There will be less prize-money on offer at the first two five-star events of the year, and a shorter run-up to them, but organisers say they are on track to deliver. H&H finds out more about how organisers are doing, a year into the pandemic

PREPARATIONS for Badminton continue apace as top events grapple with uncertainties and financial hits owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Badminton made the call in October that the 2021 event (5–9 May) would run behind closed doors.

The Gloucestershire CCI5* is the first European top-level international horse trials of the year and organisers are working to ensure both the 2021 fixture and future events are viable, given the unique circumstances.

“The lead-up is not as long so our onsite preparations are starting a little later than usual, but everything is in hand,” a Badminton spokesman told H&H on Sunday (14 February).

“We seem to have escaped the worst of the snow as yet and Eric Winter, our course-designer, has visited us recently to check on the cross-country track.”

Badminton final scores

Covid has hit the event’s finances, which has resulted in redundancies. The prize money total has also been cut by close to 59%. The FEI has rules on minimum prize totals for CCI5*s (€125,000/£109,079), which it has temporarily waived owing to the pandemic, and although Badminton’s total has been hugely cut, it would still meet the minimum requirement in a normal year.

The 2021 Badminton winner will receive £32,000, compared to £100,000 in 2019, and while the total prize fund is connected to the number of starters, the 2021 pot (based on between 77 and 80 starters) is £115,055 as opposed to £360,750. This marks a reduction of £245,695.

“The scenario of this year’s event still has significant costs, but with greatly reduced revenue streams,” added the spokesman. “Regrettably, like many other events, every aspect of Badminton 2021 is taking a cut in order to make it happen and ensure the event is sustainable going forward – this has involved very difficult decisions including office redundancies and reducing the prize money for 2021.”

British Eventing’s (BE) latest plans are for the 2021 season to start no sooner than 26 March, while the nation awaits Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s 22 February announcement for more information on the resumption of outdoor sport as part of the roadmap out of lockdown.

A BE spokesman said on 10 February that the organisation is “exploring all opportunities to ensure elite combinations are fit and ready to run” at Badminton, within government requirements.

Kentucky (22–25 April) reinstated its CCI5* class after a grassroots fundraising effort, by the eventing community, raised more than $550,000 (£395,491) in under a week.

Kentucky’s five-star class was cancelled on 2 February, while fans and riders questioned why a CCI4*-S and other classes could potentially still be held, but not the CCI5*. Organisers said this is because running a five-star is more expensive than other classes.

“The uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic placed us in the financially impossible position of having to run the five-star event without spectators, a situation that left us no choice but to cancel the five-star for 2021, in order to preserve it for many years to come,” said Mike Cooper, president of Equestrian Events, Inc. (EEI), which produces the fixture.

“We are humbled and honoured by the response of the eventing community as they’ve stepped up in a mind-blowing way enabling us to go forward.”

EEI executive director Lee Carter confirmed to H&H on 14 February that prize money total is likely to be around $155,000 (£111,437) in 2021, compared to $400,000 (£287,580) in non-pandemic years.

The fixture had just been reinstated on the official FEI calendar as H&H went to press.

 Calendar loss

THE Event Rider Masters (ERM) series will not run in 2021 and a question mark remains over when it may return, with the only timescale given being “as soon as conditions are right”.

The CCI4*-S series, founded in 2016, features top-ranked international riders and big prize money, and is hosted at major fixtures across Europe.

The 2020 season was cancelled owing to Covid-19, and while a spokesman said at the time that ERM’s commercial partners and backers were “committed to making the series run in 2021”, the reality of the ongoing pandemic means this season has also been lost.

“The combination of uncertainty around the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on live events – and the challenge for sponsors to find value in eventing at the level set by the FEI for ERM – means that there is no prospect of delivering a series this year to the high standards we have set within any reasonable financial parameters,” said an ERM spokesman.

He added that the team has delivered the “best version of eventing broadcast the sport has seen” and is “very proud” of what it created for riders, owners, fans and venues.

“However, ERM has only survived thanks to the support of our backers, and without evidence that the sport is going to be able to come together to support a stand-alone commercial proposition, that backing has been withdrawn,” said the spokesman.

“We continue to work to find ways to promote the development of eventing, especially in the area of high-quality broadcast production and distribution, and we will be ready to restart a series as soon as the conditions are right.”

ERM declined to comment further when asked by H&H if this is likely to be 2022.

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Event Rider Masters’ creator Chris Stone has aspirations to run the eventing series at five-star short level in the future. H&H finds out why and garners opinion from riders on the plans...

QUESTIONS have been raised over the future of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) series.

Creator Chris Stone has asked the FEI to approve the ERM’s running at five-star short level, with five-star dressage and showjumping, while the cross-country phase would remain at four-star level.

He told H&H this would help attract top brands as sponsors to the series, the aim of which has been to grow and promote eventing, and find new revenue, but opinion among riders on whether it’s the right next step for the series is split.

“We’ve been hugely successful in building a global audience,” said Mr Stone, citing the “phenomenal” numbers who watch the series.

“We’ve shown we know how to present eventing and capture the audience, and our engagement on social media is at a level eight times normal sport presentations.”

Mr Stone added that to his sponsors, the type of audience is key; for ERM, it is mainly women, so brands have access to more and different people to most sports.

“But global brands want to be involved in the very top of sport,” he said. “It’s important to them.”

Mr Stone said without this top level, about which he is in talks with the FEI, brands tell him it is “difficult to support us”.

“It’s a barrier to bringing on board the commercial partners we need to make the series successful long term,” he said.

An FEI spokesman said: “The FEI is working in close collaboration with all those involved, to consider the possibility of developing a new competition category within the framework of FEI procedures.”

Rider and FEI eventing committee member William Fox-Pitt is not sure the ERM would work at five-star short level.

“Chris is proposing five-star dressage and showjumping but four-star cross-country, and we don’t think that’s right for the sport. We want the cross-country to be the focus,” he told H&H.

William said he understands Mr Stone wants a “pinnacle” event, and one possibility is a five-star ERM series finale, but he does not feel the plan is right.

“I think the ERM is one of the most exciting things that has happened in our sport, but it doesn’t need to change,” he said.

“We’re lucky to have it and I really hope it can come back; but I think four-star does the trick.”

Fellow top rider Alex Bragg told H&H he believes ERM securing top sponsors is vital, to the series and eventing.

“The series has only benefited our sport,” he said. “In the exposure, the way it creates 
horse and rider profiles to follow, even non-horsey people; it’s all of huge benefit.”

Alex added that the exposure is beneficial to riders’ sponsors, and the prize money very important to professionals making a living. And he believes the chance to compete more at five-star dressage and jumping would boost standards.

“Especially before a championship; you can compete at that level with less mileage on horses’ legs than on a long-format cross-country,” he said. “I can only see a benefit.”

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Eventing fans will be able to follow the first simulated Event Rider Masters (ERM) competition this Sunday evening (12 April) and play along by selecting their own team for the event via a free app.

Equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings and technology company SAP have been working for almost eight months on the Eventing Manager app, which was initially designed for fans to compete against each other as the sport unfolded at live competitions. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has altered these plans, but fans will be able to use the app for simulated competitions before live eventing kicks off again.

The app, which can be downloaded now in the App Store and the Google Play Store, allows fans to select a team of riders for the (real or simulated) event. Players have a budget for buying riders, with prices set using EquiRatings and SAP’s predictive analysis tool and updated as the competition continues.

“This project builds on our work with the Eventing Prediction Centre,” said EquiRatings managing director Diarmuid Byrne. “SAP wanted to ensure that the offerings they bring to equestrian sport can bring a new experience for fans. I am confident this is going to do just that.”

The first competition using the Eventing Manager app will be the Barefoots Retreat Burnham Market Simulation, this Sunday. Fans can watch the competition live at 7.45pm on the ERM website or on Facebook Live on the ERM page.

Twenty riders will be chosen for each simulated ERM competition and, taking their past form into account, EquiRatings will run a computer simulation of the event. This will create the likely results for the each phase, with every rider having a chance of a good or bad competition – just as in real eventing, they could have a personal best dressage score, only to throw it all away with a refusal on the cross-country phase.

The “ERM SIM Season” is also part of the new #RidersConnected campaign, a joint effort between ERM, EquiRatings, Black Horse (the company behind spectator judging) and Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, brought together by SAP.

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#RidersConnected was launched during a Facebook Live on EquiRatings’ page on Wednesday (8 April) evening and is “about bringing together equestrian riders, fans and friends to support each other, wherever in the world you are”, according to the campaign website.

“As the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, the safety and well-being of the community we have built together is most important. We have assembled a selection of messages, videos, games and content to keep us all connected until we can be together again.”

After the launch, commentator Nicole Brown conducted a live Q&A broadcast on the ERM Instagram page with Gemma Tattersall and this is also available on demand on ERM’s channels. Q&As will be a regular feature during the lockdown and on Wednesday, 15 April, Nicole will chat to current and double ERM champion Chris Burton.

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The 2020 Event Rider Masters (ERM) series has been cancelled as the team felt it was impossible to implement the events “in a manner that has an acceptable risk level” in light of the international nature of the series and the developing coronavirus pandemic.

The big-money eventing series run at CCI4*-S level was due to hold four fixtures in 2020, at Burnham Market, Chatsworth, Arville and Jardy. The team announced on 2 March that Millstreet and Lignière, which were part of the original line-up, had been dropped “to condense and intensify the 2020 Masters season, providing a crescendo of sporting excitement leading into the Tokyo Olympics”.

Today the whole series became a victim of coronavirus. A statement said that a full risk assessment had been carried out in line with recommendations of the relevant health authorities to evaluate the health and safety of those involved, from staff and contractors to organisers, volunteers, riders and riders’s staff.

The statement said: “The ERM 2020 series is spread over three countries, all of whom are currently affected by Covid-19 and involves a production team of 60 people travelling from six different countries. The ERM riders throughout each season represent at least 20 different nations. The logistics of moving the multi-national production team from venue to venue is impossible to implement in a manner that has an acceptable risk level.

“As a result of this assessment, it is clear that there are too many risks associated with conducting the ERM series this year and regrettably ERM has made the decision to cancel the 2020 series.”

Burnham Market, Chatsworth, Arville and Jardy are currently all planning to host their events, without the ERM class.

ERM will be back next year, the statement concluded: “The commercial partners and backers of ERM are committed to making the series run in 2021.”

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The 2020 season should have been the fifth renewal of ERM after the series made its debut in 2016.

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The Event Rider Master Series (ERM) has announced its dates for 2020 – adding a second UK venue to the calendar.

The new addition, Burnham Market International, Norfolk, will be the opening leg (10-11 April) of the series, with Chatsworth International Horse Trials, Derbyshire, to follow on 10-11 May. The addition of Burnham Market follows the loss of Barbury Horse Trials and Blair Castle Horse Trials in 2019.

Legs three and four are Belgium’s Concours Complet D’Arville (27-28 June) and France’s Haras De Jardy Eventing Show (13-14 July). Ireland’s Millstreet International Horse Trials, Cork, returns for its second year providing the fifth leg, while France hosts the final leg, Concours Complet International Lignieres en Berry (10-11 October).

A spokesman for ERM said the series, won by Australian Chris Burton for the past two consecutive years, condenses traditional Olympic equestrian three-day eventing into two days of competition with a shortened cross-country course.

“ERM is the most valuable series in eventing. It provides the world’s most successful event riders with an international stage on which to compete for an unprecedented total prize-fund of £350,000,” he said.

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“The prize pot for the UK leg is £50,000 while each European leg offers €57,000. The riders compete for the much-conveted championship title and an additional £50,000 prize fund shared by the top three riders at the end of the season.”

The spokesman added broadcasting of the series will be freely available to fans globally online.

“Every second of each phase, of every competitor, will be professionally live streamed by ERM’s TV production partner, Red Handed TV. A total of eight TV highlight programmes are also produced and these shows are distributed by ERM’s TV distribution partner, Sunset+Vine, to an ever-increasing list of broadcast partners globally,” he said.

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Laura Collett scored her first Event Rider Masters (ERM) win this weekend at Chatsworth (11-12 May), leading from pillar to post on London 52.

“That horse is unbelievable,” said Laura. “He’s finished second so many times, and he only started at CCI4*-S [previously CIC3*] last year. I just can’t believe it! I’m the luckiest girl in the world to sit on London 52. Three years ago, he’d never seen a cross-country fence — he’s come a hell of a long way, so roll on the future!”

The 10-year-old London 52 belongs to Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and his rider.

The pair kicked off their Chatsworth campaign with a dressage of 26.9 and added nothing in the showjumping. Their margin going into cross-country was increased when Irish rider Sam Watson — second after showjumping on the dun Tullabeg Flamenco — had a run-out and Laura’s 7.6 time-faults allowed her to stay four penalties ahead of the field to collect the £16,000 first prize.

Tom McEwen made it a British one-two when he took second on Barbara Cooper’s Figaro Van Het Broekxhof, with whom he recently won the Grantham Cup at Belton.

“I’m lost for words,” said Tom, who was making the ERM podium for the first time. “I’m delighted for the horse, and delighted for the owners. It’s just been a great weekend — and lovely to finish off in the sunshine! It’s a real busy track, and there’s a lot coming up very quickly on the hills, so you’ve got a lot to take into consideration out there. It’s about riding with your brain, rather than too much bravery.”

Lucy Jackson landed third for New Zealand riding Gillian Greenleas’ Superstition II.

She said: “I’m super, super, super chuffed with him. Unfortunately, I probably had too much control; if I’d gone that little bit quicker we could have been higher! But he’s green, he’s extravagant, and he’s pretty arrogant at times, so there were times when I needed to give him a second longer to assess the fences. It was busy out there.”

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Chatsworth is the only ERM leg in Britain this year. The lucrative six-leg series continues at Wiesbaden, Germany, on 7-8 June.

Full report from Chatsworth, including ERM and all the other international sections, in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday (16 May issue). 

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The Event Rider Masters Series (ERM) has announced its dates for 2019 — dropping Barbury Horse Trials and Blair Castle Horse Trials from its schedule to include just one UK venue.

The six-leg series, which offers a total prize fund of £350,000, has instead expanded internationally, taking on board two new European dates.

Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland (24-15 Aug) will join the line-up for the first time this season as leg five, while this year’s final will be hosted at the Concours Complet International Lignieres en Berry in France (5-6 October).

The opening event, and sole UK leg, will be The Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials (11-12 May).

Legs two and three and four are Belgium’s Concours Complet D’Arville (22-23 June), Germany’s Internationales Wiesbadener Pfingstturnier (7-8 June) and France’s Haras De Jardy Eventing Show (13-14 July).

In a statement released today (1 February), Barbury organisers said it would not be hosting the ERM leg following the “withdrawal of title sponsor St James’s place after 14 years of support”, also citing “changes to the balance of the ERM calendar this year”.

“Alternative options for the continuation of the 2019 event are being explored,” the statement concluded.

ERM took over the running of Barbury in 2017, following the sale of the estate by Nigel Bunter to Chris Woodhouse.

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In recent years, the ERM series has continued to expand into Europe, losing some of its original UK schedule. In last year’s series, Blenheim and Gatcombe were lost in order to take on the Belgian leg.

The ERM is the most valuable series in eventing, offering a prize pot of €57,000 for each European date and £50,000 for Chatsworth – with an additional £50,000 series prize divided between the top three riders at the end of the season. Each event is broadcast live at www.eventridermasters.tv.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Chris Burton won the final leg of the 2018 Event Rider Masters today (Sunday, 26 August) at the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials and so confirmed himself as winner of the series. In total, he won £46,000 — £16,000 for the leg victory and £30,000 for the series.

The Australian put in the only round inside the time across country in pouring rain to move up from fourth after showjumping, riding the syndicate-owned Graf Liberty.

“I’m delighted with him — I was very nervous as I was worried about doing something silly like jumping the wrong fence,” he said. “I’d like to thank the owners for all their support.”

The showjumping caused a shake-up in this class. Dressage leader and world number one Oliver Townend (Cillnabradden Evo) and runner-up Chris both had the pink upright at fence five down, which left Emily King and Dargun in pole position heading into the cross-country.

But Emily pulled up early on course, leaving Chris as the winner. Oliver took second in the leg after finishing with 2.8 time-faults on Sally-Anne Egginton’s horse.

“It’s very special to be second in the final leg — people say Cillnabradden Evo had a wobble earlier this season, but who wouldn’t after such consistency?” said Oliver.

Emily Philp took third for Britain with the second-fastest round (2.4 time-faults), riding her father Nigel’s Camembert.

“I was just daring myself not to take a pull — it was a bit scary, but he was incredible,” she said.

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Britain’s Laura Collett finished eighth in the leg on London 52 and secured second on the series leaderboard.

“London 52 was awesome and he’s an unbelievably exciting horse for the future,” she said.

Tim Price finished third in the series after sixth in the Blair leg on Wesko.

Full report from Blair in next week’s H&H (issue dated 30 August), plus our complete World Equestrian Games preview.

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Britain’s Alex Bragg scored the biggest triumph of his career when he took home the €18,000 cheque for winning the Event Rider Masters at Jardy, France at the weekend (14-15 July).

Riding Sally Ellicott’s Zagreb, Alex kicked off his campaign with a personal best in the dressage to score 23.6.

“Zagreb is feeling great after his summer break,” said Alex after his test. “Things didn’t quite go to plan in the spring but the surface here gave him a great chance to express himself. He’s a really genuine jumper and he’s feeling amazing so I’ll keep pressing the buttons and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”

Sunday also went to plan for Alex when he put in a clear in the showjumping and stormed through the finish flags inside the cross-country time to stay on his dressage score.

“I am over the moon. I was riding a bit like a demon out there, I really, really wanted it. I can’t believe I was faster than Izzy [Taylor] and Gemma [Tattersall], they are absolute speed queens. Tim [Price] is a bit more laid back so I expected to be speedier than him!” said Alex.

New Zealand’s Tim Price also finished on his first-phase mark to move up from fourth after dressage to land second on Wesko, who has been away from the competitive fray for two years.

Tim said: “I’ll take that! I was saying to Billy [Levett], I don’t think I’ve had another one like him, it’s so much fun having him back. You don’t know until you know when you bring a horse like him back out at the top levels, but I guess now I know. It all came flooding back out there — he is just so much fun.”

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Izzy Taylor took third for Britain on Bramham CIC3* winner Be Touchable, with Gemma Tattersall making it three Brits in the top four with fourth place on Chico Bella P.

“What an amazing mare she is — she’s such a careful horse who wants to do it for us. She loves the big occasions and she’s having the best week,” said Gemma after her clear showjumping round.

The final leg of the ERM series is at Blair Castle, in Scotland (25-26 August). Australia’s Chris Burton leads the series, with Britain’s Laura Collett second and Tim Price third.

Full report from Jardy in this week’s H&H magazine (dated 19 July).

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Opinion

When the Event Rider Masters (ERM) series first started in 2016, it was definitely seen as a UK thing. Now, with half of this year’s events in continental Europe, riders over there have really embraced it.

ERM went to Arville in Belgium for the first time last weekend. It is a stunning venue, with a chateau that has been in eventer Lara de Liedekerke-Meier’s family for many generations as the backdrop, and beautiful parkland.

When we first walked the cross-country course, we thought, “Oh God, the ground is really hard.” But the organisers kept reassuring us that it would be OK — and sure enough, by the time we rode on it on cross-country day, it was absolutely fine.

The course itself didn’t seem overly big — it appeared quite technical, but when we walked it, we didn’t quite see how difficult it would be for the horses to read some of the combinations.

Fence 9abc was very influential. It consisted of a big brush oxer, followed by a tight four or five-stride curving line to a brush corner, after which came two straight, long strides to a very skinny triple brush. It came up quickly and horses weren’t able to read it clearly — either it was a very clever fence that caught people out, or it wasn’t a great question.

Chris Burton showed his class by winning on Polystar I, whose owner, Trisha Rickards, must have set some sort of record — she also owns or co-owns Jonelle Price’s Badminton and Luhmühlen CCI4* winners.

Imagine that trio of wins in just seven weeks. It is brilliant for her; she has been involved in eventing for a long time. “Burto” said at the beginning of the week that Trisha’s luck was so in that all he had to do was turn up, and he was right!

Blyth Tait’s father always used to say that today’s headlines are tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappings, and it must have felt a bit like that for Jonelle. After her back-to-back CCI4* victories, she fell in the CIC2* at Arville and didn’t get round in the ERM. This sport never lets you rest on your laurels for long.

Feeling rusty

I didn’t have a particularly good weekend. Leonidas II pulled a muscle, so I moved NZB Campino, who hadn’t run since Pau last autumn, from the CIC2* into the ERM CIC3* class. He was very underprepared, and was a bit naughty in the dressage, fresh in the showjumping and a trifle rusty across country. I set off wanting a nice schooling round to get him back into the game, but it wasn’t the sort of course that allowed that.

I was also probably a bit rusty — having cut my string right back, and with the spring CCIs out of the way, I had spent the three previous weekends at home and I feel like a part-time rider. But Saumur, which seems a long time ago now, was great. My little chap McClaren was just amazing, finishing second in the CCI3*.

For the stage he is at, he went as well as I could possibly have hoped for, and our four time-faults across country were my fault. I thought I was well up on the clock and had my minute-markers a bit out. But McClaren, who did his first intermediate at Withington last April, was incredible — watch this space with him.

From now on, it all kicks off again — Barbury, Jardy, Aachen and right through to the World Equestrian Games.

Ref Horse & Hound; 28 June 2018

A new eventing game where fans have to predict outcomes while choosing whether to follow their gut or the data has proved a hit.

The EquiRatings Stacks app, created with SAP Sports, is a strategy game, played in real time and influenced by the competition as it happens.

It was launched on 23 June for the Arville leg of the Event Rider Masters series and already has 400 downloads.

The aim is to get the most correct answers in a row to build your “stack” as high as possible. Players can choose to answer every question, or play tactically and stick to just the questions they feel sure they can answer correctly.

Questions are based on the live event as it takes place, with examples such as: “Kincooley Cruising (Tim Price) has two rounds at this level. One clear and one down last time out. Will they keep the poles up?”

The app is free to download and play, with a leaderboard showing how you compare to others, including your friends and top riders who are playing along at the same time.

The Arville game had a first place prize of an iPad, which was won by Jill Elliott with a stack of nine.

“It’s really good fun,” EquiRatings managing director Diarmuid Byrne told H&H. “It gives fans a way to really engage with the live action.”

He added there is so much activity on social media during events that they wanted to give people another way to engage with the sport as it is happening.

“The reason we decided to link it to what we do is people love it when we make predictions and get them wrong,” said Diarmuid.

“What we have been able to show in the past two years is there is a lot of value in following data when you are trying to predict what happens next.”

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Two poles down for Tom Carlisle and Upsilon proved one of the major “stack busters” of the weekend, with more than 90% of players and the statistics predicting a clear round.

“People tell us all the time ‘you can’t predict everything based on numbers’ and ‘we know things you don’t’,” added Diarmuid.

“So we wanted to find a way of engaging with them and the live action where people could show us whether they are as good as they say they are.”

With another iPad available for the winner at Barbury (7-8 July), the game is on.

Click here to view the app in the Google Play app store and here to find it on iTunes

In this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 28 June 2018, don’t miss our full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting, including all the showjumping and showing action, plus don’t miss our six-page report from Royal Ascot.

We also have a feature on the much discussed whip rules across the disciplines and in this week’s ‘Vet clinic’ we find out how to spot the signs of sand colic.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Oliver Townend took second for Britain in the second leg of the 2018 Event Rider Masters series, held at Wiesbaden, German, last week (18-19 May).

Riding Sally-Anne Egginton’s Cillnabradden Evo, who was instrumental in helping him secure the series title in 2016, Oliver was second throughout the competition. The pair scored 22.8 in the dressage, showjumped clear and had just 2.4 time-faults across country.

Ingrid Klimke won the class on her European champion SAP Hale Bob OLD. The German led the dressage on 22.2 and added 1.6 time-penalties in the final phase to finish 1.4 penalties ahead of Oliver.

“I am thrilled with the horse,” said world number one Oliver. “To get so close to Hale Bob is very special and I couldn’t be happier with how he has performed.”

Wiesbaden attracts big crowds and the cross-country winds through the tradestands, finishing in the main arena.

“Bobby did such a wonderful job today. It was the best feeling to ride through the Schloss Park with so many people cheering us on,” said Ingrid.

A second German also took a podium place when Julia Krajewski landed third with her 2018 Luhmühlen CCI4* winner, Samourai Du Thot.

“Sam loves it here and he’s always been really comfortable in front of all of the people watching him,” said Julia. “I was maybe a bit conservative at the start but by the end I could let him run and jump. He really loves his job and I love riding him. I am very proud to share the podium with two legends.”

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The Netherlands’ Tim Lips was fourth riding Bayro, with New Zealander Tim Price in fifth on Cekatinka.

Piggy French, who won the Chatsworth leg, and Ingrid are now tied for second place on the ERM series leaderboard ahead of the third 2018 ERM leg at Arville, Belgium (23-24 June). Tim Price holds the lead, six points ahead of them.

Full report from Wiesbaden in H&H this week (issue dated 24 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Piggy French claimed the £16,000 first prize in the first leg of the 2018 Event Rider Masters series at Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth.

Riding Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo, with whom she represented Britain at the 2017 European Championships at Strzegom in Poland, Piggy was in pole position going into cross-country after showjumping clear.

At that stage Ireland’s Sarah Ennis was on top of the podium after collecting just two cross-country time-faults aboard Horseware Stellor Rebound, with whom she won the CIC3* at Chatsworth in 2014.

But Piggy’s dressage score of 27.3 meant she had several seconds in hand, and the pair posted a flowing, economical round to cross the line with two seconds to spare. They became just the sixth combination to make the time in the CIC3* classes at Chatsworth since 1999.

“My horse deserves a great day like this – I’m over the moon,” said Piggy. “It was hard work out there on quite soft ground, but he makes my job easy because he’s so balanced, and you can shorten and lengthen his stride easily.

“I thought at the beginning of the year that he would be great for this series – it suits him – and I hope we have more fun with him this year.”

Sarah Ennis, whose “Rocket” lived up to his name by being very strong round the twists and turns of Ian Stark’s track, collected £12,000 for finishing second.

“We had some hairy moments, but I didn’t have much say in the whole thing – luckily he’s super-sharp with his front legs,” said Sarah.

Third was Izzy Taylor on Call Me Maggie May, who rose up from 16th after dressage with a double clear round and 4.8 time-faults.

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Dressage leaders Laura Collett and Mr Bass finished fourth after dropping one pole in the showjumping and collecting 6.4 time-faults across country, while France’s Gwendolen Fer, second after showjumping, fell to fourth with eight time-faults.

Their compatriots and fellow CCI4* winners Maxime Livio and Qalao Des Mers were sixth going into cross-country, but Qalao Des Mers unseated his jockey at fence five.

The second leg of the Event Rider Masters series takes place in Wiesbaden, Germany, this weekend (18-19 May), and boasts a seriously competitive field, including Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke, Oliver Townend, Gemma Tattersall and Christopher Burton.

For the full report from Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth Horse Trials, check out this Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale 17 May.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Event Rider Masters (ERM) is back for 2018 and the £350,000 competition series has expanded to Belgium.

This year there will be six legs, in which the world’s leading event riders and horses will compete in a shortened television-friendly CIC3* format.

The 2018 series will not feature legs at Blenheim or Gatcombe, but will be introduced to Concours Complet d’Arville in Belguim.

Britain’s Gemma Tattersall was the 2017 ERM champion with wins at Chatsworth and Gatcombe Park.

“I enjoyed the pressure of the 2017 series and cannot wait to set my season around the 2018 series with my team of horses,” she said.

“The new event at Arville will be a challenge and the even mix between UK and Europe will definitely increase the international competition within the series. I cannot wait!”

ERM legs will run at the following events:

• Chatsworth International Horse Trials, Derbyshire, 12 – 13 May
• Internationales Wiesbadener Pfingstturnier, Germany, 18 – 19 May
• Concours Complet d’Arville, Belguim, 23 – 24 June
• Barbury Castle International Horse Trials, Wiltshire, 7 – 8 July
• Haras de Jardy Eventing Show, France, 14 – 15 July
• Series finale at Blair Castle International Horse Trials, Perthshire, 25 – 26August

Coverage will include live competition data and footage available via Facebook Live and YouTube.

It is also available to view free by anyone in the world at www.eventridermasters.tv

ERM’s sponsor SAP is working alongside the team to develop more audience engagement technologies as the year progresses.

“The 2018 series marks an exciting progression for ERM,” said ERM chief executive Chris Stone.

“Not only are we building on the eventing showcase the series has developed, but we are planning to introduce even more technology with SAP to push the boundaries of our sport’s presentation.

“The expansion into mainland Europe with the addition of Arville embraces the truly global nature of eventing and will definitely make the competition more intense. It is a privilege to introduce ERM to the Belgian eventing audience.”

Mr Stone said ERM will provide eventing fans a way of seeing star riders prepare for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in September.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the countless volunteers, officials, owners, fans, grooms, athletes, venues and the ERM team who make the series possible,” he said.

“2018 is going to be a very exciting year and we cannot wait for the series to begin at Chatsworth.”

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Arville event organiser Barbara de Liedekerke said her team was “thrilled” to become a part of the series and host the first Belgian ERM leg.

“Eventing in Belgium is a growing sport and we are excited to bring this great series together with ERM to the Belgian fans,” she said.

Henrike Paetz of SAP added that the innovations it is creating with ERM are an “exciting way to bring fans and media closer to the sport”.

To find out more about the 2018 series, and why it won’t be held at Blenheim or Gatcombe this year, in this week’s H&H magazine, out today (Thursday, 2 February, 2018)

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Opinion

This year’s Blenheim was a success. The cross-country courses were good, and I liked the new riders’ tent and where it was situated. The Event Rider Masters’ (ERM) final was very exciting, and I was delighted to finish third in the series overall — rather better than last year’s dismal effort where I didn’t score any points at all!

I believe the final will take place elsewhere next year, which is a shame for ERM as Blenheim is an amazing venue, but I think Blenheim will be the biggest loser as ERM has attracted a new global audience and fan base to eventing this year. The series has built on last year’s beginnings, and next year will be even better. I’m certainly all fired up for it. The competition has been really tough, and more and more Europe-based riders will want to be part of it in the future.

Adding the ERM end-of-season party to Blenheim’s traditional Saturday-night party created a great night and a big improvement on recent years. I have one gripe about Blenheim and other events — it is so hard to get healthy food options. There is a real catering opportunity here for an enterprising person — is it surprising that so many of us cook and eat in our lorries when the majority of what is on offer is burgers and chips?

A test for judges

As has often been the case this season, there were big discrepancies in the dressage marks at Blenheim. I had a thought about this — I am having to retake my lorry driving licence at the moment, and part of it is a test in hazard perception where you watch videos of potential hazards.

Dressage judges could have a similar test, where they see horses doing different movements and have to mark them. There would then be an acceptable range of marks for each movement seen and if the candidates fall outside that range too many times, they fail the test and have to retrain before trying again.

There are people, such as Marilyn Payne on the FEI eventing committee, who appear to be proactive in improving judging standards, which is a positive move.

End-of-season plans

We are now on the countdown to the last few events of the season. It will be exciting to see the changes at Boekelo, which is an event that continues to innovate and improve, which is partly why it is so popular with riders. It has a huge new all-weather arena for dressage and showjumping, and as the site has moved somewhat, we look forward to seeing whether the cross-country has a fresh look and feel.

I also have two horses going to Pau — NZB Campino, who missed Burghley because of a pulled muscle, and Kiltubrid Rhapsody, for whom it should be the ideal step-up to four-star. Pau is another lovely event where hopefully we get the last of the European sunshine — and a bit of foie gras…

And on to 2018

The Brits are on a high after European gold, Oliver Townend’s Burghley win and Gemma Tattersall’s ERM series victory. It is amazing how fortunes can turn around and we can look forward to a highly competitive World Equestrian Games next year. And Blenheim showed there are some lovely young horses coming through to the top level among various nations, which is exciting.

Ref Horse & Hound; 28 September 2017

Izzy Taylor proved unstoppable to win the final leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) series at the SsangYong Blenheim International Horse Trials.

Izzy and the scopey Be Touchable followed yesterday’s leading dressage performance with a foot-perfect showjumping round.

The pair were therefore last to in the cross-country.

A run-out at the skinny brush after the ditch at fence 14 for both Oliver Townend with Cooley Master Class and Shane Rose on CP qualified, who were lying second and third, gave Izzy a 17-second margin ahead of Tim Price and Ascona M.

But the combination proved that they did not need it and a quick round resulted in them picking up just 1.2 cross-county time penalties to win by 5.7 penalties on a score of 36.9.

“I quite like the pressure and luckily it works well for me,” said Izzy, adding she heard how much time she had in hand while galloping between fences four and five.

“[Be Touchable] is a cheeky little thing – he is very talented and finds it very easy.”

She added he was “fantastic” through the tricky coffin combination at fence 14, which – like the CCI3* – caused problems for a number of combinations.

The win was Izzy’s eighth international victory of 2017, which she credits to her horsepower, owners and team.

“It has been really exciting this year, but also hopefully for next year and the future,” she said.

A blistering round from Christopher Burton and Graf Liberty gave the Australian a brief spell in the top spot on the ERM podium.

However, just three horses later, Tim and the nine-year-old mare Ascona M skipped around the course to also complete inside the time and bump Christopher down the leaderboard to finish an eventual third.

“[Ascona M] has really come along – she has legs that go everywhere, she’s like a spider,” said Tim.

“She’s getting better with time – she has got better and better as she has got more mileage and that is why the time was gettable for her, when I would typically say she’s not the sort of horse that could get the time round here.

“She’s smooth and she picked up all the fences really well.”

“Bricks and mortar”

Gemma Tattersall was given a chance to celebrate her phenomenal ERM success this year as she was crowned 2017 ERM series champion in front of Blenheim Palace.

Gemma was revealed as the series victor after the penultimate leg of the series at Blair Castle as her success that far meant that nobody could catch her on points.

She also finished fourth in the Blenheim leg today (16 September) aboard Chico Bella P, taking points total to 132 and her series winnings to £81,000 this year. Half of this is shared with her owners.

“I have had some other results at four-star level and every bit of money I can I put away, even teaching money, and I’m really hoping that is going to end up as bricks,” she said.

In second place is Sarah Cohen with 93 points. Sarah only has one horse, Treason, and the combination competed at six out of the seven legs.

Mark Todd finished third on 87 points.

Hopes for US leg

ERM chief executive revealed exciting plans for the 2018 series at the post-prizegiving press conference.

Pending FEI approval, there are hopes to host a leg in Arville in Belgium in June and one in the US at Carolina in March.

Mr Stone also spoke of the ERM’s growing audience of viewers.

“We are building a much bigger audience for the sport – an audience that is measured in millions rather than tens of thousands,” he said.

Mr Stone added he is “astonished” by the number of people who have tuned in across digital platforms and for the amount of time they spend watching eventing – an average of 27 minutes.

“Here we are at Blenheim Palace – this sport has some amazing things, and tradition and history are incredible parts of the sport,” he said.

He added that ERM is not “absconding” from the eventing’s tradition and history, but is rather adding to the sport.

Hopes for the future include: terrestrial television coverage, super-slow motion camera angles, performance statistics overlays onto clips and more rider footage.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Shane Rose and Chris Burton became the first Australians to finish on the Event Rider Masters (ERM) podium when they scored a one-two in the ERM at the Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.

Shane moved up to third by showjumping clear this morning on his own and Michelle Hasibar’s Virgil II and then took top spot by finishing cross-country with just 2.8 time-faults.

“Chris and I walked the course together and felt the ground was worst from fences two to five. He was really clagged [tired] at fence four, but once he was in the gravel in the woods he travelled well and except for fence four — which was a bit wild — that’s as good a ride as I’ve had on him,” said Shane.

Chris had the fastest round — just two seconds over the optimum time — to take second on the syndicate-owned Graf Liberty.

“He’s always been a very competitive horse and the highlight is his cross-country,” said Chris. “Shane didn’t have the best start in Britain this year [he lost his father and had Shanghai Joe put down after he was injured at Badminton] and now he’s heading home, so I’m so happy for him — it couldn’t have gone better in my opinion.”

Oliver Townend took third on Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class, just ahead of fellow Brit Gemma Tattersall, whose fourth place here on Clive Smith’s Pamero 4 secured her the series title ahead of the final leg at Blenheim.

“It’s an incredible feeling to have it wrapped up here — I can go to Blenheim and really enjoy it riding one my favourite horses, Chico Bella P,” said Gemma.

Continued below…

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This morning’s showjumping shook up the leaderboard, with all the top three after dressage leaving the podium.

The leader, Germany’s Niklas Bschorer (Tom Tom Go 3), had the Land Rover oxer at fence two down as well as a later upright, plus three time-faults, to drop to eighth (he finished 14th with 26 time-faults across country), while Mark Todd’s three down and two time-penalties sent him and Kiltubrid Rhapsody plummeting from second to 16th.

“He’s usually a very good jumper, but he’s better on firmer ground where he can spring off it as he’s a big horse and slow in his action,” said Mark, who then withdrew.

Franky Reid-Warrilow led going into the cross-country after a showjumping clear and finished sixth with Dolley Whisper after clocking up 16.4 time-faults.

Full report from Blair in H&H next week (issue dated 31 August).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Event rider Ludwig Svennerstal has an impressive record — two European team silver medals and two Olympic appearances before his 27th birthday.

But the feat he pulled off at the Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials today (27 August) was a first for the young Swede.

Ludwig was riding El Kazir SP in the Event Rider Masters class, when the pair had a misunderstanding about the take-off point for the yellow upright at fence 10. The grey chipped in an extra stride and then blundered through the fence, throwing Ludwig up his neck.

It looked momentarily like the rider would fall off, but he managed to right himself — only to find that somehow, the horse’s bridle and ear covers had slipped over his ears. The ear covers fell to the floor but the bridle was left dangling from the horse’s nose by the noseband, which was still done up.

Unwilling to give up, Ludwig managed to lean forward and grab the bridle with his left hand and then use both hands to replace it in position while El Kazir SP trotted around. He then continued his round.

“I wanted to carry on — he’s a new horse for me and I felt he should have taken off [on the first stride], but I’m not used to him and he’s not used to me,” said Ludwig. “He’s a bit spooky and not that secure in the ring, so he needed not to finish on that note. He’s a nice horse, he just needs more confidence in the ring.”

Sadly in the course of the operation, Ludwig racked up 31 time-faults, as well as 12 jumping faults (four for the initial fence down, four for circling away from fence 11 and four for then having fence 11 down). Lying 29th, he decided to withdraw before the cross-country phase.

Continued below…

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This wasn’t the only tack malfunction at Blair over the weekend.

Alex Postolowsky’s one-star ride Denver VIII managed to lose his bridle as he was leaving the dressage arena after the final halt.

The bridle was left hanging from the nine-year-old’s nose and ground jury member Sue Stewart, who was sitting at B, leapt out of her car to replace it for Alex.

CCI3* pathfinder Michael Owen also had to pull up Jims Pal a third of the way round the cross-country when his bit broke.

Full report from Blair in this week’s H&H magazine (issue dated 31 August).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Germany’s Niklas Bschorer leads after the dressage in the Event Rider Masters (ERM) at the Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.

The 22-year-old put in a neat, polished test with his father Tristan’s Tom Tom Go 3 to score 37.

“He felt amazing this morning in the arena — so focused on me the whole time,” said Niklas. “I couldn’t be happier with him.”

The ERM dressage is run in a seeded order, with the best pairs going last on recent form, but unusually the leader today did not come from the final session as Niklas was in the third group of riders before the judges. However, his recent somewhat average CIC3* form belies Niklas and Tom’s experience. But the rider is now a medical student, so is devoting less time to his riding than previously.

New Zealand’s Mark Todd holds second after scoring 38.7 with Niki Ryan and Elizabeth Donald’s grey Kiltubrid Rhapsody. ERM riders can pick two songs to be played during their tests and Mark has taken this a step further by actually cutting and arranging the music to suit this horse’s paces.

Chris Burton lies third for Australia on 38.9 with Graf Liberty, who belongs to a syndicate. A slight eagerness at the end of the walk and one poor flying change prevented him from taking the lead.

Oliver Townend (Cooley Master Class), Franky Reid-Warrilow (Dolley Whisper) and US rider Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp (Fernhill By Night) hold the next three places.

Current series leader Gemma Tattersall sits seventh on Pamero 4, the former Laura Collett ride she took over earlier this year. She was disappointed with her mark of 42.5.

“I’m devastated,” she said. “That’s by far the best he’s gone for me.”

Continued below…

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The showjumping and cross-country for the ERM class takes place tomorrow.

The ERM series is coming to a head now, with just one more leg, at Blenheim, to follow this weekend’s competition at Blair.

Full report from Blair in H&H next week (issue dated 31 August).

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Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift are to make their first competitive appearance in England since their future as a combination was secured.

The Irish rider and “Art” will compete in the CCI3* at the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (13-17 September).

“I’m delighted to be riding Cooley Rorkes Drift at Blenheim this year,” said Jonty. “It’s a stunning venue and will be a fantastic competition. We are particularly excited as it will give ‘Art’ a chance to meet so many of the people who kindly contributed to his purchase.”

Jonty managed to raise £500,000 to buy his Rio Olympic ride in an amazingly successful crowd-funding campaign, launched after interest from potential buyers had led to Art’s owner Fiona Elliott considering a sale.

The campaign reached its fundraising target on 9 August but the pair did not compete at last weekend’s European Eventing Championships owing to complications related to the transfer of payment and ownership of Art, and also the impact the fund-raising had had on their preparations.

International competition

As well as the CCI3*, the weekend features the final of the Event Rider Masters series and a CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-olds.

Among the other big names entered are Zara Tindall, who has a horse in each of the three international classes, Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt, who has won here five times. Pippa has four horses entered in the three classes, while William is due to bring two.

Mark Todd, Blyth Tait, Andrew Hoy, Tina Cook, Ros Canter, Oliver Townend and Gemma Tattersall are all also due to compete.

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Event director Mandy Hervieu said: “We have absolutely outstanding entries this year, proving what a world-class event SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is. The stage is set for three very exciting competitions – and, with two days of cross-country (Saturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 September), it should be a real feast of top-class sport for spectators.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Gemma Tattersall is the new British Open champion – and extended her lead at the top of the Event Rider Masters series leaderboard – after winning the CIC3* at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe aboard Arctic Soul.

It came down to cross-country speed, and the 14-year-old ex-racehorse Arctic Soul has to be one of the fastest event horses in the world. He raced round Gatcombe’s tight contours for just 1.2 time-faults and leapt from 11th after showjumping – where he knocked down two fences – to take the prestigious title and the £16,000 Event Rider Masters winner’s cheque.

“That horse is simply mental!” said Gemma after cross-country. “He’s so fast and brave. I dared myself at every fence and he answered every question, as normal. He really deserves this win.”

Gemma, who won the first leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters series at Chatsworth, is now 13 points ahead of Sarah Cohen – fifth here on Treason – in the series. Sir Mark Todd, who took fourth at Gatcombe aboard Kiltubrid Rhapsody, is in third spot in the table.

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Swedish rider Ludwig Svennerstal achieved his best Gatcombe result with second on Balham Mist. The pair had risen from 17th after dressage to seventh with one of just three showjumping clear rounds, and a fast cross-country round for 6.8 time-faults meant they rose to the runners-up spot.

“He’s never been placed in a three-star before, so to be second here is super,” said Ludwig. “I felt as though I was riding as quickly as I could [across country], but he was very honest and rideable.”

This year’s British sensation Alexander Bragg took third on Zagreb, who tired a little towards the end of Mark Phillips’ track.

Brazilian duo Marcio Jorge and Lissy Mac Wayer, leaders going into the final cross-country phase, collected 21.6 time-faults and finished seventh.

Both Bill Levett (Shannondale Titan) and Oliver Townend (Note Worthy), fourth and fifth after showjumping, fell across country.

Corinthian Cup winner

Quorn hunt stud groom Lorna Collins won the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, the amateur novice class.

She led from start to finish on the six-year-old Blackrock Ricardo and, despite 6.8 cross-country time-faults, just held off Katie Hancock and Coddstown Pet.

“He was super across country – he was just a bit strong early on and then went a little green at the water fences, so we lost a bit of time,” said Lorna, who was supported by her husband, Quorn huntsman Peter Collins, all weekend.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 10 August.

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Oliver Townend is in the lead in the Event Rider Masters’ class at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, and is on course to repeat his 2016 victory.

Riding Andrew Cawthray’s Note Worthy, Oliver scored 38.7 to take pole position in the CIC3*.

Bill Levett is second on 39.2 with Shannondale Titan, and Brazilian rider Marcio Jorge is third on Lissy Mac Wayer with a mark of 40.

“He did a clear round in his test, but I still think there’s more to come from him,” said Oliver, who won the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championships on the horse in 2015.

Intermediate championships

Oliver scored a fourth victory in the intermediate championships today with Angela Hislop’s Khoi Traveller, an American ex-racehorse.

The pair were only 29th after dressage with a score of 33.3, but the jumping phases were particularly influential today and, despite a pole down in the showjumping, they rose 11 places to start the cross-country in 18th place.

The time round Mark Phillips’ cross-country track is always tight, and Oliver was the fastest of the class with just 4.4 time-faults to secure the victory.

“Speed’s a big thing at Gatcombe and he’s got plenty of that,” Oliver observed. “It didn’t feel as though we were going ridiculously quick and he stayed very well – I was impressed with him in all three phases today.”

Matt Heath was second on Hazel Livesey’s Sportsfield Lord Livesey, having led going into cross-country.

“I’m over the moon with him – he just got tired on very soft ground,” said Matt.

Tom McEwen took third on the mare Royal Roxey.

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Novice championships

Ben Hobday won his first Gatcombe title – the Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championships – with his own Shadow Man II, having led from start to finish.

“He’s perfect – everything you could want,” said a delighted Ben. “He’s athletic, intelligent and kind; I do very little on him because everything’s easy.”

William Fox-Pitt took second place with Catherine Witt’s The Graduate, while Hayden Hankey made a welcome return to the eventing ranks with third place on You’ve Got The Lux. Hayden was the fastest of the class across the country with just 3.6 time-faults.

“I didn’t have a single sticky jump – all I have to do on her is see a forward stride,” said Hayden.

Full report from the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 10 August

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Oliver Townend took to the podium in the Event Rider Masters at Jardy this afternoon (16 July), finishing third with Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class.

The pair moved up from 10th after dressage with a rare clear showjumping in the time this morning and also stayed fault free this afternoon on the cross-country.

“He’s exceeded expectations all this weekend — we knew he’d be ring rusty as he’s come here with little preparation and it’s his first cross-country in four months, but he was very good,” said Oliver.

Oliver said the ERM series is “the biggest step forward in eventing ever”, adding that it changed his life for the better winning the series last year.

The class winner was Germany’s double Olympic champion Michael Jung, riding the relatively inexperienced nine-year-old Star Connection. After fifth place in the dressage and a showjumping clear, he could afford his seven seconds over the cross-country optimum.

“Sometimes he needed help and I changed my plan in a few places, but he answered every question,” said Michael.

The home side’s Karim Florent Laghouag took second on the stallion Entebbe De Hus, who had one down this morning but was clear in the time across country.

Gemma Tattersall finished fourth with Chris Stone’s Chico Bella P, whose two time-faults across country cost her the win.

The time proved surprisingly achievable on Pierre Michelet’s cross-country course and 13 riders beat the clock.

By contrast, the time was an extremely influential factor in the morning’s showjumping session and only three riders managed clears inside the optimum — France’s Donatien Schauly (Pivoine Des Touches, seventh), Oliver and Michael. Three other competitors from the 39 starters came home inside the 68-second target, but these all had at least one pole down.

Dressage leader Bettina Hoy had five time-faults with Seigneur Medicott and took the front rail off the oxer over the water tray at fence 10, dropping to seventh before cross-country. She pulled back up to fifth with 0.8 of a cross-country time-fault.

Andrew Hoy, second overnight, incurred five faults for knocking the first part of the treble at fence six and a single second over the time, which resulted in him slipping to sixth. He and Cheeky Calimbo then had a run-out at the final combination across-country, a double of angled brushes on two strides, after three strides downhill from a spread fence.

Continued below…

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For Britain, Sarah Cohen (Treason) and Gemma Tattersall (Chico Bella P) both had two time-faults showjumping, but jumped clear — Gemma rose from sixth to third and Sarah from 16th to 11th in this phase. Sarah finished ninth, adding useful points on the ERM series leaderboard after her win at Wiesbaden.

Will Furlong lost his top-10 place at this stage with Livingstone as they faulted at the planks at fence five and the spread at fence 10, as well as incurring two time-penalties. Will jumped clear across country, with 17.2 time-faults.

Full report of Jardy’s Event Rider Masters in H&H this Thursday (issue dated 20 July).

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Germany’s Bettina Hoy leads after the dressage at the first leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) to be held in France, taking place at Haras de Jardy.

Bettina and Seigneur Medicott are on a remarkable streak, having won four three-star competitions in a row and they are looking to make it five this weekend.

“He felt quite lively in the warm-up and reacted to the applause for the competitor before, but he’s so reliable in the arena and always gives 150%,” said Bettina, whose score of 31.4 was not quite enough to set a new ERM dressage record as Tom Carlile and Upsilon scored 30.8 last weekend at Barbury.

Bettina herself scored 26.3 at Luhmühlen with Gerd-Hermann Horst’s 11-year-old, but said she agreed with the judges that her test here was not quite as good.

Bettina’s ex-husband, Australia’s Andrew Hoy, holds second on 34.4 with his own and Christiane Classen’s Cheeky Calimbo.

“We’ve been together since one-star and had some interesting moments, but he’s very secure now,” said Andrew.

The crowd had the opportunity to contribute their thoughts on the judging through the spectator judging app, and perhaps unsurprisingly placed the home side’s Thibaut Vallette first. He actually finished the day in third with his Rio team gold medallist and European double bronze medallist Qing Du Briot ENE HN.

Replay the dressage

The high-quality of the field at this leg of the ERM — the high prize money series which started last year in Britain and has extended into Europe this season — was reflected in the fact 10 riders scored in the 30s. These included three Brits.

Gemma Tattersall holds sixth on Chico Bella P, who belongs to ERM chief executive Chris Stone.

“She’s a lovely horse to ride and moves beautifully — the highlights were her extended trot and canter,” said Gemma.

Will Furlong, who is in his first year in seniors after a successful under-21 career, holds seventh on his former young rider European champion Livingstone.

“This is a personal best at the level and to break the 40-barrier is fantastic,” said Will, whose mark was 38.6.

One mistake in the extended canter dropped Oliver Townend’s final marks down with Cooley Master Class and he sits 10th with 39.1.

Britain’s fourth rider, Sarah Cohen, also had an error in this movement when Wiesbaden ERM winner Treason changed legs, which was disappointing and left her 16th after the first phase.

“I didn’t quite have him where I wanted him coming in and then I must have shifted my weight or something in the extended canter as it’s not like him to make that mistake — we usually hope to get eight or nine for that movement,” she said.

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Another rider to be disappointed was Alex Hua Tian, the winner of last year’s Bramham leg of the ERM. Don Geniro, who was also in the top 10 at the Olympics, was not on his side today.

“I’m pretty mad, pretty cross and very disappointed,” he admitted. “He’s 10 years old now and and has been to enough shows — going in there and dropping me is not on.”

Tomorrow riders will tackle the showjumping and then the cross-country course, designed by Pierre Michelet, which is expected to be influential.

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France’s Tom Carlile broke records to win the third leg of the 2017 Event Rider Masters (ERM) series at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials (6-9 July).

Riding the nine-year-old grey stallion Upsilon, Tom became the first rider to lead across all three phases. The combination scored a personal best of 30.8 in the dressage, also the lowest ERM dressage score so far, and held that position to win by a comfortable margin of nine marks from Badminton heroes Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, who took this class last year

They added 1.6 cross-country time-penalties to that dressage score to finish on 32.4, a record in the ERM series.

“All the praise must go to my horse – he’s so special,” said Tom, who bought the Holsteiner-Anglo Arab as a three-year-old from his breeder. “The dressage is getting softer and we can add the sparks now. His showjumping is spotless unless I mess up, and he is getting faster cross-country as he is getting lower at his fences.”

Horse and rider are now aiming for a medal at the upcoming European Eventing Championships in Strzegom, Poland in August.

Andrew and Nereo, having their first run since their Badminton victory, completed a neat and obedient dressage test for a mark of 34.9 and second place. They added one showjumping time-penalty, and Andrew considered the French pair were unlikely to lose their lead so took his 17-year-old chestnut round the cross-country without hurrying. A total of 5.6 cross-country time-faults meant a final score of 41.5.

“His main objective is Burghley and I just tried to keep him in a nice rhythm,” said Andrew. “He felt lovely. I haven’t jumped a cross-country fence on him since Badminton and when I got to the warm-up and jumped a few, I realised why I am so proud of him.”

He judged his round precisely to cross the line with less than a penalty in hand over third-placed Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas II.

This was Mark’s best placing – and first cross-country clear round – in the ERM series so far, and he laughed: “I’ve been trying to sit on this podium for 18 months!”

Another French pairing, Sidney Dufresne and the black 10-year-old stallion Tresor Mail, were the only ones to go inside the time across country in the ERM section to jump up from 10^th to fourth place.

Britain’s Pippa Funnell dropped a place from fourth after dressage and showjumping to fifth on Chippieh, having accrued 8.8 time-faults, but was pleased with the horse – the pair had a nasty fall at Ballindenisk in the spring.

New Zealand’s Tim Price is riding Cekatinka while his wife Jonelle is pregnant, and they whizzed round the cross-country with just 1.6 time-faults for seventh place.

“Man, that time was tight – I was going as fast as I can!” said Tim.

The next three places were filled by British riders – Gemma Tattersall and Pamero 4 seventh, Francis Whittington and Hasty Imp eighth and Laura Collett and Grand Manoeuvre ninth.

The only faller of the class was Sam Ecroyd, who went swimming when Arco BB knuckled down on landing in the main water fence. Emily King, on Dargun, and Austin O’Connor, on Kilpatrick Knight, lost their places in the top 10 with run-outs.

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William Fox-Pitt took the Barbury CIC3* on new ride Clifton Signature, adding 1.6 cross-country time-faults to a 40.7 dressage score to take the title from Andrew on Swallow Springs.

“It’s my biggest win for ages; a great surprise,” William said.

For the full Barbury report, plus all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Britain’s Sarah “Cutty” Cohen scored her first Event Rider Masters (ERM) win when she took the first leg of the series ever to run in Continental Europe, at Wiesbaden, Germany, last week (2-3 June).

Sarah and Preci-Spark Ltd’s 15-year-old Treason, by Hand In Glove, were fifth after dressage, but rose to third with a clear showjumping. They then put in a speedy cross-country round for 3.6 time-penalties — the fastest round of the day in the final reckoning — which allowed them to overhaul Italy’s Stefano Brecciaroli and his experienced campaigner Apollo Van De Wendi Kurt Hoeve, who were second after showjumping but had 15.6 time-faults.

It looked like Sarah would settle for the runner-up spot as everyone expected German leader Ingrid Klimke to hold her lead with SAP Escada FRH. But in the very final throes of the course the 2013 European individual silver medallist glanced off a fence in the main arena, leaving Sarah in pole position and the surprised winner of the €19,000 (£16,000) first prize.

“I wanted to be competitive but never thought I would win,” she said. “I knew Treason was fit and he just wanted to gallop and jump today. He is my only horse and we have a great partnership as we have been together 11 years. I am over the moon with him.”

After sixth place at Chatsworth, Sarah now has a commanding lead on the overall ERM leaderboard with 51 points. She is 14 points ahead of Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge, who took eighth here on Coronel MCJ and sits in second in the overall listings.

Germany’s rising star Julia Krajewski was second after dressage on Chipmunk FRH, who at nine was considerably less experienced than many horses in the field, but dropped to fifth with three showjumps down. However, a fast cross-country round propelled her back up the rankings to take the runner-up spot in the final reckoning.

“It’s very exciting to be competing in the Event Rider Masters,” she said. “In my last five starts at Wiesbaden I’ve finished second and although I am not on top of the podium this is a very good result. I was disappointed with our showjumping, but Chipmunk FRH certainly made it up on the cross-country today.”

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Sara Algotsson Ostholt and her partner on multiple Swedish teams, Reality 39, collected third place after finishing three penalties over the time in the showjumping and collecting 10.8 time-penalties across country.

“It has been a fantastic competition this weekend,” she said. “I was pleased with our showjumping, but I felt the cross-country wouldn’t suit Reality 39 with the twists and turns as he is a big horse, but he responded very well to the challenge and was superb today.”

The next leg of the Event Rider Masters is at Barbury (8-9 July).

Full report from Wiesbaden in H&H this week, out Thursday, 8 June.

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Gemma Tattersall became the first female rider to land a leg of the Event Rider Master CIC3* series yesterday (14 May), piloting The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook IV to a clear victory at Chatsworth.

The grey mare, with whom Gemma was a part of the British team at the Rio Olympic Games last year, posted a personal best in the dressage arena (33.7) before recording a double jumping clear and 3.2 cross-country time-faults.

“It’s awesome to be the first girl to win a leg — I’ve been talking about doing it all weekend,” said Gemma, who was presented with a winner’s cheque for £16,000. “My goal is to win the series this year and this is a good start.”

Germany’s Bettina Hoy piloted Designer 10 into second, this horse re-routed from Badminton where he had an early cross-country run-out.

“I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason; we’ve had to put Badminton behind us and today was his day,” said Bettina.

Speed was of the essence and only three horses achieved the 6mins 10secs optimum. One of these was Frenchman Thomas Carlile’s Upsilon, who finished third. The duo led after dressage but incurred nine showjumping faults — four for a refusal plus five for time — and slipped to fifth after the second phase.

“After messing up this morning I didn’t see the point in pushing for the time, but when we were still on target at the fifth minute marker I said ‘come on, let’s do it’,” said Thomas, whose mount is ear-marked for the European Championships in August.

Fourth was Britain’s Nicola Wilson on her 2015 Boekelo CCI3* winner Bulana, ahead of Andrew Nicholson (Swallow Springs), fifth, and Sarah Cohen (Treason), sixth.

Ireland’s Elizabeth Power blitzed Ian Stark’s 18-fence cross-country track to record the fastest clear of the day (5mins 49secs) on Soladoun. This feat saw them climb up the leaderboard to seventh.

The only other penalty-free cross-country round came from ninth-placed Brazilian Marcio Jorge aboard Coronel MCJ.

Rosalind Canter and Zenshera slotted into eighth, while Italy’s Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz rounded off the top 10.

Two winners crowned

Bettina Hoy went one better in CIC3* section C, landing first place aboard Seigneur Medicott.

“I’m very happy to still have him; he was for sale last year and he still is now, but I love riding him,” said Bettina, who explained that having two horses to ride at this level is not useful because they are so different.

“Designer is bold and always looking for a fence whereas Seigneur Medicott looks to me for confidence,” she said.

Australian Bill Levett piloted Athleet V into second, with Emma Forsyth third on Soltair Justice.

Tom McEwen won CIC3* section B on new ride Strike Smartly.

“He was produced by Daisy Berkeley so it’s all down to her,” said Tom, who pipped Gemma Tattersall (Santiago Bay) and Francis Whittington (Carlchen).

Ireland’s Mark Kyle was taken to hospital with a broken ankle after a fall from Jemilla at the Brocklehursts of Bakewell Corners (14ab). They had been lying fourth in the ERM CIC3*.

Don’t miss the full Chatsworth report in the next issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 18 May.

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This year’s Event Rider Masters (ERM) will comprise seven legs, including two in Europe, while the team will also run Barbury International from this year.

The series will run at Chatsworth, Barbury, Gatcombe, Blair and Blenheim, as well as Wiesbarden, Germany, and Jaras, France.

Each leg is worth £50,000 in prize money, with a £50,000 series bonus, which takes the total prize fund to £400,000.

“The seven event venues located in England, Scotland, France, and Germany are renowned for hosting some of the most prestigious eventing competitions in the world, providing a spectacular setting for each leg of the ERM,” said a series spokesman.

“The growth into mainland Europe is the first step of a planned global expansion with the intention of the series to feature on other continents in the future, establishing it as a world sporting series and a first for the sport of eventing.”

Each ERM leg will feature 40 riders, competing in a shortened CIC3* format.

Fans will be able to watch all the action on live-stream, and online after the events, while a highlights programme will be broadcast on television, on a channel yet to be confirmed, after each leg.

ERM CEO Chris Stone said: “It’s a great achievement that the ERM will now have two legs in mainland Europe. Our huge gratitude goes to everyone who has supported us in getting the series to this stage, this includes all the host competition venues, the national equestrian federations, riders, owners and the ERM team.

“It’s a very exciting time for the series and we hope for the sport of eventing, and we cannot wait to get going with the series when it kicks off on 13 May.”

Barbury International

The ERM team has also taken over the running of the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials (6-9 July).

Following the sale of the estate by Nigel Bunter to Chris Woodhouse, the team has been appointed to run the event, which features CIC3* and CIC2* competition, a Retraining of Racehorses championship, the Champions Challenge and British Eventing novice, as well as a Burghley young event horse class.

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Andrew Nicholson, who won the ERM leg at Barbury last year and took the three-star competition four years running on Avebury, said: “Barbury is an important event not only for our horses and us as competitors, but also for equestrian fans and the surrounding Wiltshire area. You only have to look at the huge entry the event receives to see how popular it is with riders. I love competing at Barbury and delighted to hear its immediate future is secure. I can’t wait to ride there in July and hope a big crowd will be out in force to cheer us on as I aim for a Barbury six-timer.”

Mr Stone added: “We are proud and excited to be running Barbury this year and we are very grateful to Chris Woodhouse for asking us to organise the horse trials.”

For more on ERM 2017 and Barbury International, see this week’s H&H magazine (23 February) for an exclusive interview with Chris Stone.

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Paul Tapner is to give up his career as a professional event rider at the end of this season, to work full-time for the Event Rider Masters (ERM) series.

The 2010 Badminton winner is to work as digital and technical manager for the series, having already taken full responsibility for ensuring the live-streaming of the first season has worked as planned.

The 43-year-old said he had been planning the end of his professional career “for a couple of years”.

“The ERM was always on my mind as my exit plan,” he told H&H.

“Probably from my riding career’s point of view, the series came 12 months too early; I’ve probably got the best horsepower now I’ve ever had and I wanted to focus on getting to the Olympics.

“But on the other hand, I didn’t want to miss out on the ERM. As it happened, it all worked out as the Australian selectors didn’t love me, so I said: ‘You can put me on full-time’.”

Paul said it was a hard decision to make.

“I did shed a tear when I rode Kilronan for the last time at Blair, and talking about Vanir Kamira’s future after Burghley was very emotionally tough for me.

“But the ERM is where I want my future to be, and I’m really passionate about it; I find myself trotting round and thinking about what I need to do in the office.”

Paul told H&H he still plans to compete four horses around his work, including Prince Mayo, Yogi Bear VIII and Bonza King Of Rouges.

Related articles:

• ‘Squashed’ Burghley event rider aims for ERM glory at Blenheim
• 16 weird and wonderful looks from the Badminton trot-up
• 13 heart-stopping moments at Burghley Horse Trials *PICTURES*

“I’m greedy, I want to have my cake and eat it!” he said.

“I don’t want to be riding round BE100s, I enjoy riding at three- and four-star level; I’ve said I’m not going to be competing at elite professional level, but I will be an elite-level amateur rider.

“You’ll hopefully still see me kicking around three and four-stars. I think cold turkey would have been doable for me – just not for everyone around me!”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Though he was to be denied a third successive victory in the sixth and final stage of the Event Rider Masters (ERM), Oliver Townend today was runner-up and thus crowned the overall series winner, landing an extra £30,000 in the process.

In a thrilling finish — aided by the clever design of this new reverse-order event with its motor racing-style podium presentation — today’s contest went right to the wire. Oliver’s total earnings in the new ERM series, launched this year, are now £74,000.

“It’s the biggest step forward in our sport recently to have a chance of making a living from prize money,” said Oliver of the ERM.

Aboard Cillnabradden Evo, the horse he’s won the past two legs on at Blair and Gatcombe, but suffered a nasty fall from at Barbury, Oliver climbed from equal 10th after dressage to the runner-up spot by virtue of a rare showjumping clear and fast cross-country just two seconds over the optimum.

Of his horse today he said: “Of course he has his quirks, but his dressage and showjumping are good and he can gallop this distance — he’s the most competitive horse I have for this class.”

Victory went to the last to go across country, Frenchman Thomas Carlile on the fabulous stallion Upsilon, who’d been lying equal second after dressage.

“The horse is only eight and people ask me why I did not do the CIC3* with him,” said his rider. “I tell them ‘common sense’!”

Thomas — who was born in Toulouse to British parents, and lives in France — explained the horse was bred by friends who live only half an hour away. He will now have some time off before serving stud duties: “He’s probably done too much for an eight-year-old… and they [the French selectors] said he was too young for Rio. But what a horse!”

Continued below…

Related articles:

Oliver Townend wins ERM at Blair: ‘Hopefully we’ve turned a corner and figured him out’

Oliver Townend wins his first British Open title at Gatcombe

Do you count yourself as an Oliver Townend fan? Find out with our quiz

After a truly sodden day for dressage yesterday, the showjumping phase yielded 12 clears and only two went clear inside the time across country – Beanie Sturgis on her old campaigner Lebowski; and Paul Tapner on Yogi Bear VIII.

Paul had been in the lead of the ERM series up to Blenheim — but two showjumps down relegated him to eighth and allowed Oliver to take the overall spoils.

Jonelle Price, who’d been joint second with Thomas after dressage on her smart San Remo-sired Cloud Dancer II – the CIC3* winner here last year – finished only one second over the time, but had one showjump down, so finished third. Her consistency across the series left her in second place overall collecting a further cheque for £15,000. Paul finished third in the series overall.

Full report from Blenheim in H&H next week, out Thursday, 15 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

After a day’s cross-country in torrential rain, Bettina Hoy remains leader of the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* on the elegant 10-year-old Westphalian Seigneur Medicott.

In slippery conditions — first to go Andrew Nicholson produced the fastest round of the day, just one second over the optimum, putting him fifth on Teseo — Bettina went fast enough to have one showjump in hand going into the final day.

“That was hard work!” she said. Though the round was sticky in places, they came home with 8.4 time-penalties to lie on 41.3. “I went out as fast as I could but you do have to allow an extra stride at times — I have certainly done my fitness work.”

Rising up a place to second on 46.9 is the USA’s Hannah Sue Burnett on her experienced Harbour Pilot. The pair are in Britain especially for Blenheim and ate up the course.

“I’ve not run in this weather too much,” said Hannah. “It was quite slippery. But nothing backs him off.”

She will be hoping to be the second American in succession to win Blenheim after Clark Montgomery’s victory last year.

Wide-eyed at finding herself third with just 3.2 time-penalties is local rider Lydia Hannon, 27, who came 29th here in 2014 on Carol and Christopher Harris’s My Royal Touch.

“I’ve never gone into the final day in such a position,” she said after her round on the mare, who is managed carefully as she has a history of tying up. “We have been at three-star for quite a long time and came here to get a Badminton qualification — anything else is a bonus.”

Oliver Townend rose nine places to fourth after a quick round on Dunbeau.

Harry Meade, who had been second after dressage on the one-eyed Orlando, sensibly pulled up as the horse was not travelling well — “He was hating it.”

Ibby Macpherson, who had been lying fourth, was furious to have a refusal at the second wood shack at fence nine, and retired.

McEwen takes lead in CCI

With the cross-country having run early, from 9am to 2pm, many stayed on to watch the young horse CIC3* showjumping. Britain’s Tom McEwen and his own and Frank and Jane Inns’ Toldeo De Kerser managed to snatch the lead ahead of overnight leader Jonelle Price on Ascona M, though only learnt this from H&H by phone while walking the cross-country.

“I’m really looking forward to the cross-country tomorrow,” he said. “He’s a good galloper and he enjoys the rain — he wouldn’t even mind some more.”

Although Jonelle jumped clear, three time-penalties cost them their lead. Third is Willa Newton with Lady Sarah McCorquodale and her father Joey’s Caja 20. Laura Collett sits sixth and seventh with Mr Bass and Pamero 4.

France shines again in the ERM

The Event Riders Masters (ERM) contestants may have wrung their tailcoats out afterwards, but produced plenty of smart tests. Astier Nicolas leads the way on 41.3 penalties with Carole Broad’s Molakai, but fewer than five penalties separate the top 14. Equal second are New Zealand’s Jonelle Price on Cloud Dancer II (the young horse CIC3* winner here last year) and France’s Thomas Carlile on the smart-moving Upsilon.

Nicola Wilson is the best British rider, equal fifth on One Two Many, while Paul Tapner, Oliver Townened and Gemma Tattersall, all contenders to win the £30,000 prize for the leading rider of the series, lie ninth, 10th and 14th respectively.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Where do the top riders have to finish at Blenheim to win the £30,000 Event Rider Masters title?

Bettina Hoy leads Blenheim CCI3* after dressage: ‘He really tries to concentrate’

Tomorrow’s young horse CIC3* cross-country starts at 9am, with the ERM riders following at 1.15pm after their showjumping. The forecast is for sunshine!

Re-live the ERM dressage and watch the other phases tomorrow

Full report of Blenheim in H&H this week, out Thursday, 15 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The inaugural Event Rider Masters (ERM) series comes to a head at Blenheim this weekend (10-11 September). Not only is there £16,000 on offer to the winner of this leg, but also a prize-fund of £50,000 for the series, with £30,000 to the winner.

Only four riders are in the running for the series title: Paul Tapner, Gemma Tattersall, Oliver Townend and Jonelle Price.

With riders only able to count points from four events through the season, each competitor has a slightly different situation going into Blenheim — and their final result depends not only on their own performance, but also on that of the others.

Here are the facts you need to know:

• If Paul wins the leg, only Gemma can beat him to the series title (by finishing second)
• If Gemma wins the leg, she will win the series title regardless of everyone else’s performances
• If Oliver wins the leg, only Gemma can beat him to the series title (by finishing second or third). If she finishes third, they will tie for top spot on points, but Gemma will win the series in a tie-break (see below)
• Oliver has to finish better than fifth in the leg to stand any chance of taking the overall title
• If Oliver is sixth and Paul seventh, they will go to a tie-break, but Paul would win
• Jonelle has to finish better than fourth in the leg to stand any chance of taking the overall title
• If Jonelle wins the leg, Paul has to be second or third to win the series (if he is third, they go to a tie-break, which Paul would win)
• If Jonelle wins the leg, Gemma has to be fourth or better to win the series
• If Jonelle wins the leg, Oliver has to be second to win the series — but if Gemma finishes third, she would win the series

So that’s nice and straight-forward then.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Who will win at Blenheim this weekend?

‘Squashed’ Burghley event rider aims for ERM glory at Blenheim

Tie-breaks

If there is a tie for the win or a place in the series, each rider’s placings in his or her best four ERM legs will be added together. The tie will be decided in favour of the rider with the lower total. If a rider has only completed three legs they will receive 40 points (equivalent to a 40th place) for the fourth effort.

Example: if rider x had competed in and won three legs they would have 90 ERM points (3 x 30 = 90). If rider y had competed in four ERM legs, finishing third three times (earning 26 points each time) and 15th once (earning 12 points), they would have also 90 points (26 x 3 + 12 = 90). Under the tie break rules rider x would have 43 points (3 x 1 = 3 + 40 for the assumed 40th place), whereas rider y would have 24 points (3 x 3 = 9 + 15) and therefore would win.

If this still results in a tie there are further provisions, based on FEI rules, but let’s hope it doesn’t get that close!

Phew! There’s a lot at stake here and it’s complicated. Thanks to the boys at EquiRatings for helping work all that out for us.

Full report of the ERM, CCI3* and young horse CIC3* at Blenheim in H&H next week (15 September).

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There is no doubt that the Event Rider Masters (ERM) is bringing a great deal to our sport. The prize money is impressive and the aim of presenting eventing in a way that is TV-friendly is fantastic.

However, it does bring significant on-site challenges when trying to integrate this class with existing events. I don’t envy the scorers at Blair last weekend trying to timetable Sunday — there were three CCI classes coming to a head in the showjumping, alongside the jumping and cross-country phases of the CIC3* and ERM.

The sad casualty of this was the climax of the CCI*, in which overnight leader Jonelle Price was the only one of the top six after cross-country who actually jumped at the end as all the others had to perform early before dashing off to the ERM cross-country.

After her clear round, Jonelle trotted straight back to the stables to make her ERM cross-country time. The prize giving took place without any of the top three present.

While I appreciate the weekend days are the prime time, maybe ERM could be timetabled here in the same way as at Bramham, with the dressage on Friday and the jumping phases on Saturday?

Elsewhere at Blair, event director Alec Lochore designed the cross-country for the first time and all four courses rode well on good ground. He had used many of the feature fences from last year’s Europeans, but with tweaks where necessary and a complete reroute of the tracks. A particular positive was the tidying up of the previously confusing loops around the flat ground at the start and finish.

The Olympic experience

Lots of people have asked about Rio since we’ve been home and every time I’ve said that for H&H’s two journalists and photographer it was a good experience.

The set-up for journalists at the equestrian centre was great, with the press stand, the media centre and the mixed zone (for interviewing) close together. As well as having televisions, we could see the arena from the mixed zone, which is a rare luxury.

The internet worked at both the venue and our accommodation, and the buses between the two were pretty efficient. We were in the Olympic bubble 95% of the time and with armed military personnel everywhere, I never felt security was an issue.

Our flat in the Deodoro Accommodation Village (DAV), which housed press and officials for all the venues in this area, was basic but clean. The only glitch was that it took a couple of days to sort out the hot water. There was decent food available in DAV and we made a few trips by taxi to restaurants nearby.

There has been much discussion about poor crowds at the dressage and eventing. The official figure of 78% of available tickets sold for the eventing dressage simply doesn’t match up with the empty seats we saw — I’d say at most the stands were 40% full.

Our experience was that it was difficult actually to buy tickets. On the last Thursday of the Games, we went to a ticket booth, but were told unless we wanted to pay astronomical prices, nothing was available at any venue.

Soon after, we bought seats online for fencing (the seeding round of the modern pentathlon) and the gold medal men’s hockey match for a total cost of about £30 per person. The fencing was virtually empty, so it wasn’t a case of tickets not being on sale because of a near sell-out. If this was the case for equestrianism, no wonder spectators were sparse.

Ref Horse & Hound; 1 September 2016

Oliver Townend followed up his Event Rider Masters win at Gatcombe earlier this month with victory in the class at the Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.

Oliver was second after dressage with Sally-Anne Egginton’s Cillnabradden Evo but his clear showjumping round and 2.4 time-faults across country gave him victory and the £16,000 first prize cheque.

“He’s got a bit of a track record [for falling] but we’re aware of that and have to work round it — hopefully we’ve turned a corner and figured him out enough to be competitive,” said Oliver.

Tom McEwen was second with his 2013 Bramham under-25 winner Diesel, who is back from an injury break.

“I’ve been waiting to ride him cross-country as he’s a bit of fun,” he said. “It’s massive thanks to all the team at home — my parents, the grooms and physios — that he’s come back on such fantastic form. He felt back to the days when he won at Bramham.”

Gemma Tattersall took third with the eight-year-old Santiago Bay.

There was some delay in the results as it was thought New Zealand’s Jock Paget had taken second on Angus Blue, but eventually it was judged he had jumped the wrong side of the flag at the first of two triple brush arrowheads after a drop at fence 14a.

Germany’s Bettina Hoy led the dressage in this class on Seigneur Medicott, but had two showjumps down and a time-fault. She dropped behind Oliver heading into the reverse order cross-country, and then had a run-out at the Auto Ecoss angled brushes near the end of the course to drop to 13th.

Harris wins Scottish open

Flora Harris took the regular CIC3*, the Scottish open championship, on Bayano, who belongs to her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt.

“He was absolutely amazing, that was one of the best rides I’ve had on him,” she said after finishing just two seconds over the time across country.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Bettina Hoy leads Blair ERM dressage: ‘He’s a real gentleman; if he was a man I’d marry him’

Nicola Wilson takes Blair CCI3*: ‘I’m thrilled Annie Clover got the win she deserves’

Oliver was also second in this class riding Dunbeau, with Australia’s Paul Tapner third on Bonza King Of Rouges.

Full report from Blair in H&H next week, out Thursday 1 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Bettina Hoy leads after the dressage phase of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) at Blair Castle Equi-Trek International Horse Trials.

The German rider was the only person to score in the 30s, recording a mark of 34.6 with her own Seigneur Medicott. A number of horses were upset by the fact the horses in the CCI* were running cross-country around the edge of the warm-up, but Bettina’s 10-year-old performed brilliantly.

“He is beautiful to ride — what he does outside, he does inside too. He’s not affected by the atmosphere,” she said. “He’s a real gentleman; if he was a man I’d like to marry him.

“I saw other horses getting affected by the atmosphere — with the cross-country running it can take their concentration in the warm-up and sometimes you pay for it in there, but he was really concentrating.”

Oliver Townend holds second on 42.8 with Sally-Anne Egginton’s Cillnabradden Evo, the recent British open champion and ERM winner at Gatcombe.

Jonelle Price lies third for New Zealand on Cloud Dancer II, who belongs to The Marley and Me Syndicate. The dressage-bred nine-year-old (San Remo x Sandro Hit) was a little more tense today than normal and jogged in the walk.

“He moves beautifully and is built for the job, but we’re a few marks adrift of where I’d like to have been,” she acknowledged. “He’s very fit and it’s the first time ever he’s not walked reliably, but I hope that’ll pay dividends tomorrow [on the hilly cross-country].

“On the one hand I’m disappointed, but on the other, I’m proud he showed some pizazz today and hope he’ll think of that when he’s digging up that hill tomorrow.”

Continued below…

Related articles:

Andrew Nicholson crowned king of Barbury Castle Event Rider Masters

Oliver Townend wins his first British Open title at Gatcombe

Tom McEwen is fourth on his former Bramham under-25 winner Diesel (44.5), with Chris Burton fifth for Australia (46.8) riding Polystar I.

Among those who were disappointed were fellow Aussies Bill Levett, who had been trying to settle Shannondale Titan all week but found him still “too lit up” for 49.7 and 11th, and Paul Tapner, who holds 10th on 49.1 with the veteran grey Kilronan. Paul is the ERM series leader going into this event.

“He never put a foot wrong and on the last two movements I told myself to concentrate as I thought I’d nailed it, but the judges didn’t agree,” he said.

Replay the ERM dressage and watch tomorrow’s jumping phases live

Full report from Blair Castle in H&H next week, out 1 September.

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Great Britain’s Oliver Townend was crowned the British Open champion at the Festival of British Eventing, presented by BETA, at Gatcombe this afternoon (7 August).

Oliver partnered Cillnabradden Evo (above), the horse Andrew Nicholson was riding when he suffered his serious fall here last year, and triumphed by 6.3 penalties.

The duo lay second after dressage and jumped a double clear, but Cillnabradden Evo tired towards the end of the undulating cross-country track and picked up 10.4 time faults.

“Coming home I thought the win had gone; I was just trying to look after him,” said Oliver, who was crowned British National champion here in 2013, when he rode Armada to second place behind New Zealand’s Jock Paget and Clifton Lush.

“He [Cillnabradden Evo] has got a bit of a chequered cross-country history, but he’s a great jumper and I enjoy riding him. It feels great to win.”

France’s Thomas Carlile piloted Upsilon into the runner-up spot.

“He’s only an eight-year-old and I thought that with all the top riders being in Brazil we might be able to pull a good result off here,” said Thomas, who was riding at Gatcombe for the first time.

This was also the first time he had contested the Event Rider Masters (ERM) CIC3* series, which ran in conjunction with the British Open.

“I think the series is fantastic. It’s pushing the sport towards being a professional discipline and persuading owners to invest in the sport,” added Thomas.

Ireland’s Elizabeth Power was surprised to find herself in third on Soladoun, having gone into the final cross-country phase lying 16^th.

However, Soladoun pulled off the quickest clear around Mark Phillips’ 25-fence track for 1.2 time faults. They survived a hairy moment when Soladoun struggled to stay on his feet in the first water at 12.

“That’s where those three seconds went — for a moment I thought I was going in the water too,” said Elizabeth.

“I really didn’t think I’d [finish] on the podium. I brought this horse to Gatcombe because he’s a speed horse and that’s what you need here. I used his speed today.”

Australian Paul Tapner now leads the ERM series on 87 points after finishing fourth today aboard Yogi Bear VIII.

“I bought a new house yesterday, so I need the money,” joked Paul, who confirmed that he has rides for both the fifth leg of the series at Blair Castle later this month and the finale at Blenheim in September.

The reverse-order cross-country phase unfolded with its usual excitement, but there was disappointment for several riders who set out of the startbox with a good placing in their sights.

Sara Squires, lying fourth after two phases on Sula Blue, was eliminated for three refusals, while Izzy Taylor and Briarlands Matilda, lying second, dropped to 13^th following a refusal at a triple brush (fence 20b).

Matthew Heath, handily placed in fifth, picked up 20 penalties when One Of A Kind II glanced off a corner at 17c.

Dressage leader Andrew Hoy did not go across country after Cheeky Calimbo crashed out of the reckoning with five showjumps down this morning.

Clark’s winning Bonanza

Andrea Clark and Murphys Bonanza (above) were crowned the TopSpec Corinthian Cup novice restricted champions.

Andrea, from Nottinghamshire, is a full time crane hire manager and she finished on her first-phase mark of 32.1.

“I’m in shock,” smiled the 44-year-old. “We’ve come here with some good results in the bag, so I was hoping for a double clear and the top 10. Winning is incredible.”

Chemistry student Yvie Jeanne finished second aboard Oh Star II Z, ahead of Emma Corner and Iamwotiam.

For the full results click here.

Don’t miss the full Festival of British Eventing report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, on sale Friday 12 March. H&H is on sale Friday next week to allow for a full report on the Olympic eventing to be included.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Andrew Nicholson franked his extraordinary comeback from injury by winning the third leg of the Event Rider Masters series at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials in Wiltshire on Sunday 10 July.

Riding Libby Sellar’s highly experienced Nereo, the New Zealander showed all of his old brilliance to take the £16,000 first prize.

It was a particularly special victory for Andrew – he has now taken the main class at Barbury Castle for five years in a row, and it is his local event, as he is based just a few miles away in Lockeridge.

He said: “Nereo is fabulous. When you’ve got a horse as experienced as him that knows his job, it’s easy, isn’t it?”

Andrew and Nereo were third after dressage, scoring 37.6, but took the lead with a clear showjumping round despite accruing two time-faults. A faultless cross-country performance round Mark Phillips’ twisting cross-country track inside the time secured him the win.

Australia’s Paul Tapner finished second on Amanda Burns’ Yogi Bear VIII, 4.6 penalties behind Andrew, while Gemma Tattersall’s hot streak continued with third place for Britain on Caroline Teltsch’s eight-year-old mare Santiago Bay.

Gemma holds the overall lead in the Event Rider Masters series, with Paul second to her.

He said: “I’m very happy to hear that Gemma is off to Rio, whereas I am probably not, so I am looking forward to overtaking her at the next leg of the series at Gatcombe (5-7 August)!”

Gemma said: “This is such an exciting mare for the future – she’s everything you want in an event horse.”

Continued below…

Watch how the competition unfolded on Barbury ERM live streams:

• Dressage
• Showjumping
• Cross-country

Dani Evans and Smart Time took fourth place. There was less than 0.6 of a penalty between Paul, Gemma and Dani and both women completed on their dressage scores.

Marcio Carvalho Jorge, who had led the dressage impressively with Lissy Mac Wayer, scoring 32.5, finished fifth after knocking two showjumps down and picking up a handful of cross-country time-faults.

Sam Griffiths took sixth place for Australia on Happy Times, while William Fox-Pitt was seventh on Cool Mountain.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from Barbury, in the magazine on sale Thursday 14 July

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The third leg of the new Event Rider Masters (ERM) series takes place at the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials this weekend (9-10 July). Here’s what you need to know about the competition and the contenders:

• Statistically the Barbury leg of the ERM series presents the most challenging cross-country test — on average 63% of combinations jump clear, compared to 67-79% at the other legs.
• Barbury is traditionally an event where it’s tough to make the time — 4% of pairs have beaten the clock over the event’s 11-year history. The very first person to do so was Sam Watson on Horseware Bushman in 2009 — Sam is the co-founder of EquiRatings, the data analytics company which supplies these statistics!
• The record dressage mark at Barbury is 30.8, set in 2008 by Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia. Thirty-six days later, they led the dressage at the Hong Kong Olympics on 30.4.
• Only seven dressage marks of under 35 have been recorded at the event, including three by Avebury, who won the event four times.
• The record finishing score at Barbury belongs to Avebury, who led from start to finish in 2015 on a mark of 33.9. He beat his own previous record of 35.2, set in 2013. Andrew Nicholson holds five of the best eight finishing scores on record at Barbury.
• Winning finishing scores at Barbury have been dropping steadily since the event’s inception in 2005, with the 2015 victory mark 25 marks lower than that recorded by the first winners, William Fox-Pitt and Ballincoola.
• Three riders who have been selected to represent Britain at the Rio Olympics are competing in the class: William Fox-Pitt, Izzy Taylor and Gemma Tattersall.

WATCH LIVE HERE: H&H is partnering with ERM to bring you all the live streaming action from Barbury. Tune in for the dressage (8am Saturday, 9 July), showjumping (8.30am Sunday, 10 July) and cross-country (3.30pm Sunday 10 July).

Full report from Barbury in H&H next week, out Thursday, 14 July.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Devil’s Horsemen will be thrilling the crowds at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe (5-7 August) once again after a nine-year absence from the event.

The Cossack-costumed riders will be hanging upside down, standing on the horses and performing other impressive feats of agility during daily performances across the weekend.

Started more than 40 years ago by Gerard Naprous, the Devil’s Horsemen’s stunt team’s main work is for the film industry.

Following the Festival of British Eventing, the team will travel to Belfast for filming of the next series of the epic TV fantasy drama show, Game of Thrones.

Earlier this year the horses were used in the making of the first Wonder Woman film.

There are now more than 100 horses at the stunt team’s Milton Keynes base – some are homebred, while others have been imported from Portugal, Spain and Hungary.

Festival of British Eventing championships

On the competition stage, The Festival of British Eventing will host the fourth leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) within the British Open Championship section, with the return of a standard advanced section running alongside.

The event will also host the Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship, The Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship and the TopSpec Challenge for the Corinthian Cup, British Eventing’s restricted novice championship designed for riders who only compete up to novice level.

The Festival of British Eventing will be the fourth of six ERM legs, which sees the top 40 riders (according to FEI ratings) competing against each other for record prize money of £50,000 per leg.

Advance tickets are on sale now, priced £10 on Friday, £16 on Saturday and £18 on Sunday, with accompanied children aged 12 and under free of charge. Book tickets here

Visitors will also be able to sample the culinary treats on offer in the Festival Food walk and shop in the over 100 trade stands at Gatcombe.

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Alex Hua Tian won the second leg of the new Event Rider Masters (ERM) series today at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials.

“I’m on top of the world,” said Alex, after collecting a cheque for £16,000.

The Chinese rider — who has a British mother and a Chinese father, went to Eton and is based in Cheshire — admitted the money will “probably disappear into the black hole of horses” but he added he might treat himself and girlfriend Sarah Higgins to “something nice”.

Alex and Don Geniro were third after dressage, but took up pole position when the two ahead of them both had the first part of the treble at fence eight down in the showjumping. They therefore ran last in the reverse order cross-country and finished comfortably inside the optimum time to hold their lead.

Dressage leader Clark Montgomery of the USA finished second on Holly and William Becker’s Loughan Glen.

“He was really running, a bit too much in the beginning as I was getting pulled into the bottom of some of the galloping fences, but he felt super,” said Clark.

Clark has now surely secured his spot in the American team for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

New Zealand’s Jonelle Price completed the multi-national podium with third on Trisha Rickards and Jacky Green’s Faerie Dianimo. This grey mare is the rider’s first choice for Rio and will run again at Aachen before then.

Izzy Taylor was fourth going into cross-country on Be Touchable, but the inexperienced horse had a run-out at fence 11ab, the Investec Hollow.

Australia’s Bill Levett took fourth on Shannondale Titan, with Rosalind Canter best of the Brits in fifth on Allstar B. Maxime Livio was the top French rider, taking sixth with Pica D’Or, while his compatriot Astier Nicolas — winner of the first ERM at Chatsworth — landed 10th on Molakai.

Full report of Bramham in H&H next week, out 16 June.

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Clark Montgomery lived up to expectations by taking the lead after the first phase in the Event Rider Masters (ERM) class at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials today (10 June).

The US rider scored 36.5 for his test with Loughan Glen (below), a 13-year-old who belongs to Holly and William Becker. Clark has the Rio Olympics in his sights.

“It’s my last run before selection, so I hope everything goes well,” he said.

Clark admitted he was “hanging” today after “having a bit too much fun at a BBQ last night” and put his error of course in the walk down to this.

“It probably helped with my relaxation,” he said. “I thought I heard the bell, but I was a bit foggy and I didn’t think I’d gone wrong so I just kept going.”

Riders choose their own dressage background music in this class — which is live streamed and aims to raise the standards of presentation in eventing. Clark rode to a medley of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole songs, Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World.

Both the top two horses are by Limmerick — Australia’s Bill Levett holds second with his own and Clare Prentice’s Shannondale Titan on a mark of 39.

“We had a bit of a disaster in the ERM at Chatsworth when I didn’t give him enough work and he was taken aback by the atmosphere,” he said. “I gave him 45 minutes warm-up today, although we were walking for half of it as I knew he’d had enough work and was going to stay with me. When you have a horse who’s such a good mover it’s nice to do him justice.”

The leaderboard in this class has a truly international look, with six nations in the top six places. China’s Alex Hua Tian lies third on his own Don Geniro,

“He’s changed a lot this year — we’re used to floppy Don as he used to be over chilled,” said Alex. “At Chatsworth he took us by surprise so we’ve changed his management in terms of his warm-up. We’re not quite there yet but he has limitless scope on the flat.”

France’s Maxime Livio holds fourth on Pica D’Or.

“Everything is easy for him,” said Maxime. “Sometimes he can worry about everything around the arena, but now he’s got enough experience to stay quiet. He knows his job.”

New Zealand’s Mark Todd sits in fifth on NZB Campino. Nicola Wilson is best of the Brits in sixth with Annie Clover.

Bramham is the second leg of this big money series, which is new this year. France’s Astier Nicolas won the first leg at Chatsworth and sits 12th on Molakai after dressage here.

Report of the CCI3*, under-25 and CIC3* dressage

Full report of Bramham in H&H next week, out 16 June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The second leg of the Event Rider Masters kicks off on Friday (10 June 2016), so here are some fun facts to get you in the mood

The second leg of the Event Rider Masters (ERM) takes place at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials this week (10-11 June).

6 fun facts about the CIC3* at Bramham

1. 12% of competitors have made the optimum time in the class, with at least two riders beating the clock every year since the CIC3* started in 2009. Last year 11 horses finished in the time, the most ever.

2. 66% of CIC3* pairs have jumped clear across country.

3. Only one combination has led the dressage and gone on to win the class — 2014 victors William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning.

4. New Zealand riders have led the dressage on four of the seven runnings, but none of them went on to win.

5. Chilli Morning’s finishing score, 37.1, is the class record, although he incurred more cross-country time-faults than any other winner (5.6). Upleadon, the winner of the inaugural running in 2009 with Neil Spratt, is the only other victor to have had any time-penalties (0.8).

7 fun facts about the ERM contestants

1. US pair Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen have an impressive average international dressage score of 37.5 over the past year.

2. Izzy Taylor and Be Touchable have never had a showjumping penalty together.

3. Mark Todd has led the dressage in this class twice on NZB Regent Lad, but failed to complete the cross-country both times. In fact the New Zealander has only finished the course once in five attempts. He rides NZB Campino in the ERM.

4. Kiwi rider Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo have a seven-run streak of no jumping penalties in the cross-country or showjumping at international events.

5. Laura Collett’s ride Mr Bass has a career total of just 3.6 time-penalties on the cross-country at international events.

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6. Annie Clover (Nicola Wilson), picutred above, is the only horse who has won the CIC3* before contesting the ERM. In three appearances at Bramham, they have netted three top-five finishes.

7. Germany’s Pia Münker has scored in the 20s in the first phase at international events six times since 2014. She rides Stachus 9 here.

Statistics courtesy of EquiRatings

Don’t miss the full report from Bramham in the 16 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The beauty of the Event Rider Masters is that the sport was no different — there are no new rules or scoring system — but eventing’s usual format was packaged for TV viewing purposes. This meant a smaller field of 40 competitors with no multiple rides, and the jumping phases in reverse order to build excitement.

The coverage was livestreamed (with an aim to sell the TV rights in the future), which was easy to use and free; it was far more user-friendly than FEI TV.

Interviews with finishers overlaid the live coverage so viewers could see both in split screen. As the cross-country unfolded, the three current leaders took their place on the podium, moving position when someone went ahead of them — as in televised skiing.

Within minutes of the last horse finishing, the prize-giving took place on the podium in Formula One champagne-spraying style.

This first attempt was watched by over 10,000 people in 37 countries. A lot of energy has gone into the Masters and it showed real promise.

Badminton final scores

The CCI events will always be the pinnacle in eventing, and this is not an attempt to gazump them, it is simply a way to broadcast the day-to-day sport to an off-site audience, which will hopefully in turn boost the interest in the top CCIs as well as attract more people into the sport.

Keep the Vicarage Vee

There is always a spine-tingling buzz around Badminton, but this year the May heatwave brought in bumper crowds, and Michael Jung going for the Rolex Grand Slam added to the hype.

Over the past three years course-designer Giuseppe della Chiesa has done a great job with the track and put his own mark on it. Fence dimensions at three- and four-star level are near identical, however a four-star question requires committed riding and relies on feel and instinct over tentative or backward riding that can suffice at three-star.

No one expected the houses at the Mirage Pond to be so influential, expect perhaps the odd leg being left; it was surprising that horses backed off and several ground to a halt.

The wide oxer in the Gatehouse New Pond was a clever question and jumped very well, and it was great to see the KBIS Vicarage Vee back. Certain fences become stale after time, or increasingly easy as horses and riders learn how to tackle them, but the Vicarage Vee does not need altering; it is a brilliantly clever fence that stands the test of time. Hopefully it will remain a consistent feature each year, like Hickstead’s Devil’s Dyke.

The last fence that was very influential was the brush out of the Shogun Hollow, after which riders could almost start to count their chickens barring any mishaps, despite there being over four minutes to go. Perhaps there could have been more of a challenge around the site of the old Beaufort Staircase.

It was a pity that the showjumping time was so lenient that it didn’t put pressure on. We saw the same thing at Burghley last year, with riders being able to school around and have options on the approach to fences.

Badminton 2016 will go down as a piece of history with Michael Jung crowning La Biosthetique-Sam FBW’s career. One has to wonder, where does he aim him from here? Having won everything on the same horse, do they try to do it all again?

Ref: Horse & Hound; 19 May 2016

Words by Helen Scott, picture courtesy of Event Rider Masters, www.eventridermasters.tv

The French took four out of the top five spots in the inaugural running of the Event Rider Masters at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials, with Astier Nicolas, on his four-star horse Piaf De Bneville, taking the top step on the podium.

Kitty King, on the competition leader Ceylor LAN, went into the cross-country last with a comfortable lead. But she had a nightmare in the start box when the nine-year-old was affected by the atmosphere of the nearby finish line and wouldn’t jump out.

“He felt quite relaxed warming up, but we were last to go and all the other horses had left us so he got wound up. I reckon we lost about 30 seconds. It was such a shame as he was foot perfect all the way round,” said Kitty. The pair dropped to 17th.

The best of the Brits, Gemma Tattersall on Quicklook V, was cheered to the rafters by the crowd and for a moment it looked as if she would do it. But sensibly steadying up for the final fence cost her vital seconds and she finished fourth. She joined the podium briefly until Astier Nicolas deposed her.

The Event Rider Masters is a new competition running at six venues across the season, each with a £50,000 prize fund. The 40 top riders who enter (according to the FEI rankings) are accepted into the class and from the start it was a competitive affair. Showjumping and cross-country are run in reverse order, with current leaders sitting on the podium until they are deposed. Ian Stark’s cross-country track made use of the undulations and had plenty of questions, made more challenging by patches of sticky going.

Kitty easily led after the dressage, nearly four penalties ahead of Ireland’s Aoife Clark, on Fernhill Adventure, who had a glance off cross-country, and Germany’s Bettina Hoy on Seigneur Medicott.

She held on to her lead with an immaculate clear showjumping to go into the final phase in podium position, followed by Astier Nicolas and Gemma Tattersall.

The pathfinder cross-country, Christopher Burton on TS Jamaimo, was the only man to get the time, and remained on the podium for a long time until the French invasion began. They eventually finished sixth.

“I really had to chance my arm to do it,” admitted Christopher.

First of the French to make their mark was Karim Laghouag on Entebbe De Hus, eventual third. He was topped by Thibaut Vallette on Qing De Briot, eventual second, until Astier blazed round, with his 6.8 time-penalties nudging him just ahead of his compatriots.

“He’s hopefully heading to Rio, so I didn’t want to go too mad,” said Astier, “but he’s an experienced horse and gave me a fantastic ride.”

Emily King and Flora Harris had falls, and Sam Watson and Tom McEwen were unseated, but all horses and riders walked away.

Full report from Chatsworth, including the ERM and other CIC3* classes, in H&H this week (19 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This weekend marks the start of the Event Rider Masters series — cue big excitement in the eventing world. Here are seven reasons why we should all be logging onto www.eventridermasters.tv for free this weekend to stay up to speed with the first leg at the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials

1. Chatsworth (14-15 May) is the first leg of six in this series, culminating at Blenheim Palace in September. All riders are competing for the coveted Event Rider Masters title and a £30,000 prize for the overall winner of the series. Watching this weekend will kick start your excitement for the rest of the season…

2. The world’s best eventers are competing — William Fox-Pitt, Andrew Nicholson, Gemma Tattersall, Emily King, Sam Griffiths and Zara Tindall to name a few. Plus plenty of potential Rio Olympic horses will be participating.

3. The prize fund is significant meaning that these top riders will be bringing their A-game. We will be witnessing the sport at its best; get ready to be inspired and exhilarated.

4. Chatsworth is an impressive venue, with rolling parkland, and they plan to put on quite a show. Ian Stark has designed the cross-country course and the fences are beautifully built, providing a fantastic stage for some thrilling action.

5. Badminton is over for another year, but this is gives us an opportunity to see our favourite eventers in action again before the withdrawal symptoms have a chance to kick in — as well as some of the top riders and horses that we didn’t get to see last weekend.

6. This series is a step forward for eventing. By logging on we will be proving to networks that equestrianism has a strong viewing audience.

7. Ten nations will be represented with Olympic, world and European medals between them. With the dressage on Saturday being seeded it will be electrifying from the off. Riders/horses are placed into four groups, based on the average of the horse’s five latest dressage results from CIC3* competitions. The group with the best averages goes last, and within each group a draw takes place to determine the running order.

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Don’t miss the full report from Chatsworth in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine (19 May 2016)

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It was great to spend January in New Zealand — it splits the English winter really well. I came back to find all the horses in good form. The boys and girls here have done a brilliant job getting them ready for me.

The big news recently has been the launch of two CIC3* series: the Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star Grand Slam, and the £350,000 Event Rider Masters. I’ve been involved with the latter from the outset; it goes back about three years to when we riders really began to voice our opinions about the lack of prize money.

Di Brunsden, who co-owns my four-star horse Leonidas II, started to put something together and it has grown from there. Alice Fox-Pitt got involved, and she bought in Michael Skinner and Terri Miller, among others.

They are all high-profile people whose time is valuable, and they’ve done this for no reward. No one else has been able to pull something like this off, so fair play to them.

Congratulations also to Christopher and Lisa Stone for having the foresight and courage to back this exciting venture. It hasn’t been easy; there have been many hurdles, some from quite surprising places.

We’ve never before had the opportunity to compete for such substantial prize money at this level on a regular basis. I think these two CIC3* series are the most exciting things to happen in eventing for a long time.

The sport has modified itself over the years, and fundamentally doesn’t need to change any more. But what hasn’t changed is how it is presented to the public, which needs modernising to bring it into line with other sports.

I first started riding for Di, and her husband Peter Cattell, in 2010. They rang me to ask if I would ride Major Milestone, who was qualified for Burghley. I suggested they brought him to my yard, where I had a sit on him — and said ‘no thanks!’.

But later I started thinking — I had no four-star horses at that time, and there was a Burghley ride going begging. So I said I’d give it a go.

He was a very difficult horse, but we did an open novice, the CIC3* at Barbury and an advanced, and then finished 11th at Burghley, and Di and Peter have been great owners of mine ever since.

Keeping our integrity

I was lucky enough to attend a meeting in London recently about the potential changes in the format of eventing for the Olympics. There were representatives of 14 or 15 different nations there.

What came out of the meeting was that everyone wants eventing to stay in the Olympics, but not to sacrifice the sport in the process. The suggestion of three rather than four riders per team was not popular; the risk of very few nations finishing the competition is not feasible.

I believe the FEI had a subsequent meeting, but I haven’t heard the results yet.

The FEI has done a good job, because it has galvanised countries into action. In the past some things have slipped through unnoticed. Now it has to listen and make informed choices. We accept that “tweaks” may have to be made, but not at the risk of the sport’s integrity.

Ref: Horse & Hound’ 10 March 2016

A world record £50,000 prize for CIC (international one-day) competition could be awarded in Britain if the new Eventing Masters series takes off in 2016.

Promoters are keeping TV coverage and sponsorship details under wraps, but rules for the series — to be integrated with six existing British CIC3*s — were recently circulated on the FEI’s stakeholder portal.

A points system qualifies riders for the final, with 66% of results (that is, four events in 2016) to count.

Minimum prize funds of £25,000 are mooted for qualifiers and a £50,000 prize in-kind, such as a car, for the winner of the Blenheim final (8-11 September), with £15,000 to the runner-up.

Each class will admit 40 starters, based on world rankings, plus up to two wild cards for past Olympic gold medallists, four-star winners and riders from emerging nations.

The Masters has been developed for TV by Di Brunsden, joint-owner of Mark Todd’s four-star ride Leonidas II, and William Fox-Pitt’s wife Alice.

Mrs Brunsden feels eventing needs a new marketing approach, and a habit-forming, regular TV slot.

“The format doesn’t need messing with,” she said. “We are not seeing the asset right under our noses. There is no reason why eventing shouldn’t be earning more money.

“In some places, there is just a lack of modern thinking. People would love to watch it in Brazil and China; it’s all about how it’s packaged.”

Promoters hope to expand abroad after 2016. The Masters final is potentially more valuable than the showcase Aachen CIC3* €31,000 (£22,000) first prize, but German team trainer Chris Bartle thought elite riders like Michael Jung and Sandra Auffarth were unlikely to participate in the launch year, because travel costs to Britain remain a disincentive.

Qualifiers are Chatsworth (14-15 May), Bramham (9-12 June), Barbury (7-10 July), Gatcombe Park (5-7 August) and Blair (25-28 August).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now