Latest from Horse & Hound in Georgie-spence

Horse in top 16 after dressage one of two withdrawn before Badminton cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 07:10:39 +0000

Two horses have joined the Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals list before today’s cross-country phase (9 May).

Irish rider Georgie Goss has pulled out Feloupe, a 16-year-old mare owned by her rider, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes. Georgie and Feloupe were equal 15th after dressage, having scored 30.8, and were bidding for a third top-30 finish at the event.

“With ‘Lulu’ being 16 years old and having ridden her seven years, I know her inside out and it’s a privilege bringing her to Badminton as she’s a true professional, tough, brave and ultimately loves it but without the rain we were all hoping for and expecting, we have decided to save her for another day and look towards some big aims later in the year,” said Georgie.

“It’s not been an easy decision but as a team we have discussed it in detail and I believe this is the right decision for her. She’s my absolute world and her wellbeing is everything, and I want to be 100% confident in every element.”

Badminton final scores

Georgie added: “I am wishing everyone the best of luck for today and wish the real life superwoman Ros Canter a safe and happy clear cross-country (inside the time). For now after many tears, I can relax and be happy my pony is safe and sound and ready for the next challenge.”

British contender Alex Bragg has withdrawn The Roe Family’s Quindiva, another 16-year-old mare, who had been held at the first trot-up. They had scored 39 for their dressage test yesterday, to sit 50th after the first phase. Alex and Quindiva were third at Badminton in 2024.

“Sadly ‘Diva’ wasn’t feeling 100% after her dressage, and you want to be on top of your game to successfully take on the challenge of Badminton Horse Trials. With this in mind we made the difficult but right decision to withdraw,” Alex told H&H.

Alex added: “We would like to wish everyone heaps of luck riding around the cross-country today. I will be a little jealous! But this is the right decision for Diva. I’d like to say a big thank you for the support that people have given us, especially the Roe family.”

These latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals leave a field of 59 horses and riders to tackle Eric Winter’s cross-country course today. The first horse, Et Hop Du Matz ridden by Harry Meade, leaves the start box at 11.30am.

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‘I’m a bit annoyed with myself’: consistent mare slots into second in Badminton dressage

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 12:38:57 +0000

Georgie Goss and Feloupe put in their customary smooth test to slot into second at lunchtime on the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage today (7 May).

Georgie, who has been riding for Ireland for three years after being an under-21 medal-winner for Britain, achieved a score of 30.3 with her own, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes’ Feloupe.

Her marks only dropped down for a mistake in the first flying change, which garnered a three from Angela Tucker at H.

“I’m just a bit annoyed with myself. She never misses the changes and I missed that first change, so I’m a little disappointed,” said Georgie Goss after her Badminton dressage.

Badminton final scores

“I thought we would have been more 27 or 28, but the judges haven’t been giving the marks away, and I did miss that change. She’s very consistent on the flat. She always goes in and does the exact same test at every single event – you get the odd judge love her and then other ones not but generally, she’s always sat in the in the higher scores.”

Georgie described the mare as “a quiet little angel” to work with except that “she doesn’t hack – that’s her downside”.

The rider – who was, as usual, sporting nails decorated for the mare she calls Lulu Lemon – said dressage is not her own strong suit, so it’s a joy to work with a horse like Feloupe on the flat.

She said: “Everything you put into her, you get out of her. She’s never going to blow, she’s never going to get tense. I always try and get in the arena early, so I get the applause from the horse before just to lift her a little bit more. But she’s so consistent.”

This is a third Badminton in a row for Georgie and the 16-year-old mare Feloupe, who have been 27th and 28th on their previous visits together, with cross-country time-faults preventing them from finishing higher up the order.

Bubby Upton, who went earlier in the session after the coffee break, leads on Cola at the lunchbreak.

The reigning British open champions Katie Magee and Angela Hislop’s Treworra, who followed Georgie into the arena, have claimed fifth at this stage behind first-session leaders Tom Jackson and United 36.

Katie said: “He was a really good boy. He stayed with me, did some lovely lateral work and he stayed nice and soft and relaxed. I think I could have been just a fraction more positive and pushed for the slightly higher marks, but he was brilliant.”

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British rider’s first five-star horse dies, aged 29: ‘We learnt together – I trusted him implicitly and he trusted me’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:41:34 +0000

Running Brook, the horse Georgie Goss rode at her first five-star events, has died, aged 29.

The horse was bought by Georgie’s parents when she was 16 to show her the ropes at intermediate level, but went on to jump clear across country with her at both Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials.

“He surpassed all expectations – when I was only 19, he took me clear across country around Badminton and Burghley,” said Georgie. “He didn’t have the ability of most horses competing at those events but he had more heart than all of them put together.”

Running Brook (George) was produced by Nick Gauntlett to advanced level before Georgie took over in 2006. The pair were sixth at the young rider championships at Weston Park that year and the following year were second in the under-25 championships at Bramham Horse Trials.

In an interview on The Horse & Hound Podcast in 2021, Georgie admitted her next move wasn’t the greatest example for today’s up-and-coming riders.

She said: “I remember ringing Paul [Graham, who worked in the international office at British Eventing] and saying I’d like to do Luhmühlen Horse Trials the following year because I thought we’d give it a go and he said, ‘Oh go to Badminton, it’s free’ – it was the first year they’d brought in free entry – and we thought, ‘Oh well, there’s nothing to lose, we’ll go there.’

“So I rang Yogi [Breisner, trainer] and asked if I’d be ready and he said, ‘Absolutely not, there’s no way, you’ve done one three-star [as they were at the time, now four-star long] and you’ve fallen off at the other one, you’re absolutely not ready’.

“I just thought, ‘I’ll go, what have I got to lose? It’s free’. I was one of only 30 clears that year across country at Badminton and I think we slightly went on a wing and a prayer – that naive streak of just lean back and kick actually sometimes does get you round.”

The pair went on to form a consistent five-star partnership, Running Brook giving Georgie Goss huge experience at the level at a young age – they achieved seven cross-country jumping clears and six completions from eight starts at five-star, their best placing being 17th at Burghley in 2008.

Georgie said: “To say it politely, he was a bit of a camel – he was terrible on the flat. He was nearly full thoroughbred, he never really went on the bit, he couldn’t do a change, he very rarely did much lateral work so actually getting through a dressage test was quite a challenge with him. But he had a heart of gold, he would never fight you or be against you.”

George retired from the top level sound and happy in 2013 and enjoyed some lower-level eventing with Brooke Gardener-Wollen before becoming a “superstar happy hack”. The Spences bought him from his breeder, so he had just two owners in his life.

“He was a true gentleman, he gave absolutely everything,” said Georgie. “If you’d seen him when I bought him you’d have said you’d be lucky to get round a novice, but I think he’s one of those horses who just kept giving.

“I think we were lucky, because I was so naive and so young with him it did wonders for both of us. I didn’t know what I was doing, he didn’t know what he was doing, we just learnt together and grew together. I trusted him implicitly and he trusted me.”

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‘He has a heart the size of Badminton’: cross-country speed machine franks his class to give Olympian massive buzz

Martha Terry — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:20:35 +0000

Having already finished third at Badminton in 2023, Colorado Blue had put in a personal best this year in the dressage phase of 30.8 for Austin O’Connor. He is known as one of the fastest event horses in the world, so his round in today’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country phase (10 May), was always going to be one to watch. He was still flying towards the end, when many horses were flagging to sail home easily inside the time.

“The horse is incredible, and at the ripe old age of 16 I think he’s fitter than ever, in the form of his life,” said Austin, adding that the horse does “hours of hacking” at home. “He was pretty foot perfect. He’s got stacks of ability and a heart the size of Badminton.”

The Irishman milked the moment, as his still-fresh grey cantered in front of cheering crowds at the finish in the main arena. This penalty-free round propelled him right up the leaderboard into provisional second behind Gemma Stevens.

“It’s the most excited I’ve ever been,” added Austin, 50. “He’s been rated the best horse across country, but the more you do the more there’s pressure. I’m not getting any younger so there won’t be many Colorado Blues in my life. ”

Badminton final scores

End of day update: Austin is in fourth place ahead of showjumping.

More fast times at Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Another Irish rider, Ian Cassells, also put in a fast and smooth round, bringing Master Point home for just 3.6 time-faults to add to their top-20 dressage mark of 30.7.

“He’s a blood horse with a massive stride, but gets a bit hollow in the combinations, a little bit messy – I just have to be very aware of my body,” he says. “It’s my first Badminton, it’s a show like nothing else.”

Christoph Wahler, a 31-year-old German whose previous best result was 22nd in 2022, put in an eyecatching round on D’Accord FRH to finish inside the time.

“He was quite impressed by the first couple of fences and then he got running,” said Christoph. “He tried his heart out to run so fast.”

While Christoph’s quick round moved him up from 25th after dressage to the top five with quarter of the field to go, Georgie Goss moved down from 11th to mid-division with a steady clear.

It looked a comfortable round for Georgie and Feloupe as the rider bids for her 10th completion at Badminton, though she expressed disappointment at her speed.

“The mare is phenomenal, but I just feel I let her down a bit,” she said. “I wasn’t strong enough with my leg towards the end and I did some long routes.

“She is out of this world, and I’m gutted for her, but she’s done a clear round round her second Badminton so I’ll stop moaning!”

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It’s hotting up! Badminton dressage leaderboard shaken up with just 10 penalties covering top 20 places

Lucy Elder — Fri, 09 May 2025 12:58:15 +0000

Ireland’s Georgie Goss and Feloupe cracked the 30 barrier to break into the top-10 ahead of the lunch break on the second day of dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025.

Georgie, who has nine Badminton finishes from nine starts – including 27th with this mare in 2024, earned a score of 29.6 from the judges to put her in eighth place provisionally.

This pair were the second combination to shuffle the top-10 this morning, with Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo taking the provisional runner-up spot on 25.3.

“I’m absolutely delighted. She was amazing. I just made one error in the third change, which is so frustrating, because her changes are a good bit, but I’m over the moon,” said Georgie, who owns the 15-year-old Ustinov daughter with Suzanne Doggett and Lucy Fleming.

“Last year she got a 30 – I’d entered the arena one second too late, so had an error of course or I would have been in the 20s. So this year I wanted to be in the 20s. I’m really proud of her.

Badminton final scores

“She’s very ridable; she’s actually been quite hot since she’s been here, which is not normally her.”

Felix Vogg and Cartania also joined the sharp end of the provisional leaderboard, with their score of 29.7 leaving them just 0.1 of a penalty behind Georgie to hold ninth. Cartania’s flying changes were a valuable highlight, making the difference between their test being pleasing – to one that is challenging the leaders. Two of the flying changes in this CCI5* “C” test carry double marks, meaning a good – or bad – change has significant weight for the overall score.

“It’s her second-best result in the five-star, I’m super happy with her,” said Felix.

“Myself, as always, could have done more. Sometimes I felt like she’s not even on the bit. But they said it didn’t look like it [through their marks]!”

This mare is so consistent. The 14-year-old, owned by Felix and Phoenix Eventing S.à.r.l., have previously finished 15th and 11th at Badminton, were 13th at Burghley in 2024, and have solid championship results.

The quicker ground is on Felix’s mind ahead of tomorrow – he explained that it isn’t always easy to get this great cross-country mare back to him before a fence.

“If it’s easier for her to gallop, maybe it’s harder for me… we will see,” he said.

Other notable Badminton dressage tests on Friday morning

Ireland’s Ian Casells and Master Point were among the best tests on Friday morning, holding 13th place at the lunch break on 30.7.

British Badminton first-timer Katie Magee came here aiming for a score in the low-30s and was delighted to be rewarded with a mark of 31.8 for her performance with Angela Hislop’s 11-year-old Treworra.

“I worked in with Nicola Wilson yesterday and we thought he felt good, so it was nice to get in there – he was so with me and really tried,” said Katie, who made her five-star debut with this 17.2hh “old-fashioned cross-country” horse at Pau 2024.

The pair sit atop a chunk of notable tests from Friday morning, including Christoph Wahler and D’Accord 70 (32.2, provisional 20th), Max Warburton on Deerpairc Revelry (32.7, provisional 21st) and Kate Rocher-Smith with Dassett Select (33.1, provisional 21st).

Max, who rides this 11-year-old for the Paske Syndicate, said: “He’s a big horse, and he’s still got a lot of maturing to do. You feel like you’re juggling him to keep him straight, but everything you ask him to do, and all the lateral movement, he’s very good. It’s just a case of trying to add the little finishing touches, which I’m sure will come. He’s a lovely jumper.”

Thursday’s dressage leaders Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are still out in front on 22.4, followed by Ros and Lordships Graffalo, with Emily King and Valmy Biats completing the all-British podium at this stage. The scores are closely bunched, just 10 penalties covers the top-20 ahead of the last 17 competitors yet to start this afternoon.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 17:59:47 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 21:45:30 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 18:40:44 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘We nearly gave up with him’: speed master rockets into lead after Badminton cross-country round

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 11 May 2024 12:55:30 +0000

Ireland’s Sarah Ennis blitzed around the Eric Winter-designed 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country track with Grantstown Jackson to jump into the lead with the fastest of the day so far, eight seconds over the optimum time of 11min16sec. They were 42nd after the dressage, but their speedy round has propelled them to the top spot at this stage of cross-country day.

“He lived up to his reputation after the European Eventing Championships last year where he clocked the fastest time,” explained Sarah of the 13-year-old gelding, owned by Peter Cole and Susanne Francke. “We couldn’t have gone any faster today but he burst out there and tried.

“I was on it everywhere and he made it feel so easy. I took a planned long route at fence 18 and that is where we lost our time, but what a cross-country machine, he’s incredible. He’s so light and I never felt him struggle with the ground and he just kept going.

“We nearly gave up with him as an 11-year-old, but decided to take him to Boekelo CCI4*-L and if he went well we would continue with him, but stop if not. He obviously wanted to keep going though as we jumped double clear! He loves jumping and is 80% thoroughbred, out of a thoroughbred dam.

“He took a long time to mature and now he is the ultimate machine. So I say to people out there who think that it’s not working to actually hang on in there, especially with Irish horses – they get better and better and better –it’s unreal.

Badminton final scores

“He’s like Forrest Gump and just wants to run.”

Sarah was two seconds up on the clock when she opted to take the long route at the final part of fence 17AB/18 at the Mars Sustainability Bay, which is worth noting for later rounds.

Georgie Goss (née Spence), who rides for Ireland, enjoyed a great Badminton Horse Trials cross-country clear round with Feloupe, with whom she was equal eighth after the dressage. They added 32 time-faults to their 30.6 dressage.

Georgie was lucky at fence 15ABC, the LeMieux Eyelashes, where the mare was clever to chip in an extra stride to get over the C element. She then, as many others have, took the long route out over the log at fence 18, the Mars Sustainability Bay. An eighth Badminton completion is on the horizon for Georgie, who had a baby last year.

“She was an absolute star and pulled it out the bag for me,” said a delighted Georgie. “Even when she was green, she looked for the flags.

“At least I went clear so no one can say I’ve lost it since having a baby! She’s done herself proud with a good dressage and an amazing clear across country, plus she’s a super jumper.”

Fan favourites Alice Casburn and Topspin retired before The Lake following two earlier refusals on course.

Topspin, who had been 30th after dressage, chipped in at fence B of the Quarry and left a knee, which caused Alice to lose a stirrup but the horse found a leg to get them out of trouble. The gelding then stopped going into the top of The Lake at fence nine, the Lightsource bp Log, so Alice opted to retire after jumping it clear on her second attempt.

The USA’s Meghan O’Donoghue got close to the A element of fence 20ABC, the INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road, which ultimately unshipped her from the saddle of Palm Crescent.

France’s Gaspard Maksud activated the frangible device at the final element of the Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close. The first element of the Mars Badminton Lake then also fell when the frangible device was activated, at which point Gaspard opted to retire.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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‘We’ve had so much fun’: rider pays tribute as stable star bows out from elite competition

Lucy Elder — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:53:35 +0000

Event rider Georgie Goss (née Spence) has paid tribute to the “very special” Halltown Harley as her globetrotting five-star campaigner steps back from international competition aged 17.

The Irish Sport Horse gelding completed Badminton on two occasions, enjoyed four-star wins and scored top results across multiple countries and three continents during his career.

The eye-catching chestnut, affectionately known as Barbie, gave Georgie her first four-star victories – scooping the CCI4-S at the Austrian leg of the FEI Nations Cup series in Weiner Neustadt in 2017, and Millstreet CCI4-L the following year.

Harley came into Georgie’s life through the support of owner Suzanne Doggett, and the team travelled the world together. Suzanne initially came on board as a co-owner of Georgie’s five-star ride Wii Limbo, who after a lifetime of being sound, went lame. Suzanne said she would invest in another horse and around four months later, they found Harley.

“He has been an amazing horse,” George told H&H. “He has been one of those horses who has always given his all. He would have jumped anything for me. I was really lucky to have him.”

The pair finished second by 0.1 of a penalty in the CCI4*-S Nations Cup at Great Meadow in the US, before going one better at Millstreet the following month. In 2019, they travelled to Tokyo for the Olympic test event, finishing fourth on their dressage score. They were also part of the winning home side at the British Nations Cup leg at Houghton Hall in 2021.

“How amazing it was that his owner, who didn’t know me, invested in him – and how lucky we were to travel all over the world with him,” she said.

Georgie, who switched nationalities to ride for Ireland this year, added that while it is sad not to have him at that top level, it would have been too much to try to get him to five-star this year.

“He deserves to have an easy few years now just chilling out and finding everything very fun. It was a tough decision, but I definitely feel that it has been the right one,” said Georgie, adding they have had “great feedback” following the announcement.

For Harley to retire fit and well is a happy outcome, particularly as 18 months ago he overcame a life-threatening illness, which involved round-the-clock care with Georgie feeding him every two hours through the night.

“He is such a special horse to me,” said Georgie. “We are going to look for a younger rider to just do some BE100s and novices on. He will remain at the yard with us, so that he is in my care, purely as he is a very spoilt boy to me. He’ll be at home with Wii Limbo, my other retired boy, who my sister does a little bit of dressage with.

“We’ve had so much fun over the past seven years and I’m forever grateful to Suzanne for the opportunities she has given me, via Harley.”

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(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

British under-21 medal winner to change nationality: ‘I’m excited for the opportunity’

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Five-star rider gets married – and her two ‘best boys’ join in for the photos

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Five-star rider and husband ‘absolutely loving being parents’ as they welcome first child

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.

Five-star rider and husband ‘absolutely loving being parents’ as they welcome first child

Lucy Elder — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:54:26 +0000

Five-star event rider Georgie Goss (née Spence) and her husband Toby have welcomed their first child, a baby boy.

The couple’s son, Archie Michael Goss, was born on 5 April.

“We are absolutely loving the first week of being parents,” Georgie told H&H. “Toby and I are just getting into a bit of a routine with him.

“We’ve been down to the yard a couple of times and it’s been really exciting to see the horses.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Laura Collett do a few events on them, and I’m also looking forward to getting back riding and getting going with my plans for the remainder of the season.”

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Georgie has more than 20 five-star starts in her career so far and won multiple youth medals for Britain.

She has completed Badminton Horse Trials on eight occasions, with four different horses, and has had 10 starts at Burghley Horse Trials – her best result at five-star was 12th there with Wii Limbo in 2015. Georgie has won at four-star, ridden on British Nations Cup teams and finished fourth at the Olympic test event in Tokyo in 2019 on Halltown Harley.

On St Patrick’s Day, she announced that she has switched nationality and will ride for Ireland when she returns to competition later this year.

British under-21 medal winner to change nationality: ‘I’m excited for the opportunity’

Pippa Roome — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 17:41:28 +0000

Georgie Goss (née Spence) will make a nationality change to ride for Ireland when she returns to competing this summer after the birth of her first child.

She said: “I’m excited to announce the change to Irish nationality from the 2023 season. I have dual citizenship due to my paternal grandfather and it is something we have been discussing for a few years.

“Announcing it on St Patrick’s Day felt right and I’m very much looking forward to riding alongside an Irish team whose strength and depth are improving all the time. I hope that I can add to their strength over the coming years, with some exciting horses for the 2023 season and beyond.

“Together with my owners, who’ve been very supportive of the move, I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the Irish federation and work with them towards Nations Cup and championship teams.”

The 34-year-old rider married Toby Goss on 23 July in their local church in Wiltshire last year and her baby is due in just a few weeks time.

Georgie Goss makes this nationality change following a successful career in the British system.

She won junior team silver in 2006 at Necarne, Ireland, on Song For Gull and young rider team gold in 2007 at Blair Castle in Scotland (Cottage Craft Spirals) and 2008 at Kreuth, Germany (Skylight).

She has been placed at five-star level, won at four-star, ridden on British Nations Cup teams and finished fourth at the Olympic test event in Tokyo in 2019 on Halltown Harley.

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(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Five-star rider gets married – and her two ‘best boys’ join in for the photos

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

‘We have some exciting news’: five-star rider pregnant with first child

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Georgie Spence recalls her first Badminton: ‘I was young and naive and thought, What have I got to lose? It’s free entry’

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Eventing boss steps down after two years of ‘vision and sheer hard work’

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

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.

‘We have some exciting news’: five-star rider pregnant with first child

Lucy Elder — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 20:22:28 +0000

British five-star event rider Georgie Goss (née Spence) is expecting her first child with husband Toby this spring.

Georgie, who has had more than 20 starts at five-star in her career so far, revealed the “exciting news to start 2023” on Wednesday (11 January).

“To all our friends, followers and supporters, we have some exciting news. Toby and I are expecting our first child,” said Georgie.

“We have been keeping it under wraps but are both very excited and can’t wait to meet him.

“We are all looking forward to this next venture, and can’t wait to be able to bring him out eventing! Love Georgie, Toby and bump.”

The couple’s son is due around the start of the eventing season, and Georgie is hoping to be back competing in the summer.

Georgie and Toby married in July last year, in their village church at Foxham, followed by a reception at Grittleton House. Georgie’s five-star campaigner Halltown Harley and retired stable star Wii Limbo joined the couple for photos.

Georgie helped Britain to junior team silver and two young rider European team gold medals during her time in the youth ranks.

She has completed Badminton on eight occasions, with four different horses, and has had 10 starts at Burghley – her best result at five-star being 12th with Wii Limbo in 2015.

Her standout career results also include finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympic test event with Harley in 2019, second place at Bramham under-25 CCI3* (now CCI4-L) on Running Brook in 2007 and winning Millstreet CCI3 (now CCI4*-L) aboard Harley in 2018, plus many other international wins and top placings.

‘She had to stretch for the first time’: early Blenheim course reactions reveal a ‘beefed-up’ track

Martha Terry — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 11:41:11 +0000

The early riders over David Evans’ CCI4*-L cross-country track at Blenheim Horse Trials are making it look relatively straightforward. Of the first 10 to tackle the 6,055m course, just one –Wills Oakden (Arklow Puissance) – made the optimum time of 10 minutes 37 seconds. However, he was well down the order after dressage on 36.9 so still has more climbing to do for a top placing.

Georgie Goss (née Spence) put in a good round with her recent Cornbury winner Feloupe for just 5.2 time-faults to consolidate a competitive dressage score of 31 (14th after the first phase).

“The course rode bigger than I thought,” said Georgie. “My horse isn’t the biggest but some of the tables surprised me that she had to stretch – she’s never had to stretch before. So I’d say it’s not too technical, but it’s a big course.”

Georgie also noted the effect of the length of the track – this was only the mare’s second attempt at four-star long.

“She’s short of match practice so although I was on time initially, she dried up a little bit after the river crossing,” said Georgie. “She was super and straight, but she needs a couple more four-star longs for her stamina. She’s definitely a five-star horse.”

Tom Rowland also enjoyed an encouraging early round. His ride, KND Steel Pulse, had a tired run-out last year, but finished clear this time with just 6.8 time-faults.

“Last year he was taken back by the crowds, then went very numb at the end, where I had a run-out,” said Tom. “This time he was great. I had one dodgy moment at fence six [an oxer near the tradestands], where he was looking at the crowds.”

Tom was appreciative of the changes David Evans had made since last year.

“The first part of the course had some clever tweaks that made it more difficult,” explained Tom, who put his time-faults down to losing a shoe. “The second part was really beefy from the rails on the mound [Equilatte rails, fence 12abc] to the water, to the next water, to the corners and the coffin. There were a couple of let-up fences, but it felt like six combinations in a row. Last year people said the course was easy, but I think this is trying to emulate the intensity of a five-star.”

The length of the track also took its toll on KND Steel Pulse.

“He got to seven minutes, at the top of the hill, and said, ‘when am I finishing?’, but he dug deep for me,” said Tom.

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country: ‘I managed to scrabble back on’

Alex Bragg was full of appreciation for the new-look track despite incurring 60 penalties at fence 18, the AW Jenkinson Lumber Yard – a five-part combination with skinnies and corners. He was riding the first of his two contenders in this class, the Nuttalls’ Ardeo Premier.

“He was going grand, and it’s a big event for him with a lot to take in,” said Alex. “I wanted a big shot in to keep the momentum through the complex. Maybe he was a bit fatigued at the top of the hill, so he left a right leg, twisted and I nearly came off. Fortunately I managed to scrabble back on but we were in a bit of disarray, so I cantered around to check he was OK. He finished well – we won’t be competitive but he will have learnt a lot.”

The course seems designed to reward an attacking approach.

“Some of the distances walk on a forward four, but ride on five, perhaps because these horses aren’t as experienced as a five-star horse or because of the terrain,” added Alex. “David has stepped it up from last year, which I think he needed to. You want these courses to be challenging enough that you know you have a horse capable of five-star. Good job, David!”

Five-star rider gets married – and her two ‘best boys’ join in for the photos

Pippa Roome — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 19:05:38 +0000

Five-star rider Georgie Spence enjoyed a “pretty perfect” wedding last Saturday (23 July) when she married Toby Goss.

The couple tied the knot at the church in their local village in Wiltshire, Foxham, in front of around 100 people and were joined by an additional 40 guests for the reception afterwards at Grittleton House.

“We were lucky it all went to plan and there were no hiccups,” Georgie told H&H. “I had four bridesmaids, who were all amazing and I was more chilled than everyone expected.

“We had amazing weather as well. I wouldn’t be a massive fan of the sun and I thought it would either be 28 degrees or break and rain, but it was 22 to 23 degrees and overcast, so we were lucky.”

Georgie Spence and Toby Goss at their wedding in July 2022. (Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

The couple got engaged at the end of 2020, but decided to wait until 2022 for the wedding because of uncertainties around Covid-19.

“I love my planning so it was pretty much all done within two months,” said Georgie. “The last things were confirming the flowers and how we wanted everything, but generally everything was booked.”

Georgie ordered her Suzanne Neville dress about a year ago.

“I’ve always liked her designs – they are very classic and very simple. I didn’t want something loud and in your face and it was a beautiful dress. I was very pleased to fit into it on the day. I was injured at the end of last year and put on some weight so I thought it might be a battle to squeeze in!”

Georgie’s retired five-star horse Wii Limbo and current top ride Halltown Harley joined Georgie and Toby for a photo.

“They’re my two best boys and so special to me, so although Toby wasn’t so keen on doing that photo, I wanted a picture with them on my day,” she said.

The couple enjoyed a short break at Homewood Spa in Bath and plan to take a proper honeymoon in November.

“I’d like to go to New Zealand for a month, so we need to get the dates and flights booked in and organise a camper van,” said Georgie, who plans to take her new husband’s surname, so she will be Georgie Goss – what could possibly be better for a rider than to have the initials GG?

Images supplied courtesy of David Betteridge Photography

Three more Badminton withdrawals as deadline passes for horses to be accepted from wait list

Pippa Roome — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:33:06 +0000

There have been three more Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals, for the event presented by Mars Equestrian, and the cut-off has been reached for accepting horses from the waiting list.

Harry Meade has withdrawn Charlotte Opperman’s Cavalier Crystal, who would have been the pathfinder, saying she has had a “minor setback”. Kirsty Chabert will now be first into the dressage arena and out on course with her father John Johnston and Carole Somers’ Classic IV. Harry will still start on Charlotte’s Away Cruising.

Izzy Taylor has withdrawn Sara and Tom Strong’s Artful Trinity, who was only accepted from the waiting list on Friday, and Georgie Spence has pulled out Halltown Harley, owned by Suzanne Doggett, Georgie’s mother Joanna and fiancé Toby Goss.

Georgie reported Halltown Harley has picked up an injury after his final prep run.

“I am absolutely heartbroken for his incredible and loyal owner Suzanne, for myself, for Harley and for all my team of staff, sponsors and supporters,“ said Georgie.

Badminton final scores

“It’s been a tough winter with only a select few people knowing that we nearly lost him due to a rare illness. Having nursed him through and adopted a new fitness plan to beat the odds and bring him back to five-star fitness makes this an even more heartbreaking decision to have had to make.”

These latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals mean three more pairs have been accepted from the waiting list: France’s Cyrielle Lefèvre with Charline Guerin’s Armanjo Serosah, Britain’s Tom Rowland on Robin Patrick’s Possible Mission, and Gloucestershire-based Canadian Michael Winter with his own and his wife Emma’s El Mundo.

The cut-off of 2pm on Sunday 1 May has now passed so no more horses will be accepted from the waiting list.

Horses down to 16th place on the list have made it into the event. Since the waiting list system was brought in in 2008, the number of horses accepted from the waiting list has varied between 14 and 43, so 16 is at the lower end of the number expected to get in, although it is one more than last time the event ran, in 2019.

Burghley and the Household Cavalry Foundation’s new deal, plus more partnership news

Lucy Elder — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 11:23:04 +0000

The Household Cavalry Foundation has been named as official charity for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2022 (1 to 4 September).

The Household Cavalry Foundation is the official charity for the Household Cavalry and provides charitable and pastoral welfare support to serving soldiers, operational casualties, veterans and dependants. It also supports its retired horses.

“We are delighted to be supporting the important work undertaken by the Household Cavalry Foundation,” said Burghley Horse Trials director Martyn Johnson.

“The origins of eventing evolved through the training of cavalry horses, meaning there are strong and long-standing links between our sport and the work of the British Army’s cavalry regiments.

“In this jubilee year, when the horses and soldiers of the regiment will be at their ceremonial best, it seemed like a very appropriate time to be supporting the foundation’s work.”

Martyn Johnson and Giles Stibbe with troops from The Household Cavalry Regiment. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Charity director Giles Stibbe added: “We hope that our partnership with Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials will help us to raise awareness of the essential work the foundation does, helping those who have served our country, both human and equine, in their time of need.

“The charity also works to ensure the history and heritage of the regiment is preserved by our museums and archives.”

Spectators will be able to make a contribution to the foundation when buying tickets and at the event, where they will also be able to meet some of the Household Cavalry horses.

Bloomfields Horseboxes is the title partner of Bolesworth’s first standalone international dressage show (24 to 26 June), as the discipline returns to the venue following a three-year break.

National and international classes will run across three arenas over three days. The national classes will run from prelim to advanced, plus para, youth and young horse (Nexgen) competitions. International classes will be held at big and small tour.

“We are delighted to be strengthening our relationship with Bloomfields Horseboxes, one of the UK’s leading horsebox brands, at the same time as welcoming riders and fans of the sport back to Bolesworth,” said Bolesworth managing director Nina Barbour.

Dodson & Horrell will return as title sponsors of the Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International (29 June to 3 July), which follows the dressage show.

Official gin partner

Cowdray Park Polo Club has signed a three-year official gin partnership deal with No.3 Gin.

The spirit, curated by Berry Bros. & Rudd, will be the exclusive gin served to club members at polo events.

The collaboration is strengthened by Cowdray Estate’s agreement to stock No.3 Gin at its farm shop and cafe, and as the premium gin at Cowdray Park Golf Club.

Emma Fox, chief executive of Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: “I am thrilled that our award-winning No.3 Gin is the exclusive gin partner for Cowdray Park Polo Club. The partnership marks a new chapter in our pursuit of perfection to become the definitive luxury gin and we look forward to connecting discerning drinkers at this iconic polo location, with No.3 Gin.”

Andrew Swaffield, chairman of Cowdray Park Polo Club, added: “Berry Bros. & Rudd is a

distinguished British brand with an illustrious history. We are delighted to be partnering with their critically acclaimed No.3 Gin which will be enjoyed by patrons, players, members and visitors as a perfectly refreshing accompaniment to a day at the home of British polo.”

New deal for Georgie Spence

(Image credit: Hannah Cole)

British five-star event rider Georgie Spence has signed a partnership deal with Swedish clothing brand Stierna Equestrian Sportswear.

“As a professional rider I spend all day, every day, outside and in the saddle,” said Georgie. “Comfortable clothing that is both cooling in the summer and warm and dry in the winter is a key element to success. Equally, I want to look smart for both myself, my owners, my team and when representing sponsors.

“Stierna delivers on all fronts, offering the very best technical fabrics and designs. I’m looking forward to working closely with Helena and Robert at Stierna Equestrian Sportswear over

the coming year and am extremely grateful for their support.”

Robert Kos, head of marketing and sustainability at Stierna, added: “With the addition of Georgie, Stierna Equestrian Sportswear deepens the commitment to the eventing scene with another equestrian athlete with both great horsemanship and great sportsmanship.

“She is joining a team with some of the top event riders in the world.

“We have been missing the competition scene and we look forward to a new season where all our riders have the chance of showing the results of the hard work that has been put in during training days in all kinds of weather conditions. Just the way we like it.”

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Georgie Spence recalls her first Badminton: ‘I was young and naive and thought, What have I got to lose? It’s free entry’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 12:24:06 +0000

Georgie Spence was only 19 when she rode at her first Badminton Horse Trials.

“At the time I didn’t feel young, but I appreciate now I was very young. I had actually only been eventing four years,” she says, speaking in an interview on episode 41 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, currently supported by NAF.

“I think at the time I didn’t appreciate how inexperienced and naive I was, whereas looking back I think it was mad that I was going round at that age. It was just a complete whirlwind experience.”

Georgie started out competing seriously in pony showjumping and switched to eventing when she was in her mid-teens.

“I had been asking my parents if I could leave school and have home tutoring from the age of 12 because that was very much the done thing in showjumping – a lot of my friends were home tutored so they could jump full time,” she says.

Badminton final scores

“But my parents were not keen and thought I would have no social life if I didn’t have some form of education. So I left at 16, we set it up as a business straight away, but I was still heavily funded by my parents until I was about 20.”

Georgie’s partner at her first Badminton was Running Brook II, a horse her family purchased in 2006. He had been ridden by Nick Gauntlett, who had produced him to advanced level, but he didn’t look like a star in the making.

“We just saw him advertised – I think in Horse & Hound,” says Georgie. “As a family, we were on a bit more of a budget so the horses we bought tended to have a weak area or two.

“He was affordable and I was 16 or 17 – we thought he’d give me a bit of experience at intermediate level and maybe I’d get round an advanced on him. So I went to try him and I didn’t think he was that amazing because he wasn’t that amazing. But we jumped a few skinnies in the trial and he was very, very straight at everything. I thought he’d be a fun horse for a couple of years but obviously he turned into much more than that for me.”

Flatwork was never Running Brook’s strong point.

Georgie remembers: “To say it politely, he was a bit of a camel – he was terrible on the flat. He was nearly full TB, he never really went on the bit, he couldn’t do a change, he very rarely did much lateral work so actually getting through a dressage test was quite a challenge with him. But he had a heart of gold, he would never fight you or be against you, he just genuinely struggled doing the movements.”

The year before her first Badminton, Georgie finished second in the under-25s at Bramham Horse Trials – “purely because no one got round the cross-country” – and then had a fall at Blenheim Horse Trials. Georgie admits it wasn’t the ideal run-up or probably the greatest example for today’s up-and-coming riders.

“I remember ringing Paul [Graham, who worked in the international office at British Eventing] and saying I’d like to do Luhmühlen the following year because I thought we’d give it a go and he said, ‘Oh go to Badminton, it’s free’ – it was the first year they’d brought in free entry – and we thought, ‘Oh well, there’s nothing to lose, we’ll go there.’

“So I rang Yogi [Breisner] and asked if I’d be ready and he said, ‘Absolutely not, there’s no way, you’ve done one three-star [as they were at the time, now four-star long] and you’ve fallen off at the other one, you’re absolutely not ready’.

“I just thought, ‘I’ll go, what have I got to lose? It’s free’. I was one of only 30 clears that year cross-country at Badminton and I think we slightly went on a wing and a prayer – that naive streak of you just lean back and kick actually sometimes does get you round.”

Article continues below…

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The Horse & Hound Podcast 41: Georgie Spence | Know your horse’s personality | News round-up

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#SundaySchool: Georgie Spence and the benefits of working over bounces on a curve

Event rider Georgie Spence explains how performing bounces on a curve can teach a horse to be quick and neat

(Image credit: EMPICS Sport)

Georgie had been a Pony Club score collector for the dressage just the year before her first Badminton, emphasising just how young she was on this debut. She walked the cross-country with William Fox-Pitt and Rosie Thomas and remembers walking up to the warm-up with Paul Tapner.

“You see all the crowds and the people and the nerves really start to kick in – you think this actually massive and everyone is here and this is going to be really embarrassing if I make an error. Paul saw me doing breathing exercises as we walked over to the warm-up and he smiled and he said, ‘Everyone says it gets better every year but it doesn’t’. And I just remember thinking, ‘Oh great, I’m going to feel like this most years for the rest of my life’.

“You always think once you’ve been a few times it must get easier, but to be honest I don’t think it does, because the more you learn the more it means to you and the better you expect to do. When you’re young you don’t have any expectations – you just want to complete – whereas as you get older, you think, ‘I should complete because I’ve been round so many times’ and, ‘I should go well because I’ve been round so many times’.”

Georgie and Running Brook finished the event in 30th place.

“It definitely makes you think, ‘I’ve done one and now every year I go I want to better that, I want to better my score, I want to better my time’ – it does give you the hunger.”

The pair finished 17th at Burghley Horse Trials that autumn and went on to complete another Badminton and four more Burghleys together. Running Brook is now 25 and Georgie still owns him – he is out on loan to a lady who hacks him.

“He was a true gentleman he gave absolutely everything,” says Georgie. “If you’d seen him when I bought him you’d have said you’d be lucky to get round a novice, but I think he’s one of those horses who just kept giving.

Hear more about Georgie’s first Badminton, plus listen to her talk about her experiences at the Tokyo Olympic test event, by tuning in to episode 41 of The Horse & Hound Podcast here, 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 out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

The Horse & Hound Podcast 41: Georgie Spence | Know your horse’s personality | News round-up

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 06:45:40 +0000

In our 41st weekly episode of the first series of The Horse & Hound Podcast, currently supported by NAF, British five-star event rider Georgie Spence talks to H&H editor Pippa Roome, where she talks about her first Badminton and her current top horse Halltown Harley, among other topics. Moving on to the week’s top news stories, our news editor Eleanor Jones, senior news writer Lucy Elder and news writer Becky Murray join Pippa to discuss the latest updates on Brexit, EHV-1 and Britain’s path to the Tokyo Olympics. We also welcome back supergroom to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, Alan Davies, who shares details with us about the superstars he has looked over during his career and why it is important to know your horse’s personality. We hope you will find it useful.

Episode 41 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, currently supported by NAF, our popular audio service available exclusively every Thursday morning for our H&H Plus subscribers, is now live.

Each episode is available for all H&H fans to listen to 24hrs after its early release to our H&H Plus members. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode. This will allow more listeners to make The Horse & Hound Podcast an essential part of their week on Friday morning.

View all episodes of The Horse & Hound Podcast

In episode 41, British five-star event rider Georgie Spence talks to H&H editor Pippa Roome, where she talks about her first Badminton and her current top horse Halltown Harley, among other topics.

“He is the complete love of my life — he’s a cheeky little chap and he’s done wonders for me” – Georgie Spence on her current top horse Halltown Harley

H&H podcast host Pippa Roome is joined by news editor Eleanor Jones, senior news writer Lucy Elder and news writer Becky Murray to discuss Brexit, EHV-1 and Britain’s path to the Tokyo Olympics.

“Dates are coming up quite quickly, so it will be interesting to see how and when plans fit in with that” – Lucy Elder on Britain’s path to the Tokyo Olympics

In this week’s advice section we welcome back supergroom to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, Alan Davies, who shares details with us about the superstars he has looked over during his career and why it is important to know your horse’s personality.

“Knowing a horse’s personality is a big part of a groom’s job, so that they understand each individual’s characteristics” – Alan Davies

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 41

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Cornbury House eventing report: Spence keeps her cool H&H Plus

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:00:09 +0000

Jumping phases play into the hands of Georgie Spence at this “stunning” event

Cornbury House, Oxfordshire, 11–13 September

Jumping came to the fore in the CCI3*-S at the inaugural Cornbury House, with winners Georgie Spence and Uppercourt Cooley being one of only five combinations from 97 starters to finish on their dressage score.

“Finishing in the top three was my ultimate aim, but when EquiRatings made us a combination to watch for the event, I thought that we might be cursed,” joked Georgie, who completed on her 31.4 dressage, which placed them eighth after the first phase.

“We’ve been doing in-house dressage competitions at home during lockdown, with my mum judging, and all of my horses have come out of it better. Plus I’ve been training with Laura Tomlinson for the past three years, working mostly on my confidence, which I’ve historically lacked in this phase, and I feel like she’s finally starting to crack me!”

“Bueno”, who is owned by Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming, Nicky Cooper and Samantha Wilson, came to Georgie a year ago after he had been produced to four-star level by Emily Baldwin.

“Even if he is giving 50%, he is still 100% better than most horses,” enthused Georgie of the 12-year-old, who now heads to the CCI3*-L at Osberton at Thoresby. “He didn’t understand my way of riding last year, which is very much to let them run and jump, but he was really cool and straight this weekend. I feel like our partnership is coming together.”

Four faults in the showjumping relegated Piggy March and I Diablo Joe from first into eventual second, just 0.4 of a penalty behind Georgie, but Piggy was delighted nonetheless.

“I rang his owners at the beginning of the week to say not to get excited about us achieving a result as he is still lacking confidence in the showjumping, so I was very pleasantly surprised to finish where we did,” she explained of the seven-year-old owned and bred by Geoffrey Burton.

“He was produced by Sam Hobbs and came to me at the beginning of this year, so we’re still forming our partnership. I’ve had to try to convince him that he’s not scared of heights! He’s come of age this weekend; we now head to the world seven-year-old championships at Le Lion D’Angers.”

Fox-Pitt takes off the handbrake

William Fox-Pitt said that he was “daring to dream a little” after topping the CCI2*-S on Robert and Pep Glenn’s Centurian Bay, so named down to a combination of Robert buying the horse last year as a golden wedding anniversary present to his wife and William turning 50.

“I’ve been producing him steadily and he doesn’t have a lot of mileage for a seven-year-old,” said William, who finished on his 23 dressage. “He’s still green but I thought it was a good opportunity for him to learn a bit on the undulations and it’s the first time I’ve let the handbrake off – he’s an old-fashioned blood horse – he’s keeping me going!”

Gemma Tattersall was runner-up in the CCI2*-S aboard the Linda Allan-owned Johan-Some, completing on their 23.9 dressage.

“It’s taken me a minute to get him thinking with me,” said Gemma. “He’s super-intelligent and incredibly handsome and he knows it, so he likes cantering around looking at how many people are watching him – I just have to make sure he’s with me. But I’m pleased with his focus today. He’s still never had a fence down, so he’s definitely one for the future.”

Georgia Bartlett claimed the NAF-sponsored under-21 CCI3*-S by almost three penalties aboard Spano De Nazca, a horse who has taken her to four-star level and two junior European Championships.

“We’ve been working hard on our dressage with Ian Woodhead and Caroline Moore, improving ‘Nono’s’ way of going,” said 19-year-old Georgia, who finished on her 28.2 first-phase score. “He’s 14, but was fresh in the jumping phases. We’ll now head to the four-star at Little Downham.”

Molly Faulkner was second with her mother Amanda’s Call Me Cooley. “He can blow up in the dressage, so I tried a new tactic of working him a couple of times in the day before our test and it seemed to work,” said 18-year-old Molly. “He jumped so well and was so game across country – he’s very special and I hope to aim him for the young rider Europeans and a CCI4*-L in 2021.”

Archie Smith-Maxwell triumphed in the NAF-sponsored under-21 CCI2*-S with Judy Bradwell’s 15-year-old mare Akolien, with Daisy Proctor snapping at his heels, just 0.6 of a penalty adrift aboard the super-experienced former Lizzie Baugh four-star ride, Quarry Man, in what was only their fourth event together.

Discipline stars

The open intermediate sections read like a Who’s Who of eventing. Tom McEwen and his 2019 Pau CCI5* winner, Toledo De Kerser led section I from start to finish, while Kitty King’s recent winning streak continued with her topping section F with the super-smart eight-year-old Cristal Fontaine.

Tim Price and his 2018 Burghley winner, Ringwood Sky Boy, won section G, another pair to lead from start to finish. In the intermediate sections, Tim’s wife, Jonelle took section H with Killbunny Andy.

Louisa Lockwood and Crumlinpark Genie claimed section D – the nine-year-old’s first-ever win – while UK-based Dutch rider Andrew Heffernan topped section E with another nine-year-old, Rafiki.

Competitors waxed lyrical about this addition to the British Eventing calendar, which has been described as a phoenix rising from the ashes in a very tough year. It was darkened however on the final day when Direct Cassino, ridden by Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima, was fatally injured at the final fence in the CCI3*-S.

Rehabilitation and patience

The success of Akolien in the NAF-sponsored under-21 CCI2*-S was largely down to the rehabilitation and patience of her rider, Archie Smith-Maxwell.

“She suffered a leg injury and required time off,” explained 17-year-old Archie, who was due to sit mock exams the day after this event. “Her owner, Judy Bradwell, made a deal with us that if I could get Akolien sound, I could take over the ride on her. I spent a year walking her on the roads, getting her leg strong and we’ve now done five events together. We’ve done a lot of gridwork to help improve her showjumping, as she’s built quite long and can have a pole down, but she’s so honest and genuine.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 17 September 2020

‘He’ll stay with me till the day he dies’: five-star eventer bows out

Pippa Roome — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:02:07 +0000

Georgie Spence is retiring Wii Limbo from eventing. The 17-year-old, who belongs to Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming, Sam Wilson and Georgie’s father Russell, completed six five-stars and was 12th at Burghley in 2015.

“My plan this year was to do Badminton and Burghley, then finish his career, but coronavirus has speeded that up,” Georgie told H&H.

“When Badminton was cancelled I thought he’d do Burghley then that’d be it. But with Burghley cancelled, we’ve been chatting about it – with the unpredictability of this season, I don’t want to keep galloping and jumping him, putting him under pressure, if we might not get many runs.

“He is 17 and owes me nothing, it’s just the right time. I will keep him and jump him, do some indoor cross-country events, and just let him be a horse. He’ll stay with me until the day he dies.”

Georgie bought “Woody”, a Dutch warmblood by Highline, as an unbacked three-year-old and he was the first horse she produced from this stage to the top level.

She explained: “I was speaking to Laura Collett at Olympia and said I was looking for a young horse. She had just bought a couple from a lady in Wigan, so I went up to look. I watched him loose jump and gallop flat out and bought him and two others. I was 18 and it was pure luck.”

It took over a year for Georgie to break Woody in.

“He was the naughtiest little devil and every time he had a few days off, it was like rebacking a young horse,” she said. “Even after his most recent holiday, I had to be put on the lead rein the first couple of times I rode him. He’d never want you to fall off, he was just cheeky, but sometimes the moves he gave you ended up with you landing on your backside!”

Although Georgie was experienced at the top level with other horses, her first five-star with Woody at Burghley in 2014 was the first time she achieved a double clear at that level, which she said was “quite a moment”.

The pair’s 12th place at Burghley in 2015 was another highlight.

Woody sat out the 2016 season with a mystery lameness in front which was never fully diagnosed, but after 18 months off, he returned to competition at the top level. In all, he completed Badminton twice, with his best result being 21st in 2018, and Burghley four times, finishing in the top 25 every time.

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Reflecting on Woody’s impact on her career, Georgie said: “He was a horse who could produce a very smart test – although he could be naughty and spook – and he always gave his all at Burghley, which was his favourite event. He was in the top 10 after dressage one year. I had always had a reputation for being halfway down after dressage and jumping a double clear, so he developed me as a name who could ride a dressage test.

“The first horse you produce from nothing all the way to the top is a mental highlight – it shows you can pick them, produce them and have the luck along the way to get them there.”

We are continuing to produce Horse & Hound as a weekly magazine during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to keep our website at horseandhound.co.uk up to date with breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

What’s the secret to seeing the perfect stride every time?

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:24:00 +0000

Five-star event rider and multi- junior and young rider European eventing medallist Georgie Spence provides one rider with some helpful advice on how to see a stride while jumping

Q: “I can’t see a stride any more! Please can you give me suggestions for exercises and techniques to help me get my eye in while jumping, and also perhaps build a little more confidence. I’m currently jumping at around 85cm.”

Georgie says: A lot of people struggle with seeing a stride so I wouldn’t worry yourself too much. There are plenty of different exercises you can try.

Firstly, you need to make sure you have enough quality in the canter — a lot of people confuse a powerful canter with a fast canter. You need balance, rhythm and ‘jump’ within the pace.

A large number of people become hung up on seeing a stride but actually it’s not the end of the world if you can’t see the perfect spot. If you think about when you loose jump a horse, they don’t get to the fence on the perfect stride every time but they learn to sort themselves out — a horse needs to be able to think for itself.

Seeing a stride is something that develops with time. A few exercises I use when teaching, is to place two poles five strides apart. Canter over the two poles several times each way on the five strides. Then adjust the canter to add a stride to make it six strides between the poles, again riding in both directions. Then go back to the five strides and then go to four strides. As you get more confident build the poles to small fences and then bigger fences, but still within you and your horse’s capability.

This exercise starts to develop your ability to change the canter and feel the length of each stride which will come in handy if you need to collect or extend the canter to meet a fence on the best take-off point.

Continued below…

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I also find it helpful to put a pole on the ground two strides before a fence. It doesn’t quite give you the security of having a placing pole (usually a bounce stride) before take off which will nearly always put you in the right spot, but allows you to start or feel the take off point from two strides away.

The main thing to remember is a horse is much more likely to be able to take off from the wrong place with a good canter than the perfect place in a weak canter.

Visit Georgie’s website or follow her on Facebook

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Top British riders head to Tokyo to test Olympic 2020 facilities

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 06:02:24 +0000

William Fox-Pitt and Georgie Spence will have Team GBR’s first taste of Tokyo as they take part in the Olympic test event next month.

William will ride Catherine Witt’s Summer at Fernhill and Georgie her own and Suzanne Doggett’s Halltown Harley (pictured) at the Ready Steady Tokyo event from 12 to 14 August.

William, who has represented Britain at five Olympics, said: “I am really excited to be asked to go to the test event, it will be one of life’s great experiences.

“I rode in the test event at London Olympics and that was a huge advantage for the real thing. I will also be there in a supporting role for Japanese rider Kazuma Tomoto, so am looking forward to seeing the event from all angles.”

Georgie, who finished second on Halltown Harley at the US Nations Cup leg last year and won the Austrian leg the previous year, said it was an honour for both herself and Ms Doggett to be invited to compete.

“The experience as a rider is going to be incredible and riding at the Olympic venue is something I will always be very proud of doing,” she said.

“Suzanne has been a huge support to me for a number of years and I’m very excited to share this with her. I know this means a lot to her, too. I’m really looking forward to the whole experience, which has already started with planning the journey, managing and planning for the conditions, and everything else that’s involved with preparation.”

The pair will be accompanied by their support teams and representatives from Team GBR, one of only a handful of national federations sending riders to the test event.

“An Olympic and Paralympic Games held in the height of summer in Tokyo is likely to present us with some unique challenges,” team GBR performance director Vikki Underwood said. “The test event provides us with the only opportunity to gather first-hand information on how we can optimally prepare and deliver success at the Games next year.

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“Team GBR have chosen to really invest in this opportunity in order to give us a performance edge, but we can only do so through the generosity of the horses’ owners, the riders willing to put themselves out to support the success of our team, funding from UK Sport, and the expertise of the human and equine sports scientists who have worked tirelessly to ensure we are testing the right things and gathering quality information.”

The dressage and showjumping phases will take place at the main equestrian park of the Japanese Racing Association in Baji Koen, which hosted the equestrian events at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, while the cross-country will take place at Sea Forest Park in Tokyo Bay.

Michael Jung and Andrew Hoy are also among those due to take part, while the cross-country track will be designed by Derek di Grazia, who will also be designing the Olympic course itself.

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

#SundaySchool: Georgie Spence and the benefits of working over bounces on a curve

Stephanie Bateman — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 16:25:30 +0000

Event rider Georgie Spence explains how performing bounces on a curve can teach a horse to be quick and neat over a fence

Aim

I have used this exercise — two sets of three bounces on a curved line — a lot over the years. Jumping horses need to be agile, regardless of whether they are showjumpers or event horses, and this exercise teaches them to be tidy over fences.

It’s really important that the rider keeps the horse between hand and leg, and on the line you choose (inside, middle, or outside line of the curve).

The exercise encourages the horse to use his back end and push off from the ground evenly. Being accurate as a rider — staying upright in your body, not tipping forward on to the shoulder and staying in balance — are key to this exercise’s success.

Exercise

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. Set up two sets of three bounce poles on a slight curve. I don’t set out a specific distance between the two sets of bounces, but my arena is 30m wide, so it is normally about five strides.

2. For young and inexperienced horses, you can start with poles on the floor and then progress to small fences. My four-year-olds do poles on the ground to begin with and then I raise the poles gradually, starting with just the middle pole to the first hole on the wings, and progress when they are ready.

3. When the poles are set up as bounce fences, I have the outside of the pole four or five holes higher than the inside of the pole to encourage the horse to use the outside hindleg as much as the inside. The more experienced horses would have it at about 50 to 60cm on the inside and 70 to 80cm on the outside.

4. You want the horse to canter in and over the poles or fences, keeping a good rhythm and jumping smoothly, not launching or rushing. They should give themselves time to assess the exercise and jump quietly. They need to be agile, but not over-jump the first pole and end up getting themselves into trouble.

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Tips and pitfalls

● To make the exercise more difficult, you can practise riding an inside line on four strides, middle line on five and outside line on six strides.

● The rider has to be very accurate to keep the horse on the correct line.

● Don’t let the horse fall out through the shoulder — use your outside leg and rein contact to keep him straight and on the correct line.

● Remember, this exercise is tiring for the horse, so don’t overdo it and give him plenty of breaks.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday. Plus, don’t miss the current issue (dated 21 March 2019), to read our eventing special

Olympic champion back on British team after 10-year absence

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:37:36 +0000

Leslie Law, the 2004 Olympic eventing individual gold medallist, will ride on the British team again, more than a decade since his last squad appearance.

Leslie moved to the USA in the winter of 2005 and has not ridden on a British team since, his last cap being the 2005 Blenheim European Championships, when he was a team gold medallist with his Athens Olympic champion Shear L’Eau. Before the move he won three European team gold medals, two Olympic team silvers, an individual Olympic gold and a world team bronze, all on the full brothers Shear H2O and Shear L’Eau.

The rider has now been called up to compete on the Nations Cup team at The Plains in Virginia, USA (6-8 July), the fourth leg of the 2018 FEI Eventing Nations Cup. Leslie’s ride will be Tre’ Book’s nine-year-old Voltaire De Tre’.

“It’s exciting and it’ll be fun — I’m looking forward to it,” said Leslie. “It’s great for the horse’s owners too.”

He has been riding the chestnut Selle Français since the spring of 2016 and recently finished fourth in the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh with him. The pair were also second in the national advanced class at The Fork, held at Tryon as part of the World Equestrian Games test event in April.

“Dickie [Waygood, British eventing performance manager] sent me an email at the beginning of the year asking if there was the possibility I’d have anything for the Nations Cup and I said I’d got a horse who was going up through the grades and doing his first advanced in February, so we’d have to see how he goes,” said Leslie.

“He’s gone from strength to strength this year and is turning into an exciting horse. To handle, he’s full of himself and keeps the girls on their toes. To ride, he feels like he’s really starting to grow up and there’s a lot more to come from him. As a seven- and eight-year-old he was a big, leggy horse so I took time to allow him to mature.”

Leslie is based in Ocala, Florida, with his Canadian wife Lesley Grant-Law, who also events. The couple have a son, Liam.

Leslie’s team-mates will all travel from Britain to compete at the Plains. They are:

Ben Hobday and his own and Jane Chambers’ eight-year-old gelding Shadow Man II, with Rachael Foster’s 11-year-old gelding Ciletto H in direct reserve
Will Rawlin and Andrew and Miranda Rawlin’s 10-year-old gelding VIP Vinnie
Georgie Spence with her own and Suzanne Doggett’s 12-year-old gelding Halltown Harley

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The Plains will be Britain’s third Nations Cup this year after Houghton last month and Strzegom, Poland (29 June-1 July).

With two legs complete in the nine-leg series, Sweden lead the way on 150 points with Britain in ninth place on 55 points.

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

H&H question of the week: How do I make the optimum time across country?

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:24:42 +0000

Four-star event rider and multi junior and young rider European eventing medallist Georgie Spence provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to make the optimum time across country

Q: “Is there any way to make the optimum time across country on a chunky Irish Draught? We’re not really eventers but have been dabbling. I know my horse is built for comfort and not speed and he wont go faster than I ask (I’m also a wuss!). Is there a way we can work on improving our speed at home? At a recent competition the optimum pace was 450m per minute. We managed 354m per minute on average. I can’t put a weaker bit in as we go round in an eggbutt snaffle, cavesson noseband and Irish martingale.”

Georgie says: “There are always ways to improve your speed. Even if your horse is naturally slow, the one thing you don’t want to do is waste time. So if you can save a quarter of a second on the approach and landing of every fence, with a 20 fence course, that is five seconds, or two BE time-faults saved.

“You need to walk the ‘racing line’ when you walk the course. Look at how F1 drivers drive the track — its not always the shortest line that is the quickest. Take one less pull coming in to fence, and make sure you land and kick away — don’t wait a stride after the fence before you ask your horse to move forward.

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“So the main thing is to teach your horse to go forward. You need to be able to squeeze with you legs and they react and go forward. Think how sensitive horses are when a fly lands on them and aim for getting that sort of reaction from them when you put your leg on. It’s just a case of teaching them what the leg means. You need to follow up a soft squeeze/kick with a harder one, until they react, in training a tap with the whip can help.

“Another thing to try is to get someone to time you, so you can practise the speed. Find a place you horse is most happy to move forward, for example, following another horse having a canter in a field. Practise things that make him want to choose to go forward, but try not to exhaust him. Do short sharp spells so then he will enjoy it, rather than thinking going forwards is tiring.”

Visit Georgie’s website or follow her on Facebook

H&H question of the week: How can my horse and I learn how to jump bigger fences?

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 17:02:37 +0000

Four-star event rider and multi junior and young rider European eventing medallist Georgie Spence provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to teach both her and her horse how to jump bigger fences

Q: “I have a fantastic horse who only learned to jump about 18 months ago — she’s eight this year. She’s 16hh and she’s got the most wonderful jump. She jumps 80cm courses and leaves lots of room between her and the jump. She’ll do 90cm individual jumps without worrying too but I’d like to build her up to 90cm and 1m courses but obviously I’m happy for that to take as long as it takes.

“I’d like to do some jumping work in the school to increase my confidence and hers, although it’s mostly mine. What I’ve found with my horse is that she won’t pay attention to anything less than 70cm. I was wondering if you could share some good jumping exercises that I could do.

We have a great school at my yard with plenty of wings and poles. Things to bear in mind:

1) All jumps have to be built and put away

2) I don’t have a helper very often so I can’t get off and on throughout the session to change jumps”

Georgie says: “My advice would be that you should stick to a few exercises and use them three or four times each before moving on to the next exercise as you have to put the fences away every time, you don’t want to be building a huge amount every day you want to jump.

“A fantastic exercise is three poles down one side of the school, don’t measure them out, just put them down, roughly five or six strides apart.

“Ride down the poles five or six times, just maintaining the rhythm and then making sure you take the same amount of strides each time. Then repeat this the other way.

“Next try and add a stride in between the two poles. Again, repeat this five or six times on each rein. Then see if you can go through once, just taking the original amount of strides, and then go five to six times each way taking a stride out. This over time will really help you with distances and striding, but also being able to move the canter around.

“This exercise can also be used with small uprights instead of poles.

Continued below…

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“Another great exercise is building a parallel fence down each long side, and an upright fence on each of the diagonals so you can change the rein. You can then jump the fences on a figure of eight. If you start to feel unbalanced or a bit quick you can put a circle in and then continue with the exercise. I always like to start with the fences quite small and then when both you and the horse get more confident you can put them up.

“Grids are always great exercises, but are more difficult on your own. If you could possibly build a grid, I would suggest three cross poles one stride apart from eachother and then two strides to a parallel.

You could warm up over a couple of fences and then jump through the grid a few times at each height. This grid is slightly easier on your own as you don’t need to raise the height of the first three cross poles, but you can put the parallel up when you feel confident. This then gives you the best chance of producing a powerful canter, where you horse bascules.

“When you have started to crack this at home, I suggest going to you local equestrian centre and either hiring the course or doing a clear round to start to gain confidence jumping the bigger heights but without the pressure of it being a competition. However I would also suggest trying to have someone on the ground while you jump, especially away from home just to be safe.

Visit Georgie’s website or follow her on Facebook

Feathers, capes and tassels: 14 fashion moments from the Burghley trot-up

Pippa Roome — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 17:41:50 +0000

We pick out the most stunning, outlandish and unusual looks from the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials first horse inspection. Which is your favourite?

Pictures by Peter Nixon

Sophie braved the cold when she matched a short skirt with her hat and her Chelsea Coat from Holland Cooper.

Georgie sported a stylish coat (the City Chelsea Coat from Holland Cooper) and white jeans.

What A Catch's white socks set off Libby's cape (Tweed and Fur Cape by Holland Cooper), white jeans and long boots, which are The Amira style, from Fairfax & Favor.

Piggy joined the cape trend, but hers was of a lighter material than most.

Andrew wore a matching orange hat, tie and loafers.

Sarah showed off the first hat on the runway and it was beautifully matched to her jacket, which carried metallic buttons.

Most riders opted for trousers today, but Emma sported a dress — does it have snaffle bits on it? We think so…

Toddy's chinos and blazer caught the eye of the judges of the Hiho Silver Jewellery fashion prize — and he took the men's award. His shoes are The Mayfair by Fairfax & Favor.

Louisa shows her Scottish roots.

The Irish pair also pleased the fashion police and Clare took the Hiho Silver Jewellery women's outfit prize.

It's a big Union flag for Nana.

Red and black tassels on her boots were the highlight of Lynn's outfit.

Willa trotted up in an unusual green velvet jacket.

This Burghley debutante sported a pink hat and pink tassels to her boots, plus a drop hem coat.

Horse & Hound question of the week: ‘How do I stop my horse rushing his fences?’

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:25:21 +0000

Four-star event rider and multi- junior and young rider European eventing medallist Georgie Spence provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to stop her horse rushing his fences

Q: “A friend of mine is in need of some help with her ex-showjumper. He is an absolute dream on the ground and to school but the minute a jump goes up, big or small, he absolutely fires and tanks forwards, over the fence and away. She has tried to re-school him over smaller fences and poles for confidence, tried going with it, tried circling, trotting into, and various different bits over the past few years (which have made absolutely no difference) and all sorts of different exercises and grids. The problem she is finding is how strong he is — once he has locked on there is nothing she can do to slow him and it is getting very frustrating for her now. Do you have any hints, tips or useful things she could try?”

Georgie says: “Well it sounds like you have tried a lot of exercises.

There are some more you could try. The first I would suggest is to think about helping him slowing down after the fence, not before. A lot people try to pull their horses up in front on the fence. But I find you often take away your horse’s spirit if you do this and you actually should be praising him for going forward, but try and direct him into understanding the speed.

I like to try and make a walk transition in a straight line after the fence. A halt transition can also be useful, but also does break the rhythm. Whereas the walk is still a forward pace and therefore teaches the horse to slow his speed but not stop altogether. So go into walk and then go back into canter and repeat.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Horses learn by repetition and therefore if you do this enough times, your horse will anticipate the transition and slow down.

Another exercise is to put four fences on a circle. Start with poles or raised poles and then progress to small jumps. If your horse rushes, jump a fence, then circle to the inside of the jump and then circle back around and jump the same fence again. Then go to the next fence, jump it, and again circle and then jump. This repetition helps to slow the horse down as he anticipated that he will circle after each jump.

The circles help to give the horse direction and then you don’t have to pull on both reins to slow down; you can let the circle do the work for you.

I hope these exercises help and good luck.

Visit Georgie’s website or follow her on Facebook

Chance to ‘own’ a leg of an elite eventer up for grabs

Lucy Elder — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 06:25:11 +0000

Medal-winning British event rider Georgie Spence is looking for a new syndicate member to help fund the running costs of her top horse, advanced eventer Wii Limbo.

Georgie told H&H that she is keeping the ride and is looking for someone to join the three others in his support syndicate.

Bought by Georgie as a three-year-old, Wii Limbo has been produced by her from BE100 to four-star level.

Known as “Woody” at home, the 12-year-old gelding came 12th at this year’s Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September).

“He was very sharp and difficult when I first bought him, but always showed a lot of ability,” Georgie added.

Since then the combination have had a number of top-10 placings at advanced level and have jumped double clears at Badminton and Burghley.

The Dutch-bred event horse, by Highline, is now coming back into work following a six-week holiday after Burghley.

“I am aiming him for Badminton and Burghley next year and I would love to do some Nations Cup team competitions with him too,” said Georgie.

“I run a racing-type syndicate with him. I have four people that run a leg each — it is the same cost if he runs at a local show or if he competes abroad.”

Wii Limbo is currently supported by Lucy Fleming, Ben Chittle and Vanessa Jamieson.

There is no buy-in fee, but rather foster owners commit to a year at a time and can either pay the monthly running costs as a direct debit or pay the 12 months in full.

Georgie, 27, won team gold at the young rider European Eventing Championships in 2007 and 2008. She also won team silver at the 2006 junior Europeans.

Georgie is a frequent competitor at top-level competition. In 2008 she made her four-star debut at Badminton the age of 19 with Running Brook, where she finished 30th.

Georgie Spence determined to compete at Burghley despite injury

Rachael Turner — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 10:55:28 +0000

Eventer Georgie Spence will be out of action for the next fortnight after fracturing her hand in a riding accident.

However, she is still determined to compete at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials next month (3-6 September).

The British four-star event rider was schooling at her Wiltshire base on Tuesday (4 August) when the horse she was riding snatched the reins and injured her hand.

Georgie thought she was just badly bruised, but two days later the swelling had not gone down so she went to hospital (6 August).

She found out she had fractured a bone in her hand and chipped a bone in her wrist.

“I assumed by the way it happened, that it was just a bruise, so I was surprised when I heard it was fractured,” Georgie told H&H.

“I am still aiming for Burghley — I am going regardless. I will rest it for two weeks and then I will start gradually riding.

“It’s not too painful if I don’t do anything with it that makes it sore.

“I am still pottering around on hacks riding with one hand as I don’t want to lose fitness.

“It’s lucky it’s just a fracture so it’s not in a cast.”

Georgie has entered 12-year-old gelding Wii Limbo for this year’s Burghley.

“I’m sure I will be fine for Burghley, it’s just one of those things,” she added.

“I am in a good place and the horses are going really well.

“It is a shame to miss Gatcombe but I know him [Wii Limbo] inside out so it’s not the end of the world not to have this one last run [before Burghley].”

Retired four-star eventer put down after field accident

Pippa Roome — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 14:55:51 +0000

Birthday Night, who completed six four-stars with three different riders, was put down yesterday (Thursday 19 March) at the age of 20 after breaking a leg in the field.

His owner-breeder Jane Walter said: “He never had a bad day and everyone who had him adored him. He was a real character and a wonderful cross-country horse, although he didn’t like dressage much.”

Jane bought Birthday Night’s dam, Lady Nightshade (by Newski), from Edna and Jack Callaway in Cornwall — the Callaways were clients of her husband, the late horse vet Bill Walters. The mare returned to them when she retired and Birthday Night (“Barney”) was among the foals she produced.

Jane said she had “no idea” Barney would make a four-star horse when he was a youngster. He was broken in as a two-year-old and hunted with the Beaufort as initially he was destined for a career in point-to-pointing. But his path changed after Jane asked Jennifer Baines (née Alner, daughter of trainer Robert Alner) if she would try him to see if he would make an eventer.

Jennifer produced the son of Moot Point up to novice level before William Fox-Pitt took over in 2003. William competed Barney for four seasons, taking him up through the ranks to four-star level. His best results with William included 10th at Kreuth CCI2* (2003), third at Windsor CCI2* (2004) and 11th at Luhmuhlen (2006).

During this time the horse also finished second at Kreuth CCI3* in 2005 with Mary King, who was competing Barney as a catch ride because William Fox-Pitt was suspended after being knocked out in a fall at Gatcombe.

Birthday Night spent 2007 and 2008 with Harry Meade (pictured), completing two Badmintons and finishing 20th at Burghley in 2008.

He spent his final three seasons with Georgie Spence, jumping clear across country twice at Badminton, taking his tally of completions there to four. The pair also finished fourth in a CIC3* at Burnham Market in 2009 and seventh in the CIC2* at Somerley Park the same year.

Barney didn’t compete again after Badminton 2011 and spent his retirement hunting with the Portman with Holly Barnes.

“He was a wonderful hunter. He had a great day on Wednesday [18 March], then went out in the field on Thursday and broke his leg,” said a devastated Jane.

Young rider gold medal-winning eventer dies

Pippa Roome — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 10:55:00 +0000

Skylight, the mare who won a young rider team gold medal with Georgie Spence, died last week (15 February) aged 16.

Having retired last year, Skylight had gone to live with Catherine Rye on Exmoor this year as a broodmare. She was due to go to stud in two weeks’ time, but passed away in the field before she could pass on her genes.

“It’s sad as I’d been discussing potential stallions for her with Catherine,” said Georgie.

“For me, she was the horse who got me back on the young rider squad and finished fifth in the under-25s at Bramham. She was always in the top 10 in open intermediates and two-stars — she was Miss Consistent.

“She was very quiet and easy and helped me a lot with the dressage as I had always had quite tense horses. She was so calm she gave me a lot of confidence in the arena.”

Skylight was bred by the Gloucestershire-based Swiss rider and judge Christian Landolt. By Jumbo, she was out of the Mayhill mare Kiwi Girl and owned by Christopher Jenkin for much of her competitive career.

She started eventing with Britain-based French rider Leonard Goerens, who competed her up to two-star level. She joined Georgie in 2008 and the pair won on their first run together, an open novice at Stilemans. They were part of the gold medal-winning British team and finished 14th individually at the young rider Europeans at Kreuth that season.

The following year the pair were fourth in the CIC3* at Burnham Market, fifth in the under-25 CCI3* at Bramham and 15th at the young rider Europeans at Waregem, competing as individuals this time.

After one more season with Georgie, Skylight spent 2010 with junior Jonny Betteridge, winning an open novice under-18 qualifier at Purston Manor. She then spent three more years with another under-18, Amelia Walker, competing at BE100 and open novice under-18 level.

Skylight was a grade one elite mare with British Eventing (BE), with 298 BE points, and is the third highest ranked mare by Jumbo, after Headley Britannia and Allercombe Ellie.

“She retired last year from eventing and came to live out her years with me as a broodmare on Exmoor with my other advanced mare Highley Sprung,” said Catherine Rye. “Sadly she didn’t live to pass on her amazing legacy — mares like this come along once in a decade.”

Horse withdrawn from Badminton after strangles scare

Sophia Heath — Mon, 05 May 2014 11:00:53 +0000

Georgie Spence has been forced to withdraw Wii Limbo from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (7-11 May), due to a strangles scare on her yard.

The 11-year-old has been given the all clear by vets to compete and there have been no confirmed cases of strangles on the yard. However, Badminton requires the test to be repeated and there is not time for this to be done.

“It’s absolutely gutting, not just for me but also for his owners,” Georgie told H&H.

“Even though he has been given the all clear the time scale didn’t work with the bank holiday and it is quite an invasive procedure to repeat the test. I also didn’t want it to be a concern with other competitors.

“I have produced him for the past 8 years and I wanted our first 4-star to be something I could look back on positively. I just don’t feel the preparation has been right mentally.”

Badminton final scores

Wii Limbo will now head for Bramham (5-8 June) for the CCI*** and then hopefully onto Luhmühlen (12-15 June)

“He is fine and is galloping round the field like a lunatic,” Georgie added.

Where do eventers go on holiday?

Madeleine Silver — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 09:00:58 +0000

Aldon and Norton Disney horse trials this weekend (24-27 October) will wrap up the 2013 eventing season. After months of sleeping in lorries, braving portaloos, waking up at the crack of dawn and going to bed at a similar time, November is a traditional time for eventers to ditch the horses, pick up their passports and take a break.

We asked 5 top riders what their destination of choice is, what happens to the horses while they’re away, if they’d fancy a riding holiday and whether they ever manage to relax…

Georgie Spence, Wiltshire

“November is often the best month to go away. When I’m on holiday the horses are usually just in the field, or they go on the walker. I’m fortunate to either have a groom at home, or my Mum will check them in the fields daily.

“Luckily I find it easy to relax when I’m on holiday — whereas if I have nothing to do at home I can’t relax at all.

“I have had 2 great holidays in Egypt with Laura Collett. And then a few years ago, lots of eventers all went travelling in Thailand for 5 weeks — that was an amazing experience.

“We were backpacking and all managed to cope reasonably well, despite staying in some rooms which were 75p a night and not very nice at all!

“I have never been on a riding holiday, but would love to go on a horseback safari — the only thing that has stopped me is that they are all very expensive.

“A holiday I wouldn’t choose to go on would be a sightseeing or walking holiday. When I’m away I like to have nothing to do, lie on a beach and eat and drink.”

Paul Tapner, Wiltshire

“In November I tend to head to Australia — where I’m from — and my very capable staff makes sure all the horses are kept happy, whether they’re still in work or on a holiday themselves.

“The only way I can relax is if I’m not anywhere near my yard. I’m still very active on holiday though — so my kind of relaxing is not the same as it is for most people.

“I have great memories from most holidays I take. Anything that included natural disaster-type weather or near-death illness would be a nightmare holiday — but apart from that I’m game for most experiences the world has to offer.”

Gemma Tattersall, West Sussex

“I try to have a couple of weeks away somewhere hot in November.

“The horses are either on holiday or my team at home keep them ticking over for me.

“A long time ago I visited Kenya and went on safari which was a pretty spectacular experience. Seeing all the wildlife in their natural environment was incredible.

“I haven’t done a riding holiday before, but I would quite like to go on a horseback safari or maybe a ranching holiday — both of which sound quite fun and different enough from the day job.

“My idea of a nightmare holiday is somewhere that is cold, raining and with bad food. I like the opposite of those things!”

Oliver Townend, Shropshire

“I try to take a holiday in November when I can and I tend to go somewhere warm and discover different places each time. I’ve been lucky to go to a lot of nice places — including Barbados and the Maldives — but I think my best holiday was when I went to Las Vegas for Geoff Billington’s stag party.

“While I’m away the horses are kept ticking over or they are turned out in the field. I definitely can’t relax straight away — but eventually it happens.

“My worst holiday was definitely when I went to Tenerife with Piggy French a long time ago and we were both seriously ill from the water!”

Jeanette Brakewell, Staffordshire

“It’s great to get away in Novemeber, relax and recharge the batteries.

“At home I have very good staff that I trust to take care of everything and at the end of the day I have my phone with me should there be a disaster.

“Once I’m away I do manage to relax — there is no point worrying about things you have no control of at home and I am a very good sleeper which helps.

“I once had a really good riding holiday in Kenya across the Masai Mara with Tristan Voorspuy who runs Offbeat Safaris. The food was excellent, the company was great and the scenery and wildlife was outstanding.

“On the other hand, my idea of a nightmare holiday would be somewhere busy and full of screaming children!”

In need of a break yourself? Take a look at all our latest riding holiday ideas

Bramham Horse Trials: Tom McEwen takes under-25 CCI3* on Diesel

Pippa Roome — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 10:36:24 +0000

Tom McEwen is the new under-25 national eventing champion after claiming the Bishop Burton College-sponsored class at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials this morning.

Tom was second overnight and had the very first fence down on his own Diesel. This gave leader Dani Evans, riding Vanessa Watson’s Raphael II, one fence in hand, which she used up at fence seven. This would not have been disastrous, but she also had four time-faults to finish 0.8 of a penalty behind Tom.

Both riders have previously been trained by Pippa Funnell and she helped them both warm-up.

“I wasn’t really doing what Pippa told me at the first — I was a bit underpowered — but that woke me up,” said Tom. “I’ve come through young riders with Dani and she’s always jumped really well, so I expected her to go clear — I was hoping for her that she’d win it.”

Dani added: “He jumped very well and I’ll be kicking myself for a good while for the time-faults. It hasn’t always been our easiest phase as he’s different every time and you can’t help him, you have to ride him on a soft rein to the deep spot and it’s hard to do that when you’re in the lead.”

France’s Astier Nicolas provided one of just two clears in the class to move up to third with Quickly Du Buguet, who he co-owns with his mother Bénédicte.

Laura Collett had the very last fence down to drop one place to fourth on Philip Walker’s Allora 3.

Georgie Spence (Wii Limbo) held fifth with two down, while Orlane Hillereau of France completed the top six on Naome De Glain.

Results

All H&H’s Bramham news

Log back on later for a final report on the senior CCI3* and buy H&H next Thursday for a full report from Bramham (13 June).

Georgie Spence’s Express Eventing blog: the competition

Horse & Hound — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:30:35 +0000

This blog is brought to you in association with Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing

Well, the whole Express Eventing experience at Horse of the Year Show was great.

My ride “Woody” (Wii Limbo) found the warm-up quite scary. It was a bit small and because it was a tent, when the sides flapped, Woody got very worried. The speakers were up high and he tried to look up when they were making noise.

When he went into the arena for the dressage, the test started well, but then he made a few mistakes and got quite tense. He did cope well overall though, and I managed to keep him under wraps. The pirouettes and four-time changes went well, which is what I was worried about. So I was pleased with parts, but disappointed with other areas of it.

The cross-country was fantastic. Woody was a complete star. We had one scary moment, when the course-builders hadn’t put the flag up on a corner and we were a bit scrappy, but we got through it and were clear with just 1.5 time faults.

He was then a little tired by the showjumping. He did warm in well, but sadly had two fences down. I then went for the joker and he sadly had that too, very unlike him. We finished in 10th which was still a pleasing result as the cross-country had caused quite a few problems – even for four-star horse Shiver St George and 2009 final winner Flora Harris.

Woody is now going to have a holiday and then do some jumping and dressage over the winter. Next year I plan to establish him at advanced and CIC*** level, he will head to the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim again, and if everything has gone well he will go to Boekelo CCI*** in the Netherlands in the autumn.

Express Eventing is a great competition. The only change I would make is to have the cross-country and showjumping together, so a bit more like the indoor cross-country competitions – this would really make it an “express” competition.

I would love to take part in the Express Eventing next year – I assume it’ll be the same format in terms of qualifying so fingers crossed!

Georgie

Report of the final

Replay H&H’s live written coverage of the final

Full report from Express Eventing in H&H this week (13 October issue)

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Georgie Spence’s Express Eventing blog: ready to rock

Horse & Hound — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:50:06 +0000

This blog is brought to you in association with Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing

The Express Eventing finals are just a few days away and I am really looking forward to it. My music for the dressage is finished and has been sent over to the show’s organisers. Wii Limbo (“Woody”) is going well and I’m feeling confident, so let’s hope he enjoys the atmosphere and is as excited about it as I am.

Sadly I’ve still been having a few problems with my back, but having had a few days away and a chance to rest, I’m hopefully now on the mend. I had a really good birthday and it was lovely to spend a few days relaxing in Devon, especially as the weather has been so good.

We will be driving to HOYS on Tuesday morning and coming home afterwards, as we aren’t too far away, which saves us the £70-a-night cost (!) of staying overnight. Hopefully we will get the chance to ride in the main arena before the action gets underway, although that may mean a very early start.

As well as competing, I’m looking forward to doing a bit of shopping! I love going around the shops at the big shows, and normally spend money that I don’t have. I’ll also try to catch up with some friends while I am there, and hopefully my boyfriend Tom will be able to come and watch after all the hard work he has put in doing the music for my dressage test.

Wish me luck!

Georgie

Express Eventing website

We will be running our popular H&H Live service — an up-to-the-minute interactive written commentary — from the Express Eventing final at HOYS, thanks to support from Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing. Register for a reminder at www.horseandhound.co.uk/expresseventing2011.

Georgie Spence’s Express Eventing blog: injured rider

Horse & Hound — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:54:54 +0000

This blog is brought to you in association with Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing

My Express Eventing ride Wii Limbo (“Woody”) has been doing some work again after a few days off after Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

The floorplan for my dressage is now finished and I rode through the test on Thursday and Friday and videoed it so my boyfriend Tom [Davison, son of dressage rider Richard] could start working on the music. Woody then had another two days off while I was at Gatcombe over the weekend.

The music is going well – we haven’t put it together yet, but we know what we are using. I want it to be surprise for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), so I’m not going to give anything away until the day!

Woody is on good form, but unfortunately I pulled a muscle in my back at Gatcombe so I haven’t been able to ride since, which has slightly hindered my Express Eventing preparations.

I think my back is just generally sore after a busy time – a week at Burghley, a week at Blenheim, Pontispool on the Monday after Blenheim and then two days at Gatcombe over the weekend. I am going to rest for a few days. Then it’s my birthday next Tuesday and I’m having two days away with Tom. I’m sure after taking it easy then I’ll be fine.

Looking ahead, I’m very excited about going to HOYS. I’ve competed there several times before. When I was younger, I focused on showjumping, so I competed in the 138cm championship in 2001 – at Wembley – with Dreamtime Outlaw and in 2002, when I finished eighth on Mars Kyfe Jake.

I have also competed in the indoor cross-country championships three times at HOYS, in 2008, 2009 and 2010. I won once and came fourth twice on my long-term partner Song For Gull.

This time, I don’t have huge expectations for the Express Eventing competition. Of course, it would be fantastic to be well placed, but it’s a new competition and Woody is quite inexperienced with some of the dressage movements. Also, he can be quite a hot-headed horse, so I hope he copes with the atmosphere, as he won’t have seen anything like it before.

As long as he goes well and learns something I will be delighted.

I’ll be back next week to fill you in on my final preparations.

Georgie

Express Eventing website

Georgie Spence’s Express Eventing blog: Wii Limbo at Blenheim

Horse & Hound — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:46:39 +0000

This blog is brought to you in association with Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing

My Express Eventing ride Wii Limbo (‘Woody’) was fantastic at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials last week, where he contested the eight- and nine-year-old CIC***.

Generally his dressage test was good, he just made a couple of mistakes and was green in places. He showjumped well — it was unlike him he had a few fences down, but it was a huge track and caused a lot of problems, so I was pleased with how he coped with the atmosphere. He went on to jump a great clear cross-country. We took all the straight routes and I couldn’t have been more pleased with him.

I hope that Blenheim will have helped Woody grow up a little, as I think the atmosphere at Horse of the Year Show will be on a whole different level.

After Blenheim, Woody had three days off and I plan to video my Express Eventing dressage test today to start putting the music to it. He’ll then have a few more days off, and next week, I will work on perfecting it. The floorplan is finished, but I haven’t got anything concrete on the music yet.

Hopefully towards the end of next week I’ll have the music finished and I’ll also give Woody a jump, so I’ll let you know how we are getting on then.

Georgie

Express Eventing website

Georgie Spence’s Express Eventing blog: floorplans and flying changes

Horse & Hound — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:10:15 +0000

This blog is brought to you in association with Georgie’s sponsor Tottie clothing

I’m riding Wii Limbo at the Express Eventing final at Horse of the Year Show on Tuesday, 4 October. He’s an eight-year-old who belongs to Lucy Fleming, Benjamin Chittle and my father Russell, and I’ve been riding and eventing him since he was four.

We qualified for the final after finishing sixth in the Express Eventing contest at Gatcombe. I decided to have a go because I enjoyed taking part in Express Eventing last year at the Royal Festival of the Horse (RFoH). Gatcombe was quite different to that as each phase took place in a different arena, whereas at RFoH it was all in one school.

I thought Wii Limbo would be quite strong at Express Eventing as he’s a good jumper who looks for his fences, reliable and doesn’t get fazed by much. But I thought this would help him to grow up and it was educational for him to see a big crowd at Gatcombe. He coped with the tight arena too and picked up the lines well across country.

Looking forward to the final, I’ve made up a new floorplan for the dressage, including the optional three-time flying changes and pirouettes. My theory is that even if I perform these badly, I’ll score a two or three — that’s better than a 0 for not trying them, right?

But I haven’t wanted to try these yet as Wii Liimbo is competing in the eight- and nine-year-old CIC*** at the Fidelity Blenheim Horse Trials this week and I don’t want him throwing in three-time changes all over the place! So he’ll be having a crash course in the next fortnight.

Once I’m back home, I need to run through the test and video it to sort out the music. I’ve got some ideas of what I’d like and I’m hoping to enlist the help of my boyfriend Tom, whose father just happens to be dressage rider Richard Davison.

Next week I’ll update you on how Wii Limbo gets on at Blenheim and how the dressage preparations are going…

Georgie

Georgie Spence withdraws from Badminton Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:09:04 +0000

Georgie Spence (pictured) has withdrawn her final horse from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials after injuring herself at Weston Park last weekend.

The 21-year-old suffered a fall with Skylight, which left her with torn muscles in her right arm.

“The mare left a leg at the corner, landed on me and then kicked me as she got up,” said Georgie. “I hope to be riding again in a week, but I will take it day by day.”

Georgie went for X-rays after the fall, but hadn’t broken anything.

“I thought that was great news, but I’ve been told muscle can be harder to heal than bone,” she said. “The doctor at the hospital told me to get it out of the sling and start moving it. At least the World Class support means I have physio regularly.”

Badminton final scores

Georgie had three horses entered for Badminton — Running Brook II, who had been accepted from second place on the waiting list, Birthday Night and Skylight.

The two geldings were withdrawn due to issues with their own fitness, Georgie reported on her website: “Birthday Night missed some time in March and although he is back in work now we do not feel he will be fit enough to compete. Running Brook has knocked his splint bone and will also be unable to compete.”

Georgie completed her first Badminton in 2008 with Running Brook II, when she won the best first-timer and under-25 prizes, and finished with both that horse and Birthday Night last year, after two clear rounds inside the time across country.

H&H’s online diarist Sarah Stretton, who had 15 stitches in her knee after a fall at Swalcliffe last month, has also withdrawn her ride, Lazy Acres Skip On.

Other withdrawals from Badminton so far are: Harry (Bruno Bouvier), Liberal (Tom Crisp), Poilu (Zara Phillips), Master Banks (Nicola Wilson) and Vortex (Tim Price).

Horses down to 11th on the waiting list have now been accepted to run at Badminton. Runners who withdraw will continue to be replaced by those on the waiting list up to 6pm on Tuesday, 27 April.

Full report of Weston Park in H&H on Thursday (15 April).

Konabo Performance Rugs to sponsor Georgie Spence

Horse & Hound — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:09:44 +0000

Double young rider gold medallist Georgie Spence has secured sponsorship from Konabo Performance Rugs for her string of event horses.

Georgie, who is on the World Class Start Squad, will be one of the first riders in the country to get her hands on the Konabo Pro Range of stable and turnout rugs.

The rugs feature an innovative new Hy-Liner lining system that allows users to zip out the inner liner, wash it in a domestic washing machine and zip it back in.

Designed to improve hygiene and skin health, the rugs are supplied with two liners so that one can be worn while the other is washed.

“They will enable us to maintain the highest standards of hygiene management with the minimum of fuss. I am delighted to have Konabo as sponsors,” Georgie said.

“Georgie embodies the next generation of young eventers – talented, dedicated and professional – while Konabo is spearheading the next generation of rugs for horses,” said Kate Dingwall, managing director of Konabo.

The Konabo Pro Range will be launched at the BETA International trade fair on 21-23 February at Birmingham NEC.

Two British horses eliminated at Burghley Horse Trials first trot-up

Horse & Hound — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:39:53 +0000

Georgie Spence’s ride Birthday Night and Rodney Powell’s ride Zinzan II were both eliminated at the first horse inspection at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this afternoon.

Both horses were sent to the holding box and ruled out when they were re-presented.

Georgie (pictured) — the youngest rider at this year’s Burghley at 20 years old — still has Running Brook II in the competition.

Two other horses, Gros Bonnet (ridden by France’s Sidney Dufresne) and Manny (ridden by Canada’s Diana Burnett), went to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection.

Eighty-two horses were presented to the ground jury of David Lee, Roeli Bril and Sue Baxter, so 80 will start the competition tomorrow.

The dressage guinea pig is Sharon Hunt on Tankers Town, who has been withdrawn from the competition because the horse missed some work after suffering a boot rub.

The weather during the trot-up was quite blustery, but the rain held off. It is raining again now (5.45pm) though, following some showers earlier in the day.

Dressage times

Cross-country course pictures

Follow the competition live with H&H online’s up-to-the-minute written commentary, starting tomorrow morning at approximately 9am. Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghleylive to set an email reminder and join in.

Keep up with all H&H’s online Burghley coverage at www.horseandhound.co.uk/burghley2009 and don’t forget to buy H&H next week (10 September) for our 10-page Burghley special report.

Georgie Spence replaces Ben Hobday on young rider squad

Pippa Roome — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:15:20 +0000

Georgie Spence (pictured) has been brought into the British eventing young rider squad from the reserve list, following a minor injury which has forced Ben Hobday to withdraw Uptons Who.

Uptons Who, a team gold and individual bronze medallist last year, has sustained a small injury since the recent final trial at Aston-le-Walls. Although the injury is not serious, the horse will not now be fit in time for the Europeans in Waragem, Belgium (11-14 September).

Georgie, 20, will ride Christopher Jenkin’s mare Skylight, with whom she finished 14th individually and won a team gold medal at last year’s young rider Europeans in Kreuth, Germany.

Georgie wrote on her website: “Although I am obviously very excited to be travelling I am equally disappointed for Ben, he is a very good friend and is someone who I would have liked to have gone to the Europeans with.”

The rest of the squad consists of:

Emily Llewellyn, 20, on Pardon Me II, owned by her mother Cindy
Laura Collett, 19, on Rayef, owned by Jason Houghton
Emily Parker, 19, on her own Treefers
Harry Dzenis, 18, on his own Rockin Robin
Willa Newton, 19, on Neelix, owned by her father Joey

Duarte Seabra leads Bramham Horse Trials under-25s

Horse & Hound — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:45:09 +0000

It’s all change at the top of the Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI*** leaderboard at Bramham International Horse Trials as Portuguese rider Duarte Seabra jumped from 10th to first after the cross-country.

Duarte, 23, based in Ireland with Carol Gee, picked up just 0.8 time-faults on Brave Heart to take the lead on a score of 53. The pair won the CCI*** at Blair Castle in Scotland last year.

Duarte said: “After Blair I started to believe in him, and I hope to go to the European Championships in Fontainebleau this autumn on him. He went straight and fast everywhere today.”

Britain’s Georgie Spence is 0.6pen behind him on Skylight. Georgie collected 4.8 time-faults on the 10-year-old Jumbo mare, saying afterwards: “I wimped out of the long route at the corners!”

And only 0.4pen behind Georgie is 19-year-old Emily Llewellyn, who did jump the straight route at the formidable double of corners at fence 16ab.

“I had to grow a serious pair of balls to do so — but I thought it was worth the risk,” she said. Emily and Pardon Me II were only 11th after dressage on 52.8, but added just 1.2pen across country.

The only combination inside the time was Sarah Stretton and Lazy Acres Skip On, who stayed on their dressage score of 58.6 but climbed from 16th to fourth.

None of the top three after dressage could hold their positions. American rider Jennifer Brannigan had a run-out on first-placed Cooper, France’s Maxime Livio slipped up between elements of fence 18 and was eliminated for a fall on Jaipur II, and Gemma Tattersall, third after dressage on Nyali Beach, fell off at the barrel bounce at fence 14.

Riders agreed that the course was tougher than it had first appeared.

“Quite a few people underestimated it,” said Emily Llewellyn. “It has some big questions.”

Bishop Burton College Under-25 CCI***

1. Duarte Seabra (POR) on Brave Heart (53)

2. Georgie Spence on Skylight (53.6)

3. Emily Llewellyn on Pardon Me II (54)

4. Sarah Stretton on Lazy Acres Skip On (58.6

5. Daniel Sibley on Tarmac Adam (59.8)

6. Ben Hobday on Uptons Who (59.8)

7. Rose Bridgewood on Tip Top Tiger (60.8)

8. Ed Eltham on Bonza Billabong (64.6)

9. Gemma Tattersall on Ollie Artois (67.4)

10. Sidney Dufresne (FRA) on Gros Bonnet (68)f

British young riders in double gold after first day of dressage

Pippa Roome — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:23:15 +0000

Britain holds the individual and team gold medal positions at the end of the first day of dressage at the young rider eventing European Championships at Kreuth, Germany.

Georgie Spence (pictured) holds the lead individually on Skylight, Christopher Jenkin’s nine-year-old Jumbo mare who she has been competing since the start of this year.

Georgie scored 46.1 and has a 2.4 penalty advantage over Italy’s Stella Benatti on Monarc Du Parc.

Ben Hobday was Britain’s other team member to perform today and he and his 2006 under-21 national champion Uptons Who lie equal fourth. Georgie and Ben’s combined scores mean Britain is just under five penalties ahead of Switzerland, with Germany in bronze.

Britain’s two individual riders also did their dressage tests today. Emily Galbraith (Timing) lies seventh equal and Sarah Stretton (Lazy Acres Skip On) is equal 16th.

Britain’s second two team riders will be on tomorrow, with Dani Cuomo at 9.37am (8.37am British time) on Ballin Willow and Emily Llewellyn at 11.50am (10.50am British time) with Pardon Me II.

Don’t miss H&H on 9th October for a full report from the young rider European Championships and colour pictures.

RESULTS AFTER FIRST DAY OF DRESSAGE

1. Skylight (Georgie Spence, GB) 46.1

2. Monarc Du Parc (Stella Benatti, ITA) 48.5

3. Rain Man (Patrizia Attinger, SUI) 49.4

1. Great Britain 95.9

2. Switzerland 100.8

3. Germany 101.7

BRITISH RESULTS

4=. Uptons Who (Ben Hobday, GB) 49.8

7=. Timing (Emily Galbraith, GB) 51

16=. Lazy Acres Skip On (Sarah Stretton, GB) 56.3

Times and results from Kreuth.

Three 2007 gold medal winners return to young rider eventing squad

Pippa Roome — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:40:08 +0000

Three members of last year’s gold medal-winning team return to the British squad for the 2008 young rider European Championships at Kreuth, Germany (25-28 September).

Georgie Spence, Emily Galbraith and Dani Cuomo are the returning squad members, although only Dani rides the same horse as last year, her own 10-year-old Ballin Willow (pictured).

These three are joined on the squad by Ben Hobday, an individual at last year’s championships, Emily Llewellyn, who moves up from the junior ranks where she won three medals, and Sarah Stretton, who wears the British colours for the first time.

The full Jump-sponsored squad is:

Dani Cuomo, 19, and her own Ballin Willow
Emily Galbraith, 20, and her own Timing
Ben Hobday, 20, and his own Uptons Who
Emily Llewellyn, 19, and her mother Cindy’s Pardon Me II
Georgie Spence, 19, and and Christopher Jenkins’ Skylight
Sarah Stretton, 21, and Billie Childs’ Lazy Acres Skip On

Reserves:

Sophie Griffith-Jones, 20, and her own Seaboy
Alice Pearson, 20, and Tricia Wilkins’ Beau Bear

One surprise omission from the squad is double junior European champion Laura Collett with Fernhill Sox, who were second at the final trial, but this is down to a problem with qualifications — for a championship qualifications have to be achieved in the current or preceeding year and Fernhill Sox has not done a CCI** since 2006.

Laura has now re-routed to Blenheim, for which she and Fernhill Sox are qualified.

Georgie Spence loses top ride Cottage Craft Spirals to an infection

Horse & Hound — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:08:24 +0000

Cottage Craft Spirals, Georgie Spence’s ride in the gold medal-winning team at this year’s young rider European Eventing Championships, has been put down.

Rick and Billie Harding’s 11-year-old gelding developed complications after contracting a debilitating internal infection at the end of September.

Cottage Craft Spirals was produced by Caroline Pratt, and taken on by Sarah Cohen after Caroline’s death at Burghley 2004. He won the British Intermediate Championships at Gatcombe with Sarah in 2005.

At the end of last season Sarah recommended the Hardings send the horse to a young rider and the ride passed to Georgie Spence.

Cottage Craft Spirals finished second in the final trial for this year’s young rider European Championships at Blair Castle — to another of Georgie’s rides, Song For Gull. The pair went on to win a team gold medal at the young rider European Championships, finishing 12th individually. Most recently, they won the under-21 open intermediate at South of England.

“I feel very honoured to have ridden Cottage Craft Spirals — he was a lovely horse and always tried his best,” said Georgie.

Georgie Spence takes top prize at Burnham Market

Horse & Hound — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:18:36 +0000

Young rider team gold medalist Georgie Spence, 18, enjoyed her first advanced win at the Easco Burnham Market Horse Trials (15-17 September), riding Trenear. Georgie also finished fifth on Song For Gull.

Oliver Townend had lead after dressage on Opposition Alex, but the pair dropped below Georgie and Trenear after a slower cross-country time. Four of Oli’s five rides in the advanced class finished in the top eight.

Piggy French notched up two intermediate wins. She took section K with Royal Crown and then did a one-two in the open intermediate with Cast Away II and Chase The Moon. Henry Dove, 25, was delighted to finish second to Piggy in section K with Claire Cooke’s That’s My Louis.

Jeanette Brakewell claimed the third intermediate section (J) with Hartpury College’s stallion Take It 2 The Limit (pictured above). Local rider Lucy Wagg took second place behind Jeanette on her 15.1hh skewbald mare Wigwam.

View the results >>

Read this report in full, plus reports from other top events in Britain and Ireland, in today’s Horse & Hound (27 September, ’07)

For details of how to join the Event Horse Owners Association visit: www.ehoa.org

Download your free 12-page sample of Eventing magazine here

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The eye-catching chestnut, affectionately known as Barbie, gave Georgie her first four-star victories – scooping the CCI4*-S at the Austrian leg of the FEI Nations Cup series in Weiner Neustadt in 2017, and Millstreet CCI4*-L the following year.

“He has been an amazing horse,” George told H&H. “He has been one of those horses who has always given his all. He would have jumped anything for me. I was really lucky to have him.”

“How amazing it was that his owner, who didn’t know me, invested in him – and how lucky we were to travel all over the world with him,” she said.

“He deserves to have an easy few years now just chilling out and finding everything very fun. It was a tough decision, but I definitely feel that it has been the right one,” said Georgie, adding they have had “great feedback” following the announcement.

For Harley to retire fit and well is a happy outcome, particularly as 18 months ago he overcame a life-threatening illness, which involved round-the-clock care with Georgie feeding him every two hours through the night.

“We’ve had so much fun over the past seven years and I’m forever grateful to Suzanne for the opportunities she has given me, via Harley.”

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“We’ve been down to the yard a couple of times and it’s been really exciting to see the horses.

Georgie has more than 20 five-star starts in her career so far and won multiple youth medals for Britain.

On St Patrick’s Day, she announced that she has switched nationality and will ride for Ireland when she returns to competition later this year.

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“Announcing it on St Patrick’s Day felt right and I’m very much looking forward to riding alongside an Irish team whose strength and depth are improving all the time. I hope that I can add to their strength over the coming years, with some exciting horses for the 2023 season and beyond.

“Together with my owners, who’ve been very supportive of the move, I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the Irish federation and work with them towards Nations Cup and championship teams.”

Georgie Goss makes this nationality change following a successful career in the British system.

She won junior team silver in 2006 at Necarne, Ireland, on Song For Gull and young rider team gold in 2007 at Blair Castle in Scotland (Cottage Craft Spirals) and 2008 at Kreuth, Germany (Skylight).

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“To all our friends, followers and supporters, we have some exciting news. Toby and I are expecting our first child,” said Georgie.

“We have been keeping it under wraps but are both very excited and can’t wait to meet him.

“We are all looking forward to this next venture, and can’t wait to be able to bring him out eventing! Love Georgie, Toby and bump.”

The couple’s son is due around the start of the eventing season, and Georgie is hoping to be back competing in the summer.

Georgie and Toby married in July last year, in their village church at Foxham, followed by a reception at Grittleton House. Georgie’s five-star campaigner Halltown Harley and retired stable star Wii Limbo joined the couple for photos.

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The couple got engaged at the end of 2020, but decided to wait until 2022 for the wedding because of uncertainties around Covid-19.

“I love my planning so it was pretty much all done within two months,” said Georgie. “The last things were confirming the flowers and how we wanted everything, but generally everything was booked.”

Georgie ordered her Suzanne Neville dress about a year ago.

“They’re my two best boys and so special to me, so although Toby wasn’t so keen on doing that photo, I wanted a picture with them on my day,” she said.

The couple enjoyed a short break at Homewood Spa in Bath and plan to take a proper honeymoon in November.

“I’d like to go to New Zealand for a month, so we need to get the dates and flights booked in and organise a camper van,” said Georgie, who plans to take her new husband’s surname, so she will be Georgie Goss – what could possibly be better for a rider than to have the initials GG?

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