got to be a lot more on it,” she says. “Showjumping was quite chill – if you’re a little bit late it doesn’t really matter, but here you’ve got to be on time. So it’s harder, but I do think it’s more rewarding.”

Kirsty was born in Scotland, but grew up in New Zealand. She worked for the Gredleys on the thoroughbred stud side before moving across to Tim Gredley’s showjumping yard, where she groomed for stable jockey Joe Clayton.

“Joe taught me a lot – he’s an amazing rider and amazing with the horses. Then Bubby sent me a message on Instagram, because she had heard Joe was leaving, so we had a conversation. We got on really well, so I thought I’d give it a go,” she says.

“I’ve only just learned how to sew plaits and do quarter marks! But I love it. It’s my favourite job so far, I’m so happy. And Bubby’s amazing, she’s been very patient with me.”

Kirsty’s charge this week is the Bramham Horse Trials winner Its Cooley Time, known as “Finn”.

She says: “He’s so easy, chilled and happy to be here. He loves to go for a walk around and he’s so nosey – he likes to see what’s going on. He’s such a lovely horse to work with and I’m very lucky to be able to look after him.”

Finn spends a lot of time in the field at home, so Kirsty tries to replicate that at competitions.

“I try get him out as much as possible. I’ll give him an hour at lunch to rest and have some some feed and chill out because horses need their time to be left alone as well. But he likes being active,” she says.

With Finn being grey, washing is likely to be a big part of Kirsty’s week.

“He’s been quite clean so far! But normally he loves rolling in a hole of mud so I’m sure he’ll do that before his dressage tomorrow, which is a bit stressful. He likes being muddy.”

Kirsty can ride and does some hacking out, but looking after the horses from the ground and then seeing them excel with Bubby is more her style.

Asked what is most rewarding about her role as groom for Bubby Upton, Kirsty says: “Just watching the horses do their thing. Bubby works so hard with them and then to be able to see them go out and perform and see how happy Bubby is after she’s done a test or a round is so rewarding. When you put so much work into making them look great and do all the hard work, then to see the end result is just amazing.”

Kirsty had a shock when she walked the course at Burghley Horse Trials earlier in September.

She says: “It never looks as big on screen, so I didn’t realise how big the cross-country jumps were, so after that, I’m very nervous about watching the cross-country. I love the dressage and the showjumping.

“I’d like to walk the course here – we always say we’ll do it afterwards but there isn’t time so we have to do it before, but if I walk it I probably won’t watch it.”

She adds that the British camp has been very welcoming, saying: “Everyone’s so helpful. I ask so many silly questions, but everyone’s there to help you and look after you, so you feel at home.”

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Who’s on the British team – and who’s an individual –at the Blenheim European Championships? Plus team order revealed

Pippa Roome — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:36:24 +0000

The split of the British squad into team and individuals for the Agria Blenheim European Championships this week (17-21 September) has been revealed.

The British team will consist of Yasmin Ingham, Piggy March, Tom McEwen and Laura Collett. The individuals will be Bubby Upton and Caroline Harris.

At this week’s Blenheim European Championships, Yasmin Ingham will be the trailblazer for the British team – which runs in partnership with Agria – on Rehy DJ, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

Next out will be Piggy March with Jayne McGivern’s Halo. Although Piggy has plenty of championship mileage, the grey stallion is the least experienced horse of the quartet and the number two spot on a team traditionally goes to a less experienced horse or rider, as it should be the starting position with the least pressure.

Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston, take the number three rank on the team.

Laura Collett and London 52, double Olympic team gold medallists and individual Olympic bronze medallists, will be the anchor pair for Great Britain. The 16-year-old gelding is owned by his rider, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett.

Unsurprisingly, reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung is the final rider out for the German team so he and FischerChipmunk FRH will do their dressage and head out of the cross-country start box just two horses after Laura. Michael and Laura are likely to be the chief challengers for the individual gold this week.

British individual riders Bubby Upton and Caroline Harris both make their senior squad debuts this week.

Caroline pilots her 2024 Pau Horse Trials winner D.Day, owned by Fiona Olivier, Heather Royle, Lucy Matthews and Marie Anne Richardson, with Bubby riding her own and The Five Time Syndicate’s Its Cooley Time, who won Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L in June.

The team order is as follows for the nine nations fielding a team:

Switzerland
Italy
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Sweden
Germany
France
Ireland

Austria only has three riders so will not have a rider in the first rotation.

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

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:41:19 +0000

The squad of six aiming to retain gold for Britain at next month’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championships has been confirmed; a line-up “ideal for current and future performance”.

British Equestrian and British Eventing (BE) have released the six horses and riders who will head to the home championship, at Blenheim Palace (18-21 September). Britain won team gold at the 2023 championships, plus individual gold (Ros Canter riding Lordships Graffalo) and silver (Kitty King riding Vendredi Biats).

The British European Eventing Championships squad is:

Laura Collett with 16-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts

Breeding: By Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Groom: Tilly Hughes

Caroline Harris with 11-year-old D Day

Owners: Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle

Breeder: Fiona Olivier

Breeding: By Billy Mexico, out of a mare by Dilum XX

Groom: Nellie Smith

Yasmin Ingham with 15-year-old Rehy DJ

Owners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund

Breeder: Noell Russell

Breeding: By Tinarana’s Inspector, out of a mare by Big Sink Hope

Groom: Alison Bell

Piggy March with 12-year-old Halo

Owner: Jayne McGivern

Breeder: Bernard Hobe

Breeding: By Humphrey 61, out of a mare by Contender

Groom: Hannah Chowen

Tom McEwen with 14-year-old JL Dublin

Owners: James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston

Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze

Breeding: By Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Groom: Adam Short

Bubby Upton with 10-year-old Its Cooley Time

Owners: The Five Time Syndicate and rider

Breeder: Ennisnag Stud

Breeding: By Quality Time TN, out of a mare by Heartbreaker

Groom: Kirsty Campbell

Eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood said: “This is a really exciting group of horses and riders, which combines experience alongside new talent – both human and equine.

“We’re fortunate to have Laura and Tom returning with their accomplished Olympic rides, it’s a new championship ride for Yaz, while Piggy brings forward her next-generation championship horse. Both Bubby and Caroline have been in outstanding recent form and are worthy debutants – it’s exciting for our sport to have new faces in the squad.

“Overall, the line-up is ideal for current and future performance as we look toward next year’s FEI World Championships and LA28, while still being competitive at Blenheim. I’d also like to thank all of our owners for their support and the faith they put in our World Class programme.”

BE chief executive Rosie Williams said the team was delighted to confirm the squad.

“Hosting such a prestigious event on home soil is a huge moment for our sport, and we look forward to seeing the entire community – members, supporters, and fans – come together to cheer the team on,” she said. “We wish every member of the squad the very best of luck.”

Congratulations

Agria UK chief executive Vicki Wentworth sent “huge congratulations” to all those selected.

“They should feel immensely proud of what they’ve achieved to date, and we at Agria are honoured to be title sponsors of this iconic event, returning to home soil for the first time in 20 years at the magnificent Blenheim Palace,” she said. “Everyone here at Agria wishes the entire squad the very best of luck in these final weeks of preparation and of course, at the competition itself. I can promise we will be the ones shouting them on at the top of our voices from the sidelines.”

Selection decisions are dependent on horse and rider fitness and performance.

The BEF added that National Lottery and UK Sport funding is “pivotal” in preparing teams for championships, and that it is very grateful for the support from its partners Agria, Bates Saddles, D&H, NAF, SEIB and Toggi and team suppliers Equi-Trek and Lotus Romeo.

“We’re indebted for the year-round support they provide to the World Class programme and British teams, which helps us to best prepare for senior championships,” a BEF spokesperson said.

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Bubby Upton shares her insight on adapting your riding as horses change over time

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:30:53 +0000

Bubby Upton won the CCI4*-L at Defender Bramham Horse Trials in June with Its Cooley Time – and shared some insight into her tactics after the event, including around riding horses differently as they change over time.

She has had the 10-year-old Its Cooley Time since the end of his five-year-old year and has brought him on from a very sharp young horse to the polished athlete who led from start to finish at Bramham.

“At Belsay, three weeks before Bramham, ‘Finn’ was trending on a score of 24 in his dressage until the flying changes, when I made a mistake and cost him the win,” said Bubby.

“He’s always been very talented, but he wasn’t easy as a five-, six- or seven-year-old. As he’s developed, the aids have evolved for our flying changes. But at Belsay, I rode him like the sharp young horse he used to be – I underrode the changes.

“He either does a beautiful change or doesn’t change at all and we got twos at Belsay, which was my fault. I was furious with myself as I hate nothing more than knowing I let my horse down. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again at Bramham.

“If you’re not winning, you’re learning and Belsay was a learning weekend in terms of trusting and cementing how to ride the test now. Out of the time I’ve had Finn, it’s a small percentage that I’ve been riding him how he is now, so it’s easy to slip back into how I’ve ridden him for the majority of his flying changes, rather than this new phase of development.”

With that lesson learnt, Bubby improved her score from 29.8 at Belsay to 24.4 at Bramham.

Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time at home soon after Bramham. (Image credit: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves)

Bubby Upton: ‘You can use your experience, but also take each horse as an individual’

Bubby also talked about how she approached walking the course at Bramham and what riders can take away from previous rides at a big event such as this.

“This was Andy Heffernan’s first year designing at Bramham, taking over from Ian Stark, but I didn’t think too much about that – the course is what it is,” said Bubby, who walked the course five times in total. “It still felt very much like Bramham, making use of the hills and a big, bold track.

“I’d ridden here twice before, once in the long format and once in the short. The big features remained, but Andy used different parts of the terrain. For example, four from home at fence 21abc the new brush oxer to two skinnies – named the Defender Trail – was clever use of that final pull when horses were tiring.

“My previous long format ride here, Magic Roundabout, who won the under-25s in 2023, is a different type to Finn, who on paper has less thoroughbred. But no part of him would ever allow himself to admit he’s tired, even if he was, which is an enormous luxury as a rider. But it was an unknown for him as he’d never done this distance before.

“I was able to use my experience on Magic Roundabout for how some fences might ride, such as the rail, ditch, rail into the wood at fence 8abc, but I also believe in taking each horse as an individual.”

Read more from Bubby Upton about her week winning at Bramham in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (issue dated 7 August).

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‘I’ve seen legends win this – and I’m very proud of the horse he’s become’: Bubby Upton wins Bramham

Pippa Roome — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 13:53:15 +0000

Bubby Upton scored her first senior CCI4*-L win when she topped the Defender Bramham Horse Trials results this afternoon on nine-year-old Its Cooley Time, owned by his rider and the Five Time Syndicate.

Bubby had a fence in hand by the time she and “Finn” entered the showjumping arena, but didn’t need it. The pair rattled the upright at two, but never looked in danger of losing their title after that.

Bubby follows in the footsteps of Terry Boon and Tina Cook in pairing an age-restricted section win here – she won the under-25s in 2023 – with the senior long victory.

“It means a lot to win this – it’s one of the big Bs and growing up, I’ve seen legends win this. So it feels really special to win it, particularly having won the under-25 championships here as well,” said Bubby.

“And I guess the way Finn did it as well – he was really dominant all week, and just faultless, to be honest. He’s all class, and I’m so glad he got the win that he deserved.”

Asked what might be next for the nine-year-old, Bubby said: “I’d obviously love him to step up to five-star and I’d love to make my senior championship debut. I’ve come close a couple of times and been unlucky with accidents and stuff – one of which was off him.

“But, it’s all worth it in the end. Horses with his talent and his class, they test you at times because they’re uber intelligent, but patience and trying to understand them and work with them pays off in the end.”

Bubby admitted it “took a while to come back in terms of confidence” after a rotational fall from Finn while cross-country schooling at home in 2021. She broke eight vertebrae and her collarbone in the accident, although it was not as serious as her 2023 fall (from a different horse), which nearly ended her career.

She said: “He was just young, green and not paying attention whatsoever at a fence. But in the last few years, he’s grown up beyond measure. I’m very proud of the horse that he is today. We all know, having seen him as a naughty, obnoxious youngster that we couldn’t get in and out the yard, what we’ve been through to get here, so it means a lot to us.”

Bramham Horse Trials results: Taylor drops out of top 10

Izzy Taylor was second overnight on SRS Big Wall, but she lost her claim on a podium place early when fences two and three came down. A final total of 13.2 faults dropped the pair to 13th.

Caroline Harris’s immaculate clear on Cooley Mosstown – owned by Gail Sinclair, Karen Dunford and Dinah Posford – elevated her to second in the Bramham Horse Trials results.

“I’m seriously proud of him,” said Bramham debutante Caroline. “He’s a very good jumper, but I find him easier to jump on the last day of a three-day when he’s a little tired, because he just loses that bit of tension. But he was not going to touch a fence.

“He’s only nine, and we came here to do his first four-star long. We didn’t have high expectations. I just wanted him to finish confident and happy and he’s gone above and beyond for us. He deserves the result; he’s a phenomenal horse in all three phases.”

Tom Jackson jumped Helen Scott’s 13-year-old Hawk Eye out of order as he had two in the top six overnight. A clear eventually moved this relatively new ride for Tom up from sixth to third, while a single fence down for Tom’s other ride, United 36, sent him from fourth to eighth.

“Hawk Eye’s quite a new ride for us,” said Tom, who took on the horse at the end of last year and will now think about aiming him for Burghley Horse Trials.

“He’s reasonably experienced, but I’m delighted with him. I’ve been working quite hard on trying to have him as adjustable as possible, because he can get a bit keen and strong. Yesterday, he didn’t skip a beat, he really felt like he was really with me and then he followed it up with a lovely clear today.”

A tight time

The 76sec time in this final phase proved quite tight and a single second over it still allowed Ireland-based Daniel Alderson to move up from fifth overnight to fourth with Blarney Monbeg Pepper.

Kylie Roddy’s ride SRS Kan Do had to have an emergency shoe replacement in the collecting ring, jumping one slot later than planned, but went clear to move up from ninth to fifth.

Hayden Hankey and Fools In Love upgraded from 11th to sixth with 0.4 of a time-fault, while Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy moved from 14th to seventh with a clear on Pomp N Circumstance.

A valuable fault-free performance lifted Sweden’s Louise Romeike (Caspian 15) from equal 17th to ninth, while the top 10 was rounded out by Sam Ecroyd, who held 10th with four faults on Boleybawn Lecrae.

Harry Meade – last year’s winner of this class on Annagmore Valoner – and Holly Richardson dropped out of the top 10 today.

New world number one Harry and Jet Fighter had the Defender oxer at seven and the first part of the treble down to fall from seventh to 19th. Number three and the first part of the double at eight came down for Holly and Ballyneety Silver Service, so they slipped from eighth to 20th.

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Young British talent eyes up first senior four-star long win on ‘phenomenal’ horse as Bramham cross-country juggles leaderboard

Pippa Roome — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 11:56:59 +0000

Bubby Upton retains her lead at the top of the CCI4*-L after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials cross-country today. The British rider and the grey 10-year-old Its Cooley Time, owned by his rider and the Five Time Syndicate, cruised round five seconds inside the optimum time to retain their top spot.

“He honestly made it feel like a BE100,” said Bubby. “He just stepped round and it’s my job just to steer him a little bit. He is phenomenal. Will I ever ride a horse as class as him again? Who knows? But he’s got it all and he proved that again today, having been fantastic in the first phase. Fingers crossed I can get him the win he deserves tomorrow.”

Bubby Upton was under-25 champion here in 2023, as well as at Bicton in 2021, but is bidding for her first senior CCI4*-L win if she can hold onto her Bramham Horse Trials cross-country lead in tomorrow’s showjumping.

Asked about how the other horses she has ridden have helped her develop to produce Its Cooley Time, Bubby said: “He’s so different to any horse I’ve ever had before. He’s unbelievably sharp and spooky. [My top five-star horse] Cola was very spooky as a young horse, so that’s helped me a little bit with him, as have all the horses that I’ve been lucky enough to ride – Clever Louis and Jefferson, those bright, sensitive types – particularly in the dressage.

“Cross-country, there’s no comparison between him and my other horses. He goes in a unique way. He’s so low and fights a bit with his head. I’ve just had to learn over the years to ignore the fact he doesn’t go like my other horses, who go a bit softer and rounder and it potentially looks a bit smoother with them – he never feels as smooth as my other horses, but I’ve learned that not to try and mould him to be like them.

“All my horses are so different, which I love, because it means that my job every day is to unlock the best of them, but they’ve all got kind of different keys to their locks. That’s where I implement my brain into the analytics and trying to get the best out of them, as opposed to just having one rule and one system for all.”

Bubby, 26, has fought back to the top of the sport after suffering a potentially career-ending spinal injury in the summer of 2023.

Izzy Taylor and Jane Timmis’s SRS Big Wall, third following the first phase, had a somewhat sticky ride out of the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond at fence 19abcd and were initially shown as having a flag penalty at the corner, the final element. But this was subsequently removed and they now hold second, having added just 0.8 of a time-fault to their dressage score.

Caroline Harris, heading out near the end of the class, moved up from sixth after dressage to third overnight with a fault-free round on Cooley Mosstown, owned by Gail Sinclair, Karen Dunford and Dinah Posford.

Similarly, a clear inside the time elevated Tom Jackson and Michael Stenning’s nine-year-old United 36 from seventh after dressage to fourth. The British rider also holds sixth on a relatively new ride, Helen Scott’s Hawk Eye, up from 13th after dressage

Ireland-based Brit Daniel Alderson sits fifth on Blarney Monbeg Pepper, moving up from 12th after dressage and building on their good result at Boekelo last year.

Sarah Bullimore was second after dressage on home-bred Corimiro but had a refusal at the first element of the Rail, Ditch, Rail combination at 8abc, with Sarah retiring further round the course.

Heffernan’s first Bramham track

This is Andrew Heffernan’s first year as Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course-designer, taking over from Ian Stark, and his Defender CCI4*-L track rode well, but also proved influential. Thirty-five of 52 starters (66%) in this CCI4*-L class jumped clear, with 43 finishing the course (82.7%). Problems were well spread around the 24-fence track.

Bubby said: “I think he’s made an amazing track and also put his own twist on it. Ian Stark is a legend and he’s been here for so long, and Bramham was renowned for being such an unbelievable cross-country track, so it would have been easy for Andy maybe to try and change it too much, equally, just to keep it the exact same. But I think he did a really good job of changing it enough to put his stamp on it without taking away the essence of Bramham.

“I loved the angled brushes down the hill [The Defender Trail at 21abc] – I’ve always been surprised that hill hasn’t been used before – and maybe he’ll get a bit braver on what he puts on the hill in the future. But he’s done an incredible job and we need people like him in the sport.”

On excellent going, the optimum time of 10min 3sec turned out to be very achievable and 17 pairs came home inside the target (32.7% of starters).

Against that landscape, any time-penalties were expensive. Young Brit Barnie Brotherton, 22, had 6.4 time-faults on his recent Bicton Nations Cup ride DHI King Nelson, sliding from fifth after dressage to equal 17th.

Sweden’s Louise Romeike and Caspian 15 also lost their provisional fourth place when they incurred 8.4 time-faults. They now share 17th with Barnie and DHI King Nelson.

Daisy Berkeley (Diese Du Figuier) and Toshiyuki Tanaka (Jefferson JRA) both notched up 8.4 time-penalties and so moved from eighth and 10th after dressage to 22nd and 23rd following the cross-country.

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‘He was unbelievably sharp’: time and patience pay off as young Brit takes lead in Bramham four-star long

Pippa Roome — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:10:40 +0000

Bubby Upton has taken the lead in the CCI4*-L at the conclusion of the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage. The young British rider scored 24.4 for her test on the smart 10-year-old grey Its Cooley Time, owned by his rider and the Five Time Syndicate.

“The one trait he’s never lacked is talent, but it’s taken a long, long time to get his head in the game. He was unbelievably sharp as a youngster,” said Bubby.

Bubby added: “He led the seven-year-old championships at Osberton after dressage and that was the first time I thought we were actually getting somewhere. His focus with the cross-country came from that point onwards too.

“But I always took him very steady; I never wanted to expose him to too much of an atmosphere too young, because I thought he could go back the other way. I didn’t want to undo all the time and patience that we’d given him and go 10 steps back.”

Its Cooley Time missed the autumn season last year as he contracted a skin infection which took time to clear up and Bubby said she had a blip in the dressage at Belsay – “I sat like a lemon for my changes” – where the pair finished fourth in the CCI4*-S.

After today’s Bramham Horse Trials dressage, Bubby Upton added: “He’s forced me to improve and adapt as a rider more than any other horse. He goes in a completely different way to all my other horses.

“When you watch him go across country, you think, that horse goes so low, how does he keep any poles up? And when you watch him showjump, he goes so high that you think he’s a freak that can’t go across country.

“Touch wood, now he knows what the job is, and so I don’t care if he messes around at home, because when he goes in there and focuses like that, you can’t ask much more.”

Ugly duckling comes good

It was a morning when grey 10-year-olds excelled, as Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall, owned by Jane Timmis, slipped into third on 25.4, behind overnight leaders Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro.

Izzy said: “I’ve always loved this horse. I’ve had him since a four-year-old, which makes it very special for me, and actually makes the job easier, because you know each other so well. He was very rideable the whole way through. He had a little spook, but that’s part of his character.”

Izzy added the SBH Big Wall was “a very ugly duckling”, whose looks have improved with age.

“He’s always had just a great brain and very much wants to do right. He gets annoyed with himself, sometimes with you, when it’s not quite what you want, but that’s a very rare occasion,” she said. “He’s really chilled and just loves his job.”

Caroline Harris was the best of this afternoon’s competitors in the Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L dressage and sits sixth on Cooley Mosstown. Sweden’s Louise Romeike (Caspian 15) and Britain’s Barnie Brotherton (DHI King Nelson), who both competed yesterday, hold fourth and fifth ahead of tomorrow’s cross-country.

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‘Let’s hope the judges stay consistent’: Bubby Upton cruises into the Badminton reckoning

Martha Terry — Thu, 08 May 2025 10:47:00 +0000

Bubby Upton had her game face on as she entered the arena on her mother Rachel’s Cola for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase. The pair already have three top-10 finishes at five-star and are among those who will be vying for the title.

Their halts to start and end the test were spot-on to score eights, and the white-socked bay has a sweet and consistent way of going. Bar a peek at the notorious ground camera near A, and fluffing a flying change, this test would have taken the lead. As it was, they moved into third behind Oliver Townend and Gemma Stevens on 30.2.

This solid test is a good benchmark as to the judges’ mood – they certainly aren’t giving marks away.

“I’m not one to focus on the score, so long as the judges don’t suddenly throwing marks out, then none of us mind if it stays consistent,” said Bubby.

Badminton final scores

“I was thrilled with Cola. Every time I go in [the arena] he’s the same horse and he loves it. He’s become really consistent – ever since Badminton last year, we’ve properly got him in the right frame.”

Bubby works with Amy Woodhead on the flat, and has been focusing on the quality of canter.

“He’s a long strung-out horse, and for a long time I was focusing on young rider medals and that wasn’t a priority,” she said. “I’d love to go back in time because now at 15 he’s getting better and better.”

Bubby’s performance is the more remarkable considering she had major surgery directly after finishing fifth, with Cola, at Maryland CCI5* last October, a planned operation after breaking her back in 2023.

“It was tougher than I anticipated, mentally going back to square one, with zero strength and muscles,” she said. “It was quite demoralising to have to rebuild again. It wasn’t really until February that I was strong again and on top of the pain.

“Now I’m back to riding nine horses a day, and with less pain than riding even three or four last year. I feel so lucky to be still doing what I love.”

Badminton Horse Trials dressage on Thursday morning

Alex Hua Tian looked content as he rounded off a composed test on Chicko with eights for his final halt and a score of 31.6. This is Alex’s first Badminton in nine years, and the horse’s first ever, as he has been campaigned with championships in mind.

Unlike many horses who have spooked at the ground camera, Chicko was unperturbed throughout.

“He’s no fuss – very, very easy,” said Alex. “After the salute, I could get off, pull the saddle off and he’d happily graze in the middle of the arena.”

Alex lies in fourth spot at this early stage.

Jonelle Price did not have the test she was hoping for on her 2022 Pau CCI5* winner Grappa Nera, describing a half-pass that scored fives as “more of a diagonal line”.

“One of the things I’ve learnt in this dressage business is you’re better off letting the judges guess what you can’t do rather than showing them what you can’t do!” she laughed.

“Even though I can do that half pass for an either or nine a lot of days, if she’s in a bit of a mood, it’s the one place I have to negotiate. The idea was if I could stay on the right leg I’d have a chance of getting the flying change; you have to pick your moments.

“She could be a dressage diva if the brain would be more cooperative, but I haven’t given up yet – she’s 14 so we have another couple of years,” Jonelle added.

“She’s courageous cross-country; she’s very honest and looks for the flags. All the things that make her a nightmare on the first day, are what make her so good come Saturday.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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Bubby Upton continues comeback from ‘turbulent year’ with super Maryland 5 Star dressage: ‘I owe Cola everything’

Pippa Roome — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:49:05 +0000

Bubby Upton has blasted into third place in the Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage, having been the first rider into the arena on the second day.

The British rider and her mother Rachel’s Cola scored 26.7, which put her 1.3 penalties ahead of Thursday’s leader, Dorset-based US rider Cosby Green with Highly Suspicious. However, her lead was overtaken two horses later by the home side’s Tamie Smith (Mai Baum), who now holds the lead on 25.3, and then again by her compatriot Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class), who sits second at this stage on 26.5.

Bubby Upton demonstrated her trademark laser focus in her Maryland 5 Star dressage test and provided the ground jury – Sweden’s Christina Klingspor, the home side’s Valerie Pride and France’s Xavier Le Sauce – with a test which was accurate, energetic and elegant.

She and the 14-year-old Cola, by Catoki, started with punchy, accurate trot-work and then scored the first nines of the competition, from all three judges, for their mid-test halt.

Her marks did drop down with some errors in the first and third flying changes, both from right to left lead, although the rest of her canter work scored well.

“He was such a good boy – I know him inside out, I’ve had him eight or nine years now. He’s a horse I owe everything to, my horse of a lifetime, and it feels beyond special to be here,” said Bubby.

Bubby’s Maryland debut is part of her continuing comeback after suffering serious injury in a fall last August. She underwent major back surgery and initially had a very uncertain prognosis in terms of whether she would even walk again, let alone ride at the top level. She defied the odds to compete at Badminton Horse Trials in May, finishing 10th with Cola.

“We’ve had a turbulent past year and that makes it even more special and I’m so grateful to have a horse like him,” she added.

“After Badminton I created a plan in my head. I thought Cola has done Burghley and Pau – he was incredible at both – so if ever there was an opportunity to go to Maryland I’d do everything possible to make it possible. It was quite a lot of phone calls and hustling and it’s thanks to Howden Insurance Brokers and Brown Advisory that I’m able to be here.”

Bubby and Cola have been partners dating back to young rider days, when they won individual silver and team gold, and have since scored four top-15 placings at five-star together.

“Every time I went to go and see him after my accident, which was what I looked forward to every day when I got out of hospital, he was so gentle with me and would never nudge me or push me or anything like that – he definitely knew I was a bit fragile,” she said.

“I’m just so lucky still to be doing what I love at the top of the sport. I know how how quickly things can change – the line is so thin and I was the lucky one to be the right side of the line. My perspective on life has definitely changed, I just enjoy every minute, particularly with this horse who’s done so much for me – we did young rider teams together and I never thought in a million years we’d get to five-star, let alone be fighting at the top.

“My recovery was long and slow and I definitely wouldn’t be here today without the team around me. I did rehab at the Injured Jockeys Fund centre in Newmarket and that was all supported and take care of by the British Eventing Support Trust Charity, so the only thing I had to focus on was getting better and stronger.

“Day by day it got better, I learnt to move my right leg again, eventually I learnt to walk again. Three months later I got back on a hores but it was a very different type of riding to what I knew. My horses were very tolerant of the not so good rider they had on their backs all of a sudden. We never stopped dreaming, never stopped pushing, It’s beyond special to be back at the top of the sport and I never take it for granted.”

End of day update: Bubby still holds third place at the conclusion of the dressage phase.

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Find out who’s the pathfinder and when the Brits start as Maryland 5 Star draw revealed

Pippa Roome — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:07:21 +0000

The Mars Maryland 5 Star draw for this week’s competition (17-20 October) has been revealed and the first ever winner of the US autumn five-star will be first up the centreline on Thursday.

Boyd Martin and On Cue took top spot at Maryland in 2021 and the 18-year-old British-bred mare will be number one on the start list this year.

US Olympian Boyd is one of three riders in the competition with two horses and he also starts last on his faithful five-star campaigner Tsetserleg TSF, another veteran at 17.

Britain’s Harry Meade returns to Maryland, where he has been placed previously, and starts as number three on the experienced grey Away Cruising and also number 22 on five-star debutant Et Hop Du Matz.

The third two-horse rider is Canada’s Jessica Phoenix, who has the characterful skewbald mare Fluorescent Adolescent at number two and ex-racehorse Wabbit as number 21.

Three other Brits also compete besides Harry, with David Doel wearing number seven on last year’s Burghley Horse Trials runner-up Galileo Nieuwmoed, Bubby Upton continuing her comeback from serious injury at number 13 with Cola and Oliver Townend starting as number 16 with triple five-star winner Ballaghmor Class. David and Bubby both make their Maryland debuts, while Oliver has finished on the podium before but seeks a first win here.

Full draw

This week also marks a final run at the top level for last year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event winner and world team silver medallist Mai Baum, who is number 15 with home side rider Tamie Smith.

New Zealand’s Tim Price, who won Maryland in 2022 with Coup De Coeur Dudevin, will start as number 20 with double world bronze medallist Falco.

There are 23 starters in the five-star competition at Maryland this week, which runs alongside a three-star and young horse championship.

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Brits, five-star winners, and an eye-catching skewbald among Maryland 5 Star entries

Becky Murray — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:42:37 +0000

Four Brits, former five-star winners and an eye-catching skewbald mare are among the Mars Maryland 5 Star entries.

There are 23 combinations entered for the US event, which takes place at Fair Hill on 17-20 October.

Harry Meade, who jumped three clear cross-country rounds at Burghley last month, will fly across the pond with two rides; Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s experienced 17-year-old Away Cruising and 10-year-old Et Hop Du Matz, whom Harry co-owns with Mandy Gray. Away Cruising has seven five-star completions under his belt, his most recent at Badminton this year, when he and Harry were 20th. Et Hop Du Matz is making his five-star debut.

Oliver Townend returns to Maryland 5 Star, this time with Tokyo Olympic team gold medallist and three-time five-star winner Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. The 17-year-old gelding missed the spring season owing to a hoof abscess followed by a “minor issue”, but made his comeback at Cornbury last month, when he and Oliver were second in the open intermediate. On Saturday (28 September) they topped the Little Downham CCI4*-S.

Bubby Upton will be making her Maryland debut with her mother Rachel’s 14-year-old Cola III. Bubby came back from serious injury at the beginning of the year to finish 10th at Badminton with Cola, and the pair won the Hartpury CCI4*-S in August.

David Doel is making the trip with Gillian Jonas and Mary Fox’s 13-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed. The consistent pair have five top-level completions under their belt, of which four were top-10 placings, including second at Burghley last year.

Other Maryland 5 Star entries

New Zealand’s Tim Price brings forward 2021 Pau five-star winner and world team bronze medallist Falco, owned by Sue Benson.

For the home side, all eyes will be on Tamie Smith and Ellen Ahearn’s 18-year-old Mai Baum. Maryland 5 Star will be the 2023 Kentucky Three-Day CCI5 winners’ last top-level competition together; Tamie told Eventing Nation Mai Baum will retire from top-level eventing.

Former Maryland 5 Star winners Boyd Martin and On Cue will hope to reclaim their 2021 crown, while Boyd is also entered with his Tokyo Olympic ride and world silver medallist Tsetserleg, and five-star debutant Commando 3. Bruce Davidson Jnr is entered with Sorocaima, with whom he was ninth last year.

Canada’s Jessica Phoenix has two rides; Jim Phillips’ 14-year-old gelding Wabbit, and Jessica’s own 16-year-old skewbald mare Fluorescent Adolescent, who is making her five-star debut.

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‘It was like learning to ride again, but I never lost faith’: Bubby Upton on her ongoing recovery from serious injury

Pippa Roome — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 12:00:20 +0000

“It felt like I was learning to ride all over again,” says Bubby Upton, recalling her first experiences of being back on a horse after her major back surgery following a serious accident in August last year, which could have left her unable to walk.

Bubby says that as soon as she regained “basic function” and was able to carry out day-to-day activities again, in her head she wanted to ride, although no one knew if that would be possible: “I guess I had come to terms with the fact that I might never do the level of riding that I used to do. But for me, I had accepted that just being back on a horse in whatever capacity was enough for me.”

When she went for an appointment with her surgeon three months after the accident, everyone around Bubby Upton was managing her expectations – saying she was too weak and wouldn’t be given the go ahead to ride. She therefore hoped that she’d be given a date when she could ride, as a goal to work towards and help her stay mentally focused.

In an interview on episode 157 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, Bubby explains: “He looked at my scans, and he turned around and said that I could ride again. The World Class athlete health lead Ash Wallace was there and she was quite shocked. I just burst into tears. The surgeon was really happy with how it healed and how mobile I was – I think he was expecting me barely to be able to walk still, and I kind of strutted in and was showing off how much I had improved since he last saw me. He genuinely couldn’t believe it.

“Ash straight away was like, ‘That’s great that he said that you could ride again, but I don’t think he has any idea what level of riding we’re talking about here. So we’ll just start off in walk for a few weeks, and see how that goes. You just need to take it easy, provide us with feedback, let us know how you feel.’ Ash has obviously seen this before and I think she already knew how weird it was going to feel, whereas for me, it was just an overriding emotion of excitement.

“When I actually did get back on, reality sank in of how far I still had to go.”

Bubby describes her first experiences back in the saddle: “I had this big slip down to the left side. And it was just bizarre riding again because basically my mid-back down to my sacrum, the top of my glutes, is now all metal work, so it’s completely fixed. When you ride, obviously that’s all meant to move with the motion of the horse. So getting back on the horse and that movement wanting to happen, but not being able to happen, was the weirdest feeling ever.”

Gradually, Bubby built up what she could do and somehow, stayed mentally strong.

“If I’m being honest, reflecting back on it, it was incredibly demoralising – having been at the level that I was, and then being a complete shell of myself. It was hard, hardish, to remain positive, but I just did. I never lost faith that I would get back to what I was. Don’t ask me why, because if you came to watch me, you’d be like, ‘Oh my god. This is really bad’. I think everyone around me was thinking, ‘She has totally lost it’. But I kind of felt the improvements, the slow improvements each week.”

Bubby is always very keen to emphasise in interviews how lucky she has been to be able to return to the career she loves and she never wants to complain. But the reality is that she is also in constant pain.

She says: “Before, I never had to think about riding causing me pain – I just did it and I never got tired. I could ride as many horses as I liked in a day and and that was fine, whereas now there’s never not pain, but I really don’t ever want to sound like I’m sitting here complaining – I’m not whatsoever.

“But that would be the biggest difference, just having manage that and tolerate that, and listen to my body. Before I just pushed through the hours in the day and kind of squeezed it all in, whereas now there is very much a physical limitation of what I can and can’t do.

“Sitting trot is my biggest challenge and my body’s ability to adapt and bend and absorb. I was watching someone the other day on a horse that kind of whipped round, and their body was able to bend and absorb that change in direction, whereas mine doesn’t really do that any more. So I definitely come off a lot more than I used to, which frustrates me a lot.”

Bubby will have another surgery at the end of this year, with the hope this will reduce the pain. Before then, she is set to tackle the Mars Maryland 5 Star with her top horse Cola.

Hear Bubby Upton talk more about her accident, her ongoing recovery and her plans for Maryland by tuning in to episode 157 of The Horse & Hound Podcast here, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 157: five-star event rider Bubby Upton

Carol Phillips — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 07:05:07 +0000

On our 157th episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, we speak to Bubby Upton, who was shortisted for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. But this massive achievement only tells part of this talented young rider’s story, as she’s also fought back from a potentially career-ending injury around 12 months ago to compete once more at the very top of the sport. We hope you will enjoy listening.

Episode 157 of our popular audio service The Horse & Hound Podcast is now live.

Each episode is available for H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app, as well as here on the website. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode.

View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

On our 157th episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s Pippa Roome chats to young British event rider Bubby Upton on her incredible comeback from potential career-ending injuries sustained in a fall from a horse at home in August 2023. At the time, it was unclear whether Bubby would be able to walk again, let alone ride and compete at the highest level, but thanks to brilliant work by her surgical team, plus a huge amount of hard work and determination from Bubby herself, not only has she managed to get back to being able to ride, she was ready and able to compete at Badminton 2024. And now she has her eyes set on a trip across the Atlantic to Maryland 5 Star in just a few weeks’ time.

“If you had told me this time last year after my accident that I would have achieved what I’ve achieved this season, I don’t think I would have believed you. Just being back competing this year was enough for me, let alone being shortlisted for the Olympics” – Bubby Upton on her successful return to the highest level of the sport

We would love to hear your feedback on all our podcasts, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 157

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Cola – Bubby Upton’s ‘potential young rider horse’ who’s on Britain’s Olympic long-list

Pippa Roome — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 17:30:54 +0000

Not many horses take their jockeys from young riders to the Olympic long-list, but that’s what Cola has done with Bubby Upton.

“I count my lucky stars because never in a million years did we think he’d do what he’s done,” says Bubby. “He was bought as a potential young rider horse, won two medals at that level and has now completed five five-stars. I remember training with Caroline Moore in the youth system, jumping through a water complex, and she turned to my mum and said, ‘This horse will go round Badminton one day’.”

Bubby was 17 when she saw a picture of Cola on Facebook “jumping with his knees round his ears” and rang Andrew Williams at GHF Equestrian.

She explains: “I’d tried a couple of their horses, so they knew what I liked – he said, ‘Bubby, this is too weird, [my business partner] Vicky Tuffs just said I should get in touch with you about him.’ I tried him and loved him. He was only six but you could tell he had power and presence.

“Cola always had that class but as a young horse he was so spooky. I was in individual gold at the 2018 young rider Europeans and he spooked at the tradestands across country and ran out. It was gutting, but now we know how to make him tick – he’s grown up a lot but he’s still spooky at heart, so we cross-country school him before every run.”

Bubby Upton and Cola at the first trot-up at Badminton 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The pair’s early successes included winning the national seven-year-old championships at Osberton in 2017 and second in the young rider national championships at Houghton in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, they also put right their error from the 2018 young ride Europeans and took home individual silver and team gold.

Bubby Upton and Cola at Houghton 2018. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Bubby Upton and Cola: stepping up to five-star

In 2021, the pair moved up to five-star, finishing 12th at Pau Horse Trials on their debut at the top level. The following year they were on track to nail a great cross-country round at Badminton Horse Trials when they had a gutting run-out at the final fence, finishing 36th.

Bubby said at the time: “He tried so hard, did everything I asked. I did something unforgivable – for a split second I went too fast to the finish line. I can’t believe I’ve done that to him.”

A strong Burghley Horse Trials debut followed that autumn when they finished 14th, despite the fact Bubby says the horse (by Catoki out of a Contender mare) doesn’t really have the breeding for this tough track.

“Cola doesn’t have much blood but he has a heart of gold. On paper he shouldn’t be galloping round Burghley, but he digs so deep and plugs away – and he keeps coming back and doing it again,” says Bubby.

Bubby Upton and Cola at Burghley 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

In 2023, Bubby made amends for her error the year before at Badminton by piloting Cola to eighth. The pair were entered to return to Burghley when the rider suffered serious injuries in a fall at home. She made a remarkable comeback to compete Cola at Badminton again in 2024 – and would have won but for a broken frangible pin across country. The pair finished 10th.

“He’s been faultless all week – I’m proud as Punch of what he’s gone and done this week after everything we’ve been through,” said Bubby following the pair’s clear showjumping round.

Bubby Upton and Cola at Badminton 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The result earned Bubby Upton and Cola a spot on the British eventing Olympic entries for Paris 2024.

“I wish I had Cola as a six-year-old now – I know so much more and would have trained him so differently,” Bubby concludes. “He’s taught me so much for all my other horses.”

Bubby Upton and Cola at Badminton 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Groom’s view: ‘He’s left war wounds’

Bubby’s head girl Katie Dutton holds a special place in her heart for Cola as he took her to her first five-stars as a groom.