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‘Wild yesterday, but a bit quiet today’: Oliver Townend sets the early standard at Badminton

Martha Terry — Thu, 08 May 2025 09:03:01 +0000

Oliver Townend scored 29.3 to take an early lead in the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase on his first ride Ballaghmor Class. Oliver remained upbeat, despite the horse scoring his lowest dressage mark to date at CCI5*.

“It doesn’t matter [what my mark was] as long as the judging is consistent, and there’s plenty on the cross-country to sort us out,” he said.

The fleabitten grey, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, is at Badminton for the fifth time, and although he was excitable at yesterday’s trot-up, he settled into his test today like the stalwart he is.

“I’m happy with the horse; a couple of things could have been better, but he’s getting quite clever,” Oliver said. “He’s wild at the trot up and wild everywhere else then comes in here and says, ‘I’ve done enough now!’ So he was a little bit lazy, a little bit quiet, but I’m happy enough.”

Badminton final scores

Ballaghmor Class shifted off the centre line for his first halt – and again at the end, but in between he showed some consistently good work, if not particularly expressive. The highlights were his extended trot and canters, while the flying changes were clean and earned him a smattering of eights. Largely, however, the judges were stuck on sevens.

You can’t help but wonder if the quiet stands on a Thursday morning weren’t in this horse’s favour. Like the trot-up, a bit of atmosphere would probably have helped the 18-year-old show a bit more sparkle.

Badminton horse trials dressage pathfinder

Kirsty Chabert, the very first rider in aboard Classic VI, said there’s “no advantage being on Thursday morning, when it’s quiet”. The 16-year-old mare produced some lovely work in between a few spooks at a cameraman to score 33.7.

“The horses tune into any noise, whereas the hustle and bustle of a crowd dulls the noise,” she said. “You hear people opening their breakfast, dropping cups, rather than the general hum of a busy crowd.

“This horse is beautiful on the flat, but it’s purely the spooks I need to worry about,” she said. “But we stayed in the boards, just had some spooky areas. But my aim for this week is still be here on Sunday for the showjumping.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

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(Image credit: Nixonphoto / Badminton Horse Trials)

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(Image credit: Nixonphoto / Badminton Horse Trials)

Defending champion withdrawn from Badminton in final hour before test

(Image credit: Nixonphoto / Badminton Horse Trials)

Three horses out of Badminton Horse Trials 2025 at first trot-up – including Paris Olympic medallist

(Image credit: Nixonphoto / Badminton Horse Trials)

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Find out who is first to go at Badminton Horse Trials as draw revealed

Becky Murray — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:17:38 +0000

Kirsty Chabert will be the first down the centre line at the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials (7–11 May) as the draw for the Gloucestershire five-star is revealed.

Kirsty will start as number one with Classic VI, and will wear number 89 with Opposition Heraldik Girl. Last year’s Badminton champions Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier will go second, and Caroline is 98th with her second ride High Time.

Britain’s Paris Olympic team gold medallists Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo are drawn 58th and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are 44th. Their teammate Laura Collett, who is riding Bling, will wear number 87. Laura has withdrawn Hester. Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ are 45th.

Harry Meade still shows five horses on the entries list but Et Hop Du Matz and Grafennacht are in the US for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, so will not compete at Badminton. This means Superstition, Annaghore Valoner and Cavalier Crystal are still in the mix for Badminton and he will start on two of the three – Harry initially entered Badminton with a view to riding three horses if possible (riders can only compete a third horse if all the other horses have been accepted from the waiting list), but has now rejigged his entries to confirm he will only pilot two.

New Zealand’s Tim Price is drawn fourth with Viscount Viktor and will be last to go with Vitali; his wife Jonelle Price will go 13th with Grappa Nera. China’s Alex Hua Tian is 17th with Chicko, but has withdrawn his Paris Olympic ride Jilsonne Van Bareelhof.

Badminton final scores

Preparations for Badminton continue and event director Jane Tuckwell recently reported watering is well under way, following a dry few weeks.

“We’re on course for everything. My team and I are very much looking forward to welcoming all of you to what we think will be an epic Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025,” said Jane.

View the full drawn order.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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British eventers triumph for second year in a row at prestigious CHIO Aachen as course juggles leaderboard

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 19:06:39 +0000

The British team led from start to finish to take top honours in the prestigious SAP-Cup at CHIO Aachen.

The squad, made up of Kirsty Chabert (Classic VI), Izzy Taylor (SBH Big Wall), Laura Collett (Dacapo) and Emily King (Valmy Biats), proved unassailable, finishing on 112.8, ahead of the USA in second on 123.7 and Ireland in third on 138. The German team were fourth on 147.5.

Laura, who finished best of the Brits in third individually aboard Dacapo, a 15-year-old owned by Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams and Michael Smedley, said: “Everything here is so special – the atmosphere, the crowds. We don’t get to jump in a stadium like this anywhere else in the world.”

There had been musings among competitors that the cross-country track, designed by Rüdiger Schwarz for the final time after many years holding the role here, was softer than in previous seasons. However, from 44 cross-country starters, 28 jumped clear, with two making the optimum time of 6min50sec.

British chef d’equipe Philip Surl commented of the CHIO Aachen result: “It was a great result and an interesting competition in the end looking at the statistics after the cross-country – it was maybe not what everyone thought it would be after walking it earlier in the week.”

Laura said of the track: “It was a go-cart course, one obstacle followed the next – it’s always demanding here but Dacapo loves the crowds – he switches off around long, galloping tracks, so he loves Aachen.”

This is the fourth time since 2011 that the British team have won here – previously in 2011, 2021 and 2022 – proving their strength in depth in terms of the riders the nation has in their arsenal.

The USA team, consisting of James Alliston and Karma, whose speedy cross-country round meant they finished ninth individually, having been 33rd after the dressage, plus Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, Hallie Coon and Cute Girl and Liz Halliday with Shanroe Cooley, proved they have firepower for the future, both in equine and human form, given that the former three combinations were making their first visits to Aachen.

“For three of our team never to have competed here before and to step up and jump four clear rounds in the showjumping was incredible,” said Liz. “Plus a lot of great cross-country rounds from us today is very exciting, especially as some of us are on younger horses. It was great that we could fight until the end.”

Bar Joseph Murphy’s Calmaro, the Irish team were also fielding a team of less experienced horses in the shape of Millridge Atlantis (Ian Cassells), Ballyneety Rocketman (Sam Watson) and Isazsa (Austin O’Connor).

“To finish third against two big nations with big budgets is very pleasing – sometimes we have to go to the charity shop, but we’re coming for you,” joked Sam Watson.

“Our owners that support us and our personal sponsors make a big difference, but for me, it’s my team mates and Dag Albert, who is our eventing team manager, and the attitude of the likes of Lucy Latta, who was second at Badminton this year, Austin, who won the five-star at Maryland in 2023, and the team winning the Nations Cup at Millstreet earlier this year; Ireland keeps chipping away and when we can get the support to be as professional and have a system around us – we couldn’t afford to have our team coaches here – we have the attitude and we’ll always be here.”

There was a shake up in the individual competition when two-phase leader Michael Jung withdrew FischerChipmunk FRH before cross-country.

“It was always the plan not to run him across country,” said Michael of the 16-year-old, owned by the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport, Michael’s father Joachim and Klaus and Sabine Fischer, who is named on the German team for the looming Paris Olympics. “FischerChipmunk is in such great shape at the moment and better than ever, but we need two or three more gallops before Paris.”

CHIO Aachen: individual shake-up

Julia Krajewski riding Nickel 21 at Aachen in 2024. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Germany’s Paris-bound combinations of Chistoph Wahler and Carjatan S, who were third after two phases, and Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz, who were seventh before the cross-country, both retired two-thirds of the way round the cross-country – as was always the plan.

Christoph and Carjatan S made what they jumped look incredibly easy, however Viamant Du Matz flew past a narrow triple brush at fence 10ab.

“I think I got my line wrong and wasn’t totally focused so my horse was never totally focused on the fence,” said Sandra.

Their compatriot Julia Krajewski ultimately took individual honours with an incredibly consistent Nickel 21, who is still only a 10-year-old. She added 6.4 cross-country time-faults to her 23.9 dressage.

“Winning in Aachen is, of course, always very, very special,” said Julia, who last won here on Chipmunk FRH in 2018, before he was sold to Michael Jung to ride. “It is almost like a championships. But there is so much between hoping to win and actually winning. I wasn’t predicted to win, which makes it all the better when it is a surprise. I still can’t really believe that it actually happened.”

Germany’s Calvin Böckmann, who is 23 years old, was second with The Phantom Of The Opera. Calvin becomes the youngest rider to finish on his dressage score in this class at CHIO Aachen, and was one of the two to finish inside the optimum time across country – the other being Australia’s Chris Burton, who was fourth with Clever Louis.

“I think my horse and I have grown together incredibly over the last two-and-a-half-years,” explained Calvin, who took on this 13-year-old, who he co-owns with Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann, from Sandra Auffarth. “We were at the five-star in Kentucky at the beginning of this year and I think that has bonded us even closer together – I trust him totally and he trusts me, which makes it possible to take the first distance and cut turns.”

Emily King and the consistent Valmy Biats had the win at their mercy when setting off on course, with a buffer of 2.3 penalties to finish ahead of Julia. However the 15-year-old gelding finished 12 seconds over the optimum time to complete on 32.8 in fifth, 2.5 penalties adrift of Julia.

“With the intensity of the course, he definitely felt different, which he never had before – we were up on our minutes at the beginning but he went a bit foggy in his brain, but he was still amazing and is such a big, bold, strong horse, so it took a bit more time for me to set him up,” explained Emily of her first-time Aachen performance with this gelding, who is owned by her father David King, his breeder Philippe Brivois and the Valmy Biats Syndicate.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who is fresh from her five-star victory at Luhmühlen, once again impressed, finishing sixth and seventh aboard Ducati D’Arville and Hermione D’Arville respectively at CHIO Aachen.

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Reigning Badminton champion leads after dressage on ‘quality’ but spooky ride

Martha Terry — Fri, 10 May 2024 15:25:00 +0000

It was a test we’d been waiting for, and Ros Canter duly delivered with the exciting Izilot DHI to topple long-time leaders Bubby Upton and Cola (27.3) early on the second day of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase. Ros was chasing Izilot’s own personal best of 24.3, which they scored to win Pau in the autumn, and although they fell a smidgen short of that, they secured a clear lead in this field on 25.3.

Ros started with a beautifully square halt, and the three sevens awarded indicated the judges were not simply going to throw marks at this pairing. But the Zavall ZDL gelding quickly began to earn their approval, with the whole test sheet littered with eights, as well as nines for canter and extended canter. He goes with such lightness and cadence, and while Ros has made no secret of the fact he is a spooky horse, he held it together well and showed very little tension.

There was just one corner of the arena, near A, to which he took exception, looking like wanted to jog before the halt and rein back, but he listened to Ros and went on to halt for a string of eights.

“I’m delighted with him – he’s been doing some good work this week and we all know he’s a quality horse,” said Ros. “He did have a little spook in there, at the camera at A, which he didn’t like on the right rein. But that is him – and the fact that we know that he can have a spook and come back to the quality of work, that’s great.

Badminton final scores

“He’s 11 now, so he’s getting better. I’ve done less schooling over the winter and hacked him more. I’m learning how to ride him, and react less. If I think he’s going to spook I almost drop the reins rather than trying to help him through it.”

Ros – the winner last year on Lordships Graffalo – added that she was feeling “open-minded” about the cross-country.

“We’re here to be competitive and we’ll go out of the start box meaning business,” said Ros. “I know I’m favourite on statistics, but I also know my horse and how unproven he is over a course of this length with the stamina and endurance, so that pressure doesn’t impact me.”

At the end of the dressage phase, Ros has a two penalty lead over Bubby Upton and Cola on 27.3 with Tim Price and Vitali third on 27.7.

Badminton Horse Trials dressage top 1o leaderboard

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

View the results in full

Two mares on form in Badminton Horse Trials dressage

Kirsty Chabert caught the eye on the diminutive Opposition Heraldik Girl, with her bold and lively test. This impeccably bred mare, by Fleetwater Opposition x Heraldik, has a lovely outlook, and while she was possibly a little bit too keen to do the job at times, she racked up plenty of sevens. She showed a great extended canter, and neat flying changes. They scored 32.4, a super mark for this 12-year-old mare at her second five-star, finishing the day in 14th place.

“I’m speechless to be honest,” said Kirsty. “She’s small but not quite a pony – maybe 15.1hh on stilts. She’s unbelievable, the length of stride and power, the heart and brain. She’s one of those freaks that we’re blessed with.”

It was a mixed bag for Jonelle Price and her 2022 Pau CCI5* winner Grappa Nera in the Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase, who would have been looking at a top-10 slot had the flying changes not let them down. This elegant mare, with a long glittery bonnet, produced a pleasing picture overall, consistently scoring sevens. Their highlights were the medium walk and halt, for eights, as well as the extended canter. However, the changes were either too exuberant or mistimed, and a score of two for the second one caused the marks to plummet. They scored 34.4.

“I can see it from both sides,” said Jonelle. “A lot of it I’m delighted with, but some stuff I’m rueing. She’s a hot mare every day of the week, but she stayed with me the whole way through. The changes aren’t established and were her downfall and so costly on the scoreboard.”

Grappa Nera has put up some disappointing dressage scores at one-days so far this season, so this was a definite improvement. Jonelle explained that she doesn’t put any pressure on the mare at one-days.

“I just let her do whatever she’s going to do because it needs a lot of work to get her to this point and you can’t go through that process every other week!” she said. “But what’s important to me is that when it counts she hasn’t let me down. I didn’t put a dressage saddle on her until last night because she’s so quick to have an argument so I just don’t put her in that position, and wait until she’s ready.”

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Disappointment for one British and one Irish rider at Kentucky five-star

Pippa Roome — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:15:51 +0000

Kirsty Chabert suffered the disappointment of a run-out on the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course today.

The British rider had had 20 penalties here at the US spring five-star last year and returned hoping for redemption, but unfortunately it didn’t come off today for her and Classic VI.

Kirsty’s round with the 15-year-old mare, owned by Carole Somers, Kate Ward and her father John Johnston, started well. But the mare seemed not to sight the arrowhead off a turn in the Defender Head of the Lake (fence 13abcd) and had to scramble to get over it.

Kirsty successfully steered to the long route out, without penalty, but things unravelled a couple of fences later when they had 20 penalties at the corner out of Pete’s Hollow (fence 16abc). They went on to complete with 11.6 time-faults and are in 21st place.

The other three British riders all had strong rounds today and hold the top three spots ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping.

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country: Susie Berry

Susie Berry also had 20 jumping penalties on Derek di Grazia’s Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country course. Her ride was Clever Trick, owned by her rider, Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson.

The Irish team rider was blasted out of the saddle at the jump into the Head of the Lake and nearly ran into the crowd on the far side of the water.

“She just really misread jumping into the water – maybe I was a bit quiet but I think she took off very brave and then put her stifles back down. I think she was just surprised it was water, I don’t know if the shadows of the trees disguised it,” said Susie. “But yes, I nearly killed some people… not quite, but we sort of stopped at the string. I was sat on her wither.”

Susie Berry and Clever Trick nearly run into the crowd at the Kentucky 2024. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Susie tried not to cross her tracks but by the time she had regained her seat and control, she had passed the arrowhead which formed the alternative element b, so 20 penalties was inevitable.

“She was really gutsy after that to keep going and to keep fighting for me to get home,” said Susie, who took some long routes on the way back to the finish, finishing the day with 25.2 time-faults in 24th place.

The Irish rider was candid that it was a disappointing result, particularly as the mare is fast so there was potential to move up the ranks today, but it was Clever Trick’s first five-star and both horse and rider will take valuable experience from their Kentucky debut.

Susie was the only Irish competitor in the five-star at Kentucky this year.

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Kentucky five-star cross-country times: find out when the leading contenders start

Pippa Roome — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:09:46 +0000

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times have been released for Saturday’s action.

The CCI4*-S competitors tackle their course first and then US rider Sara Kozumplik will get the five-star started at 1.30pm (6.30pm British time) on Rock Phantom. The pairs set off at four-minute intervals and Phillip Dutton and his second ride Azure are the final combination on course, at 3.46pm (8.46pm).

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times: British and Irish riders

Susie Berry and Clever Trick (IRL): 1.42pm (6.42pm British time)
Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI (GBR): 2.06pm (7.06pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir (GBR): 2.10pm (7.10pm British time)
Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent (GBR): 3.14pm (8.14pm British time)
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin (GBR): 3.34pm (8.34pm British time)

Other key contenders

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan (USA): 1.54pm (6.54pm British time)
Doug Payne and Quantum Leap (USA): 2.02pm (7.02pm British time)
Monica Spencer and Artist (NZL): 2.14pm (7.14pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool (USA): 2.26pm (7.26pm British time)
Mia Farley and Phelps (USA): 2,46pm (7.46pm British time)
Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle (USA): 3.02pm (8.02pm British time)
Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus (USA): 3.22pm (8.22pm British time)
Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker (USA): 3.26pm (8.26pm British time)
Boyd Martin and On Cue (USA): 3.42pm (8.42pm British time)
Phillip Dutton and Azure (USA): 3.46pm (8.46pm British time)

Full list of times (cross-country times listed on right)

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‘Like a nice bottle of red wine’ – special mare makes it a British one-two overnight at Kentucky

Pippa Roome — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:26:31 +0000

Kirsty Chabert made it a five-star one-two for Britain overnight in the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage when she slotted into second behind Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir.

“It sounds a bit daft but at 15 years old she is still improving – hopefully she’s like a really nice bottle of red wine and keeps maturing with age,” said Kirsty of Classic VI, who belongs to her father John Johnston, Carole Somers and Kate Ward.

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage: adrenalin spike

After warming up well, the mare hesitated and tried to back up as Kirsty rode down the ramp into the imposing stadium. Nonetheless, their early trot work was trending around 70% and they scored a nine, from Xavier Le Sauce at M, for their mid-test halt. An unbalanced moment after the first flying change and a blip on the final centreline pulled their marks down a little and they finished on a score of 31.

Talking about whether the mare carried the moment in the chute into the arena, Kirsty said: “I guess it must spike a bit of adrenalin to some degree, mustn’t it? She actually settled really well, so I’m chuffed with her. With hindsight, I probably should have walked in.

“She was super out here in the warm-up and then just got a little hotter as we went down, but she held it together. There were two clear mistakes but the rest of the test I was pleased with.”

Talking about the mare generally, Kirsty added: “She’s absolutely beautiful. She likes her people. She’s a typical girl. She likes to trust everybody and she is a darling. She is something special.”

On their best form, Kirsty and Classic can be very competitive at five-star – they were second at Luhmühlen Horse Trials in 2022 and sixth at Pau Horse Trials last year. They came to Kentucky last year and completed with 20 jumping penalties across country.

The pair were third on their prep run at Kronenberg CCI4*-S in March.

“We’ve had a great prep and come here full of confidence,” said Kirsty during the Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage press conference. “But I’ve got Yas to my left and I hope she’s there on Saturday. I’ve got my own goals I’d like to achieve and hopefully the end of the week will take care of itself.”

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Kentucky draw released: find out when the Brits start at the US five-star

Pippa Roome — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:49:10 +0000

The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event draw has been released for the event this month (25-28 April).

Britain has four pairs in the draw following the withdrawal of Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI earlier this week and Kirsty Chabert will be the first of these to start, wearing number 17 with Classic VI, owned by Kate Ward, Carole Somers and Kirsty’s father John Johnston.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, world champions and 2022 Kentucky runners-up, follow immediately after Kirsty at number 18. Banzai belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

There are 42 horses in the Kentucky Three-Day Event draw (although the numbers go to 47 because some horses were withdrawn after the draw was done). Kirsty and Yasmin fall in the first half of the draw, so are likely to do their dressage on the afternoon of the first day (Thursday), with the other two Brits coming forward on Friday.

Oliver Townend and the Ridgeons’ Cooley Rosalent have been drawn as number 38, and the final British pair will be last year’s Kentucky runners-up Tom McEwen and JL Dublin – owned by the Lamberts and Deirdre Johnston – at number 44.

The home side’s 2008 Kentucky winner Phillip Dutton is the only rider with three horses in the draw, so he is the pathfinder on Denim (owned by Ann Lapides, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, Neill Sites), runs at number 23 with Caroline Moran’s Quasi Cool and as the last to go on Caroline, Ann and Michal Moran’s Azure.

Irish rider Susie Berry is number six on her own, Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson’s Clever Trick.

US rider Boyd Martin has two horses in the draw for Kentucky who are both also still entered for Badminton Horse Trials, so it will become clear over the next few weeks where he actually plans to run them. The Turners’ Tsetserleg TSF is number 16 and On Cue, for the same owners and Boyd himself, is number 46.

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‘Pau on the extreme’: Brits come out on top during dramatic five-star cross-country day

Becky Murray — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 21:30:54 +0000

British riders hold the top seven spots following an action-packed Pau Horse Trials cross-country.

Pierre Michelet’s twisty track proved hugely challenging for many today (28 October) at Pau five-star – with a reshuffle of the leaderboard ahead of tomorrow’s (29 October) showjumping.

The pathfinder was New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte, who were making super progress until they came unstuck at the triple brush at the water, fence 20b. This fall led to a number of riders opting for the longer route through this combination, which was one of the most influential on course.

Problems continued to come thick and fast, with fence 9c – the angle after the step jump out of the water – also playing an important factor throughout the day. Jesse Campbell had a fall with his second ride, Diachello, whom he had been sitting in fourth with, at fence 23. Tim Price, who had been in sixth with Viscount Viktor, had two refusals at fence 28a, to drop the pair down the leaderboard.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI hold the top spot overnight, following a particularly testing round owing to a hold on course and a crossing string being left up when the pair approached the final combination, which resulted in an appeal being lodged.

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, the overnight leaders going into the cross-country, now sit in second, following a smooth and convincing clear jumping round, with 8 time penalties.

Tom said JL Dublin was “awesome from start to finish”.

“It’s been quite an intense day of cross-country really. It’s caused problems here, there and everywhere. It’s been a serious test,” he said.

One of the toughest fences at Pau Horse Trials cross-country

Tom added: “It’s Pau on the extreme for sure. But I’m delighted, all I needed was a bit more of a straight on the way home and he would have made the time back up again. With the intensity of the first half going out to the racetrack, I felt I needed to give him a little bit of a blow before opening him back up again, then as soon as you’ve got them back into running spirit, you’re back into the park and twisting around, so it’s a balancing show.”

Tom said the third water combination, fence 20ab is “one of the toughest he has seen this year”, and said when it came to challenges that it was an “accumulation of everything”.

“I adjusted a couple of things because of how I felt at the time, but that’s the whole point of a Pierre course, to be able to adjust,” he said.

Kirsty Chabert and 14-year-old mare Classic VI produced the fastest jumping clear of the day, with just 0.8 of a time-penalty, to move up into third ahead of the showjumping. The mare looked enthusiastic throughout their round, and made light work of the track that many struggled with.

“This mare is a should have, would have, could have – and today she did,” said Kirsty, who parted company with her first horse Opposition Heraldik Girl at fence 9b earlier in the day, in a fall that Kirsty simply described as “C’est la vie”.

“They’re actually two of the most similar rides for me, so that was really nice. They’re both go-karts and love the job. I fell off, it’s going to happen every now and again; I then watched some rounds, went off for a little snooze, had some pasta, then went again with Classic VI and she was cool.”

Kirsty’s round was also not uneventful as she was held on course at the same time as Ros Canter and Izilot DHI following Tom Rowland’s fall with MGH Maybe A Mission. To add to the challenge, Kirsty was stopped at the same fence she had fallen at earlier in the day.

“It wasn’t easy being stopped at nine, I thought they might have you go through nine and stop at the nice bullfinch at fence 10 but no. The offer was to go back and jump fence eight, which is the frangible rail – but I wasn’t loving the idea of doing that again!,” said Kirsty.

“I quite enjoy cross-country schooling, so stopping and restarting maybe made me more determined and you had the crowd cheering. She’s incredible, and she means the world to me. You wouldn’t select her as an event horse, I got her as a not-good-enough jumper, and for a couple of years I spent time on the floor trying to jump water and ditches, but actually she was just terrified of people – and to stand in a big crowd like that today, she’s changed. She loves it now.”

A beautiful day for an “unlucky five-star horse”

Oliver Townend and Tregilder are in fourth overnight . The pair jumped clear around the Pau Horse Trials cross-country and added 7.2 time-penalties to their score.

“He’s a very genuine horse and put himself between the flags,” he said. “It’s hard work out there, you feel like you’re on 20m circle for the first three minutes, which is difficult with a big horse – but at the same time he’s so genuine and a great galloper. I sat as still as I could for the first half, and had to ride him home for the other half, but he’s done very well.”

Oliver said he was “thrilled” for Tregilder and his owners, the Hazeldines & Mitchell Fox Group.

“He’s probably one of the unluckiest five-star horses in the world; he’s fallen at the second last at Burghley when we looked like we were going to be six seconds inside the time. He’s been to Burghley again and his rein broke, so it’s been a long time coming having another good result with him, but he was beautiful today,” he said.

Piggy March and Coolparks Sarco round off the top five, following a super jumping clear in the 11-year-old gelding’s five-star debut. The pair had been moments away from setting off across country when Coolparks Sarco pulled a shoe, delaying their start as this was refitted.

“I thought maybe I should have gone quicker, but I was quite conscious it was his first one. He felt very happy, and this will have built our experience and partnership up,” said Piggy.

Piggy explained at the start of her partnership with Coolparks Sarco she sought advice from his former rider, and Piggy’s close friend, Nicola Wilson.

“Nicola is a legend, and a wonderful friend. What she achieved on a horse, but even more so what she is doing off one. She is with us all the way, all the time, but she was also quite quick and told me after I had rang a few times, ‘Pig, it’s your horse now – you know what you’re doing, make him yours and get on with it’. It’s probably the best thing she did because I’m not protecting her situation with him of thinking ‘What would Nicola do?’ – I’ve got to get on with it, and that’s what we’re doing,” she Piggy.

“He’s really exciting, and he’s a really cool horse.”

Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick added 13.2 time-penalties to their dressage to sit in sixth ahead of the showjumping. Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do jumped clear, with 8.0 time-penalties for overnight seventh.

The only rider to make the 11 minutes six seconds optimum time in the Pau Horse Trials cross-country was US rider Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, however the pair activated a MIM clip at fence 13b, to add 11 penalties to their 31.7 dressage, and sit in eighth. Of 54 cross-country starters, there were 20 jumping clears.

The final horse inspection will take place tomorrow (29 October) at 11.45am local time (10.45 British time) ahead of the showjumping at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time).

**Update: the showjumping will now take place at 3.00pm local time (2.00pm British time).

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(Image credit: Libby Law)

Ros Canter lodges appeal following Pau five-star cross-country

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Would you jump that? See the fences Ros Canter, Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell will tackle at Pau five-star

(Image credit: Libby Law)

Camera-shy gelding recovers to shine in Pau five-star dressage for British one-two-three

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‘You can ride him like a pure dressage horse’: British combination take the lead at Pau five-star

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‘Plenty of opportunities to have a mistake’: Jonelle Price, Ros Canter and Boyd Martin discuss Pau five-star cross-country track

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

Pau five-star dressage times released – find out when the British riders start

Becky Murray — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:50:08 +0000

The Pau Horse Trials dressage times for the first two days of competition have been released.

The first combination down the centre line this afternoon is New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and 11-year-old gelding Cooley Lafitte, who will start at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time).

Next to go is the first of the Brits, Tom Rowland and 12-year-old gelding KND Steel Pulse, at 2.37pm local time (1.37pm British time).

Pau Horse Trials dressage times: the rest of the British competitors

Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel: 2.44pm local time (1.44pm British time) on Thursday
Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl: 2.58pm local time (1.58pm British time) on Thursday
Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On: 3.12pm local time (2.12pm British time) on Thursday
Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do: 3.50pm local time (2.50pm British time) on Thursday
Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier: 3.57pm local time (2.57pm British time) on Thursday
Selina Milnes and Gelmer: 4.28pm local time (3.28pm British time) on Thursday
Izzy Taylor and Happy Days: 4.35pm local time (3.35pm local time) on Thursday
Piggy March and Coolparks Sarco: 4.42pm local time (3.42pm British time) on Thursday
Philip Brown and Harry Robinson: 4.49pm local time (3.49pm British time) on Thursday
Helen Bates and Carpe Diem: 10.07am local time (9.07am British time) on Friday
Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality: 10.21am local time (9.21am British time) on Friday
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin: 10.28am local time (9.28am British time) on Friday
Tom Jackson and Farndon: 10.42am local time (9.42am British time) on Friday
Oliver Townend and Tregilder: 11.37am local time (10.37am British time) on Friday
Harry Meade and Red Kite: 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time) on Friday
India Wishart and Diamond Sundance: 2.37pm local time (1.37pm British time)
Bella Innes Kerr and Highway: 2.44pm local time (1.44pm British time) on Friday
Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley: 3.52pm local time (2.52pm British time) on Friday
Kate Rocher-Smith and HHS Dassett Class: 3.36pm local time (2.56pm British time) on Friday
Tom Rowland and MGH Maybe A Mission: 3.50pm local time (3.50pm British time) on Friday
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 3.57pm local time (2.57pm British time) on Friday
Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI: 4.21pm local time (3.21pm British time) on Friday
Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick: 4.35pm local time (3.35pm British time) on Friday

Check out the full Pau Horse Trials dressage times.

‘My horse dug deeper than he ever has before’: Badminton pathfinder sets standard over stamina-sapping track

Martha Terry — Sun, 07 May 2023 12:25:41 +0000

Wills Oakden did a superb job as pathfinder on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. With such soft going after the previous day’s deluges, stamina was always going to be a major concern. Although Wills’ ride Oughterard Cooley visibly tired towards the end on the sapping ground, he kept galloping and jumping to complete with 28 time-faults.

Wills helped his horse out after he slipped into the first element at the first water, the Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay, when he reacted quickly.

Watch Wills reflect on his round

“Today it’s about using your skills and horsemanship and thinking about the horses and getting them home as well as you can,” he says. “Using them when you think you possibly can and giving them a breather when you need to, and if you treat the day like that, you know there’s success to be had out there. My horse dug deeper than he’s ever had to before and I’m so proud of him.”

Badminton final scores

Pippa Funnell was held midway round and Majas Hope looked to have plenty of spring in his step as he set off again. She tackled the direct route at The Lake, and finished with 24.8 time-faults despite losing a shoe.

“I enjoyed it!” said Pippa. “He’s the best horse in the world to sit on in this phase and I’ve got so much confidence in him, he knows his job. I was down on the clock right at three minutes because I know when it’s wet like this, if you stick to your minute markers early on you get tired horses, so I thought I’d let him get into a rhythm early on and not worry about the clock and ride what I feel.

“You have to ride a bit differently because of the pins [frangible devices]; a few places you definitely have to take one more pull.”

Watch Pippa talk after her round

Vitali looked full of running to finish with the fastest time so far of 24 time-faults for Tim Price, which has moved him up from 11th to the top of the leaderboard at this early stage.

“It’s very testing conditions, more so than I envisaged – you can see the hoofprints and it’s deeper than I imagined,” he said. “He’s a weird wily chap, but out on course his athleticism comes into play. In this day and age it’s not just jumping massive fences, there’s the technical element, so it’s nice to have something quick-witted. But it will be a different ball game later on in the day.”

Leading contender pulled up

Two of the first three horses did not get round, after Fiona Kashel fell off WSF Carthago four fences from home at the Jubilee Clump Brush (fence 26) when the horse ran-out, looking tired, and went into the ditch. There was a hold on course after this.

Oliver Townend was pulled up by the ground jury after his third-placed ride Swallow Springs straddled a couple of fences.

Other non-completions at this early stage include Izzy Taylor on Happy Days, who skewed after trying to run out at an element of the KBIS Brush Boxes (fence 13abcd), broke her martingale and was then eliminated for jumping the b element twice. Kirsty Chabert retired Opposition Loire after a couple of run-outs. Anna-Katharina Vogel’s DPS Quintana P had a tired fall over the Pedigree Dog Kennel, but was able to walk the horse off the course.

Dan Jocelyn was the first rider to go the direct route at The Lake, and the frangible did its job when Cooley One Too Many dragged his legs through the fence. He was held on course, and had to restart just before Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close at 25, where he took the long route. He admitted the hold was a help as he has been considering pulling up his horse due to fatigue.

“The hold gave me a window [to recover] and I nursed him over two long routes,” Dan said. “What a cheer when I came in.”

Smart rounds over Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Ros Canter’s mare Pencos Crown Jewel looked full of running all the way round. They took a stride out in the first water but stayed in good balance and made light work of their mistake, finishing with 26 time-faults to add to their 17th-placed dressage of 29.2.

“The conditions are tough and she gave it her all, she’s an absolute weapon,” said Ros. “The ground is deep, but the horses are jumping well, it’s weighing up how much you give at the beginning and save for the end. I came home thinking I should have pushed a little harder.”

Watch Ros talk about this special mare

Harry Meade used all his experience to hunt Away Cruising round clear for 37.2 time-faults.

“He has a very good heart,” said Harry. “My philosophy was that I would take my watch off, and my plan was to treat it like a long endurance day. I just thought I’d hack him at pace, and try not to set him up more than I needed to, try not to twist him about. He has little feet and has always found soft going quite hard. I thought I would try not to be greedy, and I had to draw on all those years of confidence in the bank.”

Harry found the large oxers towards the end of the course, the Beaufort Brush Box (fence 24) and Wiltshire Brewers Drays (fence 28ab), were too demanding for that stage on the track.

“I didn’t like to ride some of those last fences,” he said. “They don’t brush through a 5ft oxer. When they get tired their brain goes, so I took some wide turns, as I could see a horse giving up and not locking on. I didn’t like the big oxers at the end, those big showjumping questions just empty horses. But I tried to ride sensibly from the start, and the main thing is I got home and he’s a happy horse.”

Tom Jackson also resorted to plan B in respect of the ground on Capels Hollow Drift, 14th after dressage. They jumped clear with 30.4 time-faults.

“He really did dig deep today in the ground conditions,” he said. “The feedback was that the horses were tired from The Lake, but he kicked on. He just felt tired after Huntsman’s [fence 25ab]. I was walking the course this morning with laser focus [on the minute markers], but you had to forget plan A and ride the horse, see what happens.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

‘The best he’s ever gone’: Burghley runner-up bids to go one better at Badminton

Martha Terry — Fri, 05 May 2023 10:35:17 +0000

It’s early days, but third-to-go Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs, who is owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon, still sit at the top of the leaderboard on 23.1 on day one of Badminton Horse Trials dressage, presented by Mars Equestrian (5 May).

The Burghley runners-up, Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift, who is owned by Sarah Webb, Patricia Davenport and Milly Simmie, got their Badminton campaign off to an excellent start with 28. This puts them third at this stage behind Oliver and Tim Price (Vitali). The flying changes let them down, but nines for the collected canter lifted the score to their personal best at the level.

“I know there were a couple of little mistakes in there, but on the whole, I felt he was going better than he’s ever gone, I couldn’t ask much more,” said Tom, who has been working on the horse’s cadence over the winter. “He’s improving all the time. The changes on one rein have been difficult but they were clean this time, just a little bit exuberant in places. He’s a lovely mover and very rideable, just not the biggest and flashiest mover, but he felt very smart in there today. He’s still a relatively young horse so hopefully we can keep edging closer.

“With the ground conditions, I hope that going early on Sunday is going to be an advantage for me.”

Badminton final scores

Watch Tom reflect on his test

Harry Meade conjured a huge personal best out of the Irish Sport Horse Away Cruising, scoring 29 after the first coffee break. The long-striding grey looked relaxed and focused, with his exceptional canter drawing plenty of eights from the judges. He finished with a nine for his halt.

“He’s a lovely Irish old-fashioned type, not a warmblood dressage horse, and he produced a really solid test; he didn’t miss a beat,” said Harry of the 16-year-old, who is owned by Charlotte Opperman and Janie Dear. “Last year I kicked myself because I wanted him fresh and shortened the warm-up and he was too fresh. This year, I worked him for longer, and possibly he lost a fraction of his sparkle, but it was a good clear round of a test. Job done and on to the next phase.”

Watch Harry speak about his test with Away Cruising

Greys monopolise the Badminton Horse Trials dressage

It was a good morning for greys, who seem to have dominated the morning’s proceedings. Izzy Taylor and the Cevin Z-sired Happy Days produced some eye-catching work, but will just be ruing their flying changes. They were on target for a mark of around 25, but scores of twos for the changes dragged the mark down to 29.2, just behind Harry.

“It’s only his fourth three-day, so to come here and keep his brain as well as he did I was so pleased,” said Izzy of the 11-year-old owned by Caroline Wilson, Lavinia Taylor and Alex Colquhorn. “He’s a lovely horse who tries so hard, a little bit too hard as he demonstrated with his second changes, but I’m delighted with him. He’s got loads more to come so to score that without doing a clear round is very exciting.

“It’s definitely not going to be a dressage competition, there has been a lot of rain and we’ll be riding the horses we’re sat on at that minute.”

Kirsty Chabert also squeaked under the 30 barrier on Opposition Loire, who is making her five-star debut. Her canter work looked particularly strong.

“I’m chuffed to bits as it’s her first time in any sort of atmosphere like this,” said Kirsty, who was competing another horse in Kentucky last weekend.

“It will mean the cross-country morning will be familiar, which is better for the nerves than if you’ve just popped round some open intermediates. But we’ll take the cross-country step by step.”

Watch Kirsty talk after her test

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

Clears, time-faults and 20 penalties: how Tom McEwen, Zara Tindall and Kirsty Chabert fared on Kentucky cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 19:03:59 +0000

Tom McEwen has had a great Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country round with Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, finishing with 5.2 time-faults.

This is still a relatively new partnership between the British Olympic double medallist and the 12-year-old JL Dublin, who was produced to top level by Nicola Wilson, winning the European Championships before Nicola was seriously injured in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials last year. Today marked a first top level start for Tom and “Dubs” as a combination.

Tom was second after dressage and has definitely dropped behind Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, who earlier went clear in the time, but he will be no worse than fifth after this phase.

Two other British riders have so far taken their turn over Derek di Grazia’s Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country track.

Zara Tindall put in a jumping clear with Gleadhill House Stud’s Class Affair, coming home 45 seconds over the time for 18 time-penalties.

Kirsty Chabert had 20 penalties at the first triple brush out of the Park Question at fence 6abcd, which is proving an influential question. Pathfinder Buck Davidson also had 20 penalties at the same element on Erroll Gobey, while the second pair out, Jennie Savill and Twighlightslastgleam broke the frangile device on the rails in, incurring 11 penalties.

Britain’s overnight leader Yasmin Ingham will be starting shortly on her world champion, The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai Du Loir.

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(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

‘He’s got a heart the size of Kentucky’: mixed fortunes for early riders on Kentucky cross-country

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‘It’s all down to Nicola’: Tom McEwen and Nicola Wilson’s former ride JL Dublin take lead at Kentucky

(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

The 28 challenging five-star fences Zara Tindall and Yasmin Ingham are facing this weekend

(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

How to watch Kentucky Three-Day Event live from anywhere in the world

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

Zara Tindall and Kirsty Chabert in top 10 as Tom McEwen leads for Britain after first day of Kentucky dressage

Pippa Roome — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 21:33:24 +0000

Britain’s riders all hold top 10 positions after the first day of Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage.

Zara Tindall was the final British rider into the arena today and scored 32.6 with Class Affair, a chestnut by OBOS Quality 004 who is owned by Gleadhill House Stud. She holds 10th place at this stage.

The pair put in some good work, pulling eights from the judges for their first centreline, extended trot, mid-test halt, extended walk and final halt, plus an 8.5 from Peter Shaw at E for their extended canter.

But while the 14-year-old Class Affair is undoubtedly talented, Zara also openly admits he is not the easiest horse in his brain. Tension and mistakes meant that marks dropped down to fours and fives in the trot shoulder-in left, the canter strike off and the medium canter.

Kentucky debutante Kirsty Chabert sits seventh on a mark of 30.8 with last year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials runner-up Classic VI, who belongs to Carole Somers, Kate Ward and Kirsty’s father John Johnston.

The elegant mare also raked in some eights and an 8.5 (from Peter Shaw for extended trot) and generally held her scores at a consistent level, with only a couple below six.

Meanwhile Tom McEwen and the former Nicola Wilson ride JL Dublin, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, hold the lead on a mark of 22.6.

“He was amazing and it’s all down to Nicola I get to enjoy him – I’m unbelievably lucky to take the reins on one of the most unbelievable horses,” said Tom, who was given the ride after Nicola suffered serious injuries in a fall last year. “It wouldn’t have ever come this quickly if it wasn’t for everything Nicola’s done and the bond they’ve had throughout his career.”

The Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage continues tomorrow when two more British riders will perform, Yasmin Ingham on Banzai Du Loir and David Doel on Galileo Nieuwmoed.

World silver medallist among latest Badminton withdrawals

Lucy Elder — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:52:33 +0000

Top contenders are among the latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals as the clock ticks down to the 2023 event.

Leading US combination Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus will not be starting at the Gloucestershire five-star, presented by Mars Equestrian.

Lauren and the 16-year-old gelding, owned by Jaqueline Mars, were part of the US silver medal-winning team at the 2022 World Eventing Championships in Pratoni.

Vermiculus, known as “Bug”, would have been among the favourites for a top result at Badminton. He has a remarkable cross-country record, having jumped clear on his last 18 starts, and is an established five-star contender.

Badminton final scores

The pair’s results at CCI5* include fourth at Luhmühlen in 2022, ninth at Burghley and the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2019, and fifth at Kentucky in 2018.

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed, sixth at Badminton last year, have withdrawn. It has been known for a while that the pair were planning a trip to Kentucky this spring and are now officially off the Badminton startlist.

The duo, who were fourth at Pau CCI5* in October, have won two four-stars since their Badminton debut last year. Gillian Jonas’s 12-year-old gelding has passed the first horse inspection at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and is due into the dressage arena with David at 3.23pm local time (8.23pm British time) tomorrow (Friday, 28 April).

Last year’s Luhmühlen runners-up Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI are another combination to have officially withdrawn from Badminton because they are contesting Kentucky. Kirsty and the 14-year-old mare, owned by Carole Somers, John Johnston and Kate Ward, will start their first US five-star campaign at 3.20pm local time (8.20pm British time) today (Thursday, 27 April).

Britain’s Emilie Chandler and her 2019 Blair Castle-winning ride Gortfadda Diamond, owned by Maria Doel, are also among the latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals. The pair have form at five-star, having finished sixth at Luhmühlen in 2021.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

When do Tom McEwen and Zara Tindall start? Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times released

Pippa Roome — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:41:12 +0000

Want to know your favourite riders’ Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times? You’re in the right place!

Saturday’s five-star cross-country action kicks off at 1.20pm local time (6.20pm British time), with Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey first on course. Competitors set out at four-minute intervals thereafter, with the final pair due to leave the start box at 3.56pm local time (8.56pm British time).

Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times: British competitors

Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI: 2.08pm local time (7.08pm British time)
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin: 2.16pm local time (7.16pm British time)
Zara Tindall and Class Affair: 2.24pm local time (7.24pm British time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 2.48pm local time (7.48pm British time)
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 3.36pm local time (8.36pm British time)

Other key pairs

The following all compete for the US, except for Germany’s Sandra Auffarth.

Phillip Dutton and Z: 1.32pm local time (6.32pm British time)
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z: 1.48pm local time (6.48pm British time)
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz: 2pm local time (7pm British time)
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum: 2.04pm local time (7.04pm British time)
Will Coleman and Off The Record: 2.36pm local time (7.36pm British time)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF: 3pm local time (8pm British time)
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C: 3.04pm local time (8.04pm British time)
Buck Davidson and Carlevo: 3.48pm local time (8.48pm British time)
Doug Payne and Quantum Leap: 3.44pm local time (8.44pm British time)
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic: 3.56pm local time (8.56pm British time)

Check out the full Kentucky Three-Day Event cross-country times (on the right-hand side of page; dressage times are on the left).

Kentucky five-star dressage times released – find out when the British riders start

Pippa Roome — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:47:43 +0000

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times for the next two days of action have been released.

The first competitor into the arena tomorrow (Thursday) will be the home side’s Buck Davidson on Erroll Gobey, who will come before the ground jury at 1.30pm local time (6.30pm British time).

Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times: British competitors

Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI: 3.20pm local time (8.20pm British time) on Thursday
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin: 3.53pm local time (8.53pm British time) on Thursday
Zara Tindall and Class Affair: 4.09pm local time (9.09pm British time) on Thursday
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir: 1.16pm local time (6.16pm British time) on Friday
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 3.23pm local time (8.23pm British time) on Friday

Other key pairs

The following all compete for the US, except for Germany’s Sandra Auffarth.

Phillip Dutton and Z: 1.54pm local time (6.54pm British time) on Thursday
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z: 2.40pm local time (7.40pm British time) on Thursday
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz: 3.04pm local time (8.04pm British time) on Thursday
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum: 3.12pm local time (8.12pm British time) on Thursday
Will Coleman and Off The Record: 4.33pm local time (9.33pm British time) on Thursday
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF: 1.40pm local time (6.40pm British time) on Friday
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C: 2.10pm local time (7.10pm British time) on Friday
Buck Davidson and Carlevo: 3.47pm local time (8.47pm British time) on Friday
Doug Payne and Quantum Leap: 3.39pm local time (8.39pm British time) on Friday
Will Coleman and Chin Tonic: 4.03pm local time (9.03pm British time) on Friday

Check out the full Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage times.

Late withdrawals include one Brit as Kentucky five-star gets underway with first trot-up

Pippa Roome — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:49:26 +0000

Thirty-eight horses were presented at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event first trot-up this afternoon and all were accepted to start the competition.

US rider Andrew McConnon, who had hoped to make his five-star debut this week, was on the start list for the inspection, but withdrew Ferrie’s Cello before his turn on the strip.

Five British pairs came forward for the Kentucky Three-Day Event first trot-up, in front of ground jury president Christina Klingspor of Sweden and members Angela Tucker of Great Britain and Peter Shaw of Australia. US-based British rider Leslie Law withdrew Voltaire De Tre’ at the start of this week.

Britain’s world champion Yasmin Ingham will aim to go one better than last year, when she finished second at Kentucky, on The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai Du Loir.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir at Kentucky 2023. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Tom McEwen makes his Kentucky debut on Jo and James Lamberts’ and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin, while Kirsty Chabert also has her first start here, riding Classic VI, owned by Carole Somers, Kate Ward and Kirsty’s father John Johnston. David Doel completes the trio of British Kentucky first-timers, riding Gillian Jonas’s Galileo Nieuwmoed.

Zara Tindall – who finished third at the US five-star in 2017 on High Kingdom – rounds out the British pack, with Gleadhill House Stud’s Class Affair.

Zara Tindall presents Class Affair at the first trot-up at Kentucky 2023. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

US favourite Tamie Smith cut a dash in the fashion stakes today, wearing a short white dress and black hat to trot-up world team silver medallist Mai Baum.

Will Coleman’s ride Off The Record, one of Mai Baum’s team-mates from last year’s World Championships, showed high spirits during his turn, cantering on his return up the trot-up strip.

As usual at Kentucky, the horses who have flown in from Europe all trotted up first. This is to keep them separate from the US-based horses, for biosecurity reasons.

The five-star dressage is scheduled to start at 1.30pm local time tomorrow (6.30pm British time).

Still no maternity leave in eventing, while rules for dressage and jumping change

Becky Murray — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 19:21:15 +0000

Changes to FEI maternity rules in dressage and showjumping have been welcomed – but there remains no such provision for eventing.

Maternity leave in horse sport has been discussed at length over the years and extensively reported on by H&H. The topic was back under the spotlight when the FEI announced it would review the rules after Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was denied her planned competition return after having her second child, owing to the “FEI’s perception of the regulations” (news, 29 September).

This month, the FEI announced changes to the maternity rules for dressage, showjumping and driving to “introduce further flexibility” and give athletes the option of adapting the duration of their leave to their individual situations.

Under the new rules, the minimum maternity leave period has been reduced from six months to three; the maximum period of 12 months remains unchanged. Riders can come back earlier than originally indicated, by giving four weeks’ notice, or 10 weeks for showjumpers who wish to be eligible for CSI invitations. Riders will continue to retain 50% of their ranking points during this leave.

These rules have also now been introduced for endurance and para dressage, while vaulting is being examined by the technical committee.

World and European team gold medal-winning German showjumper Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman, who was involved in founding campaign group EqualEquest following the birth of her son, said the changes are “positive” and the FEI is sending a “clear signal” to women in top class sport.

“Nevertheless, we will continue to be involved [in campaigning]. More self-determination and flexibility are essential so that women can remain competitive in equestrian sports,” she said.

The FEI said it had listened to the riders who wanted the option of returning to competition earlier than six months.

“The board is in favour of supporting athletes wishing to achieve the best balance between family and a high-level sports career,” said an FEI spokesman, who added that the FEI will “keep on reviewing” the maternity and medical leave across disciplines to make sure they remain “relevant and fair”.

But despite the latest review, eventing remains without any maternity rules. The FEI eventing committee said it considered including medical and maternity leave provisions, but it was “not in favour” owing to “risk management reasons”.

Five-star eventer Kirsty Chabert told H&H she believes event riders should be able to retain some of their points when they take time off to have a baby, and that returning to competition was in the “forefront“ of her mind after she had her son in December 2018.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to freeze our points, we’ve worked hard to gain them and we’re constantly trying to get back to the job as quickly as we can. I had a complicated C-section, but I still felt the need to be back competing as quickly as I could,” she said.

“Thinking of risk management, I would say eventing is the riskiest of the three disciplines, and possibly the most strenuous. When you’ve got to be able to hold your pelvic floor and core for potentially 11 minutes and jump down into drop fences and still be able to be safe, surely by freezing your points you’re then not rushing to get back doing a discipline that you might physically not be fit enough to do.

“I think there needs to be a generic rule that’s across the disciplines, if that’s possible.”

The FEI spokesman told H&H the safety of athletes is “paramount” and it was felt that freezing ranking points would be “counterproductive” in eventing.

“Maternity leave provisions were not proposed in eventing, reflecting the eventing committee’s position on safety. This follows extensive work with the community in the past years to reinforce the eventing risk management policy by implementing rules that put more emphasis on recent results, to ensure athletes and horses are active at the level they compete and, ultimately, to reduce risk,” said the spokesman.

“This includes rider categorisation, minimum eligibility requirements (MERs), return to play rules or development of the horse form index, among others. Trends are being monitored through the collection of data and statistics and these clearly show that using current results as part of the MERs is a strong contributing factor to safety.”

World-class British entries announced for 2022 eventing World Championships

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:26:09 +0000

The eventing World Championships nominated entries (14-18 September) have been announced.

British Equestrian and the British Eventing selectors have confirmed the 15 horse and rider combinations from which the squad travelling to Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, will be drawn.

In alphabetical order, the combinations are:

Sarah Bullimore with 11-year-old gelding Corouet

Owner: Sarah, her husband Brett, and the Kew Jumping Syndicate

Breeder: Sarah Buillimore (GBR)

Breeding: by Balou du Rouet, out of Lilly Corinne by Lovis Corinth

Ros Canter with 17-year-old gelding Allstar B

Owner: Ros and Caroline Moore

Breeder: FAJ Van der Burg (NED)

Breeding: by Ephebe For Ever, out of a mare by Erkstein

Ros Canter with 10-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo

Owner: Michele Saul

Breeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College (GBR)

Breeding: by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King

Ros Canter with 13-year-old mare Pencos Crown Jewel

Owner: Kate James and Annie Mackin

Breeder: Pennie Wallace (GBR)

Breeding: by Jumbo, out of a mare by Rock King

Kirsty Chabert with 13-year-old mare Classic IV

Owner: John Johnston and Carole Somers

Breeder: Peter Charles (GBR)

Breeding: by Calvaro FC

Laura Collett with 13-yearold gelding London 52

Owner: Laura, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

William Fox- Pitt with 13-year-old gelding Little Fire

Owner: William and Jennifer Dowling

Breeder: Dr. Volker Steinkraus (GER)

Breeding: by Graf Top, out of a mare by Heraldik

Pippa Funnell with 15-year-old gelding Majas Hope

Owner: Pippa and Marek Sebestak

Breeder: Jack Murphy (IRL)

Breeding: by Porter Rhodes, out of a mare by Flagmount King

Yasmin Ingham with 11-year-old gelding Banzai Du Loir

Owner: Janette Chinn and Sue Davies

Breeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)

Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay, out of a mare by Livarot

Kitty King with 13-year-old gelding Vendredi Biats

Owner: Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker

Breeder: Phillipe Brivois (FRA)

Breeding: by Winningmood, out of a mare by Camelia de Ruelle

Piggy March with 17-year-old mare Vanir Kamira

Owner: Trevor Dickens

Breeder: Kathryn Jackson (IRL)

Breeding: by Camira de Haar Z, out of a mare by Dixi

Tom McEwen with 15-year-old gelding Toledo de Kerser

Owner: Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Coppell and Alison McEwen

Breeder: Kerstin Drevet (FRA)

Breeding: by Diamant de Semilly, out of a mare by Papillon Rouge

Izzy Taylor with 11-year-old gelding Monkeying Around

Owner: Izzy and and Mark Sartori

Breeder: Christian Heinrich (GER)

Breeding: by Bertoli W, out of a mare by Donnerhall II

Oliver Townend with 15-year-old gelding Ballaghmor Class

Owner: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan

Breeder: Noel Hicky (IRL)

Breeding: by Courage II

Oliver Townend with 14-year-old Swallow Springs

Owner: Paul and Diana Ridgeon

Breeder: Maria Keating (IRL)

Breeding: by Chillout, out of a mare by Cult Hero

As part of the Eventing World Championships entries, the following 10 reserve combinations have also been selected, listed in alphabetical order:

Kirsty Chabert with 11-year-old mare Opposition LoireOwner: Kirsty and the Daisy ChainBreeder: Mr J Johnston (GBR)Breeding: by Opposition Heracles, out of a mare by Carnival Drum

Laura Collett with 13-year-old gelding DacapoOwner: Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams, Alison and Michael Smedley and Carolyn TaylorBreeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Canturo

David Doel with 11-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed

Owner: Gillian Jonas

Breeder: J W and A P Jurrius (NED)

Breeding: by Carambole, out of a mare by Harcos

William Fox- Pitt with 13-year-old gelding OratorioOwner: the Oratorio SyndicateBreeding: by Oslo Biats, out of a mare by Topanoora

Pippa Funnell with 12-year-old gelding MaybachOwner: S H E Eventing ABBreeder: Camilla Paradis (SWE)Breeding: by Jaguar Mail, out of a mare by Irco Mena

Tom Jackson with 11-year-old gelding Capels Hollow Drift

Owner: Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb

Breeder: Jeanette Glynn (GBR)

Breeding: by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, out of a mare by Lucky Gift

Richard Jones with 15-year-old gelding Alfies CloverOwner: Richard, Sandra Martin and Dinah SaundersBreeder: James Hickey (GBR)Breeding: by Tajrassi, out of a mare by Clover Hill

Selina Milnes with 13-year-old gelding IronOwner: William and Angela RuckerBreeding: by Aquilino, out of a mare by Donnerschlag

Tom McEwen with 11-year-old gelding Bob ChaplinOwner: Fred and Penny BarkerBreeding: by Cashell, out of a mare by Silver Jasper

Tom McEwen with 12-year-old chestnut mare CHF CooliserOwner: Vicky Bates and David MyersBreeder: Raymond Carroll (IRL)Breeding: by Womanizer, out of a mare by Ramiro B

The names of the grooms for each horse will be included in the final squad announcement.

British rider seals biggest result of her career aboard ‘beautiful and quirky’ mare at Luhmühlen

Lucy Elder — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:24:39 +0000

Britain’s Kirsty Chabert clinched the biggest result of her career to finish runner-up at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials with the quirky British-bred mare Classic VI.

The pair delivered one of only three fault-free showjumping rounds in the German five-star to climb the leaderboard and finish on their dressage score of 31.1 – 2.1 penalties behind Swiss winners Felix Vogg and Colero.

Ice-cream hacks through the New Forest have been key to getting the best out of this opinionated and athletic mare.

“This week has been a whirlwind,” said Kirsty, 33. “She has been fantastic throughout all three phases. “I had a phenomenal ride on her across country. I was actually quite down on my minute markers. I came out of the last water and looked at the clock – I’m not very good at timekeeping – and saw I was a fair way down. I put a bit of leg on and off she went. She finished quite comfortably inside the time in the end.”

Kirsty felt the nerves before her showjumping round, opting not to watch those jumping ahead of her, instead choosing to stay away from the arena until her time.

“She is a very good jumper, so if she has a fence, I have to put my hands up and accept full responsibility for it,” she said.

“I tried to just stick to my plan with her, which is to ride her like a go-kart, like a pony. That’s how she likes to be ridden and she answered everything.”

The talented partnership walked home from fence 20, the Nyetimber Corners, at Badminton in May, and decided to re-route to Luhmühlen. They came to Germany on the back of a CCI4*-S win at Millstreet, with Kirsty musing that running more frequently and a consistent competition schedule, not interrupted by Covid as in previous years, could be the key to their successes this spring.

“This is more than I’ve ever achieved. For me, my dad [John Johnston] and Carole Somers, who are the part owners, it is just incredible,” said Kirsty, whose groom Sarah-Jane Tetlow, also took the grooms’ prize.

“She has all the beauty, charisma and ability, it was just a case of harnessing everything. You always dream of a great result and for me this is my biggest achievement yet. To do it on her has been a big team effort from everybody at home. She spends most of her time hacking around the New Forest getting ice-creams and enjoying life. It’s not just me, it’s a massive team effort to get her in a happy place.”

The Calvaro F.C. mare was bred by Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper, Peter Charles, and has been with Kirsty since she was five years old.

“She’s always been a beautiful mare, and she is extremely quirky,” said Kirsty. “She’s not a fan of multiple things – farriers, vets, men – she’s very comfortable in her own team, but for her to accept somebody and to trust them is the hardest thing. She’s a mare, so it all comes on her terms.”

Izzy Taylor takes Bramham CCI4*-L on Monkeying Around in dramatic final showjumping session

Pippa Roome — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 14:00:18 +0000

Izzy Taylor topped the Bramham Horse Trials results in the CCI4*-L when she jumped clear this afternoon on her own and Mark Sartori’s Monkeying Around to hold her overnight lead.

Izzy had to wait for the wall at fence six to be re-built before she could enter the arena because it had blown down during Ros Canter’s round and she admitted that once she got going, it felt like she had to work as hard as “Monkey”.

She said: “I waited and I waited and I waited and I thought, ‘Oh they’ll be done [rebuilding the wall] by now’. Normally I go into a ring and off we go. I went in and we had a little trot around, had a little canter round, and then off we went and it was fine, but he was bit spooky and a bit like, ‘Oh, are we doing this right now?’ Yes, we are doing this right now. But he was good.”

Izzy knew she could not afford a fence down, but that a few time-faults would still leave her at the top of the leaderboard and she finished three seconds over the time.

“It is always nice to know what you’ve got and the way he was, I needed to use them,” she said.

“But I’m just thrilled with him. He’s won his four star before at Burnham Market in 2020 and then to come here, which is a whole different competition in many respects, just proves to me that he’s is a proper horse. He’s a real one. I’m really thrilled for everyone that’s involved with him. There’s a lot of work behind them all, as we all know, so I’m delighted.”

Izzy headed an all-British top three in the Bramham Horse Trials results with Ros Canter second on Pencos Crown Jewel and Kirsty Chabert third on Opposition Loire.

The final section of the showjumping was marked by drama. Tom McEwen, who was seventh overnight, had a nasty fall when Dream Big crashed through the second part of the final treble at fence 12. Tom’s foot was caught in the right stirrup as the horse got to her feet but he managed to stand up and get it out without Dream Big panicking.

Meet a married couple competing at Badminton: a building site manager and a rider who almost gave up after pregnancy complications

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 05 May 2022 13:05:46 +0000

There are two married couples competing at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian. One of them is New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price, and the other is Kirsty and Arthur Chabert. But, unlike Tim and Jonelle, who are both full-time event riders, the dynamic is slightly different for Kirsty and Arthur.

Kirsty events full-time, while Arthur works full-time as a building site manager.

“Arthur only has two horses; his top one and a youngster, so he’s very much a professional amateur,” explains Kirsty. “We’ve got a great team at home that support us. Each day Arthur comes home from work at 6pm, rides his two horses, reads a bedtime story to our three-year-old son Henry and then we do it all again the next day.”

Arthur Chabert and Goldsmiths Imber (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Kirsty and Arthur married in December 2016 and make up Team Opposition, based near Salisbury in Wiltshire at Landford Common Stud, which was set up by Kirsty’s parents, John and Debbie Johnston. At this year’s Badminton, Kirsty is riding Classic VI, and was first to go, posting a 32.8 dressage score this morning (5 May). Arthur, who competes under the French flag, rides Goldsmiths Imber and the pair will perform their dressage on Friday.

Badminton final scores

“We’ve competed as a couple for a while now, so we’re in sync with it,” says Kirsty. “We’re both here for the same reason, but we have different plans as we are riding very, very different horses. Classic is a fiery little thing, while Arthur’s is a much rangier type.

“I sent them both to Burghley in 2019 for their first five-star and they made it like a BE90 track – there’s not many horses that could do that for you to be confident enough to go to Burghley for your first five-star and pick up a rosette at the end of it for finishing 17th.

“At these sorts of competitions we try and keep ourselves to ourselves on the plan side of things, and then we can discuss elements as and when we need to.”

Kirsty gave birth to Henry in December 2018, and things were far from straightforward.

“I was in labour for quite a few days and then ended up having an emergency C-section,” explains Kirsty, who has a number of five-star completions to her name. “I had quite a few complications following that in 2020 when the pandemic hit. I came back to riding, but I was in so much pain while trying to ride sitting trot that I very nearly gave up – that was horrible, because I really like doing dressage, but the pain made it very hard and the feeling of not enjoying dressage was horrible.”

Thankfully Kirsty says she is feeling much better now.

“I’ve had some surgery and that’s all sorted now so we’re looking forward to the rest of this week.”

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue and keep fully up-to-date with all the action during Badminton week via horseandhound.co.uk, where a host of features and reports will be published.

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“He’s really exciting, and he’s a really cool horse.”

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