At the recent Winter Classic Show at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre (30 October-2 November), one horse in particular had everyone talking – the striking six-year-old Orkney V.

Ridden by Louie Cunningham, the Jumanji x Spartacus TN gelding topped a competitive SEIB winter novice championship qualifier in spectacular style after a thrilling 11-way jump-off, earning a coveted ticket to the final at the Royal International Horse Show next summer.

The alluring grey Orkney V was bred by Mark Evans and Amanda Forster of Castell Sports Horses in Wales, and sold to Geoff Billington and his wife Sarah as a two-year-old. He made his competitive debut with Sarah last year before Geoff campaigned him in a few more British novice and discovery classes over the winter.

“They started him, but Geoff asked me in April if I would ride him,” said Louie. “The plan was to sell him, but as he kept developing, I realised he was so, so talented and knew I had to secure an owner for him.

“Luckily top showing producer Susie Shuttleworth and her husband Stephen stepped in to buy him.”

Louie Cunningham on Orkney V: “He’s what everyone is looking for in a modern showjumper”

According to Louie, Orkney V is “probably the most careful horse I have ever ridden”.

“He’s just like a cat,” he said. “You say jump and he says ‘how high?’

“He has a really rhythmic canter and he is what everyone is looking for in a modern showjumper – we’ve turned down some eye-watering cheques for him already.”

Louie’s success at Kelsall Hill was his second victory on the bounce in the SEIB winter novice championship qualifiers, having already picked up a Hickstead ticket at Aintree with 18hh Nella, also a grey but a very different stamp to the nippy, blood gelding Orkney V.

He also rode the mare Fairwood Emerald in this qualifier at Kelsall Hill, who would have been second but for toppling one rail. The runner-up was Michael Fursedonn riding the equally exciting Harley De La Bouverie and Sonny Broberg finished third with the lovely Taffia VD Berghoeve Z.

“We’ve not had this quality of horses for a long time,” added Louie, who rides for Ashdale Sports Horses in Cheshire.

You can read the full report from Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre Winter Classic, where Emily Ward landed the grand prix with her HOYS-winning home-bred Wild Star HF, in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, in shops Thursday, 13 November.

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

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Even leading names like Laura Tomlinson, Francis Whittington and Katie Jerram-Hunnable look up to people, and key pieces of training advice have helped them win medals and national titles. Here are the tips from the H&H archives that 10 top riders credit with putting them on the road to success.

1. Laura Tomlinson, dressage rider

“The best piece of advice I’ve had is never to say, ‘I can’t’ or ‘The horse won’t’. If you have this in mind it forces you to look around and through a problem, rather than accept it’s not solvable. This is an adaptation of what I’m used to hearing from [German Olympian turned trainer] Klaus Balkenhol — he won’t ever accept you saying you can’t.”

2. Trevor Breen, showjumper

“If at first you don’t succeed — work harder! The more effort you put in, the more you get out. If you take shortcuts in training during the week, it’ll show when you’re competing at the weekend.”

3. Katie Jerram-Hunnable, showing producer

“Never use a gadget as a quick fix. I learnt this from [renowned trainer] Ruth McMullen — I never saw a gadget at her yard. I use a martingale on horses I’m starting for a little extra security, and I may hack the babies in one.”

4. Francis Whittington, eventer

“Just keep it simple in every way. If it’s complicated, it’s probably not right. [Former British World Class Performance showjumping manager] Rob Hoekstra told me this and I keep it in mind all the time.”

5. Gemma Stevens, eventer and showjumper

“My mum used to make me ride come rain or shine. She said that consistency is the key to good training and it is something I have always carried with me. Horses need to have regular training and you need to be consistent in what you are asking them to do.”

6. Anna Ross, dressage rider

“[German Olympic team gold medallist] Ulla Salzgeber once told me that if you keep your hands still, you’ll start using your legs. A wise man at Goresbridge Sales also once advised me, ‘Never get back on for a third time’.”

7. Geoff Billington, showjumper

“[Multi-medalled British showjumper] David Broome told me years ago that you can’t put pressure on top of tension. So you must have a relaxed horse before you can ask any questions of it.”

8. Dan Jocelyn, eventer

“When I first came to the UK in 1995, I stayed with Andrew Nicholson. Walking courses with him was invaluable. He said: ‘Dan, across country you just go between the flags’ and when showjumping, ‘Just leave the poles up’. This was the best advice ever, especially when others were trying to overcomplicate things. I always enjoy walking courses with him.”

9. Andrew Gould, dressage rider

“Don’t let your personal issues or emotions get in the way. This is something I picked up from [top trainer] David Hunt and I realise its importance even more now that I train lots of people. It’s hard if you’ve had a busy, stressful day at work — you want to ride to relax, but sometimes it is easier said than done.”

10. Jessica Mendoza, showjumper

“Don’t try to win every class. My father, Paul, told me this and there are two lessons I have learnt from it. First, if I’m jumping at a three-day show, I need to save the horse for the class that really matters. Second, if you try to win a class by three seconds, you will often have a fence down and lose. So be cool and just do enough.”

• Looking for more training tips and advice from top riders and trainers? Subscribe to the Horse & Hound website for more great training articles to help you and your horse succeed

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Ahead of the 61st running of the world-famous Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby on Sunday 25 June, we’ve been chatting to some of the past winners to hear their stand-out memories of the class.

Here is what Geoff Billington, who won the Hickstead Derby in 2007 riding Cassabachus, had to say…

First Hickstead Derby memory

“In the early days, a show called Arena North always used to clash with Hickstead and I was always there – I never went for the Derby,” remembers Geoff. “But I remember watching John Whitaker with Ryan’s Son and Michael Whitaker on Owen Gregory. Back then, I was too frightened to say I wanted to do something like win the Hickstead Derby because it felt so out of my reach. Similarly, I never said I wanted to go to the Olympics because I never thought I’d have a horse good enough, or thought I was good enough to go. It’s only when it gets within your grasp that you start to think and believe.”

First Hickstead Derby experience

“I had many rounds before I ever got placed!” says Geoff. “I can’t remember my first time, but one year my horse wasn’t happy jumping the devil’s dyke and tried to dive between the post and the privet hedge – there was probably only about a foot gap in those days and they had to dismantle the dyke to let us out!”

The time it all went right in the Hickstead Derby

“Cassabachus was a fairly normal novice but I remember saying to Michael Whitaker, ‘I think this horse could win the Derby,’ and he said, ‘Have you lost your marbles?’” explains Geoff. “But he was very brave, rideable and he could jump big individual fences.

“The first time he jumped it was in 2006 and he finished third. There were three of us in the jump-off, David McPherson had four faults, I tried to go quick and had eight faults, and the winner with a slow clear was Willy Funnell on Mondriaan. In 2007, the weather was treacherous and there were no clear rounds. They were talking about cancelling it. My pupil Andrew Mizon wasn’t even going to go that year, but his dad was my dentist and I was in the dentist’s chair one day and I said ‘You should jump that Irish horse [Special Diamond] in the Derby’, but he said the entries have closed. I said ‘I’ll sort that out, I’ll ring Lizzie Bunn!’

“So I got him in, but he nearly beat me! He was in the lead for a long time with the only four faults until I jumped clear with a time fault and won. It’s a brilliant feeling.”

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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

Thousands of equestrian fans packed into Addington in late January 2023 to enjoy “For One Night Only” with eventing world number one Oliver Townend and Olympic showjumping legend Geoff Billington. It was the first time this double act had come together for an evening lecture demo in some time, and their popularity shows no signs of waning as it was a complete sell out.

Whether spectators were looking for tips to improve their riding, their horse’s way of going, or just an entertaining night out, this dead-pan comedy duo didn’t disappoint with banter aplenty. So what did we learn along the way?

1. While riding a rising five-year-old named Elton (so named because “he looks like he’s got Elton John’s glasses on”) and concentrating on finding “rhythm and balance, rhythm and balance”, Geoff shared that the best advice he’s ever had from his mate David Broome was to “keep your belly in line with the front of the saddle or you’ll wobble off”.

2. When Elton got a bit enthusiastic about his work, Geoff demonstrated how he teaches horses to half halt off his upper body, so he doesn’t have to pull. “The faster he goes, the more I lean back as part of the half halt,” he explained, “so he learns to regulate his pace off my upper body. Keep practising that until he knows that signal. The sooner he comes back, the sooner you can ride forwards.”

3. Not blessed with long legs (Geoff described his own as stumps), Geoff wants his horses to go forward “with a touch of the leg, then when I sit back he stops”. He also trains the horse to move easily away from each leg off a light touch – not brute force. He emphasised the need to “ride the back end to the front end – don’t pull the front end back to you.”

4. Meanwhile Oliver was focused on maintain good “rhythm and balance” at all times on Caunton Stud’s rising five-year-old grey stallion Diacondrik over trotting and canter poles, before moving on to jumping a small fence. After he tapped out a rail on one occasion, Oliver came back around to the fence with the same “good level stride”, and this time the horse made a super jump, having learnt from his earlier mistake. “This horse’s brain is beautiful,” Oliver said with a smile.

5. Oliver reminded the audience that while repetition is key to young horses’ learning, the petrol tank can run empty very quickly, so it’s also important to give them plenty of breaks.

6. Moving on to his next horse, a very attractive and “exciting” rising six-year-old bay mare, Hialisca De Takam, who was the four-year-old French eventing champion before being bought by Caunton Stud, Oliver reminded the audience of the importance of getting the horses working easily for you. Working through plenty of transitions, Oliver said they should be “as easy as changing the channel on your TV”.

7. Oliver explained that the reason professional riders can work a lot of horses in one day is because the riders aren’t working physically hard. They train their horses to be responsive with “lots of gear changes, forwards and back, concentrating on their reaction to the leg”.

8. Geoff described his second ride Doris, a rising six-year-old who has jumped 22 double clears so far as “as careful as a nudist over a barbed wire fence”. He demonstrated how he teaches a horse to land on a particular leg from a fence: “look where you’re going, bend the neck and drop your outside leg behind the girth”.

9. Geoff also shared some advice he learnt from the great trainer Lars Sederholm: “Ride the back end to the front, keep your hands together and the energy goes out through the bridle – then you can do anything”.

10. Discussing what makes a good horse great, the pair agreed there are many factors and that “you don’t really know how good they are until they are doing it”. Oliver said he used to fall off his outstanding five-star horse Ballaghmor Class “every day”, yet the horse went on to so much success at the highest level. Geoff said that horses have to have talent, a great mind, and they have to stay sound, adding: “They have to learn to settle with all the travelling, staying in strange stables week after week – it’s not just about having a big jump”.

11. While remaining focused on keeping a smooth, level stride to their fences, the competitive nature of both riders came out while riding two related distances. They demonstrated both horses’ adjustability by adding a stride into the five stride distance from a double of uprights to an oxer, and then fitting extra strides down a seven-stride distance between an upright and an oxer, with up to 11 being achieved.

12. Geoff’s young son Alfie looks set to follow in his famous father’s footsteps, should he wish to do so. He and his gorgeous little grey pony delighted spectators ahead of the interval – “He’s more stylish than daddy already,” quipped Oliver.

13. The riders bought out their big guns for the final part of the evening. Geoff rode his grand prix horse Just Special, who he described as “a complete gentleman, who travels happily on the truck next to Doris”, while Oliver had Caunton Stud’s popular stallion Comfort (pictured top). Both are breeding stallions, although Just Special combines sport with breeding, while Comfort is kept so busy with his breeding duties that he’s had very little competition mileage. Regardless of that, Comfort showed how naturally easy he found his work, whether that was on the flat or over the fences, which had gone up to a considerable size. After jumping around, Oliver admitted with a smile: “This is the sort of horse that makes me want to change jobs” – we can see why!

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

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

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

Legendary British showjumper Geoff Billington is in good spirits in hospital despite a scary dash for emergency treatment after he “thought I was having a heart attack” on Sunday night.

The double Olympian and Hickstead Derby winner was found to be suffering from both pneumonia and pleurisy — an inflammation of the tissue between the lungs and the ribcage.

“Thinking back on it, I’ve had an infection in my chest for the past two and a half weeks, but I didn’t do anything about it — I just thought it would go away,” Geoff told H&H from hospital today (8 June).

“But then it all came to a head on Sunday night.”

At 3am, the Cheshire-based showjumper, who turned 67 earlier this year, woke up with many of the symptoms associated with a heart attack.

“I went freezing cold and just started shivering, then when I tried to move I got pains in my chest,” said Geoff. “But the doctors reckon that’s what pleurisy does; when you’re struggling to breathe, your lungs don’t expand to their full capacity and you get a sharp, shooting pain.

“When I woke up, I said to my wife [Sarah] ‘I’m dying!’. But at first all she was worried about was me waking the house up!”

Geoff is still on a drip while he remains in hospital and is receiving antibiotics, but he hopes to leave hospital on Thursday, 9 June. He received hundreds of messages of support and sympathy after posting on social media earlier this week, saying it was “the first time I’ve stayed in hospital in my life”.

The dual championship bronze medallist has been told he needs to put his feet up and have plenty of rest for a while when he gets home.

“I’ve changed my drink from pints of beer to pints of antibiotics,” joked Geoff.

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

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

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

The quirky gelding with a penchant for champagne took Geoff Billington to the Olympic Games twice and captured the public’s imagination. Staying in the saddle with his soaring jump could be the only glitch, finds Madeleine Silver

“If I could have got It’s Otto upstairs at Olympia to one of the sponsor’s boxes, he would have loved to have sat down and had a craic with everybody, a drink and a nice bit of buffet,” says Jenny Ellis, who groomed for Geoff Billington and his “horse of a lifetime” It’s Otto.

Dipping his tongue in his rider’s glass of champagne was a typically lavish celebration for the indulged gelding. And on one occasion, panic descended over Jenny when she arrived at Otto’s stable at Hickstead to find it empty, only to discover that Geoff had put a headcollar on his stable star and taken him to the barbecue.

“He liked his mate to be with him at the party,” she laughs.

As Geoff’s former championship team-mate Di Lampard says: “Otto was like a god to Geoff; he always forgave him whatever he did.”

The result was a horse who revelled in his celebrity status.

“He thought he was king of the castle,” remembers Jenny, who accompanied him on his astonishingly busy schedule across the globe. “Every time he walked into a new stable, he’d be like: ‘Hi everyone, I’m here.’”

He famously favoured humans to horses – licking his groom but kicking out at horses he took a dislike to, prompting other grooms on the circuit to call him “the raging bull”. But beneath all of this was a sense of humour to match his rider.

“He had that funny eye that he used to roll at you – he was hilarious, I’ve never met a horse like him. He got me round the world and he was absolutely my best friend,” says Jenny. “And Geoff adored him. Otto was his life.”

Plot the horse’s arrival on a chart of Geoff’s career acceleration through the 1990s, and it’s easy to see why he was treated with such devotion. Geoff was in his late thirties by the time the six-year-old dark bay Dutch-bred gelding was sent to his yard by owner Gerard Lever. Fast forward four years and the pair were at the Atlanta Olympics alongside the Whitaker brothers and Nick Skelton, where they finished sixth as individuals.

Team bronze medals at the 1997 European Championships and 1998 World Equestrian Games followed, as well as team fourth at the 1999 Europeans and another Olympic appearance in Sydney in 2000. It was this flurry of success, more than two decades after Geoff’s career had begun as a teenager, that secured his status as a showjumping great.

“He was the best horse I have ever had, he truly was the horse of a lifetime,” Geoff has said.

The top showjumper’s life before joining Geoff Billington

Bought as a four-year-old by Gerard Lever from the Netherlands, he was first ridden by Willie Halliday before coming to Geoff. By Sultan and out of Tivonne, fellow top riders questioned the credentials of his sire for producing a jumping star, when Geoff told them he had an exciting prospect.

“They’d say, ‘That [breeding] is for dressage or carriage horses,’” he remembers.

On his arrival at Geoff’s yard, Otto had won just £100 in prize money and “had no clue what to do with his body. There was no consistency in his jump; sometimes he’d jump into a double and nearly land on the second part and other times he’d go sky high and land steep and nearly have to put two in,” Geoff says. But his star quality was clear from the off.

“He used to go so high that I was always excited by him. And it was at the end of his seven-year-old year, when I started taking him to the continental shows, that he started to look pretty special. I remember Nelson Pessoa came up in Vienna when he had won there and said: ‘I want that horse for my son [Rodrigo] for the Olympic Games.’”

By the time he was eight, he was on Nations Cup teams, with his huge – and quirky – jump making headlines.

“He wouldn’t just give a fence inches – he would give it feet,” Geoff says. “He had a proper spring in his step and was the rare combination of being careful but with scope. Normally if you get one that’s ultra-careful, their heart’s not big enough and they’re a little bit chicken. Or you could get one that’s got all the scope but not careful enough. But he had everything.

“I remember once walking a line with some other riders who were all scratching their heads deciding how many strides they should go on, and I just walked past and smiled a little bit to myself, thinking that I could go on either with Otto.”

Posters of him were soon adorning every pony-mad child’s bedroom – with Milton’s retirement in 1994 having created a neat vacancy for a new equine pin-up – and a steady stream of Polo mints and fan mail were arriving on the yard.

“I think it was his presence [that made him so popular with the public],” suggests Geoff. “He was only 16.2hh, but he looked a lot bigger because he had a high head carriage.”

But there was also his ability to keep the crowds on the edge of their seats; the ultimate showman.

“The louder the cheers, the higher he went,” says Geoff. “He’d jump one fence and I’d think, ‘Bloomin’ heck, that felt good.’ A lot of horses would frighten themselves but he’d come to the next fence and say, ‘Right, if you think that last one was good, watch this.’ So all the crowd would be gasping when he was jumping.”

But his exuberant jump didn’t always go to plan.

“I was in the Nations Cup in Dublin one year and he twisted me clean off over the last fence. I landed flat on my back about 10 yards before the finishing line with 30,000 Irish spectators cheering with excitement. I’ve never been bought as many pints of Guinness in my life as I was that night,” Geoff laughs.

There were some unnerving moments at home, too.

“He was a quirky character – in the ring he would face anything you put him at, but at home he was spooky and often needed a lead hacking around the farm. If you went on your own, you’d lose all self-preservation and because I thought so much of him, I was frightened to get after him.”

It was on the big occasions that Otto thrived, and Geoff has described his double clear at Hickstead’s European Championships in 1999 as “the ride of my life”.

A last-minute inclusion after John Whitaker had to drop out, combined with a home crowd, meant the pressure was high. But the pair rode a finale designed to delight their adoring fans.

“I sat up and slowed the revs right down to pop the Derby rails on five strides, then I saw the fence I had been waiting for, the last oxer. Otto met it spot on and must have given it a foot to finish clear – and the crowd went wild,” remembers Geoff, who missed a medal by a fraction of a time-fault.

At the Atlanta Olympics three years earlier, he was similarly unfortunate to miss out on a medal, with unlucky fences down meaning they fell short of the podium. But the result didn’t detract from the success of finishing as the highest-placed British partnership in sixth.

“It was all new to Otto and he coped unbelievably,” Geoff says. “I never dreamt of going to an Olympics because I’d never had a horse good enough. But once it gets within your reach, then you want it more.”

When the time came to retire It’s Otto at Olympia in 2001, there was a standing ovation and free-flowing tears.

“I cried from the minute he came [into the arena], to the minute he left,” says Jenny. “But I was so glad that Geoff had decided that Otto was going to spend the rest of his life with him. If he’d have gone anywhere else, it would have broken my heart.”

Ask Geoff if he’s ever had a horse that’s come close to the gelding and the answer is an emphatic “no”.

“I’ve had some good horses, but never one like him,” he says. “I can remember years ago John Whitaker saying that Ryan’s Son just fitted him like a glove – the horse knew what he was thinking and vice versa. And I think it was a bit the same with me and Otto. It was a partnership, a marriage, whatever you want to call it.”

John Whitaker on It’s Otto

“I remember Geoff telling me that he thought he had found the one he’d been looking for all his life – and when I saw him, I could tell he was something special,” says John Whitaker, who rode on the British team with Geoff and It’s Otto at various major championships.

“Sometimes I think Geoff’s biggest problem was staying on him. Otto used to unseat him a bit, but from the very start the horse looked like he had lots of scope.

“Geoff knew him inside out and how to get the best out of him. Otto had his own style of jumping and was a little bit quirky, so I think Geoff has to take some credit for producing him the way he did. Geoff’s always been successful but to get a superstar horse is what everybody dreams of.

“He was very happy to find Otto and I think Otto was lucky to find Geoff.”

Di Lampard on It’s Otto

“Geoff rode Otto at the same time in young horse classes when I was competing my championship ride Abbervail Dream, so the two horses came through together,” says Geoff’s World Equestrian Games and European Championship team-mate Di Lampard. “The horse was destined for a great future.

“He was unique in more ways than one; the markings on his face gave him that obscure but attractive look, but he was also cheeky, sharp and so bright. He had endless energy and the engine that horse had was shown in his unbelievable scope, and him eventually becoming an Olympian.

“He was a difficult horse, there’s no two ways about it. But Geoff took the challenge on and they were legends together.”

● Do you have a special memory of It’s Otto that you’d like to share? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com

Ref: 4 February 2021

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Geoff represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games as well as World and European Championships, winning team bronze medals in 1997 and 1998. The 65-year-old is now also well known for his coaching, clinics and hilarious showjumping commentary.

The best piece of advice my dad gave me was: “Be nice to people on the way up because you might meet them on the way down.”

My parents had nothing to do with horses when I started out but they became massive supporters. John Whitaker and I first met when we were 12 and our parents became good friends, so they used to travel to all the shows together.

Harvey Smith and David Broome were our heroes. I started watching Horse of the Year Show on television when I was about nine and they were the most prominent riders then. At that age, I don’t suppose I dreamed that one day I’d be riding against them but it’s funny how life goes – we became fellow competitors and then good friends.

The biggest change in my riding is that I always wear a hat now. In the old days, nobody wore one unless you were in the ring and, before chinstraps, if your hat was wobbling about you’d just throw it off. But I’ve seen enough accidents for it to have been an important lesson, and I’d never get on a horse without one now.

Finding the key

The training tip I live by is to never give up. There’s a key to every horse, you just have to find it. If you keep your horse happy and healthy he’ll give you his all.

I’ve had a few quirky horses over the years – even It’s Otto would try it on. In the ring he wouldn’t spook at anything but if you took him up the road, you’d have a right battle just to get him past the next farm. But he was one of the best in the world.

I’d always had good horses but could never really take on the likes of Milton. I never dreamed of going to an Olympic Games before I had Otto because I never thought I’d have a horse good enough. You say you’re not bothered about going to the Olympics but it’s just a cover-up – once it’s in reach, you get really hungry for it.

When people asked what my ambition was I’d say to win the Calgary grand prix because it’s the most money of the year; in four years, Otto was fourth, second, second and sixth in it.

He’d definitely be as careful over today’s tracks but I don’t know if I could go as fast as they do nowadays – I struggled even back then because he jumped so high. He won only 12 classes in his life but he was placed in all the big ones.

Preparation is vital

The one thing I always remember to do on competition day is get out of bed! After that, I’ll check through my list – horse passport, money, wagon documents, riding gear. I go through each one before I go out the door and hopefully don’t forget anything – I often seem to miss something though.

But I’m not as bad as John Whitaker – we got to the Atlanta Olympics and he said, “Have you got any spare boots?” He’d gone to the Olympics and forgotten his riding boots… As luck would have it, I’d taken a new pair with me to break in while I was there so he finished up breaking the boots in for me! That’s John though – so laid back he’s unreal, and he wasn’t even panicking about it.

Before I go into the ring, I go over the course in my head then either switch my phone off or, better still, give it to somebody to film the round, because you can learn so much by studying it later. I never used to, but you have to keep up with the times.

My Bloomfields two-horse truck has been another game-changer – it’s so handy, we use it more than anything. It even has a picture of me jumping on the side.

But above all, I wish I’d known when I was younger that the sport would be so much easier with a rich wife!

Ref: Horse & Hound; 26 November 2020

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The Olympic showjumper on learning from Harvey Smith, looking for the first fence and why, despite a tack room full

Geoff Billington is one of Britain’s most successful showjumpers. Here he takes us on an entertaining trip down memory lane and reveals the childhood obsession he had with his idol, Harvey Smith.

“Watching showjumping when I was about nine years old on television, the ones who were always in the jump-off were Harvey Smith on Harvester and O’Malley, and David Broome on Mister Softee, so they were the ones that stuck out in my mind,” remembers Geoff, while speaking to H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald in this week’s episode of the Horse & Hound Podcast.

“It’s funny, I was so obsessed, I used to get my dad to drive over to Yorkshire and drive past the bottom of Harvey’s drive — nobody knows this — but we’d drive past and say there’s his farm up there on the hill. Then we’d drive back home to Lancashire!

“I ended up jumping against Harvey and David, jumping on teams with them, becoming good friends. It’s funny how life goes round.”

Geoff talks fondly about his great horse It’s Otto, and reveals that among his many fans was Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti.

“Modena was a good show in Italy run by Pavarotti,” says Geoff. “We used to go and sit with Pavarotti after we jumped. He loved my horse, It’s Otto, and he used to sit in the stands, and when you went in the ring you’d salute him and Pavarotti would wave a white handkerchief — not at me, at the horse. Then he’d come round the stables afterwards, patting the horse and feeding him titbits. Those were good memories.”

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Looking back over Geoff’s many achievements in the saddle, he picks out winning the Foxhunter final in 1986 and being picked for the Olympics as just some of his highlights, but explains how much riding for his country has meant to him:

“It was a massive honour to ride on my first British team in 1974 — every time you ride on a British team, it’s a massive honour, like playing football for your country,” says Geoff. “So that’s always been a big thing in my heart. Jumping for your country is everything. I jumped on teams with great people — I jumped with my idols, Harvey Smith and David Broome; my best friends John and Michael [Whitaker], Nick [Skelton] and Robert Smith. We had some great times.”

To hear more of Geoff’s exclusive interview, listen to episode 26 of The Horse & Houd podcast or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app

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

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In our 26th weekly episode of the first series of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s showjumping editor Jennifer Donald chats to British Olympian Geoff Billington about big wins, top horses and the time John Whitaker went to the Olympics without his boots. Moving on to the week’s top news stories, our news team join podcast host Pippa Roome to discuss new rules after lockdown lifts, the challenges for women working in racing and an increase in reported road incidents. We also catch up with vet Ricky Farr to talk about tying-up in horses and what to do if your horse is affected.

Episode 26 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, our popular audio service available exclusively every Thursday morning for our H&H Plus subscribers, is now live.

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• View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

In episode 26, British Olympic showjumper and new H&H columnist Geoff Billington talks to H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald about what it meant to jump for his country, the riders he looked up to when starting out, his Olympic memories and why it’s so hard to find a championship horse.

H&H podcast host Pippa Roome is joined by H&H news editor Eleanor Jones and senior news writer Lucy Elder to discuss some of the week’s key stories, including what we know about new rules after lockdown lifts, the challenges faced by mothers working in racing and why an increase in reported road incidents could just be the tip of the iceburg.

In this week’s advice section we catch up with equine vet Ricky Farr of Farr & Pursey Equine, who talks about horses tying-up.

We hope you will enjoy our latest episode and would love to hear your feedback, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com.

H&H Plus podcast: episode 26

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Geoff Billington reflects on the consequences of a second lockdown, “confusion and lack of transparency”, remembering a friend and why he thinks he should appear on a certain TV programme

This has been another really tough month for the equestrian industry as things have ground to a halt once again.

Since the announcement came at the start of November that England was returning to lockdown, I have had to cancel all the clinics I had planned in the run-up to Christmas; at this time of year, they are my bread and butter. But I’m not alone – there are very many trainers and coaches in a similar position to me who have lost all their income. These are desperate times for a lot of people.

The situation wasn’t helped by the confusion and lack of transparency surrounding the communication of how the new restrictions would affect equestrians – in particular for riding schools and on the issue of hiring out arenas. For a couple of days we all thought it was great and we’d be allowed to carry on, and the next minute they’d changed the goalposts.

The final decision not to let us hire arenas is ridiculous. People are still able to teach one-on-one at home, but without any liveries that option isn’t open to me and I’ve effectively had to shut down until December.

We’ve been breaking in a couple of youngsters at home and it would be nice to be able to take them out just for some experience – even just on a farm ride to get them out and about. But instead we’re left in limbo, sitting here twiddling our thumbs.

Meanwhile racing continues at full pace – albeit behind closed doors – but I even saw that Newbury had thrown open its doors for some leading racehorses to enjoy a racecourse gallop last week.

We’re all in a similar boat, trying to make a living out of horses, but the advantages that those in racing have been granted only serves to heighten how difficult this is for the rest of the equestrian world.

But meanwhile I’m looking to fill up January with clinic bookings if anyone’s interested!

An ambassador for the sport

Time really flies, and it’s been two years since Tim Stockdale sadly passed away.

Tim’s twin brother Ivan lives very close to me and keeps me informed with how his sons are doing, so I’m thrilled at how well the lads are getting on in their chosen sports – Joe is making a great go of it with the riding and is just heading off abroad for a couple of weeks; he’s even brought out a range of Team Stockdale clothing.

Meanwhile, Mark is absolutely flying with the golf and it sounds as if he’s well on the way to becoming a top golfer. Both are showing the same great attributes that their dad showed and Joe is a great ambassador for the sport on social media.

That was one of Tim’s greatest assets, too – when he started off, he wasn’t the best of riders, but he made himself into a brilliant rider and he was fantastic at promoting himself and the sport.

Jellied eels and castle ruins

For weeks I’ve been looking forward to watching this year’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! I’m always being told I should appear in the jungle – or ruined castle as it is this year (pictured, above) – and I reckon I could handle some of the challenges they face.

Being stuck in an underground vault full of snakes wouldn’t bother me too much and I’d have mopped up everybody’s leftovers the night they all had eel to eat – I love jellied eel and nothing beats a bit of sushi; I’d be in my element!

What’s more, you get paid a fortune and think of how many after-dinner speeches I’d be able to fill after a couple of weeks in there – we need to make it happen in 2021!

Ref: Horse & Hound; 26 November 2020

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Showjumper Geoff Billington said he “feels like Eddie the Eagle”, having broken his heel at the Liverpool International Horse Show.

Geoff, who joked that he had “forgotten to put on my Superman suit”, was injured as he slid from one of the ramps used by the motorbike display team in the M&S Bank Arena at the end of the show on New Year’s Eve.

He told H&H the five-strong commentary team had been asked to pose for a picture on top of the ramp.

“Natalie, the new addition to the team, was wearing a long dress and high heels, and thought it would be fun to go down the padded ramp, so she slid down,” Geoff told H&H.

“They all started chanting ‘Geoff, Geoff, Geoff’, so I slid down too, and crunched my leg. None of the others followed, funnily enough.

“[Irish showjumper] Anthony Condon’s fiancée Laura Johnson took me to hospital and sat there with me for five hours, and we got back to the hotel at 7am.”

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Geoff Billington’s secret weapon: overreach boots on hind legs

Why would you put over reach boots on hind legs? Geoff Billington uses this simple solution to a testing problem

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Geoff, who has since had more X-rays, is not sure how long he will be out of action; he is due to return to hospital on Monday (6 January), when consultants will determine whether he has to stay in plaster or change to a boot, and whether surgery is needed.

“I hope not!” he said. “But that’s what we’ve been up to.

“We got caught up in the moment – it’s like the Derby bank when you look at it. I needed [his 2007 Derby-winning ride] Cassabachus to get down it!

“I might try it on a motorbike next time; it’d be less dangerous.”

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There isn’t much that Geoff Billington doesn’t know about the sport of showjumping and horsemanship in general. So when he was spotted competing at South View last Tuesday (6 February) using overreach boots on the hind legs of one of his horses, we had to ask the question… Why?

Geoff was riding in one of the show’s Blue Chip qualifiers on board Kewi Connection, a 10-year-old mare by Contendro I, who he first paired up with two seasons ago. The mare is owned by BS Area 22 representative Katie McCreath, and when Geoff first took the reins, he found her rather difficult to ride.

“She would often shoot away from my leg and get disunited on the corners,” explains 52-year-old Geoff. “We couldn’t work why she was doing this and then thought she might have been catching herself behind, so we put overreach boots over her hind feet.”

According to Geoff, the pair have turned a corner since solving the frustrating problem — and even picked up a Blue Chip qualification ticket at the show when finishing second to John Garton-Pope (Eldorado Velvet) in the Dynamic B&C.

“It might attract a few strange looks at shows, but it’s solved the problem as she’s a lot more balanced and level now,” said Geoff, who represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games and won team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 1998 on It’s Otto.

Continued below…

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11 moments Geoff Billington won’t forget in a hurry

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Geoff Billington, Bob Champion and more famous faces ride through Liverpool

Yesterday's launch of the Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show (31 December-2 January 2017) wasn't short of the celebrity factor

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

Adding to the stable’s ribbon haul on the day were Sarah Billington and Tybalt JX who won the British novice and discovery classes.

Don’t miss the full report on all the action from this show at South View, including the Blue Chip qualifiers, in this week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 15 February.

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

We've trawled through the H&H archives to bring you some of the current legends of the equestrian world — now and how they looked as fresh-faced young hopefuls back in the day

1. Mary King

Now 56, eventer Mary is still riding with the same grit and determination as she did on board the wonderful, helicopter-tailed King Boris back in 1987.

2. Michael Whitaker

Showjumper Michael, 57, won the first of his four Hickstead Derby titles in 1980 at the age of 20, complete with a full mop of hair, riding Owen Gregory.

3. Richard Davison

Dressage rider Richard, now 61, and Hiscox Artemis competed at the 2012 London Olympics in the same classic style seen 22 years earlier on Vidello.

4. David Tatlow

The king of the show ring then and now strikes quite a pose at the National Hunter Show at Shrewsbury 58 years ago, having taken the Horse & Hound Challenge Cup with Altimira.

5. Mark Todd

With five Olympic medals under his belt, Mark, now 61, did enjoy a seven-year retirement before returning to the sport in 2008 to continue his winning ways. He and The Irishman II are seen in action at Badminton in 1989 — nine years after he won his first title there with Southern Comfort III. Aside from his 1980 win, he also took the title in 1994, 1996 and 2011.

6. Ian Millar

In 2014 at the age of 67, the Canadian showjumper beat 20-year-old Reed Kessler in a two-way jump-off to take the sport’s richest prize, the CP International at Spruce Meadows, Canada. Back in the early 1970s when this picture was taken, “Captain Canada” had already made his debut at the first of his record-breaking 10 Olympic Games appearances.

7. Geoff Billington

He may now be 62, but there’s no sign of the popular showjumper hanging up his boots just yet. In 1986 the showman enjoyed one of many moments in the spotlight, winning the Foxhunter championship with Edisford Bridge.

8. Robert Oliver

The stylish showman will forever be remembered for his great partnership with the six-time cob of the year Superted, seen here at Leicestershire County Show in 1988.

9. John Whitaker

Still winning at the age of 61, John first rose to fame with the great Ryan’s Son, already stars of the showjumping ring in 1977. “I didn’t know too much about the job back then, but he suited my style and we hit it off,” says John. And long may his winning ways continue.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out 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

Yesterday’s (25 October) launch of the Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show (31 December-2 January 2017) wasn’t short of the celebrity factor. Grand National-winning jockey Bob Champion led a parade of arond 50 riders, including showjumpers Billy Twomey, Laura Renwick and Geoff Billington, through the city centre ending up at the Echo Arena, where the show will be held at the end of the year. Check out some of the day’s highlights…

The show’s president Nina Barbour sets off with showjumper Billy Twomey, winner of the first Liverpool International Grand Prix on Diaghilev

Parade participants came in all shapes and sizes…

Grand National-winning hero Neptunes Collonge takes centre stage

A bird’s eye view of the action

Excitement builds outside the show’s Liverpool venue

1981 Grand National winner Bob Champion returns to Liverpool, where 35 years ago he won the National on Aldaniti

Representing the British Horse Society…

Nina Barbour’s mount is smartly groomed for the occasion

Geoff Billington gets into the spirit of it…

Geoff Billington

Hacking round Liverpool with Bob Champion, as you do , on a Tuesday morning ?

Pony Club members pose for a photo with Bob Champion

Last year’s show was a huge success, with riders and spectators in agreement about how enjoyable the New Year show was. Find out more about this year’s show >>

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

It's Otto was the horse who put Geoff Billington's showjumping career on the map. This week's guest editor tells us what his former stablestar was like...

‘Otto’ was sent to Geoff Billinton by his owner Gerard Lever as a six-year-old — along with another horse called Mancuso, who, according to Geoff, was also a good horse but was eventually sold to America.

“I knew Otto was special straight away,” says Geoff. “By the time he was eight we were competing on Nations Cup teams.

“Before I got the ride on Otto he had won just £100, by the time his career finished he had won £700,000 in prize-money.”

He was a horse who not only captured the hearts of showjumping fans but also cemented Geoff’s career in the saddle.

“What made him so special was that he was just better than the rest. He had an abundance of scope and was very brave — he loved his job. He wouldn’t just give a fence inches — he would give it feet,” he reflects.

“When I first got him, he was a massive horse (16.2hh) and had no clue about what to do with his body. He was a big novice horse and it took him at least six months to figure out how to use himself.”

The Dutch-bred gelding was sired by Sultan — a stallion Geoff says is best known for siring dressage horses.

‘He never ran out of scope’

Together Geoff and Otto formed a formidable partnership, competing in two Olympics — Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000 — plus numerous Nations Cup appearances.

They went on to compete at the 1997 European Championships in Mannheim and then the 1998 Rome World Championships — where they picked up team bronze medals on both occasions.

“We didn’t actually win that many grands prix — we were second a lot. Twice in fact in Calgary which is considered the biggest grand prix in the world,’ says Geoff.

“He wasn’t the quickest horse because he was careful and spent so much time in the air. He was a horse who never ran out of scope.”

‘There wasn’t a dry eye in there’

Geoff fondly describes Otto as the best horse he’s ever ridden. “He loved attention and always knew he was the best. He was incredibly spoilt and loved carrots and polos. He was fond of people but never that keen on being near other horses, he would pull faces in the warm-up,” says Geoff.

“He was a quirky character — in the ring he would face anything you put him at but at home he was spooky and often needed a lead hacking around the farm.”

Otto was retired at the age of 15, nearly a decade after Geoff had first sat on him. “After the Sydney Olympics we decided we wanted to retire him at the top. He had a huge send off at Olympia — I don’t think there was a dry eye in there,” remembers Geoff. “At the time I said: ‘Every child has dreams — thanks to It’s Otto all of mine have come true.’”

Continued below…

‘He touched people’s hearts’

In retirement Otto remained at Geoff’s Cheshire yard and he would often ride him during lecture demonstrations.

“During his career, Otto was only ever hand-grazed for hours on end because of the risk of injury — when he was retired we turned him out. I thought he would go mad but he stuck his head down straightaway.”

He enjoyed the life of Riley for nine years in retirement before being put down aged 23 and he is buried on the farm where Geoff is still based.

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“He was such a popular horse — after Milton retired he was the next horse people really loved. He had a huge fan club who always sent him treats.

“He was a horse who simply touched people’s hearts.”

Don’t miss this week’s showjumping special issue of Horse & Hound magazine (31 March 2016), guest edited by Geoff Billington

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 week’s showjumping guest editor, Geoff Billington, discusses being the wrong shape, his allergy to horses and still riding aged 61…

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

A: Well apart from ‘don’t ever eat yellow snow’, it would have to be to never give up — something John Whitaker always stands by. You would rarely see John retiring a horse in the arena; if he’s paid the entry fee he will make the most of it.

Q: What is the most common issue you come across when teaching?

A: I hate seeing riders blame their horse when it is the rider’s fault — as a rider you have to be honest with yourself. If I’m teaching and it is something I see I will always pull the rider up on it. Usually horses will do something wrong for a reason — in general horses want to please. If you have a good horse and things suddenly start going wrong, you need to sit back and think what your horse is trying to tell you. It is important to listen to your horse.

Q: I am on the search for a showjumper, what do you look for in a horse?

A: The three things I mainly look for are scope, carefulness and temperament. I often prefer blood horses — I’ve only got little stumps for legs so I can’t be needing to kick too much! I always take an interest in the horse’s breeding and who it is sired by as I believe you can tell a lot about a horse’s temperament by the stallion. My final decision would not be swung by who the stallion is, but it is always worth looking at.

Q: I’ve just bought a young horse to bring on myself. How do you produce your young showjumpers?

A: Always teach the horse to jump well first before running it fast against the clock. A young horse should be able to go in a nice rhythm and good balance — then at the end of the day, if he doesn’t turn out to be much good you’ve still got a nice horse to ride and can probably sell easily. If you buy a horse who has been produced by a professional, it will always have been trained correctly.

Q: What is your favourite British venue and why?

A: Indoor it would have to Olympia — the count down to Christmas makes the atmosphere unbeatable. I was also hugely impressed with the new Liverpool show, which had a similar feel and was a great New Year party — it is a show that will get better and better.

My favourite outdoor show is definitely Hickstead. Having won the Derby there in 2007 and ridden in numerous Nations Cups there, I have a lot of happy memories at the venue. It is not an easy arena to ride in — with undulations — but I’ve been riding there since I was 15, so I know it well.

Continued below…

Q: Who is the best horse you have ever ridden?

A: Without doubt It’s Otto was the best horse I’ve ever ridden — he had an abundance of scope, was very brave and wanted to do the job. He took me to two Olympics, Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, plus World and European Championships. He was put down in 2009 aged 23 and is buried at home with us.

More recently, it would be a horse called Upper Cut, who I rode from 2010 until 2014 when he retired. He would give you everything he had and had a huge heart. He probably jumped fences he wasn’t supposed to be capable of jumping — he was an out and out trier.

Q: Which rider do you most admire?

A: I have grown up with the likes of John and Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Robert Smith and I will always continue to admire them. But out of the modern day showjumpers, it would have to be both Scott Brash and Ben Maher — they are the ultra professionals. I also have huge respect for Austrian rider Hugo Simon, who is still competing aged 73!

Q: How did you first getting into showjumping?

A: My parents were not into horses, but when I was about six my dad sat me on a pony in a field one day, then I started going to the local riding school aged nine. Once I was there I saw the girl to boy ratio and that was me hooked! Once I had left school, all I wanted to do was horses — I have no idea why because I get really bad hay fever and I’m actually allergic to horses. I started out as a groom for Joe Pullen. I then started picking up more rides on his horses — including Talk Of The North, who I made my first British team appearance on aged 19.

Q: What is your best achievement in your showjumping career?

A: Having ridden at the Olympics and on the British team rank highly and it is nice to have the history to look back on and the great memories. However, my latest achievement would have to be still being able to ride competitively aged 61.

Q: Are there any elements of your riding you’ve always had to work hard on?

A: Yes, because I have always been completely the wrong shape for a showjumper! Someone once told me I looked like an upside down triangle — short legs and a belly. I’ve never dieted or done any other exercise (apart from having plenty of sex!) and I do like a drink — but I think I am lucky and have good natural balance on a horse.

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This week’s guest editor of Horse & Hound’s showjumping special (on sale Thursday 31 March) has enjoyed four illustrious decades within the sport.

Here are the moments that have stuck in his mind — plus a few he’d rather forget…

1. Making my first British team appearance aged 19 riding Talk Of The North in Poland.

2. Winning the Foxhunter final in 1986 at HOYS on Edisford Bridge and the grade C final in the same year. I had bought the horse from a friend — I’d made a deal one night in the pub. He’d never made it round a course when I bought him.

3. I won my first car — a Mercedes — when winning a grand prix on It’s Otto in Zurich in 1995. I kept it for 15 years before selling it to a friend.

4. Finishing best of the Brits at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 — I finished sixth with It’s Otto.

5. As part of the entertainment at shows, like Olympia, I used to do impersonations of my fellow competitors such as Jan Tops and John Whitaker — I would dress up as them as well. I used to do it as a way of getting to jump at shows — if I did the impersonations they would often let me in.

6. I had the privilege of meeting Princess Diana and William and Harry at Olympia one year after I had done the entertainment in the main arena. She was lovely and even told me, having watched the riders, she could recognise who I was impersonating.

Continued below…

7. I ticked a box when winning the Hickstead Derby in 2007 riding Cassabachus. I had been third the year before but had previously had a lot of attempts.

8. I was one of just four double clears at the 1999 European Championships which were held on home soil at Hickstead riding It’s Otto.

9. Watching my son James win team gold at the Junior European Championships in Vilamoura was a very proud moment and one I won’t forget.

And some moments Geoff would rather forget…

10. On the final day of the World Cup final in 2000 in Las Vegas I took the wrong course — I was on target for a clear and eventual sixth place.

11. During the Nations Cup in Dublin one year, I was clear and just had to jump the final fence, It’s Otto jumped awkwardly over it and launched me out of the saddle. I landed on my back a few feet from the finish line.

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He’s one of showjumping’s best personalities and this week Geoff Billington took the helm at the Horse & Hound headquarters.

The special showjumping issue, guest edited by Geoff, is on sale on Thursday 31 March.

Geoff represented Great Britain at both the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics. He was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 1998 World Championships and also the 1997 European Championships.

In 2007, he was victorious in the prestigious Hickstead Derby riding Cassabachus and he also made numerous Nations Cup team appearances.

Top rides alongside his Derby-winning mount included this week’s cover star It’s Otto, and Cassius Clay.

“I had big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of my former teammates John Whitaker and Nick Skelton as guest editor,” said the showjumper and respected trainer, who also turned commentator at this year’s inaugural Liverpool Horse Show.

“I have never done anything like this before so it was great to be involved — it’s always nice to have the opportunity to spread your wings.”

Geoff’s features include:

• Where’s the grass gone? With more and more venues investing in all-weather surfaces, we take a look at what affect this has on both young riders and the education of horses.
• Home or away? Why do British riders opt to be based abroad and what can the UK soil offer foreign riders.
• Showjumping over the years — H&H’s guest editor and his former teammate John Whitaker take a trip down memory lane and take a look at how the sport has changed.
• Geoff’s fantastic four — find out more about a quartet of talented British riders who have remained under the radar, chosen by Geoff.

“It has been great fun working with Geoff on this issue, he came up with fantastic topics that cover a platform of areas from within the sport,” said Hannah Lemieux, H&H’s acting showjumping editor. “I really hope the readers enjoy the special issue as much as we did putting it together.”

Starting tomorrow (Tuesday) there is a series of features going online at horseandhound.co.uk.

The web features include Geoff’s most memorable moments — plus a few he’d rather forget (29 March) — and Geoff answering readers’ queries during an online Q&A session (31 March).

Related articles:

• Check out Geoff Billington’s ‘Superman’ lorry
• Laura Tomlinson guest edits Horse & Hound
• Ride of my life: Geoff Billington

Plus find out more about this week’s cover star It’s Otto — Geoff reveals to H&H what his top horse was like.

This year’s other guest-edited specials:

• Eventing (published on 3 March), guest-edited by Sam Griffiths

• Showing (published on 17 March), guest-edited by Robert Walker

• Dressage (published on 24 March), guest-edited by Laura Tomlinson

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

Four top riders will step into the hot seat at Horse & Hound in March, guest editing our spring sport specials.

Australia’s 2014 Badminton winner Sam Griffiths will lead the eventing special (3 March), followed by Horse of the Year Show show hunter champion Robert Walker taking over for the showing issue (17 March).

London 2012 team gold medallist Laura Tomlinson heads up our dressage special (24 March).

2007 Hickstead Derby winner Geoff Billington rounds out the quartet in our showjumping issue (31 March).

Laura said: “I am excited to have been given the chance to guest edit for H&H, it’s a great opportunity to discuss some ideas and issues within our sport. I hope people find the pieces engaging and informative.”

Content director Sarah Jenkins said: “We’re thrilled that four of our audience’s most loved and admired riders have agreed to take the helm at H&H.

“The insight that top riders bring to the magazine week after week is taken to another level in those issues that are guest edited by athletes at the top of their game with strong, informed opinions on the disciplines they are so passionate about.”

Eventing editor and acting print director Pippa Roome added: “Sam and I met last week [pictured, above] and I was impressed by how much homework he had done — he has lots of great ideas.

“Having riders so closely involved is a great opportunity for us to bring fresh eyes to what we do and I can’t wait to see what they produce.”

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

Horse & Hound's coverage of Ashford Farm CSI4* Bolesworth International (18-21 June) is brought to you in association with Equestrian.com

If you made the trip to Cheshire for the Ashford Farm Bolesworth International (18-21 June) you may be suffering from an equestrian overload hangover, after four days packed with action.

Whether you were in the market for top-class showjumping and dressage, or catching a glimpse of the eventers being put through their paces in the Ride-Away Express Eventing Challenge — it’s unlikely you came away feeling short changed.

And our photographers were on hand to catch some of the thrills, spills and stranger sights from this year’s spectacle.

Bolesworth 2015 in pictures

1. Puissance glory

Ireland’s David Simpson and Gotti Van Paemel (pictured above) and Norway’s Victoria Gulliksen and Grafit shared the prize money in the Equestrian.com puissance that went to a thrilling final fifth round, with the wall reaching 2.10 metres.

2. …and again

Victoria Gulliksen celebrates her Puissance success in style. “I took advice from my dad as he has jumped up to 2.25 metres so knows how to do it, but I wasn’t expecting to get to the final round,” she said afterwards.

3. Michael Eilberg wows the crowds

Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Farouche cruise to victory in the Equestrian.com invitational inter I freestyle — despite the chestnut being a little nervous in the electric atmosphere.

4. Sit tight!

Robert Whitaker and USA Today take the Equerry Horse Feeds CSI4* 1.45m title after a tight jump off

Continued below…

15 riders reach the point of no return

We’ve all been there — one minute you’re enjoying the ride of your life and the next you experience that

5. Superman in action

Geoff Billington ditches his show jacket to win the Mini Major class with Martha Hughes.

6. Fine style

The show’s president Nina Barbour opts for some more unusual footwear…

7. A party atmosphere

The opening ceremony gets the crowds in the mood for four days of entertainment.

8. Not your average main arena attraction…

Butterflies wowed the crowd in the opening ceremony.

9. A memorable backdrop

Wrapped up in all the action, you may have failed to give the stunning castle backdrop the credit it’s due…

10. Wacky jumps

Clare Shepherd and Jordanta take the six-year-old final, where no creativity has been spared with the fence designs

11. The high jump

The French Horseman display team show the horses how it’s done.

Don’t miss the full report from Bolesworth International in Horse & Hound magazine, 25 June issue

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it’s most likely just showjumping’s very own superhero Geoff Billington soaring down the motorway in his new set of wheels.

This fantastic two-horse lorry has just been delivered to the Billington stables, so give Geoff a wave if you pass him on the roads — you certainly can’t miss him.

“I haven’t actually driven it yet but I expect there will be a few tooting horns when I do,” Geoff told H&H.

The picture of Geoff in full flight dressed as Superman was originally taken a couple of years ago to help promote one of the shows at the famous Magna Racino show centre, just outside Vienna, in Austria.

“I was front page of one of the newspapers over there!” he said.

“I was looking for a new lorry and was talking to Alex [Brimelow, of Alexanders Horseboxes, who made and designed the lorry for Geoff]. I said I wanted it to stand out a bit and we came up with the idea of using that picture.”

The team at the North Yorkshire horsebox company did the rest of the artwork and, with a patriotic touch, we reckon this is the perfect lorry for action man Geoff.

Geoff is no stranger to wearing his pants on the outside, however. His fancy dress antics at some of the big shows over the years are legendary and the 60-year-old Olympic showjumper was a huge hit with the crowds at Bolesworth International last year when he jumped as another of his alter-egos, Bananaman.

So will we be seeing him back in superhero mode any time soon?

“I keep the costume strictly for the bedroom now,” he said cheekily.

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

Every top rider has a particular forte — whether it’s gleaning every possible mark in a dressage test, riding a perfect jump-off turn or giving a young horse confidence across country.

We might be in awe of how Michael Whitaker sets his horses up for a fence, how Scott Brash rides a jump-off or how Piggy French makes cross-country riding look so effortless.

But who did some of our biggest names aspire to emulate when they were starting out in their careers?

5 top equestrians reveal their riding icons

1. Yogi Breisner

“When I started out in eventing Mark Todd was winning the first of his two Olympic gold medals, so I took a great deal of interest in what he was doing. The British riders Richard Meade, Sheila Willcox and Mary Gordon-Watson were all in a league of their own in the mid-1980s and I really admired both their success and their level of horsemanship.”

2. Geoff Billington

“When we were kids, John Whitaker and I used to sit in the stand at Olympia and watch all the top riders. Our eyes and ears would prick up when Harvey Smith, David Broome or Eddie Macken (pictured) came into the arena. They all had very different styles and we used to pick the things we liked about each of them and try to emulate them.”

3. Lucinda Green

“Mary Gordon-Watson took me under her wing. I can remember my training stays with her at Blagdon Farm in Dorset in the early 70s: they consisted of wonderful riders across the Dorset downs, more often than not coursing behind her whippets. I suspect all that a budding young rider would see of a world champion’s facilities nowadays would be the inside of their arena.”

4. Robert Oliver

“The late Roy Trigg. He was one of the last great nagsmen and he was an inspiration to me and countless other riders. He was a perfectionist and a showman.”

5. Rob Hoekstra

“Harvey Smith and David Broome were in a league of their own. They were great technicians over a fence. Then they handed over the mantle to the likes of Nick Skelton and John and Michael Whitaker. Now, Scott Brash and Ben Maher are fast stepping into their shoes.”

Don’t miss this week’s ‘The moment’ in Horse & Hound magazine (16 October 2014), where Mary Gordon-Watson talks about taking part in the first ever team chase

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THE Blue Chip Winter Championships is a popular show at a fantastic venue. It runs like clockwork and there is something for everyone.

The grand prix was good and spectators could watch great riders such as Michael Whitaker, Billy Twomey and Tina Fletcher, as well as younger riders coming through. Unfortunately, we older ones got left behind!

The course was technical, especially the last dog-leg double of verticals to an oxer and an upright to finish. I told Michael Whitaker five strides then four, but he reckoned six and five. Afterwards he said he’d gone on my strides. It didn’t help him — he got a time-fault — but I’d better accompany him on an all-expenses paid trip to the World Cup final in France as adviser.

Riders were honoured to have our Olympic course-designer Bob Ellis building here. He did a fantastic job in London. The best team, Britain, won under pressure. But they only had to concentrate on themselves and each other and Bob had to consider everyone — from the world’s best to the less experienced.

I stood by him when the last horse jumped the last fence and I welled up, I could see the relief on his face. He got the right results without destroying any horse or rider. Our riders were rightly honoured at the Palace, but Bob deserved a knighthood, too.

I did the masterclass during Friday’s Gala night. Every other year Kelvin [Bywater, show director] makes the perfect choice — me! I never plan it and do it off the cuff. Although I have ideas, I prefer to play it by ear. And this year, they were a good crowd, listening and taking it all in.

A masterclass has to be show business and I like to ad-lib. Fortunately, I have a degree in bullshit!

Showjumper Geoff Billington and Olympic course-designer Bob Ellis are joining forces for a special lecture demo series, “From Both Sides of the Fence”.

Geoff will discuss his experiences as a rider at the Atlanta and Sydney Games, while Bob will discuss the challenges he faced when designing the course for London 2012. They will cover all levels of the sport, from grass roots to Olympic competition.

The demo will take place at 14 equestrian venues across the UK during January and February. Those signed up so far include Addington Manor, Bishop Burton, Reaseheath and Rodbaston.

To buy tickets, contact the venues directly.

This story was originally published in Horse & Hound on 12 December.

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Geoff Billington has proposed to his long-term girlfriend Sarah Saltman.

The renowned British show jumper popped the question to Sarah on New Year’s Day, after six years together.

The couple have not yet made any plans for their big day but Geoff says the date will be some time in 2013.

Sarah, who is also a showjumper, helps out riding the youngsters for Geoff at his base in Nantwich, Cheshire. Geoff has also competed some of her horses on the showjumping circuit.

Geoff has five children – three sons, James, Marcus and Daniel and two daughters Emilee and Megan.

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Mary King, Blyth Tait and Mark Todd are just a few of the famous faces posing near-naked in a “riders revealed” 2012 calendar to raise money for injured eventer Claire Lomas.

The calendar will be launched at Burghley Horse Trials’ Celebrity Talk Area on 1 September. There will also be opportunities for you to have the calendar signed.

Claire, who was paralysed in a cross-country accident in 2007, is hoping to raise £35,000. It will go towards a new robotic suit, which she will wear to walk the London Marathon. Any other profits will go to spinal research.

“The suit will be the first in the UK — it’s really exciting to able to do the marathon and be able to stand at normal height again,” said Claire.

Others featured in the calendar include Francis Whittington, Geoff Billington, Piggy French, Lauren Shannon and jockeys Andrew Thornton and Jimmy McCarthy.

“It is brilliant — the riders were all so brave,” said Claire. “Some were really keen to take part and others pretended they hadn’t received my email. And we have such a range — old, young, short, tall, gay, straight, thin, not so thin…”

The process started in April and riders have been photographed across the country. Blyth Tait is photographed on a course-walk, while Lauren Shannon is lungeing her horse.

Photographer Nico Morgan said: “What can I say? It was a tough job!”

The calendars cost £10. For more information visit www.riders revealed.co.uk or follow Burghley Horse Trials Celebrity Talk Area on facebook.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (18 August, 2011)

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An extra date has been added to event rider Oliver Townend and showjumper Geoff Billington’s popular Champions Tour, which kicks off on Monday (8 November) at Gleneagles in Scotland.

And if you buy 10 tickets for The Champions Tour you get another ticket free.

Due to popular demand, the tour will now go on ‘til Monday 31 January 2011 — when the riders will be in Aintree, Liverpool.

Oliver and Geoff promise fresh new material on the 2010 tour, including musical entertainment from singer/song writer Dave Clough and unique horsemanship skills with the very sassy ‘Jive Pony’ .

Tickets start at £23 or £18 for concessions. Family tickets (for two adults and two children) cost £60.

And if you are a member of British Eventing, British Showjumping or the British Horse Society you get an additional £3 discount — say when you book tickets.

For further information and to book tickets, go to www.thechampionstour.co.uk

• 8 November, Gleneagles, Scotland
• 9 November, Stainsby Grange, North East
• 10 November, Bishop Burton, North Yorkshire
• 11 November, Arena UK, Lincolnshire
• 12 November, Southview, Cheshire
• 13 November, Osbalderson, Lancashire
• 24 January, Brook Farm, Essex
• 25 January, Hadlow College, Kent
• 26 January, Crofton Manor, Hampshire
• 27 January, The Grange, Devon
• 28 January, The Hand, West Country
• 29 January, Patchetts, Herts
• 30 January, Rodbaston, Midlands
• 31 January, Aintree, Liverpool

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The British team selected for the Spruce Meadows CSIO5* Nations Cup in Canada on Saturday, 11 September, has been announced.

Performance manager Rob Hoekstra has chosen Geoff Billington (Rosinus), Guy Williams (Torinto Van De Middelstede), Philip Spivey (Romanov II) and Robert Smith (Talan).

Both Robert Smith with the Cornishes’ 10-year-old stallion Talan and Guy Williams with his own 14-year-old Torinto Van De Middelstede were in the winning five-star Nations Cup team in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year. And Philip Spivey and Tracey Forrest’s 12-year-old stallion Romanov were in the winning four-star Nations Cup team in Austria in May.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound for a full report from the Spruce Meadows Masters which runs until Sunday.

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Two of the UK’s top riders will be sharing their expertise in a series of lecture demos across England and Wales next month.

From 24 to 30 January Badminton and Burghley champion Oliver Townend and show jumping legend Geoff Billington will combine their talent, knowledge and humour in the second leg of the Champions Tour.

The duo is a tried-and-tested formula, having worked together during the tour that ran during November.

“The tour went really well — it’s great to do something different from what I normally do, and to work with Geoff has definitely been an experience,” remarked Oliver.

The demos start on 24 January at Towerlands Equestrian Centre in Essex, finishing at Wellington Riding in Hampshire a week later.

“This really is an evening of entertainment for all the family: ‘laugh and learn’ has been key to its popularity and success,” explained Alan Beaumont, show director of the Champions Tour.

“Throughout the evening the riders progress up through the grades with a range of horses of all different levels and abilities,” continued Alan.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.thechampionstour.co.uk

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The British show jumping team moves up to silver medal position in the team show jumping competition at the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships at Windsor, with one round to go.

A thrilling first round in Friday’s team finale saw Team GB rise up the leaderboard from seventh to second, thanks to two clear jumping rounds from Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) and Geoff Billington (Rosinus), the latter picking up just one time penalty. Peter Charles collected four faults plus a time penalty, while Tim Stockdale was the discard score as he finished on eight faults with Fresh Direct Corlato.

A testing championship track caused a complete reshuffle at the top of the team table. The Netherlands now have an unsteady lead on a score of 15.96. Britain hovers behind on 17.26 with Italy rising up to third (19). Early leaders Switzerland have dropped to fourth (19.66) but, with barely a fence between them, this afternoon’s decider looks set to be a battle of epic proportions.

Listen to rider interviews below

Ben Maher

Geoff Billington

Tim Stockdale

Windsor Europeans live results

Team results

Individual results

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Read the latest Geoff Billington news

Geoff Billington, born on 2 March 1955, has been a leading figure on the show jumping circuit for over 30 years and is now based in Nantwich, Cheshire.

He boasts both European and World Championship team bronze medals and has won numerous grands prix.

Geoff first started riding at a local stable in Accrington aged 9. From an early age he showed promise in the equestrian world, buying his first pony for £10 and going on to sell it for £325.

Committed to an equestrian career, he went on to serve an apprenticeship with the top show jumper David Bowen, who is now regarded as one of today’s most outstanding trainers.

In 1976 Geoff rode Talk Of The North at his first international competition as part of the Nations Cup team in Olsztyn, Poland.

He represented Great Britain again at the Hamburg CSIO in 1981, and has since been a valued member of the Nations Cup teams, appearing no less than 40 times and helping to secure nine victories.

Geoff is most famous for his partnership with the much loved It’s Otto, who received the BSJA Team Lifetime Award in 2001. When It’s Otto arrived at Geoff’s yard as a six-year old Geoff had planned to sell him, but following a chance injury he failed the vetting.

The duo went on to amass over £650,000 winnings, made 15 Nations Cup appearances, were Britain’s highest-placed partnership at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and represented Britain again at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

It’s Otto was put to sleep in August 2009, aged 23.

Geoff is not only renowned as a horseman, but is also something of an entertainer, known for doing impressions of his fellow riders.

He was awarded the ‘Horse & Hound Equestrian Personality of the Year’ in 1996, and presented the ‘Simply the Best Tour’ in partnership with John Whitaker.

Geoff Billington’s major achievements:

2008

• 2nd in Hickstead Derby (Cassabachus)2007
• Won Hickstead Derby (Cassabachus)2006
• 3rd in Hickstead Derby (Cassabachus)
• Member of winning Nations Cup team2005
• Horse of the Year Show – won Grade C Championships (Cassius Clay)2000
• Olympic Games, Sydney – team 8th (It’s Otto)1999
• European Championships, Hickstead – team 4th, individual 6th (Its Otto)1998
• World Equestrian Games, Rome – team bronze (It’s Otto)1997
• European Championships, Mannheim, Germany – team bronze, individual 10th (Its Otto)1996
• Olympic Games, Atlanta – team 11th, individual 6th (It’s Otto)

Geoff Billington’s “horse of a lifetime” It’s Otto was put to sleep yesterday, aged 23.

The dark bay Dutch-bred gelding, partnered Geoff to two Olympic Games, most recently at Sydney in 2000 and at Atlanta in 1996, where they took individual sixth place.

He also added European (1997 in Mannheim) and World (1998 in Rome) Team Bronze medals to his list of career highlights, along with 15 British Nations Cup team appearances. It’s Otto amassed over £650,000 winnings during his career.

It’s Otto was voted the Horse & Hound “Outstanding Horse of 1996”, won a Spillers Award in 1997 and received the BSJA British Team Lifetime Award in 2001.

He retired from competition in 2002 but continued to appear with Geoff around the country in his retirement.

Speaking from Dublin today, Geoff said: “It’s so sad, he was the best horse I have ever had, he truly was the horse of a lifetime. I look forward to winning the Aga Khan in Dublin in his memory.”

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This has been a year where the Britain has been led to glory by slightly older but incredibly experienced riders such as Geoff Billington and Mary King (pictured). In today’s Horse & Hound (18 October ’07), journalist Pippa Cuckson examines why the oldies have stolen a march on the younger competitors this year.

Eventing’s world class performance manager Yogi Breisner explains: “You need years of experience to consistently produce horses to an international standard. Mature riders are not a hindrance to the team. They help, as they set the parameters and show where it needs to raise its game.”

The stars of 2007

• Geoff Billington, 52, winner of the 2007 Hickstead Derby on Cassabachus
• Mary King, 46, individual silver and team gold medallist at the European eventing championships with Call Again Cavalier
• Tina Fletcher, 42, returned to the limelight after a 14-year gap to capture the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Overa

Don’t miss Pippa Cuckson’s entertaining feature in this week’s Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 18 October

Geoff Billington joined the Hickstead Derby heroes after heading the 47th running of this classic class on Lady Rowallan’s Cassabachus.

The German-bred grey and his 52-year-old rider produced a fantastic round to capture the £40,000 prize on a day when Hickstead’s organisers refused to give in to the elements.

The Pony Masters — won by Pippa Allen on Mr Bon Ami — was moved to ring two to keep the going in the International Arena as good as possible and the sun came out at the start of the class.

David McPherson held the lead for a long time with two mistakes from opening draw, then Andrew Mizon looked as though he would join Michael Whitaker as an 18-year-old winner after only once mistake. But Geoff was determination itself and he was rewarded by the biggest individual win of his long career.

“I thought I’d blown my chance when I finished third last year and I’m grateful to this horse. The going wasn’t great, but he never blinked,” said Geoff.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report on all the action from the Hickstead Derby Meeting, including stunning photographs, in this Thursday’s issue (5 July, ’07)

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