Five-star event rider Lissa Green grew up as the daughter of eventing royalty. Her parents are six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green and multi-Olympian David Green.

Lissa spoke to H&H’s Gemma Redrup on the most recent episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast about a range of topics, including what it was like having such well-known parents in her early years.

“I wasn’t aware at all to be honest at the beginning,” explains Lissa when asked if she realised her parents were famous when she was a child. “You grow up with what you know as the norm and spending each weekend going to another random field on the edge of the English countryside is just what we did.

“I loved it, it was a very obscure childhood. I used to meet up with Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd’s children at each of the shows and aged eight or nine onwards, we’d roam free with our £5 for the day, which we thought was the world’s best and then met up with our parents at the end of the day and cracked on.”

Lissa states that eventing has always been her first love, but that it was a relaxed affair in her younger years.

“It was always very unserious in the first years on any begged, borrowed or stolen horse,” says Lissa, who started eventing in 2003. “The first horse I evented was borrowed from a lovely lady called Ants McKeowen and he used to have fences down with his tummy, because he was like a Thelwell pony – he picked his toes up, but his tummy couldn’t quite make it! But it was great fun and a great learning experience.”

Speaking of the pros and cons of having David and Lucinda as parents, Lissa is honest in her answer that it wasn’t all sunshine and roses.

“It’s very easy to see the pros looking from the outside, which are obvious, such as amazing knowledge and support is something I’ve never been short of, which has been very spoiling,” she explains. “The cons were a little bit trickier in that I was a young girl growing up with everyone watching and as mum would say, everyone was watching every second, which brought great pressure. As soon as I made a mistake, it was always highlighted.

“Mum got the luxury of growing up in eventing and making all her mistakes with no one watching. And it is a sport where you have to make mistakes to learn and get better and I think as a teenager and in my early 20s, it wasn’t something that I overly adored.”

Lissa uses one experience to highlight this problem.

“I remember coming eighth in a JRN [now open novice under-18] and watching the scoreboard. A mum said to her daughter, having no idea I was stood next to them, saying ‘Oh, well done, you’ve beaten Lucinda Green’s daughter – she must be terrible compared to her mother’.

“Fortunately I’m quite an outgoing person, but I do hold a lot of things internally. You just have to try to pretend you don’t care, but it prevented me from going for it in my youth. It was the fear of failure; if I was putting everything into it and not winning, it would have been too difficult to deal with.”

To hear more from Lissa Green, including some of her most-loved rides during her career, what the future holds and what becoming a mother has been like, listen to episode 149 of The Horse & Hound Podcast here, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

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Episode 149 of our popular audio service The Horse & Hound Podcast, is now live. Please note that this episode was recorded prior to event rider Georgie Campbell losing her life at Bicton, and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

Each episode is available for H&H fans to listen to via your favourite podcast app, as well as here on the website. Search for “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your preferred podcast app and click subscribe to be notified about each new episode.

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On our 149th episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, we speak to five-star event rider Lissa Green. She talks about the pressure of growing up being the daughter of six-time Badminton champion Lucinda Green, plus her own journey to five-star, switching nationalities and what it’s like becoming a mother for the first time.

• We would love to hear your feedback on all our podcasts, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

Horse & Hound Podcast: episode 149

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

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

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

Eventer Lissa Green and her partner Giorgio Audino have been on the first fortnight of “our most exciting and important journey yet”, after the birth of Emilia Rose.

The couple’s daughter arrived on her due date, 20 March, and Lissa said “We have dreamt about this little bundle of perfection for so long”.

“I don’t know if it ever can be exactly what you expect but it’s something we’ve both always wanted,” Lissa told H&H. “It’s just amazing; you can’t believe they’re half you and half the person you have been so lucky to find.”

Lissa added that it was a lovely opportunity to gain insight into her parents’ feelings.

“Mum [Lucinda Green] came into the hospital at 2pm that day and stayed till 10pm, and the sheer joy on her face,” she said. “Dad [David Green] has been repeatedly face-timing from Australia; it must bring back all the subconscious emotions from my brother’s and my own birth, which is really nice to see.

“The best thing about it is also seeing your partner in a totally different gear and doing it all so naturally, it’s amazing.”

Lissa said one of her dogs, Rico, is “absolutely obsessed with Emilia and follows her everywhere; but my other dog is fairly indifferent, as long as he gets fed, he doesn’t care” – and she has also spotted a suitable pony.

“I did see a 6hh mini Shetland in H&H that I’ve been circulating!” she said.

Lissa said she hopes to have a few horses ready to compete at Blenheim in September, and she would like to go to Chatsworth in May, but that this is “a loose plan”, with no pressure.

“It’s such a fun journey,” she said. “We’re very lucky.”

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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.

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

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak, we would be gearing up for Badminton Horse Trials, which was due to take place this week (6—10 May). So instead we will take a few trips down memory lane. Here is the interview that was conducted with Lissa Green before her first Badminton in 2017. So meet the daughter of a six-time Badminton winner and her 15.2hh horse with the biggest of hearts

“I can’t actually believe it,” confesses a very excited Lissa Green ahead of her Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials debut this week (3-7 May).

“I’ve been so busy recently that I haven’t really had a chance to think about it,” explains the 28-year-old. “That was until I was cross-country schooling a young horse last week and this sudden wave of ‘Oh my God, we’re going to Badminton next week’ came over me!”

The daughter of Olympic event riders David and Lucinda (who won Badminton six times) Green, Lissa has of course been a frequent visitor of the Gloucestershire four-star, but there was a period of time where she tried to go down the non-horsey route. She studied criminology and forensic science at Bristol University and then qualified as a primary school PE teacher, but the pull of horses was too strong and in 2012, she set up her own event yard near Marlborough in Wiltshire.

In 2014, the diminutive Malin Head Clover (or Ali as he’s known at home), joined Lissa’s team, purchased from Tom How who had produced him up to three-star level. The now 15-year-old by Amiro, came with a reputation for being strong and at their first event together the pair suffered a crashing fall, resulting in a broken jaw and collarbone, and cracked ribs.

“Ali’s not nasty but he’s not simple,” explains Lissa. “It’s taken a while for us to teach him to take responsibility for himself. Before, he wanted to get everything done as quickly as possible. Every stride is difficult for him as he’s always unbalanced mostly due to the way he is built, which means I have to break up his rhythm across country before every fence to ensure we’re spot on for it. There’s no such thing as let up fences for us — I have to work for every single one!”

Badminton final scores

Lissa and Ali have enjoyed some great results including jumping double clear at Blenheim CCI3* and finishing eighth in the CCI3* at Strzegom, Poland, last year.

Standing at just 15.2hh, Lissa describes Ali as “the most extraordinary, ordinary horse”.

“He has the biggest heart and is just divine — he doesn’t ride or feel like a small horse. There is no jump you build that he won’t try and jump. If you put an erupting volcano in front of him, he would still try and jump it,” she explains.

Ali is owned by the Ali G syndicate, made up of eight owners.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” says Lissa. “They all love his character.”

And it sounds like character is something Ali has an abundance of.

“He’s hilarious. At shows we call him ‘Mr. Serious’ because he knows exactly what is going on. You can say ‘Hi Ali’ but he’ll look straight through you,” laughs Lissa. “At home he’s so engaging and you can love him, but the only reason he gets out of bed every day is because he knows he’ll be competing at some point — and that better be soon!”

Lissa hasn’t had the most ideal preparation — she is currently suffering with a horrible bug but “is getting better” and her horses were all under the weather for a long time.

“Ali and I had to miss Burghley last year as he just wasn’t right. And then the whole yard became ill,” she explains. “So we turned all of my horses out to let them get over what we thought was a virus. We got them back in in January, but they were still ill. It transpired there was ragwort in our hay, so all of my horses are only just starting to bounce back. The whole ordeal was terrifying.”

Still, Ali and Lissa have enjoyed solid performances in the CIC3* classes at both Belton and Burnham Market this season, but Lissa won’t watch the Badminton cross-country preview.

“I would love to watch it, but I want my first experience of the course to be when I walk it for the first time so that I don’t miss any details,” she explains.

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As far as Badminton goals go, Lissa says: “I would like to get a sub-55 in the dressage. That doesn’t sound very good but it would be good for us, but as our dressage training has been slightly stumped due to the hay problem, this score might not happen.

“A clear cross-country round is a must, but the time will be difficult for us to reach due to the way Ali has to be ridden. I would also like a clear showjumping round — I would probably get over having one down in five minutes and two down in 20 minutes though!”

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Lissa Green’s pint-sized 2017 Badminton ride Malin Head Clover has enjoyed a fun-filled weekend with a new jockey in the saddle.

The 15.2hh gelding was partnered by Lissa’s head girl Lydia Harrison in an 80cm pairs class at West Wilts Hunter Trials.

Lydia and “Ali G” led Lissa, who was riding the showjumper-turned-eventer Igor, owned by Dean Lockwood and Michael Whitaker, round the novice pairs at West Wilts Eventing Centre on 30 September.

“I have never laughed so much in my life, it was so much fun,” said Lissa, adding that the excitement was “equal to” that she has felt jumping some of the biggest international courses.

“He is so amazing and so special — he was a particularly strong horse and I found him more difficult to ride at two-star level than even at Badminton, where he finally backed off.

“But he was so good and calm — it was as if he realised ‘this is my job now’.”

The 16-year-old gelding has a touch of arthritis and his condition has been carefully managed by Lissa and her team, but she had been struggling to know what the best job for him would be when the perfect solution fell into place.

“I’ve been wondering what to do with him, I can’t retire him because he loves doing things,” she said.

“So I sold him for £1 to one of my owners and he is having the best time with him.”

Lissa added that as the owner is very busy, Lydia is often able to take the reins.

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“Lydia is absolutely amazing and we all love her — she’s one of those people who, no matter what happens, just has the biggest smile on her face and can turn a bad day into a good one,” added Lissa.

“[When we suggested the hunter trials] she said ‘I haven’t jumped in years!” then she kept texting me the night before, saying ‘I’m so excited!’

“She rode him so well and he absolutely loved it — there’s not many four-star horses that can come out and behave as well as he did, some of the best are extraordinary.

“I’m so pleased this idea has worked out, making the horse and more than one person very happy.”

Lissa added that Ali G will stay with her “for ever” and she plans to do some showjumping with him over the winter.

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

Lissa Green will not be making her debut at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials after making what she has described as the “one of the toughest decisions I’ll ever make”.

The daughter of twice Burghley winner Lucinda Green, who switch nationalities to ride for Australia earlier this year, posted on an explanation on her Instagram account.

“I can’t quite believe I’m saying this but I have made, in my small world, one of the toughest decisions I’ll ever make and that is to withdraw my darling Hollyfield from Burghley today.

“He has been ever improving since an unwarned, drastic firework display last Saturday night was set off barely 100m from his field. They woke me up where I live, but by the time I had got into the car and driven to all my horses they had stopped… leaving them in utter terror having had a serious gallop around.

“Having felt no cuts in the dead of the night I thought we may have got away with it… Sadly it became clear that our man had given himself a fair whack on the inside hind leg and wrenched his hips out. We iced him every two hours for three days straight and got the physio in – I cannot get over my amazing mother and world-class groom for helping take it in turns through the night to continue his ice therapy so he didn’t miss a two hour slot.

“We had our incredible vet with us every day and at the dramatic rate he improved we hoped he would make the cross-country today. Although there are no visual ailments to his injury and he is 100% sound, I felt yesterday that he wasn’t carrying weight 100% evenly behind and I can’t bare him having to tackle this mega cross-country like that.

“Our top physio Hannah Complin travelled up with us and she can’t feel much wrong behind in her hands now, if he was always tight behind you’d say he felt great – the problem is he is NEVER tight behind, so the fact she can still feel something minimal is enough in my mind to feel it’s too foreign to him to have make such an enormous effort today.

“We have no big issue here apart from the fact I WISH Burghley was next week. The likelihood is that he’d be fine to run today, but I could and would never forgive myself IF something happened to him. He feels SO well in himself, so fit and up for it, it makes it all the more difficult.

“After a few hugs and tears we will accept our fate and re-route to Pau. I actually cannot get over my syndicate, all the love and care they have put into this horse, they have been nothing but supportive. All of whom understand the need to put the horse first. *Heart icon*”

Lissa successfully completed her first four-star at Badminton with Hollyfield II in the spring. They scored 37.9 in their dressage test at Burghley this time.

Keep up to date with the latest news from Burghley on HorseandHound.co.uk, and don’t miss the full report in Horse & Hound, on sale Thursday 6 September

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

Laura Collett and the rising star Mr Bass are among the early entries for this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (30 August-2 September).

Mr Bass — who is owned by Laura, Nick How and Keith Scott — will be making his British four-star debut if he heads to Burghley. Laura withdrew the 10-year-old from Badminton in the spring as she felt he was underprepared and the pair went on to finish second at Luhmühlen in June.

Laura and Mr Bass are among the pairs who are on the British long-list for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) but also entered for Burghley as a back-up in case they are not selected. Similarly, Tom McEwen has entered WEG-listed Toledo De Kerser for Burghley, as well as Strike Smartly.

The Burghley entries close this Friday (27 July) and so more are expected to pour in this week. So far, 24 horses have been entered.

Other strong contenders already listed include Treason, who has been prominent in the Event Rider Masters series over the past couple of years with Sarah Cohen, and Cooley Lands, under Australia’s 2016 Burghley winner Chris Burton. Also for Australia, Bill Levett brings forward two good horses in the experienced Improvise and the rising star Lassban Diamond Lift.

British first-timer Hazel Towers has two horses entered, Simply Smart and Simply Clover, and is blogging for H&H in the build-up and during the event.

Lissa Green will also make her debut at the event where her mother Lucinda won twice. Lissa’s intended ride is Hollyfield II, with whom she completed Badminton this year.

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Other debutants on the list include Charlotte Bacon (Last Touch), Sian Coleman (Kilroe Hero), Sam Ecroyd (Master Douglas), Will Furlong (Collien P2), Julia Norman (Carryon Bobby Boy), Lydia Hannon (My Royal Touch), Sarah Pickard (Polo Striker) and Emily Prangnell (DHI Beaunesse).

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

Badminton winner Jonelle “speed queen” Price will head the eventers’ team in a head-to-head clash with leading jockeys at Barbury’s JCB Champions Challenge this weekend.

A team of eventers will compete against a team of jockeys in a relay race over fences on borrowed horses in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

It is held in the main arena at the St James’s Place Barbury Horse Trials during a break in the eventing timetable, at 1.45pm on Saturday (7 July).

A full Antipodean contingent makes up the eventing squad — Jonelle is joined by her husband Tim Price, Australian rider Lissa Green and the legendary Sir Mark Todd.

They will face three-time champion jump jockey Richard Johnson, Tom Scudamore, Wayne Hutchinson and Sam Twiston-Davies.

“We so much enjoy our trip to Barbury for the JCB Champions’ Challenge every year,” said JCB’s Tim Leadbeater.

“It’s such good fun and couldn’t be for a better cause in the Injured Jockeys Fund.”

Last year’s challenge was won by the jockeys, captained by Bridget Andrews.

“We were keen to get the changeovers right, as that is key, and also you need to choose your horse carefully,’ she said after her team’s 2017 victory.

“We spent all morning watching the inter-hunt relay and earmarked our horses – you need ones that are quick but careful.”

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Barbury International runs from 5 to 8 July and features the fourth leg of the CIC3* Event Rider Masters (ERM) series, as well as another CIC3* section, a CIC2* and novice classes.

Riders from 21 nations and around 1,000 horses will compete over the four days.

Nine former ERM-winning riders are entered for the Barbury leg, including 2017 victors Tom Carlile and Upsilon.

“I’m delighted with the entries, which include CCI4* winners, CCI3* winners and lots of contenders for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in September,” said event director Martyn Johnson.

“Several leading nations are using Barbury as a WEG trial, which is a great compliment to the event.

“Anyone who wants to watch real superstars, both equine and human, in action, should come to Barbury. We have the best viewing of any event in the country, so feast your eyes on the best of the best.”

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

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

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

Eventer Lissa Green has revealed that she will compete under the Australian flag in future.

Lissa’s British mother is six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green and her Australian father David represented his country at three Olympics, winning team gold in 1992.

“With my father David Green being an Aussie and my mother Lucinda Green being British there has always been an option of which country’s flag I would compete under,” said Lissa.

“I have often found myself waving an Australian flag with one hand and a British one with the other.

“I was born in Britain so it felt natural to be a part of the British system, something I have always admired and been extremely grateful for.

“However when I went back to Australia as an adult, I fell in love with the country and it has captivated me ever since.

“I guess I am just an Aussie at heart, so for me, it feels right to compete under the Australian flag, something of which I am immensely proud.

“As an Australian event rider based in the UK, I am extremely grateful that I will continue to train and compete within the very best eventing scene in the world.”

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Lissa, 29, competed at her first Badminton in 2017 aboard the Ali G Syndicate’s Malin Head Clover. The pair completed the cross-country with 20 penalties, but unfortunately had to withdraw before the showjumping.

She is entered for this year’s Badminton with the 14-year-old gelding Hollyfield, with whom she finished fourth at Cappoquin CCI3* and fifth at Belton CIC2* last year.

Australia’s eventing high performance manager Chris Webb said he is “delighted” to welcome Lissa to “the family of Australian riders”.

“With a rich heritage in top level eventing we are excited to have Lissa representing us and look forward to watching her compete and progress under the Australian flag,” he said.

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

As ever with horses, your toughest and best times are yet to come. Sadly last week at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials it was the former for us.

Malin Head Clover (Ali) felt incredible. We’d been trotting him up twice a day every day for as long as I can remember in the lead up to Burghley — I think everyone creates some level of paranoia when leading up to a huge event.

We arrived at Burghley on Tuesday afternoon and super groom Kirsty Eames took Ali for a deserved walk and graze after his travel, while chief truck driver Ali Gill (one of Ali’s eight owners from the Ali G Syndicate) and myself prepared his stable area. I don’t feel you can ever be too vigilant when it comes to your horse — whenever I go somewhere, be it temporary stabling or fixed, I disinfect the area before my horse ever reaches it. I carry with me an old “Round-up” weed killer backpack spray filled with diluted Virkon. I then go around pumping and spraying the area thoroughly, it takes less than five minutes and could prevent an illness or infection.

On Wednesday morning, I rode Ali round the amazing Burghley Park grounds and he was firing on all cylinders — shooting off every time I picked up the reins, chomping at the bit and feeling like an absolute king. I also schooled for a while and he felt loose, free and generally just up for it.

Mum turned up at midday and as we were at his stable, suggested we give him a quick trot up before we walked the course. Both our mouths dropped when we saw the result. For whatever reason, he suddenly was not right. We felt his legs; no heat, no swelling, checked his feet, nothing immediately obvious there either. It was a complete mystery, we waited for a vet to double check but I knew in my gut this was the end of our Burghley dream.

At his age, many competitive horses come out the stable a little stiff and need work to loosen up before you can present them in front of the ground jury. If Ali always came out like this, then I would’ve done the work necessary to prepare him, but this was so different to how he normally is it was out of the question. Although we were at my lifelong dream of a competition, there wasn’t an ounce of me that wanted to risk my best friend when he was so obviously in a different condition to the norm.

Gutted doesn’t come close to it, but the camaraderie of the other riders meant so much; everyone knows how many hopes and dreams are catapulted into the stratosphere when something like this happens and I felt so touched by everyone’s kind responses.

I stand by my belief that Burghley would suit this horse down to the ground, with every hill and every fence I can just hear him shouting “YES!”. He is nippy, intelligent, talented and resilient and I would’ve given anything to have a go on that amazingly built course with this little man.

Continued below…

Lissa Green withdraws from Burghley at the 11th hour

‘I have no idea why or how this

Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: ‘we are literally pawns in his game and with every move he wins’

Lissa lets us know how she has been

I always said I’d retire Ali after this event, it hasn’t been a decision made lightly and it now makes it extra tough that we didn’t get our chance. From the moment I sat on him I knew Burghley was the course for him. There is something deep down inside me that is flirting with the idea of having one last crack at it next year. Just Burghley being the final aim and no other big competition – I so want Ali to fulfil his destiny, he so deserves it. Anyway – we shall see…

Lissa

Don’t miss this Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (7 September 2017), with our full report and analysis from Burghley Horse Trials

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

Lissa Green’s plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps by competing at her first Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials have been scuppered at the last minute.

The 28-year-old, who is the daughter of eventing legend Lucinda Green, was on site at the event with her 15-year-old ride Malin Head Clover, known at home as Ali G, when she broke the news that he was going to be unable to compete.

She posted on her Instagram page shortly before the first horse inspection was due to get under way: “Sadly I have had to withdraw MALIN HEAD CLOVER (Ali G) from [Burghley Horse Trials].

“I am in total shock, he has felt brilliant in this whole lead up, he was sound this morning on our wonderful ride together through Burghley Park and now, for whatever reason, he is not.

“I have no idea why or how this has happened – it could be anything from a bang in the stable to something in his foot to God knows what. Although not immediately obvious, it is there and I can’t risk competing my beloved boy in this condition.”

Lissa has been sharing her Burghley preparations with Horse & Hound readers in a guest blog on the website, in which she explained the lengths she had gone to to ensure that both herself and her ride were in tip-top condition.

She closed her Instagram post by saying: “What makes this even worse is that this was always going to the Ali’s last top level competition. I can’t believe we don’t get to do it together, we were really looking forward to going out on a high. ❤ Love you Ali ❤”

Continued below…

What is the weather forecast for Burghley Horse Trials 2017?

Find out the forecast for this year's Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

*NEW* Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: my little Trojan horse with the biggest heart and a choppy Irish trot

Lissa Green, who will be tackling her first Burghley in just a few weeks, introduces herself and her remarkable little

Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: ‘we are literally pawns in his game and with every move he wins’

Lissa lets us know how she has been getting herself fit and prepared for her imminent Burghley debut

Lissa made her four-star debut at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the spring, jumping round the cross-country course with one stop. However, she had to withdraw from the holding box at the trot-up the next morning when Malin Head Clover was unlevel.

Lissa’s mother Lucinda won Burghley twice, in 1977 on George — when the event also hosted the European Championships — and in 1981 on Beagle Bay.

Don’t miss our exclusive form guide for Burghley Horse Trials in the 31 August 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

Now the final prep week has (rather quickly) ticked by, the second ‘Big B’ in the calendar year is imminent. As I spoke about last week, Malin Head Clover is fully prepared for the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, and I have done my best to match myself up to him.

I have been training in the gym with a personal trainer twice a week and she is progressively transforming me — a tough job! I feel a lot stronger than I was, although I still think I have a great deal of room to improve, specifically my core strength. Rider fitness and resilience is essential when competing at this level. I have naively dismissed this in the past and struggled on regardless with Ali the galloping storm trooper! While he’s still not easy, following a fitness programme has proved kinder to my back and arm muscles.

I have been doing plenty of exercises; from planking on wobbly surfaces, boxing, dead lifting, through to standing on a ball balance trainer (a platform with a blow-up ball underneath) while holding a 10kg weight at arm’s length and doing squats — it’s been tough, but so worth it.

I have only just upgraded to squats on the balance trainer, so I will most likely get the benefit of that gruelling exercise at the next CCI4* in Pau, France at the end of October where I plan to compete another of my horses, Hollyfield. However, if I was told I would be able to do that exercise two months ago I would’ve laughed, so thank you Libby for persevering!

Ali has also been at the ‘gym’ doing his ‘core training’ with Major Richard Waygood. We do a lot of pole work even if we aren’t jumping — this helps keep his hind end active and his stride even. In our last dressage lesson we were thrilled with Ali, both agreeing it was one of his best sessions. In reality, it is Ali’s decision as to how well we perform on Thursday. I could do no training or train every day — it all comes down to whether Ali is thinking about the cross-country or not…! Let’s hope we can bribe him with enough apples to keep his gorgeous but childlike exuberance under control for just a little while.

I was very ill at Badminton so I have also pulled out all the stops and I too had a blood test. It seems a little extreme but I really don’t want to tackle another four-star feeling like that again. My bloods were pretty good, although my iron level is low so a prescription supplement will hopefully bring it back up in to normal range.

For the last week I have been documenting Ali’s temperature every morning and afternoon. I do this with all the horses before a three-day and continue to do so throughout the competition. This way I have a good idea of his average temperature before the competition so I can keep a really close eye out for any abnormalities. I am strict about this because our horses all live out 24/7, so being stabled when away from home could create a stressful environment.

To minimise the risks as much as possible I double his dose of Succeed Equine (a digestive conditioning programme) to a tube morning and evening. Kirsty Eames, Ali’s very own four-star groom and his eight wonderful owners also have the job of hand grazing him almost all day. He carts everyone all over the place, head down and determined, a little like how he is on the cross-country!

Continued below…

Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: counting down the hours until we load this incredible creature on to the lorry

Lissa explains the exercise and fitness regime her

He also isn’t shy about dragging us back to his stable when he wants a snooze… it must be wonderful being in his world — we are literally pawns in his game and with every move he wins. Let’s hope Ali has a good strategy for Burghley — but as long as he thinks he’s won in ‘Ali-land’, then that is all that I would ever wish for.

Lissa

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview issues — course walk with Mary King and interview with event director Liz Inman in this week’s issue (dated 24 August) and 16-page pull-out with form guide for every entry in the following issue (dated 31 August).

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

With less than two weeks before cross-country day at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, you have to be fairly certain your horse has done enough work by now to be ready for the event. It is totally unadvisable to try and cram any extra fitness, jumping or schooling in the last days before you leave. Ideally you want your horse to be fresh-minded with no aching muscles to be tackling a course like Burghley (although this could ring true for any event).

We don’t see professional athletes over-training in the lead up to a big competition — they have done all the work required in the appropriate timescale. I feel our horses deserve to adhere to the same rules. There is something to be said for us riders to feel slightly underprepared but the horses must be raring to go. If we riders work on everything 110% in the final days, there is a risk the horses turn up over-done with a lack of enthusiasm. That absolutely doesn’t mean I won’t be cantering, schooling or jumping — I do all the above but not to excess.

My Burghley mount, Ali (Malin Head Clover), is a remarkable little horse who keeps his fitness extraordinarily well. He has been slowly working through a gallop scheme since mid-June and this happens strictly every four days (which is the optimum time frame between gallops to increase fitness).

We do interval training on hilly, grass parkland that has perfect going both in winter and summer (hugely spoiling!). For me, galloping on grass and replicating a cross-country course is extremely important. Grass not only allows the natural slip of the hoof (therefore not jarring the joints) but it also means I can work both up and down hill, replicating the terrain we have to deal with when competing.

Before we start galloping, the horses will do a minimum of a 10 minute walk followed by two five minute trots, with a two minute breather gap. They are then limbered up enough to start canter work. The first of the three canters is always slowest and is at showjumping canter speed, then the final two switch been fast work and slower work, exactly the pace changing you will need to use when going cross-country.

Ali is now on three lots of seven minutes. Our fast spurts are a lot faster than they were 10 weeks ago and we are using more hill. As a rule, we only do road work the day after galloping to give the legs a chance to re-harden up as well as having to still use themselves up hills, which continues to add to their fitness. From time to time, after an hour’s road work, I do have a little jump so they are used to using their jumping muscles after a big day prior.

Another huge asset to my fitness regime is Jamie Magee’s water treadmill. This has been a complete game changer for Ali — I have never known him so strong through his body since using this machine. It maximises strength and conditions the muscles while minimising pressure on the legs and he LOVES it — winning! (Although him being stronger may cause more trouble for me stopping when out on course…!).

We haven’t competed Ali since Badminton, but what I have done is run round a flagged intermediate track once the competition was over. We did this fairly fast to practice using all paces while running and jumping for six minutes. For me it wasn’t an option to run round a track while in competition. Ali finds intermediate far too small and in a competition environment doesn’t respect the smaller fences, so the whole experience becomes a battle. With everyone gone home, Ali was alert and using his brain beautifully round the whole cross-country track. Dare I say it, he feels better than ever.

Next week we will be running through his four-star dressage test at West Wilts; a great competition where they do a pick your own test and still be in a show atmosphere.

Showjumping is something he has never found too easy since we’ve had him, with Richard Waygood’s advice I only ever jump a couple of fences in a row and then stop. We leave doing a whole course for when we have to — in the ring itself. He is such a wonderfully forward-thinking horse that if he is allowed to do too many, he becomes quicker not just between the fences, but also in the air. We want him to use his body as effectively as possible and that happens when he always thinks he is going to be pulled up.

Continued below…

*NEW* Lissa Green’s Burghley blog: my little Trojan horse with the biggest heart and a choppy Irish trot

Lissa Green, who will be tackling her first

To make sure he is in peak physical condition Ali has his chiropractor Winston Williams and physio Hannah Complin treating him regularly. We also scanned his legs to be on the safe side and finally have taken some bloods to make sure all are within normal range. With positive results from every corner of his health team we are literally just counting down the hours for when we get to load this incredible creature on to the lorry in pursuit of our second four-star dream.

Lissa

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

Tina Cook will be the pathfinder at this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (31 August-3 September) following the release of the draw.

The experienced British rider will start as number one on the thoroughbred Star Witness. He is an excellent cross-country horse and has finished eighth and 10th at Burghley the past two years, so should give the rest of the field confidence.

Joseph Murphy is drawn as number two on Sportsfield Othello, but as this pair are also on the Irish squad for this week’s European Eventing Championships (17-21 August), it is likely they will withdraw from Burghley.

Number three is Oliver Townend with Samuel Thomas II. They finished seventh and best of the Brits at Burghley last year.

H&H blogger Lissa Green, who makes her Burghley debut, has been drawn as number 14 with Malin Head Clover.

Simon Grieve, the other H&H blogger at the event, will wear number five on Drumbilla Metro and number 67 on Douglas.

The favourite, Germany’s Michael Jung on his double Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, has an early draw, having been given number 24.

Numbers for other leading contenders include Gemma Tattersall and British open champion Arctic Soul at 37, Zara Tindall on London 2012 silver medallist High Kingdom at 50 and Andrew Nicholson on Badminton winner Nereo at 68.

Eighty horses currently remain in the draw, but this will produce a maximum starting field of 79 as Andrew Nicholson has “double-entered” his trio of Nereo, Qwanza and Teseo and will only start on two of them.

Tina Cook and Oliver Townend also both have three horses entered. Although they could start on all three, their entrants include their European Championship rides Billy The Red and Cooley SRS, who are likely to be withdrawn. These horses have been given numbers in the middle of the field, so Tina and Oliver should be left with one horse at the start of the draw and one at the end.

Continued below…

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Oliver is scheduled to be the final rider on course as number 80 with Ballaghmor Class, who was also long-listed for the British Europeans squad.

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview issues — course walk with Mary King and interview with event director Liz Inman in next week’s issue (dated 24 August) and 16-page pull-out with form guide for every entry in the following issue (dated 31 August).

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

Wow — we’re less than a month away from what most event riders regard as the toughest four-star cross-country on this planet (although, I have to say I think Eric Winter did a phenomenal job of increasing the level of difficulty at Badminton this year), and I could not be more excited to be heading to the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

My name is Lissa Green, I’m 28, living in Wiltshire and this will be my second attempt at CCI4* level. Once again, my partner will be Malin Head Clover (Ali G at home). He’s the most amazing little horse who stands at just 15.2hh, is so long he wears a 6ft9 rug, is as wide as a bull and has front legs a fair few inches shorter than his hind ones. He’s not the most conventional shape for a top level event horse, but when they have a heart like his, why would conformation stop you?!

And what a heart he has. We had the most amazing first four-star attempt at Badminton this year and I’ve never had more fun in my life. I swear that once we crossed the finish line, if I’d asked him to go round again, he’d have said “OK, let’s go”. He just doesn’t quit — a huge quality that I admire so much in him. If he was a human you’d want him in your team. His work ethic is unparalleled, even in the mundane day-to-day stuff at home.

We sadly didn’t get to complete Badminton this year as he came out a little stiff on the final day and we took the sensible decision to withdraw. Looking back, it clearly wasn’t meant to be. I was so unwell throughout Badminton and felt so weak that I used every ounce of reserve energy I had in piloting him around the cross-country on the Saturday. Despite his height, Ali is a seriously strong horse and I have to work extremely hard to balance him on every stride and not just the ones approaching the fences. Had he showjumped on the final day I don’t think I would have been able to help him much, as I could barely hold myself upright.

So, in a way, I feel I have some unfinished business and am desperate to complete my first four-star. Hopefully I will be fully fit this time and I’m aiming for a clear cross-country with a clear showjumping as the icing on the cake. Not being a natural dressage pony I would also love to achieve a mid-50’s mark or better, but his choppy little Irish trot isn’t an immediate wow factor to the judges. But we work with what we’ve got and he does try, although he would much rather jump the car at the end of the centre line.

Continued below…

A fascination with criminal psychology — and other things didn’t know about Lissa Green

Despite being the daughter of six-time Badminton winner

Throwback — Badminton first-timers: Lissa Green — ‘The most extraordinary ordinary horse’

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak,

If truth be told, Ali and I wouldn’t be doing what we do without his owners, The Ali G Syndicate. They are the most amazing group of people and the journey we’ve been on has created incredible memories and life-long friends. My sponsors also, are the core to my team.

And of course, Ali G himself. I genuinely don’t think I will ever be able to repay my little Trojan horse for what he’s given me so far. He has no idea how many dreams he’s already made come true.

Lissa

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

Lissa Green, daughter of eventing legend Lucinda Green, has entered her first Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

The 28-year-old made her four-star debut at Badminton in the spring, jumping round the cross-country course with one stop. However, she had to withdraw from the holding box at the trot-up the next morning when Malin Head Clover was unlevel.

Lissa will pilot Malin Head Clover, a 15-year-old by Amiro M owned by The Ali G Syndicate, again at Burghley.

Lissa’s mother Lucinda won Burghley twice, in 1977 on George — when the event also hosted the European Championships — and in 1981 on Beagle Bay.

Unlike Badminton, which reveals all its entries after the closing date has passed and the ballot has been done, Burghley’s entries are available to view as riders enter. So far, nine riders have entered.

For Britain, Sophie Brown is expected to make her four-star debut on Wil and Emma Forsyth will also step up to the level for the first time on Soltair Justice.

Imogen Murray will be heading to her second Burghley, riding Ivar Gooden, with whom she finished 21st at Badminton with a double jumping clear. Imogen finished 35th at the event in 2014 on Wiseguy IV.

H&H blogger Simon Grieve will aim for a fifth Burghley completion after four successful rounds on Cornacrew — he is in the mix with Drumbilla Metro, who will be at her first four-star.

Two Irish pairs are also on the list. Cathal Daniels has entered Rioghan Rua, the diminutive mare who impressed across country at Badminton after a very tense performance in the dressage. Clare Abbott also makes her debut at the autumn British four-star with her experienced partner Euro Prince — they were 14th at Badminton this year and members of the Irish team at the Rio Olympics last year.

Continued below…

More eventing news:

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Simon Grieve’s eventing blog: we both ate dirt and my foot was crushed underneath

US rider Mackenna Shea brings forward Landioso, who she hoped to compete at Houghton and Bramham this year after travelling to Britain on a Karen Stives Eventing Endowment Fund Grant, which provides international experience to developing riders. But a bout of shipping fever meant she had to put her British competition debut on hold. The pair recently finished 25th in the CIC2* at Barbury.

Lastly, Australia’s double Burghley winner Andrew Hoy has entered The Blue Frontier, although the horse has not run since Andrew fell off him at Badminton in the spring.

The ballot date for Burghley is noon on Friday, 28 July, so a rush of entries is expected over the next two weeks.

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

As always, the first trot-up at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials provided a catwalk for riders to express their individual style — or show off their sponsors' kit. Check out some of the looks below…

Andrew wore a matching green tie and shoes — the rumour is his footwear is handmade in different colours for each event…

Hannah Sue and Harbour Pilot at the trot-up at Badminton this year. Picture by Peter Nixon

The London 2012 British team silver medallist sported a green leather jacket and matching two-tone shoes

Emily Gilruth and Topwood Beau at the trot-up

British rider Nicky looked stylish in a military-style jacket and long boots

Irish rider Camilla was rocking the bling on her outfit

We love a man in uniform…

A Hicks & Brown fedora trimmed with feathers was the statement item in the Canadian rider’s outfit

The young German rocked a bow tie

Gemma wore a tweed jacket and short skirt combo, with braided hair

Badminton debutante Becky mixed her colours with a pink jacket and green trousers

The German paired up a colourful skirt and purple tights

Lissa was brave with this glamorous wedding-style outfit in the chilly weather

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

Despite being the daughter of six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green, Lissa didn't get her first horse until she was 20. Find out about this, and other surprising facts about the up-and-coming eventer

1. She never gives up

As an up-and-coming rider with limited finances, Lissa either develops young horses or takes on rides with issues she hopes she can improve… And she’s never given up on one yet, learning massively from each experience. Her top horse Malin Head Clover (stable name ‘Ali G’ ) is a case in point. Having had to learn to take responsibility, slow down, balance and think across country, he is now being prepared now for his — and Lissa’s — first Badminton.

2. A fascination with the criminal mind

If she hadn’t become a rider, Lissa says her dream job would be criminal psychology. She read criminology and forensic science for a year at Bristol university: “I love prisons and criminal minds. My whole Sky box is full of episodes of The Mentalist.”

3. Social Media savvy

A self-confessed Facebook addict, Lissa Green Eventing has a following of almost 21,000 lapping up news, end-of-season reviews and videos of young horses learning to pop over roadside ditches etc. Lissa enjoys “live tweeting” commentary from big events and has nearly 7,000 Instagram followers.

4. She’s a clever crowdfunder

Lissa put out a Facebook plea for people who would consider backing an exciting young horse — Corragio Z, known as Snoop at home — to the tune of £100 for 10 months to finance his season. So far 10 people have joined ‘the Snoop Group’ with Leucillin animal skincare further supporting the horse too.

5. Her drummer brother

Lissa is not the only up-and-coming Green in the press. Her older brother Freddie (who last year married New Zealand eventer Lizzie Brown) is drummer with the band The Dirty Youth, who have just been signed to make their first album at Abbey Road Studios.

6. Sports mad

Lissa loves live sport of all kinds, particularly football, tennis and rugby (Man United and Rafa Nadal are favourites). “I’ll even watch darts,” she laughs. At one point she wanted to be a heptathlete.

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7. Living out

“Year round turnout is at the centre of our horses’ welfare,” says Lissa. It helps keep youngsters chilled and older horses relaxed and moving. The grazing she has at the lovely Wiltshire yard where she is based is ideal.

8. She got her first horse at 20

With her mother busy paying school fees, Lissa’s first rides were on borrowed horses. “It was a case of beg, borrow or steal until then, which I kind of resented when I was younger,” says Lissa. “But I now realise it taught me so much.”

9. Immortalised in cake

For her last birthday earlier this month, her mother contacted Happyhills cakes to make a spectacular 3D cake of Lissa and Ali G jumping into the water at Blenheim (pictured below). “I’ve never seen anything like it — they even got his noseband right,” laughs Lissa.

10. One owner is a former Olympic rower

Alison (Ali) Gill, who rowed at three Olympics for Britain, and is an amateur rider, has shares in Malin Head Clover, another three-star horse Hollyfield and Lissa is riding a horse of hers at novice this year. Ali is also a business psychologist: “She’s just one of those people I’d always go to for advice,” says Lissa.

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Lissa and her mother Lucinda, in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (9 February 2017)

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

Enjoy the H&H team’s top tweets from the equestrian twitterverse this week.

The week on twitter

One to watch, Tom McEwen?

We’re sure ‘Blueberry’ didn’t appreciate his extra ‘baggage’

Well I suppose that’s one way to cross the finish line…

Le Lion D’Angers didn’t miss a trick with their attention to detail in the cross-country course design, as spotted here by Piggy French

As far as National Hunt-themed selfies go, this one isn’t too bad.

We know you’ve probably already seen it, but we can’t get enough of this Lissa Green picture

Jamie Osborne’s Toast of New York who is bound for the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita next week most definitely is not ready for his close up

If you like this, why not follow @horseandhound on twitter today?

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

Enjoy the H&H team’s top tweets from the equestrian twitterverse this week.

The week on twitter

Rodrigo Pessoa as you have never seen him before

We bet Emily Llwellyn was popular with those in the queue behind her —the things people will do for a Big Mac…

It’s great to hear that Lissa Green has recovered from her awful fall and we wish her luck for the rest of the eventing season

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A second famous eventer’s daughter is on the injury list as Lissa Green, daughter of Lucinda, suffered a crunching fall while competing at Sapey on Wednesday (20 August) which has left her hospitalised with a broken jaw and collarbone, and cracked ribs.

Lissa’s fall comes just four days after Emily King’s dramatic tumble at the Junior European Championships at Bishop Burton, where she fell at an elephant trap with Brookleigh and sustained serious bruising.

Lissa was on a new ride, Malin Head Clover (Ali), a 12-year-old gelding that had jumped clear around Bramham CCI3* earlier this year with his previous rider Tom How. She was competing in the open novice.

She posted the following on Facebook, along with a “thumbs-up” picture: “I was having such fun riding Ali round our first competition together. He was going so well, coming back well for all the combinations and jumping really smoothly. Unfortunately, as can always happen in this sport, we had a fall at an extremely simple fence. The sun was glistening off it making it difficult for me to read – and he would have almost certainly had the same problem.

“He is 100% fine, which is all that matters… and I can’t wait to ride him again… [But] I might have to wait a little while as I have broken my lower jaw and the two parts have split. I have also broken my collarbone in two places… and I have a few cracked ribs.”

She is due to undergo an operation today and tweeted earlier this morning: “Thank you so much to everyone for [your] kind words. Am doing really well and can’t wait to get riding again. Will keep you updated on the op.”

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Eventer Lissa Green has joined an elite band of lady riders who have appeared on the famous ‘frontispiece’ of Country Life magazine.

The frontispiece — or ‘girls in pearls’ as it is known affectionately — has launched the editorial section of the magazine ever since it was first published on 8 January 1897.

Lissa, daughter of six-times Badminton winner Lucinda Green, featured in last week’s issue. She is shown leaning against hay bales at Rockley Manor, Wilts, where she keeps her event horses.

Traditionally, the frontispiece page was the place for aristocratic girls to announce their engagements.

But in recent years the page has been gently updated to feature young women in business, sport, the arts and charity work.

And rather than pearls and a pretty dress, girls increasingly choose to wear their everyday clothes. In May 2011, Zara Phillips opted for jeans and a fleece by her sponsor Musto, ahead of her marriage to former England rugby captain Mike Tindall.

Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, was also a frontispiece in 1971, for her 21^st birthday.

Laura Tomlinson (then Bechtolsheimer) wore her full Team GBR dressage kit for her frontispiece in July 2008, posing alongside her great campaigner Mistral Hojris.

And showjumper Harriet Nuttall and her sisters Emma and Lucy all wore riding gear when they appeared in the 24 October 2012 frontispiece to mark Emma’s engagement to the National Hunt jockey, Joe Tizzard.

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