Do you miss the eventing season? We do too. So, to brighten up your coronavirus lockdown day, we have looked back at H&H’s March 2019 eventing reports to bring you the best quotes, our favourite stories and a top tip for when we get back to competition…

Quote of the month

“I’m getting long in the tooth so I’m only eventing eight horses this year” – Pippa Funnell after her second (Maybach) and third (Billy The Biz) in the open intermediate at Poplar Park.

“My boyfriend Harry [Wallace] says he’s like an overpaid football academy squad member – cool haircut, flash car but yet to score a goal. This is his first goal” – Lucy Jackson on Superstition II after his win on Gatcombe’s open intermediate.

We love…

Lizzie Forbes won a BE90 at Aston-le-Walls (1) on a coloured mare called Rosie XIII who began life pulling a trap. “I saw a picture of her on Facebook standing at the bar inside a pub and figured that she ought to be bold,” she explained.

Top tip

From Yasmin Ingham after her advanced intermediate win at Lincolnshire: “Chris [Bartle] has totally transformed my cross-country riding. I was riding with my reins too short, meaning that my weight was too far forward. He has taught me to tuck my tailbone under and lean back more, meaning that I’m in a much more stable position.”

The theme

Piggy French (now March) set the tone for 2019 when she dominated throughout March, winning the open intermediate at Isleham and continuing from here. In total, she won 14 British Eventing sections in March.

After her victory at Isleham on Quarrycrest Echo, she said: “He’s not a horse you can just canter round an event in second gear as he’s got plenty of character and as soon as I ride him like I think he’s God, he makes me look like a prat!”

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We even miss…

Being outside in the British weather – cross-country was temporarily suspended at Lincolnshire because of horizontal sleet, with Susie Berry and Gemma Tattersall forced to pull up mid-way through their cross-country rounds as they couldn’t see…

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New Zealand event rider Lucy Jackson is at the threshold of an exciting new venture, moving her horses into a new purpose-built yard at the old Brockhill Quarry near Naunton, Glos.

The building of the yard is a partnership between Lucy and her partner Harry Wallace, and her owners Neil and Louise O’Hara.

“About a year and a half ago I was talking to Neil, who’s a businessman, about how frustrating our industry is because we work so hard and yet it’s still difficult to pay the rent,” explains Lucy.

“I’m 41 and the morning of Millstreet [Event Rider Masters, which Lucy won] I woke up with £9.12 in my account. Neil said that rent is the killer, because the profit margins are so small if you’re then paying rent on top of that, that’s a very expensive part of the business. I’m not saying people are overcharging, but I worked out the sum I’ve paid in rent over the past nine years and it is astronomic and terrifying. So if that rent money had been put into a mortgage I would be quite a lot better off now than I was nine years ago — but I’m not.

“So the idea is Neil and his wife Louise and Harry and I are going to go into partnership. We bought a bare block that was a quarry and we’re going to end up with 30 stables, a 60x30m school, on-site gallops, a covered walker, a lunge pen and some lovely turnout and beautiful hacking. It’s with a view that instead of putting my money into a rent pot, I’m putting it into a mortgage pot.

“It’s really exciting, although there have been a lot of steep learning curves in my life in terms of project management!

“I’ve watched Grand Designs often enough to know these things take a long time and they cost more money than anyone ever thinks possible. But it’s quite fun having an input on where things go and why they’re going to be done that way. I’m hoping it’s going to be a really efficient way to work — the girls have done brilliantly in well tidied-up farmyards, but it should make things easier with mod cons, hot water, good pressure. I don’t want to change what we’re actually doing too much — I’m proud of the way the horses are going and I like what we do with them — but doing it in an easier environment would be a good thing.”

We visited on the day Lucy moved to check out her new base…

Having a canter before the move — Lucy Jackson riding Pencreek, Ella Hitchman riding Monks View and Lucy’s head girl Emelia Hazell riding Quick Grabhim.

Unloading at Brockhill Quarry

(Right to left) Lucy Jackson’s headgirl Emelia Hazell, her 2014 World Championship ride Willy Do, Lucy, Chloe Eastman and Ella Hitchman at the new yard.

Lucy speaks highly of the girls who work for her, describing them as “magic” and praising their willingness to muck in in all weathers and to be flexible in helping with childcare as well as with the horses.

The horsewalker.

The school is ready for action.

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Brockhill Quarry has 37 stables at present, with 47 planned in total.

Read our full interview with Lucy Jackson, including her candid thoughts on her difficult decision to sell her top horse Superstition II, in the current issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 28 November). 

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Harry Meade has scored his first win at four-star level — riding a horse he has had for just two weeks.

The British rider claimed the CCI4*-L at Strzegom, Poland, last week (10-13 October) riding Superstition, who won Millstreet Event Rider Masters in September with his former rider, New Zealand’s Lucy Jackson.

The 10-year-old bay gelding, who belonged to Lucy and Gillian Greenlees, has been bought for Harry by his long-term owner Mandy Gray.

Lucy told H&H: “My sister Sophie Lane broke ‘Stinky’ in and took him to the Burghley young event horse final, where he came fifth. I then bought him, strongly encouraged by Mum who was his biggest fan.

“When he was a six-year-old, the Greenlees joined me in owning him — they have been owners with me for 12 years and are almost like family. They deserved their shot at a brilliant horse and were really excited to be involved.

“It’s no exaggeration to say Tokyo has been a bit of a goal and it wasn’t our intention to sell, but he had caught a lot of people’s attention in a positive way. He wasn’t on the market, but if someone makes a significant offer, you have to be realistic — horses are my living, We’ve got a two-and-a-half-year-old child, rent to pay and new businesses to get involved in.”

Harry added: “Lucy is a good friend and it wasn’t on my radar at all, but when Mandy and I saw him in passing at Millstreet, I said that he’s a lovely horse and after following him there she asked if he might be for sale.

“I’ve ridden for Mandy for seven years — I started off riding a tricky horse for her that she’d bought to ride herself, as a favour, and we got on really well. She’s been involved in the sport for a long time, but I didn’t know she’d be in the market to buy a horse of that calibre so it was a really welcome surprise.”

Mandy also currently owns Monbeg Medlar with Harry, who they bought as a five-year-old and is now at three-star level.

Lucy was aiming Superstition at Blenheim, but she didn’t feel she could take the horse there not knowing if he was being sold.

“Once the conversation had started, I was keen to know one way or the other and it happened quickly,” she said. “It was a huge honour to be back on a New Zealand [training] squad after Bramham and I felt horrific telling the federation, but they were very supportive, if very sad.

“I am relieved and delighted he is going to such a good rider where he will be looked after beautifully. Harry and I are good friends, so the line of communication is open and all the things it’s taken me seven or eight years to learn — his likes and dislikes — I can pass on.

“I’m now definitely on the hunt for his replacement — I’m aware they are big shoes to fill, but he has only whetted my appetite for success at the big time.”

Harry added that he and Lucy had spoken every day since he took over the horse on 26 September –

“It’s been a real team effort and we’re having a lot of fun working together,” he said.

The pair’s first competition together was Kelsall Hill open intermediate two days later. Superstition then went to Osberton, where Harry was competing other horses, so he could continue getting to know him. Harry arrived back at midnight on the Sunday night after Osberton and the pair set off for Strzegom in the early hours of Monday morning.

“We could have gone down the easier path of getting to know each other over the winter, but horses are different at events and we’d come out next March still not really knowing each other,” said Harry. “I was aware it was risky and it might not come off, but now it feels like we’ve been together six months. We’ve learnt a lot about each other and now he can have a break. We can then come out next season as a partnership, rather than still introducing ourselves.”

Harry and Superstition were second after dressage at Strzegom on a score of 28 — to fellow Brits Kylie Roddy and Carden Earl Grey — but they put in one of only two clears inside the time across country to move up to first place. One show jump down and two time-faults secured their win, four marks ahead of Andrew Hoy and his top horse Vassily De Lassos in second, the other pair to make the time across country.

“He’s a little horse, athletic and flamboyant. He’s dead keen as well, and a bright, intelligent horse. Lucy had done the most lovely job on him — she has a really good old-fashioned way of producing her young horses, building their confidence and strength. I feel very lucky to be taking him on,” said Harry.

“I was mindful that cross-country we would be learning about each other en route and I needed to adjust and adapt as we went to suit him, but you also can’t be too passive – horses stay confident from your confidence as a rider, so I was conscious I needed to adapt to him, but also be positive and let him adapt to me too.”

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Harry’s result this weekend means he is halfway to being individually qualified for Tokyo with Superstition, but he stressed that was not the reason for going to Strzegom.

“The reason for coming here was to get to know each other; Tokyo is a long way away and if we were in the running I’d grab it with both hands, but there’s lots to do between now and then,” 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.

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New Zealand four-star rider Lucy Jackson’s stable star Willy Do has retired from international competition.

The 17-year-old gelding, who took Lucy to her first senior championship, will enjoy an easier life competing at the lower levels with the Kiwi eventer’s head girl, Emelia Hazell.

“He is on absolutely top form,” Lucy told H&H. “When is the right time, and how do we find the right time for the perfect horse [to step down], has been in the back of our minds for about six to eight months.

“I had kind of hoped to go out on a red rosette, then I fell off at Tattersalls and went too slowly across country at Gatcombe, but he has just been so completely brilliant for us for so many years that we thought maybe the end of the season was a good idea.

“He so enjoys himself eventing that I don’t think he particularly minds whether it is four-star or pre-novice (BE100), so this is a happy solution for everyone — he can enjoy his job and show Emelia the ropes.”

Lucy added Willy Do is well matched with Emilia, who she said is “amazingly kind, a brilliant rider, lovely person and hard-working”.

The horse was started by Caroline Powell, then bought by the Greenlees family as a six-year-old for their daughter Charlotte Greenlees.

Lucy took over the reins when the gelding was rising nine and the pair competed at seven CCI4*s together, including the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

They finished 11th at Badminton in 2014, 12th at Pau CCI4* in 2013 and had numerous top-10 placings at two- and three-star level, including second at Boekelo CCI3* in 2014.

“The Greenlees have been perfect owners,” said Lucy.

“Most weekends he would come home with a ribbon — every time I broke a limb, he would give me my confidence back. Even after having my daughter, he put me back together again.

“He has never really enjoyed being on holiday, he isn’t very nice in the stable and doesn’t particularly like people or other horses, he just loves his job.

“The biggest compliment I ever received [about our partnership] was that we were like an old married couple who would finish each other’s sentences — it is such an honour to have a bond with a horse like that. Thank you, Willy Do.”

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As well as his new role as schoolmaster, Lucy is hoping to aim Willy Do at some special classes, such as the indoor cross-country derby at Stockholm and the Hickstead eventers’challenge.

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

It was a sizzling feast of sport at St James’s Place Barbury Horse Trials last weekend — and we learnt some new things, too. Don't miss the full Barbury report in H&H this Thursday (issue dated 13 July).

Tom Carlile and Upsilon win the Event Rider Masters at Barbury 2018. Picture by Peter Nixon

The EquiRating Stacks app returns for the Event Rider Masters leg at Barbury (7-8 July). Tom Carlile and Upsilon on their way to victory at last year’s event

Billy Cuckoo takes a look at a fence in the CIC2* with Pippa Funnell.

Teenager Hannah Francis passed away on 1 August last year, but her legacy is everywhere. Numerous riders now ride with Berry Ponies on their backs, the relations of Hannah's mascot, Willberry Wonder Pony — there is now a registered charity in Hannah and Willberry's names, funding bone cancer research and granting equine wishes to seriously ill people. Here is Pippa Funnell on Sandman 7 with a Berry Pony.

Imogen Murray and Ivar Gooden at Barbury 2017. Picture by Peter Nixon

Nice work by Craig surviving this twist by Especially Dassett in the CIC2*.

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Having had baby Evie at the end of May, New Zealand rider Lucy Jackson was out eventing again by the end of June. Here she is partnering her faithful campaigner Willy Do in the CIC2*.

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New Zealand event rider Lucy Jackson is out of action after dislocating her shoulder in a fall at Little Downham on Friday (3 June).

Lucy fell at fence 17, the first of a double of corners, with Liz Hawkesworth and Kathy Brown’s eight-year-old Mrs Browns Boy.

“I was three-quarters of the way round the intermediate course and the horse was jumping well and travelling well,” said Lucy. “He caught his toe on the top of the corner and we both ended up sitting down on the landing side.

“I was a bit winded and my arm was coming out of the front of my chest — I was hoping I’d just popped my collarbone out, but it seemed unlikely. I’ve broken both my legs and fractured my skull in separate incidents previously, but this was much more sore.”

Lucy paid tribute to the fence judges and the medics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, who relocated her shoulder under sedation, as well as the eventing community.

Lucy’s sister, Sophie Miller, was also riding at Little Downham, so her father Ross stayed at the event to help her, while their mother Alice went to hospital with Lucy. Her boyfriend Harry Wallace drove to the hospital and picked up Lucy and Alice after she had been treated.

Back at the event Cyril Chatel, Lucy’s head lad from last year, drove her horses and his own home in her lorry. His girlfriend, Flora Labau, drove their small lorry home empty.

“Dad had 16 offers of help from people offering to assist with the horses, driving the lorry and so on,” said Lucy.

“Emily Llewellyn followed me into hospital on another stretcher and I tried to wave to her, but my arm wouldn’t work.”

Emily fell with Emirati Nightsky, also in the intermediate, but reported on Facebook afterwards that the horse was in “tip top shape” and she is “just sore”.

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Meanwhile Lucy said Mrs Browns Boy is “absolutely fine”.

“He’s a bit stiff, but he’s trotting up sound,” she said. “I think we’ll both be taking it easy for a couple of weeks.”

Lucy will miss Bramham, where she was due to have two rides. Barbury is her next big event and she hopes to be fit to compete at a prep run somewhere before that.

She plans to see chiropractor Juliet Lock, who has been working with both Lucy and fellow event rider Jodie Amos for about six years, for help with her rehabilitation.

“I’m nervous for Jodie’s shoulders over the next few weeks as we seem to do things one after the other,” joked Lucy.

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British riders Oliver Townend and Tina Cook, who both performed their dressage tests this morning in the eventing at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, were slightly disappointed with the results.

Oliver rides as an individual and lies 15th on 47.2 riding Karyn Schuter’s Black Tie II (above).

“He went in and did a ‘clear round’ — there were no mistakes and he behaved himself, but his general way of going was a bit tense and tight,” said Oliver, who was the first rider in the arena this morning.

“We wanted him to be on yesterday and sort of had him ready for that, then we couldn’t get too much work into him yesterday and he was a bit bright in there.”

Tina, the third British team member to perform, holds 22nd on a score of 50 with Jim Chromiak’s and her own De Novo News. The 11-year-old garnered some eights in his extended work, but also had some small mistakes in the flying changes.

“He went a bit babyish, which sounds silly when he’s done three four-stars, but he went in there and got quite tight,” said Tina. “He showed a bit of a tendency to look around and get tight in the neck. Through tension, the mistakes came in, which you can’t afford at this level.”

Jock Paget takes second

Three riders broke into the top 10 this morning. New Zealand’s Jock Paget, riding at his first major competition since the drama of his doping case and the “no fault or negligence” verdict, scored 38 to take second place on Clifton Promise (right). He sits just 0.5 of a penalty behind Britain’s overnight leader William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning.

“It’s good to see Promise hasn’t forgotten his job,” he said. “There was nothing I was disappointed with — I’m proud of him for going in and doing the same thing as last time he was at a four-star [Burghley 2013].”

Jock’s result is a boost for the New Zealand team, which holds the lead over Germany with one rider for each team still to go.

Lucy Jackson, another Kiwi but riding as an individual, piloted Willy Do to seventh on 43.8 this morning.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with him — the mistakes in the rein-back and one flying change proved expensive, but it’s his first championship. Some experienced horses have not been responding as well in there — they seem to freeze a bit, but my horse didn’t so I’m chuffed with him.”

Ruy Fonseca lies ninth on 44.2 crediting his good test to increased funding from the Brazilian federation in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics and training with Brit Anna Ross Davies.

Britain’s final rider is Harry Meade on Wild Lone at 4.40pm today local time (3.40pm British time).

Live results

Check back for more updates from WEG eventing online. Full report in H&H next week, out Thursday, 4 September.

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It’s all over! I am hugely honored to be a part of Team NZ. What a great day for our sport and in particular for New Zealand sport. So many congratulations to Jock Paget on his well deserved win. Incredible performance from day one.

My lifetime’s ambition of competing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials has been fulfilled. It wasn’t a particularly fairytale score, but Luke gave of his best on all three days and has given me an awesome first Badminton to be proud of.

He couldn’t have tried harder today or yesterday, and didn’t deserve the 8 faults today. Again the magic of Badminton seemed to take his concentration at the first, and I cut my line slightly tight to the last. At this level one just can’t have even a nano second off the job!

An enormous thanks to all those who made the week possible, and I hereby warn them all that it’s made me hungry for more!

I wish Grace [Taylor, daughter of Animator’s part-owners Ann and Nigel] all the very best of luck with darling Animator and may he bring her as much excitement as he has brought Team Jackson.

Badminton final scores

Thank you Kathy Brown, Ann and Nigel and all my incredible gang for making this dream a reality. I have learned such a lot and plan to come back for a few years to ensure I am better equipped to work my way up that leader board!

Lucy

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AT LAST I can say I have jumped clear around the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Animator gave me a dream ride today — I feel so lucky to have had my debut here on such a power-house.

Having set out feeling rather strong, I was a little down on the clock from the beginning, but he settled nicely from the Irish Sport Horse Huntsman’s Close onwards, giving me what felt like a smooth and confident ride everywhere. Lucky, lucky me!

Of course I would have liked my clear to have been within the time, but a long route at the HSBC Market Place to save his precious diesel for the Savills’ Staircase to follow, and some settling early on the course, gave us the faults. That aside I am so thrilled to have fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition and very much hope that’s the first of many Badminton rounds to come!

The long wait [Lucy started her round just before 5pm] left me wondering why on earth we compete at all, but the overwhelming support from my incredible team and the emotions we all felt at the finish proved why. I am going to give tomorrow my very best shot as I think a double clear at Badminton has a nice ring to it.

Lucy

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The sun is shining and there is a little event happening in Gloucestershire this week. How exciting.

I have been sorely tempted to put my boys in the lorry and leave them there in bubble wrap and cotton wool with hypoallergenic duct tape until Wednesday, but have decided against it — just!

Since putting pesky Hambleden behind me, I had a super week starting with a hugely exciting five-year-old Carlifax doing his first intro at Milton Keynes — finishing on 27 double clear. He is owned by Willy Do’s owners the wonderful Greenlees family and we all agreed that score would do nicely this weekend as well.

I had two super days dressage training with Andrew Fletcher on Wednesday and Thursday at Ann and Nigel Taylor’s fantastic Aston-le-Walls, followed by jumping a couple more technical cross-country fences with Nigel following my virtual Badminton course walk.

I have to say Luke and I both needed the tune up. Too much dressage can be damaging to one’s brain I think. On Friday we did our last real “piece of work” at Adrian Smith’s gallops before enjoying a reasonably leisurely Saturday of hacking and stretching at home.

Badminton final scores

Yesterday I took Luke and Willy to do dressage only at Withington. This proved a worthwhile exercise with Willy scoring 26 in the three-star test and leading a competitive section. Luke did a presentable test, but there’s room for improvement. I took their stable mate Sprout who did a very respectable test — one down (pilot error) and a fab cross-country round a reasonably testing track to take 10th in the advanced. A very satisfactory day.

We were glued to our FEI TV screens all evening to watch the Rolex Kentucky action unfold. What magical drama and excitement. I personally think it’s incredibly good for our sport to have a duel of such epic proportions. William Fox-Pitt’s dressage on Chilli Morning was an inspiration and Andrew Nicholson’s two jumping rounds were as close to flawless as we could hope to witness. Next week is going to be just amazing.

Until next time,

Lucy

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A Hambleden full of hiccups was about the size of my weekend! With six rides at this stunning venue, I managed six reasonable but not dazzling dressage tests, four showjumping clears and two with just four faults, and only two cross-country clears. Seriously frustrating to have blips on all those in contention. I guess I have to put it down in the great book of life under the chapter of experience… experiences NOT TO BE REPEATED!

With three pre-4am alarms this weekend, and each day finishing with rides on my precious Badminton boys at home after 6pm, I was mighty relieved to wake at 6am on Monday with a lovely trip up the gallops on Luke and Willy to look forward to. They smoked up the hill at Wendover and gave me a real boost. This is the start of a new week and we have huge excitements ahead. Today they will have a hack and do some stretching work in the school in readiness for two days of dressage with Andrew Fletcher and a canter and jump on Friday. Then there is Withington to look forward to on Sunday.

The realization is dawning on me that the great event is now only days, not weeks, away. I am utterly determined to enjoy every step. I’m very much there to do a job and produce my very best, with firm goals for each phase. But it’s a poor show if I can’t make sure I appreciate just how lucky I am to be in the position of having two horses to take to my very first Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Until next week,

Lucy

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Well, while the Badminton boys had a weekend off, I set off for Belton which was definitely a show of two halves — a really rather rubbishy Friday, a magical Saturday and a hugely satisfying Sunday. Two out of three phases went well on both novices, resulting in a distinct lack of ribbons and an epic fail with an experimental test in a snaffle in the three-star for 113th place! Two bits are blatantly better than one!

Thankfully, a super Saturday with second in the open intermediate to William Fox-Pitt on Cool Mountain and a satisfying Sunday with two lovely rounds in the three-star made up for the frustrating Friday.

On our return to reality at the yard, I spent the early hours of Monday lungeing and then galloping my beautiful Badminton boys, Luke and Willy. I then went on a quick trip to get the lorry MOT done, followed by a wonderful session with my business coach/ sport psych Claire Norman. Then it was just a few more to ride! So a 14-hour day was only what I deserved having ridden just one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

We are now full steam ahead for Hambleden with eight horses this weekend between Fran (my chief jockey) and I. We’re then off to Milton Keynes on Tuesday for baby Carl and baby Striker’s British Eventing debuts, then the three big boys are going to Withington — but no cross-country for Willy and Luke as hopefully they set sail for sunny Gloucestershire the following Wednesday.

I am really beginning to get excited about what lies ahead, although there does seem to be a veritable mountain to climb in terms of things to do and boxes to tick before then. Starting with test riding with Isobel Wessels and Team NZ at Mark Todd’s base Badgerstown yesterday, and some jumping with Gill Watson at home today.

Badminton final scores

Lucy

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New Zealand event rider Lucy Jackson is joining the H&H team as a guest blogger in the run up to her first attempt at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. Meet her two Badminton horses and find out how preparations are going in her first blog.

I can’t believe I am writing about the build up to my very first Badminton aged 35! I have spectated at the great event for the past 20 years and, having been a horse crazy teen, I just assumed that if I worked hard enough at being able to ride at Badminton Horse Trials, then of course if would just happen. Little did I realise it would take this much hard work!

I am lucky enough to have two horses entered for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2013. Willy Do, owned by Gillian Greenlees, is a 12-year-old by Matinee Du Madon, whom I have ridden for the past three years. He is a natural born trier, who is almost apologetic in the arena and has really started to grow in self confidence, strengthen up and come into his own more recently. Good things come to those who wait they say, so here’s hoping that after a solid first four-star at Burghley in the autumn (see picture top), he’ll be ready to show how fantastic he is in three weeks time.

Animator II (aka Luke, pictured below) owned by Ann and Nigel Taylor and Kathy Brown is my second ride. He is a 16-year-old by Animo with boundless self belief and a giant ego. This is to be my last event on him as he returns to Aston-le-Walls for Grace Taylor to take over the reins.

I have been lucky enough to ride him for a little over three years now and owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for really restoring my confidence on my return from New Zealand. He has given me some great mileage and exposure at the higher levels, ending up as first reserve for Team NZ for the Olympics last year. I have huge admiration for Grace’s riding, temperament and work ethic and can’t wait to see Luke and Grace make teams and win medals.

Badminton final scores

Both horses ran at Tweseldown in the OI with shocking dressage tests thanks to massive amounts of over enthusiasm, but solid jumping rounds in testing conditions allowed them to let off steam. Then Burnham Market CIC*** where they both did far better tests although still room for improvement! A super double clear from Willy left him in 10th and although Luke’s over enthusiasm got the better of him in the showjumping, his cross-country was wonderful.

They are both lucky enough to be benefiting from my spot on High Performance Team NZ, with regular coaching not only from my incredible mentor Gill Watson, but also Luis Alvarez and Andrew Fletcher.

The build up to Badminton is going to include dressage and show jumping at Withington, some jumping and dressage days with the squad as well as plenty of fitness work, of course. So there are exciting and nerve-wracking times ahead, juggling that fine line between having them absolutely ready to run but fresh, fit, sound and happy.

Watch this space!

Lucy

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