Team gold medal-winning showjumpers Harry Charles and his father Peter are considering a party, and “hitting the road running” for the World Championships in two years’ time.

Harry and Peter Charles, who won gold last week and 12 years ago, with Romeo 88 and Vindicat W respectively, both jumping clear and both with Ben Maher and Scott Brash on the team, spoke after today’s individual Olympic showjumping final.

Harry had qualified for today’s showdown but withdrew Romeo as the 15-year-old had a slight overreach. But asked if he was disappointed, Harry said: “No. Romeo’s in great shape, and if he’s not 110% I wasn’t going to jump and we go home happy.

“He goes home with a gold medal. We did what we came here to do with the team, and he jumped an amazing round yesterday, after that, so I’m delighted. And obviously I would have liked to jump, but hopefully I’ll have a couple more goes at it.

“To win the Olympic gold medal is every sportsperson’s dream, and I think to do it in the manner we did it, the only team to have three clear rounds, was really special. So we have a lot of people to thank, and we’re going to go home and reflect on it.”

Harry was at his second Olympics and he said he would not have been there, and able to win a medal, without his experience in Tokyo three years ago.

“That, for me, was a big learning curve, and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to deliver what we did here without that,” he said. “So I’m very grateful for that, even though at the time, it wasn’t exactly how I saw it going. I think you’ve seen a difference in how much the partnership has grown, we’ve been together now three and a half years. It makes such a difference, you know, knowing your horse, and I’ll for ever be grateful to him.

“It got tough in Tokyo, not the round we wanted, and then we had to go back in again for the team. I had to dig deep a bit; to be honest, I walked the course and really didn’t want to ride. But my dad said, ‘No, you have to do this. This is going to make you’. And he often says that was a defining moment in my career. I could have gone in there and crumbled. And actually we came out with not a bad score in a team final. That was my last round, so actually, I felt we left on a really good note. And since Tokyo, then my career kind of took off a little bit, we’ve had some great wins. It was a really a making moment for me, I think.”

Peter agreed it had been a good week, but that he does not get too excited or too depressed.

“You take the rough and the smooth,” he said, adding that the road to Paris had been a bumpy one, including Harry’s breaking his arm.

“I wasn’t too worried; there’s other people far more worried than me,” he said. “Harry was fine, I knew he’d be fine. Did I expect a medal from these guys? Yes. Gold, a bonus. Bronze, I thought we’d squeak it. But the way they all rode, there was no Big Star, there was no Explosion, no Sanctos in the team but three very, very good horses.

“The night before, we had a talk about it, all the lads had to ride 100% of their talent and ability. The horses all had to give close to that maximum. And that’s exactly what happened.

“You could see in the ring, no rider made any mistakes. Yes, a time-fault here or there, but the fences didn’t fall. It was going to be close to getting a medal. And then, you know, a gold medal was just the way a cookie crumbled a bit.”

Peter said he was very proud, but asked how much credit he took for keeping Romeo going since Harry’s fall, said: “Anyone could have done it!”

And when asked if there was to be a party, Peter said he was already planning the road ahead instead.

“I’m thinking the World Championship for two years, finding more horses you’ve got to do that, got to qualify for LA,” he said. “There’s a lot to do. And if the work starts right now, you won’t be sitting on your backside. This is done and finished with me; I’m down the road to hit the road running.”

But asked if Harry would be at a party to celebrate the fantastic week, he said: “Yes, and Dad will be attending it!”

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

You might also be interested in:

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One of the heroes of Friday’s victorious Hickstead Nations Cup team was 24-year-old British rising star Harry Charles.

A year after jumping a double clear for his country with Stall Zet’s impressive Casquo Blue in the Longines FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain, the Hampshire rider achieved the feat once again, this time in a crucial result for the sport. For it had been 13 years since British showjumping fans last had reason to celebrate on home soil when, back in 2010, Harry’s father Peter Charles and the great Murka’s Pom D’Ami, alongside William Funnell (Billy Congo), Tina Fletcher (Hello Sailor) and Michael Whitaker (GIG Amai II) had last lifted the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy.

But this year, Di Lampard’s squad of Harry, John Whitaker (Equine America Unick Du Francport) – who had been on the sidelines watching the 2010 Nations Cup – Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria) and Ben Maher (Exit Remo) brought home the silverware once again, to some epic celebrations.

Somewhat surprisingly for Harry, who is a veteran of an Olympic games, a world championship medallist and a mainstay of five-star British teams, this was his first Nations Cup success.

“This is amazing – it’s my first Nations Cup win but it’s also amaing for all the guys and Di Lampard,” said Hampshire-based Harry, who also picked up a share of the bonus as one of three riders who jumped double clears in Friday’s two-round competition. “This has been the goal to win the Nations Cup and bring it back. So when a plan comes together like it did today, it’s a real sense of achievement.

“I’m proud of everyone, it’s a really special day.”

Hickstead Nations Cup: ‘I was just a nipper!’

Harry was only 11, “just a nipper!” when he watched his father help Great Britain win the Hickstead Nations Cup in 2010, but he recalls the occasion vividly.

“I remember being here with Jack Whitaker [son of GB team rider Michael] and Will Fletcher [son of Tina Fletcher] in 2010 and I remember that day very clearly – I can’t believe that was the last time we won it! So it’s probably overdue and I’m very happy to bring it back,” said Harry. Notably, both of his friends from that day were also in action in the five-star classes at this year’s Longines Royal International Horse Show, with Jack Whitaker also securing a landmark first senior win at Hickstead.

If someone had told Peter Charles in 201o that it would be 13 years before Great Britain would next win on home soil, with his son on the team, he would have been “very surprised that it was so long coming”, but he had no doubt even back then that his then 11-year-old son would one day be forging his own incredibly successful showjumping career path.

“All through juniors and young riders, he’s been a real horseman, and his sisters Scarlett and Sienna too, so this is a credit to him. I’m very proud,” said Peter.

As a nod to his prowess as a team rider, Harry, who was the youngest of the quartet jumping in the Hickstead Nations Cup this year, has been shifted into the anchorman role as fourth team rider to jump.

“It’s a real privilege to be put in that position in your home Nations Cup,” said Harry. “So thanks to Di and Stanny van Paeschen for the trust.”

The competition had been sealed by third rider John Whitaker’s second-round clear, so Harry’s second round “was nice,” said a smiling Harry.

“The boys did all the hard work – I could just smile and wave a bit!” he said. “But I love jumping here at Hickstad, it’s the perfect place to win my first Nations Cup.”

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Breen remains king of the Queen’s: Shane lifts Hickstead trophy for fourth time

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

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

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

Picking up where he left off at the London International Horse Show of 2021, young British showjumper Harry Charles scored in the very first class of 2022, the Voltaire Design Under 25 British Championship.

Harry teamed up with a relatively new mare to his string, the 11-year-old Chavira (Chacco-Blue x Calvaro FC) to win after a six-way jump-off, where he was joined by his two sisters Scarlett and Sienna. With fourth-placed Robert Murphy riding Peter Charles’s brilliant eight-year-old Lightning TW, it was a fantastic morning for the Charles family.

“That feels good, I’ve been trying to win this class for seven years now,” said Harry, 23, who won the World Cup qualifier and the grand prix at last year’s show. “So it’s nice to have finally done it. My strategy was to try to win! I thought Robert Murphy was probably my one to watch – he works a lot with us and our team, so I know his riding inside out. I knew he was on a very fast horse and he’s a very fast rider. So when he had one down I thought I could take it a bit easier.”

Chavira came to the Charles family stables in the summer after Peter spotted her potential and went back to basics with the mare, schooling her himself.

“She belongs to Stall Zet and hadn’t been doing much,” said Peter. “I said to the owner that I thought she could be alright – I just needed some time to get the control. So I fiddled about, I just taught her to go backwards and forwards to get the control, and got her jumping really good.”

His daughter Sienna started riding her and then Harry swapped his London World Cup-winning ride Stardust for the mare and this is only their fourth show together, while Sienna now rides Stardust.

“Chavira will jump 1.70m, she’s a little fighter, feisty and she was just misunderstood,” said Peter. “We haven’t used her much, but Harry took her to Hubside and won a really good ranking class. She’s quick, but she’s better than a speed horse – I think Harry could win the Hickstead Derby or the Hamburg Derby on her because she’s brave and can jump all the funny stuff. A good, fast speed class wouldn’t worry her because she’ll go like the clappers, she could win a six-bar and she could win a grand prix one day, too. Then if you’re stuck for a Nations Cup, you could pull her out for that. The mare is what you want in the string – she’s a great leg of the chair.”

‘I’m proud of her today’: Harry Charles on his London Horse Show winning ride

Talking about his winning round in the under 25 championship at London Horse Show, Harry, who was drawn third of the six riders, said: “She has very little experience against the clock, which you could probably see in my round. So I just wanted to take care of her and not ask her all the questions and hoped it would be enough.

“I think we’ve formed a good partnership so far. I think you’ll see a lot more of her in 2023 – she’s got a lot of potential, she just needs the experience – but I’m proud of her today for doing this.

“If anyone was going to beat me today, I’d have liked it to have been my sisters,” added Harry. “They’ve both had a difficult couple of years with injuries so it’s good to see them back going strong and I think you’ll see more of them next year. I think my Dad’s proud enough today.”

Taking second with a double clear just 1sec slower than Harry, was Leonie Aitkenhead riding the 10-year-old mare Heart-Third. Emma Crawford claimed third, just a fraction slower on Dukes Of Hazzard.

Talking about returning to the London Horse Show, where he landed an incredible hat-trick of international classes last year and finished runner-up in the Voltaire Design under-25 British Championship, Harry said: “It seems pretty impossible to repeat what I did last year but I’ll give it a good go! Last year was a dream come true, so I’m just going to enjoy it. Whatever happens I’m proud of.

“I love to start the show strong, it’s how I mean to go on. Let’s hope it continues for the week.”

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

All roads led to Barcelona this week for the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final, where some of the best teams in the world battled it out for the coveted title, as well as an all-important ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics. British chef d’equipe Di Lampard revealed her fifth-placed squad of young riders “did their country proud”, although you had to feel for poor Joe Stockdale, who said he was “absolutely gutted” to tip the final fence in round two and miss out on a share of the €100,000 double-clear bonus.

Elsewhere in Spain, two of our Olympic riders debuted some exciting new horsepower and London gold medallist Peter Charles made a welcome return to the international ring. Meanwhile, on home soil, the Keysoe CSI2* grand prix attracted a strong field, so congratulations to Laura Stephenson and her 20-year-old partner Catherston Connor for their success.

Here is your weekly round-up of international action from the world of showjumping over the past week.

Ben Maher makes winning debut on new horse

The reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher has some top-class new horses in his string and, in week one of the Autumn Mediterranean Equestrian Tour CSI2* at Oliva Nova, Spain, he made a winning debut with Exit Remo (main image, above), an outstanding five-star horse for Dutch rider Patrick Lemmen. Ben and the 13-year-old jumped the only double clear to win Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off class, but he was also in action on Helwell Du Chabus for Holger Hetzel, and the nine-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly, a great contender for French team rider Nicolas Delmotte until recently. Scott Brash also made his competitive debut on the seven-year-old Keswichtime HV. This week’s grand prix was won by US rider Michael Hughes with the Stephex Stables’ 15-year-old Calisto Blue, once the ride of Michael Whitaker and more recently with Daniel Deusser. The bronze tour final resulted in a British victory for the in-form Joanne McGlory riding G Zara Zing while sisters Sienna and Scarlett Charles were placed in the silver tour equivalent.

Showjumping results from Autumn MET Tour

Belgium triumphs and young British team “make their country proud” in Nations Cup Final

In Barcelona, Spain, Belgium took the coveted title in the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final, as well as securing Olympic qualification for Paris 2024. Great Britain’s young squad of Ellen Whitaker (Equine America Spacecake), Lily Attwood (Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z), Jodie Hall McAteer (Salt’N Peppa) and Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) finished fifth, and chef d’equipe Di Lampard said: “I was so proud because Barcelona is no giveaway – it’s a sudden-death championship.”

“We went straight through [to Sunday’s final], by the skin of our teeth!” she added. “This was Lily’s first time into the team at five-star level, a massive step up for a 20-year-old, and Jodie is getting much better at the level, while Joe has shown his maturity – that last fence was cruel though!” she said, of his faults at the final oxer, which denied him a share of the €100,000 double-clear bonus.

“Ellen’s rounds were fantastic – to lead us out, and to lead everyone out on the last day. My goodness can she ride in that ring! The spirit with this young group of riders is brilliant, I was so proud of the way they came back. They did the country proud and what a season to look forward to next year.”

Nations Cup Final standings

Peter Charles makes a welcome return to the international ring

With his daughters Sienna and Scarlett Charles in action on the Autumn MET Tour, Peter decided to don his white breeches and competition jacket to make a welcome return to the showjumping ring in the CSI2* classes. It had been three years since the 2012 Olympic team gold medallist made his last international appearance and four years since he was last competing regularly. Riding the nine-year-old ABC Caruso, 62-year-old Peter’s best result in Spain came in Sunday’s 1.40m two-phase class where he just collected four penalties in the second phase.

“I always ride and school at home, but we had new horses and we were a rider short here so I jumped him myself – but don’t worry, it’s nothing big, I won’t be aiming for Paris or anything like that!” said Peter. “It’s part of our business – schooling the horses behind the scenes is what I do anyway and I can easily pull one around for the team, so all that was different this weekend was that I had to put on a shirt and tie!”

Results from the CSI2* two-phase in Oliva Nova, Spain

20-year-old gelding triumphs

Only two riders managed to produce double clears in Keysoe’s CSI2* grand prix, and victory went to Laura Stephenson riding the 20-year-old Catherston Connor. Taking the runner-up spot was Joe Trunkfield with the great campaigner Grennanstown Sarco Lux. Don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of H&H, in the shops on Thursday 13 October.

Keysoe grand prix results.

Landmark first grand prix

At the CSI3* Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour at the Kentucky Horse Park, 21-year-old US rider Tanner Korotkin landed his first international grand prix aboard Rupert Winkelmann’s Quinn 33, who he’s only been riding for a couple of months.

“He’s just an awesome, fast, super careful horse and he’s really fun to ride,” he said.

Split Rock grand prix results

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

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

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

A decade ago today (6 August) showjumping fans up and down the country erupted in delight as Great Britain’s quartet of Nick Skelton, Scott Brash, Peter Charles and Ben Maher won a glorious team gold medal in front of their home crowd at the London 2012 Olympics.

Tabloid headlines took great delight in highlighting the combined age of the team (two of whom were in their 50s), running with headlines about Britain’s “Golden oldies”.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” said Nick, then 54 and riding at his sixth Olympics.

But it was a phenomenal team performance and possibly one of the biggest surprises of the Games because it had been a whopping 60 years since Great Britain had last won a showjumping gold medal at the Olympics – when Harry Llewellyn (Foxhunter), Douglas Stewart (Aherlow) and Wilfred White (Nizefela) took the crown in Helsinki in 1952.

We remember that momentous day in London like it were yesterday, but how many of these epic moments do you recall from the day British showjumpers won Olympic GOLD?

1. ‘The best day of our lives’

A real team effort from the riders, not to mention the grooms, owners, trainers, supporters and a hard-working crew behind the scenes, resulted in the highest accolade of the sport, an Olympic gold medal.

“This is the best day of my life – the best day of all our lives,” said an ecstatic Scott Brash.

“How fortunate we are to have a quartet of riders that came together at just the right time and did us all proud,” said Graham Fletcher at the time.

2. THAT electrifying jump-off

2008 was the first time the Olympic showjumping team gold medal was decided by a jump-off and Greenwich made it two on the trot. The British squad had to do it the hard way, going into battle with the Dutch, and all four riders from both nations had to jump once more against the clock over a shortened course.

Nick went first and delivered a flat-out clear, then Jur Vrieling matched his clear for the Netherlands. Ben Maher nailed a classy economical clear before Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten dropped two poles. British hopes soared, but then Scott just rubbed the second fence for four faults. However, when Marc Houtzager hit one fence, the cogs began whirring as last British rider Peter Charles and Vindicat entered the ring, having yet to jump clear throughout the competition. But Peter dipped into every pot his great experience and rode the round of his life, leaving every fence standing and glorious gold was won.

3. The moment Peter Charles sealed gold

After Peter and Vindicat crossed the line to put that spectacular clear on the scorecard, a storm broke over the crowd and they lost all control, cheering, whistling, stamping and hugging with tears running down many a cheek. The champagne bar was the most popular spot in Greenwich within minutes of the team gold being won.

4. Nick Skelton’s premature leap on the podium

So excited was Nick about finally winning gold at his sixth Olympics, that he leapt on the podium too early – much to his team-mates’ amusement.

5. A packed podium

Great Britain won gold ahead of the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. Dutch team member Jur Vrieling reflected: “We were going for gold from the beginning. But of course, we are very happy to win silver.” Meanwhile the Saudi riders were delighted with their first Olympic team medal.

6. The tears, the emotion

Nick Skelton’s emotion after he won gold was plain for all to see – he’d set out his plan to win gold and so determined and focused had he been, that he’d galvanised those around him into believing that gold was their destiny. He received 345 text messages of congratulations in the immediate aftermath and even gave BBC presenter Clare Balding a huge on-camera hug after winning gold.

7. The fences and that stunning backdrop

Bob Ellis’s London and maritime-themed courses were masterful and having the City skyline as the backdrop proved spectacular, and a constant reminder of how lucky we were to have the greatest sporting event on home soil. On walking Bob’s track for the first time, Saudi rider Ramzy al Duhami quipped: “I wish I had shown my horse more postcards of London!”

8. The support of the crowd

For anyone lucky enough to bag a ticket to Greenwich that day through the official London 2012 ballot, the atmosphere was electric as we rode every rollercoaster of emotions through the afternoon – and well into the night as the celebrations rolled on. But the riders credited the passionate, hyper-excited crowd for lifting them to glory.

“Without this crowd, we could never have done it,” said Nick Skelton. “People said that riding in an Olympics at home would add pressure, but it was totally the opposite.”

In the crowd was showjumping legend John Whitaker, who recalls: “I was just enjoying myself, thinking I’d managed to stay anonymous, when they announced on the loudspeaker that it was my birthday and everyone turned round to look at me. It wasn’t so quiet after that!”

9. Look out, ladies

One of our favourite moments was when Scott Brash, in response to Clare Balding asking him how winning team gold would change his life, said: “To be honest, I’m hoping it will help me pull more women.”

10. The heroic horses

While the riders made showjumping history, the four horses – Big Star, Hello Sanctos, Tripple X III and Vindicat – became national heroes too.

Scott said of Sanctos: “He’s a joy to have in your stable, so easy to work with.”

“He’s amazing. He hasn’t got a negative. He’s the most perfect horse,” said Nick Skelton of the stallion, owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson, who went on to take him to individual gold at the Rio Olympics four years later.

11. All the headlines

The British showjumpers made headline news around the world, unsurprisingly many of which featured the “Golden oldies” line but it was great to see equestrian sport receiving extensive coverage, including on both the BBC and ITV main news at 10pm. John Whitaker reflected: “What an unbelievable result for the British showjumpers – it’s been a long time coming!”

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

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

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

Ahead of the 60th edition of the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby on Sunday (26th June), we’ve been chatting to some past winners to hear their stand-out memories.

Here is what Peter Charles, winner of the Hickstead Derby three times in succession in 2001, 2002 and 2003 on Corrada, had to say…

First Hickstead Derby memory

“I worked for Eddie Macken and the memories are very clear of what he did at Hickstead with Boomerang,” says Peter. “He gave me my first big start in life so it’s always natural to want to follow the path of one of your idols and mentors.

First Hickstead Derby experience

“A mare called Bit More Candy got me round for about 16 faults,” remembers Peter. “What I learnt was just how tough it was – much tougher in those days, but they had to modernise it to make it more horse-friendly. The bank used to be much steeper but quite rightly it’s been modernised for horse safety.

The times it all went right in the Hickstead Derby

“Corrada was an awkward old thing and I could never get her down the bank at home so we never envisaged her going in the Derby,” says Peter. “She was placed in a class on Saturday and Lizzie Bunn said, ‘You’ve qualified Corrada, I don’t suppose you want to do the Derby do you?’ So it’s all down to Lizzie that I changed my mind and gave it a go.

“It was very hairy coming off the bank – she launched off, nearly from the top – but I knew she could jump everything else in her sleep. I think it was just the adrenaline of the competition that saw her through.

“The second and third year I knew she’d win it – the only thing stopping me would be if I jumped the wrong course. She beat Robert Smith in the jump-off that second year, who was riding the fastest horse in Mr Springfield. The third one especially got a lot of reaction because it was on afternoon TV, on BBC’s Grandstand – it had great coverage throughout the world and it was one of the premier events.

“I think in terms of winning, Corrada never had a fence down. She could have beaten Boomerang’s record [winning four times] I’m sure, but the owners sold her. She wasn’t just a Derby horse, she was a great championship horse. She’s now buried in my jumping field at home.”

You might also be interested in:

Michael Whitaker’s Hickstead Derby memories: ‘I nearly had a heart attack when I saw how steep the bank was’

Tim Gredley makes Hickstead Derby comeback — 17 years after his first attempt in the iconic class

Graham Fletcher: ‘Competition horses are still facing horrendous delays waiting for paperwork checks at customs’

The Hickstead Derby’s 60th running – and four other events to follow this week

Guy Williams’ Hickstead Derby memories: ‘Skip Two Ramiro is probably my all-time Hickstead horse’

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

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

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

Peter Charles is a household name in showjumping, having forged out a stellar career in the saddle before providing his talented children Harry, Scarlett and Sienna with the springboard to launch their own careers. But did you know he has also built a successful showjumping breeding enterprise, producing some very exciting prospects from his Hampshire pastures? Here, he offers some insight into his methods of choosing a broodmare and breeding top prospects.

“One of my very good friends, Kevin Cooper, who lives down the road from me, got me into the breeding side of the sport,” explains Peter. “He would always talk about it and he had a nice Irish mare, who was a very good 1.40m jumper. We were at a show together and he asked me what I thought of the stallion Carnaval Drum, who he had just bought, and I said: ‘That’s a good one, let’s use him’.

“I rode the progeny, he was called Carnavelly, and I won the six-year-old World Championships, the German Masters, the Berlin grand prix and the World Cup at the London International Horse Show on him. To have had a hand in that horse was fantastic, and that really inspired me to breed myself. Kevin has also bred many good horses since.”

“We have no mares over the age of 16”

Peter has nine broodmares, producing between six and nine foals per year, but, he says, age is crucial when it comes to the mares.

“I believe the younger mares produce the best horses,” he says. “If you also look at horse racing, the successful ones tend to be by young mares. So, I have taken that on board. I try to mainly breed from good pedigrees over a few generations with the mares themselves. They must also have a good jump and conformation. We have no mares over the age of 16 and we start to take embryos from them around 8-10 years old.

“I love seeing the foals being born and bringing them up. Earlier on in my breeding career I sold one horse too early, and I have learnt from this. I sold Clear Rounds Than Party aged two, for £1,500, because I judged the horse too early on his loose jumping. He ended up second in the grand prix at the London International Horse Show. It taught me to never be impatient and if you judge a young horse every time they jump and perform you will be disappointed. They need time to develop, and all are vastly different in their development.

“Clear Rounds Than Party was the first horse that was born here. I must stress I never gave him that name, that was Geir Gulliksen!”

Despite proving successful, Peter is the first to admit it’s not a commercial enterprise.

“I like to keep the foals and not sell too early,” he says. “I’ll buy one or two as well. I like to wait until they are in the spring of their fourth year, before we break them in, this allows the horse to be strong enough to show me what they are like and I will not misread a situation with the horse not being ready or strong enough.

“We never loose jump our horses; they will have a few small jumps with a rider when they are first broken in and this gives us an accurate representation of their talent. Loose jumping can give out a lot of false impressions, and I cannot judge a horse loose jumping at a sale because it can be totally inaccurate.”

Peter Charles: the key to success

So what is the secret to producing a successful showjumper?

“I can’t say for sure, because sometimes you get horses that don’t have any top pedigree lines at the very top of the sport,” he says. “But I do 100% believe that if you have a really good dam, with top breeding going back two or three generations, you are improving your chances of breeding a top horse.

“All a stallion can do is better the mare, so in percentages of probability, you need a very good mare to start with. If you have that, then you are increasing the chances of your success rate – it is not guaranteed, but you are giving yourself a fair chance. However, with some mares it doesn’t matter who you put them to, they still produce outstanding horses.

“The perfect example [of an unexpectedly successful pairing] is Liscalgot who was ridden by Dermott Lennon. They together won the individual World Championship in Jerez de la Frontera in 2002. Liscalgot’s dam was bought by a breeder to act as a way of keeping his grass down in his paddock. One day he decided to put her into foal, but she would not load into the lorry, so they chased her down a road in Ireland to the nearest stallion who happened to be Touchdown. This combination bred the world champion in 2002!”

“Many people pay so much money that they expect instant results”

Talking about forming partnerships with your horse, Peter stresses: “Sometimes partnerships do not work out, but I think with enough time and a smart rider, who does not try to force issues, a partnership can develop. Many people now, do not give the horse time or a chance, they pay so much money that they expect instant results. It has never worked like that – a horse does not know how much it costs.”

Peter, who won team gold at the London 2012 Olympics, says his partner that day, Vindicat (pictured below) was a “true family horse”.

“My wife was the half-owner and my son, Harry, persuaded me to buy the horse as a four-year-old,” he says. “I had just broken my back in three places, so I wasn’t even sure I was going to ride again, so to jump the last round on Vinidicat in order to the win the gold medal for Great Britain at home was something only dreams are made of.”

“The four most iconic arenas in the world”

Talking about the showjumping calendar, Peter says: “I think that Rolex has taken show jumping to next level, it is now on par with all the other sporting Majors, such as tennis and golf. Rolex has picked the four most iconic arenas in the world [for the Rolex Grand Slam] – they are without a doubt historic venues and the history in them needs no explaining. The level of competition associated with those arenas, over the years, is the best in the world.

“CHIO Aachen is beautiful, manicured, and the attention to details unrivalled. It takes your breath away every time. They have taken CHI Geneva to another level, way beyond any other indoor show in the world. The CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is a long plane ride away, but it is worth every second when you get there. The crowds are phenomenal, and they have created the best show jumping arena in North America. The Dutch Masters is magnificent and steeped in history. Each of those venues are also outstanding for the horses, great stabling, warm up arenas and plenty of room to move them around.

“CHI Geneva is the next Major [8-12 December] and it brings the whole equestrian world together, with the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, the Rolex Grand Prix and the fantastic prize money. It is without doubt the pinnacle of the whole indoor season and is proper grand prix showjumping with no pay cards and no gimmicks.”

Inspired by legendary riders

Peter has been inspired by the likes of such legends as Hugo Simon and Paul Schockemöhle over his glittering career.

“I loved watching the pure belief of Hugo Simon,” he reveals. “I would watch him, his warm-ups, his approach at the beginning of a show. He was the only man to jump every class in the show, and he would try and win them all even on his best horses. His horses had to win and the belief that he gave his horses to win was something you rarely see. I have never seen that level of intensity; a few riders want to win the top few classes at a show, but they usually mainly focus on the grand prix. But Hugo wanted to win from the first day, to the final grand prix. His mental preparation was amazing, and he prepared his horses to win. They knew what to expect from him as a rider, they were ready, and his belief in himself and his horses was extraordinary.

“In 1984 when I won my first World Cup in Brussels on a seven-year-old, called April Sun, after my round Paul Schockemöhle offered to buy the horse. I was quite naïve at that age and I told him that the horse wasn’t for sale. He said are you sure? I told him my plan was to go to the Seoul Olympics. Paul said good luck and look after him because they don’t come around that often. The following year the owner sold him! So ever since then with owners or partnerships, I make sure there is a clear plan. It is better for everyone involved.”

With thanks to Rolex Grand Slam.

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

Peter Charles on paying vast sums of money to compete, the 2021 opportunities that might exist for some but not for others and pushing young horses too far

Next year, there should be a lot to look forward to, with potentially both a European Championships and an Olympic Games. Not only will it be good for the sport, it will give more riders the opportunity to have something to aim for and work towards.

One of the problems that emerged this season was an inequality in access to the top levels of jumping, with the top 30 in Europe having the ability to compete at a number of five-star shows in St Tropez that were closed to everyone else – unless you were prepared to pay £25,000 to participate. Going into an Olympic year, the FEI needs to ensure that all riders who have qualified for Tokyo have an equal opportunity to compete.

While there won’t be much of a winter circuit in Europe, in the US shows are still going ahead. The downside is that it’s expensive to get there, visas can be a problem and

the Covid infection rates are high, especially in Florida, which makes health insurance

an issue.

There is also the chance that Biden will introduce lockdowns when he takes office – and cancellations are a big risk if you’re paying out that much money. For many riders, this will not be the year to cross the Atlantic.

There’s a Nations Cup in Florida at the end of March, though, and if the Covid situation eases up with vaccine distribution, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to send a team to compete. As long as the sport can get going by early spring, we should still be on track

for Tokyo.

A blessed lifestyle

This has been a year in which we should all feel blessed to be in the horse industry. When we’ve had to spend time locked down at home, we couldn’t have asked for a better lifestyle to help us cope.

There’s been a lot to learn spending time with the horses without the shows – from more time concentrating on flatwork to understanding the horses and their habits. We’ve had Alice Oppenheimer coming in weekly to help with dressage training, when the rules allow, which also helps to open up the riders’ minds.

We certainly shouldn’t be complaining about shows being cancelled when there are people whose entire lives have been wrecked by the pandemic. There’s no doubt we all now appreciate the life we had before, although people have been quick to adapt.

“A great shame”

One thing that’s been clear is the growing popularity of online auctions. Although I don’t always need to sit on a horse, I do like to see them in the flesh to get a feel for their character, and I always prefer to see them with a rider jumping them than jumping loose.

One of the downsides of auctions has been the extra push to jump horses too young and too often. It was also a great shame to see foals being jumped at a recent Continental sale, which just can’t be right.

When you combine this with the toll of age classes, where young horses are having to twist and turn against the clock, you find a lot of them are worn out by the age of seven.

Seeing on a horse’s record that it has won an age class is something that would not impress me as a buyer. If a horse is winning at that stage, then it’s missing out on a proper education, and speed is overtaking the art of horsemanship. If it wins through style and performance, though, that’s a different matter.

You hear complaints that it’s hard to find good horses, but people need to look at the bigger picture when they’re producing them ultimately to make a top horse. A difficult balance, I know, for any rider when it’s their livelihood and everything is oriented towards results in order to sell horses.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 December 2020

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Young British showjumper Harry Charles has acquired some very exciting new horse power which, he says, he’ll be aiming for next year’s Tokyo Olympics and the European Championships.

In September, owner Ann Thompson announced that Irish showjumper Darragh Kenny would no longer be riding her top-class string of horses — including Balou Du Reventon and Romeo 88 — deciding it was “time for an evaluation of my priorities” after Covid-19 took such a huge toll in the United States.

She is now handing over the reins to rising stars Harry Charles, 21, USA’s Lillie Keenan, 24, and 19-year-old Brian Moggre, also from USA.

Among those sent to Hampshire-based Harry’s stable are the 11-year-old stallion Romeo 88, who Darragh rode to the runner-up spot in last year’s Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, and the nine-year-old Gelano, who had most recently been ridden by Canadian showjumper Brian Walker.

“My father [Peter Charles] and I have always been a stable that sells a lot of horses, so to have someone like Ann support us and provide me with horses with no pressure to sell and only focus on the development of each horse and the spirit of the sport, is a unique and big thing for me,” said Harry. “These horses, especially a horse like Romeo 88, will fit at the front of my string, then next year we are aiming for the Olympic Games and the European Championships.”

The multi-winning 14-year-old stallion Balou Du Reventon, who Darragh rode to victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in Chantilly and the Rolex grand prix at Knokke Hippique in 2019, will now be seen with Brian Moggre in the saddle. Brian enjoyed a successful junior career before turning professional in 2019.

“The biggest thing is for me to represent Ann Thompson’s horses well and [Balou Du Reventon] really is a superstar, so my main goal is to show everybody that Balou is very special to Ann, and it has been a lot of fun getting to know him,” said Brian.

“Riding him for the first time was a bit surreal as he is definitely not a horse I thought I would ever get the opportunity to ride! There is no telling what the extent of this horse’s career is.”

Lillie Keenan has received the up-and-coming seven-year-old Delta De La Rasse, whom Britain’s Donald Whitaker has been producing. Lillie was part of the USA Nations Cup team that won the Aga Khan Trophy in Dublin in 2017.

“My parents always assured me opportunities will find you if you are doing your part and treating people the way you want to be treated,” said Lillie.

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“This was something that just came together and I can’t thank Ann Thompson enough for believing in me, believing in my program and taking this chance to support my career. To have a woman who is successful and strong in her own right support my career, I think it is so meaningful, but is also an advantage because she has been through the struggles I know I will face.”

Ann Thompson said: “I am looking forward to this next chapter in my support of show jumping not only in the USA but also globally. Because of my commitment to the sport of show jumping, I am honored to welcome each of these three talented athletes from around the world to the Everlong, LLC team.

“The care and well-being of my horses is my top priority, and I feel that with this new Everlong, LLC team of talented young athletes, my horses are appropriately placed and will thrive in their new endeavors.”

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

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Following on from Nick Skelton’s controversial column suggesting a significiant increase in membership costs to raise funds that could then be reinvested back into show facilities in Britain, fellow Olympian Peter Charles shares his thoughts...

As Nick Skelton outlined in his comment in H&H last week, this lockdown situation does present a great opportunity to reflect on how the sport has developed into what it is today. Whether you agree with his comments or not, the debate it has generated can only be good for the future of the sport.

What British showjumping has is one of the best export economies in Europe. On most tours, British riders outnumber the host nation. We take multiple lorries, horses and grooms and spend a lot of money, year in and year out. That money is leaving the country and this is a chance to look at how and why that has come about.

“The good old days”

We do harp on about the “good old days” but it is useful to remember what our circuit used to look like.

Every Butlin’s holiday camp in the country hosted top-class showjumping, with 30 riders invited and paid. There were the amateur and professional World Championships at Cardiff Castle, the Everest Double Glazing championships and the Lancia finals at Northwood, where the winner won a car.

We had four international Hickstead meetings, and Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Wembley was followed the week after by the Courvoisier Championships, which had the biggest prize money in Europe.

Many boroughs in London also held shows – Clapham, Wandsworth and Hyde Park – as well as a couple of seaside crackers in Southport and Southsea.

A large proportion of the British Showjumping (BS) membership are amateur riders, which is no problem, but somewhere in the organisation there needs to be an enterprising outfit looking purely at reinvention and the creation of new shows and venues.

This would be such a good opportunity to grow our professional game to the standard where we can attract more foreign riders to our shores – that would be the sign we are getting it right.

The dream is real

There has been more than one occasion in the past few weeks when I’ve woken up and thought, “That was some dream” – and then realised it’s all real!

We were in Spain with 20 horses and 13 people when governments started to bring in restrictions. The show was closed down and we had to fly in drivers to get the horses out, just making the last commercial flights home ourselves.

Nick mentioned in his column how good it was in Spain on the Sunshine Tour, but it wasn’t without its disappointments. It’s not a cheap tour but the main classes were still vastly over subscribed. There were around 150 entries trying to qualify for the 50-starter grand prix and that’s not really the intensity you want at that time of year.

When will it end?

We’re back up and running at Heathcroft Farm with the breeding season well under way. We’re being very strict with hygiene and are stocked up with sanitisers and plenty of medical gloves. Our farrier now shoes in isolation and we have an isolation box for the vets to use if they are on the yard.

Showjumping, like everything else, has been in lockdown, and the question on everybody’s lips is when will we be jumping again? I think by June or July, at a national level, we could resume some competitions.

The best route would be to get the professionals out first and restrict people to jumping at their regional show centres.

If BS creates strict guidelines for organisers, I think it can go ahead. We’d need limited online entries and allotted times, ideally both a warm-up ring and a collecting ring, and grooms would need to wear masks.

We’re likely to need extra stewards and additional facilities, such as more toilets, to ensure social distancing.

Ref Horse & Hound; 21 May 2020

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A no-deal Brexit would hit our industry very hard, and after this past week in politics, it’s not looking good.

Some of the older riders remember a time when you had to get every horse listed on a carnet and registered with the Chamber of Commerce before you left England, to provide customs with a guarantee for their value.

In those days, we had to stop at every border to do the paperwork and there were lengthy hold-ups — at Aachen, the border stop could be as long as 10 hours.

Many people are now asking if we will still be able to move our horses out of the country freely. A halt on horse transport would be very unlikely, because the UK has been granted listed status, but there is still much uncertainty surrounding our exit from the EU.

Political uncertainty has meant an ever-diminishing pound, which is not in the best interests of people who make a living buying and selling horses.

When you often compete abroad, there are a lot of bills to pay in foreign currencies and that makes it hit even harder.

It would be nice if we could make something positive out of a no-deal situation and if we’re no longer receiving EU subsidies for agriculture, then it might be an opportunity to reclassify equestrian businesses.

It would be a great time to get our breeding programmes under the advantage of agricultural subsidies, or for breeders and keepers of youngstock to benefit from a reduced rate of VAT. As a nation, we need to increase the quality of our breeding.

If people are subsidised to put mares in foal, and we have recognised auctions to sell stock, all of a sudden there would be a better pool of horses to choose from — and what better time for this than when we’re renegotiating our deal?

Ireland, France and Holland have benefited from subsidised breeding programmes. Under the Irish prime minister Charlie Haughey, breeders were granted a lot of breaks — if you owned one breeding stallion, you were exempt from all taxes until Brussels put an end to that in 2005. Coolmore and all the studs earned a fortune without having to pay a penny.

There were also grants for arenas, fencing and facilities and it led to a golden era for Irish breeding.

Foster found on Facebook

Amy Inglis recently jumped a double clear in the La Baule Nations Cup on a home-bred mare — how brilliant it would be if we could see more of this because of funding and incentives. Instead of rates on our facilities, we could be receiving grants for indoor schools and encouraging landowners to diversify.

At Heathcroft Farm we breed around five foals a year. For the past few seasons, I have had the mares inseminated later and then foaled them in the field come May. They seem much happier for it.

This year, we found a foster mare through social media, after we lost a surrogate who I bought at auction. My vet observed that she had probably been too small for the donors. With embryo transfers, you need big, roomy mares, or there’s always a danger.

Her very nice Diamant De Semilly foal survived and by 11pm that night was suckling on its foster mother, thanks to the help of Facebook.

Ref: Horse & Hound magazine; 30 May 2019

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Harry Charles proved unbeatable in his first four-star grand prix, beating his Olympic gold medallist father into third place.

The 18-year-old posted a clear round in the jump-off of the 1.55m grand prix at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, on Monday (12 March), finishing just under a second faster than his father Peter.

Harry, a double silver medallist at last summer’s Junior European Championships, had planned to jump his first four-star grand prix at the Liverpool International Horse Show last December but the show was cancelled just before the class was due to start owing to the major fire in a nearby car park.

This weekend, with two riders left before him in the class in Spain, heavy rain meant the class was abandoned, and the remaining 11 riders told they would have to wait until Monday.

“For any rider making their first appearance at this level they would have undoubtedly felt pressure, but for Harry this second set-back must have made him wonder whether his chance would ever come,” said a British Showjumping statement. “This pressure would certainly have also been compounded due to the fact that his father Peter, who won team gold at London 2012, had already gone clear and was guaranteed a place in the jump-off.

“With the arena drying out somewhat, the 11 remaining riders were invited to jump and Harry really couldn’t have delivered a better round. Riding Controe, an 11 year-old bay mare with whom he has consistently been jumping clears, he delivered a foot-perfect round like an old hand to assure himself a place alongside his father and five other Brits in the 11-strong jump-off.”

Peter on ABC Quantum Cruise had already jumped clear in a time of 33.90 seconds, but Harry delivered a rhythmical clear in 33.02 seconds to take the victory, to cheers from the sidelines.

“I’m so proud of Harry,” Peter said. “He rode well beyond his years, he was sensible in the jump-off and he worked out where he could save time. He was cool and calculated; he nailed it with precision.

“He beat me today and I honestly couldn’t be happier about that. My focus is on him, and my other children, all achieving their ambitions and I just want them all to be as successful as I know they can be. Harry has an enormous talent and in my opinion is a future Olympic rider and medallist for Great Britain. I’m just doing everything I can now to help him achieve that and we’re supporting him all the way.

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“He has really proved himself stepping up in this way and it’s a really great day for the entire family.”

Peter finished third with Robert Olivier on Eros second, Spencer Roe and Wonder Why fourth and Graham Gillespie and Andretti fifth, making it four Brits in the top six.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Now we know the outcome of the EU vote, we have to look on the positive side.

The pound has dropped about 10% against the dollar and the euro, so anyone from abroad buying horses from us will get a good deal. A weak pound is great for exports; the only downside is that when shopping for a horse in Europe, you need to be a bit clever and negotiate a better price.

George Osborne’s move to bring corporation tax down to 15% was also a masterstroke.

For those operating as sole traders, now is probably the time to set up as a company if you want advantageous tax breaks. In the horse business, overheads are astronomically high, so every little helps.

We’re competing in Knokke in Belgium as part of a summer series, which offers a full range of classes from five- to one-star. Every element of the venue is world-class. When you see the infrastructure that has been put in place, it makes sense that they run it as a four-week tour.

In England, we’ve seen Bolesworth and Royal Windsor move up the divisions, but we still have a long way to go to match shows like this and Valkenswaard in the Netherlands. At Knokke, being camped up by the sea with three gorgeous rings is very nice, but what is ideal is being able to bring clients, young horses and amateurs to the same venue and not be running from one show to another.

The whole site is weatherproofed, which isn’t so difficult, but does cost money. They’ve put in roads and trellised walkways. Windsor has made some moves in this direction, but given the weather we’ve had this year, this is something that big shows should be encouraged to do.

Team Charles

We have had the great news this week that all three of my children have been picked for the Europeans. Harry and Scarlett are in the junior team and Sienna in the children-on-horses. I’m not sure if having three members of the same family in the European squad has ever been done before, so it’s a great credit to the team we have at home and the work everyone has put in. And of course the horses’ owner — Peter Charles!

I’d also like to congratulate the lads on being picked for the Olympics. Michael and John Whitaker might not be on superstar horses, but they’ll make up for it with their experience to bring home a gold medal. The Olympic selection brings me to our world-class system, which is meant to produce young riders and build for the future. I thought our last Olympic team was old, with a combined age of 165, but this time the total age is 207.

When the Olympics is over, this needs to be looked at. We have a lot of money allocated, but it certainly can be better spent and more productive.

As it is, Dan Hughes heads up the British Equestrian Federation performance team and calls the shots. He needs to be told from a working party within showjumping where to spend the money — advised by people who have ridden at championships; trainers who have trained champions and people who own young and team horses. This would be a great way of keeping our sport moving forward.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 14 July 2016

Barcelona in 1992 was my first Olympics, and the last year of a big, brutal Olympic showjumping course.

I was representing Ireland then, and Britain was fielding a crack team featuring some of the best horses in the world. There was Milton with John Whitaker, Mon Santa with Michael Whitaker, Dollar Girl with Nick Skelton and Denizen with Tim Grubb.

The course was enormous in the second individual round. I can clearly remember watching fences crashing down and poles breaking.

Nick fell off, and Michael said he had to let the reins go on Mon Santa so the horse could see the poles on the way down.

I said: “I’m going to jump a clear — it will be easy. By the time I get in they won’t have any poles left.”

Safety for all

The biggest legacy we took away from that Olympics was the introduction of the safety cup. For me, it was the best thing that ever happened in showjumping course-design.

There has been a fashion, especially in Germany, for building short, two-stride distances in combinations. Course-builders think it’s tricky and introduces a challenge, but the risk is that a horse will pick up on one stride — as Ben Maher’s Diva did at the European Championships in Aachen last year.

In these situations, safety cups save a horse and rider; without them you would risk a rotational fall.

In showjumping, we’ve been fortunate to have this innovation, but I am troubled to see that in other disciplines, course-building and design is still leaving riders vulnerable.

William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell have both suffered really bad falls in the past 12 months. When you include Andrew Nicholson, another top rider to have been seriously hurt, in this mix, it’s a very concerning picture.

It makes me ask what is being done in eventing to stop people getting injured?

Sixty-two event riders have died globally since 1993. These statistics are enough to make anybody ask what is going on.

I can remember the days of Lucinda Green and Ginny Elliot, when cross-country was all about big, free-flowing fences. Now, much of the course-design seems to resemble traps for horses.

I’ve helped William Fox-Pitt for many years with his showjumping and when someone of his calibre gets injured, you have to question it.

When I’ve spoken to William, he acknowledges that in parts the cross-country has now been slowed down and demands a lot of control.

When you are travelling slowly, and have to jump narrow, tricky fences, it becomes a risk. Even if the rider doesn’t make a mistake, they have slowed the canter so much that if the horse leaves a leg, there is not enough forward momentum to push the horse away from the rider if it falls.

It’s no coincidence that in racing — where there is more speed — jockeys might break bones, but you rarely hear of them dying.

Course-designers need to shoulder some responsibility for what is happening in eventing.

Courses need to be more free-flowing, even if it means dumbing down the cross-country and making the showjumping a tougher test.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 9 June 2016

How wonderful it was to have four-star showjumping at Royal Windsor — probably the best setting we have in England.

If you saw the whole picture that Simon Brooks-Ward and his team created, or watched The Queen’s birthday celebrations on TV, you couldn’t deny what a true extravaganza they put on.

To see Simon pull off an event like this cemented what we all knew he was capable of — putting on a world-class exhibition that was more than just a horse show.

We’re lucky to have him. He did one hell of a job. There was a lot that could have gone wrong, but so much of it went right.

Simon stepped up to this role through his father, Raymond, who was a showjumping man. It was great to see our sport remain a part of what was a massive spectacle.

In the main arena, Martin Collins topped up the footing, and the horses jumped amazingly well off it.

The jumping was some of the best we have seen at Royal Windsor. To be able to watch four international riders of the calibre of Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden, Rodrigo Pessoa and Jeroen Dubbeldam was unbelievable.

There were two other four-star shows and a five-star the same weekend globally, so to have them choose to come to Windsor was a fantastic boost for the show.

Praise for the surface

With the wet weather at the start of the week, it was a relief that there was an all-weather arena. Without that facility, there probably wouldn’t have been a show at all.

As it was, they made the decision to cancel on Wednesday and saved the car parks from turning into a quagmire for the rest of the week. Somebody made a tough but good call there.

At Royal Windsor, it is all about the main arena, and the showjumping works so well in there. The outside rings feel like a bit of an afterthought in comparison — they are OK, but not quite big enough and the horses don’t jump particularly well in them.

I had planned to compete, but withdrew at the last minute. Stapleton Mist has been going well since losing his eye, but I felt that he wasn’t quite going well enough at this stage.

He still needs a bit of time to adjust before being competitive at four-star and I didn’t want to be there just to take part.

My two daughters — Sienna, 13, and Scarlett, 15 — gained some great experience in the one-star grand prix, however.

Class is ageless

Over the same weekend our Nations Cup team was jumping in La Baule. Interestingly enough, our best performer was Nick Skelton, back jumping with Big Star at the age of 58.

At Windsor, our best performer was John Whitaker, who was second to Kent in the grand prix at the age of 60.

Age is no barrier to these two guys — they demonstrate that class is forever.

I find it a shame though that at these two major shows, our younger riders can’t quite give them a run for their money — we need to encourage younger riders to succeed.

You have to set your targets through the year because you don’t get remembered for how many classes you win, but for which big classes you win.

We need more youth to push Scott Brash and Ben Maher, and to start snapping at the heels of the older riders.

Looking at last weekend’s results — putting together a strong Olympic team will need some clever thinking.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 19 May 2016

One of our stable stars, Stapleton Mist (John), has amazed me in recent weeks with just how clever and adaptable horses can be.

Everything had been going well for him this year — he had picked up some good wins in Spain and also made the shortlist for a couple of super league shows. But four weeks ago, back at home, he somehow managed to detach the retina in his left eye.

We had noticed he was a bit spooky on the left side and that his eye was a bit watery, so when our vet Shane Fouhy was at the yard, I asked him to take a look. I wasn’t overly worried, but Shane recommended that we send him to the vets at Donnington Grove in Newbury for investigation.

When we did, a thunderbolt hit us — they told us the situation wasn’t salvageable and that his eye would have to be removed that day.

Never having had a horse in more than 35 years with one eye, I went straight to the top for advice and spoke to Trevor Breen. Having won the Hickstead Derby with his one-eyed horse Adventure De Kannan, he was the best person I could think of to call.

I didn’t quite get the answer I was looking for as Trevor explained that “Addy” had lost his sight gradually over a number of years, so he didn’t have to adapt suddenly.

Everyone was asking me how John would go with one eye — and I could only respond, “How long is a piece of string?”

After giving him a few weeks to settle, I thought the best thing to do was to put him back in the ring to see how he would cope.

We had an eight-fault outing at Pyecombe, and then I took him to the Welsh Masters, which was a considerable step up.

After a slightly shaky start on the first day — he has started to jink slightly, which I am sure is so he can get himself comfortable in his vision — we then made it through to the jump-off for the grand prix on the last day.

I thought, “There’s no point wondering if we can go fast, let’s try it” and he pulled off two tight turns on his blind side to go into the lead.

Normally, if someone beats you in that situation, it’s a bit disappointing. This time, however, the rider who came in and beat me was my young son, Harry (report, 21 April).

It wasn’t even close — it was a whole two seconds. Youth: you can’t beat it.

It was great though to have John feeling happy and like himself again, and a credit to the horse that he coped as well as he has.

When Britain is best

Geoff Billington did a great job guest editing Horse & Hound’s showjumping special (31 March) — he’s a man of many talents.

In the “Home or Away” feature, two riders were mentioned who have moved abroad to further their careers — Jessica Mendoza and Bertram Allen.

Their success, however, doesn’t come down to where they live. It’s a) because they are very good riders, and b) their horsepower. For both of them, their main horsepower was produced in Great Britain.

Bertram’s top string, Romanov, Quiet Easy 4 and Molly Malone V, were all produced from young horses in this country. For Jessica, Spirit T, the horse that made her a star, was bred and produced here by John Roberts and Louise Whitaker. The foreign horses in their strings aren’t in the same league — so it goes to show that Great Britain must have something to offer.

The Continent may lure a rider with rankings points and status, but that’s not always the best production system for the horse.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 28 April 2016

I recently returned from the Sunshine Tour in Mijas, Spain. It was good for bringing on the young horses and it was even nicer to spend some time with my fellow columnist William Funnell and his wife Pippa.

I was pleased to see William’s stable jockey Alex Gill going particularly well out there. He’s a year younger than my son Harry and, having watched him progress through the pony ranks, I was able to recommend him to William when he was looking for a young rider to join them. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him to go on a tour — where in England now can these young riders go to gain such a valuable apprenticeship?

It takes me back to the days when I was starting out, and it was certainly different then. I was in Ireland schooling and riding horses for the great Eddie Macken, but not doing a great deal of competing.

I was approached by one of the most famous horse dealers of the time, Con McElroy. He told me he had a nice big yard in England where I could go to all the shows and asked if I would like to ride for him. After a brief discussion with Eddie, he laughed — obviously knowing Con better than I did — and said, “Go for it, you’ll enjoy the experience.”

I arrived eager to impress at my first show at Stocklands with no groom and eight horses. I dressed up as best I could after tacking up — assuming Con would be dealing with the entries — and took out one of the horses to warm up.

All of a sudden Con appeared with a customer, Brian Dye. I took the horse over a couple of jumps and Brian said he liked it, and bought it on the spot. Con said: “That went well, get out another one.”

And so it continued. We went to all the shows — but we never went in the ring.

While riding for Con one day at Stocklands, I spotted a famous man whom I’d often seen on TV — Douglas Bunn. He was standing at the ringside watching his rider, the colourful character Ray Howe.

I thought “this is my chance” and I went up and introduced myself.

“If that’s your rider in the ring, then I’m a lot better than him,” I told Douglas.

He replied: “Stay there,” and didn’t say another word. Ray finished his round and came over. “Do you know this boy stood here?” Douglas asked him.

“No, I have never seen him before,” Ray replied.

“Well he knows you. He says you’re a right w*nker,” said Douglas.

I thought I’d blown it there and then, but Ray saw the funny side and said: “Get him down next week. Let’s see if he can do a better job.”

I duly went to Hickstead for an interview and got the job — going on to ride at the international show a week later. For a 21-year-old boy with no experience, it was a fantastic leg-up.

I still count myself lucky to ride at Hickstead — which remains the jewel in the crown of British showjumping.

Lizzie and Edward Bunn have remained great custodians of the showground, making improvements to Douglas’ legacy. How great it would be if they ever decided they wanted to host a tour there.

Having young horses jump in one place for three to four weeks, without the upheaval of moving from show to show, is a fantastic experience for them and it really helps them improve.

I have no doubt that if we were able to use all the rings and facilities that Hickstead has to offer, it would be a world-wide draw.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 24 March 2016

The Furusiyya FEI five-star Nations Cups are always critical in a selection year, and this year’s series has now commenced with the first leg in Al Ain last weekend (17-20 February).

While Di Lampard may say she is happy with Britain’s result — finishing equal ninth of 11 teams — I suspect she may be disappointed to have gone all the way to Abu Dhabi with a World Class-funded team and not have made the second round.

It was predominantly a young, inexperienced team but you have to ask, with the World Class programme training and producing them, is this the best we can do? We finished equal to Syria.

Our young riders may have access to a lot of funded training, but what they really need is to go to more high-level shows at home and have better UK facilities to boost them on the way up.

Our Nations Cup performances will need to be better from now on. Di will be looking for combinations who can reliably produce a double clear on a given day. It doesn’t really matter what they do in between. The ability to produce clear rounds under pressure is vital if we want to be in medal contention for Rio, and the Nations Cups are the only real place where you can put it to the test.

In the run-up to Rio, the first major tests will be at Rome and Rotterdam, which is where the big guns are likely to come out.

The Olympics are on sand and they both have light coloured surfaces, which is important, and they always build technical and gutsy courses that need riding.

We really need the likes of Cella and Big Star, who is now back jumping in the US, to come back for these. Having those two in contention would make for a strong potential Olympic team alongside Hello Sanctos.

One lesson to be learnt from Beijing in 2008 however — where we ended up sending some horses who weren’t right — is that if horses don’t jump consistently and stay reliably sound, then it isn’t worth flying them all the way to South America.

Searching for iconic venue

The news that London has lost its Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT) leg this year is a blow, but don’t forget that we have two of the best show organisers in the world in Simon Brooks-Ward and Nina Barbour — so we will still showcase great top-level jumping in this country.

What the GCT now needs to come up with is an iconic venue in London, which is no easy task, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see somewhere round Battersea Power Station being a strong contender.

We only have to look out of our rear-view mirror to know these shows can work. We used to have great shows at Clapham Common, Wandsworth and Hyde Park.

If I were Jan Tops [GCT president], I’d be looking for a date on the August bank holiday, when people are looking for somewhere to go. That weekend is a classic date for British showjumping and has always pulled in the crowds.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 March 2016

With this being an Olympic year, my thoughts have turned to our World Class Programme and how it could be made into a more productive system. 

I clearly remember four years ago, in the run-up to the London Games, asking [then British Equestrian Federation performance director] Will Connell for assistance in taking my horses on tour to Oliva in Spain.

When I put forward my plan — which did not involve going to Florida — I was told that only riders who signed up for that tour would be given funding for their trip [ahead of London 2012, UK Sport offered additional funding for horses competing in Florida].

With luck, this time around, money will be distributed more evenly to those horse and rider combinations who have specific ideas about their own training schedules in the run-up to Rio this year.

Not so long ago, Nick Skelton, Will Funnell and myself were taken off the World Class Programme. I pointed out that my best horse Odie De Frevent had picked up an injury in the Nations Cup at Falsterbo six months earlier, so she needed a year off. All my other horses were young, so I took a step back.

The same happened to Nick with Big Star, and to William. We’d all put in a lot of work for the team, then had the rug pulled from under us.

This sends out the wrong message to owners and sponsors alike.

It’s even worse for talented younger riders. Horses go lame or owners sell and they need to rebuild — usually with large overheads. The World Class Programme then says goodbye. Surely it’s better to help them promote themselves through their World Class association than to make it tougher by booting them off?

It would also be nice to see the World Class Programme backing our young riders by expanding Olympia’s under-23s championship into a proper “Young Lions” tour.

Giving riders exposure in the big rings at shows such as Hickstead, Olympia and Windsor would easily outshine the investment World Class makes in some of their training sessions.

Olympia supremo Simon Brooks-Ward told me if they were prepared to push for it, then he would accommodate it.

Broome with a view

David Broome had the vision 13 years ago to put in a new but untried show ring at Wales & West. It featured a watering system that pumps water into the sand from below and sucks it out. Many people thought he was daft because of the £300,000 price tag, but he created one of the best outdoor arenas in Britain.

Recently, they decided to replace the sand as they felt it had worn out, and used a different supplier. After speaking to David’s son Matt this week, he informed me they weren’t happy with it and have now gone back to the supplier of the original sand to replace the surface again — so it’s good to know we’ll have another 13 years of fantastic footing at Wales & West.

Not only does it highlight the massive commitment show centres put in, but it also offers a lesson in surface choice. For any show centre thinking of installing a sand arena, it’s not rocket science to know now that sand, fibre and water is the way to go outside.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 11 February 2016

The FEI’s rules and regulations for our sport are often made behind closed doors and without much rider consultation. Bans become imposed, red tape is introduced, and by the time it’s happened, it’s too late to do anything about it retrospectively.

Was it with this lack of sensible consultation of showjumpers that the “blood rule” — which states that any bleeding from the flanks, mouth or nose, or marks indicating excessive use of spurs will result in mandatory disqualification — was imposed?

Without doubt nobody wants to see riders digging holes in horses’ sides, causing unnecessary suffering. But surely the most common-sense solution is to re-examine the rule that’s in place? If a rider — such as Bertram Allen — accidently nicks their horse during the show, they should be given a verbal warning for their action. Upon a second violation, they should be automatically banned from that show. I’m sure this is an approach with which many top riders will agree.

I was also pleased to hear a rumour that one of the current rules recently put in place in Switzerland — the banning of draw reins in the warm-up and prize-giving at national shows — is unlikely to be enforced internationally.

In discussing the use of draw reins, you cannot compare dressage training with showjumping. We warm up and prepare differently and we expect different things from our horses. I’d like to see a dressage rider warming up with 20 others in a small collecting ring. When they are warming up, you can’t even open a bag of crisps.

If I have a young, spooky or nervous horse, I will sometimes use draw reins in the warm-up. They keep a horse in a better shape, help maintain their confidence and stop them from spinning and running away. It’s not about over-bending or bullying them; in professional hands they are a sensible aid for education.

A separate voice

In a positive move, there was discussion with the British team manager Di Lampard at Liverpool regarding the reintroduction of the British Riders Club. Through the club we can have a suitable voice independent from the British Showjumping lobby, and air our concerns and beliefs on how the sport should progress.

One issue I raised with Di concerned the number of British riders invited to compete at major shows in the UK. It costs a rider approximately £10,000 to take part in the two-star classes at the London Global Champions Tour — if not invited by the show. Pay-cards are being reviewed by the FEI, however if this practice is allowed to continue across the board, it’s a disaster for up-and-coming riders.

Our top riders should be given 12 places, with a further 12 reserved for young riders or our county show riders — they work hard to earn a living and are the lifeblood of the sport.

I have seen how difficult it is for the younger generation to get opportunities to jump at bigger shows. If we’re to have a future, we must invest in one.

Nina Barbour and her team showcased everything that was good about our country during Liverpool International, but especially the young riders, which was one of the best classes all week. Horse of the Year Show decided to omit it from their schedule — to me, one of the daftest decisions they’ve ever made.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 21 January 2016

British riders John and Michael Whitaker and Olympic gold medallist Peter Charles lead the entry for the inaugural Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show on 1-3 January.

The new four-star show will be held at the Echo Arena in the Albert Dock area of the city.

“We want to bring equestrian sport to the heart of the city. We see this as our Olympic legacy. I watched the equestrian events in the heart of London at the 2012 Olympics and I wanted to bring that kind of world class sport to the north west of England,” said organiser Nina Barbour of Bolesworth International.

Riders will be competing for a prize fund of £160,000 over the three days.

The British entry also includes Laura Renwick, Guy Williams, William Funnell, Robert Whitaker and William Whitaker.

The 2015 Bolesworth International grand prix champion Yazmin Pinchen is also heading to Liverpool.

There is a strong Irish challenge led by Billy Twomey and the Breen brothers, Shane and Trevor.

“My horses are all on form, and my aim next year is to get back into the top 30 in the FEI rankings. Liverpool has six world-ranking classes, so it’s important that I perform well,” said Billy.

Former Aachen grand prix champion Denis Lynch, Cameron Hanley and Dermott Lennon complete the Irish contingent.

Overseas entries include rising Italian force Emanuele Gaudiano, America’s Lucy Davies, exciting Belgian prospect Constant van Paesschen, Sweden’s Peder Fredricson, Norway’s Geir Gulliksen and Dutch rider Johnny Pals.

The show opens on 1 January with two sessions per day culminating in the Liverpool International Grand Prix on 3 January.

Each session has a performance from the ‘Bootleg Beetles’, stunt rider Clemence Faivre and features the Shetland Grand National.

Tickets start at £21.25 for adults, £16.70 for children. For more details visit www.liverpoolhorseshow.com

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There is a distinct possibility that Britain will never again hold dual Olympic and European team gold medals.

Two years of unsurpassed success also saw Scott Brash and Ben Maher ranked world number one and two. Yet nobody could have forecast the demise that came about in 2014.

This year, we even looked like dropping out of the Nations Cup “super league”. Only a gritty performance and double clear from young Spencer Roe on the last leg in Dublin kept us in. Worse was to come with a humiliating 18th place at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Now Rob Hoekstra, the team manager who presided over those famous victories, has stepped down, two years before his contract was due to end after the Rio Games.

So why was it all going so well, only to end so disappointingly? It’s a question I’ve been asked repeatedly.

My wife Tina rode on many British teams during the “Rob years”. I came to respect his work ethic and the fact that he gave many combinations the chance to prove themselves. Rob’s single-mindedness and toughness were admired and disliked by some riders in equal measure.

So what was the catalyst for those gold medals and can it be revived? To me, it was the enthusiasm and optimism surrounding the London Olympics. At the mere mention of “2012”, owners were involved, riders became determined to keep their top horses and the media got behind us.

And what a difference those loyal owners make. Lord Harris and Lord Kirkham had a burning desire to win a gold medal in London, but they didn’t go out and buy a string of ready-made horses. Hello Sanctos, found by Rob Hoekstra and David Broome, was the only one they acquired from abroad.

We produced Hello Sailor from a novice to be the fifth team member in London, and Ursula — who competed in super leagues with Tina before becoming the world number one showjumper with Scott — I bought from Mary Turnbull in Scotland.

These horses are just three examples of the impact enthusiastic owners can have on a nation’s results.

Likewise Nick Skelton’s owners, the Widdowsons, stayed loyal with Big Star and Carlo, Olga White stood by Peter Charles and his horses, as did Beatrice Mertens, who owns Michael Whitaker’s ride Amai.

William Funnell produced top horses in Billy Angelo and Billy Congo, yet to him and his business partner Donal Barnwell, London 2012 outweighed getting top dollar for them. It was decades since I’d seen so many top combinations from which to pick an Olympic team.

Looking forward

So what of the future? More prize-money on the Global Champions Tour will mean our top riders will hardly be available for super league and team duties. Another nail in GB’s coffin, some will claim — but I see it as a chance to give more up-and-coming riders and horses a shot.

But what we must do is provide more challenging courses nationally to get the production line going and more horses coming through. We can neither expect nor afford to keep using foreign shows to “make” horses. That’s why this season’s best thing was Nina Barbour’s new international show at Bolesworth.

The accusations and recriminations of this last year must stop. We need to recapture the enthusiasm of the pre-London era.

Many believe top riders to be money-grabbing individuals out to maximise the price of their horses. But I’ve never met one who’s been pleased to have sold their best horse. Of course, yards cost an exorbitant amount to run and that big cheque sits well in your bank account; but riders go into the sport for the sport’s sake and to strive for the top.

One of the best up-and-coming horses I saw this season was Judge N Jury, ridden by William Funnell.

Recently I heard that the careful, scopey eight-year-old had been sold to American rider McLain Ward, so I asked William a hypothetical question: “If you’d had the horse pre-London, would you have sold him?” William thought for a minute and said: “No, I’d have moved heaven and earth to get someone to invest in him.” The defence rests.

This column was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 November 2014).

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Olympic gold medallist Peter Charles heads a squad of 5 showjumpers heading to Sweden for the Nations Cup.

Joe Clee, Jessie Drea, Robert Whitaker and Spencer Roe complete a squad selected by British Showjumping performance manager Rob Hoekstra.

The competition, which is the 6th leg of the Furusiyya Nations Cup series, will be held on Friday 11 July in Falsterbo.

It will be the 2nd of 4 competitions that the team will be scoring league points aiming to reach the final and be included in next year’s series. The points scoring shows are Rome, Falsterbo, Hickstead and Dublin.

• Peter Charles with 12 year-old bay mare Murka’s Odie de Frevent (owned by Olga White and Team Murka)
• Joe Clee, and Utamaro d’Ecaussines a 10 year old bay stallion (owned by Ludwig Criel).
• Jessie Drea and Touchable, a 13 year-old chestnut mare (owned by Lynne Humphries and Equine America).
•  Spencer Roe and Wonder Why, an 11-year-old bay gelding (owned by his mother Sally).
• Robert Whitaker, and 11 year-old brown stallion Catwalk IV (owned by his parents John and Clare)

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Harry Charles, the son of Olympic gold medallist Peter, is back at his school desk this morning, the day after winning the pony grand prix at Hagen Future Champions CSIO, Germany.

“Home after a fantastic weekend in Hagen,” tweeted Peter Charles. “Harry’s win in the toughest grand prix in the world was a brilliant gift for Father’s Day!”

Harry, 13, won by just over a second on Murka’s Moneymaker (pictured top at Scope last year), who headed another class earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, the rest of the young Brits were also on top form. The Nations Cup pony squad beat Germany, while the juniors finished second in their Nations Cup, just behind the French.

British riders Graham Babes (Hoimarks Rosetta), Emily Ward (Wizard VIII), Faye Adams (Cisco Bay II) and Laura Robinson (Jonti) all won individual classes.

• Full report from Hagen in this Thursday’s edition of H&H magazine (20 June, 2013)

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Britain’s four gold medal-winning showjumpers will be able relive their London victory at home, after receiving a replica Olympic fence.

Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Peter Charles and Scott Brash have each been given a version of the Olympic rings jump used at Greenwich, by British Showjumping (BS).

“We wanted to thank the riders who secured a gold medal for Great Britain with a tangible gift to remember it by,” said BS chief executive Iain Graham.

“We couldn’t think of anything more fitting than building them a fence to use at home.”

Peter Charles, who already has Abbey Road and Tower Bridge fence replicas — one of which he commissioned, the other was a gift — added: “They are iconic and part of history. Mine will never be jumped again, but will be displayed at the height we jumped them around the farm. They are something to inspire those who see them.”

Ben Maher thanked BS for the “memories” when he saw the fence on a 24hr visit back to Hertfordshire to exercise his horses, before flying back to the USA to compete in Florida.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (28 February 2013)

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Olympia, the London International Horse Show (17-23 December) has announced the top riders that intend to compete at the show in dressage, showjumping and driving.

The final showjumping and dressage entries will be announced on 6 December.

Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We are delighted with the nominated entries this year.

“To have so many medallists from London 2012 including the full British gold medal-winning jumping team and all three medallists from the individual [jumping] competition is outstanding.

“Olympia will be a chance for the audience to revisit the triumphs of the Olympic Games and see these top riders back in action,” he added.

Dressage

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage leg, sponsored by Horse & Hound, looks set to be fabulous line-up.

Among the 10 Olympic combinations that could compete are two of the top three in the World rankings — Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro and Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill.

The competition could also pit Charlotte and “Blueberry” against her former horse Fernandez and his new rider Cathrine Rasmussen.

The British team will also boast Carl Hester and Uthopia and Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis among others — see below for full teams.

Showjumping

The nominated riders in the Rolex FEI World Cup jumping competition (22 December) include all three individual winners at Greenwich — Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, Holland’s Gerco Schröder and Irish rider Cian O’Connor.

And all four members of the British gold-winning Olympic team — Nick Skelton, Scott Brash, Ben Maher and Peter Charles — plan to compete at Olympia.

Fans of Nick’s former ride Carlo may also have a treat in store if his new rider, Spaniard Sergio Alvarez Moya, brings him to the show.

Driving

FEI World Cup Driving returns to Olympia this year (19-20 December).

Seven drivers will compete over the two days.

Five competitors have been drawn by the FEI from the top 10 qualified drivers — Koos de Ronde (Netherlands), Theo Timmerman (Netherlands), Fredrick Persson (Sweden), Christoph Sandmann (Germany) and Georg Von Stein (Germany).

And two wildcards will compete — world number 1 Boyd Exell (Australia) and the stunt rider Daniel Naprous (Great Britain).

• Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage nominated riders:Australia
  Lyndal Oatley and Sandro Boy 9Belgium
  Claudia Fassaert and Donnerfee
  Simon Missiaen and VradinGreat Britain
  Henriette Andersen and Louis D’Or
  Hannah Biggs and Weltzin
  Emily Cousins and Solo Bachelorette
  Nikki Crisp and Pasoa
  Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis
  Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro
  Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi
  Carl Hester and Uthopia
  Emma Hindle and Chequille
  Sarah Millis and Hp Frontier
  Alice Oppenheimer and Wurlizer
  Daniel Sherriff and Bayford Hall Dallaglio
  Daniel Watson and FideramberGermany
  Anabel Balkenhol and either Dablino FRH or Rubins Royal
  Helen Langehanenberg and either Damon Hill NRW or Fürst Khevenhüller
  Isabell Werth and either Der Stern OLD, Johnson FRH or El Santo NRWIreland
  Dane Rawlins and Sydney
  Yvette Truesdale and Has To Be FunNetherlands
  Edward Gal and either Blue Hors Romanov or Glock’s Undercover
  Patrick van de Meer and Uzzo
  Hans Peter Minderhoud and either Glock’s Tango or Whitney van’t GenthofNorway
  Siril Helljesen and Dorina
  Lillann Jebsen and Pro-Set
  Cathrine Rasmussen and FernandezPortugal
  Luis Principe and World Performance Washington
• Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping nominated ridersAustralia
  Edwina Tops-AlexanderAustria
  Gerfried PuckBelgium
  Rick Hemeryck
  Ludo Philippaerts
  Maurice Van RoosbroeckEgypt
  Abdel SaidSpain
  Sergio Alvarez Moya
  Manuel Anon
  Pilar Lucrecia CordonFinland
  Mikael ForstenFrance
  Patrice Delaveau
  Pénélope Leprevost
  Kevin StautGreat Britain
  Scott Brash
  Peter Charles
  Tina Fletcher
  William Funnell
  Ben Maher
  Laura Renwick
  Nick Skelton
  Tim Stockdale
  John Whitaker
  Michael Whitaker
  Robert Whitaker
  Guy WilliamsGermany
  Christian Ahlmann
  Daniel Deusser
  Hans-Dieter Dreher
  Katrin Eckermann
  Marcus Ehning
  Max Kühner
  Rolf Moormann
  Mario Stevens
  Philipp Weishaupt
  Holger WulschnerIreland
  Cian O’ConnorItaly
  Natale Chiaudani
  Giovanni Consorti
  Juan Carlos Garcia
  Emanuele Gaudiano
  Luca Maria Moneta
  Lucia VizziniNetherlands
  Marc Houtzager
  Gerco SchröderNorway
  Geir Gulliksen
  Victoria Gulliksen
  Ole Kristoffer Meland
  Line RaaholtPortugal
  Luciana DinizSwitzerland
  Steve Guerdat
  Pius Schwizer
  Janika SprungerSweden
  Malin Baryard-Johnsson
  Rolf-Göran Bengtsson
  Jens FredericsonUSA
  Kent Farrington
  Laura Kraut

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Peter Charles has had to pull out of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) following surgery to his groin, which needs time to heal.

The Hampshire-based showjumper – who helped Team GBR to their historic Olympic gold medal at Greenwich – went under the knife on 18 September. The injury has meant that Peter has not competed since the Olympics.

He was confirmed for HOYS, but made the announcement that he would not be competing on his Facebook page this morning (3 October).

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to compete at HOYS this year. I have to give my injury time to heal following surgery, which is going to require a few weeks’ rest,” he said.

But Peter will still go to HOYS – as a spectator – to watch his children compete.

Harry Charles has qualified for three pony finals, while daughter Scarlett has two ponies through to the 128cm final.

“I will be at the show during the week, a big part of which will be to support Harry and Scarlett,” Peter added.

Listen to Peter Charles audio interview

Peter’s Olympic teammate Scott Brash is competing at HOYS, along with William Funnell, Ellen Whitaker, Guy Williams, Tim Stockdale and John and Robert Whitaker.

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Olympic gold medal-winners Peter Charles and Scott Brash will be competing at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) next week (3-7 October).

They will be joined by 13 other competitors, drawn from British Showjumping’s rider rankings, plus wild cards, the final two of which are decided at the major championships meeting at Arena UK, Lincs (19-21 September).

Other riders confirmed for HOYS include John and Robert Whitaker, Guy Williams, William Funnell, Robert Smith, Phillip Miller and Tim Stockdale.

As H&H went to press, Tina Fletcher – who suffered a recent ankle injury – was hoping to join them.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (27 September 2012), which features our HOYS preview

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Murka’s Vindicat W – the horse whose clear round clinched team gold for Team GBR at Greenwich – has been sold abroad.

The 10-year-old KWPN gelding, who is owned by Peter Charles’ wife, Tara and his long-term backer Olga White, has gone to the young American showjumper Jessica Springsteen.

Peter made the announcement on his Facebook page.

“Vinnie is one of the best horses I have ever ridden, so the decision to move him on has not come lightly,” he said.

“In order to invest in a new string of young horses in preparation for Rio, we have had to make the decision to allow him to move to another rider,” he added.

Vindicat looked green and intimdated at the start of the Olympics, racking up nine faults on the first day of the showjumping and eight faults in the first round of the Nations Cup.

In the second round, he hit one and collected a time fault – but he improved throughout the Games and jumped clear when it really mattered, to give Britain Olympic gold for the first time since 1952.

“He produced an outstanding performance to secure team gold for Britain for the first time in 60 years, and I will never forget how that felt and how unbelievably proud he made me and my team feel,” said Peter.

“I wish Jessica the best of luck with him and I am sure he will make her proud, too.”

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Nick Skelton, Peter Charles, Ben Maher and Scott Brash will be chatting to Alan Titchmarsh on Friday (21 September) afternoon about last month’s Olympic victory and what has been keeping them busy now the Games are over.

It is not the first TV appearance for Peter Charles who took part in BBC’s Question of Sport earlier this month.

Ben Maher tweeted about his appearance on the show and even got in touch with Olympic presenter Clare Balding for some advice.

He tweeted:”Any tips for appearing on sofas? We’re on @titchmarshshow today at 3pm.”

He then clarified: “Confusion in the itv studio. Now pre recording now on @titchmarshshow for this Friday”

Watch the riders on the Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV1 at 3pm on Friday (21 September).

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The Royal Mail is out painting another postbox this morning after it painted the wrong one gold in honour of Hampshire Olympian Peter Charles.

A postbox in Alton was painted yesterday after Peter won team gold on Monday, along with Scott Brash, Nick Skelton and Ben Maher.

But 52-year-old Peter actually lives in Bentworth, about four miles away.

Royal Mail said they would now paint the postbox in Bentworth gold as well.

Boxes have also been painted gold in Peebles (Scott), Elsenham (Ben) and in Alcester (Nick).

Sark’s only postbox will go gold in honour of Carl Hester and ones in Apney St Peter and Enfield for Laura and Charlotte.

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Britain came into the first leg of the Top League Nations Cup as one of the favourites, but could only finish equal fifth of the eight teams in La Baule, France.

The competition was won by Belgium after a tense jump-off with the Netherlands.

Sweden impressed for third on a team total of five, with all four riders jumping clear in round two, while Germany took fourth place on six.

Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland all tied for fifth on 12 faults while France – who decided to field their “B” team after an equine virus outbreak in Normandy – trailed in eighth.

The most exciting performance came from Nick Skelton, who rode one of seven double clears in the competition with Big Star. Peter Charles scored 0 + 4 on Murka’s Vindicat W, Ben Maher and Tripple X III came home with 4 + 4, while Guy Williams (Depardieu Van’t Kiezelhof) finished on 4 + 8.

There was better news in the pony Nations Cup in Moorsele, Belgium, where the British team of Beth Adams (Some Like It Hot), Darby Ward (Maradonna), Alex Chitty (Amelie JR Z) and Emily Ward (Dafina K) landed a tremendous victory. The

Don’t miss full reports in next week’s Horse & Hound (out Thursday 17 May)

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Click here for Runners, Tips and Free Bets on the Grand National 2012

The riders who will represent Great Britain at the first Nations Cup of the 2012 promotional league season, at Lummen on (3-6 May), and at the opener to the top level competition, La Baule (10-13 May), have been announced.

The team for La Baule is:

• Nick Skelton with Big Star, owned by Beverley Widdowson
• Ben Maher with Tripple X III, owned by Ben and the Quainton Stud
• Peter Charles with Murka’s Vindicat W, owned by Olga White and Tara Charles
• Scott Brash with Intertoy Z, owned by his father, Stanley Brash
• And Guy Williams with Depardieu Van’t Keizeilhof, owned by Lindsay DoranAnd at Lummen:
• Robert Whitaker with USA Today, an 11-year-old bay stallion owned by Mandy Hall.
• Tina Fletcher with Ursula XII, an 11-year-old bay mare owned jointly owned by Lady Kirkham and Lady Harris.
• Will Funnell with Billy Angelo, the 9-year-old chestnut gelding owned by Julie Slade.
• And John Whitaker with Maximillian, an 11-year-old chestnut stallion owned by Clare WhitakerThe team for Lummen is sponsored by Champion.

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Peter Charles’ three-times Derby winner Corrada produced a colt foal on Tuesday (2 August), sired by Peter’s King George winner Murkas Pall Mall.

Corrada won the Derby in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and was sold to the USA in 2004 by owner Paul Stamp.

But she returned to Peter’s yard near Alton, Hampshire in 2007, aged 18, and has been a brood mare ever since.

The 22-year-old mare has been at the New Priory Stud in Chippenham since December and is the 30th and final mare to foal there this season.

Stud mananger Julie Whibley said: “He’s a lovely foal — instantly friendly and is very bold and Corrada is a very proud devoted mum.

Judging by the colt’s pedigree — Corrada is by top Holsteiner showjumping sire Corrado — he could be a world-beater, but Peter said: “I just hope he will be successful.”

The foal is Corrada’s seventh — five by embryo transfer and two natural.

Corrada’s other natural birth was last year’s foal Nations News, by Last News, who was born on Nations cup day at Hickstead last year.

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Performance manager Rob Hoekstra has revealed his squad of five riders for the fourth leg of the FEI Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden, on Friday (8 July).

The quintet consists of Peter Charles (Murka’s Nevada), Simon Crippen (Voss), Bruce Menzies (Sultan V), Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Kalico Bay) and Robert Whitaker (USA Today).

It will be a five-star team debut for both Simon and Bruce.

The five combinations chosen to represent Ireland are Shane Breen (Camblin), Nicola Fitzgibbon (Puissance), Denis Lynch (Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof or new ride Lord Luis), Cian O’Connor (Splendor) and Niall Talbot (Nicos De La Cense).

Twenty-three-year-old Nicola Fitzgibbon is a promising new recruit to the Irish team.

The Netherlands currently top the leader board with Ireland in second and Great Britain fourth.

• Don’t miss H&H’s extended report from Falsterbo Horse Show which signals the start of a brand new series covering some of the world’s leading overseas shows. The issue is out on Thursday, 14 July.

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Peter Charles, Ben Maher, Nick Skelton, Robert Smith and Michael Whitaker have been selected to travel to Rome, Italy next week for second round of the FEI Nations Cup.

The squad includes three horses that jumped in the first round of the Nations Cup in La Baule — Murka’s Nevada VI (Peter Charles), Carlo (Nick Skelton) and Talan (Robert Smith) — along with Michael Whitaker’s experienced GIG Amai II and Ben Maher’s up-and-coming Tripple X III.

Ben Maher recently won the €80,000 Grand Prix in Linz on this nine-year-old black stallion, which is owned jointly by Ben and Quainton Stud, but this will be their first Nations Cup appearance.

World Class Showjumping Performance manager Rob Hoekstra will be aiming to improve on Britain’s fourth place performance in the first leg of the Nations Cup in La Baule last week. The FEI Nations Cup in Rometakes place on Friday 27 May at 16:00 CEST.

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Peter Charles’s Murka’s Nevada will make his first Nations Cup appearance this afternoon at La Baule, France

Peter was due to ride his 2010 Nations Cup stalwart Murka’s Pom d’Ami, (pictured) but the 12-year-old gelding was found to have some pus in his foot.

His other horse Murka’s Rubert R knocked his leg in the horsebox on the journey over so also wasn’t ready to jump.

Peter told H&H reporter Kerry Bowness that although it was a “big step up” for the horse it would be “good experience”.

Nick Skelton and Carlo, David McPherson and Chamberlein Z and Robert Smith and Talan are also in the team.

The GB team has been drawn to go second in the event which starts at 3.15pm CEST (2.15pm UK time) today (Friday, 13 May).

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Britain’s showjumping team put in another sparkling performance to finish second behind France in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Rome on Friday.

Performance manager Rob Hoekstra’s four-man team read like an equestrian “Who’s Who” and, by building on their equal third place in the first leg (La Baule, France), absolutely justified Britain’s place in showjumping’s Super League.

The pathfinder was Nick Skelton (Carlo 273), followed by Peter Charles (Murkas Pom D’Ami), Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) and John Whitaker (Peppermill). Peter Charles continued his immaculate Nations Cup record this year with a first-round clear. John Whitaker and Nick Skelton’s rounds brought about four faults apiece while Ben posted the discard score with 16pen on Robin Hood.

As the second round got under way, it quickly became obvious that France were unassailable as they notched up clear round after clear round. But, as the pressure built, experience in the GB camp told and all bar Peter Charles (four faults with Murkas Pom D’Ami) rode precise and determined clears to finish on their first-round team total of eight faults, four points behind France.

Ireland and Spain tied for third on 12 faults.

Don’t miss next week’s H&H for full report, comment and results.

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Read the latest Peter Charles news

Peter Charles, now based in Alton, Hampshire, has built up an impressive catalogue of show jumping successes throughout his career.

A major highlight was his three consecutive wins at the famous Hickstead Derby in 2001, 2002, 2003 with Corrada.

Born in Liverpool on 18 January 1960, but with an Irish mother, Peter was a commanding force behind the success of the Irish team for many years after taking up Irish nationality prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

In 1995 Peter rode La Ina to victory at the European Championships in Switzerland, taking the individual gold medal to secure Ireland’s first equestrian medal in over 30 years. He was also on the winning team at three of the most prestigious Nations Cups in the world during 1995 – Aachen, Dublin and Spruce Meadows.

His success continued into 1996 when he finished 8th individually at the Atlanta Olympic Games, as well as winning the coveted 230,000 Canadian dollar Du Maurier Grand Prix in Calgary.

Peter was a member of Ireland’s European gold medal-winning team in 2003.

The Irish team regular suffered a serious fall in 2006, when he ruptured his spinal sheath, shattered three ribs and broke a vertebrae, but he was determined to get back in the saddle.

After his recovery, reasoning that he had British owners, lived in Britain and paid British taxes, Peter set into motion plans to change his nationality again. He was given clearance by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in 2008 and has ridden under the union flag in the Nations Cup ever since.

Peter was selected for the British Olympic team for London 2012 and rode a brilliant clear round on Vindicat W to secure the Olympic gold medal.

Peter Charles videos

Major achievements

2009

• RIHS: 1st King George V Gold Cup, (Murkas Pall Mall H)

• Wellington: 2nd Nations Cup team (Murkas Pom D’Ami)

• Dublin: =2nd Nations Cup team (Murkas Pom D’Ami)

2008

• Madrid: 3rd Nations Cup team (Rubert R)

• Super League Nations Cup final: team 6th (Rubert R)

2004

• Hickstead Show: 2nd Speed Derby, 2nd Derby 2 Phase Challenge (Rockstar III)

2003

• British Open: 3rd Grandstand Classic (Pershing)

• La Baule: =4th Nations Cup team (Corrada)

• Aachen: 1st Nations Cup team (Pershing)

• Falsterbo: 4th Nations Cup team (Carnavelly)

• Hickstead: 2nd Nations Cup team (Corrada)

• Hickstead Derby Meeting: 1st The Derby (Corrada)

2002

• Hickstead: 2nd Nations Cup team (Corrada)

• New Forest: 2nd Daewoo Grand Prix (Mulligan)

• Dublin: 3rd Nations Cup team (Corrada), 1st Kerrygold Speed Stakes (Mulligan)

• Hickstead Derby Meeting: 1st The Derby (Corrada)

2001

• La Baule: 1st Derby (Corrada), 2nd GP (Carnavelly), 2nd Small GP (Amber Du Montois)

• RIHS: 3rd Grand Prix (Carnavelly)

• Hickstead Derby Meeting: 1st The Derby (Corrada)

• Modena: 2nd Nations Cup team (Corrada)

• Olympia: 1st World Cup Qualifier (Carnavelly), 1st Puissance (Sagrat)

2000

• Las Vegas World Cup Final: 6th overall (Amber Du Montois)

• Lucerne: 3rd Nations Cup team (Amber Du Montois)

• Modena: 1st Nations Cup team (Amber Du Montois)

• Dublin: 1st Nations Cup team (Amber Du Montois)

1999

• Liege: 3rd Grand Prix (Amber Du Montois)

• Olympia: =2nd Puissance (Loughnavally)

• Royal Windsor: 1st Grand Prix (Nustria)

More than 750 people visited Towerlands Park in Braintree, Essex on Tuesday (17 November) to watch two of the world’s top show jumpers share their expertise at a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) training event.

The crowds were treated to demonstrations from the former European show jumping champion and 2009 Team GBR rider, Peter Charles, and Billy Twomey who is one of Ireland’s leading international riders.

The day gave spectators an insight into their personal training techniques, working with seven of Britain’s most notable talents — Dan Neilson, Tim Page, Joe Davison, Graham Lovegrove, Nicole Pavitt, Paul Barker and James Billington.

BSJA chairman of training Katrina Moore said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people supporting the event and taking such an active interest in our training programmes.

“We look forward to building on this event for next year, and would like to thank everybody who made it possible, especially Peter and Billy.”

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

The British show jumping team moves up to silver medal position in the team show jumping competition at the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships at Windsor, with one round to go.

A thrilling first round in Friday’s team finale saw Team GB rise up the leaderboard from seventh to second, thanks to two clear jumping rounds from Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) and Geoff Billington (Rosinus), the latter picking up just one time penalty. Peter Charles collected four faults plus a time penalty, while Tim Stockdale was the discard score as he finished on eight faults with Fresh Direct Corlato.

A testing championship track caused a complete reshuffle at the top of the team table. The Netherlands now have an unsteady lead on a score of 15.96. Britain hovers behind on 17.26 with Italy rising up to third (19). Early leaders Switzerland have dropped to fourth (19.66) but, with barely a fence between them, this afternoon’s decider looks set to be a battle of epic proportions.

Listen to rider interviews below

Ben Maher

Geoff Billington

Tim Stockdale

Windsor Europeans live results

Team results

Individual results

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After a gloomy result for the home crowd in Friday’s Nations Cup, there was finally something to cheer about at the Royal International Horse Show on Sunday.

British riders, including two from the Nations Cup team, filled the top three places from a strong international field in the prestigious Longines King George V Gold Cup. In a thrilling seven-rider jump-off, it was Peter Charles who landed the £50,000 prize from difficult first draw on Sandra Cordiner’s Murkas Pall Mall H.

“It means a lot to me — I’ve had a long association with Hickstead and I’ve wanted to win this class for a very long time,” said Peter, the first British rider to land the trophy since Nick Skelton in 1999.

In hot pursuit were Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Corlato) and Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) who both finished in a quicker time than Peter but collected four faults apiece for second and third respectively.

Results

1 – Peter Charles (Murkas Pall Mall H) 0/0 (53.50sec)

2 – Tim Stockdale (Fresh Direct Corlato) 0/4 (53.14)

3 – Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) 0/4 (53.19)

Pick up Thursday’s Horse & Hound (30 July) for our special 13-page report on all the action from the RIHS

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The team for the British leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup, held at Hickstead this Friday (24 July) has been announced.

The GB squad is currently in the relegation zone, lying in ninth position of 10 after seven competitions. France tops the board.

British show jumping performance manager Derek Ricketts has selected the following squad for the home fixture of the series:

Ben Maher with Robin Hood W, Quainton Quirifino Z and Akosie du Wonderland

Peter Charles with Pom d’Ami, Rubert R and Pall Mall H

Robert Smith with Vangelis S, Balourado and Talan

Tim Gredley with Omelli, Seander and Fabriana

The Meydan FEI Nations Cup takes place at the Longines Royal International Horse Show (22-26 July) with the first round commencing at 10.30am.

For tickets, go to www.hickstead.co.uk

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Show jumper Peter Charles has been given clearance by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to compete on British teams.

Liverpool-born Peter, who has an Irish mother, switched from British to Irish nationality in 1992. Peter competed in two Olympics and three World Games under the Irish banner before breaking his back in October 2006.

During his convalescence, Peter set into motion a switch back to compete for Britain (news, 15 February 2007), telling H&H: “I was born and live in Britain and have British owners, I pay British taxes: it makes sense.”

Initially, a three-year period before being allowed to compete on British teams was implemented by the FEI, but Peter has successfully had this reduced and was given the go-ahead on 15 December.

“Now my horses will be available for British teams. I’ve got a lot of good horses now and I think it will give Derek [Ricketts] more options,” said Peter.

British show jumping team manager Derek Ricketts added: “Peter is a top-class rider with a good backer and good horses, it will give us more choice.”

www.bsja.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (3 January, ’07)

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Show jumper Nick Charles, nephew of Peter Charles, broke his neck in a recent fall.

Nick, 33, landed on his head after a horse stopped at a fence during a show at Quob Stables Equestrian Centre in Durley, Hampshire. He was taken to Southampton Hospital, where he was operated on by top spinal injuries surgeon Evan Davies.

“Every rider should check that their hat reaches the highest standards,” said Peter, who added that doctors expect Nick to make a full recovery.

• This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (15 February, ’07)

Show jumper Peter Charles has decided to revert back to British nationality, according to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI).

Charles, 47, changed his nationality to Irish in 1992 and made a significant contribution to Irish show jumping. But he has opted to compete as a British national once again and hopes to represent Britain in international competitions in the future.

The British Show Jumping Association says it is pleased Peter Charles will be competing under British colours. “The Association is delighted to welcome Peter Charles back as a British rider,” said a BSJA spokesperson. “Peter has attained great accolades under Irish nationality and we wish him the same success on returning to this country.”

A spokesperson for the EFI said: “Although he has not been prominent on Irish teams in the last few years, he did make a significant contribution to Irish show jumping achievements, particularly through the 1990s and the early part of this decade.”

Read Horse & Hound’s EXCLUSIVE interview with Peter Charles in this week’s magazine – out Thursday 15 February

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Ireland’s show jumper Peter Charles was injured on Friday following a fall at a local show in Hampshire, and is now recovering in hospital.

He was warming up on one of his Foxhunters prior to a jump off, and as he approached a parallel, the horse took off a stride away from the fence, and landed on the back bar causing Peter to fall.

Unfortunately he sustained serious injuries to ligaments and muscles as well as a broken bone 3in below his neck. Following an MRI scan on Monday the prognosis is that he should make a full recovery and be back riding in the New Year.

He has a top consultant from Guys hospital conferring with doctors to ensure he has all the help and advice he requires. The British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) has said it will keep the public informed as to how his condition improves.

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Two of Irish showjumper Peter Charles’s top horses, Carnavelly and Corrada, are for sale, and Hampshire-based Peter will ride them at only two more shows, Royal Dublin and Hickstead — where he aims to win his third consecutive Derby on Corrada.

“Paul Stamp and Jes Neilsen, who have been wonderful owners for the past nine years, have decided to dissolve their partnership and Carnavelly and Corrada are therefore for sale,” said Peter.

Another horse, Mulligan, whom Louise Pavitt rode at the recent junior European Championships, is now at Andy Austin’s yard to be sold.

The decision does not affect the horses owned by Denise Stamp. These include her home-bred Amber Du Montois, who will be ridden by William Funnell in the British Nations Cup team at Royal Dublin tomorrow.

The mare’s half-sister, Nova Du Montois, remains with Andy Austin, who will also retain the ride on horses jointly owned by himself and Paul Stamp.

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