Many horses are wary of water, to the extent that they lose all momentum, dropping back to trot or even walk rather than cantering through. For an eventer, this makes negotiating any obstacles positioned before, after or in the water extremely tricky. Watch top riders and their established horses negotiate a water crossing and they will barely break their stride. But how do you teach horse who is wary of getting his feet wet to keep up the forward momentum and stay in canter?

The first stage to unpicking the issue is understanding why it happens in the first place. British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle and Olympian Nicola Wilson explain where to start when it comes cantering through water with confidence.

How to train your horse to canter through water

“Think about a row of children lined up on the edge of a swimming pool,” says former Badminton winner and European team gold medallist Chris Bartle. “Some will jump straight in without a moment’s hesitation, while others will linger on the edge and carefully lower themselves in. It’s the same with horses. Some will be more cautious than others. That doesn’t mean the cautious ones won’t be happy to leap in eventually, but it will take time.”

Training a horse to canter through water, travelling forward, is a process built on confidence and trust. It is not simply a case of kicking harder.

“Water jumps can be busy areas and most young horses need time to process what is going on around them, which is why they want to drop back to trot and even walk,” continues Chris. “Make your schooling sessions frequent and fun and they will quickly get the hang of it.”

Former European eventing champion Nicola Wilson agrees.

“You need to build up slowly and make sure all the building blocks are in place before you ask your horse to move up a gear,” she says. “If he is not yet happy to canter through water, don’t put him in a position where he might be over-faced, for example don’t ask him to jump anything that he won’t have enough impetus to do safely.”

Cantering through water: troubleshooting

Sometimes horses dislike water splashing on their faces – and the faster they go the more likely they are to get splashed.

“I had a horse called One Two Many who was seventh at Badminton, on the silver medal-winning team at the Blair Europeans [in 2015] and a beautiful jumper, but he hated getting his face wet,” reveals Nicola. “Every time he jumped into water he would pull his nose forward so that it was almost parallel with his ears to try to avoid that initial splash.

“He was a bold horse, but this wasn’t something he ever grew out of, so I had to adapt my training and riding techniques to support him. I had to prepare early and make sure my reins were long enough jumping into water so that I didn’t catch him in the mouth because by the time he was halfway through his jump he would have pulled his head forward.

“For the same reason I stopped using a martingale on him as it would have come into play at the wrong time and potentially brought him down, which was the last thing I would have wanted.”

This is just one example of a horse reacting to water in a way the rider might not expect.

“It is your job to ask yourself why he is reacting the way he is and work out how to facilitate rather than hinder him,” adds Nicola.

Chris has discovered that wetting a horse’s legs with a bucket or jug of water before he goes cross-country can be helpful.

“It may sound crazy, but if you can get the horse used to the feel of water on his legs right before you set out to negotiate water then then it won’t come as such a shock,” he says.

By the same logic Chris also points out that young horses, in particular, can be spooky or shy at water when they’ve not been exposed to it for a while.

“This can happen in the summer or at the end of a particularly dry spell,” he explains. “If they’ve not seen a puddle for months and you suddenly ask them to canter through a large expanse of water, it’s not surprising that some are hesitant.”

Training at home

Nicola advocates making the most of opportunities that the weather provides to get creative at home.

“After a lot of rain you might end up with large puddles in your field or arena, which you can incorporate into your training,” she says. “So long as the surface underneath is safe you can make your session really fun and even incorporate some fences, too.”

Chris points out that sometimes it is easier for a horse to learn to stay in canter through water having jumped a small fence in rather than running down a slope.

“With a fence you’ve already got forward momentum, so if you sit up and keep your leg on when you land the horse is more likely to keep the canter,” he says. “Train your eyes to look high and ahead of you rather than down or to the water’s edge.”

Being in the right place at the right time with your body position will help the horse and instil confidence.

“Always support the horse with your leg by keeping it on his sides,” says Nicola. “Sometimes a little tap down the shoulder can keep him focused and energised.”

Water training checklist

Is the training venue/situation suitable?

“Choose your cross-country training venues carefully — pick waters that are open and spacious, and where there aren’t too many extra distractions to take the horse’s focus away from you,” advises Nicola. “Some people take their horses to the beach, which can be good for some but it doesn’t suit every horse.

“With the spooky types who find it hard to settle and concentrate then you are better off practising at a quiet schooling venue where there is not too much else going on.”

Is the surface/footing secure?

Wherever you are training, ensure the water has a sound underlying surface.

“It’s really important that the horse trusts the surface because as far as the horse is concerned you could be asking him to jump off the White Cliffs of Dover,” Chris points out.

Do you have the right tools and equipment?

Whether you’re utilising a newly-formed puddle at home or using a water complex at a training venue, having the right support and tools at your disposal is really important.

“This might be in terms of help on the ground, another horse to follow or ensuring you’re wearing the right tack and equipment,” says Nicola. “If you enter into a challenge ill-equipped to see it through then you are setting yourself up for failure. Remember, whenever you are training your horse you are always training his blueprint.”

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

Sooner or later every rider who ventures outside the arena will find themselves riding on wet ground and grappling with mud. The good news, says the 2021 European eventing champion Nicola Wilson, is that horses are surprisingly good all-terrain vehicles — if they are allowed to be – but there are a few caveats about riding your horse on wet ground.

“Horses often prefer sloshing along in the wet rather than running on hard ground, but they need to be prepared and confident, and this comes through exposure and experience,” Nicola says.

While withdrawing in particularly bad conditions is always an option, especially if you feel underprepared, Nicola points out that shying away from tackling trickier conditions in competition is a learning opportunity missed.

“If you get to a big event and your horse has never had to go on wet ground before then you have not set yourself up for success,” she says.

Tom Crisp points out that the mechanics of a horse’s stride can change in wet ground, and this can take a bit of getting used to.

“Horses use themselves slightly differently in the wet. They don’t always have the same adjustability as they do on dry ground,” he explains. “Every time the horse takes a step his foot slips a fraction, which can cause some to lose a little confidence in their jump and go a bit green.

“All this adds an extra layer of difficulty to cross-country riding, but the more you practise in wet conditions the more you will learn about how your horse reacts and how you might need to ride him differently.

“At Cornbury [in September 2025] we all had a bit of a shock when it rained and we had to jump out of mud for the first time since March. Most horses coped well, but it was a reminder that we need to prepare for these eventualities by laying good foundations and training in the wet when we have the chance.”

How to prepare for riding your horse on wet ground

Creative hacking

Training for riding in soft ground starts at home – yes, you’ll likely be riding in the rain.

“Although it is tempting to stay in the arena when conditions are bad, eventers need to be working in all weathers, in all elements,” says Nicola. “Hunting used to be – and probably still is – the best training ground for teaching horses and riders to gallop through mud and trot and pop over fences. For various reasons fewer event horses hunt these days, but the next best thing is to incorporate this sort of training into your everyday riding.

“Seek out different types of terrain and going when you’re out hacking and set yourself challenges. Look for lumps and bumps, undulations and muddy patches. Regularly exposing your horse to these, even just in walk, will help to condition his tendons and ligaments, reduce the risk of injury and make him more sure-footed.”

How to support your horse in wet conditions

Learning how to adapt your riding to help your horse jump in the mud is a skill that needs to be developed and honed.

“The horse gets its confidence from the rider, so if the rider is fearing the ground, why should the horse feel any different?” points out Nicola. “Horses can find it more difficult to travel through wet ground, so you need to support them with your lower leg to keep them up into the bridle.

“When jumping combinations and trickier fences in deep ground you need to use more leg and keep a supportive contact to create a short, bouncy canter with plenty of power. No horse should be off the bridle in wet conditions because that’s when injuries happen.”

Tom calls this feeling “hand holding”.

“Younger or less experienced horses usually need this more,” he explains. “Another way I describe it is ‘swaddling’ – giving the horse support and confidence through feel.”

Being well prepared also means having the right equipment, including using the correct sized studs for the going underfoot.

“I always had two studs in each shoe,” says Nicola. “Flat, rounded ones on the insides so they didn’t catch themselves, and bigger, pointier ones on the outside of their hinds so they don’t slip on turns.”

Course-walking in wet conditions

Course-walking in the wet requires an extra layer of consideration, when you know you will be riding your horse cross-country in the mud.

“Be mindful that the best route in testing conditions might not necessarily be the most direct one,” warns Nicola. “Look out for places where you have a choice of where to gallop – on a wide track, for example, you can seek out the less chewed up ground. Make a mental note of where it will be difficult to avoid the mud, for example at skinnies, so that you can ride accordingly to help your horse.

“When on course you need to train your eye to stay looking ahead and use your peripheral vision to check the ground so that you can stay in balance with your body and help your horse,” she adds.

Tom points out the distinction between wet ground and holding ground.

“The two types may look similar on top when you are walking the course, but they can be very different to ride in,” he says. “Sometimes ground that feels fine to us can be very soft for the horse because you’re talking half a ton of horse pounding down on a small surface area.

“Another thing to bear in mind is that in a class of 100 horses, the first 20 riders might encounter very different conditions to the last 20. Wet ground can dry out dramatically in a matter of hours if you have wind and sun, and that’s when it can get tacky and holding.”

Both Tom and Nicola agree that having a plan A, B and C is crucial.

“Your plan may change as the competition evolves and even after you have set off,” says Nicola. “You want to feel like you have a happy, fit horse at the end and that might mean switching to plan B and setting off at a slower pace, conserving your horse’s energy levels for the latter stages of the course.

“I can remember cross-country day at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in 2014 where the awful weather put a completely different complexion on the competition,” she continues.

“I was riding a relatively inexperienced horse called Annie Clover and by the time I set off, plans A, B and C had gone out the window. Horses were finishing tired – if they were finishing at all – so my aim was just to support her and try and let her find her own rhythm. I ditched my stopwatch and rode what I felt underneath me. She finished well and had a good experience.”

Horses for courses?

In racing, trainers spend a lot of time speculating about how a horse’s conformation might affect its preference for soft or firm going. Bigger hooves can be deemed better on softer going, while a higher, more rounded action associated with sloping shoulder and pastern joints can make it easier to navigate softer ground.

This is unlikely to tell the whole story, though, points out Tom.

“I don’t think you can read too much into that side of things,” he cautions. “My top five-star mare, Liberty And Glory, had tiny little feet. She ran in some very heavy conditions and was very, very quick out of the mud and naturally adjustable.

“Conversely, I’ve found that heavier types – your typical Irish cruisers – can sometimes tire more quickly.”

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

The key to safe and effective cross-country riding is a secure lower leg and impeccable balance, so you can use your core and seat to influence the horse, rather than always going to the hand. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Olympic event riders Ginny Elliot and Nicola Wilson to share their top tips to help you improve your position

Some riders have incredible balance and a lower leg that never moves across-country whatever the conditions and whatever they jump. How can you improve your eventing training to become one of them? We asked Olympic event riders Ginny Elliot and Nicola Wilson to share their top tips to improve your cross-country riding position so you can ride stronger, safer and smarter.

“I used to watch videos of top riders, particularly Lucinda Green, who had the most superb lower leg. I tried to analyse how her leg was so brilliant and copy it, although I don’t think I quite managed it,” says three-time European and double world eventing champion Ginny Elliot, who’s a big fan of self-analysis.

“In those days, we had a video camera and I would watch myself back and analyse it. I would go over it saying, ‘that wasn’t great. Why wasn’t that great?’ I think that was one of the reasons why we did quite well because I was never good enough, I had to be better.

“Today with mobile phones you have access to videos of yourself which you can watch instantly and that’s an incredibly important tool. Being critical on yourself isn’t a negative; it’s a positive because you’re going to get better from it.

“You have to accept your mistakes. If there had been a problem, I always asked myself, ‘what did I do wrong?’ and I tried to learn from it. I never said, ‘what did the horse do wrong?’”

Exercises to improve your cross-country riding position without a horse

Like self-analysis, several exercises to improve your cross-country position can be done from the comfort of your own home.

“Practise jumping off the last steps of your stairs, or any step, and landing on your feet elegantly, as light as a feather. Make sure you bend your knees and ankles and land in a crouch position so you absorb the weight but remain balanced and secure on your feet. Keep your upper body above your hips. This is how you should be landing after a fence,” explains former European eventing champion Nicola Wilson.

Ginny adds: “You can practise jumping a drop by sitting on a chair. Lean back and push your heels forward. I would also walk upstairs on the ball of my foot so I stretched the tendons at the back of my ankle. When my foot was in the stirrup, it was much more used to having my heel really down.”

These exercises are much easier to perform if you have a good level of fitness, balance and suppleness. Ginny reveals she used to swim and run to maintain her general fitness while Nicola is an advocate of Pilates and yoga.

“Working with horses, we can get a bit one sided from things like mucking out so we often shorten muscles and lose the elasticity and ignore the other important muscles. Doing Pilates or yoga and some strength work makes a massive difference and helps you to maintain good balance,” says Nicola.

Exercises to improve your cross-country riding position on the horse

As well as ensuring your fitness is up to speed, it’s important to have a horse who’s also fit and strong.

“Do exercises on your horse like stepping over raised poles, stretching and hill work so the horses are as strong as they can possibly be, which gives them reserves when they’re going cross-country,” says Nicola. “If the horses are always inverted, dropping their tummies, not engaging their core, being hollow through their back, then they’re going to find it very difficult to carry themselves as well and will pull you out of position.

“Practise bringing your shoulders up while you are galloping cross-country, engaging your core and supporting the horse through your lower leg as you bring them back to a coffin canter.

“Through training and repetition, you will be able to go through the gears so that you can efficiently go from a cross-country gallop to a coffin canter within a number of strides.”

Ginny would also use canter work to help improve obedience and the fluidity of speed control.

“As I was cantering the horses to get them fit, I would practise moving forward 10 strides, then shortening them and coming back before going forward again and then coming back. It’s a very good way of working yourself as well as the horse,” says Ginny.

“The other thing to remember is your head is the heaviest part of your body, and if you drop your head, the whole balance of your upper body goes so keep your body upright and your head still.”

If your horse is particularly strong cross-country and you find your shoulders being pulled forward out of the saddle, Nicola suggests riding with a longer rein.

“Strong horses have a habit of pulling on the rein then we get a little bit shorter in our rein which pulls our upper body forward and that puts the rider in their most inefficient and weakest position possible,” explains Nicola.

“It’s important to have a longer rein, keep your hands down so that your upper body can engage its core and be in its strongest position. Then with your lower leg, squeeze to say half halt with your hands low and just in front, engage your core, tuck your seat underneath, bring your shoulders and eyes up. Train your horses through these transitions – use technique and repetition of correct training to develop that ability to rebalance your horse.

“We must not have a lazy seat,” Nicola adds. “You need to be able to ride staying in balance with your horse.

“If you’re sitting heavy in the saddle, the horses are naturally going to hollow away from the seat, they’re not going to use their core and they’re going to be looking for the hand. You’ll have to use more hand to steady and balance them. They will run through the bridle more, so the stronger that you can become as a rider, in your core, in your ability to stay in tune and in balance with your horse, the more success you are going to have with your horse.”

Model position

In terms of riders to emulate to improve your cross-country riding position, both Ginny and Nicola are big fans of reigning Badminton and Burghley champion Ros Canter.

“Ros has the most fantastic position,” Ginny says. “She’s never in front of the movement and her leg is perfection. She’s tiny so it’s by no means anything to do with physical strength, but she trains those horses so brilliantly on the flat that they pull that through into the cross-country. It’s all to do with her upper body, her lower leg, and she’s got very soft hands. She’s always in the right position, sitting up and that’s to do with training and balance.”

Nicola adds: “Another excellent example at the other end of the scale would be William Fox-Pitt, who’s incredibly tall, and had to work very hard as a young rider to be strong in his position so he didn’t hinder his horses. He was very disciplined with his strength, his core strength and his balance.”

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The Defender Burghley Horse Trials commentators for the event next month (5-8 September) have been revealed.

The only way to watch all the action is on Burghley TV and a familiar team return to bring this coverage to viewers at home. The presenters will once again be experienced broadcasters Nick Luck and Rosie Tapner. The commentary team will be led by John Kyle, who has just returned from working at his fourth Olympic Games, and Nicole Brown, host of the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast. They will be joined by Tina Cook and Nicola Wilson, who are both multi-medallists in eventing and have been placed in the top five at Burghley.

The BBC will air a highlights programme on BBC2 on Sunday 8 September, from 2-3.55pm, and this will be fronted by well-known presenter Rishi Persad, another who has recently returned from the Paris Olympics.

Rupert Bell and Jo Thoenes anchor the coverage for Burghley Radio, with insight on the dressage provided by grand prix rider Bobby Hayler Wright, top judge Harry Payne and Olympic dressage rider Richard Davison.

Five-star riders and former Burghley competitors complete the team – Willa Newton and Simon Grieve will add their thoughts on the cross-country phases, Ginny Howe acts as roving reporter and Ben Way will interview riders after their performances.

If you are experiencing all the action for yourself by visiting Burghley Horse Trials, the commentators you will hear on site are Spencer Sturmey, Hugh Lochore and, on cross-country day, five-time Burghley winner Mark Todd.

Spencer can frequently be heard on the microphone at events and on live streams, while British-born Hugh is based in the US and particularly well known as a voice of equestrian sport there, as well as being a four-star cross-country course-designer.

• To stay up-to-date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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

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

Eventing fans always wait with excitement for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course to be revealed and we’re finally able to share a few pictures of the challenge Eric Winter has set for next week’s event (8-12 May).

As usual, H&H dispatched a top analyst to Gloucestershire to check out the track and you can read Nicola Wilson’s thoughts on every fence and her ratings for each in this week’s H&H magazine, out now (issue dated 2 May). In the meantime, check out a sneak peek of some of the fences and Nicola’s visit to Badminton below…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: photos of Nicola Wilson’s visit

Eric and Nicola at the Bloomfields Brush Buckets (fence 6ab), the second combination on course.

Badminton final scores

The pair eye up the line over the oxer and two corners at the Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close (fence 7abc).

Nicola strides out to the final corner at Huntsman’s Close, where the groundlines are cleverly positioned to help horses understand the question.

The Mars Badminton Lake (fence 10abcd) features an unusual MIM-Clipped wall-type fence, visible in the background of this photo.

The Lemieux Eyelash Brushes (fence 15abc) feature two angled brushes and a water-filled ditch.

The Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay at fences 17ab and 18 is the second water on the course.

Nicola demonstrates how to jump the angled log which forms the last element at the Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay.

Eric and Nicola discuss the Agria Silver Birch Rails (fence 21).

What a drop! This is the Lightsource BP Mound (fence 26abcd).

Riders are in the closing stages by the time they get to the Worcester Avenue Brushes (fence 28abc).

Pictures by Peter Nixon

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

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To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

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

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

Nicola Wilson has given her expert insight into the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, for H&H’s preview ahead of this year’s event (8 to 12 May).

Nicola, the 2021 European champion, rates and reviews all 32 numbered fences on this year’s track in the current magazine.

Badminton course-designer Eric Winter’s 2024 course runs anti-clockwise this year, meaning that Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close will be one of the earlier combinations on course – closely followed by the Mars Badminton Lake.

Plenty of familiar fan favourites are featured on this year’s course – including the KBIS Broken Bridge and Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee – and there are a host of new fences for 2024.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing competitors set out on cross-country day this year. They have a lot to get their teeth into – there are plenty of questions, but they are fair questions,” says Nicola.

Badminton final scores

Read Nicola’s thoughts on every fence of the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course in the current magazine – on sale from today (Thursday, 2 May).

Watch Nicola Wilson analyse three fences on the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close (7abc)

The direct route at this first major question is over a big parallel, then two left-handed corners on a related distance.

“The angles of the corners are steep – and being early on adds to its complexity – but if combinations are confident and riders are riding positively, which they should be at this level, then this is very jumpable,” says Nicola.

Mars Badminton Lake (10abcd)

Horses will have already got their feet wet at the Lightsource bp Log at fence nine, before galloping down to this question. The direct route takes competitors over a MIM-clipped wall-type fence, then down a slope to a big corner in the water, and out over a single arrowhead. There is also a long option, which starts with an alternative wall-type fence, which gives a different approach to the corner in the water, followed by two arrowhead brushes on dry land.

“I think it’s really nice that there’s a relatively tight turn to the first element, which will help riders to go through their gears and re-balance their horses,” says Nicola, analysing the direct route.

“When I first came to the ‘a’ element, I thought they had put the pergola in the wrong place! But once you get over the first fence and down the slope, the turn to the corner in the water starts to become much clearer.”

She adds: “Competitors will then come out up the slope, to the right-hand side of a second pergola, and over a skinny brush on top of a mound. They are quite tight turns, but if riders keep the balance, rhythm and have horses in the right tempo, this should flow very nicely.”

LeMieux Eyelash Brushes (15abc)

This is a new question on the Badminton cross-country course this year. The direct line comprises an angled brush, to a ditch, then over a second angled brush. There is also a much longer alternative route at this fence.

“When I first walked up to the ‘a’ element, I thought, ‘this is alright! We’ve jumped lots of angled hedges, and this is another,’” says Nicola, walking the direct line.

“The ditch in the middle will be full of water, which adds another dimension to the question. I think it’s very important that riders don’t get drawn down to look at the ditch, and that they stay on their line.

“It isn’t until you get to the other side of the ditch that you see the incredible angle to the last element, where everything is encouraging you out to the left. It’s going to be crucially important that riders keep their horses between the leg and the hand and in that tube, holding that straight line, to get a good passage through the final element.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound

To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

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

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How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

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 takes a special horse to adapt to a new rider and perform at the highest level for more than one pilot, and JL Dublin has proved he is such a horse.

The dark brown gelding by Diarado started his career with Nicola Wilson, who chose the Holsteiner at the sales in Germany for his owners, Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston.

“We went over and tried him and I thought he was very nicely put together and he has a lovely eye,” said Nicola in an interview in 2021. “He has a lovely technique over a fence and looked a fun horse.

“Since working with him as a young horse, I sensed that he was a star in the making. But he was quite bullish, boisterous and very cheeky until he got to this level of training, when he’s really started to knuckle down and focus and use that energy in a positive way rather than against me.”

“Dubs” was successful coming through the grades, including finishing fifth in the young horse World Championships at Le Lion as a seven-year-old. But he really sprang to prominence when he won the CCI4*-L at Bicton Horse Trials – the Bramham Horse Trials replacement fixture – in 2021.

In the autumn that year, the then-10-year-old JL Dublin and Nicola were selected for the British team for the eventing European Championships in Avenches, Switzerland.

There, they performed superbly to finish on their third-placed dressage score of 20.9 and claim the individual gold, leading Britain to team gold too.

“He missed half a year when I had my neck injury in 2019 and then there’s been Covid, so he’s relatively inexperienced, but even though he’s not been on the competition field, he’s still trained. The quiet time during Covid was a positive for him, letting him become stronger and more established in his mind,” said Nicola after their dressage test in Avenches.

After winning, she added: “I couldn’t be prouder of him. I feel very lucky to have him for such loyal owners and to be able to build that partnership and trust between us.”

The pair appeared to have a bright future, but disaster struck at Badminton Horse Trials the following year, when they fell towards the end of the course. Nicola sustained serious injuries which ended her eventing career.

The ride on JL Dublin went to British Olympic double medallist Tom McEwen, who quietly set about establishing a partnership with him. The pair finished the year with second in the crack CCI4*-L at Boekelo in the Netherlands.

The following year was a rollercoaster one for Tom and Dubs. They started out with a brilliant second place in the CCI5* at Kentucky Three-Day Event.

“I’m riding on the wave of Nicola’s training and everything she’s done before,” Tom said at the start of Kentucky week. “Dubs is the whole package and to be able to be passed on the reins after the amazing job Nicola has done is incredible.”

After cross-country, he added: “He’s a phenomenal horse. Considering this is only my sixth run on him – and four of those were nice open intermediates – it’s huge credit to Nicola and everything she’s done that I can hop on and get round a true five-star course that has plenty of challenges.”

The pair’s next big run was in the big CCI4*-S at Aachen in July. They set out across country in the lead, last to go in this reverse-order showdown, but a run-out put paid to a top placing.

“We had just two seconds of mistake which cost us a great deal today,” said Tom. “He was up on the time, he was flying and magnificent, and we’ve learnt a lot which is why we came here. Now it’s on to the next.”

And next was the European Championships in Haras du Pin, France. But that didn’t quite work out either, when the pair were third after dressage, but JL Dublin unseated Tom at the shoulder brush out of a water complex.

They headed back to France for the CCI5*-L in Pau Horse Trials to round off their year and made amends for Haras du Pin with third place there.

“We came to do what we needed to do, and he’s been fantastic. We’re looking forward to next year with him,” said Tom.

Paris 2024 will no doubt be on Tom’s mind as he prepares for this season – an Olympic medal would be an emotional result for all involved with JL Dublin.

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Nicola Wilson said she focuses on what she can do rather than what she can’t – and that she feels “incredibly lucky” to be walking, and still working in the sport she loves.

The 2021 European eventing champion, who had a career-ending fall at Badminton 2022, has become an ambassador for Spinal Research, the charity that aims to find a cure for paralysis. She is now “channelling her expertise and experience into coaching and mentoring the next generation of talented riders at her North Yorkshire equestrian centre”, including eventer and equestrian influencer Megan Elphick.

Nicola featured in a recent YouTube video of Megan’s, and the pair have “come together to share a Christmas message of hope for those paralysed after a spinal cord injury”.

“Nicola was in intensive care for three weeks after sustaining multiple spinal fractures and was initially paralysed from the neck down,” a spokesman for the charity said. “Although Nicola has learnt to walk again, she still suffers from the effects of her injury including central cord syndrome, which causes a loss of sensation and movement in her hands.”

The spokesman added that every four hours in the UK, someone is paralysed as a result of a spinal cord injury, and that about 60,000 people are living with the “devastating consequences”.

In the video, Nicola talks about her accident, building a new life supporting eventers and their horses, and her hopes for the future.

“This injury steals so much, not just from the person injured but their family and friends,” she said. “It has certainly been an emotional rollercoaster and when I was in hospital for five months learning all the basic life skills again like feeding and dressing myself, I had no idea how far I would be able to recover.

“You can’t turn the clock back so I focus every day on what I can do and not what I can’t. I feel incredibly lucky that I’m walking and can still have a career in the sport I love.

“I get a real buzz out of working with other riders and their horses, seeing them doing well on the competition circuit and helping them fulfil their dreams. I’ve had wonderful people around me and, through the work of Spinal Research, there is hope for the future which is so important.”

Charity chair Tara Stewart joined Nicola in the video; Tara was paralysed from the chest down in a fall from her horse in 2014, and has since raised thousands for Spinal Research.

“Traditionally this area of research has been chronically under-funded because everyone thought that curing paralysis was impossible but that is no longer the case,” she said.

“The great news is that next year the first function-restoring treatment in history for chronic spinal cord injury is due to be launched.

“There are also a lot of other treatments in the wings that just need funding to be delivered to the people who need it. If we can get the money I genuinely believe that curing paralysis will be the medical breakthrough of the 21st century.”

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Piggy March guided Coolparks Sarco – the former ride of Nicola Wilson – to his first five-star completion for fourth in the Pau five-star.

Piggy and the Lamberts’ 11-year-old gelding produced a superb double jumping clear, and had 8.4 time-penalties across country, to finish on a 36.5 score.

“What a lovely horse, I’m very lucky,” said Piggy.

The pair got their five-star journey off to a fantastic start when they were the best of the Brits on the first day of dressage at Pau on Thursday (26 October), despite torrential downpours.

Ahead of yesterday’s (28 October) cross-country, moments before Piggy and Coolparks Sarco were due in the start box, the gelding lost a shoe warming up, and so this had to be refitted and the pair had to warm-up again. But this interruption had no impact on their round, and they were one of only a handful who had less than 10 time-penalties.

The pair went into the showjumping in overnight fifth, but climbed a place when Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI (who were in third) and Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick (who were in sixth) both had faults to drop down the order.

Piggy and Coolparks Sarco produced a beautiful textbook clear round, but on reflection Piggy thought she could have gone a little bit quicker in the showjumping.

“I’m thrilled, but I was maybe a bit lucky as I was only a little bit in the time,” she said.

“I didn’t feel like I hung around, but he jumped really well and I was probably a quarter of a second in the air more than I thought it felt. He was really getting up and flicking his tail, so it was nearly a rider error, but he felt fantastic,” she said.

Piggy took over the ride of Coolparks Sarco from her close friend Nicola Wilson, following Nicola’s riding accident at Badminton Horse Trials in 2022. Tom McEwen took over the ride on JL Dublin, and they finished Pau five-star in third.

“It’s been a big weekend here, with JL Dublin here too, and hopefully we did Nic-Noc proud,” said Piggy.

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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 names of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials commentators have been released for this year’s event (30 August–3 September).

For those watching from home on the paid-for subscription service Burghley TV, John Kyle and Nicole Brown are the principal commentators – both are experienced equestrian commentators, with John having worked at the past three Olympic Games and Nicole known as the voice of the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast.

Other commentators will include the 2021 European champion Nicola Wilson and another former European champion and multi-medallist, Tina Cook. The presenters on Burghley TV are Nick Luck and Rosie Tapner.

The on-site Burghley Horse Trials commentators team will be led by another seasoned horse sport commentator in Steven Wilde, who anchored the live streaming coverage of the European Eventing Championships in Haras du Pin, France, earlier this month.

He will be joined on the mic by Spencer Sturmey and – for cross-country day – Mark Todd. Mark is a five-time winner of Burghley, as well as being a former Olympic individual champion.

For those tuning into Burghley Radio, dressage rider Bobby Hayler and judge Harry Payne will be commentating on the dressage.

Five-star riders Willa Newton and Simon Grieve will commentate on the cross-country and showjumping phases, while fellow top-level jockey Ben Way will be carrying out interviews with the competitors soon after they hop off their horses after each performance. Another five-star rider, Ginny Howe, is Burghley Radio’s roving reporter.

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Six-time Olympian Andrew Nicholson and European eventing champion Nicola Wilson are among the top names to join the 2023 Dubarry Burghley young event horse (BYEH) final judging panel.

Les Smith and Sue Baxter, who have both officiated on CCI5* ground juries, will judge the dressage phase. Nicola will join former Olympic eventer Jane Holderness-Roddam in judging the jumping phase. Former British eventing team vet Jenny Hall will judge the suitability and type phase, and five-time Burghley winner Andrew will mark the gallop.

The series aims to showcase four- and five-year-olds who have the attributes to develop into top event horses. Qualifiers take place throughout the summer, ahead of the final on 1 September at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, where the horses will perform a dressage test and showjumping round, and have their conformation examined.

The top 10 from each class come forward for a final assessment, where they are judged on their suitability and type for reaching the top levels of the sport, and their potential to take on a five-star track in the future.

The series underwent a “refresh” in 2022 under new Burghley event director Martyn Johnson, with an increase in prize money and adjustments to the way the horses are assessed to keep the classes “as relevant as possible to the fast-moving modern sport”.

“I am delighted to welcome to Burghley all six of our judges, who between them have countless years of expertise in the sport of eventing from every possible angle,” he said.

“The BYEH final is where we hope to see the horses who, in years to come, will return here for the five-star competition, and is always very hotly contested.”

The winner of the 2022 five-year-old final was Jack of Clubs, owned by Nicola Wilson’s mother Mary Tweddle, and ridden by Robyn Gray. The gelding is now competing at novice level with Ros Canter. The four-year-old final winner was the March Stud’s stallion Cupid March, who was ridden to victory by Piggy March, but died from colic this year.

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Nicola Wilson is among the first cohort of a new elite coach development programme supporting trainers across 21 sports.

The Coaching in High-Performance Sport scheme is supporting 27 coaches, including European champion Nicola, many of whom have already supported athletes to win medals.

Nicola said she is “delighted” to be part of the programme.

“I am really looking forward to challenging myself to learn more about my coaching craft through the workshops, interaction with other elite coaches from across multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports, and working with our assigned coach developers,” she said.

“I am certainly being taken out of my comfort zone and am so grateful to British Equestrian for putting me forward to be given this opportunity as I transition from podium athlete to coach.

“I look forward to implementing into my coaching what I learn and see. It will be invaluable to be part of a coaching network across sporting disciplines.”The initiative is among UK Sport’s range of coaching programmes. The first workshop was held at the Etihad Stadium this month and explored the theme of coach wellbeing, care and support.

“We are absolutely delighted to be working with our first Coaching in High-Performance Sport cohort and to be supporting 27 brilliant coaches to progress further, develop new knowledge and skills and generate a supportive community for each other,” said Andy Bradshaw, programme leader and coach developer to two people on the scheme.

“At UK Sport we are committed to working with national governing bodies and coaches to develop an expert high-performance coaching community to power success now and into the future so that we continue to win and win well, grow a thriving sporting system and inspire positive change.”

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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

The Badminton Horse Trials commentators, at this week’s event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May), will include five-star riders and broadcasting professionals.

Badminton TV, the paid-for online streaming service which will show fans all the action, will be anchored by John Kyle, a professional commentator who has worked on the equestrian sport at the past three Olympic Games and who fronted last week’s coverage of the Kentucky Three-Day Event on ClipMyHorse.TV and USEF Network. John will be joined by guest commentators including 2021 European champion Nicola Wilson.

The BBC will show a highlights programme on Monday, feeding into the live final showjumping rounds. This will be fronted by Rishi Persad and Tina Cook, the five-star rider and Olympic medallist who has recently retired from competing at the top level.

Listeners on Radio Badminton will hear dressage commentary from top-level judge and trainer Nick Burton and dressage rider Bobby Hayler Wright. On cross-country and showjumping days, insight will come from five-star riders Daisy Berkeley and Matt Heath. Another five-star rider, Ben Way, will lead on Radio Badminton’s mixed zone interviews and Ginny Howe, who has also ridden at the top level, will be the roving reporter. Rupert Bell, Jo Thoenes and Sam Lloyd form the team of presenters.

Badminton final scores

The Badminton Horse Trials commentators on site at the event will be David Luck, Tadgh Ryan, Roly Rickord and Spike (David) Milligan.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

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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

Tom McEwen has rocketed into top spot in the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage with a superb test on JL Dublin.

JL Dublin showed super power and activity in all his work and made no serious errors throughout the performance. His floaty extended trot drew a whoop from the grandstand. The pair scored six nines, with all of the three judges giving them at least one nine.

JL Dublin, a 12-year-old by Diarado who belongs to Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, was ridden by Nicola Wilson until she was seriously injured in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials last year. The pair were European champions in 2021.

Today, Tom was quick to pay tribute to Nicola.

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

Tom hinted there is even more to come from JL Dublin and described him as “the whole package”, adding: “To go in an atmosphere like that and pull out a test like that was brilliant, even though there’s still things to put more of a shine to. It’s a lovely picture to watch, he’s a beautiful horse and it’s very exciting.”

Tom and JL Dublin’s score of 22.6 gives them a 1.6-penalty lead over the home side’s Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, who sit second at the moment in the Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage results, with Liz Halliday-Sharp third on Deniro Z.

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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

Nicola Wilson said she is delighted to join the coaches on the Wesko Equestrian Foundation, which is expanding to benefit more young riders.

The European eventing champion joins top names including Pippa Funnell and World Class performance manager Dickie Waygood to provide coaching, advice and support. The foundation, set up in memory of eventing owner Christina Knudsen to support eventers from all backgrounds, has announced its expansion, aiming to support 60 young riders.

“I am delighted to be supporting the new programme that the Wesko Equestrian Foundation is launching, and I very much look forward to getting started with many exciting up and coming riders and their horses,” Nicola said. “It is a fabulous foundation allowing riders to draw on a wealth of knowledge and experience in a lovely environment.”

The new young eventers’ pathway will run at three levels; the first covers BE80(T), BE90 and BE100, the second is combines two-and three-star and the third four- and five-star levels.

Up to 20 riders will be supported at each level, two of which at each will be given full funding.

“Each pathway level will feature a tailored training programme, with all ridden training taking place at Aston-Le-Walls,” a foundation spokesman said. “The pathway riders will have shared access to a 12-month education programme, which will offer support in a variety of areas, from business to media training, fitness and nutrition, and equine welfare.”

The foundation is named after Tim Price’s five-star winner Wesko, who was owned by Ms Knudsen, and Tim continues as its ambassador.

“The help the foundation gives to young riders is invaluable; to have that support system to help and guide you is second to none,” he said. “The change to pathway training days will mean more riders across all levels have access to this support and programme and I’m very excited to see the progress the riders will make.”

The foundation has already supported riders including Ireland’s Susie Berry, who made her senior championship debut at the world championships in Pratoni this year – and British world champion Yasmin Ingham.

“It was a privilege to be a part of the Wesko Equestrian Foundation; even though I have graduated from it, I still stay in contact and ask Pip for her valuable advice!” Yasmin said.

“I believe what I learnt when on the programme I use in my everyday life running an equestrian business. I am very grateful to all at the Wesko Equestrian Foundation.”

Applications for the 2023 intake of riders are open online until 1 January. The first of the pathway training sessions runs at Aston-Le-Walls from 13-16 February.

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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

“I’m living, I’m fighting and I’m going to get there”, were Nicola Wilson’s words in a moving speech at the British Eventing Support Trust (BEST) ball – as the charity raised £194,000 to help more riders.

On Saturday (10 December) the eventing community came together at the first BEST fundraiser, at the Savoy Hotel, London. The charity was launched in September 2021 to provide financial and practical support for riders who are dealing with physical injuries or mental health issues, as well as promoting eventing safety through new research projects.

A total of £194,000 was raised on the night, from ticket sales, a silent auction, a raffle and pledges. Among the auction lots and raffle prizes were an overnight stay and training with Piggy March, lessons from top riders including Tom McEwen, Tom Jackson and Laura Collett, theatre and sports tickets, an overnight stay at the Savoy, and a Bates saddle. An award was also presented, a BE honorary life membership, to Di Brunsden for leading the BE IT strategic review task force.

British Eventing team manager Dickie Waygood took to the stage and led a standing ovation for Nicola Wilson’s husband Alastair, then introduced Nicola in a heartfelt speech paying tribute to her journey since her fall at Badminton in May, and her “resilient” character.

“I am absolutely sure, as everybody in this room would be, sometimes that inner chimp would be there saying to Nic ‘You’re not tough enough to ride this storm’, but I can tell you now, Nicola looks back at that inner chimp and says ‘I am the storm’,” he said.

Nicola discussed her journey since her fall, and thanked BEST for all its support, including funding her physio sessions.

“Without the help of this charity I really do not know what we would have done. When I had the fall I was instantly paralysed from my neck down which stopped me breathing. I was aware when I was lying on the floor that there was somebody next to me, but obviously I ran out of oxygen quite quickly, and that was it, lights out for me,” she said.

“You have to forgive me if I sound a bit emotional, it is still a bit raw really at the moment on my journey but I want to thank the whole eventing family, my whole team at home, my fabulous Alastair, and my family, and everybody in this room. Your lovely messages of support and cards and letters really have made me so much stronger than I perhaps thought I could be.

“It’s really fantastic to be able to stand here this evening and to walk. Again I’m getting emotional because I know how bloody lucky I am to actually be walking when a lot of people in the hospital weren’t, and didn’t show signs of walking.”

Nicola spoke about the challenges she has faced in learning how to do “most basic life things”, like brushing her teeth and feeding herself. But the speech was not without humour; she described her hydro physio sessions “swimming club”, where Alastair takes her to “flail around in the water”.

“Joking apart, it’s absolutely terrifying being in hospital. When you’re at the most vulnerable and you’re trying to organise your rehab when you leave. But the reassurance that the BEST foundation has given myself and my family is unbelievable. They really are like fairies,” she said.

Nicola also thanked the World Class programme for the support given to her and Alastair, and her yard staff.

“Whether it was a shoulder to cry on or to offer emotional support, and for helping us carve out our next lives in the future. All I wanted was quality of life and to be able to live life as much as possible and earn a living. I’m going to be able to do this,” she said.

“Yes, life is difficult for Alastair and me, and I’m living it in a body which is very weird, but I’m living, and I’m fighting and I’m going to get somewhere, and I’m thrilled to be able to walk. I feel incredibly lucky, there are many people worse off than me. And this charity going forward, with other athletes in mind who are struggling with mental illness or physical injuries, is amazing. Thank you for all your hard work.”

Dickie told H&H the atmosphere on the night was “fantastic”.

“Nic’s been an inspiration to everybody; from where she’s come from to where she is now is absolutely fantastic. She’s taken people on that journey, and it’s really raised awareness for BEST. She’s been an absolute champion,” he said.

“The charity is a fantastic initiative. We have to accept that eventing is a high-risk sport and a charity like BEST will look after athletes in different ways. It might be with physical injuries or recovery, or mental health, so it’s only a good thing. The sky’s the limit with the type of support it can offer, so I think everyone should really get behind it.”

BEST trustee Lexi Hambro, who organised the ball with the help of a committee, told H&H the night was “emotional”.

“Seeing how the rehab is helping Nicola, and all the other people we’re helping, I said even if we get £10,000 it’s going to go a long way. So when everyone started bidding and the auction kept going up and up, it was incredible. The next day when I did the figures I had to get my husband to check them as I thought I got something wrong, I just couldn’t believe the total raised – I’m gobsmacked,” she said, adding that fundraising activities will continues with an online quiz with prizes to take place in February (date TBC).

“The money will go towards supporting more riders; whether they’ve had an accident at home or an event, or they need support with their mental health,” she said. “We are working with all the rehab facilities at the Injured Jockeys Fund, thanks to their chief executive officer Lisa Hancock, who is one of our new trustees. We have also got involved with mental health charity Sporting Chance so we will use them to provide counselling sessions for riders.

“Since BEST has started posting more on social media one thing we’ve noticed is we’re getting more and more applications from riders who need support. There’s only so much the NHS can do, and BEST has been needed for so long.”

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

There was a standing ovation as Nicola Wilson took the HorseDialog Inspiration of the Year title at the 2022 Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF.

The eventing European champion walked on to the stage last night (30 November), with her husband Alastair, nearly seven months after she was seriously injured in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials.

Nicola spent more than four months in hospital undergoing intensive physiotherapy and rehab, and returned home in September. This week, she shared a video of herself walking at home.

After she had walked on stage, to a storm of applause, last night, she said: “I think everyone in this room – and the other people nominated – are massive inspirations. But everyone who’s supported me through the last few months has been inspirational. The messages of support from people – and of course, this guy here [Alastair] – have been phenomenal.”

Compère John Kyle asked Nicola about her future plans around getting more involved in the training side of the sport.

“Horses and the sport are what I love,” she said. “I dreamed of competing at the top all my life. It’s sad to see an empty yard, and it would be nice to be part of someone else’s journey.

“I’ve had a wonderful time and it’s important I move to the next chapter of my life with the same positivity and determination I did to the first.”

In her update on Tuesday, Nicola thanked the British Eventing Support Trust for its ongoing help with her recovery.

“I’m really pleased with my rehab and feel I’m getting stronger and more mobile each day, which is fabulous,” she said.

You might also be interested in:

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

‘Life is to be lived to the full’: Nicola Wilson shares update on rehab and horses

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

The Nations Cup Final takes place this week in Spain and a star horse returns to international competition – check out what’s happening this week in equestrianism…

1. Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final, Barcelona, Spain

Dates: 29 September-2 October

More info: csiobarcelona.com

How to watch: ClipMyHorse.TV

Get the H&H lowdown: we’ll bring you the latest news from the three rounds of jumping online as well as a full report in the following week’s issue of the magazine, in the shops Thursday 6 October

Why we’re excited about it: the 2022 series reaches its thrilling climax this weekend with some of the best teams in the world lining up for team honours in the Nations Cup Final. Great Britain is sending Lily Attwood (Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z), William Whitaker on Galtur, Jodie Hall McAteer with Salt’n Peppa, Joe Stockdale riding Equine America Cacharel and Ellen Whitaker (Equine America Spacecake) to fly the flag.

2. Osberton Horse Trials, Nottinghamshire

Dates: 28 September-2 October

More info: schedule on British Eventing website, results on Eventing Scores, or event’s own website

How to watch: live streaming on Horse & Country

Get the H&H lowdown: report in 6 October issue of the magazine

Why we’re excited about it: Osberton has bumper entries for this end-of-year showcase, with over 100 in each of the long format classes and more than 60 in each young horse class. Five-, six- and seven-year-olds go head to head in international classes, with the results often pointing to the stars of tomorrow. Recent Burghley Horse Trials winner Piggy March, Olympic gold medallists Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend, European team gold medallist Kitty King and Australian Tokyo silver medallist Kevin McNab are among the many big names competing.

3. Veteran Horse Society championships, Arena UK, Lincolnshire

Dates: 30 September-2 October

More info: veteran-horse-society.co.uk

Get the H&H lowdown: coverage in 13 October issue of the magazine

Why we’re excited about it: the largest veteran equine event in the UK which hosts the prestigious end of season supreme finals and the acclaimed veteran of the year. Held at Arena UK, the show is hosted over three days and has over 120 classes, across showing, dressage, jumping and fun classes.

4. Childeric Saddles Little Downham (3) and 4) Horse Trials, Cambridgeshire

Dates: 27 September and 1-3 October

More info: schedules on British Eventing website and results on Eventing Scores

Get the H&H lowdown: report in the magazine dated 13 October

Why we’re excited about it: this is actually officially two fixtures, with advanced and CCI4*-S classes on Tuesday 27 September and then everything from GO BE80 up to open intermediates over the following weekend. Recent world bronze medallists Tim and Jonelle Price have six horses between them in the advanced, while the CCI4*-S field includes the likes of Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-S winner Izilot DHI (Ros Canter) and Monkeying Around, who was long-listed for the eventing World Championships with Izzy Taylor. JL Dublin – who was the European champion under Nicola Wilson and who now has a new rider in Tom McEwen following Nicola’s serious fall at Badminton Horse Trials – will have his first international run with Tom in this class.

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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

European eventing champion Nicola Wilson has returned home after spending more than four months in hospital recovering from injuries sustained in a cross-country fall with JL Dublin at fence 27c at Badminton Horse Trials.

Nicola, 45, suffered a serious neck injury in the fall on 7 May. She has since re-learnt basic life skills such as being able to stand, move her wheelchair, feed herself and brush her teeth ahead of being discharged from the spinal rehabilitation unit at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

In a video shared on her social media on Thursday (15 September), Nicola said: “Today is a really exciting day. Today I’ve been discharged from hospital. After leaving fence 27c at Badminton Horse Trials four and a half months ago, it’s been a long journey but so, so exciting to be back home with Alastair and enjoy a bit of fresh air and a few home comforts.”

At times Nicola was emotional as she thanked those who have been “instrumental” in her recovery to date, saying: “I am so, so grateful to the team at Badminton who saved my life. I am so indebted to you for doing that and putting me in the position where I am now. Having gone from the medical tent at Badminton, where the support and medical attention was outstanding, to Southmead [Hospital in Bristol], where they looked after me equally as well.

“The messages of support, letters, cards, presents, well wishers was just overwhelming for us all. Alastair or Mum [Mary Tweddle], who were with me all the time while at Southmead, would read the letters with tears running out of our eyes – it was so overwhelming and so kind to have that support.

“Having been looked after so beautifully at Southmead, I then moved to the spinal unit at James Cook where for the last few months they have become my family. The care there is outstanding – the physios, the occupational therapists trying to teach me everything that I need to learn, to remember how to do, to get my body to do, has just been fantastic. It’s given me so much confidence. I’m incredibly grateful to them.”

Nicola continued by explaining more about her injury and how her recovery is progressing at the moment.

“My legs are being great,” she said. “They are holding my weight which I am so, so grateful and hopefully they will get better and better. My injury was an incomplete injury to the neck affecting the spinal cord affecting all four limbs.

“My arms have also been getting better, but they are much further behind my legs. I still can’t feel my hands and need my eyes to know whether I’ve got something in my hand or not. I also need my eyes to know where my feet are and where my arms and hands are.

“There is a lot more rehab and work to be done, but I’m so delighted to have phase one completed and behind me.”

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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

WHEN Robyn Gray arrived at the North Yorkshire yard of Nicola Wilson last December, with the aim of gaining experience to help her compete at four-star, little did she know she would be entrusted with continuing the careers of the five-star rider’s string of super-talented young horses following Nicola’s serious accident at Badminton.

The 31-year-old has risen to the challenge with aplomb and, to the team’s delight, brought home two red rosettes from Shelford Manor (2).

Robyn won novice section B with Frankfort Pointllexi (Dot), a six-year-old mare who is owned by Nicola, and her husband Alistair’s parents, John and Diana Wilson.

“Dot was bought as a four-year-old from Ireland and Nic rode and produced her until her accident,” explained Robyn. “This was only her second novice, but she is a lovely horse who always tries her best. She has now qualified for the six-year-old championship at Osberton, so that’s the aim.”

Robyn also topped BE100 section G with the five-year-old Jack Of Clubs, who went on to win the Burghley Young Event Horse five-year-old section on 2 September. He was bred by Nicola’s mother Mary Tweddle, who still owns him. The smart gelding is out of Nicola’s former five-star mare Annie Clover.

“I didn’t know Annie Clover when she was competing, but the girls on the yard say that Jack’s very similar,” said Robyn.

Jack Of Clubs is also heading to Osberton, along with two other five-year-olds from the Nicola Wilson stable – Val and Ann Robson’s Beltane’s Prince Chilli, who is out of Nicola’s feisty, top-performing mare Beltane Queen, by Chilli Morning, plus Dierdre Johnston and Jane Knight’s Quintus.

“Nic is still very much at the heart of the operation – we analyse videos of the horses’ performances together and spend a lot of time on the phone,” said Robyn. “It brings everyone such a lot of joy to have these lovely young horses go so well.”

You might also like to read:

‘Life is to be lived to the full’: Nicola Wilson shares update on rehab and horses

Home-bred gives Nicola Wilson’s yard huge boost with Burghley young event horse final win

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

A horse bred by Nicola Wilson’s mother Mary Tweddle provided the injured rider’s whole team with a huge boost when he won the Dubarry Burghley young event horse final five-year-old section this morning (2 September) at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

Robyn Gray, 31, was in the saddle of winner Jack Of Clubs, who is by the thoroughbred Duke Of Hearts and out of the five-star mare Annie Clover.

Robyn joined Nicola’s yard in January, with the aim of gaining experience with her own four-star horse Gelukkig and is now riding the young horses while Nicola continues her rehabilitation following her serious injury at Badminton Horse Trials in May.

“Nicola loves watching the young horses – she always gets videos sent and she’s so supportive and really encouraging. She really sets a bit of fire in my belly to go out and do it,” said Robyn.

“She’s so positive in everything she’s going through and yet so positive about the yard and horses – her positivity is still rubbing off although she needs it herself.”

Robyn also piloted Quintus, by Quibery, into fifth, with Tom Rowland taking the reins for the top 10 final. He is owned by Deirdre Johnston and Jane Knight.

“The horses are a credit to her – she produced them as four-year-olds and she’s got a great eye for them all and they’re all lovely horses. I’m very lucky and privileged to be sat on them,” said Robyn.

Winner Jack Of Clubs led going into the final. He scored 24.3 out of 30 for his dressage (judged by Angela Tucker and Judy Harvey), 34.5 out of 40 for his jumping (judged by Yogi Breisner and Helen West) and 19 out of 20 for suitability and potential (judged by Andrew Spalding). He was then placed fourth by Mark Phillips in the final section, which includes a gallop, with his seven points from that phase leaving him the winner by 0.3 of a penalty.

“When the crowd were clapping at end he had his ears pricked – he’s got quite a big ego and we don’t want to give him a bigger head than he’s got!” said Robyn.

“He’s quite cheeky – he’s a know it all but in a really nice way. He had a little buck in his gallop. We’re finding the more you challenge him the better he is and he rises to the occasion. But I couldn’t have faulted him today.”

Max Warburton’s ride Morningstar Van Altrido, by the Dutch warmblood stallion Fibonacci and owned by Conor Bruen, took the top mark of 10 in the final phase and moved up to overall second in the Burghley young event horse final for five-year-olds.

Deborah Langstaff’s mare Silvesters Finesse stood third, piloted by Ros Canter, with Emma Hobday standing in for the final phase. She is by the Dutch warmblood Silvester.

You might also be interested in:

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 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

European champion Nicola Wilson is continuing to make progress in her rehabilitation three months on from her cross-country fall at Badminton Horse Trials.

Nicola, 45, sustained serious injuries in the fall with JL Dublin on 7 May and is in the spinal rehabilitation unit at James Cook University Hospital, with the hope of returning home “perhaps at the end of August”.

In a video shared on her social media on Friday (29 July), Nicola gave news of her recovery and a “sad but positive” update on her yard.

“I’m doing really well, my rehab is going nicely and I’ve got a new chair,” she said.

“I allowed myself half an hour to get to physio two days ago and it took me 25 minutes to go 20m on the flat, in the lift and then 30m to physio. I smashed it and did it in 25 minutes. I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got there – I had a good session anyway.

“That little bit of inner competition kicked in the following day and yesterday I did it in 15 minutes, so I was thrilled to bits.”

She added that it is “a little bit sad, but also positive” that things have moved on with the horses in her yard.

“Obviously I’m not going to be in a position to be competing any more and a lot of the older horses have gone to lovely riders and the younger horses are still doing their five-year-old classes with Robin [Grey], who is doing brilliantly with them,” she said.

“I’m just proud to have been part of the older horses’ journeys so far and look forward to supporting them from afar.

“Yes it will be sad going home to an empty yard, but I’m here and life is to be lived to the full when I come out, so I am looking forward to that.”

Nicola said her goal-setting meeting last week went well and her therapists and doctors are “pleased with how things are going.”

“I’m to stay at James Cook for another month with a view to possibly making a date to be discharged perhaps at the end of August,” she said.

“There’s lots of work to be done in the meantime and hopefully lots to look forward to as well.”

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

Nicola Wilson update: rider and connections thank medics and ‘eventing family’ for care and support

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Nicola Wilson shares update on her recovery

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 Nicola Wilson is no longer wearing a neck collar – and has borne weight on her legs for the first time since her fall at Badminton Horse Trials.

In a video shared today (5 July) Nicola gave an update on her second week of physiotherapy at the James Cook University Hospital’s spinal rehabilitation unit, where she continues to recover. During the first week of physio she reported she was able to sit up and balance her upper body, and had also started occupational therapy, during which she was working on “everyday things” such as brushing her teeth and dressing.

Nicola said the second week of physio had been “a bit of a tiring one”.

“I’m not sure if you can notice anything different about me this week – I have got rid of the collar, yes! And also had a haircut, so I am feeling much happier to be able to move my neck a little bit more and feel slightly more human, which is lovely,” she said.

“This week was also lovely because we did a partial stand so I actually weight-bore on my legs. I was in a bit of a position where I looked as though I was laying an egg, but nevertheless it was exciting that I was able to weight-bear.”

Nicola said she had made “a lot of progress” this week.

“It’s been a tiring week, I’m delighted they don’t do physio over the weekend. I’m certainly enjoying a little bit of quiet time before it all starts again next week,” she said.

In a family Facebook post it was also added that Nicola would like to wish the NHS a happy 74th birthday.

“Nic can’t thank the wonderful NHS staff in the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit at James Cook Hospital enough for the wonderful care she’s receiving,” read the post.

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Nicola Wilson ‘spurred on’ as she begins physiotherapy journey

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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

Eventer Nicola Wilson is “improving daily” as she begins her physiotherapy journey at the James Cook University Hospital’s spinal rehabilitation unit following her Badminton fall.

In a video shared today (28 June), the European champion said she began physiotherapy last week, but explained that it was a slightly rocky start.

“When I came here nearly a month ago I was all guns blazing, ready to crack on. I wanted to get better, but they said I had to rest and recuperate and stay in my bed for a little bit longer, which as you can imagine was a little disappointing,” she said.

“Then I got into the chair, which was really exciting, then on Monday (20 June) I started my physio. I got a timetable on each day of what I was going to be doing and was really excited until I went for my first physio and failed at the first hurdle. I was gutted,” she said, adding that when the team got her out of the chair she suddenly felt very sick.

“That was the end of physio day one and I went down a little bit with my tail between my legs, thinking ‘this is rubbish’,” she said. “I thought I was going to take on the world and smash it. They said I need to manage my pain a little bit better, and I thought I’m not in any pain, but clearly I was when I was trying to do a little bit of the exercises.”

Nicola said that on day two, after taking anti-sickness tablets and pain relief, she “bossed” her second session.

“I was really pleased with how I got on. Although it’s only small bits we’re doing, I was able to sit up and balance my upper body a little bit, obviously with people sitting around me in case I wobbled over,” she said.

“The physios are great, they do small steps at a time – but when I say steps, I don’t mean me walking. I’m a little bit off that yet, but we’re all allowed to dream.”

Nicola has also started occupational therapy, but said she was not prepared for “how hard” the sessions would be.

“With the occupational therapist we have sessions each day where we’re working on everyday things, trying to brush my teeth, dress, or brush my hair – which I can’t reach yet,” she said.

“I am able with assistance to brush my teeth and this left arm is catching up nicely now, putting hand cream on and doing everyday things, which are so difficult. It wasn’t until I started to do those that I realised just how far I have to go. But we’re improving daily and I’m really pleased with how I am getting on, which spurs me on for the next day.”

On one occasion when the occupational therapist briefly left Nicola on her own, she knew her husband Alastair had phoned three times and she was worried it might be an emergency.

“My phone was on the desk and I couldn’t quite reach it with my left hand and I certainly couldn’t move it so I leant forward in my chair – I had a belt on don’t worry – got hold of it and pulled it across. I took a deep breath thinking ‘This is amazing’, then I punched in the code with my finger and rang Alistair, and put it on loud speaker,” she said.

“What a result, I really felt so much more like a human being. Bit by bit things are coming back. I couldn’t be more grateful to the team here, they are doing an amazing job and how they work together is truly fantastic – they’re inspirational and I’m so grateful to be here.”

Updates from Nicola’s yard

Nicola also shared an update on her yard and said it had been an “exciting” week for the team. On 23 June Robyn Gray won the NexGen Young Horse Series five-year-old qualifier with Quintus and was fifth with Beltane’s Prince Chilli.

“Both went really nicely so we have lots to look forward to in September if we can go down to Hickstead to watch them in the final,” said Nicola, adding that Robyn also won the Alnwick Ford BE100 on 24 June with the six-year-old mare Frankfort Pointllexi.

“Clearly I’m not needed! The girls at home Lynn [Swift], Ruth [Asquith], Abbie [Pearson], and Robyn are holding the fort beautifully and doing a wonderful job. I’m really enjoying watching their progress, hearing the excitement of how the horses are going and watching videos.”

Nicola also shared the “sad news” that her groom Abbie is moving on.

“She’s a super girl and has been an asset to our team and we’ve loved working with her. I really would trust her with everything to do with the yard and myself,” said Nicola.

“She worked her way through from an apprentice to grooming at Badminton this year when we took Dublin [JL Dublin] and Arnie [Erano M]. We look forward to supporting her and following her progress in her next step in her career as she goes to travel the world and see what excitement there is out there.”

You might also be interested in:

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Nicola Wilson shares update on her recovery

Nicola Wilson in ‘good spirits’ and making ‘steady progresss’ after Badminton fall

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Eventer Nicola Wilson says there is “light at the end of the tunnel”, as she continues to recover and looks forward to leaving hospital.

The European champion was taken to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, after she was seriously injured in a fall with JL Dublin at Badminton on 7 May, and was moved to the spinal rehabilitation unit at James Cook University Hospital on 25 May.

In an update on social media Nicola said she has had lots of “lovely visitors” from family and friends, including Tina Cook, Brett and Sarah Bullimore, Lucinda Green, Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, team vet Liz Brown and Piggy March.

“Lucinda Green painted my toes to cheer me up when I see them and to remind me of her,” said Nicola, adding her congratulations to Piggy, who competed Nicola’s ride Coolparks Sarco at Bramham International Horse Trials last weekend.

“I thought they looked fabulous – and what a great start to their partnership,” she said.

Nicola also shared a video, in which she can be seen sitting outside in a chair, thanking everyone “so much for their fabulous support”, including cards, letters, and messages.

“It’s just been so overwhelming and made us all feel so special,” she said.

“I’m in the chair for the third time this week, which is really exciting. It’s lovely to be sitting up and actually see what people are wearing on their feet and see a little bit more of the ward.”

Nicola said she is doing “really well”.

“My legs have always been quite good so I’m very grateful for that. I think my head is as thick as it usually is so that’s pretty normal, thankfully!’ she said. “Excuse my hair and the lack of make-up, but who cares, we’re in hospital and that’s just the way it is.

“My right hand is getting so much better so I can give you a little wave. My left arm is slowly improving also.”

Nicola said she is on a “long road”, but she thinks there is “light at the end of the tunnel”.

“Perhaps not competing at top level any more, but certainly I’ll hopefully still be involved in the sport somehow. I can’t wait to get strong enough and get out of here and see you all again soon,” she said.

“Thank you all again for your encouragement, it’s been so kindly received.”

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

There were emotional scenes as Piggy March went into the lead in the CCI4*-L on the second day of Bramham Horse Trials dressage. She scored 23.3 riding Coolparks Sarco, who until her Badminton fall was ridden by Nicola Wilson.

“That was a very emotional moment. I have to say I’ve never had a cheer that big and it’s just for the love of Nicola, which is so wonderful,” said Piggy referring to Nicola’s local Yorkshire crowd showing their appreciation after her Bramham Horse Trials dressage test. “I just hope it’s a week that we can do her proud. I have to keep quite strong because we miss her and this result is a credit to her through and through.”

Coolparks Sarco’s owners, James Lambert OBE and his wife Jo, sent this 10-year-old to Piggy’s yard just three weeks ago.

“I’ve not had him long and I was going through the whole test not having a bloody clue what I was doing to be honest, but you know all credit to Nic – he’s a lovely little horse,” said Piggy. “Nic basically told me that yes, this is what I was doing and so I agreed obviously with pride and honour because she’s amazing and has been a wonderful teammate and friend in general.”

Piggy’s hopes for the week with Coolparks Sarco are very straightforward in that her aim is to get him home safe.

“This will be a big week for him with where he’s at in his life and what he’s done, and physically with the terrain and his age,” she explained. “He’s done Boekelo once – that was flat so this is a big week. I’m taking each day as it comes – we want to enjoy him and I just want to make sure he’s okay.

“It’s wonderful when you get given these last-minute opportunities, but obviously it came with a lot of mixed emotions. I would love to just get him back – I’m not my usual ‘right, come on, I can win this’ – I am wanting to figure him out and hopefully just do the best I can for him, his owners and Nic’s parents, who are here this week. We’ve got Nic’s Yorkshire Rose quarter marks on him and that will stay there for as long as I ride him.”

Piggy has done two events on Coolparks Sarco, who was originally produced by Andrew Nicholson to advanced and three-star level before Nicola took on the ride in 2021.

“Getting to know him has been quite interesting. Obviously Nic hasn’t had him that long and he’s quite an ‘Andrew horse’ – Nic did a lot in a year,” said Piggy, referring to the fact that Nicola managed to clock a win in the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S class at Blenheim and then fourth in the CCI4*-L Boekelo last year. “So bless him, he’s probably not got a clue what’s going on. I had a run at Rockingham – Rockingham is not Bramham, but I did have a competitive run.

“I’ve spoken to Nic two or three times about his fitness, which has really helped, as her routine is different to mine. I was wondering if we were fit enough to come here, but Nic’s horses always are and he feels great. He’s obviously just different and used to different work, so it’s been an interesting past two or three weeks.”

Keep up-to-date with all the action from Bramham via horseandhound.co.uk and read the full magazine report in the 16 June issue of Horse & Hound

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Eventer Nicola Wilson is in “good spirits” and making “steady progress”, her husband said, adding that she is likely to remain in hospital for three months.

The European champion, who was badly injured in a fall with JL Dublin at Badminton Horse Trials, has been in the spinal rehabilitation unit at James Cook University Hospital since 25 May. She had been having treatment at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, since her fall on 7 May.

In an update on 2 June, her husband Alistair said: “Nic is in good spirits, she has another two weeks of bed rest before reassessing her rehabilitation and is making steady progress although still has no hand and arm function but good feeling, she is most likely to be here for three months.”

Previous updates from British Equestrian have confirmed that “Nicola Wilson’s recovery is progressing well, with sensation and movement returning to her lower and upper limbs”, and that Alistair and Nicola’s mother Mary Tweddle thanked all those who had looked after her at Southmead Hospital, as well as all those who had sent messages of support.

Her 11-year-old European Championship-winning ride “Dubs” has been “happy and content, and is enjoying the sunshine and the spring grass”.

Alistair added last week that he and Nicola had been watching The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations together, and that Nicola was disappointed to have fallen asleep.

“I have reassured her it was a wonderful Red Arrows display similar to what she watches during a Lincoln dressage test!” he said.

One of Nicola’s other advanced rides, 2021 Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S winner Coolparks Sarco, is due to compete at Bramham International Horse Trials this week (8-12 June) in the CCI4*-L with Nicola’s friend Piggy March. Piggy and “Jeremy” came ninth in the open intermediate at Little Downham last week (3 June).

You might also be interested in:

Nicola Wilson continues ‘lengthy’ road to recovery as Coolparks Sarco to be competed by fellow top rider

Nicola Wilson update: rider and connections thank medics and ‘eventing family’ for care and support

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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

Nicola Wilson has moved to a specialist spinal unit closer to home, with the ambulance crew making a stop at her yard.

Nicola, who sustained serious injuries in a cross-country fall at Badminton Horse Trials with her European champion ride JL Dublin, was moved to the spinal rehabilitation unit at James Cook University Hospital yesterday (25 May). She had been receiving care at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following her fall on 7 May.

“We would like to thank everyone who has been so kind on the journey so far,” said a statement on Nicola’s Facebook page.

“The transfer team were a lovely crew who called in at our home to visit the horses on their way back to Bristol, Nic obviously had a bit of horse chat in the ambulance. Dublin had his photo taken with the ambulance, which he loved!”

Badminton final scores

An update from British Equestrian said that Nicola was “comfortable, in good spirits and is pleased to be closer to home” after the “long and tiring journey”. She will continue her “lengthy rehabilitation” at the specialist spinal centre, which can offer her “expert support”.

British Equestrian confirmed that “Nicola’s recovery is progressing well, with sensation and movement returning to her lower and upper limbs”.

The statement continued: “Nicola, husband Alastair and mother Mary Tweddle would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff who has looked after her so well at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The care and attention she has had there really has been second to none and for that they’re very grateful.

“They thank everyone for the numerous cards and messages of support; each and every one is greatly appreciated.”

A previous update said that “Dubs” is “happy and content, and is enjoying the sunshine and the spring grass”.

One of Nicola’s other advanced rides, the 2021 Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S winner Coolparks Sarco (“Jeremy”), was in action with Piggy March at the Fairfax & Favor Rockingham International Horse Trials at the weekend.

“As Coolparks Sarco was feeling so good in his preparations for Bramham International (8-12 June) and as Nicola’s road to recovery is going to be lengthy, she and James and Jo Lambert have asked Nicola’s good friend Piggy to ride him as she only has one horse entered at Bramham,” said an update on 20 May.

Piggy and Jeremy finished third in the open intermediate on their dressage score of 23.

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Nicola Wilson update: rider and connections thank medics and ‘eventing family’ for care and support

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Nicola Wilson’s ride Coolspark Sarco is to be ridden by Piggy March, as Nicola continues her “lengthy” road to recovery.

In an update today (20 May) a spokesman for Nicola, who is recovering from her fall with the 11-year-old JL Dublin at Badminton Horse Trials, said “as ever the horses are at the forefront of her mind”.

“As Coolparks Sarco was feeling so good in his preparations for Bramham International (8-12 June) and as Nicola’s road to recovery is going to be lengthy, she and James and Jo Lambert have asked Nicola’s good friend Piggy to ride him as she only has one horse entered at Bramham,” read the statement.

Coolparks Sarco, also known as Jeremy, started his career with Vicky Brake and was competed by Andrew Nicholson to CCI3*-L before the Lamberts bought the ride. Nicola and the now 10-year-old Jeremy were third at the Houghton International CCI3*-L in 2021, and they were 11th at their first CCI4*-S together at Burgham in July. In September the pair won the Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old championship.

Nicola’s spokesman said Piggy will ride Jeremy at Rockingham International this weekend (19-22 May) to help “formulate their partnership and make their decision”. Piggy currently has eight other horses entered at Rockingham, including Cooley Kan Do, Our Old Fella and Halo in the CCI3*-S.

In the last update on 15 May, Nicola was in the intensive care unit at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and was expected to remain there for seven to 10 days before she is moved to a spinal unit closer to home. The spokesman said Nicola remained “comfortable and in good spirits”, and said “Dubs” is happy and content, enjoying the sunshine and spring grass.

“Nic, Alastair and Mary would like to thank everyone at Southmead Hospital for the outstanding care and attention she is getting from the expert team there. They would also like to say how grateful they are for all of the messages of support they have had,” read the statement.

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Nicola Wilson update: rider and connections thank medics and ‘eventing family’ for care and support

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Nicola Wilson is expected to remain in intensive care for “the next week or so” following her fall with JL Dublin at Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, on Saturday (7 May).

An update released by British Equestrian (BEF) on Tuesday afternoon (10 May) said Nicola is able to breathe independently and is talking, and has not sustained a head injury.

“There are several spinal fractures — these are all stable and will not require any surgical intervention, but will be managed conservatively,” said a BEF spokesman.

“Other acute symptoms from the trauma are being managed in intensive care by the specialists at Southmead [Hospital].”

Nicola was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol following the fall at fence 27, the third part of the Mars M combination, a basket-style box fence, on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course.

Badminton final scores

The BEF spokesman added that Nicola has received “outstanding care and attention from the expert team” at the hospital.

“British Equestrian’s athlete health lead Ashleigh Wallace and chief medical officer Anna-Louise Mackinnon have been working with Nicola’s family and the team at Southmead to ensure all medical information is shared fully across the teams so that care and appropriate support is optimised,” said the spokesman.

“Her horse, JL Dublin, owned by James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, is now back at Nicola’s base in Yorkshire and will be monitored by the team but appears none the worse for his fall.

“Nicola, her husband Alastair and mother Mary Tweddle would like to thank the team at Southmead for everything they have done so far. They feel incredibly supported by their eventing family and appreciate all the well wishes and messages received.”

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An update has been released on Nicola Wilson’s website following her fall at Badminton Horse Trials cross-country yesterday (7 May), the event presented by Mars Equestrian. The rider remains in hospital but is conscious and stable.

The statement reads: “Following her fall from JL Dublin at Badminton Horse Trials on Saturday 7th May, Nicola has had a comfortable night in hospital and is conscious in a stable condition awaiting further tests. She is receiving the best possible care from the team at Southmead Hospital.

“Alistair and the rest of the family are very grateful for all of the messages of support and these are being shared with Nicola. Dubs is in good form and will be making his way back to Yorkshire later today. We will bring you further updates as and when we can.”

Nicola was riding her European champion, 11-year-old JL Dublin and was enjoying a clear round up until the third element at the Mars M complex (fence 27), a basket-style box fence, where the horse fell. The gelding, who is owned by James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, was making his five-star debut and had produced a competitive dressage mark of 26.5 to lie in 13th prior to cross-country.

Nicola Wilson’s other horse at the event, Erano M, was her second ride at Badminton Horse Trials, and therefore subsequently withdrawn from the competition following her fall.

Badminton final scores

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

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Statement released following Nicola Wilson’s Badminton cross-country fall

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A statement has been released regarding Nicola Wilson following her fall with JL Dublin at Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, earlier today (7 May).

Nicola and the 11-year-old JL Dublin, who is owned by James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston had jumped clear around Eric Winter’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country track up until their fall at fence 27, which was the third part of the Mars M combination, a basket-style box fence.

The statement reads: “Nicola Wilson, competitor number nine, who had a fall on the cross-country course, is stable but has been transferred to Southmead Hospital for trauma scans and further investigation.

“The horse JL Dublin has returned to his stable and is comfortable.”

Nicola and JL Dublin scored 26.5 in the dressage and had been in 13th place overnight. She will not ride her second horse in the competition, Erano M, who was in 24th place after the dressage phase and was due to run across country later this afternoon.

Badminton final scores

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

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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

Oliver Townend conjured an eye-catching test during an intense spell of top combinations in the early stages of Badminton Horse Trials dressage, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian. Riding Swallow Springs, Oliver moved into second spot at this early stage with a score of 25.7 behind the early leader Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser.

Swallow Springs continued his improvement in the dressage phase under Oliver, who has been riding him since the autumn when Andrew Nicholson announced his retirement from top level. Oliver himself holds the record score in Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase, 19.7 on Cillnabradden Evo in 2019, and produced a smart and consistent test this time with the Ridgeons’ 14-year-old grey.

“He’s a new horse for me and we’re only just getting to know each other, but he’s an old professional,” said Oliver. “Sometimes it can be more difficult with the old professionals, but he did his job. He’s not built for dressage, nearly a full thoroughbred, but he likes to work and I love that – it’s a trait you get with most top horses and he’s a pleasure to work with.”

Badminton Horse Trials dressage: gold medallist makes his debut

The reigning European champion JL Dublin was making his five-star debut for Nicola Wilson. The 11-year-old gelding showed a bit of tension and was never going to match the extraordinary score of 20.9 that they scored in Avenches, however they put themselves well into the reckoning with 26.6.

“It’s his first time at the level and he coped well with the main arena,” said Nicola. “There was a wobble in the second shoulder-in which was costly, but I’m delighted with his rideability and how he expressed himself and there’s more to come.”

Badminton final scores

Ros Canter and Allstar B (Alby) had put up a superb score of 20.6 to lead the dressage at Avenches, but were a touch off their very best form here. It was a confident and consistent test and the horse let Ros ride him for every mark, including scoring a 10 from the judge at H for their halt. It just lacked a little bit of the wow factor, but she sneaked ahead of her Europeans team-mate Nicola to wind up in third at the end of the first session.

Ros said she had taken a new approach to schooling her 2018 world champion.

“I’ve been practising his dressage a lot less so I was a bit nervous I hadn’t done enough, but as soon as he got in there, he put his head down and said, ‘off we go Ros, you sit there and hold on’,” Ros said. “Alby had a hard year last year with going to Tokyo and not competing, and the Europeans didn’t come off for us. I thought about our relationship and it goes further back – I missed a year being pregnant and then Covid hit. The big events that he adored disappeared so we had to build up quickly and probably over-trained. I wanted to get back to him loving the job. So we’ve gone hacking and I’ve learnt so much about him and his balance. He doesn’t forget how to do a flying change and a half-pass. We’re always learning and I learnt a lot through last year’s experience.”

Pippa Funnell produced a mixed test from Billy Walk On to score 28.5. His marks were consistently sevens and eights for the walk and trot, bar a slight drop when she rectified an early halt, after which the marks started to unravel a little. One flying change scored a three and a four, when he seemed to spook and change late in front. However they finished with a 10 for the halt from the judge at C, to take fifth at this juncture.

“He was a good boy, but I mucked up that change and he got a bit behind the leg which was frustrating, but I’m very happy with his brain,” said Pippa, who has just returned from competing in Kentucky CCI5*. She said that being away for 10 days prior to this event was “not ideal” despite her amazing team at home, as he is a big horse that needs Pippa to do the ridden work to stop him from getting too strung out.

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Defending champions Piggy March and Vanir Kamira head up this year’s Badminton Horse Trials entries. The event, presented by Mars Equestrian, will run 4-8 May 2022.

Piggy and Trevor Dickens’ mare are the most recent winners of Badminton, having triumphed in 2019. The event was cancelled owing to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021.

Piggy is also entered with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Inocent, who took individual silver and team gold at last year’s European Eventing Championships in Avenches.

A raft of strong British contenders join Piggy on the Badminton Horse Trials entries list, including all three pairs from Britain’s Olympic gold medal-winning team – Laura Collett with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott’s and her own London 52, Tom McEwen with Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and his mother Ali’s Toledo De Kerser (who also won individual silver) and Oliver Townend with Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class.

Tom is also entered with Vicky Bates and David Myers’ CHF Cooliser and Fred and Penny Barker’s Bob Chaplin, but will have to choose which two of his three entries he will start on nearer the time. Similarly Oliver Townend has five horses entered – with Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class, the Ridgeons’ Swallow Springs, the Hazeldines and Mitchell Fox Group’s Tregilder and Sophie Adams’ Ridire Dorcha all in the mix – and will only be able to start on two.

Badminton final scores

Five of the other horses from the 2021 British European Championships squad also come forward, with entries in from individual gold medallists Nicola Wilson on Deirdre Johnston and Jo and James Lambert’s JL Dublin, individual bronze medallists Sarah Bullimore and her own and husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate’s Corouet, and team gold medallists Kitty King and Vendredi Biats (owned by Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd Baker, Sally Eyre and Samantha Wilson) and Ros Canter with her own and Caroline Moore’s Allstar B.

Nicola also has Lady Milnes Coates and Rosemary Search’s Erano M on the list, Sarah is double-handed, with Chris and Sue Gillespie and the rider’s husband Brett’s Reve Du Rouet joining Corouet, and Ros Canter brings forward Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo alongside world champion Allstar B.

Izzy Taylor is not entered with Mark Sartori’s and her own Monkeying Around, who finished in the top 10 as an individual at the Europeans, but she has Sara and Tom Strong’s Artful Trinity 10th on the waiting list, so he should make the cut to start.

Former winners entered also include William Fox-Pitt (Jennifer Dowling’s and his own Little Fire and the syndicate-owned Oratorio) and Pippa Funnell (who will have two choose two of the Walkinshaws’ Billy Walk On, Marek Sebestak’s and her own Majas Hope and the Clarkes’ MGH Grafton Street).

Zara Tindall is slated for her first Badminton Horse Trials start since 2016 as she is entered with Gleadhill House Stud’s Class Affair.

The Brits won’t have it all their own way at Badminton, though. A strong international challenge is led by New Zealand’s husband and wife duo Tim Price and Jonelle Price, with Tim entered on his own and Trisha and Sophie Rickards’ Xavier Faer and the Prices’ and Sophie Hearnden’s Ringwood Sky Boy and Jonelle on her own and Therese Miller’s Grovine De Reve and her own and Trisha and Sophie Rickards’ Classic Moet, who won the event in 2018.

A sizeable US contingent will cross the Atlantic for the British spring classic, including Phillip Dutton with his Tokyo horse Z (owned by Phillip’s wife Evie, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt and Thomas Tierney), Ariel Grald and Anne Eldridge’s Leamore Master Plan, who were third at Luhmühlen last year, and Tamie Smith with the super dressage horse Mai Baum, owned by Alexandra Ahearn and her parents Ellen Ahearn and Eric Markell.

Only one German is entered to start at Badminton this year – last year’s Luhmühlen runners-up Christoph Wahler and his own and Lena Thoenies’s Carjatan S.

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From the Cheltenham Festival to international dressage on British soil, we’ve got you covered when it comes to the equestrian sport to follow this week…

1. Cheltenham Festival

Dates: 15-18 March

More info: thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/the-festival-hub/

How to watch: the Cheltenham Festival is on ITV daily during the meeting from 12.50-4.30pm. The Opening Show is on daily 9-10am. Racing TV will cover the entire Festival via subscription

Get the H&H lowdown: online coverage throughout the four-day extravaganza plus a bumper magazine report, with plenty of exclusive insight from H&H’s racing correspondent Marcus Armytage and leading jockey Davy Russell, in the shops on Thursday, 24 March

Why we’re excited about it: it’s the Olympic Games of jump racing with all of the sport’s superstars in action. Look out for equine favourites such as Shishkin and Honeysuckle as well as top jockey Rachael Blackmore and the battle between the British and Irish trainers as to who scores the most winners over the four days.

2. Keysoe CDI3* and CPEDI3*, Bedfordshire

Dates: 14-20 March

More info: keysoe.com

How to watch: streamed via Horse & Country

Get the H&H lowdown: full report in the magazine (24 March issue)

Why we’re excited about it: the first international dressage event on home soil in 2022. You can expect to see some of the country’s very best dressage and para riders in action as they gear up for the season ahead, and for some, the World Championships. The line-up will include Britain’s 2021 medallists Carl Hester on En Vogue and Gareth Hughes on Sintano Van Hof Olympia, with Paralympic champions Sophie Wells and Lee Pearson also in action.

3. CSI5* Saut Hermes, Paris, France

Dates: 18-20 March

More info: sauthermes.com/en/

How to watch: broadcasts on Eurosport and Horse & Country

Get the H&H lowdown: online coverage and magazine report (24 March issue)

Why we’re excited about it: the Hermes-sponsored event is one of the most glamorous shows on the circuit with top British names John Whitaker, Scott Brash, Harry Charles and Lily Attwood in action in the five-star classes, and Harry’s sisters Sienna and Scarlett Charles competing in the prestigious under-25 classes. A stellar field of top class riders also includes Daniel Deusser, Christian Ahlmann, Martin Fuchs, Steve Guerdat and the world number one Peder Fredricson.

4. Lincolnshire Horse Trials

Dates: 18-20 March

More info: schedule on British Eventing website

Get the H&H lowdown: read our report in the magazine (24 March issue)

Why we’re excited about it: the action includes the highest level class of the eventing season in Britain so far, an advanced intermediate (on Sunday, 20 March). The combinations entered include 2018 world champions Ros Canter and Allstar B, reigning European champions Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin, last year’s Blenheim Horse Trials winners Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, plus Kitty King on her European team gold medallist Vendredi Biats. The results could be dominated by Bubby Upton, who has four horses entered including her Bicton Horse Trials under-25 winner Cannavaro, the Badminton Horse Trials-bound Cola III and new ride Clever Louis, who was a Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old winner under Chris Burton.

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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

Last week’s Oasby Horse Trials provided a first run of the season for numerous top horses, who enjoyed a chance to stretch their legs over the open intermediate course. Check out a few of our favourite superstars in action with these Oasby Horse Trials pictures.

This pair won Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L at the end of last season and Yasmin Ingham will look to step Banzai Du Loir up to five-star this year.

Another pair who made a splash at Blenheim – Heidi Coy and Russal Z took seventh place in the CCI4*-L there last autumn.

We reported on last year’s Osberton CCI3*-L winner Halo having a name change and joining Piggy March’s string over the winter, so it’s great to see him in action with his new rider.

This pair need no introduction – Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser are the Olympic individual silver and team gold medallists. Toledo was having his first run since that brilliant performance at the Tokyo Games.

The reigning European champions, Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin, return to the fray with a victory.

This was a first run together for Bubby Upton and Billy Liffy, who was previously ridden up to five-star level by Olivia Craddock and then Sam Griffiths.

A close-up of our favourite pocket rocket – European individual bronze medallists Sarah Bullimore and her home-bred Corouet.

This was a first run since finishing second at Maryland 5 Star last year for double Kentucky Three-Day Event winner Cooley Master Class, ridden by Oliver Townend.

Quidam De Lux was last year’s British seven-year-old champion at Osberton, ridden by his owner Stephen Heal.

Last year’s European team gold and individual silver medallist Brookfield Inocent enjoying a winning spin with Piggy March.

And finally, a special pair of horses…

Tiger Mail, by Jaguar Mail, is a son of Phoebe Buckley’s previous five-star ride Little Tiger. He was eighth at Blair in the CCI4*-L last season.

And here’s Tiger Mail’s half-brother! Ridden by Simon Grieve, Mr Fahrenheit III is by Catherston Liberator and completed his first five-star at Pau Horse Trials last year.

Oasby Horse Trials pictures by Peter Nixon. Full report from Oasby in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (issue dated 17 March). 

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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 the 2021 eventing season well in the rear view, we check out who are the best event horses in Britain right now. They may be out on winter holidays – woolly, shaggy and happily enjoying the grass – but we can’t wait to see these 10 superstars, who topped British Eventing’s points list for 2021, out again next year.

The best event horses in Britain

1. JL Dublin (pictured above)

Owned by James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston and ridden by Nicola Wilson, the 10-year-old JL Dublin has leapt to prominence this year, following a victory at Bicton Horse Trials CCI4*-L with a win at Hartpury CCI4*-S and then team and individual gold at the European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland.

2. Ballaghmor Class

Acknowledged as a star ever since he burst onto the five-star scene with a win at Burghley Horse Trials 2017, the grey owned by Karyn Shuter, Val Ryan and Angela Hislop and ridden by Oliver Townend was a key part of Britain’s gold medal-winning effort at the Tokyo Olympics this year, finishing fifth individually.

3. Falco IV

This 12-year-old, owned by Sue Benson and ridden by New Zealand’s Tim Price, made a splash this season when he won Millstreet CCI4*-L in June and then took top spot in the five-star at Pau Horse Trials in October, in a performance which equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings rated the best of the year.

3. Xavier Faer

Another ride for Tim Price, the more seasoned Xavier Faer had a very solid season with second in the five-star at Kentucky Three-Day Event and then third in the new Maryland 5 Star at the end of the year. He belongs to Trisha Rickards, Nigella Hall and his rider.

5. CHF Cooliser

The 11-year-old CHF Cooliser, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers and ridden by Tom McEwen, was quite an under-the-radar horse until the end of this year, when she topped third at Millstreet CCI4*-L and seventh at Blair Horse Trials CCI4*-S with second place on her five-star debut at Pau Horse Trials.

6. Lordships Graffalo

A direct reserve for world champion Allstar B for the European Eventing Championships, Lordships Graffalo very much looks like Ros Canter’s next team horse. Owned by Michele Saul, the nine-year-old was second in the CCI4*-Ls at Bicton and Blenheim Horse Trials and squeezed in two wins at CCI4*-S this year too.

7. Chilli Knight

What a moment! Christopher Stone’s Chilli Knight became the only five-star winner on British soil in 2020 or 2021 when he and Gemma Tattersall took the title at Bicton this autumn.

8. Corouet

Who didn’t fall in love with Corouet at the European Eventing Championships – if that hadn’t already happened for you earlier in the season? The diminutive chestnut home-bred, owned by his rider’s husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate, scooped the individual bronze medal with Sarah Bullimore.

9. Brookfield Inocent

John and Chloe Perry’s 12-year-old finished on his dressage score at the Europeans, a foot perfect performance which brought home team gold and individual silver with Piggy March.

10. Billy Walk On

A classy, rangey bay – who brings to mind rider Pippa Funnell’s stars of yesteryear – Billy Walk On excelled to finish second in the five-star at Bicton for dedicated owners Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw.

Of course, there are some notable omissions from this list of best event horses in Britain, including the Olympic individual silver medallist Toledo De Kerser, who is 14th in the rankings, but is probably subjectively the best event horse in Britain right now.

• Who would you rate as number one? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com and we might print your views in a future issue of the magazine. Please include your nearest town and county.

Pictures by Peter Nixon, Benjamin Clark Photography and Nico Morgan Media

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5 reasons why a subscription to HorseandHound.co.uk makes the perfect last-minute gift

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

Yesterday (26 September), event horse JL Dublin, the mount of Nicola Wilson, helped the British rider to become the new European Eventing champion, when taking the individual title, while also contributing to team gold.

In case you aren’t already familiar with this talented 10-year-old, here are some important facts about this horse who has burst into the spotlight this season thanks to his remarkable success.

1. JL Dublin, a dark bay gelding, was foaled on 12 April 2011.

2. He is by the Holstein jumping stallion Diarado and out of Zarinna, who is by another Holstein stallion, Cantano, who was competed to the top level by riders including Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

3. JL Dublin measures in at 16.3hh and is owned by Mr and Mrs James Lambert OBE and Deirdre Johnston, who is the wife of prolific racehorse trainer, Mark Johnston.

4. He is known as ‘Dubs’ at home and was purchased by his current owners when he was four in 2015 while Nicola was horse shopping in Germany.

5. Jo and Jamie Lambert accompanied Nicola on this horse shopping trip and they decided to buy a half share in JL Dublin, with the other half purchased by Dierdre. As the name ‘Dublin’ was already registered with British Eventing, his owners added the ‘JL’ prefix to represent the first letter of each of their surnames.

6. During his first season of eventing as a five-year-old JL Dublin clocked up three wins at BE100 level.

7. During his six-year-old year, JL Dublin won at intermediate level and finished second at the British six-year-old eventing championships.

8. When he was seven, this gelding was second in the CCI2*-L at Blair Castle and went on to finish fifth in the World Young Horse seven-year-old Championships at Le Lion D’Angers.

9. He has since notched up several top 10 placings at four-star level and in 2021 won the competitive CCI4*-L at Bicton and the CCI4*-S at Hartpury on his way to the European Eventing Championships.

10. JL Dublin has notched up 517 BE points so far.

11. He has only faulted across country at three events during his already illustrious career.

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Eventer Nicola Wilson shares her wealth of knowledge about getting your horse fit and ready for the season ahead

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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

Nicola Wilson and the wonderful 10-year-old gelding JL Dublin produced a beautiful clear round in the final showjumping phase today (26 September), clinching individual gold in the final European Eventing Championships results. Nicola led Britain to team gold and an all-British individual podium at the event in Avenches, Switzerland.

Riding JL Dublin, who is owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, Nicola held her nerve in the showjumping to complete on her 20.9 dressage.

“It’s been a fantastic week for all of the Brits and to finish up there on the top is just a dream come true,” an emotional Nicola said afterwards.

“He is fabulous horse that his owners bought as a four-year-old and he’s been so exciting, all the way through the years. For him to come and do his first championship and finish at the top of the podium, I really am just pinching myself – but he really is a very, very special horse and he felt class in all three phases.”

When asked about how she felt going into the showjumping phase, Nicola said she felt “pressure” and “nerves”.

“I knew he could jump well, but you just don’t know what’s going to happen – a silly mistake and I could have let him down, but he was just phenomenal in there and he went in as cool as a cucumber, very confident and very focused and off we went. It was just an absolute pleasure to ride him in all three phases.”

Team-mate Piggy March also produced a lovely clear round on John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Inocent to climb from fourth after the cross-country to clinch an individual silver medal. They also completed on their dressage score of 23.3.

“It’s unbelievable – what a team of just unbelievable horses and unbelievable riders and such great mates of mine as well, so it’s just been such a cool week,” Piggy said after her round.

“But for me personally and for my owners John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn – it’s not been an easy year for them, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster one and hard at times with us missing out on Tokyo. So to come here and their horse be as beautiful as I know he is – I hope we’ve both done them proud and it means so much to me for their first championship experience to come home after a week like this. I’m just so grateful to them.”

Piggy continued to give praise to Brookfield Inocent saying: “I’m so lucky – I think my horse is one of the best horses in the world. He’s a beautiful horse and it’s exciting for the future. But what a week, you couldn’t write it really.”

Rounding off the all-British podium was Sarah Bullimore, who was riding as an individual aboard her diminutive home-bred Corouet. Although only very small, measuring in at around 15.2hh, Corouet, who is owned by Sarah, her husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate, never looked like he was going to touch a pole, and their clear round helped them climb from fifth after the cross-country.

Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, who had been in individual silver medal position after the cross-country, dropped to eventual fifth after rolling the pole on the third to last fence. Michael Jung, who was also riding for Germany, climbed from sixth after the cross-country to eventual fourth, thanks to a clear round on the nine-year-old FischerWild Wave.

Great Britain topped the European Eventing Championships results convincingly in the team competition, finishing on a total score of 73.1, with Germany taking team silver on 86.4. Meanwhile, the battle for team bronze was fraught between Sweden, Switzerland and France, with Sweden ultimately coming out on top.

Stay tuned to horseandhound.co.uk for further reports and comments from all of the top-placed riders.

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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’s been a day of drama at the European Eventing Championships cross-country in Avenches, but it’s looking golden for the Brits ahead of the final phase tomorrow (26 September). Here’s the lowdown on nine big stories from today’s action…

1. Britain holds team and individual gold overnight after an almost flawless cross-country display from the girls and the tiniest setback for dressage leader Ingrid Klimke.

• Find out how Britain took both top spots

2. British team rider Nicola Wilson crept up from third to take pole position individually.

• Hear Nicola’s thoughts on her 10-year-old JL Dublin tackling his first team outing

3. Riders were worried how twisty Mike Etherington-Smith’s track looked, but the early riders showed both the track and the time were fair.

• Read how the pathfinders rose to the challenge

4. Kitty King secured a stunning British team completion with the third clear round for the team with Vendredi Biats.

• Find out how Vendredi Biats brushed off an early mistake

5. Britain’s pathfinder Piggy March was only the second rider inside the time, riding Brookfield Inocent, to take fourth.

• Read about how her cross-country specialist made light of the track 

6. British rider Sarah Bullimore had a dream round as an individual and slotted into fifth spot.

• Find out how her home-bred Corouet skipped over fences “wider than he is long”.

7. Dressage runner-up Ros Canter dropped out of the reckoning with two late run-outs on the great Allstar B.

• Read what Ros had to say about her world champion’s disappointing performance

8. Ireland hiked up the leaderboard from 11th to fifth with a stunning round from Padraig McCarthy.

• Find out what Padraig had to say about his 17-year-old ride

9. Can’t wait to see how it all ends?

• Check out what time the Brits are likely to showjump for the medals tomorrow

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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 British team will hold team and individual gold overnight after dressage leader Ingrid Klimke clocked 1.2 time-faults with SAP Hale Bob OLD at the European Eventing Championships cross-country in Avenches, Switzerland.

Ingrid was Germany’s anchorman and her result drops her to second individually, but keeps Germany in the silver-medal position. Britain has two fences in hand over Germany.

Nicola Wilson’s copybook round on JL Dublin ensured she will be in provisional gold individually ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping phase (26 September). The British team holds the top position despite Ros Canter having two unfortunate run-outs right near the end of the course (fence 28a and 29) at the final water. A rail covers the top seven, so it will be a tight tussle for the individual podium. There are four Brits – team riders Nicola, Piggy March (fourth) Kitty King (seventh) and individual rider Sarah Bullimore (fifth) – in this group, with Izzy Taylor rounding out the top 10, also riding as an individual.

“The mood all week has been fantastic,” said Nicola. “It’s a lovely group of girls, we’re taking it one day at a time and I think the whole support behind the team has been fantastic. We’ll enjoy the results today, and this evening get our minds in focus for tomorrow.”

Ingrid’s round on her dual (and reigning) European champion was not entirely polished, with the horse making two misjudgements at brush fences which may have contributed to their three seconds over the time. The 17-year-old superstar was characteristically bold and strong, but was perhaps feeling fresh as he has only had one international run (a four-star win) since Ingrid was sidelined after a fall in May.

“I’m very happy because he did many lovely jumps and at all the difficult parts or downhill to the corner, he was bold and courageous, like he always is,” she said. “I had lots of time at the seven-minute marker, but at the end we couldn’t really go any faster. I took my time because I wanted to precise until the end. I thought I would make it, unfortunately just two [three] seconds outside. But he’s happy and trotted in full of himself, and he did a lovely job.”

France in double bronze after European Eventing Championships cross-country

Maxime Livio, fourth after dressage, had to juggle his individual aspirations with the necessity of recording a completion for the French team after his compatriot Gwendolen Fer fell. He steered the inexperienced Api Du Libaire home clear, also adding 1.2 time-faults to carry 22.5 forward to the showjumping tomorrow (26 September). He is now lying in bronze position.

“He was a bit deliberate in the two jumps in the water, so after that I went for it,” said Maxime. “What I’m happy about is that I achieved the mission I was sent out to do – to come home with a clear round, with as few time-faults as possible but without taking any risk. I managed to do that without impacting too much on my individual score.

“I couldn’t have asked for more – he’s lacking a bit of experience and preparation. Sometimes he can give me a bit too much at the start and then not have enough left at the end, so I had to keep a rhythm.”

Germany’s Michael Jung is currently sixth on nine-year-old Fischerwild Wave thanks to a clear inside the time, with his compatriot Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S eighth, though he is riding as an individual.

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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

Britain’s number two Nicola Wilson and JL Dublin coasted round the European Eventing Championships cross-country track inside the time to strengthen the team’s grasp on gold.

Deirdre Johnston and James and Jo Lambert’s 10-year-old gelding looked well within his comfort zone to stop the clock with 10 seconds to spare. The pair led after the first day of dressage on a brilliant score of 20.9 and stayed close-up in third, just 0.4 behind the eventual dressage leader, reigning champions Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD. They now head to showjumping in no lower than individual bronze.

JL Dublin showed a huge amount of power and scope to frank his four-star winning form this year over this twisty track. He looked strong and fast, but just about biddable to Nicola’s requests to steady up where required. He has five-star written all over him, making this track look simple.

“He was squealing with excitement and gave me a super ride from start to finish,” Nicola said. “This was a different test for him but he just kept galloping. You never know riding a young horse on the team for the first time, but he was a cool customer and really focused.

“It walked and rode very intense, but it had a nice feel to it and was fair to the horses. It was fast and furious and felt like a four-star short.”

Nicola was Britain’s third rider out on track following Piggy March and Izzy Taylor posting clears inside the time. Following her compatriots she took the long route at fence 6, which didn’t impact on the overall time. There have now been four riders clear inside the time, three of them Brits.

“Dublin isn’t very blood but he’s fit and gallops and stays well. I knew [the time with the long route] was doable, and it was the advice of team orders.”

German rider struggles to make the time at European Eventing Championships

Germany were lying a close second to Britain overnight. Their first team rider, Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida, lying 11th after dressage, jumped clear but for 15.2 time-faults to drop them down the order.

“She was fighting too much against me, I had a lot of problems especially in the last three minutes to prepare her for the technical questions, because she has a big gallop,” said Andreas. “She wanted to keep that gallop but you need to collect the horse, to find the right line, and that was difficult for me and wasted a lot of time.

“I’m happy with the horse that she wants to jump everything, but if she could come back to me earlier and listen, it would be better for the time. So I’m happy about the clear round, but not the time – but I cannot change that.”

France’s Gwendolen Fer was the first rider not to complete, which has delivered a blow to France’s medal chances as she was in 14th overnight on her 2017 Pau CCI5* winner Romantic Love. She was tipped out of the plate at double of brushes into water at fence 23 when the gelding left a leg.

You may also like to read…

‘He’s made for tracks like this’: Piggy March blazes Britain’s trail at twisty Europeans cross-country course

Nicola Wilson puts Britain in double gold after first day of eventing Europeans dressage: ‘I’m so proud of him’

A ‘terrifying’ course, a new name and British domination: 6 stories you need to read from Thursday at the eventing Europeans

A complete leaderboard reshuffle, plus one mega home-bred: 7 stories you need to read from Friday at the eventing Europeans

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

It’s been a fantastic first day for Team GB as the European Eventing Championships dressage got underway in blazing sunshine in Avenches, Switzerland.

Here are the six things you need to know about today’s action…

1. Nicola Wilson put in a superlative performance to lead overnight on Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s 10-year-old JL Dublin.

• Read what Nicola said about this horse missing time competing due to Covid – and why she thinks the cross-country course is “positively terrifying”

2. Piggy March was also delighted with her performance on John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Inocent. She sits in individual silver after this first day of dressage.

• Find out what Piggy said about her test

3. The riders say the cross-country course, designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, will provide a serious test.

• Piggy, Izzy Taylor and Ireland’s Sam Watson’s thoughts on the track

4. Izzy Taylor also finishes the day inside the top 10, riding as an individual for Britain on her own and Mark Sartori’s Monkeying Around.

• Why Izzy was momentarily worried when she first went into the arena

5. The best French and German riders so far went just after lunch – and there was a surprise when Austria’s Robert Mandl muscled into the top six among the more established names.

• Read Andreas Dibowski, Robert Mandl and Gwendolen Fer’s thoughts on their tests

6. Ireland has made a solid start with two riders inside the top 20 at this stage.

• Find out what Sam Watson, Cathal Daniels and Joseph Murphy said about their tests

Check out the European Eventing Championships dressage times for tomorrow and make sure you know how to watch as Britain’s final riders – Kitty King, Sarah Bullimore and Ros Canter – perform.

You might also be interested in:

Nicola Wilson puts Britain in double gold after first day of eventing Europeans dressage: ‘I’m so proud of him’

‘He gave his all’: Piggy March takes early European Eventing Championships dressage lead

‘I’m pleased he behaved – he’s called Monkey for a reason’: Izzy Taylor reflects on her European Eventing Championships dressage performance

‘Like we’ve come out of a washing machine’: top riders’ thoughts on European Eventing Championships cross-country course

Find out when the British riders do their dressage at the European Eventing Championships

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

Nicola Wilson has taken a commanding lead at the end of the first day of Eventing European Championships dressage in Avenches, Switzerland.

The British rider scored 20.9 for her loose, expressive test with the 10-year-old Bicton CCI4*-L and Hartpury CCI4*-S winner JL Dublin.

“I’m so delighted – what a fabulous horse,” she said. “He’s come of age this year and is getting better and better weekly at the moment. He was such a professional in there. I didn’t do a great deal of working in as I felt he was on the money.

“He loves to show off and he’s confident now in himself, which her perhaps wasn’t before. He was really level-headed and stayed with me and was 100% focused. I’m so so proud – I just needed to remember where I was going!”

The Holsteiner was named Dublin when Nicola chose him at the sales in Germany as a four-year-old for owners Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston, and they decided to add JL for their initials “rather than calling him Dublin the sixth, seventh or 18th or 80th”.

“He’s only 10 and missed half a year when I had my neck injury and then time with Covid, so he’s relatively inexperienced, but even though he’s not been on the competition field, he’s still trained and become stronger and more established in his mind.

“The quiet time was a positive for him as it let him get stronger and more able to cope with the demands of the dressage and carry himself – I couldn’t be prouder of him. I feel very lucky to have him,” said Nicola, who paid tribute to trainers Chris Bartle and Ian Woodhead and her groom, Ruth Asquith.

Nicola described the Europeans cross-country course as “positively terrifying”.

“It’s demanding both mentally and physically and intense towards the end with the twists and turns,” she said. “You’re always on the level so the horses don’t get a downhill to have a recovery and the questions are thick and fast to the last fence, which isn’t just an easy fence – it’s a big old table. There’s a great deal to jump out there. But we look forward to the challenge and hope both of us are up to it.”

Piggy March was the early leader for Great Britain on Brookfield Inocent and now sits second, 2,4 penalties behind Nicola.

Their combined scores mean Britain holds team gold, 11.8 penalties ahead of France, before tomorrow’s second day of Eventing European Championships dressage action. Germany is just 1.1 marks behind France in team bronze.

British individual Izzy Taylor is ninth overnight after her test this morning on Monkeying Around.

You might also be interested in:

‘He gave his all’: Piggy March takes early European Eventing Championships dressage lead

‘Like we’ve come out of a washing machine’: top riders’ thoughts on European Eventing Championships cross-country course

Find out when the British riders do their dressage at the European Eventing Championships

How to watch the European Eventing Championships live

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

It was a bumper day at Blenheim Horse Trials with the conclusion of the CCI4*-L and the CCI4*-S. The rain held off, and two worthy champions were crowned. Plus, a legend of the sport revealed he is stepping down, and what the future has in store for him. Here are six stories to keep you posted on today’s action…

Yasmin Ingham netted the biggest win of her career, landing the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L on her dressage score.

• Read about the Blenheim victor’s “best day ever”

Just a single showjumping rail covered the top 10 riders in the CCI4*-L

• See each fence on the showjumping track and the challenge it posed

Nicola Wilson showed the strength in depth of her horsepower, winning the CCI4*-S and finishing fourth.

• Find out how special Nicola thinks this young pair of horses are

The legendary event rider Andrew Nicholson completed the CCI4*-L before revealing his plans to step down from elite-level competition.

• Hear what Andrew had to say about this decision, and what is happening to his top horse

The cross-country track for the young horses proved tough, and exciting.

• Read how the pathfinders found the course

It wasn’t plain sailing at the final CCI4*-L horse inspection.

• Find out which top-five contender endured a nervous moment

And finally, watch Yasmin chat to the press after her superb Blenheim Horse Trials win

Video courtesy of Lloyd Bell/the Jockey Club

• What was your Blenheim highlight? Send your thoughts to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, and you could win a bottle of Champagne Taittinger

You might also be interested in:

Big crowds are back, dressage leaders prevail and a nasty wasp sting: 8 stories you need to read from Saturday’s action at Blenheim

Rising equine stars, advice from a legend and back at the palace: 8 stories you need to read about Thursday’s Blenheim dressage action

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

The CCI4*-S had a dramatic conclusion as the leaderboard underwent a shake-up in an influential cross-country phase at Blenheim Horse Trials.

Nicola Wilson took victory riding Coolparks Sarco, who jumped a double clear inside the time to move up from third after showjumping. Piggy March was second on Cooley Lancer, climbing from sixth, while Caroline Harris was third with Miss Pepperpot. Meanwhile both first and second ahead of this phase, Ros Canter (Izilot DHI) and Tom Jackson (HH Moonwalk) dropped out of contention with run-outs.

Nicola Wilson had course experience over David Evans’ tough track. She had already steered Hawk Eye round clear inside the time when she came into the startbox on Coolparks Sarco, who repeated the feat.

“I’m delighted with both my horses, they both gave me a super ride, and finished on their dressage scores,” said Nicola, also fourth on Hawk Eye. “I thought it was a really difficult course with lots to jump. They had to be sharp and on their game. I’m so pleased with how they kept their focus. I’m pinching myself to have such very exciting horses.

“They have got bags of scope and ability and massive length of stride. It is all a bit unknown [at this level], you hope they stay confident and come up more grown up than they came in, and I couldn’t be more proud. Hopefully there’s something special round the corner for them.”

Piggy March’s former young horse world champion, eight-year-old Cooley Lancer, produced a stunning round just 3sec outside the time to move up from sixth and finish runner-up. Meanwhile Caroline Harris completed the podium in third spot with Miss Pepperpot. They jumped clear for two time-faults.

“She was amazing, very, very strong,” said Caroline. “She had a fall last time out at Wellington, but she didn’t let it faze her, she was keen and pulled me right the way through the finish. This was the toughest I’ve seen this course, testing the straightness and honesty of young horses.”

A day of drama on Blenheim horse trials cross-country

There was drama in the top 10, when long-time leader Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI glanced off one of the corners at the four-part combination at 12, in an otherwise excellent round.

Izzy Taylor came off seventh-placed ride Carolines Air KM before starting and the mare galloped off round the course. She was eventually caught and Izzy remounted and started out last of all. But it was not a going day for the mare, who decided to run out having already taken off at the corner at fence 5b and tipped Izzy out of the plate.

It wasn’t all bad for Izzy, as she had already jumped a super clear for 1.2 time-faults on Hartacker to seal fifth place, having started this phase in 11th.

“He is a real baby but he went round like a grown-up horse,” she said.

Tom Jackson was another to have the benefit of a clear inside the time with his lower-placed horse Ask For Manchier when he set off in the runner-up position on HH Moonwalk. But the bay had a run-out at a corner in the combination at fence 12b and took out a flag at another corner in the middle of fence 17.

Former winner of this class Willa Newton was lying fifth on Cock A Doodle Doo but dropped out of the prizes with a run-out at the final corner on course (17b).

“A relief to have a good run”

Will Rawlin made up for a fall across country in yesterday’s CCI4*-L, coming home in a decent time with 3.2 time-faults on Ballycoog Breaker Boy for eventual eighth.

“I really needed that round after yesterday [on The Partner], we had a miscommunication at an open corner and I hit the ground quite hard, so I’m still feeling it setting up a horse like Ballycoog Breaker Boy who is big and still quite weak,” said Will. “This horse is incredible, so straight not matter what line or gear I’m in he’ll jump whatever is in front of him. It’s a relief to have a really good run and get the job done.”

You may also like to read…

‘It’s one heck of a course’: Blenheim’s pathfinding CCI4*-S riders give their verdict

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

Big crowds are back, dressage leaders prevail and a nasty wasp sting: 8 stories you need to read from Saturday’s action at Blenheim

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

The young horse CCI4*-S Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country is proving influential in the early stages of the class.

Just after the half-way stage, there have been 13 clears and only a few within the 6min 46sec optimum time over David Evans’ course.

The Snow Centre log roll to corner at fence 5ABC and Ford log to double brush at fence 7AB are catching out a fair share of starters. There have also been a smattering of penalties at the log roll to double brush and corner combination at 12ABCD – the furthest part of the course – and the tail, ditch and birds nest at 14 ABC.

The competitors are running in reverse order after the showjumping phase, except for a couple who have two horses in quick succession. Nicola Wilson ran early on Helen Scott’s Hawk Eye, who was lying 10th. They jumped a rare clear bang on the time.

“It’s one heck of a course,” said Nicola. “He’s a very powerful horse, but it’s his first time at the level. He’s never seen anything as difficult as this, never seen the crowds. But he’s brave and bold and it’s a luxury to have so much power. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Another rider with two up in contention was Izzy Taylor, who ran out of order on Hartacker.

“I’m thrilled with him,” said Izzy, who added 1.2 cross-country time penalties to their dressage of 28.9. “He’s nine but a real baby and today he went down there like a grown-up horse. Plenty to do out there. So I’m really, really pleased with him.”

Izzy added the course is tough “from word go to the end”.

“[It’s] the terrain, the massive expanse of water – they don’t see that [many places] and technically. It was a great track, David’s got it bang on.”

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country is ‘a big step up’

Alyssa Yallop had a run-out at the brush skinny before the water with Invictus.

“I’ve had him since he was four years old, and I mean until last year we were amazed if I even did an intermediate, so the fact he’s done four-star this season has just been the dream. This season he has just come on and decided he will be an event horse!

“The course actually rode really well. That distance is long at the fence before the water and he is quite short striding.

“In hindsight I think if I’d actually slowed him down, got a really deep shot in, he could have just bunny hopped the skinny. I’m an amateur, he’s a baby so [to be here and] just learn is a great experience.”

Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Lovelocks Rumplestiltskin also had a run-out ahead of the water and at the ditch combination at 14ABC.

Marcio said he was delighted with the horse, as this is a big step up for him, explaining those questions just caught him by surprise.

“I was not expecting a run-out as he is normally good at skinnies, but he finished happy,” he said. “It’s a big track for the young horses.”

You may also want to read…

Rising equine stars, advice from a legend and back at the palace: 8 stories you need to read about Thursday’s Blenheim dressage action

‘Winning would be nice, but it’s about his future Olympic chances’: Ros Canter retains lead in Blenheim Horse Trials young horse class

‘In my world I’ve won my own little event’: Piggy March thrilled by young horse performance at Blenheim

Blenheim Horse Trials: what times the leaders jump on the final day of action

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

Showjumping times on the final day of action in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials have been released following the second horse inspection. Today (Sunday, 19 September) also features the cross-country for the CCI4*-S.

The showjumping runs in reverse order, with 75 competitors due to jump. The first rider will showjump in the Palace Arena at 11.30am. Yasmin Ingham will be last into the ring as she bids for her first victory at this level on Banzai Du Loir. One rail covers the top 10, so the pressure is on not to make any mistakes.

The top 25 are due to start at 2.30pm. It’s likely that Piggy March will jump her sixth-placed Sportsfield Top Notch early due to her also holding second spot with Brookfield Quality.

CCI4*-L showjumping times: top 10 after cross-country (in time order)

• Piggy March and Sportsfield Top Notch, provisional sixth (27.9)
• Gemma Tattersall and Jalapeno III, 10th (28.7)
• Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs, ninth (28.5)
• Tom McEwen and Bob Chaplin, eighth (28.5)
• Pippa Funnell and Maybach, seventh (28.4)
• Susie Berry and John The Bull, fifth (27.9)
• Emily King and Valmy Biats, fourth (27.2)
• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, third (26.7)
• Piggy March and Brookfield Quality, second (25.8)
• Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, leading (25.2)

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country for young horses

A total of 47 combinations are set to come forward to tackle the 3,860m CCI4*-S cross-country course, which has an optimum time of 6 minutes 46 seconds. With only 10 penalties separating first to 20th place, and a tough track lying ahead for these eight- and nine-year-olds, there is all to play for in this final phase.

Brazilian rider Marcio Carvalho Jorge is the pathfinder over David Evans’ track, with the competitors running in reverse order. Izzy Taylor and Nicola Wilson, who both have two horses in the top 12, will go out of order on their lower-placed horses.

CCI4*-S cross-country times: overnight top six after showjumping (in time order)

• 1.24pm: Piggy March and Cooley Lancer, provisional sixth (31.3)
• 1.28pm: Willa Newton and Cock A Doodle Doodle, fifth (31)
• 1.31pm: Caroline Harris and Miss Pepperpot, fourth (30.8)
• 1.35pm: Nicola Wilson and Coolparks Sarco, third (29.8)
• 1.38pm Tom Jackson and HH Moonwalk, second (29.6)
• 1.42pm Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, leading (28.2)

View the full list of CCI4*-L showjumping and CCI4*-S start times.

Big crowds are back, dressage leaders prevail and a nasty wasp sting: 8 stories you need to read from Saturday’s action at Blenheim

Tokyo Olympic gold medallists, reigning world champion and an eventing legend: hear from the sport’s elite who rocketed into Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L top 10 on Friday

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

Ros Canter maintained her dressage lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping phase in the CCI4*-S on Izilot DHI with a clear round. There was a change from the dressage podium when third-placed Gemma Tattersall’s Flash Cooley knocked down two rails to drop to 17th, but Tom Jackson held on to second spot with a clear on HH Moonwalk.

Jumping in thick fog, Izilot DHI gave every fence inches to spare, his carefulness contributing to 1.6 time-faults. There were only eight out of the 50 competitors clear inside the time.

“He does not like touching poles,” said Ros. “It’s only his first advanced but I knew he had the scope. I could tell I would get time-faults as soon as I started because there is nowhere you can move along. Next time, I would take a stride out here and there, but it’s a clever track.”

Ros is “realistic” about the cross-country challenge on this eight-year-old.

“Winning would be nice, but it’s not about that for him, it’s about winning an Olympic medal in the future,” she said. “I’m open-minded about tomorrow. It might shock him a bit, but I couldn’t be more delighted so far.”

Tom Jackson described HH Moonwalk’s clear with two time-faults as a “mega round”.

“The time is frustrating but he jumped really well,” he said. “With the fog and atmosphere it was eerie in there, and he went rigid and tight in his body at first, but he’s amazingly talented.”

Nicola Wilson moved up to third place from seventh courtesy of Coolparks Sarco’s clear inside the time, while dressage fourth Dani Evans (Hollywood Dancer) dropped out of contention with three down.

Blenheim Horse Trials: “a proper showjumping track”

Caroline Harris (Miss Pepperpot) produced one of the early clears over this tricky track when the fog was at its thickest. The mare is bred to jump, being by Peppermill, and this effort put them into fourth.

“It’s really twisty, a proper jumping track,” said Caroline. “It’s not the height, more that you have to keep riding, keep thinking, especially to the final double. The fog didn’t affect her in the ring, but she was shaking her head a bit before the start. She is strong and feisty and she likes to go!”

Willa Newton will be hoping to repeat her 2016 victory in this class, this time riding Cock A Doodle Doo, who now lies fifth after a clear inside the time.

“It’s a technical track with lots of half strides so you have to make some decisions,” said Willa, who bought the grey as as project when he was a three-year-old from Dirk Schrade. “It wasn’t planned, but I took a stride out a couple of times when it was tighter and that may have helped me make the time.”

“I felt him go shy when he went in, but he’s such a cool jumper.”

Marching up the ranks at Blenheim Horse Trials

Piggy March moved up from eighth to sixth with a clear (two time-faults) on Cooley Lancer.

“He has loads of power and you can make up so much ground in between the fences but the striding was quite short,” she said. “I tried to make up time by turning tighter rather than speed, but I could have been braver to the last oxer.

Like Ros, Piggy is not putting too much pressure on her eight-year-old ahead of the cross-country day.

“It’s as technical as I’ve seen it for this class,” she said. “He’s a real galloper but very enthusiastic, and he can get really hot and run his race too quickly. I have no idea how it will go until we get going. If he doesn’t frazzled by the whole occasion, we’ll give it a go, but who knows!”

Izzy Taylor’s two rides swapped places after the lower placed Carolines Air KM jumped clear to move up to seventh, while dressage sixth Hartacker hit one to drop to 11th.

“Caroline is eight and very green, she did not want to go into the arena, but she was very good the whole way round,” said Izzy, who sat well when the horse reared before entering the ring. “It’s a big stadium and undulating. Fence two feels like you are jumping into the crowd. It’s a big ask just for her to be here.”

As for the fog – Izzy’s hunting background stood her in good stead.

“They say horses jump best at dusk – perhaps it helped her today,” she smiled.

With the time predicted to be tight on the CCI4*-S cross-country track, there’s all to play for at the top of the leaderboard. Just four penalties (10 seconds) covers the top eight horses.

View the full Blenheim Horse Trials young horse CCI4*-S showjumping results

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

‘In my world I’ve won my own little event’: Piggy March thrilled by young horse performance at Blenheim

Ros Canter retains her lead ahead of ‘tough’ cross-country in Blenheim Horse Trials’ young horse class

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

The overnight leaders of the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage in the CCI4*-S class have held their ground as the second day’s (17 September) contenders failed to shake up the podium places. Ros Canter is still in the lead, on 26.6 with Izilot DHI, ahead of Tom Jackson (HH Moonwalk on 27.6) and Gemma Tattersall (Flash Cooley on 28.3).

There were still plenty of competitive tests, however, with just five penalties covering the top 12, which will make for a fascinating day’s cross-country on Sunday for these young horses. They have to get through the showjumping first though – no winner of this class has ever lowered a rail.

Dani Evans came closest to a top-three dressage finish early in the morning (17 September), slotting into fourth on Hollywood Dancer on 28.4. Towards the end of the session, Izzy Taylor rode Hartacker into sixth.

“Like all these young horses, he’s never been anywhere or seen anything like this, so this has been very good for him,” Izzy said of Camilla Behrens’ gelding by Spartacus HN. “He was a little bit nervous and held his breath in his trot work. But he has a fantastic walk, which was rewarded, and a very good canter which pulled the marks back again. His trot will be very good, he just needs to be prouder of himself.

“He is very sensitive – you have to be very careful getting on him the first time with a tailcoat – so his preparation has to be quiet. That’s why he hasn’t yet learned to be a show-off.”

Izzy predicted changes in the leaderboard on cross-country day.

“The course looks plenty tough enough, the toughest I’ve seen it for the eight and nine-year-olds. It doesn’t look like it will be a dressage competition, but that’s good, we are event riders.”

Izzy’s team-mate at the forthcoming Europeans, Nicola Wilson, was less than a penalty behind in seventh on Coolparks Sarco, who was unaffected by his little spook before entering the arena.

“It’s his first four-star, and he’s not established but went in there and tried to do what was right, and did his changes, so I’m really pleased with him,” said Nicola. “The course is very big and there’s an awful lot to jump. He’s a big, powerful jumper but he won’t have seen these crowds so it’s a massive learning curve and I hope he enjoys it as much as he normally does. I want him to come home a happy horse. So far, he’s enjoying the attention and rolling and squealing a lot!”

Former Blenheim Horse Trials winner in contention

Willa Newton was another rider on the second day to produce an impressive test. She rode Cock A Doodle Doo to move into 11th on 31.

“It’s nice to have a horse back at this level,” said Willa, who won this class five years ago on Caja 20. “I was really pleased with this as it is a lot of walk for him, especially in a big atmosphere.”

Willa was ruing a mistake in the last flying change as “normally they are his thing”.

“He has a lot to learn, this is a step up,” she added. “ The cross-country is intense with a lot to do, and the time is definitely going to be a huge factor.”

Piggy French and her former world young horse champion Cooley Lancer also slotted into a top-10 position, taking eighth with 30.1.

Brilliant Blenheim atmosphere takes effect

Will Rawlin was delighted with Ballycoog Breaker Boy’s effort, scoring 31.8 and securing a top-15 berth.

“This atmosphere is quite something, and I didn’t have time to do the arena familiarisation, but he kept a lid on everything and produced a really nice test,” he said. “Just a few things need ironing out, but it seemed smooth. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the cross-country – it looks educational with some good questions.”

Caroline Powell also noted the effect of the atmosphere on these inexperienced horses. She rode eight-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier to score 33.8, good enough for the top 20.

“She got tense in the walk and a bit stilted, but she’s a big mare and I’m very happy with her,” said the Kiwi rider. “This is why we like bringing these young horses, to get them used to the atmosphere.”

You may also want to read…

‘The young horses will have to try hard’: riders react to Blenheim’s cross-country courses

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

Take a peek at what Blenheim Horse Trials’ CCI4*-S cross-country course has in store for young equine stars

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