Five years of patience and long-term thinking with what was once a “difficult” young horse has really paid off for British Olympic showjumper Harry Charles as the 10-year-old secured his first grand prix victory in Belgium this week. Meanwhile, flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders claimed the overall title as Longines Global Champions Tour champion of champions for the second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Read on for our round-up of this week’s international showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: Sherlock finds all the answers

At Sentower Park, Belgium, the 1.55m CSI3* grand prix was won by Great Britain’s Harry Charles and 10-year-old rising star Sherlock. In a four-way jump-off, Harry went head-to-head with Lorenzo De Luca on F One USA, coming out over half a second faster of the two double clears to secure the 10-year-old stallion’s first grand prix success. The previous day, 24-year-old Harry also won a 1.45m two-phase with the speedy Billabong Du Roumois.

“It was Sherlock’s first grand prix win – he’s not done so many though,” Harry told H&H. “I’ve had him since the start of his five-year-old career so he’s actually the horse I’ve had the longest in the stable.

“As a six- and seven-year-old he was very difficult – he was very sensitive and thought about the job a lot. A lot of times I’ve thought ‘Where am I going with him?’ But his jump was always so amazing – he’s one of the best young horses I’ve ever seen jumping, let alone ridden – then when he put it all together, he was exceptional. So we always knew it was worth keeping going with him.”

The Belgian-bred son of Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere only jumped his first ranking class as a nine-year-old.

“He’s 10 now, but I still treat him like he’s a year behind the other horses – a lot of 10-year-olds will have been to championships,” said Harry. “But it’s all about doing things in his own time and at the last few shows the results have been amazing. He’s not had many jumps down and the big jumps are very easy to him.”

Harry felt that the track for Sentower’s three-star grand prix was “not far off a five-star”.

“They only got four clears, which says something,” he said. “Sherlock used to be quite a slow horse, but over the past year I’ve been working on trying to pick his speed up a bit. We’ve been doing a lot of turns in the indoor school and getting him to try to follow my hands. Now, he’s actually the easiest horse I ride. He went from the most difficult to the easiest horse I have! He’s so intelligent – you just have to point him at a jump and he does it. You turn him left, he goes left, you turn him right, he goes right, you say ‘Whoa’ and he comes back. He’s the perfect horse actually, very special.”

The next goal for the pair is the World Cup qualifiers of Madrid and La Coruna.

“I’m half thinking about him for the World Cup Finals, then with the Olympics next year we have Balou, but behind him he’s a great horse to have,” said Harry. “The Olympics might just come a little bit early, but he is more than capable of it.

“Then Billabong had a little win too – he’s always chipping in!” said Harry, who is in action later this week at the World Cup show in Lyon, France.

• CSI3* Sentower results

British victory in Portugal

In other showjumping news, Lily Attwood took a starring role at the CSI2* Villamoura Champions Tour in Portugal, when landing Sunday’s grand prix with her great partner Cor-Leon VD Vlierbeek Z, sealing a great week for the Brits in which Laura Renwick made a return to the winner’s enclosure and Graham Gillespie triumphed in a jump-off class with Veneno.

• CSI2* Villamoura Champions Tour results

Phillip Miller on tour

On his first competitive trip abroad for four years, Phillip Miller helped Great Britain to sixth in the Nations Cup in Vejer, Spain, going on to finish sixth in the CSIO3* Andalucia grand prix with Brendon Stud and Pennie Cornish’s Don Royale, just 2sec off the pace with an eye-catching double clear. Joining him on the British squad for Friday’s Nations Cup, led by Stanny van Paesschen, were Joe Stockdale (Ebanking), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo) and Skye Higgin (Djordania Du Tillard).

• CSIO3* Andalucia results

A returning LGCT champion is crowned

Stepping up to be crowned the 17th Longines Global Champions Tour champion of champions was flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders. Following up on his 2017 title, the 43-year-old clinched the crown ahead of nearest rivals Maikel van der Vleuten and Henrik von Eckermann after a battle that rumbled into the final grand prix of the season.

“I know how it feels [to win the championship] and I wanted to feel it again,” said Harrie. “To be the overall champion again is a big marker in my career. All the dedication from my team, my people and my grooms make this a big milestone for all of us.”

Showjumping news: final ticket to the Super Grand Prix is pocketed

Some breathtaking turns and a pulsating finish from last-drawn German Christian Kuker on the 13-year-old Comme Il Faut stallion Checker 47 earned a well-deserved top spot in the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of Riyadh by just 0.16sec and he headed home with the hefty £150,000 first prize.

“I had flashbacks because I was last to go in Doha [at the start of the season] and lost it by 0.05sec [to Philipp Weishaupt] to finish second, so I thought, ‘That’s not going to happen today!” said Christian, stable jockey at the Ludger Beerbaum stables. “I felt a little slower over fences one, two and three – I had the strides I wanted, but they were holding strides everywhere – but then I turned very, very tight to the double, which I did yesterday with him in the GCL. He did it very well then, so I thought ‘Why not try it again?’ He did it super again.

“To bring it home and to cross the finish line and see that you’ve won is always an amazing feeling, but that was very, very special for me today.”

Riesenbeck International were crowned GCL 2023 champions, retaining the title from last year. In action in this leg were Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday and Ireland’s Eoin McMahon with Mila, but Christian Kukuk has been key to the success of the squad owned and managed by Ludger Beerbaum.

“It was six wins, leading overall from the first competition – most of the time with a comfortable margin,” said Ludger. “It got tight at the end and Paris Panthers made it really exciting, but we’ve never had a team dominating the season more than we did this year.”

• LGCT of Riyadh results

A first five-star win after a 10-year wait

And last but certainly not least in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, US rider Katie Dinan and 17-year-old “gentle giant” Brego R’n B posted their first five-star victory together in the $450,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup at the Washington International Horse Show. This win came 10 years after Katie’s last five-star success.

“It’s hard not to love Brego,” she said of the Namelus R gelding owned by Grant Road Partners, who she has ridden for five years. “He’s 17 and he really, really deserves it – I’m thrilled for him. In the jump-off, he showed all of his amazing qualities – he has huge scope, quality, bravery, intelligence and he tries hard. You can’t really ask for more as a rider. I think he knew he won.”

Katie combines top-flight showjumping with a PhD programme studying circadian rhythms in a genetics lab at Rockefeller University.

“Brego has had the same groom, Lou Beudin, since we got him five years ago and he loves her so much – they’re a really great pair,” she said.

• Washington International Horse Show results

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A friend of Phillip Miller has set up a crowdfunding page to ensure the showjumper “does not have to jump the Hickstead Derby in his underpants”.

Heidi Luck is aiming to raise £500 for a new jacket and pair of breeches for Phillip, who is recovering in hospital after a freak accident at the South of England Show on 8 June.

The 2013 Hickstead Derby winner was walking to compete in the international stairway class when his ride, Shirley Light’s mare Unbelievable Lady, spooked at something and spun. She fell, becoming entangled in metal fencing, and Phillip hit his head.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, for treatment and it was confirmed he had not been seriously injured – but medical staff had to cut off his jacket and breeches.

So amateur showjumper Heidi Luck set up the JustGiving page to replace them.

“I’m so relieved he’s all right,” she told H&H.

“I know Phillip from shows; he always smiles and says hello and has a chat; he’s one of the good guys.

“I just thought it would be a goodwill gesture, to say we know he’s such a nice guy and this is such a horrible thing to happen, and we know how much new kit costs so I thought this would be really nice.”

Heidi added on her JustGiving page: “After all we don’t want Phillip jumping the Derby in his underpants this year!”

“But a couple of people have commented with their donations to say it might be a good idea, that maybe he should ride across the main ring in his pants!” she added.

“I can imagine the conversation and hope he sees the funny side.

“There have been some lovely comments from people. Everyone thinks he’s such a lovely man, and he’s such a grafter.

“I just hope he’s back and fit and riding – hopefully not naked – very soon.”

Continues below…

Top rider recovering in hospital after ‘freak accident’ at show

The rider was injured while walking his horse to the ring

Phillip Miller: ‘I used to say I’d never jump round the Hickstead Derby’

Phillip Miller reminisces about the first time he took the plunge and gave the Hickstead Derby a try — and

Top rider as Pudsey joins Daisy the mule at Children in Need show

'You're having a laugh but at least someone's got bigger ears than me!'

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Showjumper Phillip Miller is recovering in hospital after a freak accident at the South of England Show yesterday (8 June).

The 2013 Hickstead Derby winner was walking towards the ring at Ardingly to compete in the international stairway class when the horse he was riding, Unbelievable Lady (Ash), spooked at something and spun.

The mare fell, becoming entangled in metal fencing.

Phillip was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, for treatment. It was later confirmed that he had sustained minor injuries in the fall.

“Just wanted to let everyone know that Phillip Miller is ok after his fall at South of England show this morning,” said his long-term friend and supporter Pennie Cornish last night.

“No bones broken or spinal damage but concussed and very sore, he will be staying in hospital for a day or two.

“Thank you for all your messages and calls, (he is one popular guy) it means a lot.

“Ash is also fine, getting away with just a couple of small superficial cuts. Feeling relieved and thankful.”

A statement released by the South of England Agricultural Society, which runs the show, read: “Phillip Miller, competing at the South of England Show, has been transferred to The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, after unfortunately being injured when his horse fell. Further information will be announced in due course.”

Article continues below…

Phillip Miller — 2013 Hickstead Derby winner

All you need to know about 2013 Hickstead Derby winner Phillip Miller

10 showjumping tips from Hickstead Derby winner Phillip Miller

Who better to take showjumping advice from than a Hickstead Derby winner? Take a look at Phillip Miller's 10 top

Phillip Miller’s Hickstead countdown: If I win the Derby I’d like to buy a cow

Last year's Hickstead Derby winner brings us up to date with his preparations for this year's show and reveals what

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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Showjumper Phillip Miller swapped breeches for a Pudsey Bear outfit at the weekend as he helped raise £2,200 at Brendon Stud’s annual Children in Need show (19-20 November).

Phillip posed with Di and Pennie Cornish’s mule Daisy at the venue in Pyecombe, West Sussex, which ran showjumping, arena eventing, fun pony classes and dog agility on Saturday and Sunday.

Caz Light, of Brendon Stud, said the annual show was normally held just on one day, but as the only spare date to run arena eventing was Sunday, they decided to combine the two into a Children in Need weekend.

“The adults got right into it with the fancy dress – there were spots and superheroes everywhere,” she told H&H. “My poor labrador was painted on Saturday morning and he’s still spotty now! [22 November]

“We started it as one class, about eight years ago, but it got competitive so we’ve run a day’s show, then this year thought we’d run it across the whole weekend.

“I wasn’t sure the Sunday lot would get into it as much as the kids – but they did.”

Phillip, who rides for Brendon Stud as well as the Cornishes, turned up with Pennie and her two children for the show, as well as Daisy the mascot, and was persuaded into the Pudsey costume.

“He said: ‘You’re having a laugh, but at least someone’s got bigger ears than me!’” said Caz, who ordered the costume from America.

Related articles:

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• Top riders cross-dressing, carrying watermelons and riding a mule for Willberry Wonder Pony
• The ultimate equestrian festive fancy dress *PICTURES*

“It seems the Children in Need show is here to stay. It’s great fun and to raise that much is brilliant.”

A table-top sale, of items donated by suppliers to the Brendon Stud saddlery shop, helped towards the fundraising total, as did a cake sale and lucky dip competitions.

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Trevor Breen of Ireland and his 1-eyed wonder horse Adventure De Kannan today (29 June) won the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby after a thrilling jump-off.

After an afternoon of non-stop drama, it all came down to a mere 0.02sec as Trevor went head-to-head with the 2013 title holder Phillip Miller (Caritiar Z), both having finished on 4 faults in round 1 in a year when clear rounds proved elusive.

First up, Phillip produced a 2nd 4-fault round, just succumbing to a rail in the Devil’s Dyke. But the Irishman followed in hot pursuit and, when the back rail of the privet oxer fell, Trevor and Karen Swann’s “Addy” accelerated home with no further faults – stopping the clock just a fraction quicker to take the famous Boomerang trophy.

“He’s a Trojan of a horse,” said Trevor, who won this at his fourth time of trying with the 14-year-old son of Kannan, who lost an eye last year. “His heart makes him special.”

Phillip Miller was nevertheless delighted to come so close to landing the double with the great grey “Carter”, another 14-year-old. A trio of riders finished equal 3rd on 8 faults – Jade Hooke (A New Era), Harriet Nuttall (A Touch Imperious) and William Whitaker (Glenavadra Brilliant).

Don’t miss the full report, analysis and all the thrills and spills from this year’s Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby in the next issue of Horse & Hound (out 3 July).

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Having won the Hickstead Derby in 2013 on the grey Caritiar Z, Phillip Miller will be blogging about his preparations for this year’s Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting (26-29 June)

The Equestrian.com Derby is now just 2 days away and I’m looking forward to having another crack at winning the Boomerang Trophy.

I’ve just finished riding in the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial and fortunately all went well – Carter (pictured top) jumped well and just had the first part of the combination down to finish on 4 faults. We ended up 8th out of 63 starters so I’m really pleased.

The course includes some of the fences in the Derby itself, including the double of ditches, the wall and the Devil’s Dyke and he cantered over them all absolutely fine. He knows exactly what he’s doing in that arena now.

He’s totally different at this show, and he’s feeling really well in himself. He was bucking in the trot-up on Wednesday, and is generally in a very good mood. The only thing is I haven’t had a chance to clip him yet so that’ll be my task for tomorrow. I may be the current Derby winner, but I still have to do the same jobs as everyone else!

I’ll also take him round the showground for a hack and do a little bit of work with him too, but he’s not jumping tomorrow. He’ll go out Sunday morning for a walk in hand to have a bit of grass, then it’s time for him to have a bath (the joys of greys) and to be plaited in time for the parade. He loves doing that, as he’s a proper little show off and loves attention.

The course doesn’t ever change, but I’ll still walk it a couple of times. It doesn’t get any smaller the more I walk it though! I’m also monitoring the weather, because if it rains, that could work in my favour. Carter loves a bit of a mud – he recently won the trial at Herts County when it was hammering it down. He was the only horse who went into the jump-off with his ears forward, happy as anything.

Ones to watch

There are so many good horses in the Equestrian.com Derby. So many horses these days are prepared especially for this class and it wouldn’t surprise me if there will be proper jump-offs every year from now on. The ones I’ll be looking out for most are the Breen brothers, Trevor and Shane; Guy Williams with Skip Two Ramiro, and Geoff Billington, whose horses have been going well.

David Simpson is also one to watch — Hermione IV just came 5^th in the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial, and he’s also now riding Richi Rich III, the former ride of Guy Williams, and the mare has jumped well in the Derby before. Harriet Nuttall, who came 2nd in today’s trial with A Touch Imperious, is another one to keep an eye on!

It’s all a bit surreal coming back to Hickstead as the reigning winner of the Derby. I’m doing the Donkey Derby on the Saturday night, which will be fun – though unlike William Funnell, I won’t be actually riding the donkeys instead of driving them… I’ve fallen off enough donkeys in my time! I’m also doing the Celebrity Scurry on Sunday too and I’m hoping I get paired up with the driver with the fastest ponies.

I also jumped Basic in the Trial as well and had 4 down — he’s only 8 so he’s not quite ready for the Derby itself. Tomorrow I’m jumping him in the Tom Hudson Derby Trophy, so hopefully he’ll go well. Then it’s time to focus on the Equestrian.com Derby.

I’m not nervous yet and I know as soon as I go to bed and shut my eyes on Saturday night I’ll be fast asleep. But on Sunday everyone knows that I’m best left to my own devices! Just hope we can jump another good round in the Derby — it’ll be unbelievable if we can win it again.

Phillip

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The 2013 Hickstead Derby winner Phillip Miller came to Hickstead in Sussex to give a lesson to Hickstead Derby Community competition winner Jodine Brooks, 25 and her 7-year-old Dutch gelding, Camorasun.

Here are Phillip’s top 10 tips for success in the ring:

1. Flatwork is so important. I spend a lot of time schooling, working on the horse’s adjustability and balance. My top horses rarely jump at home.

2. The horse must accept the leg aids. Even with a fizzy or excitable horse, they must accept some leg pressure — it acts as a support. If you go from no leg aid to too much as you approach take-off, the horse will overreact.

3. A strong canter rhythm is the key to a good showjumping round.

4. The canter should be adjustable. Ask the horse to go forward by allowing with the hand, then collect by sitting more upright through the upper body.

5. If you find you lose impulsion or rhythm on the turns, try going into a showjumping canter and then riding a 12-15m circle, while maintaining the same pace. Work on turning with your leg and seat aids and not your reins.

6. Try riding down the 3/4 line of the arena and make sure your horse stays straight — straightness is a key component to riding a course.

7. I use lots of v-poles when training, as it gets the horse to lift up through the shoulder and be neater in front.

8. If your horse rushes, think of sitting up on the approach until the very last second. If you’re forward in your upper body position, it will encourage them to be quicker.

9. If you’re coming down to a double or treble, don’t change the way you ride — think of every jump as being the only fence, and just ride to combinations as you would for a standard oxer or upright.

10. Be consistent with your training. If they rush off after a fence, bring them back to a halt on a straight line. If they’re allowed to pull you around at home, they’ll do it at shows too.

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Take a look at the Hickstead Derby through the ages in pictures

Picture courtesy of Honeybunn Photography

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Having won the Hickstead Derby in 2013 on the grey Caritiar Z, Phillip Miller will be blogging about his preparations for this year’s Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting (26-29 June)

Carter and I went off to the Lummen CSIO5* in Belgium at the end of April to jump in their Derby. Only one rider jumped clear – Carlos Eduardo Motta Ribas on Ronaldo – and I finished 7th. We had 4 down, but he jumped well and was clear down the bank and over their dyke. The Lummen Derby includes more cross-country type fences than Hickstead or Hamburg, with 2 water jumps, an owl hole and steps. It was good fun though, and Carter enjoyed himself. He did get a little strong at times so he’s obviously feeling fit and well.

Then it was off to Royal Windsor, where unfortunately I developed a bad case of 4-faultitis! Windsor was upgraded to a CSI3* this year and it was a very friendly and a really well organised show. The beautiful weather certainly helped too. I also bumped into Hickstead Director Daisy Bunn, who became the stalker of Windsor! She was tracking down various riders to persuade them to take a ‘selfie’ while wearing their Hickstead Derby Community t-shirts. I think the Community is a good idea; we need to get more people involved and following what’s going on in the sport. If it gets them talking about showjumping and the Equestrian.com Derby, and hopefully bringing other people along to Hickstead to spectate, then it can only be good for the sport.

After Windsor it was off to Devon County where my 4-fault habit stuck around, but the good weather didn’t! We jumped one class on Thursday, picked up 4 faults, then overnight and on Friday it absolutely chucked it down and the rest of the show was cancelled. It’s a real shame because county shows do so much for our sport. They try to provide good going, but there’s not a lot you can do with the British weather being as it is.

It’s hard when you find yourself picking up 4 faults, but you have to keep plugging away and remind yourself that every rider will go through periods like this and then hopefully you turn the corner again and have a run of clears. It can be hard to keep positive, all that work and preparation only to have a fence down for no reason, but you have to keep going and not let it get to you.

I’ve got lots of county shows coming up, then I’m off to a 3-day show at Bury Farm, South of England and finally Bolesworth in the run up to Hickstead. Carter will be jumping in a few Stairways to keep him going and get him up in the air.

After winning last year’s Derby, I spent my share of the prizemoney on a beautiful Macaw called Peggy. I’ve been flying her in the indoor school and she’s learning to talk. Apparently she’s really well behaved when I’ve been away at shows, though when I get back she’s been really cuddly with me, so maybe she does miss me a bit.

I’ve got my own mini zoo at home with birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and a house pig, and if I happen to win the Derby again this year, I’d quite like a cow to add to the collection!

Phillip

You could win a lesson with last year’s Hickstead Derby winner Phillip – join the Hickstead Derby Community to enter

Picture by Samatha Lamb

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Having won the Hickstead Derby in 2013 on the grey Caritiar Z, Phillip Miller will be blogging about his preparations for this year’s Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting (26-29 June)

I used to say I’d never jump round the Hickstead Derby. I’d loved watching it on television when I was growing up, but I had no intention of jumping in it myself. But about 5 years ago, people started saying I should take Carter (Caritiar Z) into the Derby and I finally decided to have a go.

I remember walking the course during the Speed Derby and that was the first time I’d ever been up the Derby bank. Suzanne Dando from Sky Sports wanted to interview me as a Derby first-timer at the edge of the bank. I looked down, and I remember saying to her: “That’s ridiculous!”

But it didn’t cause any problems. On our first attempt we finished 9th, with the first part of the Devil’s Dyke down plus 2 time faults. Carter paused at the top of the bank and had a good look down — that’s probably why we got time faults — but then he just sussed out what to do and crept slowly down it. He figured it out himself, and I just had to trust him.

Coming back last year, I’d known he was capable of jumping a good round but I never expected to win it. I’d been practising — we’d gone down to Guy Williams’ yard, as he’s got a few Derby fences, and Bernice Cuthbert, who produces the 2012 winner Loughnatousa WB, has got a really good Derby course at her yard that I jumped a few times. Then I’d do silly little things, like when I was out hacking, if there was a bank at the side of the road, I’d ride off it.

Carter is a very different horse at Hickstead. He’s more relaxed, and he loves everyone looking at him. Last year I rode him on the morning of the Derby and he worked really well. And when I was warming-up for the class later that day he was definitely with me.

All the fences in the Derby course are challenging, but when I was still clear after the Bank and the Devil’s Dyke, the adrenalin started to kick in. You can’t relax at that point, but the excitement does start to build. You have to concentrate on not making a mistake — that’s the worst thing.

After the water and the open ditch, I realised I only had a few fences to go — the double of gates and the final oxer. But I didn’t want to get time faults like I had the year before so I remember riding on to the last and thinking, aim straight for a post, set him up and go for it.

When we went clear, the crowd was unbelievable. I did swear while jumping the last which was caught by the television cameras — that’s terrible, I know, but I was too excited.

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This year’s Olympia boasts a stellar line-up — with 3 world number ones for the first time in the show’s history — but some familiar faces will be absent.

Charlotte Dujardin, Scott Brash (pictured) and carriage driving’s Boyd Exell are all confirmed for the show (16-22 December).

Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said he was “delighted” with the line-up, which includes the top 3 showjumpers in the world.

Scott Brash will be joined by his European and Olympic teammate Ben Maher and German legend Ludger Beerbaum, who returns to the CSI5* show after a break of several years.

But the decision by Olympia organisers to allocate places based on the FEI rankings this year — rather than British Showjumping’s combined rankings has left some riders and showjumping fans disappointed.

FEI rankings points are accrued by international results, meaning that Olympia stalwart Tina Fletcher and Hickstead Derby winner Phillip Miller — who compete largely on the national circuit — miss out.

“I’m disappointed that they’ve decided to do it on that system,” Tina told H&H. “It’s a shame for British riders who do national shows.”

Nigel Eccles, owner of Phillip Miller’s Derby ride, Caritiar Z, told H&H that Phillip and “Carter” had worked “extremely hard on the county show circuit”.

He added: “We haven’t had massive resources to base them on the Continent.”

Simon Brooks-Ward told H&H: “It is tough and I can understand where they are coming from.

“British Showjumping recommended that we take the FEI ranking list for the Olympia qualification. We agreed that it gave us the best UK riders in our opinion.

He added: “We like to see proven ability in an indoor arena competing against the peer group they’d find at Olympia.”

London 2012 gold medallist Peter Charles would also miss out through the FEI rankings — but will be at Olympia as the Olympic and European showjumping teams have been invited.

This story first appeared in H&H magazine (12 December 2013 edition).

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Showjumper and Hickstead Derby winner Phillip Miller didn’t come from an equestrian background. The 36-year-old only took up riding because it looked like a safer bet than rugby, which was his brother’s sport of choice at the time.

Aged six, he went to his local stables — Di and Pennie Cornish’s Greenacres Equestrian in Hertfordshire — for his first half-hour lesson.

“I was a total wimp,” says Phillip, who didn’t get out of walk for some time and almost gave up riding when he was nine following a fall.

Having persevered, his parents bought him one of Pennie’s former jumping ponies. And Pennie gave the pair lessons, even though Phillip still hated showjumping.

In his teens, Phillip started helping with the Cornish’s horses, and when Steven Smith came to train one day he suggested Phillip might have some talent.

“I was quite useless to begin with and couldn’t spot a stride,” insists Phillip. “Pennie’s novices taught me to ride properly — if I didn’t, I would be on the floor.”

Phillip Miller the producer

It is thanks to Di and Pennie’s continued support that Phillip has made the big time.

Initially, he focused on producing young horses while Pennie competed the more established rides.

He didn’t even want to jump big classes back then. However, when Pennie was pregnant with her first daughter, Phillip had to step up.

“I said I’d have a go and see how I got on. I didn’t want to go ruining anything,” he says.

In 2006, he pulled off county wins on Uniek II, Twister II and Very Versace.

The following year, he won the six-year-old final at Horse of the Year Show with his now Hickstead Derby winner Caritiar Z. He was fifth in the same class on Talan, who went on to contest the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky with Robert Smith.

Phillip also produced Je T’Aime Flamenco, who went on to success with Irish rider Billy Twomey.

So although Phillip has only just touched this level of fame, he has ridden Olympians for some time. Perhaps now, in Caritiar Z, he has one for himself.

Phillip Miller factfile

Rider: Phillip Miller

Date of birth: 29 March 1977 (36)

Nickname: “Mr Cool”

If he didn’t work with horses: He’d like to work in a zoo, or on an African safari.

Bet you didn’t know: He once came third in a young rider championship at Olympia riding a half-bred Welsh cob bought from Southwell market.

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