Bubby Upton scored the best five-star result of her career so far to finish second in the final Pau results aboard Its Cooley Time (Finn).

The double Bramham winners couldn’t quite catch Tim Price, who successfully defended his title with a two-penalty margin with the still-improving Jarillo, but it was an impressive result in every phase at a tough competition.

“Finn’s performance all week has been flawless,” said Bubby of the 11-year-old. “The future is incredibly bright with a horse like this in my string. I feel like we’re just scratching the surface of what we’re now capable of.”

Lying eighth after dressage after a slightly feisty test by the pair’s high standards, Bubby moved up to overnight second after a dramatic cross-country day with the second-fastest round.

With the pressure on as they could not afford a rail to maintain second place, Bubby nailed a superb clear in the showjumping arena, with the grey jumping out of his skin to seal the runner-up prize.

“He is a freak of nature,” said Bubby of the Quality Time TN gelding, who is owned by Susan de Zuleta, Jane Dear, Susie Holland-Bosworth, the Duchess of Norfolk, Hilary Russell and herself.

“He’s an incredible dressage horse, then goes cross-country as low and economical as you like, then comes out on the final day and jumps like a showjumper. He’s an absolute dream for a rider.”

Its Cooley Time came into Pau with an excellent showjumping record – on a streak of 10 international clear rounds. Bubby dismissed the pressure of riding a horse of his ability.

“I’d much prefer to be on a jumper like that with a clear-round streak than one that you have to work every single stride for and still might have an unlucky tap,” she said. “When you’re sat on a jumper like him, it’s on you to deliver.”

Looking at Bubby’s career so far, at the age of 26 she’s already achieved far more than many event riders will ever do. However, leaving her career-threatening injury in 2023 aside, it’s been far from an easy ride even in the past 12 months.

Last year, Bubby came here with great chances on three horses – two had falls, and the third was withdrawn from the holding box. What a difference 12 months can make.

Back with a vengeance with her two fallers of 2025, Its Cooley Time and Cola – who finished 15th – she has fully laid last year’s ghosts to rest this time.

British results in the top 10 at Pau

Britain fielded 22 entrants, and 13 completed, including three more in the top 10 besides Bubby. All three horses were debutants at the level.

Tom McEwen’s ride Quintus cemented his status as a star of his generation. The nine-year-old was one of three of his age making their five-star debut at Pau and stepped up to the big-time in heroic fashion to finish fifth, only 5.7pen adrift of the winner.

“He’s an utter legend – he was awesome,” said Tom, who added just eight time-faults cross-country to his fourth-placed dressage score. “What a great result for his first five-star. He is a proper horse and I am fantastically happy with him.”

Another freshly minted five-star horse is Lizzie Baugh’s 11-year-old Piltown Concorde, owned by Camilla Behrens. Their showjumping clear moved them up a couple of places from cross-country to sixth overall – and a massive gain from 38th after dressage.

“I knew he was very capable but he’s been absolutely brilliant,” said Lizzie, for whom this was a first five-star completion. “He’s been consistent at four-star longs, but unlucky to have a pole on the final day. So to finish with a clear round, jumping incredibly well, is just brilliant.”

Willa Newton showed she’s back in the big time, also posting a a double clear, to finish ninth on Hartacker. They added just 11.2 cross-country time-faults to their 20th-placed dressage score.

“He’s had a few setbacks along the way so even to get him here felt like a huge achievement,” said Willa, for whom this was a first five-star since 2017. “He was just phenomenal. He sees the flags and just does everything he can to get between them.”

Pau top 10 final results

1. Tim Price/Jarillo (NZL) 30.9
2. Bubby Upton/Its Cooley Time (GBR) 32.9
3. Jonelle Price/Senor Crocodillo (NZL) 34.6
4. Tim Price/Happy Boy (NZL) 35.9
5. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 36.6
6. Lizzie Baugh/Piltown Concorde (GBR) 43.8
7. Willa Newton/Hartacker (GBR) 44.6
8. Jonelle Price/Grappa Nera (NZL) 46.4
9. Jonelle Price/Capitaine De Hus (NZL) 50.5
10. Sofia Sjöborg/Bryjamolga VH Marienshof Z (SWE) 50.9

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Tim Price and Jarillo emerged the back-to-back winners of Pau Horse Trials 2026, with fabulous performances in all three phases. Bubby Upton finished runner-up with Its Cooley Time, ahead of Jonelle Price on Senor Crocodillo.

Second after dressage, the defending champions moved up to the overnight lead with a fast cross-country clear. Jarillo rattled a pole in the final phase, but the rail landed back in its cups for an outstanding double win.

“I’ve never won two five-stars on any horse,” said Tim, for whom this was a seventh victory at the highest level. “It’s not easy to win any of these events and Pau is a tricky place.

“It took some winning – to hold everyone off because there were so many people in the mix at the end. I’m not getting any younger – who knows how long I’ll carry on doing it – and it’s just a treasure.

“Jarillo is such a class horse; he’s been feeling a million dollars and he makes my job easy to pilot him around.”

Jarillo – who is owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good – came into Pau with an outstanding showjumping record, especially on the last day. He had a clean sheet in all his seven international long-format runs.

But two down at Luhmühlen CCI4*-S earlier this season ensured this would be a nailbiter right to the very end.

Pau winner: the final phase

Unlike last year, when the top 10 were covered by one rail and the placings were constantly shifting, this year the overnight top five all showjumped clear to maintain their placings under thick drizzle.

One rail would drop Tim out of the top three. First his wife Jonelle secured a Price podium finish from third with the Giannamores’ Crocodillo, before Bubby heaped even more pressure on Tim with another smashing clear with her “freak of nature” Its Cooley Time. Their runner-up position is the best of Bubby’s five-star career so far.

“I tried to muck Jarillo up today but he wasn’t have a bar of it,” laughed Tim, referring to a slightly off distance to an oxer, which he rubbed.

“Sometimes he runs away from certain things and I have to hold his hand, but he looked after me today. He looked at the screen and I didn’t help him as much as I should, but he tried so hard.

“I had faith in him. I was a bit tight and I know I ride better when I’m relaxed – although I look relaxed, I’m pedalling underneath.”

The Price monopoly

It was a sublime performance from the winner, but the entire Price team had a weekend to remember.

The team’s Herculean efforts in bringing six horses to Pau reaped dividends. The organiser Pascal Sayous joked that he’d “never paid out such a big cheque” to one family.

Heading in the showjumping phase, the Prices had four in the top six after superb cross-country performances: the leader Jarillo; third, Senor Crocodillo; fourth, Happy Boy; and sixth, Grappa Nera, who had shot up thanks to her pathfinding fast clear from 40th.

As well as Crocodillo’s third, Jonelle also wound up eighth with Grappa Nera and ninth with Capitaine De Hus, who lowered a rail apiece. Three top-10 placings is a result to savour.

“Crocodillo comes into this phase with a really good record on the last day,” said Jonelle of the grey who wears a hood to showjump. “In some ways that makes it harder because it’s getting to the point where he’s jumped so many clear rounds that you almost feel more pressure.

“But as soon as I jumped a couple of fences, I thought ‘he’s on’ – he’s just so reliable and a pleasure to ride today.”

Tim also logged a clear with Susan Lamb, Therese Miller and his own Happy Boy – jumping out of order – to secure fourth place and a settling of the nerves before his final round.

“When Happy Boy’s cool, he’s really cool,” said Tim. “Maybe he likes autumn too. Whatever it is, he’s a really fun horse and he’s been exceptionally good this week.”

Read the full story on Bubby Upton and other Brits.

Pau winner and top 10

1. Tim Price/Jarillo (NZL) 30.9
2. Bubby Upton/Its Cooley Time (GBR) 32.9
3. Jonelle Price/Senor Crocodillo (NZL) 34.6
4. Tim Price/Happy Boy (NZL) 35.9
5. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 36.6
6. Lizzie Baugh/Piltown Concorde (GBR) 43.8
7. Willa Newton/Hartacker (GBR) 44.6
8. Jonelle Price/Grappa Nera (NZL) 46.4
9. Jonelle Price/Capitaine De Hus (NZL) 50.5
10. Sofia Sjöborg/Bryjamolga VH Marienshof Z (SWE) 50.9

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Izzy Taylor was the highest placed rider to drop out of contention on Sunday morning at the Pau final trot-up. She withdrew Jane Timmis’ five-star debutant SBH Big Wall from overnight sixth.

The pair had produced a lovely round over Pierre Michelet’s influential track on Saturday, clocking 9.6 time-faults to move up from ninth.

Izzy also did not present her mare PSH Encore, who was lying 21st.

“PSH Encore has an overreach that she’s sore on, and SBH Big Wall has a suspected strain, so we called it a day for both of them,” Izzy posted.

“It’s a huge disappointment, and my heart really goes out to my wonderful owners. They put so much time, trust, support and emotion into this journey. It’s never easy when things don’t go to plan, especially when you know how much everyone has invested, both practically and emotionally.

“But horses will always come first, and the priority now is making sure both of these lovely horses are happy, comfortable and given the time they need. As disappointing as today is, their wellbeing will always be more important than any result.”

Updates on British horses withdrawn from Pau

Two other British horses, Stephen Heal’s Hisco, and Heidi Coy’s MGH Jessica were also withdrawn before the Pau final trot-up.

Five-star newcomer Hisco, owned by The Knight Syndicate, was in 18th after logging a clear cross-country round. He has a swollen front fetlock.

“So gutted that Hisco doesn’t get to complete his first 5* after the amazing job he did yesterday!” Stephen posted. “He will be fine just sadly not for today and after what he did for us yesterday it wouldn’t be fair to try! His wellbeing has to come first like all the horses! He’s super happy and confused why he’s not being plaited to trot up but I’m excited after yesterday for what he’ll hopefully do in the future.”

Heidi also gave an update: “[MGH Jessica] unfortunately punctured her elbow, we think from a stud, and it’s sore this morning so we decided to save her for another day as she is so precious to us all,” posted Heidi, who had a couple of run-outs on cross-country.

“The exciting thing to take away is there is definitely another five-star run in the future.”

This left 29 to present before the ground jury (James Rooney, Judy Hancock and Laure Eslan) for the final trot-up.

First on to the runway, Moroccan rider Noor Slaoui’s horse Cash In Hand was sent to the hold box, but passed on reinspection.

All horses were accepted – including the full complement of six horses from Team Price.

This leaves Tim Price and Jarillo holding his lead of two penalties over Bubby Upton (Its Cooley Time) ahead of showjumping. Jonelle Price sits in third with Senor Crocodillo, with less than a rail covering the podium.

Tim and Jonelle Price each have two horses in the top six for the final phase, which starts at 2.30pm (1.30pm British time).

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The Pau cross-country was extremely influential, with just 18 clears from 49 runners, a 37% clear rate. However, 67% of the field did complete.

There were no clears inside the time, with Tim Price coming closest on the second of his three rides, Happy Boy. They clocked 3.2 time-faults to climb up from 16th after dressage to fourth. Tim also leads overnight on Jarillo.

Emily King and Valmy Biats were the most high-profile pair to fall out of contention on the Pau cross-country. The clubhouse leaders after dressage on a score of 24.5, they looked to be cruising on their minute markers when the 17-year-old gelding ran out at the skinny after the “Oops” drop at fence 24b.

Emily put her hand up to retire.

Two well-placed horses slid on the slope down from this drop and fell – which provoked the leader Tim Price to change his plan to a more direct line at this combination.

The Maryland winners Felix Vogg and Cartania saw their chance of a second five-star victory slip away quite literally with a fall here when they were going brilliantly from 12th spot. They were up on their time, and a clear would have secured the lead on 30.4.

The chances of his fellow Swiss Mélody Johner and Erin – who had been lying seventh – evaporated when the grey stopped at the bank. However, when he did jump down on second attempt, he slipped and also fell.

Update on horse falls at Pau

Yasmin Ingham was another in winning contention from joint-fifth after dressage on 28.9, aboard five-star first-timer Gypsie Du Loir. The pair were storming round beautifully, when they slipped before the left-handed corner at fence 28bc. Gypsie valiantly attempted to jump the fence, but the pair both fell on the landing side. Both looked a little sore, but were able to walk away.

Yasmin later posted: “We were up on all our minute markers heading into our 10th minute and unfortunately came unstuck at the penultimate combination. She was travelling with significant momentum accumulated around the course and got quite long on landing after the A element and I just didn’t have the adjustability I needed coming into the B element at the corner, resulting in quite a heavy fall for us both. I am SO thankful we are both OK and were very very lucky this time, both walking away only sore and bruised. That’s all that matters at the end of the day.

“I 100% believe Gigi will have her big day and this is only the beginnning of her journey at five-star level. She is some weapon – her acceleration and speed is lightning fast.”

There were five horse falls in total, although two came on the flat.

Sarah Ennis produced a personal best dressage score at this level of 29.5 aboard the bold-jumping Dourough Ferro Class Act (Larry). But they fell early on course at a straightforward stone wall, festooned in Halloween paraphernalia.

“Larry and I are absolutely fine after our fall, apart from a very few minor bruises,” Sarah told H&H. “We’re just very disappointed not to have been able to finish, but thankfully no serious harm done and we live to fight another day.”

Caroline Powell’s frustrating season at five-star was compounded when High Time fell at a steeplechase fence (14) out on the racecourse section of the course. Both horse and rider were quickly up on their feet, with High Time seemingly keen to sample the racetrack before being caught.

“All safe and sound,” she told H&H. “On the way home with a sound horse which is the main thing.”

‘The main thing is the horse is OK’: Tom Jackson updates after fall

Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B, who came from 31st after dressage to finish runners-up at Pau last year, were in closer order after the first phase in 17th. Alas, for Tom it proved academic as he fell off when the gelding jinked at the second angled brush at fence eight – which Tom had earlier predicted “will catch a few out”.

“Plot Twist B started amazingly and felt great,” he posted. “Unfortunately a miscommunication at angled brushes resulted in a fall. As we all know that’s the sport sometimes, the main thing [is] Blue is all OK and will now enjoy a well deserved holiday.”

Joseph Murphy’s ride Calmaro was one of several horses to slip up on the flat. The grey lost his hind end rounding the turn before fence 10, tipping his rider out of the plate, although he just managed to stay on his feet. Although the ground was generally appreciated by riders, a day of heavy showers and overnight rain meant the top was a little slippery in some places.

“A frustrating end of the season, but thankfully Calmaro and I are both absolutely fine after a slip on the flat today,” Joseph posted, “Not the end to the season we were hoping for, but the most important thing is that ‘Mario’ is sound, well, and happily tucked up in his stable, ready to go again.”

Moroccan rider Noor Slaoui did complete the course on Cash In Hand, but with a run-out at the second water (11b) and a broken device at the fourth water (25b).

“It cost me a couple of teeth,” she posted – after the grey’s neck hit her mouth.

“I wish I could rewind and ride a bit differently to secure the clear round he so deserved, but it’s all part of the learning process and I am grateful to come home with a happy horse, feeling amazing and full of running.”

Frangible fences come into play

Frangible devices were broken eight times, including six at the fourth water – both at the corner in the water (25b) and the narrow corner out (25c).

These included Bubby Upton’s first ride Cola, whose lovely round was blotted by 11 penalties at 25b.

“The pin is frustrating because I felt like we nothing wrong,” she said. “We were on a perfect stride, and it’s one of those things. We love them [the devices] sometimes but hate them at other times. But the rest of his round, I can’t fault him.

“He lost the right front shoe pretty early on, so he was just questioning me a little bit on take-offs which he never normally does,” she explained. “He had to dig even deeper than he usually does and that really slowed our round. I have no words for how extraordinary he is. He has no reason to get himself out of those situations apart from his love for me.”

Bubby is lying second overnight on her second ride, Its Cooley Time.

Sam Ecroyd was another ruing an extra 11 penalties. His clear round on Mister Big Ears was one of the fastest of the day for 5.2 time-faults, but the horse left his hindlegs on the white gate at 13, which caused no other problems.

“He’s an unbelievable horse and was cruising,” said Sam. “I made a stupid mistake. It was an upright gate on top of a mound, which you need a bit of balance for. I thought I’d seen a nice, controlled, waiting stride, but he had a little spook at the road crossing and I made the wrong decision at that moment.

“I should have just waited and chipped, but I pressed on to try to catch the distance back and he jumped it good in front, then saw the drop and took his back legs through it. After that I took my foot off the gas.”

They lie in 14th ahead on 50.3 of showjumping, but could have been sitting in seventh.

Tough day for home nation

It was a particularly tough day for the French. Their star rider Sébastien Cavaillon was riding two half-brothers, debutant Hashtag and Elipso De La Vigne. Hashtag completed but with a stop and a broken device, while he fell from third-placed Elipso at the swans in the main arena and had to limp out in front of a capacity home crowd. However, his bid for glory had already disappeared with a couple of run-outs.

France’s best-placed rider at the end of cross-country ended up being Bastien Commecy, 20th. He runs a livery yard in northern France and was making his five-star debut with Crack Du Noyer.

Sadly, Luc Château’s ride Ego Des Cabanes was put down after hitting the triple brush fence at 9b, which caused nine refusals.

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“This year was what we call redemption,” said Bubby Upton at Pau after her fast cross-country clear on Its Cooley Time over a troublesome track moved her up to second place overnight behind Tim Price and Jarillo.

In 2025, the grey was vying for a win at Pau when Bubby fell off just a few fences from home – blaming herself for denying the horse a five-star victory on his debut. This year, she completed a scintillating display – with one superb save from a dunking in the influential first water – to post the second-fastest time of the day with 3.6 time-faults.

“The first water didn’t go to plan,” Bubby said. “I don’t know what happened, if he put back on the first triple brush but that’s cross-country. I saw the water and thought ‘nuh-uh, not again’. Last year we were foot perfect and I ended up on the floor.

“In that split second, I thought ‘I’ve still got four strides to get to that next fence, we're jumping it’. I wasn't even in the saddle, I had no stirrup, but he was still looking at the flags because I definitely wasn’t. I was just seeing water, then managed to get back in the saddle, one stride and bang there was the second triple brush. He was extraordinary in that moment.

“I’ve had him since he was five and it just shows the relationship we have, the love and time we put into him, he repays us in situations like that.”

Bubby added: “What a horse, what a fighter – he’s class through and through. In my eyes I prevented him from winning a five-star on his debut, a tough pill to swallow. But we’ve come back with a vengeance. That round was unbelievable.”

Bubby explained that she has to ride Its Cooley Time – owned by Susan de Zuleta, Jane Dear, Susie Holland-Bosworth, the Duchess of Norfolk, Hilary Russell and herself – “completely different to all my other horses”. She’s gone back to the drawing board after the pair had three international falls in a row – with help from Andrew Nicholson and Chris Bartle – to find the key to this “most talented horse I’ve ever ridden”.

“I’m a positive attacking rider and because he's a brave as a lion, nothing fazes him, that doesn't work – I have to be very precise and take no fence for granted,” says Bubby, who’s also lying 17th on Cola. “I’m used to plugging along every stride, whereas Its Cooley Time is like a rocket ship.”

Bubby climbed from eighth after dressage to within just two penalties of Tim, with Jonelle less than two penalties behind in third on Senor Crocodillo, meaning one showjumping rail covers the top three.

Five British riders in top 10 after Pau cross-country

Bubby Upton was best of the Brits over the Pau cross-country, but there were plenty of impressive performances.

Tom McEwen enjoyed a fabulous round with the nine-year-old Quintus, who made light of Pierre Michelet’s tricky track to take fifth spot overnight, dropping one place from dressage. Tom described this five-star debutant as an “utter legend” after he found a fifth leg a few fences from home.

“I decided to take four strides down to the corner [at fence 28bc], thought I was perfect but he caught a leg,” he said. “To be honest, I was sideways and thought ‘I really hope he puts a leg down’ and the foot did come down and I thought, ‘unfortunately Quintus, there’s one more element to go’, and he picked right up on a tight distance. What a horse, an utter legend.”

They were rapid, too, adding just eight time-faults, which was among the six fastest of the day.

“It’s not easy here, we’re used to our British distances whereas here they’re really open so you’ve got to ride with your brain,” he said. “Quintus is a big horse with a big stride, he was awesome.

“He feels slow on top, but unbelievably easy as his stride eats up the ground,” Tom added. “He’s a proper horse but we’ve got many more good days to come.”

Izzy Taylor’s debutant climbs the ranks

Izzy Taylor brought three horses to Pau, and it was five-star first-timer SBH Big Wall who fared best of the trio. He clocked 9.6 time-faults with a clear round to move up from ninth after dressage to sixth.

“It felt like a five-star, it wasn’t pretty, was hard work, but he was superb,” she said. “There are a lot of questions out there. Our horses aren’t trained the French way, and the French courses are mentally difficult for them and us riders. It’s very different to a Badminton or Burghley. It’s very reactive cross-country and you have to be on your A-game.”

“SBH Big Wall and I have our own way of doing things, we add strides. In time when we build confidence in each other, we’ll take strides out, but you ride what you’re sat on at the moment. He is a very quick horse and a cool dude.”

Izzy had to rebuild after retiring at fence nine – where Bubby had her brilliant save – after two refusals with Barrington Alice.

“Alice was green – she landed flat after the broken bridge [fence 4], which gave her a shock,” she said. “But I said to myself, ‘don’t you dare sulk in the truck, give yourself a shake, you’ve got some really good horses, that was just a mistake’. So a bit of tough talk!”

The two other Brits in the top 10 were Lizzie Baugh on Piltown Concorde, who made a dazzling rise from 38th to eighth overnight; and Willa Newton, lying 10th on Camilla Behrens’ Hartacker. Both horses are making their five-star debuts.

“He gave me a great ride,” Lizzie said of her own and Janette Shipley’s 10-year-old. “He helped me out in places where I needed it and I’d like to think I helped him out a when was a little bit green. He was gritty and stuck with it and stayed with me.”

Four rails cover the top 10.

Pau cross-country top 10

1. Tim Price/Jarillo (NZL) 30.9
2. Bubby Upton/Its Cooley Time (GBR) 32.9
3. Jonelle Price/Senor Crocodillo (NZL) 34.6
4. Tim Price/Happy Boy 35.9
5. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 36.6
6. Izzy Taylor/SBH Big Wall (GBR) 39.1
7. Jonelle Price/Grappa Nera 42.4
8. Lizzie Baugh/Piltown Concorde (GBR) 43.8
9. Hallie Coon/Kapriccio (USA) 44.2
10. Willa Newton/Hartacker (GBR) 44.6

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Defending champions Tim Price and Jarillo produced a copybook round over an influential Pau cross-country track to take pole position. On the brink of this impressive horse’s second five-star win, Tim said “he’s not an authentic event horse as he’s still learning to gallop, but he’s getting better and better”.

Bubby Upton has moved up from eighth to second – just two penalties adrift – on Its Cooley Time with the second-fastest time. Jonelle Price now lies third on one of her three rides, Senor Crocodillo, from 11th after dressage.

Jarillo – owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good – was second last out of the startbox to ensure a nailbiting crescendo to an already exciting day of sport. He was loudly cheered by the large crowd in the main arena for the final three fences, and he stopped the clock for just 5.2 time-faults.

“He’s a class horse, a joy to ride, he makes my job very easy,” said Tim after making a track that yielded just a 37% clear rate seem straightforward. “He was super. He’s a really honest horse, who loves his job.”

Tim’s round may have looked picture-perfect, but it was thanks to some shrewd decision-making. A couple of horses slipped on the slope down from the big drop at fence 24a – notably Felix Vogg’s Maryland winner Cartania, who looked destined for a podium spot; and Mélody Johner’s grey Erin. The B element was a huge skinny approached on a bending line.

“We were worried about the ground, so we made a plan off the bank to go direct to the skinny at the bottom, which is taking a risk to jump across the skinny but you’re not putting the bend in where the hindlegs can go,” Tim explained.

“It’s about where you place the risk. I took the risk out of putting in a kink on a bending line and trusted his ability to jump the wooden part of the skinny which didn’t look quite conventional.”

“But he didn’t slip, he’s a very balanced horse generally – it was a lovely round.”

Not only did Pierre Michelet’s track cause a host of problems, peppered all round the course, the optimum time proved unattainable.

Jarillo’s 5.2 time-faults were the fourth-fastest of the day – with Tim quickest of all with only 3.2pen on his second ride Happy Boy, who was fourth last year and now lies fourth overnight from 16th after dressage.

“I’m incredibly happy with Jarillo – he’s had good results but he is still learning about the stamina requirement for proper five-star cross-country,” Tim said. “He’s not a thoroughbred, so he has to learn about galloping and today he was a lot better than last year.”

Tim Price’s double delight on Pau cross-country

Happy Boy had earlier taken the lead himself – which he held from midway right until Its Cooley Time overtook him – despite a long route at the tricky combination at fence 28. This involved a house on mound with a sharp slope down curving right to a left-handed brush corner, followed by angled brush.

“He’s a lovely traveller and it was great fun piloting him around,” said Tim. “I took a long route at the end because he has a nemesis about running out to the left and this was the biggest left-handed corner we’ve seen all year.

“Perhaps the time will be costly. I was eight seconds over the time and that long route probably took eight seconds, but clear is more important and knowing your horse and riding with intelligence is what gives you consistency.”

Leading riders out of the running on Pau cross-country

The dressage leaders Emily King and Valmy Biats had a surprising run-out after the big drop at fence 24b when going well – where Tim changed his original line – and she elected to retire.

Sébastien Cavaillon, third after dressage, compounded a miserable day for the home nation. Having soldiered on after two run-outs in the first and third waters, he had a nasty fall when Elipso De La Vigne twisted over the second swan in the main arena, the penultimate fence, giving him no chance of staying in the saddle.

Both horse and rider walked out of the arena to huge cheers from the French crowd, but it was not the result they were after.

Yasmin Ingham was another well-placed dressage rider who faltered late on the course. Lying joint-fifth after dressage on Gypsie Du Loir, the pair seemed set to log a fast clear when the mare slid down the hill after the house at fence 28 – where Happy Boy took the long route. Gypsie valiantly tried to jump the corner but unfortunately she fell. Both were up on their feet afterwards.

Fellow joint-fifth Tiana Coudray was another not to make it to the finish. Riding Cancaras Girl, the American only got as far as fence eight, the second of two angled brushes on a long two strides, where she retired.

A sad shadow was cast over the day when French rider Luc Château’s ride Ego Des Cabanes was put down after retiring at the first water combination.

A statement from the event read: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Ego des Cabanes, ridden by French rider Luc Château and owned by Laure Sudreau, was humanely put down as a result of a fatal accident. Ego des Cabanes, a 12-year-old bay gelding hit obstacle No. 9B, causing an injury that forced its rider to dismount immediately.”

Price domination on Pau cross-country

The Prices brought a total of six horses to Pau, and Jonelle also made impressive headway up the leaderboard with all three of her rides.

The Giannamores’ grey, Senor Crocodillo, made amends for what Jonelle felt was an unlucky run-out at the Aachen World Championships, after being held late on course. Here, he was straight as a die throughout, clocking 4.8 time-faults to climb on to the podium in third from 11th.

Jonelle said: “I truly believe his mistake in Aachen was as a result of the hold, so it was nice to be able to come here today. He was certainly very on the job and good on all his lines. I’m happy he could show himself off in a great light.”

The pathfinder, Jonelle’s 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera – owned by the Grape Syndicate – sprang up the ranks from 40th to seventh with 6.4 time-faults.

“She’s very experienced at this level; she’s nimble and athletic so you know you have options,” Jonelle explained. “That’s a nice feeling to have on a course like Pau, which is quite unpredictable, and she really set me up for the day.”

Jonelle’s third ride, the Thomsons’ Capitaine De Hus Z, rose from 23rd to 11th.

Rounding out the top six are two Brits, both riding five-star debutants. Tom McEwen steered nine-year-old Quintus into fourth, while SBH Big Wall was best of Izzy Taylor’s three rides in sixth.

Last year, one showjumping rail covered the top 10; this year, just the top three.

Pau cross-country results: Tim Price leads

1. Tim Price/Jarillo (NZL) 30.9
2. Bubby Upton/Its Cooley Time (GBR) 32.9
3. Jonelle Price/Senor Crocodillo (NZL) 34.6
4. Tim Price/Happy Boy 35.9
5. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 36.6
6. Izzy Taylor/SBH Big Wall (GBR) 39.1

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Emily King and Valmy Biats produced “one of the best tests we’ve ever done” to score 24.5 and top the Pau Horse Trials dressage results.

The 2026 Luhmühlen runners-up opened their performance with a string of nines for their entrance and halt, and the marks rarely dipped below seven throughout. They scored another nine for the extended canter from the judge at C, James Rooney.

“Valmy was brilliant,” Emily said. “He’s been here a few times and he’s 17 years old so he knows the drill.

“He felt fabulous. We call him a lion at home because he has a big, bushy mane and he’s a big, bushy character and so powerful, but he’s actually really sensitive to ride.

“I find it a hard balance of showing him off without letting it go too wild. I felt like finally I got it perfect today.”

Even the walk – which Emily said “is always fragile; he finds it hard” – drew an eight and 7.5s from the ground jury.

Pau – like most of western Europe – has been buffeted by rain and wind today.

“The wind picked up which made it a fragile atmosphere but he stayed very stable and did everything I asked,” Emily added. “I always have him in the thicker fly bonnet to help with any sound. What was nice is that the warm-up is more open but the grandstand helps shelter the arena.

“But Valmy’s so good, even if a flower pot blew over, he’s such a sweetheart he’d probably stay straight.”

Last year, Emily fell off at the second fence across country, so she’s on something of a redemption mission.

“I’ll try to go quick and clear but ultimately the main thing is to look after him – he means the world to me,” she says. “The course last year caused so many problems and I thought I could go into the lead if I went quick enough, and I went a bit too quick.

“He’s so brave but it’s that balance of being quick but smooth. He’s a hard horse to ride cross-country – he’s strong but his neck comes in and his body keeps on going! He’d jump the moon, bless his cotton socks, it’s about getting his heart rate down so he can breathe and concentrate. ”

Last year’s Pau winners back for more

The 2025 Pau champions Tim Price and Jarillo made a great start in the defence of their title. The 11-year-old gelding – owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good – lies just over a penalty behind Valmy Biats in second, on a score of 25.7.

“He was really rideable,” said Tim. “He’s had this talent, I imagine, since he was born, it’s been about curating it. Today I felt like we were close to doing a pretty spot-on job.”

The last time Jarillo was performing in this arena was in front of a cheering crowd in the prize-giving. But he settled beautifully to his task, as if knowing the job in hand.

“For all his quirks and sharpness, he loves attention, loves people patting him and taking photos – so that was a positive memory for him,” Tim said.

Jarillo is extremely horse-shy, and Tim related how the big screen “freaked him out” in the arena familiarisation.

“The field of play has always been a relaxing place for him, because there are no other horses. The [five-star] environments suit him. But it’s my job to hug him as he comes to me for support. If I just sat there passively in those moments, he’d feel even more alone.”

French rider homes in on podium

Tom McEwen had led at the three-quarter stage with his nine-year-old debutant Quintus on 28.6, usurping Thursday’s overnight leader Yasmin Ingham (Gypsie Du Loir).

But Sébastien Cavaillon’s score of 28.1 on Elipso De La Vigne moved him into a podium position at the end of the day, relegating Tom and Yas to fourth and fifth respectively.

Despite his position, Sébastien was a touch disappointed with his mark. A mistake in the flying change in the warm-up put him on edge.

“That made me a little stressed, but he did his best in the arena – the ground today is like glue,” he said. “Normally, Elipso can score much better – from 23 to 26 – and today one judge definitely didn’t like me!”

Two judges placed him third while the C judge, James Rooney, put him down in 12th.

Sébastien is riding two half-brothers in Pau, 12-year-old Elipso – by Nick Skelton’s ride Arko III – and his three-year younger brother Hashtag De La Vigne (26th).

“They both love food and cuddles,” said Sébastien. “But to ride they are absolutely different. Elipso has more power and balance, but Hashtag has something else – his best asset is his head; he wants to please me all the time.”

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Pau Horse Trials dressage results: Emily King leads

1. Emily King/Valmy Biats (GBR) 24.5
2. Tim Price/Jarillo (NZL) 25.7
3. Sébastien Cavaillon/Elipso De La Vigne (FRA) 28.1
4. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 28.6
5. Yasmin Ingham/Gyspie Du Loir (GBR) 28.9
   & Tiana Coudray/Cancaras Girl (USA) 28.9

Tom McEwen has taken the lead from Yasmin Ingham at the top of the Pau Horse Trials dressage leaderboard.

Tom is riding Quintus, a precocious rising star who is making his five-star debut at the age of nine – one of a trio of his year group at Pau.

The pair scored 28.6, to move just 0.3 ahead of overnight leader Yasmin on another first-timer Gypsie Du Loir.

“He's come here as a nine-year-old, done Boekelo as an eight-year-old, so he’s smashing the numbers but the numbers don’t matter, it’s how he feels,” said Tom of the Quibery 3-sired gelding, who is owned by Deirdre Johnston and Jane Knight. “And he feels amazing. To come out here and do a PB for way of going in an arena is pretty special.

“Today is what he can do at five-star at this moment in time and I believe there’s an awful lot more in there.

“He's a massive horse who works really hard. From the outside he looks super relaxed, but internally he gets a little bit nervous.

“We’re doing things a little differently with him now,” Tom added. “I messed up at the start of the year, nearly put too much pressure on him to get him a little bit more together, and it made him tense, whereas now I treat him like a smaller horse and ride him forward and keep him easy.”

A shift at top of Pau dressage leaderboard

Wiltshire-based American Tiana Coudray was another from this Friday-morning session to catch the eye. She slotted into equal second on her own Cancaras Girl on a score of 28.9.

Despite this accurate and expressive performance, Tiana says the 16-year-old mare isn’t a natural in the dressage arena, but is still getting stronger.

“She’s a horse I can't be greedy with,” she said. “She does everything she does out of good will and a fantastic temperament. She doesn’t actually have the best body for this, so as long as I respect that and nurture it, she gives me everything.

“One change we threw some marks away, but she keeps getting better and better. It’s really exciting to have a horse that tries so hard and keeps showing up to work. She’s very level-headed and on the aids, it’s what we’re all dreaming of.”

This test features a half-circle trot stretch, which has been hit and miss for some horses.

“The trot stretch is very short, so I’ve been training her to show it off as otherwise it’s over before you’ve done it – today in the ring was the first time she’s done it!” Tiana said.

Last year the mare slipped on the flat when she was going well across country, so Tiana is keen to put their French record straight.

“I like the course but I’m nervous I’m too comfortable and am missing a few tricks,” she said. “My first thoughts are that it’s a lovely track with enough to do.”

Izzy Taylor and Ros Canter in the mix

Izzy Taylor continued her impressive return to this level with a sub-30 test on the grey 11-year-old SBH Big Wall, whom she describes as “a really level horse without a crazy side – or he hides it well”.

“I’ve had this horse from the beginning, which is a treat to bring them up to the five-star level because you do know everything about them – and them about you – that’s very special.

“It’s not been the smoothest year for us [after Izzy broke her leg] but he went in there, his five-star debut and gave it a good crack. We always want more but there’s massive room for improvement but for where we are I’m pretty happy.”

Izzy is also ninth currently on Barrington Alice.

Ros Canter conjured a super test from MHS Seventeen – also owned by Deirdre Johnston, as well as Lady Milnes Coates – to lie in sixth on 31.9.

“He hasn’t always found the dressage easy and he doesn’t have the best movement, but this year he’s found his confidence in the work and I’m able to show him off much more,” Ros said.

The gelding cut his hock in the field 10 days before Luhmühlen, which necessitated some time on the sidelines.

“We’ve come here to give it a go, but I’m probably a bit shy of where I want to be with him. He’s been to Pau before and deserved another shot at it.

“It’s nice for him to be here off his own bat, because he's always been to five-stars with Izilot and been the underdog. But actually he’s starting to hold his own and I absolutely love riding him. He’s a phenomenal jumper and I love to gallop him.”

There is still plenty of action to come in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase, with the final 18 of the 49-strong field set to resume at 2.30pm (1.30pm British time).

Pau Horse Trials dressage standings at the end of Friday morning

1. Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR) 28.6
2eq. Yasmin Ingham/Gypsie Du Loir (GBR) 28.9
2eq. Tiana Coudray/Cancaras Girl (USA) 28.9
4. Izzy Taylor/SBH Big Wall (GBR) 29.5
5. Hallie Coon/Kapriccio (USA) 31.4
6. Ros Canter/MHS Seventeen (GBR) 31.9

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The general consensus on the Pau cross-country course is that it’s a typical Pierre Michelet track that will reward bold riding. It’s flat and fast, but Pierre has put in a few 180º turn-backs that will disrupt competitors from gaining too much momentum.

Storm Austen is battering northern France, and while down in the south Pau is feeling the effects with blustery conditions and rain, the show goes on in fairly typical autumnal conditions. Rain is expected to fall all day on Friday – and forecast for cross-country day, too – however a summer of dry weather means the ground can take plenty of water.

Rider reactions to Pau cross-country course

Caroline Powell (High Time) is one rider to appreciate Pierre Michelet’s “long distances”, but she believes the course could be deceptive in its cumulative toll.

“High Time has a big jump so those distances will suit him,” she said. “When I started walking I thought it wasn’t that tough, but then I got halfway round and was like, ‘Jeez, it’s going to ride pretty tough’.

“It’s not massive in dimensions, but there are a lot of combinations and a lot of trip hazards out there.

“We are going to have to be on our A game all the way round. Every fence is a bit of a head-scratcher, you can’t disrespect any of them. Every one has a run-out risk, but it’s fair.”

Wiltshire-based US rider Hallie Coon, who scored a competitive dressage mark of 31.4, said the course will suit Kapriccio, but she has reservations.

“He’s really, really nippy and and has good acceleration and brakes, and he’s super rideable,” she said. “I’ll just need to put in big enough studs for those 180º turns and try not to fall on the flat!

“I love the jumping efforts and all the combinations, I just don’t love when they make you literally go back on yourself. Turning 180º wouldn’t be my favourite thing for a cross-country course. It wouldn’t let you get into a proper rhythm and get into the gallop you want to make those distances easy.”

Frenchman Benjamin Massie rides Figaro Fonroy, who fell at the Aachen World Championships after running out at the brush into the coffin.

“You can certainly recognise Pierre Michelet’s touch,” said Benjamin, who logged a score of 33.6 in Thursday’s dressage. “Coming from my horse’s perspective – and particularly given the World Championships, where I slipped on a panoramic brush [where you can’t see the landing] at the start of the course – here, there’s actually a panoramic brush right at the start of the course… so I’ll soon know where I stand.

“As for the rest, I think the course is right up his street. He’s a big horse with great movement, but this course is still quite winding. What’s more, he’s never run for 11 minutes. I don’t feel it’s much more difficult than last year’s European Championships [they finished ninth]. That said, it’s still a five-star event, a competition with its fair share of unpredictable factors.”

“Big questions at the end” on Pau cross-country course

British rider Sam Ecroyd, who is on 34.1 after dressage with Mister Big Ears, said the course “looks intense early”.

“It's super aggressive,” he said. “There are a lot of decisions to be made about distances, which are a little bit sort of one way or another. There are some committed distances and not a lot of strides, which make it a hard decision.

“It's tough going out and tough coming home when they're tired, with some real big questions at the end. So you just got to use a little bit of your nous there of what to do.”

The optimum time over the 6,270m track is exactly 11 minutes. Forty-nine horses are due to set out on Saturday (24 October), with 32 performing their dressage on Friday.

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It’s early days in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase, with only a third of the field having performed on day one, but Yasmin Ingham holds pole position as the only rider to break the 30-barrier.

Gyspie Du Loir, a debutante at this level, looked right at home on the five-star stage to score 28.9. Just a couple of blips in the first set of changes pegged them back from a really polished test.

“She’s so laid-back and relaxed; it’s nice to have one which is so on the same page as me,” said Yas. “Sometimes we could be a bit more accurate in places but that’s her age showing slightly – she’s only 10.

“She was rewarded for her good bits, and we can go home to work on those bits that could have been better.”

Back on the French soil on which she was bred, Gypsie has been in France for a fortnight, since travelling over with her Le Lion stablemate Club Class, and has settled brilliantly to the biggest task of her career so far.

“She’s so sweet,” said Yas with a smile. “She’s the only mare in my stable – I’m more of a gelding-type person but she's the most un-mareish mare in the world, so relaxed and quiet. She's just a lovely character to have around.

“She’s like a little race-car, and Pau is a racetrack five-star, so I hope her acceleration will help her gain some speed and that I’ve made the right choice for her first five-star.

“It’s my favourite last event of the season, lovely people, lovely atmosphere and great vibes.”

British-based American holds second spot

Wiltshire-based American rider Hallie Coon looked a shade disappointed with her 31.4 mark with Kapriccio. She took an early lead, eventually slotting in behind Yas in second at the end of the first day of the Pau Horse Trials dressage.

Kapriccio is a superstar on the flat – he led Luhmühlen dressage after day one – and Hallie was frustrated with a slightly sub-par performance. The horse’s overall cadence and way of going is a cut above most event horses, and the judge at B, Britain’s Judy Hancock, put them in first place.

“I thought a little tension crept in,” Hallie said. “Unfortunately we started off on a 6.5, which doesn’t help.

“He just got tense and against the bit a couple of times. I do think the quality of work was much improved from Luhmühlen, especially the changes. We were sort of faking it there a bit, whereas his work has now really solidified and he’s using muscles he never knew he had.

“Perhaps I felt the judges didn’t want to reward the good things – it’s fine, that’s dressage but it’s left me a bit disappointed.”

Bubby Upton on redemption mission at Pau Horse Trials

Bubby Upton lies in third on 17-year-old Cola, who is making his 10th five-star start. Their mark of 32.1 may be some way off their pair’s personal best, but Bubby said her accident in 2023 has put results into perspective.

“I’m enjoying every second that I have of this second chance,” she said. “A test like that would have really annoyed me in the past, because I did let him down, but really in the grand scheme of things, here at our 10th five-star together and still being able to compete is something was completely out of the question three years ago – it’s pretty special.

“Cola was fantastic – the changes have been a struggle throughout his career. He took me by surprise when he came up with his head on the first one, so I backed off the next two. The last one was really good. But that was a shame as it affected his mark. He’s so predictable and reliable, what a joy to have him still at this age.

“He’s lightly campaigned as he’s such a settled man in his head, always so on side, which makes my life easier. He’s an honour to partner.”

Last year, a potential win slipped out of Bubby’s grasp as she had falls on both Cola and Its Cooley Time.

“We’re out for redemption from last year, which was a tough week,” she added. “The outcome was far from ideal, so we’re back this year with a vengeance and I hope I can do them both justice this week. It’s on me to deliver for them.”

Izzy Taylor rode Barrington Alice – another five-star debutante mare – into fourth place on 33, with Willa Newton in fifth, 0.4 adrift, on fellow first-timer Hartacker. This makes it four Brits into the top five after day one.

Top five after day one of dressage at Pau Horse Trials

1. Yasmin Ingham/Gypsie Du Loir (GBR): 28.9
2. Hallie Coon/Kapriccio (USA): 31.4
3. Bubby Upton/Cola (GBR): 32.1
4. Izzy Taylor/Barrington Alice (GBR): 33
5. Willa Newton/Hartacker (GBR): 33.4

There are still 32 riders to go before the ground jury in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase tomorrow (Friday, 23 October). This includes 15 Brits, and last year’s winner Jarillo and runner-up Plot Twist B.

Check out Friday's dressage times at Pau Horse Trials

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Thirty-two horses are expected to face the judges on the second day of Pau Horse Trials. The dressage times start at 10am (9am British time) and finish at 4.49pm (3.49 British time).

In true Gallic style, the dressage timetable incorporates a lunch break of 2hr 30min. Only in France... There are also two 20-minute breaks.

Fifteen of the 22 British horses entered will perform on Friday, after 17 of the 49-strong international field completed their tests on Thursday afternoon. Yasmin Ingham holds the overnight lead with five-star debutante Gypsie Du Loir on 28.9.

First into the ring on Friday is Brit Andrew Downes riding his own and Jane Moss’s Cooley Foxtrot. This pair return to Pau for their second tilt at five-star.

A couple of horses catch the eye in this early section. Tom McEwen’s ride Quintus (owned by JL Dublin’s joint-owner Deirdre Johnston and Jane Knight) kicks off his eagerly awaited five-star debut at 10.28am (9.28am).

Wiltshire-based American Tiana Coudray could also produce a great mark. Her ride Cancaras Girl held the overnight lead after day one of dressage at Badminton this year. Their time is 10.21am (9.21am British time).

The action should intensify after lunchbreak, with the Luhmühlen runners-up Emily King and Valmy Biats in at 2.30pm (1.30pm). They led the dressage in Germany, and are well fancied here.

Two of the favourites, Bubby Upton and her double Bramham CCI4*-L winner Its Cooley Time and last year’s Pau victors Tim Price and Jarillo, are in the final quartet into the arena, setting up a crescendo as the dressage leaderboard finalises.

Pau horse trials dressage times (Friday): 10 to watch

• Tiana Coudray/Cancaras Girl (USA): 10.21am (9.21am British time)
• Tom McEwen/Quintus (GBR): 10.28am (9.28am British time)
• Tim Price/Happy Boy (NZL): 10.42am (9.42am British time)
• Izzy Taylor/SBH Big Wall (GBR): 11.09am (10.09am British time)
• Lizzie Baugh/Piltown Concorde (GBR): 11.23am (10.23am British time)
• Ros Canter/MHS Seventeen (GBR): 11.37am (10.37am British time)
• Emily King/Valmy Biats (GBR): 2.30pm (1.30pm British time)
• Tom Jackson/Plot Twist B (GBR): 2.58pm (1.58pm British time)
• Bubby Upton/Its Cooley Time (GBR): 4.28pm (3.28pm British time)
• Tim Price/Jarillo (GBR): 4.42pm (3.42pm British time)

Friday's dressage times in full

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One horse was spun at the first Pau Horse Trials trot-up, leaving a field of 49 to go forward to dressage.

American rider Julie Wolfert had made the trip over to France from Kansas, US, with SSH Playboy hoping to contest her first five-star, but it was not to be. The 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding was sent to the holding box and then not accepted by the ground jury on re-inspection.

The Pau trot-up was straightforward right up to the penultimate horse, America’s Cooley Kildare, partnered by Alexa Gartenberg. The 13-year-old grey gelding was sent to the holding box, where he was joined by last-to-go SSH Playboy.

Cooley Kildare was accepted on second inspection.

Britain is by far the most represented nation, with 19 riders on 22 horses coming forward and all accepted by the ground jury of James Rooney (Ireland), Laure Eslan (France) and Judy Hancock (Britain).

Both last year’s winner (Tim Price on Jarillo) and runner-up (Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B) return.

Four Burghley horses are bidding for another crack at five-star this autumn: Calmaro, who finished 20th under Ireland’s Joseph Murphy at Burghley; Ballinaguilkey Fortunus – who retired on the cross-country with Anthony Clark, as did Caroline Powell’s ride High Time; and Lionel II, withdrawn after dressage for Mary Edmundson.

Three riders have a very busy week ahead, with three rides apiece. These are Brit Izzy Taylor (PSH Encore, SBH Big Wall and Barrington Alice), and New Zealand’s Tim (Jarillo, Garcon and Happy Boy) and Jonelle Price (Capitaine De Hus Z, Grappa Nera and Senor Crocodillo).

Barrington Alice is one of only three nine-year-olds in the field – the others being Tom McEwen’s ride Quintus and France’s Hashtag De La Vigne (Sebastien Cavaillon) – and makes her five-star debut for Izzy.

Early dressage times at Pau five-star

It’s a tight Thursday schedule as, rather than hold the horse inspection on Wednesday afternoon as many events do, at Pau the horses trot up on Thursday morning, then the first third of runners perform their dressage in the afternoon.

Dressage starts at 2.30pm (1.30pm British time) with Jonelle and her Pau 2022 winner Grappa Nera the first in the ring. Yasmin Ingham wraps up this afternoon’s proceedings on five-star debutant Gypsie Du Loir at 4.42pm (3.42pm).

Another one to watch on Thursday afternoon is the well fancied Cola (3.12pm/2.12pm British time), ridden by Bubby Upton.

Other Brits’ dressage times on Thursday afternoon:

• Izzy Taylor/Barrington Alice: 2.44pm (1.44pm)
• Stephen Heal/Hisco: 2.51pm (1.51pm)
• Heidi Coy/MGH Jessica: 3.19pm (2.19pm)
• Willa Newton/Hartacker: 4.14pm (3.14pm)
• Sam Ecroyd/Mister Big Ears: 4.35pm (3.35pm)

Thursday's dressage times in full

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The 50 horses lining up to tackle the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course have a typical “Michelet the Menace” challenge ahead of them: fast, forward and a little bit twisty.

Pierre Michelet, 77, is the longstanding course-designer at Pau Horse Trials, having been at the helm for some 30 years, including upgrading it to the highest level of eventing – now classified five-star – in 2007.

This CCI5* course features 31 numbered fences, which includes four water combinations. The time is bang on 11min, over a distance of 6,270m.

The track follows the same route as previous years at Pau Horse Trials. Horses start close to the stadium and wind their way out to the racecourse – which is used daily as a training ground. They then loop back almost parallel to their first tracks and finish over three fences in the main arena, including two majestic swans at the penultimate.

Domaine de Sers, the venue for Pau Horse Trials, lends itself to a flat, galloping cross-country track. However, the time is often deceptively hard to achieve, as Pierre incorporates plenty of mounds, twists and turnbacks.

He’s also put an exceptionally narrow skinny as a standalone fence, as well as a couple of accuracy tests, in the middle of the racecourse, just when riders might think they can let the throttle out.

Pierre is renowned for setting his combinations on half-strides, as if he's daring riders to take the two strides rather than the three. Those that always hook back for the extra stride won’t be up with the leaders after cross-country day.

Seven key questions on Pau Horse Trials cross-country

The “Waouh” Ville de Pau (4)

“Waouh” refers to the expression riders might make as they head up a man-made bridge and over the small hedge, because lying on the other side is not only a large drop, but also a huge ditch. Horses probably won’t even notice it, but they’ll need to keep their wits about them to negotiate either one of the gently angled arms of the brush that follow at fence 5.

There is a longer alternative here, which avoids the hedge drop and ditch altogether, but is very time-consuming at this early stage.

This a new fence, and a decent early test of horse-and-rider confidence.

Coffin (17ABC)

The Coffin is on quite a relaxed distance and at first glance looks quite innocuous. But what it lacks in tight striding or steep slopes it makes up for as an accuracy test. It’s not only set on an S-bend, but both parts A and C are seriously narrow, while the ditch at B is chunky and cavernous – so horses may balloon and miss their line to C.

Le Palois de la Communauté Pau Béarn Pyrénées (21)

The Palois (meaning a person from Pau) is the biggest of several hedges on the racecourse section of the cross-country course. Riders won’t want to miss their stride here as that ditch is vast. It resembles the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley – perhaps a precursor to another fence with Burghley similarities...

This steeplechase-style fence signals the end of an open, galloping section on the racecourse, as testing combinations now come up thick and fast towards the end of the track.

Gué Cityz Média (23 ABCD)

This is the third water combination and the most demanding. Last year, it caught out several top contenders and the actual accuracy test hasn’t changed enormously although it is slightly softer this time.

The direct route is over a brush-topped house to two offset angled brushes (B/C, then D) in the water. The brush tops will allow some margin for error, but the line is quite tricky to the final D element and will invite run-outs.

“Oops” Forestier (24AB)

Another fence named for the kind of gasp a rider might make mid-air – or maybe if they run past the second part.

This is a sizeable drop – think Burghley Leaf Pit style – on to falling ground, with a bend left to a skinny. The difference between here and Burghley is the lack of successive tricky fences but the drop is still massive and riders will need to get their knitting back to negotiate the B element.

Butte de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine (28ABCDE)

The last major test, and it’s a significant one.

This was an influential combination last year, with a couple of high-profile errors, and the question has not really changed. The direct route takes you over another brush-topped house (horses should be familiar with these by now) for elements A and B, then a sharp slope to an extremely tight and offset corner (C and D), with the ground falling away to the left.

Horses probably won’t quite be able to see the angled brush E element until they’re mid-air over the corner.

The long route avoids the first house and the the corner at the bottom of the slope, but it’s a lot of twisting and turning on a tired horse.

This could be the crux of the course – both in terms of penalties and time.

Cygnes de la Communauté Pau Béarn Pyrénées (30AB)

These beautifully carved and painted swans, set on an angle, look sublime, and should jump well as horses finish their round in the main arena. Riders will need to pay attention because horses could be distracted by the crowds and marquees, and the swans are not aligned in a neatly parallel formation.

After that they just need to round the turn and fly the last to stop the clock.

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Izzy Taylor’s return to five-star with “the most exciting team of horses she’s ever had” marks the next step in her impressive comeback after a rollercoaster 2026 season.

Next week Izzy is among the Brits entered for Pau Horse Trials, France, (22-25 October), which will be her first five-star run in three years.

In early March she broke her leg in a schooling fall at home, resulting in surgery and almost three months out. She returned to competition on 4 July – competing at two venues in one day – and has been on the up since.

Having been knocking at the door of a four-star victory since her return, with top-five places at Burgham (Barrington Boy), Hartpury and Scone (SBH Big Wall) and Ballindenisk (PSH Encore), on 7 October Izzy won the Little Downham CCI4*-S section E, with Gary Power’s PSH Encore. She was also fifth with Johnny Hornby’s Barrington Alice, and third in the D section with SBH Big Wall, owned by Jane Timmis.

“PSH Encore is new to me this season, so we’re still getting to know each other. She’s a powerful little mare and I think we’re getting better and better every outing,” Izzy told H&H.

Little Downham secured Izzy and PSH Encore’s minimum eligibility requirement for Pau, and she is entered with Barrington Alice and SBH Big Wall.

“It’s been a busy half-season for me,” said Izzy, who continues to work on rehabbing her leg.

“I’ve been away at Ballindenisk and Boekelo which is great, but it has different challenges with gymming and things like that. Having five horses at Little Downham was a good test of my fitness, and I’m pleased to say I’ve come through it well.

“I’m looking forward to the winter to being able to get back in the gym and really sorting the rehab out. It is difficult, having been on the road so much, to fit that side of things in. Obviously I’m doing my job, my leg is working, but there will be a lot of winter work to do as well.”

Pau is Izzy’s first five-star since 2023, while she’s been producing and building her string. She has taken Barrington Alice right the way through, the mare won the six-year-old final at the young horse World Championships at Le Lion in 2023 and now makes her five-star debut.

“I’m in a really privileged position that I’ve got probably the most exciting team of horses I’ve ever had,” said Izzy.

“To have them is a real honour – and to have the owners believe in me. Off the back of an injury where nothing’s ever guaranteed, it’s been tricky to get to this point, so to finish with a five-star is really exciting.”

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Sofia Sjöborg’s 2025 European Championships ride Govalent will not travel to France for Pau CCI5*, after a “traumatic few days” caused by a freak stable injury.

The British-based Swedish rider had to call the vet to “Zack” this week when he was found with a wound.

“All of mine live out overnight and are in during the day to be fed and worked,” she said. “So nothing was any different when Georgy Killengray came back after lunch. Except that she found Zack in his stable with a head wound.

“We are so lucky to have the best vet ever in Fiona Jacob who was out very quickly to discover it was a lot more extensive than just a graze.”

By yesterday (6 October), 11-year-old Zack had X-rays and a CT scan.

Graphic video in post below

“We are so thankful that everything should heal ok,” Sofia said. “He luckily missed the eye structure itself and the nerve. He has two fractures as well as a fully displaced bone fragment at the top of the eye socket.”

Sofia said she has to wait to find out whether this fragment still has a blood supply. If it does, it will reattach, if not it will become necrotic over time and have to be surgically removed.

“And poor guy chipped a tooth to top it off,” she said.

“All this to say that there will sadly be no Pau for Zack… but in the same breath I am so incredibly thankful that it wasn’t worse. The poor guy has been an angel throughout all of this and it’s so sad to see him hurting with nothing we can do.

“Lots of tlc and cuddles and lots of large ‘bee-keeper’ fly masks in Zack’s future.”

Sofia and the Irish-bred Govalent would have been contesting their second CCI5* had they made it to Pau, having completed Luhmühlen in June. They also came second in a CCI4*-S and won a CCI4*-L in Montelibretti in February and March respectively.

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Last year’s winner Jarillo heads up a strong field of Pau Horse Trials entries, for the final five-star of the year (22-25 October).

Three of last year’s top four are among the entries for the French five-star this time. New Zealand’s world number one Tim Price not only brings forward the 2025 Pau winner Jarillo, but also Happy Boy, who was fourth last year. They are joined by Britain’s Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B, the runners-up 12 months ago. Tim also has a third ride in the five-star first-timer Garcon.

There are 19 British riders, with 22 horses between them, heading to Pau Horse Trials and plenty with a chance of a good result.

Seven-time five-star winner Ros Canter brings forward MHS Seventeen, who was 11th here in 2024, while this year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials runners-up, Emily King and Valmy Biats, are also entered.

Many will be excited to see the 10-year-old mare Gypsie Du Loir make her debut at this level – Yasmin Ingham’s ride was fifth in the CCI4*-L at Bramham Horse Trials in June and was among the British reserves for the eventing World Championships.

Bubby Upton also returns to Pau with the experienced five-star campaigner Cola and double Bramham CCI4*-L winner Its Cooley Time – Bubby was prominent at the top end of the leaderboard with these two horses and Cannavaro at various points during last year’s Pau but ultimately didn’t complete on any of them, so she will seek redemption this time.

Tom McEwen is on a hot streak of form and brings forward the nine-year-old Quintus, recently second in the CCI4*-S at Scone Palace, for his first start at the top level.

Also worthy of note are Izzy Taylor’s pair of five-star first-timers, Barrington Alice and SBH Big Wall, and a former Izzy ride, Hartacker, who is now piloted by Willa Newton.

Ireland’s three entries include Joseph Murphy with the experienced Calmaro and Sarah Ennis on Dourough Ferro Class Act, with whom she was 15th at last year’s European Championships at Blenheim Horse Trials.

New Zealand has 10 starters, with Caroline Powell and High Time and Jonelle Price’s trio (Capitaine De Hus Z, the 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera and her World Championship ride Senor Crocodillo) looking like ones to watch, alongside Tim Price’s three.

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg also puts a five-star winner into the fray, last year’s Maryland 5 Star victor Cartania, while his compatriot Mélody Johner makes an exciting five-star debut on Erin, who has impressed with fast cross-country rounds at last year’s Europeans and the worlds in August.

Three US entries are headed by Hallie Coon and Kapriccio, who were fifth at Luhmühlen – denied a podium place by a frangible breakage across country.

The five home side challengers include Benjamin Massie and Figaro Fonroy, who were eliminated for a fall at the World Championships but have since rebuilt with finished third in the CCI4*-S at Lignières.

In all, 52 horses, for 43 riders, from 10 countries form the Pau Horse Trials entries, but Sweden’s Sofia Sjöborg is expected to withdraw one of her two rides, Govalent, following news he is recovering from a serious facial injury incurred in the stable.

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Kylie Roddy is a Fellow of the British Horse Society and a renowned trainer. She has finished in the top 12 at five-star three times.

The key to Pau Horse Trials is good jumping horses that have been trained correctly. Horses that had self-carriage and were ridden in good balance prevailed in all three phases. Each phase plays a significant part in the competition result, but the leader often changes after each phase at Pau and I think this is brilliant for our sport – it keeps the competition alive to the very end.

A hurricane on Thursday meant the first trot-up was delayed until 5pm and all dressage took place on the Friday. The trot-up can be high spirited – a large number of fit, excited horses in a tight space – and can resemble a sketch from the TV series Men Behaving Badly. As a competitor, I was delighted not to be doing this until Hurricane Benjamin had left France.

Dimensionally, the cross-country at Pau doesn’t terrify the living daylights out of you. Course-designer Pierre Michelet’s magic is in putting fences in places where horses can’t immediately see them, then adding in distances where riders have to make stride pattern decisions based on the horse they are riding.

The challenge isn’t just about the jumps; the added changes in the terrain are part of the Pau test. The parkland under trees lacks grass cover and grip. The root structure on the more manicured hippodrome creates better footing. The course requires the rider to prepare different changes of balance for the going, jumps, terrain and the man-made mounds that Pierre so artfully uses.

The third water at 21abcd is the sort of question I suspect we will see designers using more and more. The clever numbering of the direct and long routes gave riders options, but you could jump either route and still end up with 26 penalties, for a triggered frangible device and a missed flag penalty, which ends up being more expensive than a run-out.

My ride, SRS Kan Do – “George” – picked up 20 penalties here. Essentially he was trying too hard and locked on to the fence decoration, rather than the jump, and sadly incurred 20 penalties. With my trainer’s hat on, I need to be mindful of how to develop the horse’s focus and vision throughout those multiple jumping efforts.

George finished brilliantly and showjumped so well the following day, so I feel I am doing more right than wrong in our training, although there will be some tweaks this winter. It is just such a privilege to ride a horse at this level on multiple occasions, and for him to feel so hungry for the sport at 15 is wonderful.

Final phase influence

The showjumping played a serious part in the final result. It was big, square and technical and showed that today’s horses have to learn how to use their bodies after the effects of Saturday.

Rideability is essential when you are against the quick clock at Pau in the stadium. Riders who can open and close canters, while keeping the uphill balance to enable the horses to use their scope, jumped brilliant rounds.

Tim Price’s winner Jarillo reminded me of his 2021 Pau champion, Falco – the flashy, jumper athlete that Tim is so good at riding and producing. It is testament to his skills as a horseman that he is able to look after them and get them home across country, and they are such good jumpers that they pay him back on the Sunday.

Tom Jackson, second, will definitely win a five-star before long – he has the knack of riding the horse’s balance, not just the stride, and makes it very smooth for the horse.

How cool is it that Corimiro, fifth, aged just nine at his first CCI5*, is even alive because of Sarah Bullimore, who rode him to such a great placing. He, like Lordships Graffalo, is a triumph for British breeding, which is something that should be recognised and rewarded.

● Who impressed you at Pau and why? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

‘A joy to ride such a talented animal’: Tim Price lands Pau five-star on outstanding Jarillo, after topsy-turvy showjumping phase; and a Brit is runner-up

‘He said, “hold my beer Mum, I’ve got this”’: five-star newcomer scorches round Pau cross-country to lead despite malfunctioning stopwatch

Which three five-star debutants caught the eye over Pau’s influential cross-country track?

‘He’s not ready to retire yet’: Emily Hamel and veteran superstar complete sixth northern-hemisphere five-star at Pau Horse Trials

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Galileo Nieuwmoed, the grand campaigner of David Doel, added yet another top-10 five-star completion to their illustrious CV at Pau Horse Trials last weekend (23–26 October). The horse’s outstanding record and number of podium finishes surely makes him one of the best not to have won at the highest level – yet. They have seven top-10 results at five-star.

In autumn 2024, the pair quietly banked an eventing record of completing all six of the northern-hemisphere five-stars – finishing third at Maryland in the US. They were the first horse-and-rider combination to achieve this feat, and have since been joined by Emily Hamel and Corvett and Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent.

David and Galileo – owned by himself, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas – have been tantalisingly close to victory at the highest level, finishing runner-up at Burghley in 2023 by 0.7 of a penalty. They also showjumped in the lead for the title at Pau 2022, only to roll the final pole which dropped them to fourth.

At this year’s Pau, David and his 14-year-old star were on a recovery mission after uncharacteristic blips at corners at both Badminton and Burghley. But in France, they looked back to their brilliant best, clocking one of only six clears inside the time to blast up the leaderboard from 26th after dressage to sixth overnight.

“He was absolutely magic,” said David after their round. “We had him a little bit ruder, a little bit perkier again. He was just a bit too quiet and settled at Burghley, and so we put some anger back in the tank.

“Although it was not such a good dressage mark, he jumped round really neat and tidy.”

Yet again, the final showjump – the 13th – on a long and exacting course fell. While David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed bagged another top-10 prize, they would have been second to Tim Price and Jarillo without the pole.

He has now finished fourth, ninth and 15th at Pau five-star, as well as 10th in the three-star there when he was a seven-year-old.

“He’s a Pau professional,” David said. “He knows his way around and felt lovely. He sort of took me round and it all felt very easy and happy.”

At 14 years old, the Carambole gelding is still at the peak of his powers. Here’s to 2026 being the year he breaks his five-star duck – or maybe he’ll be setting new records at Adelaide.

6 facts about Galileo Nieuwmoed

• He loves to roll in mud and will dig a hole and roll in it three or four times every time you take him out an event, according to his groom.
• David had to be persuaded to take Galileo on to sell – he used to be stuffy! “It wasn’t until he jumped round his first four-star that I thought, ‘this one is going to be all right!’” says David.
• They have won three four-stars: Little Downham CCI4*-S (2025), Kronenberg CCI4*-S (2003) and Maarsbergen CCI4*-S (2002).
• They’re fast. At every five-star they have completed (eight), they have finished inside the optimum time inside the time bar one – Badminton 2022, when they were just 3sec over.
• The pair have never had a cross-country run-out, refusal or flag in over 50 runs together.
• Galileo is a Dutch warmblood and the words “nieuw moed” translate from Dutch as “new courage” – though it’s also a Dutch surname.
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested to read:

‘A joy to ride such a talented animal’: Tim Price lands Pau five-star on outstanding Jarillo, after topsy-turvy showjumping phase; and a Brit is runner-up

‘He’s not ready to retire yet’: Emily Hamel and veteran superstar complete sixth northern-hemisphere five-star at Pau Horse Trials

‘What I was put on this earth for’: top rider completes full set of world’s five-star events

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In finishing 14th at Pau Horse Trials, Emily Hamel and Corvett have joined David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed and Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent as only the third horse-and-rider combination to complete all six of the northern-hemisphere five-stars. Corvett, a grey Holsteiner by Corrido, was 42nd after dressage, and added 7.2 time-faults in a clear cross-country round to move up to 25th. He jumped one of only 10 clears in the final showjumping phase to gain another 11 places.

Corvett – known fondly as Barry – finished in the prize-money, and although there is no official reward for the feat of his five-star completions, the American rider said: “It’s pretty special. I’ll give myself a pat on the back! I think our partnership has really shone through this week.

“I feel very emotional,” she added. “I got him as a nine-year-old. He had done one preliminary [novice] and I produced him from there. He was a late starter because he was in the jumper world until then, but he was a bit tricky and I ended up with him.”

Although the rare accolade of five-star completions wasn’t particularly a goal, once Emily had ticked off Luhmühlen last year while on a European trip, she thought “I only have one more to do”. To help fund another Atlantic crossing, she sold 10 “Team Barry” memberships, some of whom travelled over as a support group in Team Barry jackets.

Barry gave them had plenty to cheer about in France.

“He was great cross-country, it felt really easy for him,” Emily said. “I tried to make the time but it was hard, twisty and turny, and it takes him a while to settle into his gallop and really stretch but he tried his heart out. There were a couple of places were I should have taken one less stride but for him, at 18 years old, to come out and jump like that at his 10th five-star is pretty exciting.

“He’s the best horse, I feel like I could jump anything on him. I love him so much.”

After dressage, Emily was emotional, knowing that this might be the last ever run on her horse of a lifetime. However, after springing round the full-up showjumping track, Emily said: “I don’t think he’s ready to retire just yet. He feels better than ever.”

For now, Corvett will head home to the USA for a holiday – but not for too long.

“He doesn’t like too much time off, just a month, then he’ll start hacking with no pressure,” she said. “Maybe we’ll look at Kentucky again.”

How US rider completed five-star set

Corvett nailed the best five-star result of his career at Maryland 2024, finishing seventh. He made his debut at this level at Kentucky in 2021 and has completed a spring and autumn five-star every year since. He has never had more than 20 penalties across country, nor more than one showjumping rail down.

Remarkably, Corvett is the only horse Emily has competed above three-star level, though she now has some promising youngsters coming through at three-star level.

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed completed their set at Maryland last year, where they finished third. These five-star stalwarts have an astonishing record at the highest level, with seven top-10 completions.

• 2022: Badminton, sixth
• 2022: Pau, fourth
• 2023: Kentucky, eighth
• 2023: Burghley, second
• 2024: Luhmühlen, ninth
• 2024: Maryland, third
• 2025: Pau, ninth

Their result at Pau this week was thanks to one of only six cross-country clears inside the time. They just rolled the final showjumping pole, which cost them second place overall.

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent sealed their set at Burghley this year. They have been less consistent than David and Galileo, but have a win under their belts and have held all the podium places at five-star. Their results are:

• 2023: Luhmühlen, 27th
• 2023: Maryland, third
• 2024: Kentucky, first
• 2024: Pau, 16th
• 2025: Badminton, second
• 2025: Burghley, 12th

A decade ago, Alice Dunsdon had a quest to complete the world’s six five-stars on the same horse, Fernhill Present. They completed Burghley, Pau, Luhmühlen, Adelaide and Kentucky between 2001–2015, but the pair were eliminated at Badminton 2016 and did not compete internationally again.

The five-star complexion has changed a little since then, with Maryland added to the mix to make a total of seven premier events. There are two riders who have completed all seven, Tim Price and Boyd Martin, but not all on the same horse. Fittingly, both Tim and Boyd were on the podium at Pau 2025.

Pre-Maryland’s inception, American rider Colleen Rutledge completed the five northern hemisphere five-stars on Shiraz, but did not do Adelaide. Before her, Mary King started at the same five on Apache Sauce, but did not finish at Pau.

Five-star tally for Emily Hamel and Corvett

• 2021: Kentucky, 21st
• 2021: Maryland, 14th
• 2022: Badminton, 52nd
• 2022: Burghley, 2oth
• 2023: Kentucky, 10th
• 2023: Maryland, 11th
• 2024: Luhmühlen, 15th
• 2024: Maryland, seventh
• 2025: Kentucky, 12th
• 2025: Pau, 14th
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested to read:

6 facts you might not know about the globe-trotting Galileo Nieuwmoed – and his eventing record that went under the radar

See pictures of one rider’s incredible save to stay on board at Kentucky – and find out what people were shouting as she went across country

‘A joy to ride such a talented animal’: Tim Price lands Pau five-star on outstanding Jarillo, after topsy-turvy showjumping phase; and a Brit is runner-up

‘He said, “hold my beer Mum, I’ve got this”’: five-star newcomer scorches round Pau cross-country to lead despite malfunctioning stopwatch

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

Tim Price emerged the winner of Pau Horse Trials 2025, with outstanding performances in all three phases on Jarillo. Fourth after dressage, the New Zealander moved up to second ahead of showjumping with a fast cross-country clear. His showjumping clear inside the time put pressure on the leaders Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro, who rolled a pole four fences from the finish.

One rail dropped Sarah to fifth, while clears from Tom Jackson (Plot Twist B) and Boyd Martin (Cooley Nutcracker) moved them up to the podium, in second and third respectively.

“Jarillo’s always been classy, but he’s sensitive and bringing out the best in him is what I’ve always wanted to do,” said Tim, logging his sixth victory at this level. “He’s just shown his class and more. It’s all about confidence with him. Horses like him look easy, and good, but if you give them a wrong distance, they don’t like it. He is a great horse and I’m just lucky to ride him, to have the joy of sitting there, just keeping my leg on and my heels down!”

This flashy 11-year-old, owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good, really came of age at this his third five-star, and is one to watch ahead of the World Championships next year.

Plot Twist B – owned by Mary Harris and Ruth McMullen – moved stealthily through the field after lying 31st after dressage. One of the six clears inside the time on cross-country day, he finished on his dressage of 33.2 – the only horse to post a clean sheet.

“He isn’t the easiest on the flat, but he is a very good jumper and has produced what we knew he was capable of,” said Tom. “He is a big worrier, but sometimes it suits him jumping on the last day because he’s a bit more level-headed.

“I’ve really had to get inside his head to be able to ride him, but he’s still improving.”

Boyd Martin was impressed with Cooley Nutcracker’s all-round performance, moving up from 10th to third on the final day. This is the pair’s first five-star together after Boyd took over the ride from Liz Halliday while she is injured.

“He is magnificent,” said the American, paying tribute to Liz’s production of Nutcracker, her 2024 Olympic ride. “I came to this weekend not knowing what to expect and was blown away by him in all three phases. He just catapulted himself into the air and flew around the course today.

“He’s unbelievable and I’m just thrilled for all of Liz’s connections. Liz was on the phone just now cheering him on – it was very emotional.”

Pau Horse Trials winner: Jarillo’s route to the trophy

The showjumping was always going to be a nail-biter – whether Yann Royant’s track was influential or not, as just one rail covered the top nine. Sarah Bullimore’s scintillating cross-country round with Corimiro had propelled her up from 11th to the top spot overnight.

“It was a tough, challenging course with a tight time, and the stage was set for good jumpers, but also good riders in the heat of the moment,” Tim said. “It’s always big here, but it was particularly big and long. The oxer at 13 was probably as big as we event riders see. But my horse is just such a talented animal.”

Although Bubby Upton’s ride Cannavaro, the second-placed horse after cross-country, was withdrawn from the hold box at the final horse inspection, Sarah still had little breathing space. The brilliant jumper Jarillo was within 0.9 of a penalty, and the two Frenchmen Benjamin Massie (Filao De Perle) and Astier Nicolas (Dirty Old Town) were lurking just 1.2 marks away.

But clear rounds were hard to come by. There were only six inside the time from 39 competitors.

Tim’s day started ominously when his first ride Global Quest, in 20th place but jumping first due to Tim having to fit in three rounds, broke a pole at fence two and later stopped – although he went on to complete. But Jarillo has only had two rails down cumulatively in his entire international career, and he never looked liked faulting.

“Global Quest’s round did rattle me,” admitted Tim, who also finished fourth with Happy Boy, another double clear. “I was actually damaged goods out there and didn’t get going well in the warm-up with Happy, but I’ve known him since he was four, and when I galloped down to number one, everything just felt right again.”

The French riders both entered the arena to slow hand-clapping from an adoring home crowd, but couldn’t give their fans the result they wanted. They lowered a pole apiece, which relegated Benjamin to seventh and Astier to eighth.

Chief beneficiary of was Alex Hua Tian, who produced a delightful clear round in the time on the ultimate trier Chicko for sixth.

“He’s so unassuming, like a posh hunter – always chirpy and happy,” said Alex. “I thought last year’s showjumping was big, this felt like it was a hole bigger.”

Last to go, Corimiro was foot-perfect until just tapping the upright at fence nine.

“He’s still awesome and he’s only nine and he’ll put himself in that position again,” said Sarah. “I probably needed to sit up a stride or two earlier and say whoa, but he said, ‘no Mum, I can do it’.”

Pau Horse Trials winner and top 10

• Tim Price and Jarillo: 30
• Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B: 33.2
• Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker: 33.9
• Tim Price and Happy Boy: 34.3
• Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro: 34.4
• Alex Hua Tian and Chicko: 34.5
• Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle: 35.2
• Astier Nicolas and Dirty Old Town: 35.2
• David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 37.2
• Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo: 39.2
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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The dressage leader Cannavaro is out of Pau Horse Trials, after Bubby Upton elected to withdraw him from the hold box at the final trot-up at Pau Horse Trials. The 18-year-old was lying second after cross-country after clocking 4.8 time-faults, just 0.4 of a penalty adrift of top spot.

Grace Cooper’s ride, Cedarmount Cavalier, 42nd after cross-country after one run-out, was also held and withdrawn. Selina Milnes’ Cooley Snapchat (31st overnight, also incurring 20 penalties) was the third of three horses sent to the holding box, but passed on reinspection.

Forty-one horses came before the ground jury for the final trot-up at Pau Horse Trials, after two New Zealand horses – Hiarado, ridden by Jonelle Price, and Abigail Long’s mare Henton Audacious – did not present. Hiarado had been the best placed of Jonelle’s three rides after all logged cross-country clears, in 17th.

Abigail and Henton Audacious’s (Daphnee) impressive five-star debut might have come to an end, but they have certainly caught the eye. They were the surprise stars of the dressage phase, finishing fifth, and completed a clear but steady round cross-country to lie 21st.

Abigail posted on her Instagram: “Unfortunately Daphnee’s time at Pau has come to an end… she wasn’t quite right this morning and so we have pulled her before trot up. Her health and well being comes first and we will be back to fight another day.

“She has exceeded all expectations this week and to come out at your first 5* and get a PB on the flat and to boss it around the XC!!! I couldn’t have asked for more from her. She has proven she is capable of competing against the world’s best and we will be back to do it again.”

There were 43 horses left in the competition after the cross-country phase on Saturday evening from the 53 starters. There were eight eliminations – two for accumulated refusals, five rider falls and one horse fall – and two retirements.

This leaves a field of 39 to tackle the Pau showjumping track, designed this year by Yann Royant, which has historically been influential.

The new top three are currently Sarah Bullimore, aboard Corimiro, 0.9 of a penalty ahead of Tim Price on Jarillo. France’s Benjamin Massie lies in third on Filao De Perle, on the same score of 31.2 as his compatriot Astier Nicolas on Dirty Old Town. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed have now moved up to fifth, only 2.4 behind the leader.

Just one rail covers the top 10, so expect a shake-up with even time-faults proving costly.

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Pau is traditionally a five-star that entices debutants at the level. It falls right at the end of the European season, when horses have had plenty of events under their belt and the younger ones have more months of maturity and experience. At this year’s Pau Horse Trials, 16 first-timers tackled the cross-country track, nearly a third of the field.

Several of these debutants particularly impressed, with three of them among the total six clears inside the time. These first-timers may well become major players at future five-stars and championships.

The standout superstar was Sarah Bullimore’s home-bred Corimiro, who blitzed around at nine years old like a far more experienced campaigner to take the lead.

Horses to follow from Pau Horse Trials

Further down the order due to less dazzling dressage marks, two debutant eye-catchers both came from the Monart Sale in Ireland. This pair of Irish-bred 10-year-olds Boleybawn Lecrae, ridden by Sam Ecroyd, and Astier Nicolas’ ride Dirty Old Town cruised round inside the time to fly up the leaderboard at the conclusion of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase.

The 10th horse to leave the startbox, Boleybawn Lecrae was the first horse to make the 11min 6sec optimum time, by some 16sec. The Boleybawn Ectasy-sired gelding – owned by Stewart and Vicki Irlam — made the biggest climb up the rankings, from 37th to 12th, and clocked the fastest round of the day to stay on 34.5.

“He’s always been a really quick horse, though he was wild when he was young,” said Sam. “But I remember when I did my first BE100 on him he was so hyper-coordinated and focused, I thought, ‘this is a proper horse’. I’ve been lucky to have been supported by amazing owners, but I’ve not had the opportunity to ride a lot of proven top horses, so that feeling I had – I didn’t know if it was true or not.

“He has the ability to gallop, be organised, make any distance; he’s easy to ride. What makes him quick isn’t a fast gallop, it’s unbelievable trust in him that he’s going to sort his jump out. I can leave him alone and let him travel. The less you interfere, the better.

“I’ve had him since he was three from the Monart Sale,” Sam added. “The guy who was selling him said, ‘he’ll either go round Burghley or you’ll call me in two months and say you can’t get on it’ – those were the two options.”

“I knew he’d go five-star at six years old”

Dirty Old Town was foot-perfect round Pierre Michelet’s track to move up from 21st to fifth overnight (on the same score, 31.2, as compatriot Benjamin Massie on Filao De Perle), but the Irish Sport Horse hasn’t given Astier the easiest time this week.

“He’s a weird person but he’s very honest cross-country,” said the French rider. “He’s a cool horse, but always a little bit difficult, he can rear and buck, but I’ve learnt it’s not against me!

“That’s how he got loose when I was about to get on yesterday, and warmed up for 10 minutes on his own yesterday before I could catch him, ruining everybody’s warm-up. And another thing is if he has to pass a cross-country fence and he’s not supposed to jump it, he’s very unhappy. It’s like he has a disease that tells him, ‘I have to jump between white and red’. It’s a good problem to have.”

Astier knew the grey had five-star potential from a young age.

“I bought him at Monart when he was three, and by the time he was six, I thought he could be a five-star horse,” Astier said. “At seven, I would have bet on it, but I just had to wait and see.

“He was fast today without trying, just staying in a constant rhythm. He’s not a big horse, so he’s good with these twisty courses even if I don’t love it. He’d be a good horse on a rangy track too.”

Astier was aiming Dirty Old Town for Burghley as his first five-star, until the French selectors asked him to be reserve for the Europeans, where Astier won team bronze with Alertamalib’Or.

Another round that caught the eye over the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course was amateur rider Libby Seed on Heartbreaker Star Quality. Not only had she logged her personal best dressage score (30.4) by some margin at this level, but she clocked her fastest time at five-star.

“It’s the fastest I’ve ever gone,” said Libby, after adding 4.4 time-faults to lie in 14th place overnight. “I’ve been working on my speed for a long time – with the late Caroline Moore and Kylie Roddy. I’m a control freak and it takes a long time to get comfortable with going at these big fences at speed, and trusting that the bigger stride pattern is actually safer.

“We cruised round, she just went at her own speed. The fences kept coming nicely and I met them nearly all on a good stride.”

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Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

‘He said, “hold my beer Mum, I’ve got this”’: five-star newcomer scorches round Pau cross-country to lead despite malfunctioning stopwatch

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An ‘oops’ drop and a lot of water: 9 cross-country questions to challenge the world’s top horses and riders at Pau five-star

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Although 60% of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country field went clear, there were a few falls and plenty of hard-luck stories, without any major injuries reported on Saturday evening (25 October). While six horses did go inside the time, there were a number of well-placed individuals who could have slotted into a podium position ahead of showjumping, but dropped out of contention.

The first significant upset was Bubby Upton’s first ride Cola, a five-star stalwart who was lying close-up in 12th after dressage on 30.3. He was storming round when he misjudged the final element of a three-part combination, four fences from home. This complex featured a house on top of a mound, curving round to the right over two more houses on forward distances, with the camber pulling horses away to the left.

Cola, owned by Rachel Upton, was a bit long at the final element and dived over it, tipping Bubby on to the turf.

“He was giving me a classic Cola ride, making it feel pretty easy on a not-easy course,” said Bubby. “He was well up on the time, so for him to fall, when he was just trying to help me, felt really tough to take as he did not deserve that. When I jumped clear on Cannavaro, I felt it was all thanks to Cola because he gave me so much belief and information.

“Cola was flying round, so it was really unfair, but he’s absolutely fine, which is a relief. It’s frustrating that he had to do a whole round on 15-year-old legs not to have a score on the board, but hopefully we can come back next year and put it right.”

Bubby’s spirits were briefly lifted by Cannavaro’s superlative clear, which would secure second place, but fell off again at the same fence on her third ride Its Cooley Time, owned by the Five Time Syndicate, who had been lying sixth on 28.5. She was unbalanced over the middle element and thrown out of the saddle, and although the grey tried to scrabble over the final part, Bubby had no chance of staying on.

“I’m not sure how I could have ridden Cola any differently at the fence he fell at, whereas my last horse I let him down,” Bubby said. “I made a mistake and rode him too much like he was Cannavaro and didn’t trust the engine that I still had underneath me. He made up too much ground and got underneath the b/c element and still tried to jump the d element even though I was around his neck. I’m gutted for him because he should be jumping for the win tomorrow but I have no doubt he will have his day.”

Emily King was the only other rider to fault at this combination, when her first horse – five-star debutant Jackpot – stopped at the second house in an otherwise decent round.

However, Emily later had a freak fall at fence two from Valmy Biats – who had been in a very competitive position in eighth after dressage on 29 – when the horse seemed to catch a leg on the table. Both horse and rider were back on their feet, with Valmy galloping off as though he was expecting to have to do the course on his own.

Emily’s was one of five rider falls, but all walked away. Alex Bragg’s Ardeo Premier was the only horse fall, at fence 24. This was an angled brush a stride after coming up a step out of the final water. Happily, both horse and rider are fine.

“He had a moment of hesitation and the timing of the jump was wrong,” said Alex. “Such a shame but we live to fight another day.”

Disappointment for Townend and McEwen

The two pairs tying for second after dressage, on 26.1, Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class) and Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality), both faltered at exactly the same fence, having been clear up to that point. Brookfield Quality broke the frangible pin at the corner in the third water at 21, then ran out at the final triple brush. After jumping the alternative, Tom put his hand up to retire the 16-year-old (owned by John and Chloe Perry, and Alison Swinburn).

Tom put on his Facebook page: “Knowing how competitive and genuine he is and with him being that bit older, I decided to just pop through quietly and then save him for another day. Of course, it’s a real shame when things don’t go quite to plan, but he is happy and well which is the most important thing. He’s had a great season and will now enjoy a very well-deserved holiday.”

Towards the end of the afternoon, it was Oliver’s turn to shake up the leaderboard. By that stage, Brookfield Quality was out of the running and the dressage leader Cannavaro had added 4.8 time-faults, so a decent time would be sufficient to take over top spot.

However, Ballaghmor Class also clattered the frangible corner, and although he continued to complete with just 1.2 time-faults, the 11 penalties of damage was done.

Oliver was philosophical afterwards, despite his grand old campaigner losing his 100% clear record at five-star stretching back to 2017.

“He doesn’t know he’s had a pin,” said Oliver of the 18-year-old, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan. “He’s gone through all the flags at every five-star I’ve ever asked him. It’s just sad for him to have this pin on his record, but he is a legend, one of the best cross-country horses there will ever be. I am so proud of him.

“He was so honest and made it all feel so easy,” Oliver continued. “He was keen and making all the distances so easily and so when I said ‘whoa’ for the three strides in that water [before the corner], he was actually polite, finally, and came back to me, so I ended up miles off the corner.”

This combination was particularly influential, although errors came all over the track. French rider Sebastian Cavaillon produced one of the five rider falls over the Pau Horse Trials cross-country when Black Pearl Z scrambled over the corner, while Lithuanian Aistis Vitkauskas broke the frangible in what was otherwise an impressive round for just 2.4 time-faults.

Kylie Roddy (SRS Kan Do), Grace Cooper (Cedarmount Cavalier), Mary Edmondson (Lionel II), Tiana Coudray (D’Artagnan) and Kevin McNab (Faro Imp) also incurred penalties here, at the final triple brush element.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested to read:

‘He said, “hold my beer Mum, I’ve got this”’: five-star newcomer scorches round Pau cross-country to lead despite malfunctioning stopwatch

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

An ‘oops’ drop and a lot of water: 9 cross-country questions to challenge the world’s top horses and riders at Pau five-star

‘He feels as good as he’s ever felt’: Oliver Townend’s veteran legend puts himself in contention after dressage at Pau five-star

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Corimiro, a nine-year-old on his first attempt at five-star, coasted into the lead in the Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase. Ridden by Sarah Bullimore, the chestnut breezed round an influential track 11sec inside the time to move up from 11th after dressage to top spot to set up a tantalising showdown in the final phase. The top 10 are covered by just one rail.

At 10min 55sec, Corimiro – owned by Brett Bullimore, Bruce Saint, Christopher and Susan Gillespie – clocked the second-fastest round of the day over Pierre Michelet’s influential track.

Remarkably, Sarah’s stopwatch malfunctioned before halfway, meaning she rode on feel alone.

“I just let him travel and he’s got such a phenomenal stride,” said Sarah, who rode Corimiro’s mother Lilly Corinne to finish 13th at Pau in 2017, the year after her son was born.

“He’s only nine, so I wasn’t riding him specifically to make the time, just travelling comfortably. When he finished, he was saying ‘where next, where next?’ I had to say, ‘you’ve finished, whoa!’ He felt like he could go round again.

“He was unreal. The only place I changed my plan was to hold for four strides in a couple of the distances after watching everyone this morning, so I had to make sure I got him back, and he was quite strong. It’s like he said, ‘Alright Mum, I can see it, hold my beer!’.”

The overnight dressage leaders, Bubby Upton and Cannavaro, held on to a podium spot in second after adding 4.8 time-faults to sit just 0.4 of a penalty adrift of Corimiro.

Pau is the 18-year-old Cannavaro’s first five-star since finishing sixth here three years ago, and boosted Bubby’s spirits after falls on both her other two rides, Cola and Its Cooley Time.

“To be out of the sport for two and a half years, and to come back and do that at 18 years old, with about 20% thoroughbred – it’s all down to his heart and the trust he has in me,” said Bubby of Cannavaro, owned by her mum Rachel. “There is no other reason why he should do that; he dug so deep, he was just extraordinary.

“He owes me nothing, and I was only going to do this if he felt up for it. But he just loves his job so much – it means the world to me. It’s why we put in the hours and why I spend the time with them, and give them all the love and trust, because of the rewards of days like today.”

How the cross-country phase played out

With Sarah leapfrogging up the leaderboard 10 places to depose Bubby from the top, the end of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase was full of suspense. Half of the final 10 riders could have taken the lead with clears inside the time. Even into the final four, three – Boyd Martin (Cooley Nutcracker), Bubby (Its Cooley Time) and Tim Price (Jarillo) – could have relegated Sarah.

But none could do it. Tim and Jarillo – owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, James and Rachel Good – did best of this trio, stopping the clock for 4.4 time-faults to take third place overnight, despite taking a long route at the third water – which claimed several notable victims. These included Oliver Townend’s Ballaghmor Class, nursing second spot, who broke a frangible pin at the middle corner element; and joint-second Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality). Tom’s horse also incurred 11 penalties for the pin, then ran out at the third element and Tom elected to retire after jumping the final triple brush in that combination.

“I should have gone straight at that water!” said Tim. “But it’s an unpredictable fence and you could ride it well and it still doesn’t come up right every time. It’s one of the only frangible fences on the course and you don’t want to knock one of those down. So I decided that I was good on the clock at that stage though I lost a bit coming home. I decided to play the percentages this time.”

France as a nation is scantily represented at their home five-star, but two of their riders gave exhibition rounds of how to ride a Pierre Michelet track. Both Astier Nicolas (Dirty Old Town) and Benjamin Massie (Filao De Perle) started cross-country in 21st place, and stormed round well inside the time. Benjamin sits in fourth by virtue of being 6sec closer to the optimum time, with Astier the faster round.

Last year, Benjamin fell over one of the final fences in the arena, so made amends this time.

“I think the French riders have an advantage with Pierre Michelet’s courses because we jump them every month, so we are used to them,” Benjamin said. “Astier and I were both up on our clocks even before we went on to the racecourse [where historically riders expect to make up time].”

David Doel riding his own, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas’ Galileo Nieuwmoed earned redemption after falls at both Badminton and Burghley this year with a smashing round, inside the time, to climb from 26th to sixth.

“He was absolutely magic,” said David. “We had him a little ruder again, a bit perkier as he was just a bit too quiet and settled at Burghley. We put a bit of the anger back in the tank and although the dressage was not as good, he jumped round really neat and tidy. He’s been round the five-star here three times and the old three-star as well so he’s a Pau professional.”

There were six horses inside the time from the 53 starters, the first being Sam Ecroyd and Boleybawn Macrae, a five-star newcomer. They were 16sec under the 11min 6sec optimum, by far the quickest all day. This propelled them up from 37th after dressage to 12th, only 4.5 penalties behind the leader.

Sixty percent of the field jumped clear. There were eight eliminations and two retirements. Besides five rider falls, there was one horse fall, Ardeo Premier and Alex Bragg, but the organisation reported no major injuries to horses or riders.

Top 10 overnight at Pau Horse Trials

• Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro: 30
• Bubby Upton and Cannavaro: 30.4
• Tim Price and Jarillo: 30.9
• Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle: 31.2
• Astier Nicolas and Dirty Old Town: 31.2
• David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 32.4
• Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte: 33
• Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B: 33.2
• Grace Taylor and Game Changer: 33.5
• Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker: 33.5
• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested to read:

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

‘He feels as good as he’s ever felt’: Oliver Townend’s veteran legend puts himself in contention after dressage at Pau five-star

‘I bought her cheap on Facebook as a failed dressage horse’: five-star debutante conjures one of the leading tests at Pau

Two 18-year-old horses in podium positions after outstanding dressage performances at Pau five-star

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While the dressage phase kicked off soon after daybreak on Friday, the Pau Horse Trials cross-country times offer a more leisurely start on Saturday, 25 October.

The first competitor into the startbox will be three-horse rider Jonelle Price, aboard the Grape Syndicate’s Grappa Nera. They head out over Pierre Michelet’s 30-fence track at 12pm local time (11am British time). The 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera is currently on a score of 34.3 in 36th, but only 8.7 penalties adrift of overnight leaders Bubby Upton and Cannavaro.

Riders will set off every 4min 30sec within the Pau Horse Trials cross-country times, with three slightly longer 9min breaks spread throughout the day. However, as the optimum time is 11min 6sec, there is scheduled to be a horse on course throughout the action, which is rounded off by Tim Price and Jarillo, who start at 4.07pm (3.07pm British time).

Pau Horse Trials: cross-country times for the top 12

• =12th: Bubby Upton (GBR) and Cola, 30.3: 12.04pm (11.04am British time)
• 5th: Abigail Long (NZL) and Henton Audacious, 27.9: 1.25pm (12.25pm)
• 7th: Alex Hua Tian (CHN) and Chicko, 28.9: 1.39pm (12.39pm)
• 1st: Bubby Upton (GBR) and Cannavaro, 25.6: 1.57pm (12.57pm)
• 9th: Tim Price (NZL) and Happy Boy, 29.1: 2.01pm (1.01pm)
• =2nd: Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality, 26.1: 2.42pm (1.42pm)
• =12th: Selina Milnes (GBR) and Cooley Snapchat, 30.3: 3.04pm (2.04pm)
• =2nd: Oliver Townend (GBR) and Ballaghmor Class, 26.1: 3.22pm (2.22pm)
• 8th: Emily King (GBR) and Valmy Biats, 29: 3.36pm (2.36pm)
• 10th: Boyd Martin (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker, 29.9: 3.54pm (2.54pm)
• =12th: Jonelle Price NZL) and Hiarado, 30.3: 3.58pm (2.58pm)
• 6th: Bubby Upton (GBR) and Its Cooley Time, 28.5: 4.03pm (3.03pm)
• 4th: Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo, 26.5: 4.07pm (3.07pm)

Riders’ views on Pau cross-country track

The general consensus is that this is a typical Michelet track, with several tricky distances inviting riders to attack over three strides or hold for four. While the dimensions are not overwhelming for this level, there are plenty of opportunities for glance-offs, with some technical lines through the combinations.

There are four water combinations, which seem to intensify in difficulty each time horses get their feet wet.

Plus, there’s a new fence with an enormous drop at 22ab, resembling Burghley’s leaf-pit, where riders have to keep enough control after slipping their reins completely to negotiate the narrow arrowhead on a curve afterwards.

“The drop looks massive!” said Tom McEwen, lying in equal second place on Brookfield Quality. “I think it looks bigger than the Leaf Pit, because you have more time there when you land.

“Pau is Pau, and there are similarities from other years, but if anyone became complacent because it’s similar in places that would be an error,” added Tom. “It’s a really nice first two minutes, then it gets twisty. And we know Pierre likes his positive distances, but it’s about being wise when to use them and not to.”

Emily King, lying eighth on Valmy Biats on 29, called it a “riders’ course”. She has the benefit of going out early on five-star debutant Jackpot (in 30th overnight), to give her some reconnaissance when it comes to riding her higher-placed horse. This is the first time she’s had two horses at this level.

“There are lots of different options at the combinations – you can go for an extra stride or take one out. It’s up to us to have a game plan, know what we’re doing with each horse, and give them the best chance of understanding. There are quite a few questions – and a lot of water.”

Yasmin Ingham, who is lying 21st with Rehy DJ on 31.2 after a couple of mistakes in the flying changes during their dressage test, said: “There’s plenty to jump on Saturday so it won’t be a dressage competition and I’m looking forward to the jumping phases. It’s a typical Pierre Michelet course – everything’s on very forward distances and there are some really strong five-star questions. You come here expecting technical tracks and that’s exactly what is out there on Saturday.”

Libby Seed, who produced an exciting personal best dressage test at this level with Heartbreaker Star Quality to sit in 15th, said: “There’s some really decent water and some sneaky fences where you can have a run-out. It’s a good track and hopefully it will suit her, but we’ll find out tomorrow.”

And five-star debutante Abigail Long, who produced a smashing test to lie in fifth on 27.9 with Henton Audacious, said: “We came here because we thought it would suit us both before tackling something more intimidating. There are definitely a couple of questions, but she’s capable of it all. It’s more about the distances and lines, she’ll jump anything as long as I get her in the right place.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also like to read…

An ‘oops’ drop and a lot of water: 9 cross-country questions to challenge the world’s top horses and riders at Pau five-star

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

‘He feels as good as he’s ever felt’: Oliver Townend’s veteran legend puts himself in contention after dressage at Pau five-star

‘I bought her cheap on Facebook as a failed dressage horse’: five-star debutante conjures one of the leading tests at Pau

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Ballaghmor Class has already written himself into annals of eventing history, but at 18 years old, there could yet be one last hurrah. Oliver Townend declared the four-time five-star winner – owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan – to be “as good as ever” after taking joint second at the conclusion of the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase.

It was a remarkably consistent and high-quality test, with only two of the 78 marks available dipping below a seven – and the mid-test halt scoring two nines. The French judge, Eric Lieby, at B, put them in first spot, above Bubby Upton and Cannavaro.

“He went in like an old pro, he was pretty push-button,” said Oliver. “Never mind what score he got, he felt as good as he’s ever felt. I think that’s probably as good as any test he’d done at five-star level.”

They sit 0.5 of a penalty – just over a second of cross-country time – behind the leaders.

Ballaghmor Class – known at home as Thomas – has only had a handful of runs this year, winning two and finishing third twice more. He was withdrawn from the final horse inspection at Badminton in the spring after defending his 100% cross-country clear rate over 13 five-star runs. He has only had one run since, a four-star at Little Downham less than a month ago, and many assumed – perhaps including Oliver – that this grand old campaigner’s career had come to an end.

But Thomas wasn’t having it.

“We didn’t really plan to be here [at five-star again], to tell you the truth,” said Oliver. “But he convinced us that he’d not done enough yet, which is amazing – and hard to believe.

“I’ve never come to a five-star thinking ‘no, no, no’ – but he’s gone ‘yes’ all the way. So we took him to Little Downham to give him a preparation run, and he was fairly wild and didn’t give me an easy time. He ran off round the cross-country! He was pretty wild in the dressage too, and I said to Karyn, ‘We’ll give him half a proper run to see how he comes out.’ And the next day he towed everyone round the yard.

“That’s what he’s like when he’s on form. Pretty horrible to deal with for the girls, but a pleasure for me to ride when we get the management right. Today I couldn’t be happier with his performance.”

As the Courage-sired gelding has contested either Burghley, Maryland or championships in the autumns since he’s been competing at this level, this is his first visit to the flat racecourse track of Pau. But Oliver hopes this may play in his favour, even if there aren’t any hills to help slow this brilliant cross-country horse down.

“I’m just hoping that as he doesn’t know his way he might actually ask me a couple of questions for once,” said Oliver.

“He’s done an Olympics and that looked like it wasn’t his type of course but there isn’t really a course that doesn’t suit him. But he knows his way around Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky and now Maryland, so I’m hoping he looks at the crowd and the trees and doesn’t run off with me like he did last time out!”

Enjoy watching him while you can. It’s a treat for eventing fans to have another sighting of this all-time great doing what he loves best.

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After a long day of dressage at Pau Horse Trials, with all 53 competitors going before the judges, Bubby Upton sits at the top of the leaderboard. Bubby is triple-handed at this year’s French five-star, and has taken top spot with her second ride Cannavaro on 25.6, who is competing at five-star for the first time since 2022.

“He’s such a special boy and it’s amazing to have him back here at 18,” said Bubby. “He came back at the start of the year [after time off] and the plan was Aachen and I thought that might be his last event, but he came out of that so well, we thought ‘let’s get him as fit as possible and if he holds up to it let’s go to Pau’. I just hope I do him justice.”

They produced a beautifully soft and consistent test, with fabulous halts – scoring eights and 8.5s – framing a mistake-free performance.

“Although he’s 18, he’s only had six years eventing as he was a showjumper until he was 10 and has had two years out,” Bubby said. “His paces have really developed over the past three or four years.”

Bubby also lies in sixth place on 28.5 with five-star debutant Its Cooley Time, who was entered at Pau after his tilt at the Blenheim Europeans came to an early end with a rider fall. Her first ride Cola – second into the ring – is 12th on 30.3.

“Cola – there was an element of being second into the arena; he was amazing,” said Bubby. “He does the same test every time, he’s so consistent and lovely to ride in the area. He’s a joy and he loves it. He’s a horse of lifetime, he’s taught me so much.”

Its Cooley Time secured Bubby’s third top-12 placing, as the penultimate horse in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase.

“Its Cooley Time is at the other end of the spectrum compared to these two, with it being his first five-star, so for him to do what he did today – I was thrilled. He is very, very spooky and sharp, but because here it’s on a surface we have the luxury of being able to familiarise them in the arena.

“As I was going in he spotted the cameraman, so he spooked, and I was a little bit soft in the second flying change and I thought he would pop it but he didn’t. Naturally, of the three, he’s the most gifted in the dressage and I’ve had him since he was five and within my current system, with my trainer Amy Woodhead, which makes all the difference.”

Two British riders share second after dressage

With Tom McEwen posting 26.1 earlier in the day, Oliver Townend joined him on that score to take joint-second with another 18-year-old, Ballaghmor Class.

“I couldn’t be happier with his performance,” said Oliver. “He went in like an old pro, and was pretty push-button.”

Tim Price was another three-horse rider to steer two into the top 10. Last to go on Jarillo, a flashy white-socked chestnut owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead, and James and Rachel Good, he posted 26.5 to take fourth. Less than one penalty – 3sec of cross-country time-faults – cover these top four.

“He’s such a lovely horse, so talented,” Tim said. “Life comes physically so easily to him, but mentally it’s quite tough. He’s a sharp little guy.

“He’s very spooky, horse-shy, but in the arena he’s a joy – easy peasy!”

Jarillo seemed to grow in confidence as the test went on, absolutely nailing all four flying changes, which come towards the end of the test and have caused so many to falter this Pau.

“He’s coming of age,” said Tim. “He’s realising that it’s a safe space in the arena and he can stay with me like he does at home.”

Tim also holds ninth place with Happy Boy on 29.1, 0.1 of a penalty behind Emily King and Valmy Biats. Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker round out the top 10.

Emily’s ride produced some outstanding moments, including a nine for the final halt, but too many 6.5s pegged the mark back. Emily admitted that some “strange flying, cobwebby things” were a little distracting for both horse and rider.

“I kept wanting to swat them away, so he was probably thinking the same,” said Emily. “We had a few little wobbles and a little lack of rhythm but generally he was really good.”

Top six after Pau Horse Trials dressage

1, Bubby Upton and Cannavaro: 25.6

=2, Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality: 26.1

=2, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class: 26.1

4, Tim Price and Jarillo: 26.5

5, Abigail Long and Henton Audacious: 27.9

6, Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time: 28.5

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Bubby Upton has taken the lead at the lunchbreak of the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase, with only two of the six groups of competitors left to go. Riding her second of three horses Cannavaro, who is contesting his first five-star since finishing sixth here three years ago, the pair scored 25.6 on a day when sub-30 scores are a rarity.

Bubby produced an outstandingly consistent test on this 18-year-old, with only a handful of marks dipping below seven, and drawing nines for their immaculate rein-back. They bookended this super display with lovely halts drawing eights and 8.5s.

The 26-year-old rider is also lying close-up in sixth on her first ride Cola, who was second into the arena on Friday morning (24 October).

Bubby’s fellow Blenheim Europeans squad-mate Tom McEwen pushed her closest at this stage, scoring 26.1 on Brookfield Quality, a 16-year-old owned by John and Chloe Perry, and Alison Swinburn.

“I was really pleased with everything, it was pretty much a clear round,” said Tom. “His changes were really nice, especially the last one, so I when I looked up and saw sevens, I was a bit disappointed with some of the judges.”

Brookfield Quality has historically been a spooky horse and Tom described how he manages him to perform at his best when it matters.

“He loves being on his own out there, and he likes being the centre of attention,” said Tom. “He doesn’t like being around other horses, and he doesn’t like the arena at home, so we work most of the year on grass, and we don’t jump him at home either.

“Here, I just did 15 minutes warm-up and then went in. By nature he holds himself with natural lift, so I just leave that to him rather than working him too hard. Less is more. I had a nice ride in the morning, then 15 minutes before the test seems to be perfect for him.”

Breaking the 30 barrier in Pau Horse Trials dressage phase

There have only been five sub-30 tests from the 36 contenders so far. Five-star debutante Abigail Long rode the test of her life to slot into third at this stage on Henton Audacious on a score of 27.9, ahead of Alex Hua Tian and his own, Kate and Peter Willis’ Chicko on 28.9.

“He’s a real cutie, because he’s not necessarily physically the most talented horse, but he just incrementally improves and improves,” said Alex. “I keep thinking I’ve got as much as I ever could out of him and every six months it’s like we’ve hit another dimension.

“He’s a really long horse, who finds longitudinal suppleness really hard. In the past I’ve had to play a fine line between pushing him to give me a little bit more spring and just taking what I get. Today I really felt I could ask for more.”

Chicko was fourth last year, and Alex said the 15-year-old clearly comes into his own at this point in the season – “but also the five-star test suits him as he’s very obedient and there’s more to do.”

Tim Price was the final rider to score under 30, currently lying fifth on his second ride, Happy Boy – the 2019 Le Lion seven-year-old world champion and last year’s Blenheim winner.

“He’s been on good form and in good health,” said Tim, who is juggling three rides at Pau alongside wife Jonelle who is also triple-handed. “Happy Boy is such an all-rounder. That’s where he’s been successful in the past, doing a pretty good dressage and then running home with that mark for a good result. I’m hoping for something similar here.”

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There are times to pull out all the stops, and there’s your first attempt at five-star. New Zealand rider Abigail Long had never scored better than 33.7 at any international competition with Henton Audacious – even logging 51.4 this year – but produced a stunning 27.9 in the Pau Horse Trials dressage phase. This put her at the top of the leaderboard after a third of the field had performed.

“I’ve always known she’s got a nice test in her, it’s been about figuring her brain out,” said Abigail, 29. “This week has been a bit of an experiment, with the help of Jonelle Price. I’ve only dressage schooled her once, and that really helped. She was with me the whole time.

“We took her for a gallop, jumped her, did polework – it’s all about her brain, making sure she’s in a good headspace. Staying away from schooling kept her sweet, so she was happy to go in there and do everything, rather than thinking ‘This is the sixth time we’ve done dressage and I’m over it’.”

Henton Audacious (Daphnee) is a New Zealand Hanoverian, bred for dressage. She floated across Pau’s sand arena with her flashy paces, but the test was also notable for its consistency; the flying changes on point and the halt to rein-back a particular highlight.

“We bought her cheap on Facebook as a failed dressage horse,” said Abigail. “She was only four but they didn’t think she had a good enough hind leg, so were selling her to be anything.”

Abigail moved to the UK two years ago, where she is based in Swindon, and brought Daphnee with her.

“We’ve had her since she was four and she’s now 12,” she said. “She’s my little heart horse, I love her so much.”

Pau Horse Trials dressage phase: the early starters

Sub-30 tests were hard to come by on Friday morning – all 53 competitors are riding in one day as a result of Storm Benjamin affecting Thursday’s schedule.

The 2022 winners Grappa Nera and Jonelle Price opened proceedings with 34.1. They started well, trending sub-30 but the test unravelled midway with the flying changes and the marks slid.

Another three-horse rider, Bubby Upton, was next in with Cola, a good benchmark for a smart test. The 15-year-old, owned by Bubby’s mother Rachel, has a personal best of 26.7 at five-star. Here he produced a polished and consistent test, the only real mistake one poor flying change, which scored a four, before regrouping quickly for an impressive extended canter.

Their halts were the highlight; all three were excellent and scored 7.5s and eights. Their overall score of 30.3 may have looked a touch disappointing but set the target for the field at this early stage and they remained in the lead until Abigail’s test.

Although most horses were scoring below their best, Heartbreaker Star Quality (Angel) threw in a massive five-star personal best for Libby Seed to lie just 0.1 of a penalty behind Cola. The 14-year-old grey mare’s last three scores at this level have been over 36, but she raised her game today.

The mare has a lovely way of going; super-expressive and active. All four flying changes came off – unlike most of her rivals’ – and her highlight was her extended trot work, which was both light and ground-covering. Her only blips were slight resistance going into the walk, but as Libby said: “She usually jogs!”

“David Trott has been great with us over the past few months, just working very gently on the changes, the submission and improving the trot work,” Libby said. “She’s better with a bit of atmosphere – the engine takes over!”

Pau Horse Trials dressage: Yasmin Ingham “frustrated” after uncharacteristic blip

Yasmin Ingham made a quick return with Rehy DJ after their fall at the Blenheim Europeans last month in a bid “for redemption” to round off his season on a better note. They scored 31.2 despite a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes. The 15-year-old gelding, owned by Janette Chin and the Sue Davies Fund, produced a typically accurate test in the main, with on-point transitions, a superb halt to rein-back for eights, and an excellent walk tour. He was trending sub-30 when he fluffed the first two flying changes and although he nailed the last, their fate was sealed.

“I was frustrated with those two flying changes as they’re normally his highlights so that has brought his mark higher than what I’d have liked, but the majority was really good,” said Yasmin. “Those would be the only two mistakes he’s made in flying changes all week.

“But sometimes they do them perfectly outside and it just doesn’t pull off in the arena. They’re not machines, they’re animals, and we have to work with them to make them understand. Perhaps my aids weren’t correct, I’m not sure.”

With a third of the field left to go, Bubby Upton has taken the lead on her second ride Cannavaro (25.6). Tom McEwen lies second on Brookfield Quality (26.1) and Abigail holds third spot.

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Unusually for a large field at a five-star, the Pau Horse Trials dressage times will all happen on one day. This is because the start of the event had to be postponed due to high winds on Thursday, 23 October. This means that all 53 competitors accepted at the first trot-up will face the dressage judges on Friday, 24 October.

The first competitor into the arena will be three-horse rider Jonelle Price, aboard the Grape Syndicate’s 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera, at 9am local time (8am British time). Grappa Nera is one of two previous five-star winners in the field, the other being 18-year-old Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan, and ridden by Oliver Townend. They are drawn towards the end of the afternoon, at 4.09pm (3.09pm British time).

The guinea pig test rider, François Pons aboard Dali Du Montesy, will “warm up the judges” at 9.10am (8.10am British time). The field is split into six groups of roughly nine, with short breaks in between each. There is one longer break after four sessions which will last around an hour from 2.14pm–3.20pm (1.14pm–2.20pm).

Pau Horse Trials: dressage times for 10 of the top contenders

• Bubby Upton (GBR) and Cola: 9.37am (8.37am British time)
• Yasmin Ingham (GBR) and Rehy DJ: 11.04am (10.04am)
• Tom McEwen (GBR) and Brookfield Quality: 2.07pm (1.07pm)
• Sarah Bullimore (GBR) and Corimiro: 3.20pm (2.20pm)
• David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 4.02pm (3.02pm)
• Oliver Townend (GBR) and Ballaghmor Class: 4.09pm (3.09pm)
• Emily King (GBR) and Valmy Biats: 4.33pm (3.33pm)
• Boyd Martin (USA) and Cooley Nutcracker: 5.01pm (4.01pm)
• Bubby Upton (GBR) and Its Cooley Time: 5.15pm (4.15pm)
• Tim Price (NZL) and Jarillo: 5.22pm (4.22pm)

Three riders are piloting three horses, namely Jonelle (Grappa Nero, Senor Crocodillo, Hiarado), Tim (Global Quest, Happy Boy and Jarillo) and Bubby (Its Cooley Time, Cola and Cannavaro), with their rides spaced out in sessions one, three and six.

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Two horses were sent to the holding box at the Etoiles de Pau Horse Trials first trot-up this afternoon (23 October), but both were accepted on their second presentation.

The trot-up had been delayed from its original morning slot after Storm Benjamin caused its postponement, along with the first dressage day, which has now been amalgamated into Friday’s schedule.

The 13-year-old grey mare Hagonda, ridden by Brit Stephen Heal and owned by himself and Heather Chapman, looked chiefly like she didn’t enjoy the squally conditions and was quickly accepted second time. This is the mare’s five-star debut.

Another 13-year-old mare, one of New Zealander Jonelle Price’s three rides, Hiarado, was also sent to the holding box. She was much more lively on reinspection and was passed to go forward to the dressage phase. This Diarado mare, owned by David and Karie Thomson, has finished seventh at Pau previously and was Jonelle’s Paris Olympics ride.

Fifty-three horses were presented to the ground jury – Sweden’s Christina Klingspor (president), Britain’s Angela Tucker and France’s Eric Lieby. All except Hagonda and Hiarado passed on first inspection.

Most of the horses were calm on today’s runway, possibly due to the inclement weather and also because they have had plenty of opportunity to experience the main arena thanks to the delayed start. Only David Doel’s ride Galileo Nieuwmoed – owned by David, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas – was notably exuberant, putting in a neat little rear as he made the turn and flashing back past the judges.

Pau Horse Trials first trot-up: the fashion

The winds of Storm Benjamin may have abated, but the Pau Horse Trials first trot-up played out amid bursts of heavy rain, meaning that many riders kept their coats covering up their trot-up outfits.

One brave rider, Grace Cooper – riding her own Cedarmount Cavalier – looked dressed for yesterdays’s 24ºC in a sleeveless, striped sundress with ankle boots. The pair made their five-star debut at Luhmühlen this year but withdrew after dressage.

Meanwhile there were several very elegant outfits on show despite the downpours. Sarah Bullimore looked the epitome of style in a three-quarter length double-breasted black coat with brass buttons, and burgundy boots. She rides her home-bred nine-year-old Coromiro on his five-star debut after finishing third at Blenheim’s young horse four-star.

Cosby Green and Emily King both looked immaculate splashing through the sand in cream ensembles. Meanwhile Bubby Upton was also stylish in a navy velvet trouser suit with white Peter Pan collar and impressively high heeled boots to trot up her three horses, Its Cooley Time, Cola and Cannavaro.

A long day of dressage lies ahead on Friday, 24 October with all combinations competing. It is due to start at 9.30am local time (8.30am British time). Jonelle Price is first between the white boards, on her former winner Grappa Nera.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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The Etoiles de Pau Horse Trials five-star cross-country course for 2025 is designed, as usual, by Pierre Michelet, 76, who comes down to the south of France fresh from Le Lion D’Angers the previous weekend.

The competitors are expecting to face 30 numbered fences, with a maximum of 48 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,320m. The course has an optimum time of 11min 6sec, a touch shorter than last year’s 6,500m (11min 25sec) track – though that ended up being significantly reduced due to downpours affecting the going.

The course is set around a racecourse and is largely flat, but Pierre has made the most of the manmade mounds that add terrain, and there are four water combinations which will also slow horses down.

Key fences on Pau Horse Trials cross-country

Fence 4ab – The “Kiosques”

The first combination, featuring a small log with a decent drop, running downhill to a choice of angled brushes featuring the Pau town shields. Most riders will take the quicker right-hand route, while the drop is a harbinger of a later fence. It shouldn’t cause problems, but will just ensure horses are listening and straight.

Fence 8ab – Log and corner

Pierre has been fairly lenient with this first water combination. Horses have the chance to get their feet wet, cantering into and for a few strides through the water, before jumping the log to the narrow brush corner in this lake. Although you need to hug the right-hand bank on entry, there is a clear, almost straight, line from one fence to the next and this should build confidence before the harder watery tests to come.

A loop on dry land follows, where competitors jump a straightforward roll-top style fence through a Flex-On style ring, before heading back to the same water for a beefier challenge.

Fence 10abc – second water combination

Horses approach the water again over a wide box fence with brush, which will require plenty of oomph while the horses might be backing off knowing there is water lurking at some point below. In fact, they have a few strides on dry land, curving left-handed over the carved swan hedge in the water which is set on an angle to a step up only a stride away.

Those without sufficient control for the required accuracy and neatness can take the middle hedge a little straighter, canter a few strides and angle round to another swan hedge.

Strategically placed bushes and flowerpots mean neither route is straightforward.

Fence 16ab – “Coffin”

The fence name “coffin” is confusing to British spectators as it doesn’t resemble the rail, ditch, rail style combination we might expect to see. Instead, echoes of Blenheim’s “rollercoaster” fences, with two mounds topped with narrow logpiles, requiring excellent balance and control to pop the first element without landing far below, negotiating down and uphill smoothly and staying straight and with enough energy for the second. The hills are a lot steeper than they look here!

Fence 20 – Open ditch and brush

This brush looks innocuous on the approach – featuring on the racecourse section and blending in well with the many steeplechase fences scattered around. However, this is Pau’s version of Burghley’s Cottesmore Leap, with a gaping ditch toward. The kind brush ground line and inviting profile should give riders a great feel – and a super photo – as they fly over.

This standalone fence marks the start of an intense patch, with three demanding combinations in a row.

Fence 21abcd – Triple brushes and corners

There are two routes through this third water complex. The most direct way is over 21ab, a triple brush directly into water, curving left-handed to a corner (c), and then left-handed again to a triple brush (d). They are all slightly offset, so accuracy at these narrow fences will be paramount.

The longer route avoids jumping in the water itself, tackling a triple brush (a), splashing through and a long way round to a corner (bc), and another long loop to a triple brush (d).

Fence 22ab – “Oops”

The aptly named “Oops” is reminiscent of Burghley’s leaf pit, with a huge drop on falling ground, targeting a brush skinny to the left. For those who can’t gather up their knitting, they can turn right for an easier triple brush set on rising ground, but it’s against the direction of travel and will be costly on time.

Fence 23abc and 24 – fourth water complex

Pierre has set a teaser at this final water combination, as it is numbered so that riders cannot switch to a different route halfway through. The shorter route is over a log drop (a) into the water, keep the horse’s eyes off the house directly in front and instead bend sharp left to a step up (bc) and straight over the upright angled brush at fence 24. Or you jump a narrow house fence (ab) and canter into the water, over another house (c), and then have to thread your way back to the brush, which is separately numbered.

Fence 27abcd – Houses

Four from home, and the finishing line is so nearly in sight, but there’s still one combination which might invite a fly-by.

Pierre has again used the mounds tactically, as horses won’t know until they have taken off at the first house (a) how steeply the ground falls away on landing. They then need to turn right as they go down the hill to an angled house (bc), and stay firmly on their line to another angled house (d).

There are smaller, straightforward, time-consuming alternatives here to help horses complete.

Thanks to Storm Benjamin, the trot-up has been pushed back to 5pm (4pm British time) on Thursday with all the dressage taking place on Friday, starting at 9am (8am British time).

The Pau Horse Trials cross-country phase takes place on Saturday, 25 October, scheduled to start at 11.30am (10.30am British time).

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The start of the Etoiles de Pau five-star horse trials has been postponed because of high winds. Storm Benjamin hit the south-west of France overnight on Thursday, 23 October, causing winds of up to 119km/h in some parts of the country, as well as significant rainfall.

The first horse inspection, which was due to take place on Thursday morning at 10am, will now move to 5pm (4pm British time).

All of the dressage competition will take place on Friday, starting at 9am (8am British time). As well as safety considerations, this is to ensure a level playing field of conditions for all competitors.

There are 54 competitors due to face the judges in the dressage phase, which will mean a fully packed day running with almost no breaks. There are three riders with three horses entered, Jonelle Price (Grappa Nero, Senor Crocodillo, Hiarado), Tim Price (Global Quest, Happy Boy and Jarillo) and Bubby Upton (Its Cooley Time, Cola and Cannavaro), who will have a particular logistical challenge.

The Pau Horse Trials organising team said in a statement: “Due to the weather forecast for 23 October 2025 and in accordance with recommendations from the local authorities, the event organiser and producer, Centaure Production, has taken several preventive measures to ensure the safety of participants, horses, and members of the public.

“The following adjustments should be noted: the site, which was closed this morning as a safety measure, will reopen to the public at 2pm this afternoon (free admission), subject to weather conditions. Specific instructions will be provided on site.

“The horse inspection will now take place today, Thursday, 23 October 2025, at 5 pm.

“The dressage competition has been postponed and will now take place in its entirety on Friday, 24 October from 9 am, to ensure identical competition conditions for all competitors.”

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Watch Pau Horse Trials on TV and join the eventing community in enjoying the last five-star of the season.

Pau Horse Trials is the only French five-star, but always boasts a class field of horses and riders who fight to end the season on a high.

How to watch Pau Horse Trials on TV

The event will once again be streamed on Pau’s own platform, with commentary in English or French, at a cost of €24.90 (approximately £20.82). Visit 5edp.okast.tv to find out more and sign up.

During the cross-country, you will be able to choose which rider you want to watch over every fence, or watch the curated general view that cuts between them.

You can find the full streaming schedule below.

How to watch Pau live from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

Pau Horse Trials streaming schedule

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The five-star eventing circus moves to Pau Horse Trials this week, as riders and horses gather for the final top-level event of 2025.

It’s a good field, with 59 pairs set to go to post, and plenty of quality. So who are my favourites for the title? Read on…

Former five-star winners

The line-up boasts two former five-star winners.

The first is the 18-year-old all-time great Ballaghmor Class, ridden by Oliver Townend – a four-time winner at the level at three different venues, holder of six other top-five finishes at five-star and an Olympic team gold medallist.

Bar being withdrawn at the final horse inspection at Badminton Horse Trials this year, he has a 100% top-five record at five-star and is the most experienced horse currently competing at this level in the world, by a distance. He recently proved his fitness with third on his prep run at Little Downham CCI4*-S and it’s hard to look past him. Perhaps the only thing counting against “Thomas” on paper is the fact he has no Pau form, but Oliver has plenty, including a second place in 2023 with Tregilder.

The other five-star winner is a contrast – she has won here but never really shown the same form anywhere else. It is of course Jonelle Price’s ride Grappa Nera, one of four horses she will pilot this week. The mare took top spot here in 2022 and was sixth at Badminton in 2024, but would need to upgrade her recent performances to have a chance of a second title.

Pau Horse Trials riders: the data favourite

Perhaps the most likely challenger to Oliver is his Tokyo Olympic team-mate, Tom McEwen, with Brookfield Quality. This pair were third here last year, fifth at Kentucky Three-Day Event in April and second at Aachen in July.

Nervous Norris, as the horse is known at home, is a character and moving him back down to lower-level events is part of keeping him confident between the big ones. He recently won the CCI3*-S at Cornbury – the same warm-up he had for Pau last year, which could bode well.

Data analytics company EquiRatings reckon they are the favourite, with a 19% win chance to Ballaghmor Class’s 12%.

Three seeking a first title

Emily King and Valmy Biats sit between Ballaghmor Class and Brookfield Quality according to EquiRatings, with a 15% win chance.

For me, they are part of a trio of long-standing five-star campaigners, who have quite different profiles but could all still lay claim to a title at this level – or retire over the next few years without one.

Emily and Valmy, with their outstanding dressage, are always at the forefront after the first phase when they turn up at a five-star, but they don’t have a great conversion rate for turning that into a top placing. In 10 starts at the level, they’ve managed three top-10 finishes, two of them at Badminton and one at Pau (eighth in 2022).

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed ticked the consistency box until falling at both Badminton and Burghley this year – before that, they had seven top-15 finishes from nine starts at the level, including a second and a third.

That recent form will have damaged their statistical chance – EquiRatings give them a less than 1% win chance – but they won their CCI4*-S prep run at Little Downham and, I believe, have a bigger opportunity than that 1%. They have gone well at Pau in the past – fourth in 2022 when they were denied the title by a fence down, as well as 15th back in 2021.

Bubby Upton and Cola perhaps have the best chance of the three. They have six top-12 finishes from seven starts at five-star and course form in the shape of 12th here in 2021.

EquiRatings put them at 12% win chance, with Bubby also having a 9% chance on her Blenheim Europeans horse Its Cooley Time, who makes his five-star debut here after parting ways with his rider at the Europeans, and 3% on Cannavaro, who was sixth here in 2022 but has had some time out injured since.

Youth and experience

Two other pairs have a live win chance according to EquiRatings. They are Sarah Bullimore with the home-bred five-star debutant Corimiro and Yasmin Ingham, seeking to make amends for a fall at the Europeans with the experienced Rehy DJ.

At nine, Corimiro is probably too inexperienced to win this time, but he will hopefully build useful experience for the future this week.

Rehy DJ was 10th here last year as well as having twice finished third at Luhmühlen Horse Trials. My gut says he doesn’t quite have the star quality to take top spot here, but no one would begrudge the loveable “Piglet” another good finish after his sad elimination at Blenheim.

Predictions

A tough call, but if I have to commit to a podium from the Pau Horse Trials riders, it would be:

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Pau Horse Trials tickets are available to buy for this five-star event, which takes place in the south-west of France on 23–26 October 2025. The cheapest way to buy all types of tickets is in advance online, but remaining tickets will also be available on the gate.

Pau Horse Trials, which is also known as Les Étoiles de Pau, is France’s only five-star eventing competition. Last year’s event was won by Britain’s Caroline Harris, who was riding 10-year-old D.Day in their first season at the level. This year, there are a 69 combinations on the 2025 Pau entries list, of which there are 34 British contenders. The British contingent includes European Champion Laura Collett, Zara Tindall and Tom McEwen among many other top names.

Pau tickets: General admission

Single day general admission tickets are available for each day of competition and can be purchased in advance (with a 10% discount) or on the gate during the event. General admission tickets include the following for the given day(s) of purchase:

• Admittance into the event venue
• Car parking
• Access to trade stands and food stalls

Pricing below show the reduced advance price.

Thursday 27 October

• Free for all

Friday 28 October (Dressage)

• Adults: €16.20
• Children (aged five-12): €2.70
• Children under five: free

Saturday 29 October (Cross-country)

• Adults: €32.40
• Children (aged five-12): €5.10
• Children under five: free

Sunday 30 October (Showjumping)

• Adults: €32.40
• Children (aged five-12): €5.40
• Children under five: free

Multi-day passes

• Weekend pass (Sat/Sun): €51.30
• Three-day pass (Fri–Sun): €62.10 (no seat), €70.20 (with uncovered seating)

Grandstand reserved seating tickets

Grandstand seating is available for the final day of competition, so that you can watch the five-star showjumping action from the comfort of a seat. These tickets also include admission and parking and access to food and trade stands.

More information about Pau Horse Trials tickets is available on the official website.

How to get to Pau

If you’re planning a visit to Pau in person, the nearest airport is Pau Pyrénées, which is just five minutes from the city, but there are no direct flights to this airport from the UK. Instead, you can get linking flights from Paris Orly, Paris CDG, Lyon, Marseille or Nantes. Other airports near to Pau include Lourdes/Tarbes (30 minutes from Pau), Biarritz (one hour from Pau) or Toulouse (two hours from Pau).

Pau is set along the Pyrenees mountains’ northern edge approximately 85km from the Spanish border, so spectacular views and walks are on offer in the immediate vicinity. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there are a number of hotels near Pau.

Things to do in Pau

The city of Pau is just a 10-15 minute drive from the five-star event, which means there is plenty to see and do outside of the competition. There are a number of lovely restaurants in Pau, and the city itself is steeped in history. Pau’s central Boulevard des Pyrénées leads up to the castle of Château de Pau, birthplace of King Henry IV of France and Navarre. It now displays tapestries, period furnishings and artworks. This is just one of many local attractions that are waiting for you, should you decide to visit.

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Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Pau 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 magazine report on Pau Horse Trials in the magazine dated 3 November. 

H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome takes a look at the upcoming five-stars on both sides of the Atlantic, reviews the Europeans and has a request for event organisers...

This week’s Maryland 5 Star has a small entry, with just 23 on the list, despite the fact the US and Canadians have no end-of-year championship this season.

The event had 46 starters for its first running in 2021 – probably helped by the fact US and Canadian competitors were unlikely to travel for a five-star that year, with Covid lingering and Bicton replacing Burghley. Since then, Maryland has not exceeded 26 starters. This year, there’s just one Brit, Alex Bragg on Quindiva, compared to two to five British riders for previous renewals.

Boyd Martin probably starts as favourite on the Kentucky runner-up Commando 3. US-based New Zealander Monica Spencer also has a chance on the consistent Artist, a good-moving thoroughbred.

Caroline Pamukcu has three horses entered, including 2023 Pan Am Games champion HSH Blake. He hasn’t been prominent since his debut CCI4*-L win in May last year, but he’s still only 10 and should re-emerge to fulfil his promise at some point.

Also in the US, 30 started in the first US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final at Morven Park last week, at CCI4*-L. The open is a new competition with showjumping and dressage branches too and US Equestrian awarded $200,000 (about £150,000) prize money for the eventing final, which may have distracted a few would-be Maryland contenders.

Buy-in was available to the final, for those who hadn’t completed a qualifier, at $5,000 – it will be interesting to see if any British or European-based competitors take this up in future.

Meanwhile, the French five-star at Pau Horse Trials, the week after Maryland, boasts a chunky 69 horses. Thirty-four British horses are set to line up, including four-time five-star victor Ballaghmor Class (Oliver Townend) and aspiring winners at this level in Galileo Nieuwmoed (David Doel) and Valmy Biats (Emily King).

Three from Britain’s Europeans squad reappear – Tom McEwen and JL Dublin are perhaps a surprise entry after their individual bronze at Blenheim, while Yasmin Ingham and Bubby Upton look to make amends for their falls with the seasoned Rehy DJ and the five-star debutant, Its Cooley Time, respectively. Bubby also rides Cola and Cannavaro.

If the winner isn’t British, it might well be one of the Prices, who have four rides each. Jonelle’s include 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera.

Shades of Pratoni

The result at the European Championships at Blenheim last month reminded me of the World Championships in 2022, but we’d swapped the all-pervasive Italian dust of Pratoni for green English parkland. In both cases, Britain started as favourites and the reigning Olympic team champions, and came away without a team medal, but with individual gold – in 2022 for Yasmin Ingham and this year for Laura Collett.

Both times I was left thinking, “Thank goodness that didn’t happen last year” on the team front. Of course, all championships matter and this hurt, but for funding, public attention and prestige, the Olympics matters most of all.

I’ve been lucky to debrief with Laura since Blenheim, so look out for our “How I Won” feature talking through the Europeans week in the magazine dated 13 November, and a look at the ups and downs of London 52’s career on The Horse & Hound Podcast’s 30 October episode.

One name please

A plea to organisers – could we have just one fence name for each combination, even if there are two fence numbers within the complex? Journalists and broadcasters want to help by mentioning sponsors where we can, but having multiple names and sponsors makes things tricky.

That situation hit new heights at the Blenheim Europeans, where a single obstacle was numbered as both 17c and 18ab, with fences 17 and 18 having different names and sponsors. I love a writing challenge, but it’s a struggle to find a succinct way to wrap the “hanging hedge arrowhead (fence 17c and 18ab) at the BE Support Trust Healing Garden and Subaru Splash” into a sentence…

● What factors affect whether you enter an event, at any level? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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Tom McEwen with JL Dublin, Yasmin Ingham riding Rehy DJ and Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class are among the strong list of Pau Horse Trials entries for the French five-star (23–26 October).

Tom and the Lamberts and Deirdre Johnston’s 14-year-old JL Dublin come forward fresh off the back of their individual bronze medal-winning performance at the Agria European Eventing Championships at Blenheim last month.

They are one of 34 British combinations, with Tom also entered with the Perrys and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Quality. Both horses have form at Pau; JL Dublin was third there in 2023 and Brookfield Quality was third last year.

Fellow British Europeans squad members Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ (owned by the Sue Davies Fund) and Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time (owned by the rider and the Five Time Syndicate) are entered, following unfortunate falls for both riders at Blenheim. Bubby is also entered with her long-term rides Cannavaro and Cola, owned by Bubby’s mother Rachel Upton.

Oliver Townend and fan favourite Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislp and Val Ryan, will be hoping to add a fifth five-star title to the horse’s name. The pair were third in the CCI4*-S prep run at Little Downham on Tuesday (30 September).

There are 69 combinations on the Pau five-star entries. Other Brits include European champion Laura Collett, who is entered with Dacapo (owned by Diana Chappel, Gillian Morris-Adams, Carolyn Taylor and the Smedleys) and Lucy Nelson’s Hester. Zara Tindall will ride Gleadhill Stud’s Class Affair and Emily King is entered with two rides; the Irlams’ Jackpot and Valmy Biats, owned by Emily and David and Paula Evans.

New Zealand’s Jonelle and Tim Price have four horses entered each, six riders will represent the US including Boyd Martin, and Padraig McCarthy is among the three Irish riders.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Pau is a beautiful town on the northern edge of the Pyrenees in the south of France, so if you’re heading to Pau Horse Trials (more correctly known as Les Etoiles de Pau CCI5*) – which runs between 23 and 26 October in 2025 – then it’s worth checking into one of the hotels near Pau to make the most of your trip whether you’re there to spectate, support or work.

Held at a racehorse training facility, the five-star event marks the end of the European eventing season at five-star level and it is a popular choice for British event riders.

We’ve included a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels near Pau, but apartments and holiday lets, too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Accommodation is listed in order of distance to the venue – jump down to…

• Hotels near Pau Horse Trials
• Apartments and holiday lets near Pau Horse Trials

Hotels near Pau

Apartments and holiday lets near Pau

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Imo Brook, who broke her pelvis last June, completed her first five-star at Pau Horse Trials last week, just over a year after the accident.

The 23-year-old was riding San Solo in the under-25 class at Bramham Horse Trials in 2023 when she fell across country. She was taken to Leeds Infirmary, where two doctors operated on her and she had her pelvis pinned and plated.

“I was in bed for six weeks – which was the longest six weeks ever – and then had six weeks walking on crutches, so it was three months in total before I could walk unaided,” she says.

“I was lucky the British Eventing Support Trust got me 20 sessions at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Oaksey House to aid my recovery, which was amazing as you don’t realise how much muscle you lose just lying in bed.

“It was the end of the season so I took my time and you can’t tell now it ever happened – I can run, ride eight horses a day – and I’m sure it’s because I didn’t race back to anything.”

San Solo had a slight injury at the start of this season, so as Imo was coming back, he was off work. But he was able to start competing in June and contest the CCI4*-S at Hartpury and the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials, where Imo needed to secure her minimum eligibility result if she was to tackle her first five-star at Pau.

Imo says: “Looking back to Bramham, we’ve tried to enjoy every event this year. We’ve had a vague plan, but haven’t got our heads too wrapped up in it if things didn’t go right and we had to change the plan. It’s been a weird year with Georgie Campbell and Saffron Cresswell’s fall, and I think somehow all that has made me take a more relaxed view on everything and it’s all gone to plan, which it doesn’t usually when we all get so fixated on it.”

After Blenheim, Imo Brook scrambled to find herself a travel companion for Pau Horse Trials and went out with New Zealand rider Ginny Thomasen. It was her first trip to compete abroad.

The dressage didn’t to to plan when Solo “lost his head” when he saw a camera moving during his walk, so the pair scored 42.4 and were well down the leaderboard.

But this competition will always be remembered for the exceptionally wet cross-country conditions.

“I remember waking up on Friday night thinking, ‘This can’t be real, please stop raining’,” says Imo, who was 55th to go so had to pick her route to try to find some fresh ground.

“Solo was just amazing and never really got too tired. I’ve never ridden in conditions like that – one moment you were floating above the water, the next sinking in it. But it was hats off to Pau for keeping it all on the road because none of the jumps rode much different for me, it was just getting to them.

“I took a long route at the first water because with the first combination at fences four, five and six having been taken out, I knew Solo would be keen at the start and I always had at the back of my mind if he jumped in a bit strong I’d take long route. So that added some more time but he’s so straight and just loves it. He knows the white and red flags and goes between them.”

The pair finished with a jumping clear and 34 time-faults; no one made the optimum.

“I’ve always known he’s a very good showjumper, so I put pressure on myself, and this year he’d had a rail down in four of his six events before Pau, so to jump clear on Sunday was the best bit of the whole week,” says Imo. “He tried so hard and to jump in a crowd like that was such good experience for me as I’ve never ridden in anything like that.”

Although it would be her dream to compete at Badminton Horse Trials, Imo is not qualified for next year as she would have had to finish in the top 50% at Pau and her 39th place was just below the cut-off. She will consider returning to Bramham or going to Luhmühlen Horse Trials next spring, but it’s likely she will head to Bramham as it will be her final chance to ride in the under-25 class.

Imo does not event full time – she has just two BE100 horses to compete, one for herself and one for an owner, as well as Solo. She drives for Weyhill Horse Transport company and rides out racehorses for trainers Alan King and Simon Earle.

“I’m lucky it’s all within horses, but it’s diverse and I enjoy doing everything,” says Imo, who is based at her parents’ home between Swindon and Cirencester. “Solo is my horse of a lifetime and racing might be a route I go further into in the future. I love riding out but don’t think I could do it every day and I find the driving really interesting, going to the sales and racing. I couldn’t do it all without the help of my mum at home.”

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Jayne McGivern’s delightful little grey Halo joined the exclusive club of five-star eventing stallions with a bonny performance in all phases at Pau Horse Trials.

It’s always an exciting moment to see a stallion step up and shine at top-level eventing. Halo had his ears pricked throughout and finished seventh with rider Piggy March in this big five-star field.

“I’m so proud of the little chap. I’m glad I wasn’t first out across country as I probably wouldn’t have run,” said Piggy, adding that seeing pathfinders Oliver Townend and En Taro Des Vernier have such a great round was a real positive.

“It’s unknown ground here when it’s wet, as we are normally on top of it. I was definitely conscious of considering what stage the horse is at in his career and what is the right thing for him. He was as good as I know that he is.”

Piggy added that the 11-year-old, by Humphrey 61 and out of a Contender mare, had “loads of engine” and just started to tire slightly towards the end, but kept jumping well.

“He pricked his ears and loved it. He’s a gorgeous little horse and gave some feel,” said Piggy.

The pair held fourth place after cross-country and Halo pinged over Yann Royant’s big, technical showjumping course today (27 October), with just one unlucky rail resulting in them dropping a handful of places.

“He’s a lovely horse, a little unicorn – I always want to make sure he is ok,” said Piggy. “Today (Sunday) he felt fantastic.

“I will obviously go round in circles [analysing the fence we had down]. I don’t think there was a thing that I could do if I jumped it another million times! It was by the gateway. He maybe looked into the gate rather than totally at the fence? But such is life – he gave a super feel and jumped a lovely round.”

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D.Day were crowned Pau Horse Trials winners. Defending champions Ros Canter and Izilot DHI finished runners-up and Tom McEwen completed the British top three with Brookfield Quality.

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Britain’s Caroline Harris and D.Day headed a world-class field to be crowned Pau Horse Trials winners in their first season at five-star.

The pair sealed victory through their phenomenal jumping performances. Their dressage was good – a score of 30.3 left them in 22nd after the first phase – but the exceptional way in which this 10-year-old gelding floated through the testing cross-country conditions is what set this combination apart.

Clear showjumping rounds from Tom McEwen (Brookfield Quality) and Ros Canter (Izilot DHI), who held provisional third and second after cross-country, meant that overnight leaders Caroline and D.Day had no buffer.

D.Day is an excellent showjumper, but jumping for a five-star win is beyond any situation either of the pair has been in before. Winning hadn’t crossed Caroline’s mind before this week. She was here for experience and it was only a “kick up the backside” from friends that meant she ran cross-country at all.

If Caroline felt nerves as she cantered into the showjumping arena, there was no outward hint to those watching on.

D.Day settled into a lovely, forward rhythm and horse and rider looked cooly confident as they navigated Pau’s typically testing showjumping track. The horse tapped a couple, but the poles stayed in place, giving this combination a career-defining win over a massive five-star field.

“I’ve worked my whole life to even just get to five-star – it’s taken me till this year to finally get a horse there,” said Caroline.

“I’m just so lucky that he is who he is. He’s not the most talented in any shape or form, but he gives me everything all the time. I owe him everything.”

She added: “I’ve dreamt about it, but I never thought this would ever happen. You’re up against the amazing Tom and Ros… I’m not even anywhere near them, and to come home having beaten them is quite unbelievable.”

Caroline is modest in her analysis. She has quietly and consistently been building her bank of experience, which has led to this victory. The 35-year-old, whose first taste of horses was through riding lessons in London, has more than 200 international starts to her name and solid results with many horses across the levels to four-star.

This season alone, she has won two short-format four-stars – including D.Day’s last outing at Lignières – and jumped double clear at Luhmühlen with her now CCI5*-winning ride.

The five-star route was never meant to be the plan for D.Day, who is owned by his breeder Fiona Oliver with Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle. The now 10-year-old – by Billy Mexico and out of former racehorse Dillus – was bred to be a happy hacker and hunter. Breeding is a lottery. It just so happened that Fiona hit a different jackpot to the one she initially aimed for.

When D.Day joined Caroline’s string, she thought three-star would probably be his ceiling, but this brave, nimble chap has continued to deliver the happiest surprises through his talent and attitude.

“I thought he would make a very cute junior/young rider horse, and he’s just gone on and on – under the radar, plugging away and just pulling out results,” said Caroline.

Defending Pau Horse Trials champions finish second

Pau continued to be a happy hunting ground for defending champions Ros and Izilot DHI, with the pair finishing runners up (40.6).

“We always feel when we walk the showjumping course here that it’s very big,” said Ros. “It’s probably one of the biggest courses we ever have to tackle. But I also think that the horses really enjoy jumping off this surface.

“As much as the ground conditions weren’t easy yesterday, the horses have all come out of it feeling very well this morning, so they were able to tackle such an up to height and technical track well.”

Tom and Brookfield Quality (“Norris”) completed the all-British podium at Pau Horse Trials, pulling out a typically class clear on the final day.

“Norris has been amazing,” said Tom, who rides the 15-year-old for owners John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn. “He’s an awesome little horse with a huge amount of character. It’s taken a bit of time to get to know one another, but he is amazing.”

China’s Alex Hua Tian scored his best five-star result in landing fourth place with a double jumping clear aboard Chicko, who was produced by Polly Stockton before Alex took on the ride in 2022.

“I have a huge amount of faith in the horse,” said Alex, of the 14-year-old gelding who he owns with Kate and Peter Willis.

“I knew he had a good chance of being competitive here, just from the type of horse he is, what his advantages and disadvantages are, and I felt everything here at Pau was going to suit him – and also give us a bit of an indication of what we might do next year.”

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B (“Bruno”) have had two successful trips to France this year. The US combination followed up on their 10th place at the Olympics with fifth at Pau. It’s not been an easy week for Boyd, who had two black eyes after hitting the deck twice at Maryland last week.

“Bruno covered for me a bit this weekend, but he’s still got plenty left in the tank, and I feel like we’ve got a handle on his dressage now,” said Boyd.

“There’s a lot to be excited for Bruno’s future, and very, very grateful that the Annie Goodman syndicate got behind me and allowed me to do a second trip to France this year. The sky’s the limit with him.”

Austria’s Lea Siegl ended 2024 on a high note after a difficult 12 months. Lea was injured in fall at Pau 2023. Earlier this year, she broke her leg in training and made a remarkable return to win a four-star at Baborowko and secure her Olympic qualification – only to be spun at the first trot-up in Paris.

Lea and DSP Fighting Line rose from 16th after dressage to finish sixth, with a clean jumping sheet at Pau Horse Trials.

“It feels good,” said Lea, whose childhood dream is to compete at Badminton and will see how “Fighty” feels after his winter break. “He’s turning 18 next year, but he doesn’t feel 18. He’s getting better and better as he’s getting older, so we will see.

“Not every horse is born to be a Badminton or Burghley horse, or a five-star horse in general, but I think he is. So if he feels good, we have a plan.”

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One horse was spun at the final Pau Horse Trials trot-up and 55 combinations will go forwards to the showjumping this afternoon (27 October) at the French five-star.

Bellscross Guy, owned and ridden by Ireland’s Dominic Furnell, was not accepted by the ground jury of James Rooney, Emmanuelle Olier and Katarzyna Konarska. The pair were in 55th place after cross-country.

Four other competitors were held and all were passed on re-inspection. Three British horses were among these – Treworra (provisional 18th), ridden by Katie Magee, Tom Rowland’s first horse KND Steel Pulse (56th after cross-country), and Storm Straker’s campaigner Fever Pitch (17th overnight).

Belline Fighting Spirit, the ride of Ireland’s Joseph Murphy and who is in provisional 32nd place ahead of the final phase, was also held, before being given the nod of approval on re-presentation.

The heavy rain that hit Pau Horse Trials on Friday and Saturday has given way to warm sunshine for the final day. There were no overnight withdrawals after cross-country and horses looked bright and well at today’s horse inspection, after slopping through yesterday’s mud.

British rider Caroline Harris’s overnight leader D.Day, who is owned by his breeder Fiona Oliver with Lucy Matthews, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, sailed through the final Pau Horse Trials trot-up. He will be the last horse to jump this afternoon.

The Pau Horse Trials showjumping is scheduled to start at 2.45pm local time (1.45pm UK time). As there are several riders with multiple horses, the earlier end of the start list isn’t in exact reverse order. However, the top 13 competitors will run in descending order.

Oliver Townend and Crazy Du Loir (25th overnight) will be the first of the 55 to jump.

View the Pau Horse Trials showjumping start list

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‘He loves the mud’: new British name leads Pau five-star after climbing more than 20 places on soggy cross-country day

Ben Hobday ‘extremely proud’ of Shadow Man as pair impress at Pau following reunion

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Ben Hobday and Shadow Man’s reunion has gone from strength to strength as the pair impressed with a five-star cross-country jumping clear at Pau Horse Trials today (26 October).

Australia’s Christopher Burton won individual Olympic silver with Shadow Man in Paris this summer; the horse joined Christopher on a temporary basis with the 2024 Games as the target, and returned to Ben after the exceptional feat.

Ben and Shadow Man, a 14-year-old gelding who Ben has produced to top level, finished 10th at Lignières and second at Strzegom on their most recent outings.

Those short-format four-stars have led to a tilt at the final five-star of 2024 in France. The pair followed up their sub-30 dressage with a confident cross-country performance to hold 15th place in the big Pau field ahead of Sunday’s showjumping on a score of 53.6.

“At the beginning of the year, we decided to give the horse a chance at Olympics, which Chris executed perfectly,” said Ben, after his dressage test.

“The horse got to fulfil what we had dreamed of since he was a four- or five-year-old.”

He added that the horse means so much to him that it was “very weird” not having him in the yard and watching someone else ride him, while crediting Christopher for doing “a fantastic job”.

“When he came back, it was a real moment for us, so we’re just having fun,” said Ben, who has recently been having help from Bettina Hoy on the flat.

“There’s no pressure now. That’s the way I’m looking at it. I’m just going to enjoy him and if good things happen, they do. He has to enjoy himself, and so have I.”

After cross-country, Ben added that he is “extremely proud” of Shadow Man.

“He’s had a busy year and been very successful,” said Ben, who owns the horse with Jane Chambers and Stephen Hobday. “He really gave his heart today, and you’ve got to be grateful for that.”

Britain’s Caroline Harris and D.Day head the Pau Horse Trials results after cross-country, with Ros Canter and Izilot DHI in second and Tom McEwen on Brookfield Quality third at this stage.

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Britain’s Caroline Harris and D.Day have powered up the Pau Horse Trials leaderboard to head the provisional results after a sodden cross-country day (26 October).

Caroline and the super consistent 10-year-old arrived at the French five-star on the back of winning the CCI4*-S in the wet at Lignières. The gelding, owned by Lucy Matthews, Fiona Oliver, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle, also performed well in the CCI4*-S at a damp Chatsworth in 2023, so Caroline knew he could cope with mud.

The preparation served them well and the pair glided through Pau’s soupy conditions to climb from 22nd after dressage to hold the top spot ahead of the showjumping.

“He found it so easy, and he still had plenty of gallop at the end. I had no idea where we were on the time. I just kept galloping!” said Caroline, who added 10 cross-country time-penalties to her dressage score of 30.3.

“I didn’t know where the minute markers were, I just let him run and jump. He’s quite small and nippy, so he doesn’t struggle with the mud at all. He could have gone for two more minutes. He just kept galloping and jumping.”

The partnership have jumped double clear in all their international starts this season, including their five-star debut at Luhmühlen where they finished 12th. The Billy Mexico son is out of former racehorse Dillus (by Dillum) and that thoroughbred blood was an asset in today’s conditions.

“If I’m honest, I didn’t really want to run because I was a bit scared about the ground, but I know the horse loves the mud and ran very well in it at Lignières recently,” she added. “Some friends of mine gave me a kick up the arse to make me actually go and he was phenomenal, foot perfect from the start to finish.”

Cross-country day started soggy and got wetter. The Pau team pulled three obstacles last night, and another eight jumping efforts this morning. Loops were altered and sand poured onto take offs and landings. The course was shortened from 6,500m and an optimum time of 11min 25secs, to 5213m with a time of 9mins 09 secs.

On the whole, horses sloshed through. Yes it was challenging – but horses were finishing well. The overall picture was mud-splattered, without being attritional.

Overnight leaders Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, who won the 2023 event, were drawn towards the end of the day and now hold provisional second ahead of the final phase (40.6).

Ros had a beautiful ride this morning with her first horse, five-star debutant MHS Seventeen, with whom she holds 14th. She then showed the breadth of her horsemanship in adapting to the extra challenge of tackling such ground late on in the day with a masterful performance with Izilot.

“I definitely rode quite a lot wider on my lines to try and find him some fresh ground,” said Ros, who added 21.6 cross-country time-penalties to Izilot’s dressage score of 19.

“So Izilot probably covered a bit more distance than MHS Seventeen did this morning. It’s so wet that they are slopping through it, but I don’t think probably any of us would have ridden in conditions quite like this.

“Considering the conditions that the organisers have had to face, the ground has held up. It doesn’t look good, but the horses haven’t had a bad experience today.”

She added: “I felt that both my horses kept their ears pricked the whole way around today. Despite the challenging conditions, the mud was so wet that, although it slowed them down, I didn’t feel that it sucked them and delayed their jump or anything like that. So I think they came out having had a really positive experience.”

Tom McEwen was smiling through the rain after his cracking round with Brookfield Quality (“Norris”), riding off feeling as minute markers went out the window.

“I felt like a Pony Club kid back out hunting again – I was loving it, and so was Norris,” said Tom, who holds provisional third with the 15-year-old OBOS Quality 004 son.

“We came with Norris to be competitive and he’s been awesome. I couldn’t be happier.”

He added: “It was hard to gauge how it was riding because I went so early. But I was one of the few people that really did want to run this morning when it was still raining and you could hear it on the lorry roof.”

Tom thanked the Pau team for the efforts they put in to ensure the day could go ahead.

“People rode brilliantly so it’s been a great day for the sport, even though it’s rained more than England,” he said.

Little grey stallion Halo stepped up to join the five-star club, rising from 10th after dressage to fourth at this stage with rider Piggy March on a score of 45.

“I’m so proud of him. He’s 11, which isn’t that young, but he’s not done masses, and he’s certainly done nothing in the mud,” said Piggy.

Championships are a major focus for China’s Alex Hua Tian, which means that as important as five-stars are to him as a rider, they are not always on the plan. Pau is Alex’s first CCI5* since Badminton 2016 and his performance so far this week with Chicko has marked a happy return to this level.

“I have so much faith in this horse,” said Alex, who celebrated his birthday on Friday with a sub-30 dressage and now holds provisional fifth on 45.7.

“He’s so nifty in this phase – he’s so accurate and he loves his job. He’s not the rangiest of gallopers. He digs deep and he tries.

“We thought we’d be on top of the ground here at Pau and twisting in and out, and that’s not quite been the case today, but at the same time, it’s been a great challenge for him.

“It puts him, I hope, in a great place, to give his owners confidence to maybe do Badminton next spring.”

US rider Boyd Martin is in sixth (47.1) on his Paris 2024 Olympic ride Fedarman B. Austria’s Lea Siegl rounded off a tough 12 months on a positive note with her lovely jumping clear with DSP Fighting Line to sit seventh in the provisional standings (47.5).

Oliver Townend had three good rounds with his trio of Pau campaigners. Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent heads his string in eighth. Sweden’s Frida Andersen and Box Leo bounded up the standings by virtue of their cross-country performance and are in ninth (49.5), while New Zealand’s Tim Price and the flash chesnut Jarillo complete an international top-10 (49.6).

The second horse inspection is set to take place at 11.45am local time (10.45am UK time) on Sunday (27 October), followed by the showjumping at 3pm local time (4pm UK time).

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Defending champions lead bumper Pau field on sub-20 dressage: ‘He lifted when he came in’

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Further changes have been made to the 2024 Pau Horse Trials cross-country course this morning (Saturday, 26 October).

H&H reported last night that three jumps had been removed – these were fences 17, 28 and 29a. The roping was also changed in a couple of places.

More jumps were also removed this morning, before the start of the action on Pierre Michelet’s five-star course.

Fences four, five and six – Maisons Béarnaise du Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne (pictured, below) – a combination question, where competitors would have jumped a house on a mound followed by two more houses on a tight turn, have been taken out.

Out on the racecourse section of the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course, the laurel hedge at fence 16 (Haie de Laurier) and the white vertical at fence 18 (Vertical MIMs) are also gone. The log pile question at fence 19ab (Stères), two skinny jumping efforts with serious breadth on a related distance, are no longer on the course.

The corner before competitors enter the main arena (fence 31 – Pointe MIMs) has also been removed.