Last weekend, the third ever Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing took place (25—27 May) at Keysoe, in Bedfordshire. Countless combinations took part in the 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm classes, run in the format of a three-day event.

The sun shone (well, most of the time, anyway!) and horses and riders had the time of their lives over beautifully built courses and in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Here are just a few of our favourite moments…

1. Serena Allery and Pocket Of Silver, who won the Spillers 80cm title

2. Somebody was very happy indeed!

3. Charlotte Cooke and Liscannor Tulira at the horse inspection

4. Charlotte, who is just 12-years-old, was the eventual winner of the Ariat 90cm title

5. Anna Saunders and Curious Lady fly across country in the 100cm class

6. Claire Knight and Mango at the trot-up

7. Claire and Mango won the DriRug 70cm class

8. Anna Saunders and Curious Lady, your 2019 100cm winners

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June

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Deborah Burrell is not only a mother of five children, but she also contested her first ever three-day event at last weekend’s Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing at Keysoe (25—27 May). Deborah rode two horses, Imperial Tango in the Spillers 80cm and Silver Nemesis in the DriRug 70cm.

“‘Impy’ is my ‘proper’ competition horse, but Silver Nemesis, or ‘Andrew’, as he is known at home, is my fun horse and my baby — I call him ‘mummy’s son’,” laughs Deborah, who has owned the grey 10-year-old for five years. “He’s had time off competing due to a tendon strain, and this is his first event back on grass, three years later. I thought he was going to buck me off in excitement over the first few cross-country fences!”

Deborah, who is from Chobham, bought Andrew unseen from Cumbria.

“I saw his advert and loved the look of him, so took a chance, and thankfully it has paid off,” explains Deborah. “He likes his personal space and thinks he’s a stallion — so much so that we had him tested to make sure! We have a saying for him — like it, lick it, kick it as that’s exactly what he’s like. But he lives for being ridden.”

Deborah’s five children, four boys and one girl, were all born within five years of each other — the youngest is now 13.

“I had a lot of time off competing while the children were young, but got back into it six or seven years ago,” says Deborah. “I have a wonderful husband and support team, which means I can carry on riding.”

The Burrell family has endured a turbulent past eight months, with Deborah’s 14-year-old son, James, being diagnosed with stage four Hodgkins Lymphoma last September.

“James had begun to start struggling to walk, so we took him to the doctor and they said it was growing pains,” explains Deborah. “Not long after that, I got a call from my husband to say James was paralysed in bed. We carried him to the car and took him straight to hospital, where they said they would scan him in three days. I insisted on an immediate scan, which showed a mass on his top three vertebrae the size of a grapefruit — it was wrapped around his spine.

“He was taken straight to St. George’s Hospital where a team of surgeons were ready and waiting for him — the operation lasted six hours and the surgeon said to me afterwards that if we had waited another hour, James would have been in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

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“We decided to take part in a medical trial from Germany, which meant James had three times as much chemo in one day over a shorter period of time than the normal course of treatment. Sitting there for 15 hours a day watching my son being poisoned was so hard, but he never cried or moaned. I knew if we could keep infection at bay, he would pull through and that’s exactly what he did — at the end of March he got the all-clear and he’s now back at school.

“Once his course of chemo was completed and he was back at home, I started riding again — that’s one of the big things that kept my head together through that time.”

Deborah finished second in the 80cm and sixth on Andrew in the 70cm.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June

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Equine vet Jo Gwynne, 29, from Birmingham, who is taking part in the DriRug 70cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing said she nearly gave up riding after a run of “bad luck” when she lost two horses close together.

When ex-racehorse 13-year-old Sublime Talent (Limey) was gifted to Jo three years ago she got the “bug” back.

“I had a few years of really bad luck with horses. I was really fed up and I’d lost all my money on my last horse,” Jo told H&H.

“My friend and jockey Adam Wedge, who I used to ride with at Pony Club growing up, said he had a lovely racehorse who was too good to be wasted after retiring. He said he had only ever raced and would need starting from scratch.

“I didn’t even meet Limey before he arrived – I paid the fuel money and he was dropped off. I trusted Adam and it was the best gamble I’ve ever taken.”

Jo said Limey has had a lot of “problems”, but is the “kindest and funniest” horse.

“He was at the end of a hard racing career. He began on the flat as a two-year-old and did 58 races. He had kissing spines, ulcers and arthritis, but luckily he came to live with a vet,” said Jo.

“My first challenge was fixing his body, he needed a lot of treatment and we had to get his feet right, but his temperament is amazing. I can’t deal with an unpredictable youngster and be hitting the floor – my job is stressful and I work really long hours, my hobby needs to be fun. For me I know I’m safe when I get on Limey and we have a really lovely time. I can look after his body so I think we suit each other.”

Riding helps Jo deal with the demands of being a vet.

“I’m horse-mad. A lot of vets don’t have their own horses because we don’t have time. Limey lives out 24/7 which makes it easier for me and suits his body and I have friends who help me.

“I don’t see the point in working and earning the money if you don’t spend it on what you love and riding is therapy for me. I love Limey to pieces.”

Article continued below…

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The H&H Festival of Eventing marks Jo and Limey’s first ever three-day-event.

“I was so overwhelmed when we arrived at Keysoe and I saw the big arena. We’ve done our personal best dressage, we got a 35.0 which I’m over the moon with and he was brilliant yesterday in the cross-country. We picked up 20 faults for the downward step – he hates steps but I was really proud of him, he had a bit of a gawk and then he went. It was the most technically challenging track he’s done by far,” said Jo.

Jo and Limey produced a clear round in the showjumping.

“It’s been amazing. The event is so friendly, I’m really grateful that people like me can come and have a go – it’s really encouraging. The fences are beautiful, the surface amazing. To ride in the arena with the flags felt really special.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June.

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

The overnight leader of the DriRug 70cm class who returned to the event this year “just to finish” held her nerve to claim the title at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

Claire Knight and 14.1hh Quantock moorland pony Mango held on to the top spot after producing a clear round in the showjumping.

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads

Claire, who made the 600-mile round trip from Cornwall to attend the event for the second time, told H&H she was “over the moon” to finish on her dressage of 31.0.

“Mango helps me out a lot and she did today in the showjumping – I can trust her. The head-shaking can be a problem because she can be hyper-sensitive and difficult to warm-up. She gets too wound up with horses cantering round and can’t cope but you have to ride what you’ve got and keep smiling.

“She can be a real madam, she’s competition-minded and she’s definitely for an adult – I wouldn’t put a junior on her.”

Claire said the win with “mareish” Mango, who she has owned for a year, is her biggest achievement to date.

“Even with my old horse who is now 23, we were always the bridesmaid and never the bride,” she said.

“It was a surprise to win. I was coming to the event to finish after being eliminated in 2017 on my other pony, Maid. That’s all I wanted – to finish. It’s been a lovely experience.”

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Claire plans to keep eventing but has no intentions of “pushing” Mango.

“She could maybe do British Eventing (BE)80 or BE90 but we’ve both got to enjoy it,” she said.

Claire Staniland and Cissy B had a pole down in the showjumping to finish on 35.50 and second place, while Sally Pidlsey and Tranwheal Tineth Moon also picked up four faults to finish on 38.35 and third place.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June.

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It was all change at the top in a dramatic final to the Spillers 80cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing as Serena Allery and Pocket of Silver produced a faultless clear round to claim victory. 

Management accountant Serena, 34, sat in third place overnight on a dressage of 28.5 after a clear cross-country round. An unfortunate three poles down slid overnight leader Clare Drury and Kingsleypark Panther to seventh place, clearing the way for Serena.

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads

Serena told H&H it felt amazing to win with her 10-year-old Irish sport horse Silver, who she has owned for nearly two years.

“I’m so excited to win, but I’m really sorry for the rider who had the amazing dressage and dropped three poles [Clare Drury]. Everyone has done so well all weekend,” she said.

“Coming into the showjumping I was a bit nervous knowing we were in third as I know Silver can drop a pole.”

Serena said Silver’s dressage was “pretty good” for the excitable gelding.

“In the cross-country we were doing fly-bucking in the warm-up which was interesting. In the round he was a bit strong to start with so I like to settle him. He can go very green on you, very suddenly, and goes from ‘I know what I’m doing’ to ‘no I don’t’! I was a bit worried with the water he might go ‘what’s that?’ so we trotted through so we didn’t have a silly stop.

“I’d rather he was sensible and learning. He got a bit strong coming out of the arena at the end of the cross-country so I brought him back and said ‘stop running away with me’ – I wanted a nice jump at the end.”

Serena tries to keep Silver’s focus by talking to the gelding throughout their rounds.

“It helps him concentrate on me. I’ve found he can forget he has a rider on his back if you’re not careful so I have to talk to him in the showjumping and cross-country – that’s a strategy of ours, and it helps me breathe a bit.

“We’re going to do a bit more training and work on the napping. He needs to be a bit more confident; although he’s strong and bold, he’s not the most confident horse. He’ll whinny out on cross-country and that’s him telling you he’s worried. I want to aim for the British Eventing (BE)80 championships this year if we can.”

Article continued below…

H&H Festival of Eventing: ‘he could have gone round twice’ — 80cm leader holds on to the top spot

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Serena said winning the event is Silver’s biggest achievement so far.

“It’s been a really friendly atmosphere, I’ve made some new friends who have been cheering me on. We’ve had so much fun,” she said.

Deborah Burrell and Imperial Tangle, who produced a clear round showjumping, finished in second place on their dressage of 28.5. Melanie Gatt, a former 70cm H&H Festival of Eventing winner, came in third place finishing on her dressage of 30.5 after clear rounds cross-country and showjumping.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June.

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A 12-year-old rider kept her rivals at bay and claimed the Ariat 90cm champion title at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

Charlotte Cooke and Liscannor Tulira (Theo) held their overnight lead after the cross-country and a polished clear round in the showjumping led them to victory.

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads

Charlotte told H&H she was excited going into the round.

“I wasn’t nervous but I wanted Theo to do well for him – he deserved to win, he tried his heart out,” she said. 

“The course was really nice with the dog-legs and gave us something to look for and concentrate on.”

Charlotte moved into the lead with Theo after a clear round cross-country left them on a dressage score of 28.5. She had previously held the top spot with her other ride, Iceford Jigsaw, but an expensive stop in the cross-country left them on a score of 46.25 to finish in 22nd place after a clear round showjumping.

Charlotte described 14.2hh Theo, who she has owned for eight months, as “phenomenal”.

“He has a really good jump – the first time I sat on him I fell in love,” she said.

“I need to make sure I don’t rush him or push for the long strides and let him work it out. Because he’s so nice, you can get a bit carried away so you need to remind yourself to leave him to it.”

Tracey Houston and Pallasgreen Promise produced a clear round showjumping to remain in second place on a score of 28.35, having picked up 1.6 too-fast time-penalties in the cross-country. Gabrielle Macdonald and Menai Laurence jumped clear to finish on their dressage score of 29.25 for third place.

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H&H Festival of Eventing: young rider takes first and third place overnight in the Ariat 90cm

Charlotte has stormed into first and third place, while her mum, Claire lies in eight

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Claire Cooke, Charlotte’s mum, produced a lovely clear round showjumping to join her daughter in the line-up, picking up fifth place on Tarbert Eiffel.

Charlotte said there has not been any mother-daughter rivalry throughout the weekend.

“We like warming up together and helping each other out. I’ve really enjoyed the whole weekend, it’s been really good,” she said.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June.

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

The overnight leader after the cross-country kept her cool in a tense showjumping final to be crowned the champion of the 100cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

Winner Anna Saunders and her 13-year-old mare Curious Lady (Poppy) had a 4.5-penalty lead going into the round and a knocked pole at the second part of the double at fence eight made for a nail-biting finish.

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads…

Julia Dungworth, winner of the 100cm class at the 2018 event, came second with Irish Spring and kept the pressure on Anna until the very last second with a confident clear round. Third-placed Jemma Richardson and Parkhill Poppy also jumped clear to finish on their dressage score of 35.5.

Anna told H&H she approached the round “determined” to win.

“I’m quite a competitive rider, I definitely wanted to win. I walked the course last night and knew what I had to do. The course was really nice so I felt quite calm. There was one awkward related distance and Poppy tends to struggle with striding but she was really forward,” said Anna.

“It was a good round but I knocked part of the double, I think I got a bit too deep. The first few riders had some fences down, but the second and third-placed riders had clears so I knew I needed either a clear, or could have just the one pole down.”

Anna moved up from fourth place after the dressage on Friday (25 May) on a score of 30.5.

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“The dressage normally lets us down but the showjumping and the cross-country usually help us move up the places,” said Anna.

“This is one of the biggest venues we’ve been to – it’s very impressive. It’s been a brilliant weekend and I couldn’t have done it without my mum, Karen Saunders. Poppy is just the best, we call her ‘perfect Poppy’.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June.

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One competitor at this weekend’s Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing at Keysoe (25—27 May) had a bit of a nasty surprise upon her arrival at the event on Friday. Sally Thornley, who is contesting the Ariat 90cm class, drove all the way from her Chelmsford base only to discover she had left her bag full of clothes for the week at home.

“Thankfully I had my show jacket and one pair of breeches with me, but the rest was sitting back at Chelmsford,” laughs Sally. “I had nothing — no underwear, no normal clothes, nothing and I didn’t know what to do.”

Sally said she considered driving back to pick them up, but her friends and fellow competitors said that they would lend her what they could, and the rest she could purchase from a nearby Tesco.

“So off I went to Tesco and bought what I needed, only to get back to Keysoe and find all of the security tags on the underwear, so I couldn’t wear any of it!”

Sally wrote all of this information on her cross-country commentary notes.

“When I was in the cross-country start box, I looked over at the officials and they were bent over double laughing — they couldn’t believe it,” says Sally, who has a Facebook page named ‘Calamity Sal Attempts Eventing’. “This clearly isn’t an isolated incident — I’m always forgetting things!”

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Sally is riding Tommy Russell this weekend, a horse she has owned for two-and-a-half years.

“He is my first ever horse and although he was previously a showjumper, we are now having fun eventing — although he is lovely to ride, he is a nightmare on the ground,” explains Sally. “He sat on a car I was 24 hours away from trading in recently. I managed to get it sorted and then he destroyed the driver’s side door of my new car a day later. Thankfully he respects me when I’m on him!”

The pair sit in 12th place going in the showjumping phase after a great clear cross-country round yesterday.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June

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A former Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) rider who returned to the saddle after a 15-year break ticked off a wish from her bucket list when she took up jumping at the age of 50. The rider who describes herself as “competitive” is now taking part in her first three-day-event, riding in the Ariat 90cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

Karen Owens, 51, from Stratford-upon-Avon, grew up riding show ponies for the likes of Nigel and Stuart Holland, having begun riding at just 18 months old. She had a taste of early success winning twice at HOYS in 1981, and 1982 with show pony, Gunnerby Aalborge Elegant.

“It was a way of life,” Karen told H&H, whose father Russ Owens judges show ponies at HOYS.

“I competed show ponies until I was 16, and later I did show lead-rein ponies with my own children and niece.”

Karen took a 15-year break from horses while she raised her family, and after missing the world she had been brought up in, she bought 14-year-old mare, Wanda.

“I had a sudden urge to jump at the age of 50. It was on my bucket list and I thought ‘I need to do this’,” said Karen.

“I bought Wanda from Simon Green, who imported her from Ireland and did some eventing with her. I needed a horse that could teach me to jump.”

Karen joined Solihull Riding Club taking part on their showjumping team, before joining their eventing team.

“I started taking lessons with James McCulloch, an international event rider. I was petrified to start with but I loved it – I became addicted.

“I did my first one-day-event last year and was nearly sick.”

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Karen lay in eight position after the first day of the H&H Festival of Eventing (25 May) on a dressage score of 31.5, but a clear cross-country round inside the time means she now lies in sixth ahead of the showjumping.

“The dressage was a good day – I was really pleased. The cross-country was incredible, the optimum time was 5 minute 29 seconds and I came in at 5 minute 28 seconds,” said Karen.

“I’m competitive – it would be nice to stay where I am and keep the poles up. It’s been such a challenge and achievement to be here anyway, but to be in the top six after the second day – I keep pinching myself. It’s down to the hard work, tuition and help I’ve had with Wanda. She’s my horse of a lifetime, she tries her heart out and doesn’t give in.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June.

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

Louise Esson, a competitor in The Spillers 80cm at this weekend’s Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing at Keysoe (25—27 May), is living proof that age is just a number. Seventy-three-year-old Louise, who is based near Ludlow, also bred the horse she is competing, Buff Beauty.

“I bred both ‘Bufton’ and his mother, who evented to intermediate,” explains Louise. “Bufton is by a Highland Pony stallion as the past two foals I bred out of the mare were 17hh+, and I decided I needed a size of horse more suited to an old lady!”

Bufton is named Buff Beauty as he was born under a rosebush of the same name. However, aged seven, vets almost wrote him off.

“He had problems with his coffin joints and the vets said he would require injections and remedial shoeing,” says Louise. “But instead I took his shoes off and turned him out for six months. He has been barefoot ever since and hasn’t had a lame day. So many other people would have written him off.”

Louise, who has ridden and evented all of her life, says that although Bufton has never incurred a cross-country fault and hasn’t had a showjump down for two years, he can still be “difficult”.

“He hates crowded spaces and has a habit of bucking me off in warm-up arenas. He is also grumpy because he is on a restricted diet, but he is a terrific performer.”

Louise is aiming Bufton for the new BE80 championship at Burghley in 2020 — they won their last outing at BE80(T) level last week.

“Riding at Burghley is my dream and Bufton is such a cross-country machine, it would be great fun.”

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Louise says she doesn’t suffer from any ailments, apart from her fingers, which “have had it”.

“I can’t plait any more but apart from that I’m fine — I’m very lucky really.”

Louise and Bufton jumped clear inside the time around the cross-country at the H&H Festival of Eventing yesterday, and now sit in 15th place going into the final showjumping phase today.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June

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

Claire Knight said it feels “fantastic” to move into the lead of the DriRug 70cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing after today’s cross-country phase.

Cornwall-based Claire made the 600-mile round trip to attend the event for the second time having competed here in 2017. Claire had one of only two clear rounds inside the optimum time, 5 minute 38 seconds, with her 14.1hh mare Mango and moved up from seventh place on a dressage of 31.

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads…

Claire, who is a member of East Cornwall Riding Club, has owned Quantock moorland pony, Mango, for a year after buying her to event.

“When I came two years ago I was eliminated in the cross-country with my New Forest pony, Maid. She has been retired to stud and I didn’t have anything to come and compete last year,” Claire told H&H.

“Not long after I bought Mango I discovered she was a head-shaker so it can be a little bit difficult in the dressage phase but I do the best I can with her.”

Claire said she wasn’t feeling very confident after the dressage.

“The last event I took her to two weeks ago we had a set-back and were eliminated on the cross-country — she took a disliking to drops and ditches.

“Before the cross-country today I thought we’re going to go out and make it a confident round for her. After fence three, the step, I thought ‘we’ve got this’ and she was away! I loved my round, we had a great time.”

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H&H Festival of Eventing: it’s all change at the top of the 100cm – ‘she loves the water’

'She loves water so it never worries me – she speeds up for it'

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Claire goes into the showjumping tomorrow (27 May) on a lead of 0.5 penalties ahead of Claire Staniland and Cissy B who have moved up from 10th to second. Sally Pidsley and Tranwheal Tineth Moon produced a clear round but incurred 3.6 time penalties giving them a score of 34.35 to lie in third.

“It feels fantastic to move up to first – I didn’t expect it in the slightest. As long as I leave the showjumping to Mango, and don’t ride her too much into the fence or get carried away, we should be ok.

“Fingers crossed — I’d love to win but I’ll take whatever I can get. If I can stay inside the top 10 then fantastic. We love the event. There’s nothing left in Cornwall to do so we travel all this way and we’ve enjoyed it.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June.

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Clare Drury has held firmly on to the top spot of the Spillers 80cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing after the cross-country today (26 May).

Clare and Kingsleypark Panther produced a confident clear round to remain on her dressage of 23.5.

Clare told H&H: “Cross-country is his favourite, he takes control. It’s a lovely course and it flowed really well, the going was perfect. Panther was just like ‘bring it on’ – he could have gone round twice.

“He was quite strong to begin with but settled into a rhythm. I thought I might have been going a bit too fast so I had a check on my watch before the corner and as it happens I had to speed up a little bit at the end.”

NB: Please be patient while the video below loads…

Clare spent the morning fence-judging the 100cm and Ariat 90cm classes.

“It was nice to see how the course was riding and it’s always good to give something back. It also gave me something else to focus on or I would have stewed on the cross-country all morning,” she said.

Clare said she is nervous ahead of the showjumping tomorrow (27 May)

“I have weekly showjumping lessons with Chris Addington but it’s not been easy. I have to say a big thank you to Maddie Burchell who helps me with my dressage. Panther will like the arena tomorrow, there’s a nice bit of space for him so I’ve got everything on my side – but we’ll see how it pans out,” she said.

“I’m turning out Panther for the trot-up and will concentrate on that in the morning. I’m going to sew in his plaits, do his quarter markers and get him looking tip-top. I want to make sure he is gleaming and get his tacky ready.”

The top three remains unchanged with Alex McNamara sitting in second place with Termon Captain on a dressage of 28.0, and Serena Allery in third with Pocket of Silver on a dressage of 28.5.

Clare said the atmosphere at the event is “electric”.

“If I can’t get all three bits brilliant then that’s the way it goes. I would love to win but as long as he comes back safe and sound. If I don’t win, someone else will and I’ll be pleased for them. Winning isn’t the be all and end all, it’s just a nice weekend,” she said.

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Emily Miles-Thomas, who is competing in the 100cm class at this weekend’s Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing at Keysoe (25—27 May), has mixed memories of her time competing at this venue.

“In August 2016 I was competing in the British Eventing novice on my horse, BBS Lovejoy, when he hit fence five on the cross-country and catapulted me face first into the ground,” explains Emily, a freelance groom from Huntingdon. “The air ambulance was called as medics suspected I had broken my jaw and neck, and eventually I was taken by road ambulance to Bedford Hospital.”

Miraculously doctors found Emily had escaped the fall without any broken bones and her horse was also fine, bar a couple of scrapes.

“I was released from hospital the next day and I then spent the next three weeks asleep, due to the impact on my head,” says Emily. “My husband, Dave, was amazing as he cared for me while I was recovering, but I was back at work after three weeks.”

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Emily took her time in returning to affiliated eventing and is now focused on enjoying competing ‘Donkey’, as he is known at home at 100 level.

“I perhaps don’t ride with as much gumption across country as I did before my fall, and I also have a much shorter fuse and suffer from social anxiety now, but I have nothing to prove to anyone and I just want to go out and have fun eventing,” explains Emily, who has owned Donkey, an 11-year-old, for eight years. The pair picked up an unfortunate 20 penalties for a run out across country today, but sit in 11th place going into the final showjumping phase.

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Overnight leader of the Ariat 90cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing, Charlotte Cooke, said she was disappointed to see her top pony Iceford Jigsaw drop from the top spot but is thrilled “baby” Theo has stepped up in his place.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte picked up 20 jumping penalties on ‘Ice’ after an uncharacteristic stop at fence eight, the step, but used the experience wisely to move up to pole-position with second pony, Liscannor Tulira (Theo), who moves up from third place on a dressage of 28.25.

Charlotte told H&H: “Ice was really good but I was a bit disappointed to have the stop, he’s usually a cross-country machine. I think we maybe came down a bit fast and he wasn’t prepared for the next jump – but he was fine on the second approach. There’s always another day and the showjumping can change everything.

“The baby is now in first. He was way really quick but I had my watch on and left him to it.”

N.B: Please be patient while the video below loads

Charlotte said she approached the step differently with Theo after her earlier stop with Ice.

“I put my whip in my other hand and took a wider line. I probably should have had my whip in my other hand with Ice and because it’s in the open you don’t know which way they’re going to go,” she said.

“The course was nice, I liked that there were two waters which tested us a little bit and made the ponies slow down.”

H&H Festival of Eventing: it’s all change at the top of the 100cm – ‘she loves the water’

'She loves water so it never worries me – she speeds up for it'

H&H Festival of Eventing: young rider takes first and third place overnight in the Ariat 90cm

Charlotte has stormed into first and third place, while her mum, Claire lies in eight

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Charlotte will be fending off Tracey Houston who remains in second place with Pallasgreen Promise. Tracey jumped clear picking up 1.6 too-fast time penalties to finish on 28.35, giving Charlotte a lead of just 0.10 penalties. Claire Cooke, Charlotte’s mum, moved into fifth place from eighth after a clear round on Tarbert Hill.

Charlotte said she is “excited” for the showjumping tomorrow (27 May)

“Both ponies should be fine, but hopefully Theo doesn’t get too excited,” said Charlotte.

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Cardiff-based rider Anna Saunders, 22, put in a confident round on cross-country day of the H&H Festival of Eventing to become the new leader in the 100cm class.

Riding her own 16.1hh mare, Curious Lady, Anna stormed round the course jumping clear. She picked up 0.8 too-fast time penalties around the 5min 55sec track, to add her to her 30.5 dressage, which saw them fourth after the first phase.

Anna told H&H the 13-year-old mare, known as Poppy, “hit everything perfectly”.

“She loves water so it never worries me – she speeds up for it,” said Anna, a first-year business management student.

“I knew I had to watch the clock. Knowing I was lying in fourth I had to be as close to the time as possible – we’re normally too slow but this year she has been too quick.”

Anna is a member of the Riders 2000 Riding Club and takes part in unaffiliated eventing while also competing in British Eventing (BE) on a ticket.

“I would like to do more BE this season and maybe try a novice. Dressage is our least favourite but Poppy is really good cross-country,” said Anna.

“We’re aiming to qualify for the Badminton Grassroots Championships and have two qualifiers towards the end of the season, it would be amazing to ride there.”

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Anna, who has owned Poppy for eight years, said she might be a “little bit nervous” ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping.

“I’m usually fine when I get on. I have a pole to spare so that’s a relief and takes a little bit of the pressure off.

“I’m so excited, I love jumping and Poppy loves it – she sees a fence and pricks her ears. She is a shy horse and very polite.

Anna’s nearest rival is Julia Dungworth on Irish Spring who climbed to second place from joint 14th on a dressage score of 35.5, and Jemma Richardson on Parkhill Poppy lies in third after also moving up from joint 14th.

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Lisa Hill’s world turned upside down when she received a phone call from her yard owner at 5.30am in November last year.

Lisa arrived at the yard to find her 14-year-old Irish sports horse mare, Spirit, leaning on the wall unable to stand.

“It was awful, nothing prepared me for what I saw. Her eyes were doing weird things and she was crashing about. I’ve never seen a horse do anything like it. She had no control of her legs, she’d been lying down on her water buckets,” Lisa told H&H.

“The vet arrived and thought she had had a stroke. He didn’t think we could do anything and wanted to put her down. She looked so sorry for herself. I was watching her crash around the stable it was horrible. 

“She hit her head and the vet thought it was neurological and something was wrong with her brain – it was a really bad sign. She was dangerous because she couldn’t control her legs.”

A whinny from Spirit told Lisa what she needed to keep going.

“I told the vet I didn’t want her put down and he administered painkillers. I knew it wasn’t her time to go – she wasn’t done yet, said Lisa.

“After the painkillers she eventually got up and got steadier on her feet as the morning progressed. I’m so glad we didn’t follow the vet’s advice straight away.”

Blood tests didn’t reveal anything wrong and it is thought Spirit had suffered colic.

“We think the neurological stuff was concussion from getting in a state hitting her head. A few days later I took her for hack, she was a bit wobbly but she was ok and she has been fine since. We spent the winter doing showjumping and have done some unaffiliated events this season,” said Lisa.

“We are taking part in the Spillers 80cm class. We were here last year but went wrong in dressage so we’re back to redeem ourselves. The event is great – there’s not anything like this around in unaffiliated so it’s really good for people like me.”

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Lisa scored 37.5 in the dressage and is looking ahead to the cross-country.

“I hate dressage but we got round the test – we had a muddle in a canter transition but we fixed it. Cross-country is our thing, she’s a jumping horse and she’ll rock. The course is looking nice and inviting. She shouldn’t touch a pole in the showjumping so I’m hoping for a double clear,” said Lisa.

“Spirit’s comeback has been remarkable – she was so close to death, I can’t believe we’re here competing. She can do anything she wants at any event now, I’m just so grateful and humbled she is still here.”

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Showjumper Ellie Parry, 22, from Warwickshire was heartbroken to be told she faced nine months out of action after a riding accident “shattered” her elbow in December.

After five-hour surgery and 10 nights in hospital the rider was determined to prove the specialists wrong – and just eight weeks later returned to the saddle.

“I hadn’t been well leading up to the accident on 4 December and my mare Smirnoff was really fresh – she can be sharp. She bucked and I fell and shattered my arm,” Ellie told H&H.

“My mum described it like one of those china dolls with the bent arms and legs.”

Surgeons placed plates in Ellie’s arm but warned her that she might not regain full movement.

“It was awful. I thought I’d have to get rid of my horses – I don’t think I would have really but it’s the sort of things you think about.

“When I was told I couldn’t ride for nine months or possibly longer I thought that’s the whole season gone.”

Ellie said the minute the pain stopped, she returned to the yard.

“My non-horsey mum had taken over doing everything, but I started mucking out with one arm. It helped make me stronger I think – when I saw the specialist in February he said another person that had the same surgery didn’t have the same movement that I had regained,” said Ellie.

“I asked when I could ride again and the surgeon joked that I should never ride again! I got back on board on 7 February, it was tough but I only walked. I know Smirnoff inside out and I know what I’m getting with her.”

Ellie is taking part in the 100cm class and lies in 13^th place on a score of 34.5.

“We’ve not been eventing together long but I’ve been competing in British Showjumping at newcomers with her. We did a British Eventing (BE)100 at Solihull leading up to the event and she was very fresh.

“This is our first time here at the H&H Festival of Eventing. She’s not a dressage horse but I’m happy with how today went, she can be too busy and always knows what’s coming up next.”

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Clare Louise Drury is back for her third year at the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing and has gone straight into the lead of the Spillers 80cm class.

Clare goes into the cross-country tomorrow (26 May) on a dressage score of 23.5 with her nine-year-old 17hh sports horse Kingsleypark Panther.

“I’ve been to the event for three years but this is the second time with Panther. Last year we didn’t have the greatest dressage score and nerves got the better of me in the showjumping but I’ve had a year to get to know him better,” Clare, who has owned Panther for a year and a half, told H&H.

“He was a good boy today and did a nice calm test. On a good day, he’s very good and correct – if he behaves himself, sometimes he likes to make his own moves up!”

Clare said she is feeling confident ahead of cross-country, the element Panther “loves”.

“I think he’ll be really keen and I’ll hang on,” laughs Clare. “The course is looking really good.”

“I’m not looking forward to the showjumping that’s where the nerves kick in but as long as I leave him to it. He’s my best-friend. I go out a lot on my own and he’s really easy to take to places.

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Clare, who is fence judging the Ariat 90cm and the 100cm classes, said the H&H Festival of Eventing feels like a “girls’ weekend with horses”.

“I love the event and I love Keysoe. It’s got great facilities, and it’s always making improvements.”

Clare has a four and a half penalty lead ahead of second place rider Alex McNamara and Termon Captain who have a score of 28, while Serena Allery sits in third place on a score of 28.5.

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Twelve-year-old Charlotte Cooke had a strong start in the Ariat 90cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing taking both the lead and third place following the dressage.

Charlotte scored an impressive 26.5 with 12-year-old 14.2hh gelding Iceford Jigsaw, owned by Susan Yapsley, and took third place on her own Lisacannor Turlia on a score of 28.5.

“Ice is amazing, I’m really happy with my score,” Charlotte, who is competing at the event for the second time, told H&H. “He is lovely in all aspects and never makes a fuss.

“His owner approached my dad at a show in Guernsey and asked if we would take him to event. My brother, Jack, worked him as a five-year-old and introduced him to eventing then I took over from my brother last year.”

Charlotte, who is in the Essex Hunt North branch of the Pony Club, said Ice, and Liscannor Turlia (Theo) are very different.

“Ice is very chilled and Theo is a bit more upbeat and can get excited. I’ve only owned Theo for eight months and this is our first three-day-event together. I did my first ever British Eventing (BE) event at Keysoe two weeks ago where I got 6th in the BE90 on Ice, and they both went double clear.”

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“I love cross-country it’s my favourite. The course looks good, I’m not really nervous – I’ve set my watch and I need to ride to my time. There’s some nice lines that will keep the ponies busy and keep my concentration,” said Charlotte.

Charlotte lies just 0.5 penalties in front of second place rider Tracey Houston and Pallasgreen Promise, while Charlotte’s mum, Claire lies in eighth place with Tarbert Eiffel.

“This year I plan to compete at BE90 and really get the hang of it and if we’re ready step up to BE100 at the end of the season if we’re ready,” said Charlotte.

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Maddie Oldfield, 22, and her 16-year-old “wannabe” cob Miss Moneypenny, affectionately known as Penguin, have gone into the lead in the 100cm class after day one at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

The pair performed a polished test at Keysoe to score 26.5, their best-ever dressage score to date.

The “super safe” 15.2hh mare is back on form Maddie told H&H after recovering from a suspensory ligament injury which side-lined the pair for six months last April.

“It was gutting – she had been jumping 1.20m classes in showjumping over the winter but something went wrong and she started throwing in extra strides and feeling heavy on the flat,” said Maddie.

“She spent six months on box rest but she was so cool with it. A seven-year-old would ride her bareback through her rehab.”

Maddie has owned Penny (Penguin) for seven years and said she is very good at her job.

“We call her Penguin which is great fun when you tell her off because you can’t say it angrily,” laughs Maddie.

“She feels on form and is feeling great but I’m a bit paranoid and need to be careful with her now but she’s such a good girl.”

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“We were at Aston-Le-Walls two weeks ago and got a dressage score of 28, and she’s done even better today. She’s so cool – she loves an atmosphere and always perks up. We’ve done a couple of British Showjumping discovery and newcomers classes in preparation for the eventing season and she’s been double-clear in all of her classes so far but I don’t want to jinx it,” said Maddie.

Maddie lies 1.75 penalties ahead of Tayla Brooks and Springwind Catwalk going into the cross-country, while Stacey Page and Armani Lad lie on a score of 29.5.

“The cross-country course looks quite big and it’s long, but Penguin is pretty fit so hopefully we’ll be ok. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight,” said Maddie.

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Jayne Ackland-Snow from Suffolk and her eight-year-old gelding, Billy Rocket, are the overnight leaders in the DriRug 70cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing (25-27 May).

The pair produced an impressive score of 27.25 during the first day of action at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.

Jayne, 64, is competing at the H&H Festival of Eventing for the third-year having previously competed on her Connemara Donny.

“Donny hated cross-country and I got eliminated both times,” Jayne told H&H.

“I was at the point of giving up riding with my age not being in the first flush of years but I saw Billy advertised in August and I really liked him. I bought him from my friend Jenny James who had owned him since he was a foal.

“He has revolutionised my life. I am loving every second of riding him, he hasn’t put a foot wrong. I keep him at home with Donny and my 35-year-old ex-hunter, Limo, they’re the best of friends.”

Jayne has been practising hard ahead of the weekend and has lessons twice a week with coaches Michael Pabeley and Gill Daniel, which she said has paid off.

“I’m thrilled with my score – and shocked,” said Jayne.

“We have done a couple of British Eventing (BE)80s last year and we did an unaffiliated 70cm in preparation for this weekend but this is our first three-day-event together.”

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Walk the DriRug 70cm H&H Festival of Eventing cross-country course

Take a virtual tour of the 70cm cross-country course taking place on Sunday (26 May)

Jayne is accompanied by best-friend Alison Nicholson who lies in eight position in the DriRug 70cm class with Tullybridge.

“This event is very special to us, we love it. It’s a nice atmosphere, great facilities, and we’ll be back next year too,” said Jayne.

Going into the cross-country on Sunday (26 May) Jayne lies two penalties ahead of second placed rider Georgie Siggers and Roy the Rascal, with Bethany Addis and Frank Lad lying in third on 30.0.

“I’m really excited for the cross-country, I’ll have to tell Billy in some places – he’s not a push button, but I’m going out to enjoy it,” said Jayne. 

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Four months ago Stefanie Brewington from Essex thought her 6-year-old gelding Sherlock’s (Imperio C) event career was over following a nasty kick in the field which caused his eye to “explode”.

The people-loving gelding, who is contesting the Ariat 90cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing at Keysoe (25 – 27 May), was found by Stefanie’s husband on 7 January with a bloody eye and was rushed to the Royal Veterinary College for surgery.

“It was really upsetting. There was no damage to the bone structure but his eye had exploded. I backed Sherlock as a three-year-old and I was worried to think all of the hard work and training over two years had been lost,” Stefanie told H&H.

“He saw an eye specialist but they couldn’t save his eye, there was too much damage. It was removed the next day and three days later he was sent home with an eye patch and looked like Pudsey the bear.”

Six weeks later Stefanie, who competes in British Eventing, was back on board and said “cocky” Sherlock coped well with the adjustment to one eye.

“We need to be more aware warming up because people don’t always notice so we need to make sure they don’t get too close. We give him a bit more time coming round corners but generally he has been fine. People sometimes say poor horse when they look at him, but he’s still him he’s fine, we just let him know when we’re coming.

“We placed ninth at a BE90 at Horseheath in April and have been looking forward to this weekend. Last year I saw the write up about the H&H Festival of Eventing but it was too soon for Sherlock and I thought we’ve got to do that next year. When he lost the eye I wondered if we would make it but it gave us a target to work towards. BE runs all year but this is once a year and I wanted to get him here.”

Stefanie will go into the cross-country tomorrow (26 May) on a dressage score of 32.25.

“It was one of his best tests to date,” said a delighted Stefanie, who completed a one-star (now two-star) at South of England for her 40th birthday in 2015.

“I’m feeling most confident about the showjumping, that’s my favourite part. The cross-country looks tough but I’m sure Sherlock will be fine. Hitting the time can be quite hard as although he’s a massive horse with a massive stride he still needs a bit of setting up being a young horse, and coming round a corner I need to make sure he knows what I’m asking him to do as we can’t wing it round anymore since losing his eye. The target is to come home with a double-clear and no time faults.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 6 June

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

Take a virtual walk around the 100cm cross-country course at the 2019 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country takes place on Sunday (26 May).

Fence 1 Keysoe logs (yellow numbers)

Fence 2 log stack

Fence 3 flower bed

Fence 4 step

Fence 5 nest

6a arch table

6b brush shoulder

Fence 7 table

Fence 8 water

Fence 9a wall

Fence 9b step

Fence 10a rail

Fence 10b ditch

Fence 11 rail

Fence 12 double brush

Fence 13 cord pile

Fence 14 open table

15a water

Fence 15b cane

Fence 15c flower skinny

Fence 16 cabin

Fence 17 arch

Fence 18a house

Fence 18b house

Fence 19 corner

Fence 20 cart

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 30 May

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

Take a virtual walk around the Ariat 90cm cross-country course at the 2019 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country takes place on Sunday (26 May).

Fence 1 Keysoe logs (pink numbers)

Fence 2 log stack

Fence 3 step

Fence 4 nest

Fence 5a arch table

Fence 5b brush log

Fence 6 table

Fence 7 water

Fence 8a step

Fence 8b stone wall

Fence 9a rail

Fence 9b ditch

Fence 10 rail

Fence 11 double brush

Fence 12 cord pile

Fence 13 open table

Fence 14a water

Fence 14b cane

Fence 14c skinny

Fence 15 cabin

Fence 16 arch

Fence 17a house

Fence 17b house

Fence 18 corner

Fence 19 cart

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 30 May

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

Take a virtual walk around the Spillers 80cm cross-country course at the 2019 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country takes place on Sunday (26 May).

Fence 1 Keysoe logs (orange numbers)

Fence 2 log stack

Fence 3 step

Fence 4 wall

Fence 5a arch table

Fence 5b brush log

Fence 6 stick pile

Fence 7 water

Fence 8a step

Fence 8b stone wall

Fence 9a

Fence 9b ditch

Fence 10 rail

Fence 11 double brush

Fence 12 pallisade

Fence 13a water

Fence 13b cane

Fence 13c skinny

Fence 14 cabin

Fence 15 arch

Fence 16a houses (arena fence)

Fence 16b house (arena fence)

Fence 17 corner

Fence 18 cart

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 30 May

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

Take a virtual walk around the DriRug 70cm cross-country course at the 2019 H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cross-country takes place on Sunday (26 May).

Fence 1 Keysoe logs (purple numbers)

Fence 2 log stack

Fence 3 step

Fence 4 wall

Fence 5a diamond table

Fence 5b brush log

Fence 6 stick pile

Fence 7 water

Fence 8a step

Fence 8b stone wall

Fence 9a rail

Fence 9b ditch

Fence 10 rail

Fence 11 pallisade

Fence 12a water

Fence 12b cane

Fence 12c skinny

Fence 13 cabin

Fence 14 arch

Fence 15a and b houses (arena fences)

Fence 16 corner

Fence 17 cart

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 30 May

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

Today is the final day to take advantage of the standard entry price for this year’s H&H Festival of Eventing.

The cheaper rate applies until midnight on Friday (10 May) for all entries to the 2019 three-day unaffiliated event, which runs at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe, from 25 to 27 May.

Classes run at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 1m with a host of great prizes in each section, including Ariat boots for the top three riders in each class, plus a commemorative rug for each class winner. Other fabulous prizes will include vouchers from Equilibrium, Horseware Ice-vibe boots, Aerochill boots, Dublin riding tights, bridles and much more, with great prizes going down to 10th place in each section.

Competitors can also join course-walks with experienced trainers and enjoy evening entertainment to make the stay-away show experience really enjoyable.

Sarah Nicholls from Leicestershire, who claimed last year’s 90cm title riding CSH Sioux, recommends the three-day event to fellow riders.

“I ended up going on my own to the festival with just my dog and my horse ‘Simon’,” she said.

“It’s a lovely experience and I took full advantage of everything H&H put on, including the course walks, the evening entertainment and the lecture demo. I even got Simon on the Spillers weighbridge,” said Sarah, who also hunts her 15.1hh gelding with the Quorn.

Enter here

“The venue was fantastic and I think the festival will continue to get bigger and better — it’s a brilliant show put on by Keysoe and H&H.

“I was lucky to win and I couldn’t believe it, plus the prizes were amazing. The coverage around the event was great too, both on the H&H website and in the magazine.”

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The event format will run along similar lines to an international long-format event, with no roads and tracks. There will be no initial vet’s inspection at this event, but there will be a trot-up on the final morning.

From Friday, the price will go up by £5 per entry, which includes stabling. An additional 100 permanent stables have been built at Keysoe since last year so all horses are expected to be stabled in the permanent facilities. The final closing date for late entries is Wednesday 15 May.

To enter, visit Equo.

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

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

Horse & Hound is delighted to announce that the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing will make a popular return to Keysoe on 25-27 May 2019.

Entries are open so enter now >>

How will it work?

The event is being held during the second May bank holiday with the dressage phase taking place on the Saturday, cross-country on Sunday and the final horse inspection and showjumping on Monday. The event will run as close to the old CCI short-format as possible.

Friday, 24 May

Stabling is included in the entry fee for all competitors and horses are asked to arrive at Keysoe between 4pm and 6pm on Friday. Your stable will be supplied empty and you are welcome to bring your own bedding or you can purchase bedding from Keysoe. Keysoe has significantly expanded its number of permanent stables since last year.

While we expect most competitors will choose to stay on site in their lorries (limited hook up is available at additional cost), those without living in their lorry are welcome to pitch a tent or there are local B&Bs you might like to book. We would recommend staying on site to experience the great atmosphere stay away shows offer. There are additional shower facilities on site this year.

Saturday, 25 May

Dressage tests will be performed on Saturday with times issued in advance. Tests will be long arena British Eventing tests and performed in the all-weather outdoor arena.

On Saturday evening there will be the opportunity to join the organising team for a hog roast and live band.

Sunday, 26 May

Times will be given out in advance for cross-country day. The course will be longer than a standard one-day event course, but speeds will be the same as British Eventing for the appropriate level. It’s important to ensure both you and your horse are suitably fit to complete the longer than standard course, and then showjump the following day.

Useful links

• Getting horses fit
• Rider fitness plan

The cross-country course will be a solid and inviting course built to British Eventing standard. The severity of the course will be suitable for the BE level at that height. Time consuming alternative routes will be available at technical obstacles or questions. The course becomes progressively more technical at each height. Improvements to the course since last year include a large new water complex.

After a busy day riding, the organising team will be providing entertainment again on the Sunday evening.

Monday, 27 May

A final horse inspection will begin at 8am (times advised on Sunday evening). Following this showjumping will get underway, which will be run in reverse order of merit. The course will be designed by a British Showjumping course-builder and will be built up to height for the class.

Prizes

There will be a mounted prize giving at the conclusion of the showjumping, with rosettes awarded to the top 10 in each class. Other prizes will include prize money to the top three combinations.

All competitors will be treated to a free goody bag on arrival and those lucky enough to top the leader boards can enjoy a range of exciting prizes.

Horse & Hound will be reporting extensively throughout the three-day event for both the magazine and website, while the riders topping the sections during each stage will be asked for an interview with one of Horse & Hound’s reporters at the on-site media hub.

How to enter

Entries cost £285 per combination, plus £1.50 booking fee, which includes your stabling for the duration of the event. Entries are now open via Equo and classes are sure to fill up quickly, so make sure you enter promptly to ensure you don’t miss out. Entries close on 10 May — if classes are oversubscribed a ballot will take place.

We look forward to welcoming you all to Keysoe for this rare opportunity to compete in an unaffiliated three-day event at this level.

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

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

Three, two, one… go! Entries are open for the third H&H Festival of Eventing, at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe, from 25 to 27 May.

Riders have until 10 May to book their places at the three-day unaffiliated event, with classes running from 70cm to 1m.

“We’re looking forward to the entries starting to roll in for the H&H Festival of Eventing, which should be a wonderful weekend once again,” said Pippa Roome, H&H eventing and magazine editor.

“Riders at grassroots level in eventing don’t get many opportunities to experience big stay-away shows and the festival is all about taking part, spending time with your horse and fellow enthusiasts, as well as achieving your competition goals.

“With classes from 70cm to 100cm, there’s something for everyone and our reporters look forward to meeting lots of the riders over the weekend.”

Enter here

Great prizes including winners’ rugs and Ariat boots for the top three in each section are on offer, and competitors will be able to enjoy evening entertainment and take advantage of cross-country course-walks with an experienced trainer.

Horse feed manufacturer Spillers will be providing free feeding advice throughout the event, with experts on hand by the stabling area. Riders are invited to go to meet the Spillers team and ask any feed-related questions. They can also have their horses weighed on the special weighbridge, plus receive product samples.

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The piebald was bought as a months-old colt, wild from the moor

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

Since last year’s festival, 100 more permanent stables have been built at Keysoe, so it is expected that all horses will be housed in a permanent stable this year — stabling is included in the entry fee.

Horse & Hound journalists will be on site for the duration of the event, interviewing riders throughout and reporting extensively for the magazine and the website.

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

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

The Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing is back — and set to be bigger and better than ever.

For a third year running, the three-day unaffiliated event is to run at The College EC, Keysoe, from 25 to 27 May.

As before, there will be classes at 70, 80, 90 and 100cm, with the format following that of an FEI CCI-L event, with no roads and tracks, and the atmosphere of an international competition.

“We’re very much looking forward to seeing both familiar and new faces at this, our third running of the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing, and are very happy to be returning to Keysoe,” said H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins.

“This event is unique in its format at the lower levels and represents the only opportunity in the equestrian calendar for riders to compete for the accolade of Horse & Hound champion.

“It has also become renowned for its friendly, supportive environment, which is something the H&H team on site foster throughout. Competitors start getting to know each other even before the event, through H&H’s dedicated social groups. The sense of camaraderie kicks off from entry and continues from when horses are loaded for the event, right the way through to returning to their stables after the competition. We wish everyone coming to compete a fabulous time and all the very best of luck.”

Keysoe owner Simon Bates told H&H competitors will benefit from recent major investment in the facilities. This includes work on the cross-country course, which has been enlarged by 50 acres, resurfacing of the main arena and building further arenas — so all dressage and showjumping will be on a surface — and building 140 more stables.

“We’ve had a bit of a spend!” he said. “I think the event is great value for money, and we’re pushing the facilities each year to make it better and better.”

Riders will benefit from extras such as evening entertainment, the chance to walk the cross-country with an experienced trainer and prizes including winners’ rugs and Ariat boots for the top three in each class.

H&H journalists will be onsite throughout, reporting extensively on the competition for our website and magazine.

Continues below…

Tales from the H&H Festival of Eventing: meet the horse that cost £1 who wouldn’t go over a pole 12 months ago

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Gold medal-winning showjumper Nick Skelton, now a Land Rover ambassador, headed to Burghley Horse Trials this weekend, and reflected on

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H&H senior marketing manager Nicola McClure said: “I have worked for the duration of both previous H&H three-day events and they have both been tremendous fun. The atmosphere is totally unique and the camaraderie among riders is fantastic.

“It is like a big holiday with your horse, with a competition running alongside and your chance to catch up with friends made in previous years and support each other as well as compete for some fab prizes. We work hard with the team at Keysoe to make sure everyone has a fantastic time, both on and off the horse.”

Entries open on 1 April. For more information, visit the H&H Festival of Eventing page.

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

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

There was no rest for Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing competitor Chris Salmon.

After completing his first three-day-event, the para rider is preparing to return to Keysoe later this week for the British Showjumping amateur and para show.

Chris, a trainee showjumping course builder, is classified as a grade III para showjumper and recently took up eventing.

“I have a muscle wasting condition that affects my hands and feet,” he explained.

“There are physio exercises that I can do, but even my surgeon told me not to worry about it too much as riding is the best thing [for me].”

Chris rode the 17-year-old mare Melford Solo, owned and bred by his mother Sue, in the 90cm class at the three-day-event, run in association with KBIS.

The pair scored 35.5 in the dressage, before jumping clear across country with 14.8 time faults. They clipped two poles on the final day to complete their first three-day together on a score of 58.3.

Chris made his British Eventing (BE) debut last year and has enjoyed success at BE90 level, finishing ninth in a BE90open section at Little Downham in October and jumping double clear at Horseheath in April.

“I’m aiming to compete at 1m to 1.05m showjumping and to event her at BE100,” said Chris, who hails from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

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The mare, known as “Snoopy”, is by Melford Ben and has competed up to intermediate level in the past.

“I just point her at a fence and she goes!” said Chris.

Before Chris took over the reins, the horse competed up to one-star level with Charlie Clover, winning Chilham CIC* in 2015, and was previously campaigned by Jane Buchan and George Witt.

Chris added she is now enjoying “an easier life” after undergoing rehabilitation for kissing spines last year.

“She’s brilliant and really looks after me,”he added.

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

This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses

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

The Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS were a runaway success for the second year. We’re sad it’s all over now, so to reminisce, here’s just a few of the things we learnt at Keysoe over the Bank Holiday weekend (26-28 May)…

1. The prizes were awesome (again!)

This wasn’t an ordinary unaffiliated event, this was an unaffiliated event boasting thousands of pounds worth of prizes. To give you an idea, here’s what you won if you scooped first place in any of the four classes:

£250 from KBIS to be redeemed against an insurance policy

NAF goody pack made up from

• 1 x Ice Cool
• 1 x Superflex 800g
• 1 x Cooling Wash
• 1 x Show Off
• 1 x Leather Cleanse and Condition
• 1 x Recover

Bates eventers pack

• 1 x dressage saddle cloth
• 1 x polo wraps
• 1 x jump saddle cloths
• 1 x stall guard

A pair of Ariat long boots

A pair of Icevibe boots

Winner’s rug

A pot of Sliverfeet liquid hoof oil

A Likit

Even better, the excellent prize haul awarded those all the way down to 10th place.

2. One competitor was supremely cool in the face of a adversity

One rider was faced with a bit of a problem when facing a bridle malfunction while going through the water complex on the cross-country, but she remained calm and both horse and rider escaped from the incident unscathed.

3. Age? It’s just a number

Whether you are 11 or 72, age really doesn’t matter. Competitors as young as 11, such as Frankie Fox who was second in the 70cm class, gave the grown-ups a run for their money. While Sally Pidsley, last year’s 70cm winner, who finished a highly creditable third in the same class this time around, is 72. Aaron Clark was also another 11-year-old competitor, who is pictured having a whale of a time below.

4. All shapes, sizes and colours of horse and pony were welcome

Large, small, bay, grey and everything in-between — all sorts of horses and ponies gave the competition their best shot. In fact, of the four classes, two winners were riding coloureds and one was on a dun. And then there was this one — a real life My Little Pony!

5. All was not lost if you didn’t make it round the cross-country

Those that didn’t complete the cross-country phase were allowed to trot-up and complete a consolation showjumping round on the final day.

6. The commentator was brilliant…

Nick Woods deserved a medal for his brilliant commentary throughout the competition. He made the event feel like Badminton and so many were full of praise for his hard work — not to mention his unwavering enthusiasm during nine hours (!) of cross-country action.

7. …As was the catering team

There were no greasy burger vans in situ at Keysoe, just delicious, fresh food, all day every day — take a bow, catering team — you were ace (as was your macaroni cheese)

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8. Takeaways do deliver to Keysoe

But if you did fancy half a duck and some crispy seaweed, the sight of one group of riders in the lorry park tucking into a Chinese confirmed the local takeaway does deliver to Keysoe.

9. Fun was had by all

From a drinks party with endless bottles of fizz to a live band and insightful demos, there was never a dull moment at the H&H Festival of Eventing, and the competitors and their supporters sure knew how to have fun!

Don’t miss the full report from the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing in the 7 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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

The leaderboard of the 100cm championship at the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, had a huge shake up on the final day today (28 May).

Eventual winners, Julia Dungworth and the eight-year-old Gortmore Ballyneety, enjoyed a meteoric rise thanks to a clear showjumping round, climbing from eighth after the cross-country to take first prize.

“This event has done ‘Gala’ the world of good and it has been a brilliant experience for him,” said Julia of her Irish-bred gelding. “I can’t recommend this competition enough to other riders.”

Julia has owned Gala for just under a year after one of her teaching clients brought him for a lesson.

“He bucked his old owner off in the lesson and I said ‘I like that horse’,” admitted Julia, who finished on her dressage score of 33.25. “He’s really sharp — he’s not spooky at fences, but if someone took their jumper off by the side of the arena, he would bugger off with me! I couldn’t let the rosette be pinned on his bridle today as I would have gone through the hedge.

“Gala is a diamond in the rough and I have high hopes for him for the future — he will get it but just needs this sort of competition to help give him some grounding.”

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Second place went to Emma Freeman and Quick Dolla Bill, who also flew up the placings from ninth thanks to a clear showjumping round. While another to benefit from a clear round on the final day was Helen Fraser and Justanumber, who rose from 10th to third. Overnight cross-country leaders Doriel Watson and Claude II dropped out of the top 10 after an expensive showjumping round.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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

Being organised is key for Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing competitor Lorna Ewin.

The Kent-based rider balances working as a facilities manager for a London firm of brokers with riding and competing three horses.

“It is about working out your timetable,” said Lorna.

“I get up at about 4am, arrive at the yard between 5-5.30am, ride and am on the train to London at 7am to start work at 8am.”

Lorna finished at 4.30pm before catching the train home and riding another horse after work.

She has two of her own horses and also rides Claudiuss (“Claude”) for her mother, Valda Angier.

“This is the first time he has done this sort of thing,” said Valda, who had made the trip up to the Bedfordshire venue to support her daughter.

Claude, a pure-bred Arab, competed in ridden showing classes at Royal Windsor Horse Show earlier this month.

He has also enjoyed success at arena eventing and in Arab Horse Society classes, finishing seventh in the overall performance awards last year.

Lorna has competed in showing classes at Horse of the Year Show three times and took her first steps into the world of horse trials this weekend.

The Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, was also Claude’s eventing debut.

“He is nearly 100% Crabbet — we did a hunter trials two weeks ago at Crabbet Park, which is where his ancestors are all from, which was nice,” added Valda, adding he is an “absolute angel”.

“We bought him as a five-year-old from breeder Diana Whittome in Wales and have remained great friends.”

Valda added the event has been “super” and found it a “great help” to have nutrition advice on hand from Spillers.

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The striking grey was a stallion until he was five, but has taken to his new life as a riding horse with aplomb.

Lorna walked the course with four-star eventer and coach Milla Lanni, which she said was really helpful.

“The only thing he questioned was the ditch, but he looked and went,” said Lorna.

The pair jumped double clear to finish ninth in the 70cm section.

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The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in next week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June

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On Friday afternoon, Sarah Nicholls and the seven-year-old 15.1hh CSH Sioux sat in seventh place after the dressage phase of the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS. But thanks to a great clear cross-country round inside the optimum time, followed by one of few clear showjumping rounds, the pair found themselves in first place at the end of the competition.

“I can’t believe we’ve won,” said a delighted Sarah, who hails from near Leicester and works for an engineering company in Rutland. “I knew ‘Simon’ was capable as he can do a good dressage test and is reliable across country, but showjumping is my weakest phase. I was hopeful but I tried not to let my emotions get in the way of how we performed.”

Sarah was competing in her first three-day event aboard the coloured horse, who is by a Grade A showjumper, out of a gypsy cob mare. She bought him as a just-broken four-year-old “for little money” as a project to sell.

“But he just kept getting better and better, so I’ve kept him,” explained Sarah, who also crosses the biggest of Quorn Hunt country with this diminutive gelding. “I couldn’t fault Simon this week — I do this purely to have fun and I couldn’t do it without the support of my parents who have been holding the fort with my other two horses at home this week.”

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Hannah Parr and Tinkers Boy also rose up the placings thanks to a clear showjumping round, moving up from fourth to eventual second. While overnight cross-country leader, Honor Gordon and Made Of Gold dropped to third after incurring four faults. Just 13 riders from the 48 that came forward to the showjumping jumped clear, making this a very influential phase. Clare Cottingham and Easy Peasy II enjoyed the biggest rise in placings thanks to a clear jumping round — she rose from 33rd after the cross-country to eventual 16th.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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One year ago Emma Scott, who is competing in the 90cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, might not have believed she would have made it this far with her horse, Lombard Light.

The now 12-year-old thoroughbred “wouldn’t go over a showjump pole” according to Emma, who is 19 and based near Ely.

“He used to get six strides away from it and then would stand bolt upright and not go anywhere near it.”

Emma, who bought the former failed National Hunt racehorse, bred in the purple for the job being by Milan out of a Roselier mare, credits a winter of team chasing and hunting with the Cambridgeshire Drag to the transformation of ‘Bills’.

“He tried to showjump around the first team chase I took him to,” explains Emma, who is on a gap year “playing with ponies” before hopefully going to study graphic design at Leeds University. “But then the penny dropped and he’s now a completely different person — he’s so positive about everything.”

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Emma bought Bills from a friend who had started retraining him out of racing.

“But he developed some back problems and she struggled to find the time he needed, so I bought him from her for £1.”

“I’ve never had a horse so loving on the ground, but he can be an idiot in the warm-up as he just wants to get on with it,” says Emma. “I’m so happy with how he has gone this weekend. I was wondering whether I should keep eventing him, but after how well he has pulled it together for me for this competition, I think I will crack on with it.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Beccy Belcher was in total disbelief upon winning the 80cm championship of the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS.

Riding Sarah Rooke’s coloured mare, Sugar IV, Beccy rose from sixth after dressage. The pair then enjoyed a clear cross-country round within the optimum time to sit in second place coming into the final showjumping phase, where they proceeded to leave all of the poles in their cups. This was good enough to secure the win when overnight leaders Debbi Cox and Molly incurred eight faults.

“To win is completely unexpected,” said an elated Beccy. “I’ve only had ‘Spice’ for a year and this is our second horse trials together and until today we had only jumped one round of showjumping too.”

Beccy was given Spice by Sarah to use as a broodmare.

“Spice has already had four foals and then was chucked in a field,” explained Beccy, who works as a lecturer and is head of business, travel and tourism at Berkshire College of Agriculture. “My history is in showing and dressage and so I fancied giving eventing a go. Spice looked like she was bored and so we brought her into work and haven’t looked back.”

Beccy admitted she left entering the festival until the very last minute.

“I hadn’t actually even taken Spice cross-country schooling when I entered,” she explained. “I entered on a whim and thought we could use the experience as a schooling exercise.”

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The pair looked thoroughly convincing throughout the event and stormed around the cross-country.

“Spice is like a Ferrari and is always 400 steps ahead of me,” said Beccy. “But she was a dream across country — when her owner saw we were well-placed after the dressage, she text me saying ‘make sure you let the handbrake off on the cross-country and she will look after you’. I’m glad she said that, else I might have gone a bit steadier.”

Chloe Nixon, who led the dressage, finished in eventual second riding her Lipizzaner mare, Anna thanks to a clear showjumping round. They added four cross-country time-faults to a 28 dressage. Craig Messenger and Findon Euphoria completed on their dressage score of 33 to finish third.

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Charlotte Cooke is one of the youngest competitors at this year’s H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS. At just 11-years-old, the Brentwood School pupil has put in a great performance on her 13.2hh pony, Karlos Fandango in the 80cm class.

But the 16-year-old roan comes with an interesting stable name — ‘Thug’.

“He was quite bolshie when we got him two years ago,” explains Charlotte, who is competing at her first three-day event this weekend. “He can open stable doors.”

Charlotte, who has already gained a lot of experience in the showjumping arena, said Thug, who is a JA jumping pony with over £2,600 in winnings, has only recently turned to eventing.

“He was a bit of a petrol pony in his former life,” says Charlotte, who now also enjoys day’s hunting with Thug. “He’s a great speed pony, but didn’t have much of a life before outside of the ring. We decided to try eventing to help him relax and enjoy life a bit more and he loves it.”

Charlotte says she has worked particularly hard on Thug’s flatwork with the help of Leanne Field.

“He’s never going to lead after the dressage but he’s improved a lot. He used to go round with the wrong bend, but he’s much more balanced now and it has even helped our jumping to improve.”

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The pair jumped a fantastic double clear in the 80cm class at the H&H Festival of Eventing.

“He’s a cross-country machine and all I have to do is point him between the flags. Hopefully we’ll have some fun doing some BE80(T) competitions this year and just let him enjoy life.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Lucy Ohlson has overcome two horrific accidents in the past eight years to compete at the Horse & Hound Festival, run in association with KBIS.

Lucy, who runs Petesbrooke Equestrian Centre near Hartlepool, competed in the 70cm class aboard Donna House Star T (“Wilma”).

The pair enjoy taking part in “a bit of everything”, including unaffiliated one-day-events and Team Quest dressage competitions with friends who are based at her yard.

The riding instructor had to learn to walk and ride again after she nearly died in a car crash eight years ago.

She was driving to a friend’s house when her car collided with a piece of farm machinery being towed by a tractor.

One of the blades of the plough tore into Lucy’s car and into her side.

Lucy, who was 28 at the time, was placed in an induced coma and sustained a broken neck, brain trauma and severe internal injuries.

“I had to teach myself to ride again,” she said.

“I knew how to do it, but I had to teach my body how to do it again.”

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Lucy added she believes her recovery was down to her determination to get better.

“I’m quite a determined person,” said Lucy.

“I never thought I was never going to walk or ride again, these were just hurdles I needed to overcome.”

Lucy also broke her pelvis in a schooling fall at home last year and has been working hard to build up her strength and fitness over the past 12 months.

“My horse caught a pole between his front legs and nosedived, he fell and landed on my hip and my pelvis just shattered,” she explained.

Following extensive rehabilitation, Lucy is back in the saddle and jumped double clear at this, her first three-day-event, to finish 18th.

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Louise Bergicourt-Toolan didn’t let the pressure get to her on the final day of the H&H Festival of Eventing, in association with KBIS. She jumped a clear round in the final showjumping phase of the 70cm class to maintain pole position.

“I just can’t believe it — for us to finish so close to our dressage score is a great achievement, especially as this is our first eventing competition together,” said Louise who helps run a riding school in Richmond, West London.

Louise was riding Melanie Gatt’s six-year-old Connemara x thoroughbred, Woodfield Gold. The dun completed on a score of 28.25, some 3.1 penalties ahead of second-placed 11-year-old Frankie Fox and Rockwood Dundoolie.

Woodfield Gold (or ‘Phoenix’ as he is known at home), arrived from Ireland onto Louise’s riding school two years ago, and was used as a horse to teach novice riders until recently.

“He is a one in a million horse and he gave me a brilliant round today,” said Louise, a mother of one. “He was looking at each fence, concentrating and didn’t let the atmosphere get to him. I was nervous this morning, but only because I didn’t want to let him down. I just shut the crowds and atmosphere out and imagined I was schooling at home.”

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Louise is excited about the future for this 15.2hh dun.

“I think it’s onwards and upwards for us now,” she said. “We will hopefully look to aim him at qualifying for the Mitsubishi Cup at Badminton.”

Last year’s winner, Sally Pidsley and Tranwheal Tineth Moon, added four faults to their score in the showjumping but held onto third place.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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A clear round inside the optimum time secured the overnight top spot for Doriel Watson and her own Claude II in the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing 100cm section.

The pair were lying sixth after dressage on a score of 30.25, climbing five places to take the lead after cross-country.

This was Claude’s first time at 100cm level, but the “opinionated Irish cob” proved unphased by the bigger fences and stormed around Angus Smales’ Keysoe course to finish one second inside the optimum time of six minutes 26 seconds.

“It is very unexpected — he never ceases to amaze me,” said Doriel, who works as a riding instructor at Trent Park Equestrian Centre in north London.

“Jumping the fences is the easy part, but he can be quite nappy and I have to ride him a bit like I stole him out of the start box.

“I thought it was a really good, inviting course with enough questions with enough questions, but nothing that was designed to terrify the horse or rider at that level.”

Doriel has had Claude for three years and the pair have also enjoyed success at British Eventing 80cm and 90cm level.

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Snapping at the combination’s heels are Katy Mousdale and Not The Dun Thing in second, who are 0.4 penalties behind Doriel and Claude.

Stacey Page and Armarni Lad added nothing to their dressage score of 31.25 to rise from ninth after dressage to third ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping phase.

Dressage leaders Sophie Wall and Primitive Pronto jumped a confident clear, however a costly 6.8 time faults for going too fast dropped them down to 14th place after cross-country.

The 100cm section will conclude the 2018 Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, tomorrow.

The first combination is set to start at 3.55pm, with the winner due to be decided by 5pm.

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Honor Gordon and her eye-catching palomino Made Of Gold have held their place at the top of the leaderboard after cross-country in the 90cm section of the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing.

The 13-year-old rode a well-judged round to finish just one second over the optimum time of 6 minutes 46 seconds, adding 0.4 time penalties to their dressage of 27.25.

Keysoe’s course, designed by Angus Smales, rode well, with a smattering of problems throughout.

A total of 42 out of 50 combinations jumped clear, but the majority of riders picked up time faults.

Honor, who was celebrating with a Chinese takeaway, said she was excited ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping phase.

“We’ve just got to leave the jumps up,” she smiled.

“I was worried about the brush coming out of the water and the log pile at fence six as it was quite big and she only has little legs.”

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Honor has been riding the 14hh mare for two years and enjoys all Pony Club activities, but eventing is their favourite discipline.

While the time proved influential, there remains little room for error and less than two poles separate the top-16 cominbations.

Honor has less than a fence in hand over second-placed Celia Bellamy and Toptime Taliesin, who added 0.8 time penalties to their dressage score for a two-phase total of 29.05. In third is Sarah Nicholls with CSH Sioux on 30.5.

The showjumping phase of the Bedfordshire event, run in association with KBIS, starts at 9.30am for the 70cm section, with the 90cm class set to start at 1.35pm.

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Suffolk-based Debbi Cox had a highly successful day in the 80cm class of the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS.

The BHSII instructor posted not one, but two great clear rounds across country to sit in first and fourth place.

Holding top spot is nine-year-old mare Molly, owned by Sue Thompson. Debbi and Molly stormed around the cross-country to finish inside the optimum time and go into tomorrow’s showjumping on their dressage mark of 29.25.

“Molly was so good today,” said Debbi, who has taught Sue on this horse for the past five years. “She only started eventing this year so this is a big achievement for her.”

Debbi explained that when Molly first walked into her life she came with a reputation of being awkward and quirky.

“When Sue came to me with Molly the first time, the mare had Sue off twice in the first 10 minutes,” said Debbi. “She was so cold backed and I said to Sue that Molly needed re-backing and starting again.”

Debbi was full of thanks for Sue and her fourth-placed ride’s owner, Tracey Cutting.

“They are both so supportive and we’ve had a great time this weekend.”

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Debbi is pragmatic about her chances of holding onto top spot in tomorrow’s showjumping phase.

“Molly is renowned for having fences down, but we’re so proud of her, we’ll both give it everything and even if she has every fence down, it doesn’t matter.”

Beccy Belcher and Sugar IV hold second place on a score of 31 and just 6.3 penalties separate the top 10.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Louise Bergicourt-Toolan put in a polished performance on cross-country day of the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, to become the new leader of the 70cm class.

Riding Melanie Gatt’s six-year-old Connemara x thoroughbred, Woodfield Gold, Louise stopped the clock just one second over the six-minute optimum time, to add 0.4 penalties to a strong dressage score of 28.25 which saw them fourth after the first phase.

“I’m so happy with ‘Phoenix’, he was so relaxed and took everything in his stride,” said Louise, a single mum who helps run a riding school near Richmond Park in south-west London. “It’s our first eventing competition together and his first ever so I wasn’t sure how he would cope, but he flew.”

The 15.2hh dun arrived in Louise’s riding school two years ago and has spent most of his time teaching novice riders.

“Then one day we went cross-country schooling and realised that Phoenix had a real talent for it.”

Louise said she is in disbelief that Phoenix and her are in pole position.

“I honestly can’t believe it — we came here to have a nice time with friends and to give Phoneix a good experience,” said Louise. “I’m quietly confident about our chances tomorrow as he enjoys showjumping. To be honest even if we have a fence down, I will still be over the moon with him — all of this is a bonus.”

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Louise’s nearest rival is 11-year-old Frankie Fox and Rookwood Dundoolie who sit 3.1 penalties behind in second on 31.75, while last year’s 70cm winner Sally Pidsley and Tranwheal Tineth Moon is in third on 32.25.

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Vicky Davis, a competitor at this weekend’s H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS, has endured an interesting past few years.

“I had a fall from a youngster three years ago resulting in a slipped disk in my neck and trauma to my left eye, which is being operated on next month,” says the mother of two, who describes herself as “the wrong side of 50”.

“I was told the injury might put a stop to my eventing but then Guss turned up.”

Vicky bought Guss without going to see him two years ago.

“I was tagged in a Facebook post advertising an unbroken Dutch two-year-old by Numero Uno,” explains Vicky, who ran a livery yard in Kent for 18 years before switching to a job selling stock of bankrupt companies on eBay. “He was up in York and I just didn’t have time to go and look at him, so the owner sent me lots of videos and pictures of his hooves. I decided to buy him and he turned up at my yard shortly afterwards.

“He was fluffy, wild and small and it took me three hours to catch him in the stable at first,” laughs Vicky. “He’s quirky but talented. He has a disgusting temper and I have to lull him in to doing what I want him to do and that it has been his idea.”

Vicky has produced Guss to now event and despite doing a quick U-turn when leaving the start box at Munstead Horse Trials recently — “Guss decided he didn’t want to go past some parked cars!” — they have enjoyed a great clear cross-country round in the 70cm class at Keysoe today (27 May).

“I’m absolutely thrilled with him,” says Vicky. “We got held at fence five for quite a while and the course had plenty to look at, but he was great.”

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Vicky, who trains with Sharon Richardson and James Burtwell, says that she is keen to keep eventing to see how far she can get with Guss.

“In the long-term I will probably move to dressage, but until I’ve got the eventing bug out of my system, I will keep going.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Although she is currently smack bang in the middle of her GCSEs, 16-year-old Nieve Baker, is making the most of her time at the H&H Festival of Eventing, run in association with KBIS.

Based in Hertfordshire, Nieve was riding Marley Blaney, who she found four years ago in Maidstone.

“I went to try another horse but saw Marley in the stable and we just clicked,” explains Nieve. “He was so nervous to start with and we couldn’t even get a headcollar on him, but I’ve produced him up to 90cm/1m showjumping.”

Nieve said she almost sold Marley, but navicular diagnosis prevented this from happening.

“Marley was diagnosed with mild navicular so we decided to turn him out for a year and then see how he was,” says Nieve. “He ended up coming sound and so we brought him back into work, and he has been fine so far.”

But last summer disaster struck when Nieve fractured her lower back while competing in a showjumping class.

“I got back on as soon as I could and rode with a brace for a while,” says Nieve who is competing in the 70cm class this weekend at Keysoe with her 11-year-old 15.2hh.

“My granddad has inspired me this weekend, as he is 82 and has come over from Ireland to support me — he’s staying in the back of our lorry!”

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Nieve says Marley “made up some of his own moves” in their dressage test, but stormed around the cross-country clear and inside the time.

“I was so proud of him across country — I just wanted to get round the course.”

Don’t miss the full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing competitor Kerry Lockwood was actually looking for a donkey when she ended up with a yearling 10 years ago.

The retired police officer had wanted a companion for her horse at the time and was planning on buying a donkey.

“A friend of mine is a farrier — he was driving near the M25 when some people flagged him down and asked him to tend to their horses’ feet,” explained Kerry who rides Boxer V in the 80cm class.

“They gave him Boxer and another pony in lieu of payment.”

Kerry added she took Boxer on and “never thought” he would be big enough to ride.

However the horse kept growing and blossomed from a nervous youngster into a smart 15.2hh cob.

With the help of her trainer Lisa Clarke-Spence, Kerry has brought on Boxer and the pair enjoy eventing and hunting.

In a bid to try and find out more about Boxer’s origins, Kerry had the gelding DNA tested.

She found he shares bloodlines with a traditional gypsy cob stallion named King Arthur, who has won numerous titles including the 2011 supreme champion traditional of the year at the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association National Championships.

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H&H Festival of Eventing: schoolgirl storms into 90cm lead on day one

The young rider fended off her older rivals in the 90cm class on dressage day

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Walk the H&H Festival of Eventing 80cm cross-country course

The pair have hunted with the East Essex since 2007 and their aim for 2018 is a double clear at British Eventing BE80(T).

“He is intelligent — a cob with a brain,” laughed Kerry, who also runs her own herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus Cattle in Suffolk.

“My trainer is always pushing me to do things that are out of my comfort zone, I was terrified before the dressage, but after that it was a big relief and now I can enjoy it.”

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound, run in association with KBIS, will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June

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

Racing at Cheltenham, hopping Leicestershire hedges and competing at a three-day-event — while it reads like a bucket list, this is actually the CV of star 13.2hh Little Sundance.

The pint-sized equine is contesting the 90cm class at the Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing (26-28 May), run in association with KBIS, with owner, 13-year-old Poppy Field.

Known as “Sunny” to his friends, the pony’s arrival was a complete surprise to the owners of his dam, a riding school pony, who was not known to be in foal.

“One morning, his then owner looked out into the field and he was there — skipping around in the August sunshine, which is how he got his name,” said Poppy’s mum, Fleur Field.

The family bought Sunny, who they fondly refer to as a “British sports pony”, as a recently started four-year-old and he has turned his hoof to everything they have asked of him.

Poppy took part in a Pony Club race day at Cheltenham racecourse aboard Sunny in March, finishing sixth in the novice 138cm and under division.

Poppy, a member of the Meynell Hunt branch of the Pony Club, said the feeling of speed and galloping past the world-famous winning post was “brilliant”.

She added cross-country is her favourite phase and is particularly looking forward to tackling Keysoe’s water complex.

The pair compete in all Pony Club activities and are looking forward to camp this summer.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

All you need to know about the 2019 Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing

Excited about taking part in our popular unaffiliated three-day event? Find out everything you need to know about this competition

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Polly suffered a nasty fall last year while doing arena cross-country

Poppy and Sunny made their British Eventing debut this year and finished ninth at Solihull BE80(T) in April.

The pair jumped double clear, but picked up 4.8 time faults for going too fast, so are hoping the move up to 90cm — and a stopwatch — will help with their timing.

The also pony hunts with both Poppy and Fleur and over the winter can be found following hounds with the Readyfield Bloodhounds as well as the Quorn and Meynell.

“He is the boss of the yard,” added Fleur.

“Out hunting he thinks he can keep up with the 17hh horses — and he does — he has also been known to give leads to them as well!”

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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

A winter of dressage paid off for Horse & Hound Festival of Eventing’s overnight 100cm leaders Sophie Wall and Primitive Pronto.

The pair performed a smooth test for a mark of 29, including eights for their centre lines, and were one of just three combinations in the section to perform sub-30 tests on the first day of the three-day-event (26-28 May), run in association with KBIS.

Sophie, a student at Northumbia University, has been competing in British Dressage Team Quest competitions over the winter.

Sophie said she was “very chuffed” with her horse and didn’t expect to be leading after the first phase.

“He isn’t a spooky horse and he just listens when he gets into the arena,” said Sophie, adding while he was surprised to see so many people, the atmosphere didn’t phase her “gentle giant”.

“It was boiling in the warm-up, so I only did 10 minutes and took him for a walk up the lane.”

Article continues below…

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H&H Festival of Eventing: schoolgirl storms into 90cm lead on day one

The young rider fended off her older rivals in the 90cm class on dressage day

H&H Festival of Eventing: teenager and her Lipizzaner mare take the 80cm lead

Chloe Nixon and her Lipizzaner mare lead the honours in the 80cm class

Walk the H&H Festival of Eventing 100cm cross-country course

Sophie has had the 16.3hh 11-year-old gelding, by Primitive Proposal, for five years and enjoyed success at British Eventing 100 and novice level.

There is no room for error on Keysoe’s cross-country course tomorrow, with three penalties separating the top-10.

Close on Sophie’s heels is Zara Harrison and Ballynacarrick Rebel Lad , on 29.5, with Kelsey Love and Castle House Gem in third on 29.75.

Angus Smales’ 3,055m course features 23 jumping efforts, with an optimum time of 6 minutes 26 seconds.

“There is a lot of galloping, so it will be a fitness test,” said Sophie, adding she hopes the course will suit Primitive Pronto.

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk

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

At the age of just 13, Honor Gordon is one of the youngest riders at this year’s H&H Festival of Eventing in association with KBIS (26-28 May).

However, she fended off her older rivals in the 90cm class during day one of the action at Keysoe in Bedfordshire.

Having produced a very smart 27.25 dressage score aboard her pony, Made Of Gold, Honor heads into tomorrow’s cross-country just 0.75 of a mark ahead of overnight runners-up Hannah Parr and Tinkers Boy, while Celia Bellamy occupies third with Toptime Taliesin on 28.25.

Therefore, the scores at the top of the leaderboard in this section are particularly tight with a mere one mark separating the top three combinations.

“My pony is 16 years old — I’ve ridden her for two years and done a lot of Pony Club competitions,” said Honor, who is based near Bishop’s Stortford and is an active member of the Essex Hunt North branch of the Pony Club.

The pair finished sixth at last year’s H&H Festival of Eventing in the 80cm class. They have stepped up to 90cm for this year and very much hope to improve on their good result in 2017.

The youngster’s mother had to tell a “little white lie” to Honor’s school to allow the schoolgirl to compete at the three-day unaffiliated event, which saw competitors arriving yesterday (Friday, 25 May).

“Mum said that I had fainted and wasn’t feeling very well,” Honor said with a smile.

The young rider is trained on the flat by dressage rider Alex Hardwick and had a lesson the Thursday before the event in preparation — which clearly paid off.

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

The full report from the H&H Festival of Eventing in Horse & Hound will be in this week’s issue of the magazine — on sale Thursday, 7 June and follow online at www.horseandhound.co.uk.

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