Mike Tucker’s memorial service is being held at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Cirencester on Tuesday 10 April at 3pm. For those who are unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service has been set up.

Horse & Hound is among the digital services that have been invited to host the stream. The stream will also be available on the Mike Tucker memorial facebook page.

Celebrating Mike Tucker’s life

Known as “the voice of equestrian sport”, Mike passed away on 28 March aged 73.

He will be remembered for his huge contribution to equestrian sport.

Mike evented for 20 years, riding at Badminton 12 times and was placed second at the CCI4* in 1983 aboard his homebred General Bugle.

His commentary career spanned more than 40 years — he retired from the BBC last year, but continued to commentate at major events across the country.

As well as his career in the saddle and the commentary box, he also spent time as a course-designer, Olympia organising committee chairman, member of the FEI eventing committee, steward at Cheltenham racecourse and field master for the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds.

Continued below…

‘A true gentleman’: equestrian world pays tribute to Mike Tucker

Tributes have poured in for the legendary commentator, who has died aged 73

Harry Meade: ‘Mike Tucker gave back so much’ *H&H VIP*

Harry Meade on Burnham Market’s course and remembering Mike Tucker

Mike also had a passion for farming and ran Cotswold Wagyu with his son Andrew.

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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Mike Tucker’s memorial service will be livestreamed to allow everyone to say farewell to the legendary commentator.

Mike’s family has welcomed everyone to attend the service, which will be held at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Cirencester on 10 April at 3pm.

For those unable to make it in person, a livestream of the service is being made available by connections. It will be available to view on the Horse & Hound website.

His family has asked for no flowers, but donations in memory of Mike can be made to the Great Western Air Ambulance, Retraining of Racehorses and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

A memorial page has also been set up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MikeTuckerMemorialPage , where members of the public have been asked to share their fond memories of Mike.

Hundreds of tributes and memories about the “true gentleman” have poured in over the past 10 days.

Known as “the voice of equestrian sport”, Mike passed away on 28 March aged 73.

He will be remembered for his huge contribution to equestrian sport.

Mike evented for 20 years, riding at Badminton 12 times and was placed second at the CCI4* in 1983 aboard his homebred General Bugle.

His commentary career spanned more than 40 years — he retired from the BBC last year, but continued to commentate at major events across the country.

As well as his career in the saddle and the commentary box, he also spent time as a course-designer, Olympia organising committee chairman, member of the FEI eventing committee, steward at Cheltenham racecourse and field master for the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds.

Mike also had a passion for farming and ran Cotswold Wagyu with his son Andrew.

Article continues below…

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‘A true gentleman’: equestrian world pays tribute to Mike Tucker

Tributes have poured in for the legendary commentator, who has died aged 73

The team at Burghley Horse Trials was among the many to pay tribute to Mike.

“His depth of knowledge, irrepressible humour and distinctive tone ensured his popularity amongst riders, their connections and the general public alike,” said a tribute from the organisers of the Lincolnshire four-star.

“Mike’s links to Burghley Horse Trials stretch back to 1966 when he first helped at the event during the World Championships.

“In subsequent years he went on to become a regular competitor at Burghley before being appointed to design the cross-country course for the European Championships held at Burghley in 1997 and he designed the course again in 2001.

“He subsequently commentated for many years at our event and when BBC commitments took over he still remained lead commentator for the Dubarry Burghley young event horse final.

“A huge and much-loved character, Mike was a true friend and will be much missed by us all.”

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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Tributes have poured in for legendary British commentator Mike Tucker, who has died aged 73.

Mike evented internationally for 20 years, competing at Badminton 12 times.

His career as a commentator spanned more than 40 years and he will be remembered for his huge contribution to equestrian sport.

He also spent time as a course-designer, Olympia organising committee chairman, member of the FEI eventing committee, steward at Cheltenham racecourse and field master for the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds.

“Mike was the voice of equestrian commentary, his words guiding audiences through many wonderful moments in the sport throughout his career,” said BBC director of sport Barbara Slater.

“He was greatly admired by audiences and those of us at BBC Sport alike. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family.”

Simon Claisse, clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said Mike was a “brilliant steward”.

“[He was] the guy you wanted by your side when things got tough, his knowledge and experience were invaluable,” he said.

Broadcaster Rupert Bell added Mike did his job with “passion and commitment” that helped the sport to be understood by the “non-horsey”.

Journalist and broadcaster Lee McKenzie described him as “a stalwart of the equestrian world” who taught her “so much”.

“I’m proud to have worked with him and call him a colleague and a friend,” she said.

Horse of the Year Show event director Emma Wardell said Mike was a commentator at the show for more than 20 years and an “iconic part” of the event.

“We are honoured to have had Mike take such an integral role within the show and I know that he will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of working with him,” she said.

Showjumper Tim Stockdale said he was very sad to hear of Mike’s passing.

“It was a honour to work with him, he was always very professional,” said Tim.

“The equestrian world has lost a true legend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Angela, Andrew and Emma at this sad time.”

A ‘true gentleman’

FEI eventing director Catrin Norinder said the world has lost “one of the true gentlemen of eventing”.

“He was one of the greatest ambassadors for the sport, both as an athlete and then through his work and contribution forming the future of the eventing sports with the FEI and with the BBC,” she said.

“His warmth, friendship and sense of humour made him enormously popular and he will be very much missed.”

Cricket and equestrian commentator Jonathan Agnew described Mike as “generous, funny and very hard working” and “truly devoted to his sport and family”.

“His influence on equestrianism and eventing sport goes far beyond being a commentator.”

A spokesman for Badminton Horse Trials said the event team will “miss him enormously”.

“Mike was a huge friend to and supporter of Badminton, having lived all his life in the area,” said the spokesman.

“He was universally liked and respected and was a true personal friend to many of those involved in the horse trials.”

National Hunt jockey Harry Skelton added Mike was a “true gentleman”.

“[I] always enjoyed talking to him, he would always look out for us when we where young lads causing chaos around the shows,” he added.

Eventer Paul Tapner added Mike’s death is a “loss to equestrianism worldwide”.

“I don’t think there is a single equestrian fan worldwide who has not heard Mike Tucker’s iconic voice at some stage,” said Paul.

Memorial service

A service of thanksgiving will be held to celebrate Mike’s life at the Parish Church of St John The Baptist, Cirencester, at 3pm on Tuesday 10 April at 3pm. All are welcome, but the family has requested no flowers. Individuals who wish to make a donation in memory of Mike are invited to do so to Great Western Air Ambulance, Retraining of Racehorses and the MS Society.

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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The voice of equestrian sport, legendary commentator Mike Tucker, has died aged 73.

The former top event rider will be remembered for his long-standing contribution to the equestrian world.

Mike commentated at Britain’s four-star events, including Badminton, as well as several Olympic Games, including Nick Skelton’s gold medal-winning round in Rio, which he said was a career highlight.

Mike evented internationally for 20 years — including competing at two European Championships — and was also a cross-country course-designer.

He rode round Badminton 12 times and was placed second at the four-star in 1983 riding General Bugle, a horse he bred at his farm.

Mike retired from BBC television commentary last spring after 40 years with the broadcaster, but continued to provide commentary at events.

Mike also had a passion for farming and ran Cotswold Wagyu alongside his son, Andrew.

He has been a member of the FEI eventing committee, a steward for Cheltenham and field master for the Duke of Beaufort’s hounds.

An equestrian legend

Tributes to Mike have flooded social media this afternoon, with riders, colleagues and friends sharing their memories of the much-loved personality.

“Devastating news this morning,” said Spencer Sturmey. “RIP Mike Tucker. You were an inspiration to so many and a voice, the voice of eventing, that will carry on forever.”

Fellow equestrian commentator John Kyle also paid his respects.

“Thoughts are with Angela [Mike’s wife] and his whole family,” he said. “I, along with our whole industry and sport, shall miss his humour, insight and friendship.”

Equestrian photographer Jon Stroud added: “Greatly saddened to learn of the loss of the fabulous Mike Tucker.

“Incredibly knowledgeable, full of humour and a wonderfully kind individual, he will be greatly missed by the entire sport.”

The organising committee of Olympia said it was was deeply saddened.

Mike had been chairman of the committee for the past two years and for over 30 years was the show’s senior commentator.

“This is a great shock and sadness for all of those involved at Olympia,” said Simon Brooks-Ward, show director.

“Mike was a friend, provided wise counsel, and was professional to the last. He never ducked an issue that he thought needed raising and solving.

“Mike had huge integrity and was respected by all that had the privilege to know him. Furthermore, he was great company and had an immense sense of fun about him. He will be sorely missed by all of us.”

Memorial service

A service of thanksgiving will be held to celebrate Mike’s life at the Parish Church of St John The Baptist, Cirencester, at 3pm on Tuesday 10 April at 3pm. All are welcome, but the family has requested no flowers. Individuals who wish to make a donation in memory of Mike are invited to do so to Great Western Air Ambulance, Retraining of Racehorses and the MS Society.

Further tributes to Mike will be published on horseandhound.co.uk and a news feature on his incredible contribution to equestrian sport will be included in the next issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 5 April.

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

The voice of equestrian sport is to retire from BBC television commentary.

Long-standing commentator and former top event rider Mike Tucker will stand down from the role after this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next month (3-7 May).

He plans to continue with some public address duties outside the BBC.

“I’ve had such a great time and with Nick [Skelton at Rio 2016] it was a great high to finish on,” he told H&H.

Badminton final scores

“When I started commentating I always wanted to call an Olympic gold for Britain.

“London was so special, not just one but three gold medals — that was a lifelong ambition.”

Badminton dreams

At Pony Club, Mike was taught by eventing legend Frank Weldon, who was “a great inspiration”.

“With Badminton there is a lot of history — my grandfather farmed there and my mother was born there,” he said.

“Since I was at Pony Club, it was my aim to ride there.”

Later he trained with Bertie Hill, who encouraged him to help out at big events like Burghley Horse Trials as a groom.

“It was a great learning curve,” said Mike. “I went to the Mexico Games in 1968 with Richard Meade.

“It was a fantastic experience and I still remember getting goose pimples when I was holding Cornishman when the national anthem was played. It was so special.”

Mike’s Badminton dream became a reality and in 1983 he was placed second at the four-star event riding General Bugle, a horse he bred at his farm.

“It was particularly special because that was one of the last Badmintons that The Queen visited and she was accompanied down the line-up by the 10th Duke of Beaufort,” Mike said.

“I hunted with him and he took a great interest — he told The Queen all about the horse. That will always be a riding career highlight.”

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Plans for the future

Mike said it “felt like the right time” to leave the BBC position, citing the long hours associated with covering events like the Olympics.

“There are three disciplines so it’s a lot of work to do,” he said. “My tie with BBC has been on a four-year period in the build-up to the Games — I feel in four years’ time I’ll be a real old goat and I think it might be too many.”

However, as well as continuing to provide commentary at events, Mike plans to focus on his farming.

“There’s a lot going on at home— I have wagyu cattle and I’m building up a business with that,” he said.

He added that he is looking forward to this year’s Badminton.

“Badminton is one of the classiest fields,” he said. “This year looks like a very good field with a new course-designer.”

A spokesman for the horse trials paid tribute to Mike’s work.

“Mike had the big boots of Dorian Williams and Raymond Brooks-Ward to fill,” he said.

“He brought to the role a competitor’s knowledge and what has always set him apart from many contemporaries is his enormous enthusiasm which permeated his commentary.

“The task is much harder than it may seem as both event director Hugh Thomas and media director Julian Seaman have experienced and Mike has been a great man to share the booth.”

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport said: “After 40 years with us at the BBC we are sad to say goodbye to Mike, he will be missed by his BBC Sport colleagues and audiences alike.

“Mike has been the voice of equestrianism in this country and he has captured so many historic moments in the sport throughout his wonderful career.

“His wise words and brilliant critique have been a great addition to our equestrian commentary and we wish him well in his retirement.”

Look out for more tributes to this legend of the commentary box in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 27 April

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 visitors who need refuelling on their way round the cross-country tomorrow (Saturday 9 May), or fancy a tasty treat mid-showjumping (Sunday 10 May) can indulge in a limited-edition “Badminton burger”, created by Mike Tucker.

He may be familiar as an equestrian commentator, but now Mike is making a name for himself with eventing fans for another reason — his gourmet burgers.

Earlier this week (Wednesday 6 May) the man with the famous voice launched the “Badminton Burger” —made from beef from his own wagyu cattle.

Mike first started a herd in 2008 and now has around 70 cattle at his farm near Tetbury.

And after meeting with Andy Rose, head chef at London restaurant Boisdale, he decided to produce a wagyu burger.

Badminton final scores

The finished product went on sale at the Boisdale Grill at The Outside Chance bar at Badminton this week, receiving a “thumbs up” from fans including Alice Fox-Pitt (pictured).

“I met a man who produced wagyu at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, and he suggested I start a herd,” Mike told H&H.

“I brought some cattle over from America and it’s gone from there. It’s not a very big herd, but we’re growing.

“We have around a dozen pure-breds and the rest are cross-breds, which is what the burgers are made from.

“You still have all the taste of wagyu — it’s very well-marbled and extremely tender. You can definitely tell it’s different to other beef.”

Mike currently sells some of the meat locally, but is concentrating on establishing his herd.

“I’m very much enjoying producing the cattle,” he said. “The integrity of meat is very important at the moment, especially after the 2013 horsemeat scandal [where beef products were contaminated with horsemeat]. With this what you get is very much what it says on the tin.”

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Commentator Mike Tucker and the British dressage pony team were among those honoured at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) UK Equestrian Awards last week (6 November).

The awards, which are now in their 26th year, were held in London and celebrated the work of riders, trainers, vets and volunteers in the equestrian industry.

Mike, who was presenting the awards on the evening, was “surprised and delighted” to receive the AHT special award for his contribution to the sport. He evented internationally for 20 years — including competing at two European Championships and completing Badminton 12 times — and is also a course designer and a famous voice in equestrianism.

The dressage award went to Britain’s pony team of Rebecca Bell, Alex Hellings, Bethany-Rose Horobin and Phoebe Peters.

The girls claimed team silver at the FEI European Championships in Millstreet, Ireland in August 2014. All four members scored over 70% to finish on 222.25%, only 3.08% behind Germany.

The late John Huntridge, an owner and avid supporter of the sport for 35 years, was posthumously named the winner of the eventing award. He died last month aged 95.

The award was collected by Alex Liddle, rider of John’s Romeo Z, who was part of the British team who won gold at the junior European championships in 2012.

British showjumping team vet Robrecht Cnockaert took the showjumping award. He has been team vet since 2005 and worked at two Olympics, three World Equestrian Games and four European championships.

French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek travelled across the channel to collect the racing award for her star filly Treve, who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year running in October — the first horse to do so since Alleged in the 1970s.

The veterinary award went to Dr Pat Harris for her contribution to nutrition over the past 30 years. Dr Harris is a former president of the British Equine Veterinary Association and current director of science at Mars Horsecare.

Trainer Richard Phillips picked up the voluntary award for his “fantastic contribution to charities, particularly equine, devoting his time to raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for causes across the UK”.

“The AHT UK Equestrian Awards is the flagship event in our fundraising calendar, raising vital funds for our work fighting disease and injury in animals,” said Chloë Bowler of the AHT.

“We are thrilled that it has been so well supported yet again. We’d especially like to thank Lady Harris, who has chaired the organising committee during 2014 and helped us reach a record-breaking fundraising total, all other members of the committee and, of course, all our sponsors who make this event possible each year. We are already looking forward to celebrating equestrian excellence in 2015.”

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Mike Tucker has resigned his position as chairman of British Eventing. His resignation was offered and accepted at a BE board meeting on Tuesday 13 September. It is believed that the significant financial loss of this year’s Windsor Horse Trials was among the subjects discussed during the meeting.

British Eventing issued the following statement on behalf of Tucker: “After two wonderful weeks of competition, he currently does not want to undermine the tremendous publicity the sport is receiving and, as he has a busy week ahead in Ireland, does not wish to make further comment at this stage.”

Tucker was elected to the post at last year’s AGM for a two-year term, succeeding Jane Holderness-Roddam. Tucker stepped down from his position as director of Windsor Horse trials following his appointment as BE chairman. Jonathan Warr, the course designer at Windsor for the previous 10 years, was chosen to replace him at Windsor. Warr resigned from his position when Windsor’s financial loss first became apparent.

A former international competitor, Tucker has been involved in eventing for more than 30 years. He was a member of the Horse Trials Committee between 1972 and 1986, and a reserve at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. A year later, he and his wife Angela launched the first Tetbury Horse Trials, which they continued to run until 1992.

Tucker then joined the Senior Selection Committee for two terms and was Chairman of the Fixtures Committee. He also embarked on a successful career as an equestrian sports commentator for the BBC, but this didn’t prevent him from keeping an active role within BE. In 1999, he took over the Chairmanship of the Safety Committee from Hugh Thomas and was co-opted to the association’s Board.

• Read the full story in next week’s Horse & Hound (22 September, ’05)

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With the same humour that made his fortune as a BBC commentator, Mike Tucker jokes that his appointment as chairman of British Eventing is more a matter of condolences than congratulations. But he is clearly excited when he talks about the future of the sport in Britain and his plans for British Eventing.

Obviously, Leslie Law’s Olympic gold and the team’s silver are good enough reason for his enthusiasm, but what Tucker really seems to relish are the challenges to come. “As much as anything out sport is changing,” he says, citing the FEI’s decision to stick to the short format in international event as one of the developments to watch out for.

Although he doesn’t think the short format will be a disadvantage for British riders — “we proved that at the Olympics,” he says, with barely a hint of smugness in his voice — he thinks BE has a duty to ensure that British riders have a chance to practise it at home.

“A lot of the skills required in the format with steeplechase, such as having a very fit and athletic horse, will be needed in the short format. It is not a big change, but we need to make sure our riders from the juniors on are well practised,” he says. “We’ll be bringing [the short format] in and look at developing it into the sport. We need to bring both formats into [eventing] at top level but also at the low end.”

Tucker is also very positive about the proposal to have jumping judges assist the Ground Jury, which the FEI Eventing Committee put forward to the Board for 2005. “I think the FEI made a big mistake not having jumping judges at the Olympic Games,” he says. “Obviously, [the Olympic judging debacle] didn’t help the sport and how it’s viewed. It’s never nice to have the results changed in this way. Having an extra jumping judge there would have helped.”

However, he is more critical of the FEI plans to introduce new protocols to regulate communications between riders and officials at international events, which were introduced after the FEI Eventing Committee felt that communications between riders and officials broke down at this year’s Burghley.

“Burghley was a very dramatic time for everybody and people understandably got passionate about it,” Tucker says. “I think [the new protocols] will help. The number of times the [communications] system broke down are very few and this will ensure they are even fewer. But I have a feeling that power has swung a little bit too much to riders.”

The problem, he thinks, is that “often riders see through the eyes of a particular horse they are riding, and here may be a slight difficulty in what has been done [by the FEI]. At this stage, I just have certain reservations.”

He also believes the new system is rather hard on the officials. “There are officials who have been in the sport a long time. Some [of them] will feel a bit disappointed that the ultimate power has been taken away from them. I feel this is a bit of a sledgehammer.”

Although he too was very hardly hit by the tragedy at this year’s Burghley, Tucker believes that people need to be aware that eventing is a risky sport. “Obviously, we need to eliminate mistakes that create unnecessary danger. A huge amount has been done to make the sport safer and every way for safety to improve without ruining the spirit [of eventing] will be looked at,” he says. “[But] when we have the sport we have, we are never going to do away with serious accidents. It’s like driving a car — it’s the same with event riding. We will do all we can but can never make it 100% safe.”

Together with continuing to ensure the highest possible levels of safety, nurturing membership is another priority for BE in 2005 and Tucker thinks that there are “more potential members out there,” especially at the low end of the competition scale. “There is a lot of room for improving that area, such as, for example, looking at types of competitions.”

Looking at the way the association communicates to both existing members and aspiring ones is another issue Tucker feels passionately about. Ever the great communicator, Tucker pledged to improve BE’s communications strategy on the very day he was elected chairman.

“I think, like any company, communications is one area which is underplayed. We got a message from our membership that we can improve,” he says. “So it’s the one area I want to concentrate on because, at the end of the day, we are a service company to members.”

As a starting point, Tucker plans to build on the role of BE’s five Regional Directors, who will become the first point of contact for show organisers. “Help will originally come from the regional directors on a wide variety of roles, such as the viability of an event or sponsorships,” he says.

The membership at large can expect to see a bigger and better BE website at some point in 2005. “Our website is another area we know we can improve,” says Tucker. “It was good at the time but we will work on it in the new year, as it is now rather dated.”

British Eventing will also continue to assist in breeding research. “Sadly the opposition developed a lot more than we have in Britain,” says Tucker, “but eventing has a lot of trump cards. We have a lot of raw material and we need to put the database in place. I think as much as anything we have lacked a system, whereas other countries are much better at it. But I think we are closing the gap – we just have to work at it.”

And of course breeding “can help the rural economy. The countryside needs a bit of support.” With this, the question of the hunting ban inevitably comes to the fore. Although he thinks “hunting is far from gone,” Tucker wants BE to be “ready to welcome more people. We, as a sport, have certain aspects which are akin to the hunting world and need to be ready to take on any fall out from the hunting situation.”

Selling the joys of eventing to the hunting community may seem a task too far for the man who already has enough on his plate to stretch him for the next century and beyond, but he says: “It might be a possible challenge for next year.”

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