Latest from Horse & Hound in Piggy-march

‘We’re cementing a partnership’ – Piggy March leads Bramham on horse who won here with Pippa Funnell

Pippa Roome — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:09:27 +0000

Piggy March holds the lead in the CCI4*-L after the first day of Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage, riding MCS Maverick, who won this class in 2023 with Pippa Funnell.

“I was worried about the umbrellas and he definitely wasn’t quite what he was outside in there. He’s bright – but he was very rideable and – apart from the walk, which is cautious, and I don’t know if my pirouettes were active enough – he was good,” said Piggy.

The pair were eighth in the CCI4*-S at Bramham last year, when “Eric” was a very new ride for Piggy. They then went to Defender Burghley Horse Trials, where they had a couple of issues across country and ended up being eliminated.

“I want to go back to Burghley, because Burghley was terrible. I just rode him badly. I didn’t know him, I didn’t have a plan when I walked the course, I just wasn’t with him,” said Piggy.

“Badminton comes so quick, especially if you have a wet spring and you don’t get the runs, so I thought I want to do what’s right for me and the horse as a partnership – but I would really like to go back to Burghley.

“He’s a real galloping horse and it could suit him. He’s got all the quality there, it’s just finding the key, and there’s not a lot of places you can go and practise for Burghley, but Bramham definitely is one.

“It’s just cementing a partnership, actually having a plan of how to ride him. I’m still figuring that out and I’ve managed to get four or five runs in this year. I’m not there yet, but I feel like I’m getting to know him.

“If I go everywhere at third gear, he’s beautiful and I have a lovely time. But we’ve got to get up to speed and it’s a work in progress.

“I’m in my own little bubble and I’m just interested in where I’m at with him – whether that means I go zooming around and trying to get the time, or I’m just still putting bits together, I don’t know. Every day is a learning day with him.”

Piggy March on her Bramham Horse Trials dressage preparation

Having had quite a difficult preparation for the first phase here last year, Piggy alternated short periods of work with giving MCS Maverick breaks with his head down this time.

“He likes to put his head low – he stretches his back, he really breathes,” she said. “It’s just switching him on, switching him off, switching him on, switching him off, so he gets a bit bored of me. I’d like him to be bored of me. He’s still a weak horse so you can overwork his body.”

Selina Milnes led at lunchtime and held second at the end of the day on the Ruckers’ Cooley Snapchat, who was the 2023 CCI4*-S winner here.

“He was really good – he was actually so rideable, I could probably have done with a little bit more energy in the trot work,” said Selina, who scored 27.9 to Piggy and Eric’s 26.4.

The 12-year-old has had an interrupted spring as Selina fell off and broke two ribs just before the start of the season. This meant the horse missed some work so she withdrew from Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

“Then he went really well at Thoresby, he won the advanced at Cirencester and he was due to go to Belsay, and then I managed to fall off a youngster and do my ribs again,” she said.

“So these guys [my team] have literally kept him ticking over and he hasn’t really done a lot. I had a real course last week – I had a dressage lesson and went jumping and had a cross-country school, but he knows what he’s doing, doesn’t he?”

Badminton re-route for Berkeley

Daisy Berkeley holds third on her own, her mother Caroline Dick and Camilla Case’s Diese Du Figuier, who has been re-routed here after she pulled up at Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

“Obviously, Badminton was disappointing, but I’d agreed with the owners beforehand that if we had an early 20, we were not going to carry on, because once you’re out of the running, it’s a pretty hideous course to be riding around when you’ve lost your competitive spirit.

“So we always were going to re-route here if that was an issue, because we all love Bramham so much and it would have been a bit gutting not to be here,” said Daisy, adding that you arrive at Bramham and feel like you’re at the best event in the world.

“I did initially enter for the short, just because I thought that was just the easy, lazy option. I suddenly thought, ‘Come on, it would fit in better with my plan for the rest of the year if I went long here’. Then we’ll do another long again in the autumn, hopefully.”

The pair scored 29.5 today.

“I like riding in the rain, so, actually, I was very happy that we had this day of drizzle. It just makes life a bit easier. It keeps everyone’s heads down and moisturises my ancient dry eyes,” said Daisy.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with him in there. He was really obedient, got both his changes. He ‘fell over’ in the last halt, but he halted square, at least, so that was good. To be in the 20s is always nice.

“I know there’s going to be some very good ones, but I don’t care about what everyone else is doing, as long as we can do the best performance, me and him, that we can do, and see what happens in the end.”

Ibble Watson rounds out the sub-30 tests in fourth on Aristoteles S Z, and Alex Bragg is fifth on Jaeger Master.

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Britain out of the running for team medals at Blenheim Europeans as second team rider eliminated across country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:57:30 +0000

Britain is out of the team competition after a fall for second team rider Piggy March on the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course.

Piggy was enjoying a great round with Jayne McGivern’s lovely grey stallion Halo, until he took off a stride early at the filled-in brush corner in the GFS Saddles Water (fence 10abc). He launched himself at the fence, hitting it low down on the front face and struggling awkwardly across it, throwing Piggy out of the saddle. She was soon up on her feet.

The elimination of Piggy March on the Blenheim European Championships cross-country track follows a fall for Yasmin Ingham from Rehy DJ earlier today. With each of these riders now carrying 1000 penalties, the British team, which runs in partnership with Agria, has lost any chance of team medals this week.

Britain’s other team riders, Laura Collett with London 52 (second after dressage) and Tom McEwen on JL Dublin (third after dressage), will now try to salvage some medals for Britain by fighting for individual honours. Bubby Upton, an individual at her first senior championship, is also in the mix in eighth after dressage with Its Cooley Time.

Britain’s failure to bring home a team medal from this European Championships after the success of team gold at last year’s Paris Olympics mirrors the lack of team medals at the 2022 World Championships in the season following the team gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. On both occasions the British team started as favourites, but the unpredictable nature of eventing has been on show in both post-Olympic years.

No British riders have finished the cross-country course yet today – first individual rider Caroline Harris was also eliminated for a fall at the FEI Mounds from D. Day.

Mark Phillips’ cross-country track is proving tough and no one has made the 10min 1sec optimum time yet. There have been 10 jumping clears from 17 starters.

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‘He’s a unicorn, but he will use his muck as a pillow sometimes’ – meet Hannah Chowen, groom to Piggy March’s stallion at Blenheim

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

One withdrawal ahead of Blenheim Europeans cross-country: ‘He isn’t feeling his best right now’

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‘He’s a unicorn, but he will use his muck as a pillow sometimes’ – meet Hannah Chowen, groom to Piggy March’s stallion at Blenheim

Pippa Roome — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:32:57 +0000

Hannah Chowen, travelling groom for Piggy March, has the responsibility of looking after the only stallion on the British team this week at the Agria Blenheim European Championships.

“He’s a real-life unicorn, gorgeous in every way,” said Hannah of Jayne McGivern’s Halo. “You wouldn’t really know that he’s a stallion because he’s so well mannered and behaved, so you could almost get a bit complacent. You do always just need to be switched on so that everyone is aware and you’re aware of who’s around you.”

Hannah added: “This time of year is usually quite good for Halo – it’s not like mares are coming into season like they do at the start of the season.”

When she takes Halo out grazing, Hannah tries to keep him away from everyone else.

She said: “I also try and find some quite good grass that not too many other people have been on, because otherwise he spends a lot of the time just sniffing, just trying to follow the scents of everyone else, and you want him to eat! So it’s just managing that, but we’re very fortunate. He is very good, as easy as they can be at this level.”

Halo is also a grey, so Hannah said there’s “a lot of purple shampoo used to keep him very white”.

“He will use his muck as a pillow sometimes,” she said. “He used to be really tidy, as stallions generally are in their boxes. But the last couple seasons, I definitely think he’s got a bit more casual and he likes to have a good roll. It makes my job a little bit harder, but we don’t mind. It’s all part of it.”

Hannah is from New Zealand and moved over to Britain around three-and-a-half years ago, working for Jesse and Georgie Campbell originally. She is in her third season working as a groom for Piggy March, having originally been a home groom and rider.

She explained: “Then this season, she asked if I would do her travelling for her, so I’ve taken on that role and we’ve had a pretty exciting year. I was the number two for travelling before, so I’d go along if there were three or more horses, so I’d had a taster of it and knew the drills, so it was quite an easy role to slip into.

“Obviously being a home rider groom is still just as important. But it is nice to come and be among it on the day and see your ponies perform and support Pig.”

Hannah loves to watch Halo and Piggy perform.

“I always have a really good feeling with him. I always feel very confident, that they’re safe and they’re a great team. They know each other so well now – she’s had the ride on him for quite some time. It’s really exciting that he’s got to this stage. Hopefully there are many more cool things that he will be doing with us.”

Three of the grooms on the British squad, which runs in partnership with Agria, are new to championships, including Hannah, while three are old hands.

“We’re very lucky – the British team are amazing, even at your normal events. They’re always around to support us in the wash downs and so on,” said Hannah. “This week there’s just a bit more camaraderie and it’s nice to feel at the heart of something.

“And if you ever need anything at all, there’s always someone to help. Obviously we all know each other from the circuit and it’s a great opportunity for us grooms to kind of bounce off each other and know that we’ve got that support from the more experienced grooms as well.”

Hannah said that her role as groom for Piggy March makes her feel that “my little Hannah would be so proud to see what I’m doing now – this was her dream”.

“I just love being a part of it all, being among any elite level live performance, and to feel like you’re taking part and contributing,” she said.

Asked the most challenging part of her job, she said: “I don’t think there’s anything challenging in a negative way, because challenges are good. I think it’s just working under the pressure. You work long hours and it’s making sure that you look after yourself and the horses and being that athlete manager, to be at your best at all times so that you’re always well prepared.”

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‘I’ll moan for 10 minutes then move on!’ Piggy March ‘frustrated’ with blips in her Blenheim Europeans dressage test

Martha Terry — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:42:47 +0000

Piggy March’s bold riding on the stunning stallion Halo secured a sub-30 score in the Agria Blenheim European Championships dressage phase, keeping the competition tight between Britain and Germany at the top of the leaderboard. But a couple of blips took the gloss off what could have been an even better mark, leaving Piggy “frustrated”.

“I had a couple of really expensive, uncharacteristic mistakes,” said Piggy. “It’s really disappointing when you’re here [at a championships]. It means a lot, and I’ve been so excited to be here and he’s such a fab horse and you just want to do your best, so to have the mistakes we did is frustrating.”

They started with a bang, drawing eights for their first halt. Jayne McGivern’s stallion has lovely cadence and combined with Piggy’s accuracy and ringcraft created a beautiful overall picture.

Despite a sub-par halt and rein-back, they were trending in the lead when Piggy executed a brave and bold medium canter with Halo eating up the ground. However, he just lost balance moving into collected canter, breaking into a couple of strides of trot before the half pass, which plummeted what could have been exceptional marks to fours and pegged them back to 29.4. This slots them into fourth towards the end of the first day of the dressage phase.

“The good bits were really good,” said Piggy. “I’ll moan for 10 minutes but it’s still sub 30 and we’re here at the Europeans, part of a team, with a great horse. But it is frustrating – that’s sport, it’s horses, and life!”

Piggy is no stranger to the pressure of a European Championship, having already won five senior European medals. However, it’s been four years since she last represented Britain and Halo is a newcomer to the championship scene.

“It’s so special, really cool to be back on a team, and on home soil,” said Piggy. “I’ve got my nails done for the first time! I feel like I’ve been out of it for ages, so it’s an honour and I’m proud to be part of it.”

The 12-year-old grey has course form, as the winner of the 2022 young horse class at Blenheim, and he has proved exceptional in the dressage phase – finishing on a sub-20 on his last international run, at Burgham CCI4*-S.

Piggy was riding second in the British team, in partnership with Agria, and built on pathfinder Yasmin Ingham’s competitive score of 29 earlier on day one of the Blenheim European Championships dressage phase.

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Who’s on the British team – and who’s an individual –at the Blenheim European Championships? Plus team order revealed

Pippa Roome — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:36:24 +0000

The split of the British squad into team and individuals for the Agria Blenheim European Championships this week (17-21 September) has been revealed.

The British team will consist of Yasmin Ingham, Piggy March, Tom McEwen and Laura Collett. The individuals will be Bubby Upton and Caroline Harris.

At this week’s Blenheim European Championships, Yasmin Ingham will be the trailblazer for the British team – which runs in partnership with Agria – on Rehy DJ, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

Next out will be Piggy March with Jayne McGivern’s Halo. Although Piggy has plenty of championship mileage, the grey stallion is the least experienced horse of the quartet and the number two spot on a team traditionally goes to a less experienced horse or rider, as it should be the starting position with the least pressure.

Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, owned by Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston, take the number three rank on the team.

Laura Collett and London 52, double Olympic team gold medallists and individual Olympic bronze medallists, will be the anchor pair for Great Britain. The 16-year-old gelding is owned by his rider, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett.

Unsurprisingly, reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung is the final rider out for the German team so he and FischerChipmunk FRH will do their dressage and head out of the cross-country start box just two horses after Laura. Michael and Laura are likely to be the chief challengers for the individual gold this week.

British individual riders Bubby Upton and Caroline Harris both make their senior squad debuts this week.

Caroline pilots her 2024 Pau Horse Trials winner D.Day, owned by Fiona Olivier, Heather Royle, Lucy Matthews and Marie Anne Richardson, with Bubby riding her own and The Five Time Syndicate’s Its Cooley Time, who won Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L in June.

The team order is as follows for the nine nations fielding a team:

Switzerland
Italy
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Sweden
Germany
France
Ireland

Austria only has three riders so will not have a rider in the first rotation.

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Harry Meade excels again on second horse, as Piggy March’s Burghley challenge ends on cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:04:02 +0000

Harry Meade holds the top two spots at the halfway stage of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country today (Saturday 6 September), while other top contenders have fallen by the wayside.

Harry finished seven seconds over the time with a super round on Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s mare Cavalier Crystal – one second slower than on his first horse Et Hop Du Matz – and currently sits first of those who have completed on the mare and second on pathfinder “Hoppy”.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country: Harry Meade on form

“She’s a lovely horse – I’ve ridden her since she was a five-year-old so we know each other really well,” said Harry Meade after his second 2025 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country round.

He added that he wasn’t sure Cavalier Crystal was a five-star horse until he brought her to Burghley two years ago, when she finished third, a result she repeated last year.

“She used to scamper, with a quick turnover of footfall and no length of stride, so it’s been a case of getting her to switch off and relax and lengthen her stride,” he said. “She’s a cool cross-country horse and has been great the past two Burghleys and was even better this time.”

British rider Holly Richardson piloted the 10-year-old Ballyneety Silver Service round with 9.2 time-faults to sit third behind Harry’s pair at this stage. He is Holly’s second Burghley ride; she completed here in 2023 on Bally Louis and withdrew that horse before the second horse inspection last year.

“I’m so pleased that he’s gone and shown what he is, I’m really chuffed,” said Holly.

“It’s definitely helpful, having been here before, because you know how the terrain rides but obviously it’s going the other way round so that’s made a difference this year. To be honest, when I walked it, I thought it would suit him better, because he is a real blood horse, and I knew he’d gallop up that hill.”

Although he’s such a good galloper, the grey is ridden in a snaffle.

Holly added: “He’s quite polite. You give him a little check and he’s quite happy to sit and wait for you. There were a couple of moments where I went, ‘Whoa, just wait.’ And he went, ‘Okay, I’ll wait.’ and I was like, ‘No, no, keep going’ and actually, he did keep going.”

March, Rawlin and Latta among the faulters

Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track is proving very influential.

Piggy March’s challenge ended when MCS Maverick (fifth after dressage) ran out at the final big corner at Joules at the Maltings (fence 18b) and the pair then had a further problem at Defender Valley (fence 24abcd). Piggy then missed the final element in taking the long route, so she was pulled up before the final few fences on course.

Piggy said the round showed that the pair have a short partnership and there were places where they weren’t quite on the same pages.

“He was staying very genuine until we got to the two hedges [Pedigree Brushes, fences 15 and 16] and we ended up doing four strides, which probably took a life away from him,” she said – and things then went wrong at the following combination. “The line felt great, the stride felt great, it was just that lack of trust with where we are at in the partnership.”

Piggy added that MCS Maverick is an “incredible athlete” and the pair will have learnt a lot for an exciting future this week.

Will Rawlin, 11th after dressage, had 20 penalties at the corner at the Defender Dairy Mound (fence 9abc) and his Burghley challenge ended when he fell off at the second of the brushes with ditches at the Pedigree complex (fences 15 and 16).

Ireland’s 2024 Badminton Horse Trials runners-up Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint were having a peach of a round until the Trout Hatchery (fences 21abcd and 22), where they ground to a halt at the arrowhead out of the water.

“He jumped into the water and stumbled on landing, I picked him back up and pointed him at the arrowhead, but he was on a half stride and just couldn’t jump it,” said Lucy. “He did nothing wrong, I’m gutted for him.”

US visitor Cassie Sanger, the youngest rider in the field at 20, had one of the rounds of the day so far with her long-term partner Redfield Fyre. The pair were not far off the clock for much of their round, with the 12-year-old horse just tiring in the later stages. Cassie did a good job to balance him through the final questions and the pair finished 33 seconds over the 11min 24sec optimum time for 9.2 time-faults.

“I was just very nervous this morning and then the second I got on my horse, he just gives me so much confidence, and he just tries so hard for me,” said Cassie, who is based with Ros Canter and received feedback on the first few rounds from her before she started.

“I said to someone right before I went out, ‘What if he doesn’t do this for me?’ And they were like, ‘Nope, he will. He’s 100% going to, if you get there a bit funny, if your plans don’t go just right, he’ll be there for you.”

Cassie has had Redfield Fyre since she was 15.

She said: “I always like to joke around and say he’s used to the young rider, the Cassie Sanger ride – sometimes it’s not always right, but he’s just so smart with his footwork and we’ve always called him a little freaky, because he can get himself out of the way, even though he’s huge, 17.3hh. But he’s just such a smart horse.”

British first-timer Tom Strawson also came home clear, piloting ex-racehorse Public Address round for 25.6 time-faults.

“He baled me out four or five times – he’s unbelievably genuine,” said Tom.

Fellow home side first-timer Daniel Alderson misjudged his turn through the Pedigree Brushes and Blarney Monbeg Pepper ran-out at the second (fence 16), with the Ireland-based rider pulling up after a further problem at Joules at the Maltings (fences 17ab and 18ab).

To stay up-to-date with all the breaking news throughout Burghley and other major shows this year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website, from £1 a week. Horse & Hound’s 20-page magazine report on Burghley is published in 11 September issue, including full analysis and exclusive comment from six-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.

‘Fantastic’ five-year-old secures back-to-back Burghley Young Event Horse victories for Piggy March

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:05:21 +0000

Piggy March was victorious in the five-year-old Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse results aboard the horse with whom she won the four-year-old final last year, Quantum Leap. The class – held at Defender Burghley Horse Trials – features a dressage, showjumping and shortened cross-country round, before horses are judged on conformation.

The top 10 at that stage are pulled forward for a go-round in all paces and a final gallop, judged this year by William Fox-Pitt.

Quantum Leap – owned by Ann Tolhurst, the March Stud and long-term supporter of Piggy, Lady Aldous – led after the first three elements of this class and was then given the third best gallop score to finish on 86.85 points. British-based Irish rider Susie Berry was third prior to the final gallop with Purple Rain, but William awarded her the top mark of 10 for this, meaning she finished on an equal score to Piggy. As Quantum Leap’s jump score was two marks higher, he won the class.

Quantum Leap, who was named Quantum March when winning last year’s four-year-old final, is a German-bred bay by Verdi, out of a mare by Connor. He was bought by Piggy’s husband Tom as a two-year-old on a trip to a stallion auction in Germany. “He failed the stallion grading and so we had him castrated and he came over to us in the UK,” Piggy explained.

“It’s really exciting that he’s done the double,” she added. “He’s always been a really lovely horse to work with and makes my life very easy. He’s very straightforward with beautiful paces, and a really nice limb. Because he’s so straightforward, he always lifts with the atmosphere here and felt fantastic today. He’s an exciting horse for the future.”

Quantum Leap has won two BE100s this season and finished second in two others, plus second in a BE105 last time out.

“He’s a horse we think highly of and he’s done everything we’ve asked of him this year, so he’ll now have a well-deserved holiday,” said Piggy.

Susie Berry and Purple Rain, a gelding by Poker De Mariposa TN, out of a Casall mare and owned by Ron and Catherine Pearson, looks to be a smart one for the future.

Cornet March, bred by Tom March and with a future that could equally be as bright as a showjumper being by Cornet Oblensky and out of a Casado mare, finished third for owners Jayne McGivern and March Stud Limited.

Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse results: five-year-old class

1. Quantum Leap (Piggy March) 86.852. Purple Rain (Susie Berry) 86.853. Cornet March (Piggy March) 84.604. WLS Ravencourt (Caroline Powell) 84.055. Crackington (Caroline Harris) 82.056. Fuerty ROC (Kate Derwin) 80.957. Cornascriebe Lockdown (Caroline Powell) 80.108. Bellavalent (Rachael Thompson) 79.909. Vinerado’s Affair (Max Warburton) 79.3010. Kravitz Z (John Paul Sheffield) 77.75

To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Burghley and other major shows this year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website, from £1 a week. Horse & Hound’s 20-page magazine report on Burghley is published in 11 September issue, including full analysis and exclusive comment from six-time Burghley winner William Fox-Pitt.

‘I don’t want another go!’ – Piggy March wows to go into the lead with new ride at Burghley Horse Trials

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:34:05 +0000

Piggy March and MCS Maverick have flown into the lead in the Defender Burghley Horse Trials dressage this afternoon (4 September).

The British rider piloted the 12-year-old, owned by the Maidwell Mavericks, to a score of 25.7, putting them 3.1 penalties ahead of Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, who were the combination in the arena prior to Piggy, making it an exciting afternoon at Burghley so far.

MCS Maverick, a son of Mill Law, was presented beautifully in the Burghley Horse Trials dressage by Piggy March, showing a lovely frame with no real mistakes. They were awarded one six from Andrew Bennie, the judge at C, for their extended canter, but were otherwise scoring mostly sevens and eights.

Piggy took over the ride on MCS Maverick from Pippa Funnell earlier this year and Pippa said earlier today that he is “possibly one of the most talented horses” she has ever ridden. She was keen that if anyone was going to continue his career, it should be Piggy.

Pippa and MCS Maverick finished ninth at Badminton Horse Trials in 2024. Since joining Piggy, the horse has finished eighth in the CCI4*-S at Bramham in June and followed that up with two solid CCI4*-S runs at Aston-le-Walls and Hartpury.

“I’m delighted. He’s such a beautiful horse and has been trained by the best in the world in the form of Mrs Funnell,” said Piggy. “He’s always had a good experience in the arena, but lets the atmosphere get to him.”

Explaining this horse’s routine in preparation for the first phase at a big event like Burghley, Piggy said that “Eric” – who showed his nerves in an atmosphere by getting loose at the first horse inspection yesterday when he reacted to the crowd – has had a busy day.

“We’ve been out a lot today working and lungeing and grazing and seeing people – he’s probably sick of the sight of me!

“I’m so proud of him – walk is his ‘thing’ and he stayed with me today, but there’s still more to come when he becomes stronger and finding it easier, so it’s really exciting. For the early stages of us being a partnership in an atmosphere like that, I’ll take it all day long. I don’t want another go to try and do it any better!”

Piggy said that when she initially walked the Derek di Grazia-designed cross-country course at Burghley yesterday, she “bricked it”.

She said: “We’re a new partnership, with just six runs together. A couple of those have been over some big, good courses, but nothing like Burghley. There’s some sneaky fences out there and you’ve got to really know your horse. But I want him to have a nice time and I’ll have a go. This week is about trying cement a partnership and take things away for the future.”

Harry Meade slots into fourth after Burghley Horse Trials dressage on second ride

Harry Meade went into fourth with the incredibly consistent five-star mare, Cavalier Crystal, who is the second of his three rides at this year’s Burghley. Harry and the 15-year-old, owned by Charlotte and Peter Opperman, scored 30.5 – a personal best at this level for this daughter of Jack Of Diamonds.

“I was thrilled with her – she’s a game horse and can sometimes be affected by the crowds, especially in her halts, but she was very sweet today,” said Harry, who finished fourth with Cavalier Crystal at Badminton this spring and was also third at Burghley last year. “It was very much a clear round test for her.

“Our aim was to be up there after the first phase as she has finished on her dressage score in her previous five-stars completions. In terms of improving her on the flat, there’s things she finds quite challenging and so it’s a case of accepting those and working with the horse.”

Going for gold: team aiming to retain Britain’s European eventing title confirmed

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:41:19 +0000

The squad of six aiming to retain gold for Britain at next month’s Agria FEI Eventing European Championships has been confirmed; a line-up “ideal for current and future performance”.

British Equestrian and British Eventing (BE) have released the six horses and riders who will head to the home championship, at Blenheim Palace (18-21 September). Britain won team gold at the 2023 championships, plus individual gold (Ros Canter riding Lordships Graffalo) and silver (Kitty King riding Vendredi Biats).

The British European Eventing Championships squad is:

Laura Collett with 16-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts

Breeding: By Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Groom: Tilly Hughes

Caroline Harris with 11-year-old D Day

Owners: Lucy Matthews, Fiona Olivier, Marie Anne Richardson and Heather Royle

Breeder: Fiona Olivier

Breeding: By Billy Mexico, out of a mare by Dilum XX

Groom: Nellie Smith

Yasmin Ingham with 15-year-old Rehy DJ

Owners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund

Breeder: Noell Russell

Breeding: By Tinarana’s Inspector, out of a mare by Big Sink Hope

Groom: Alison Bell

Piggy March with 12-year-old Halo

Owner: Jayne McGivern

Breeder: Bernard Hobe

Breeding: By Humphrey 61, out of a mare by Contender

Groom: Hannah Chowen

Tom McEwen with 14-year-old JL Dublin

Owners: James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston

Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze

Breeding: By Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Groom: Adam Short

Bubby Upton with 10-year-old Its Cooley Time

Owners: The Five Time Syndicate and rider

Breeder: Ennisnag Stud

Breeding: By Quality Time TN, out of a mare by Heartbreaker

Groom: Kirsty Campbell

Eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood said: “This is a really exciting group of horses and riders, which combines experience alongside new talent – both human and equine.

“We’re fortunate to have Laura and Tom returning with their accomplished Olympic rides, it’s a new championship ride for Yaz, while Piggy brings forward her next-generation championship horse. Both Bubby and Caroline have been in outstanding recent form and are worthy debutants – it’s exciting for our sport to have new faces in the squad.

“Overall, the line-up is ideal for current and future performance as we look toward next year’s FEI World Championships and LA28, while still being competitive at Blenheim. I’d also like to thank all of our owners for their support and the faith they put in our World Class programme.”

BE chief executive Rosie Williams said the team was delighted to confirm the squad.

“Hosting such a prestigious event on home soil is a huge moment for our sport, and we look forward to seeing the entire community – members, supporters, and fans – come together to cheer the team on,” she said. “We wish every member of the squad the very best of luck.”

Congratulations

Agria UK chief executive Vicki Wentworth sent “huge congratulations” to all those selected.

“They should feel immensely proud of what they’ve achieved to date, and we at Agria are honoured to be title sponsors of this iconic event, returning to home soil for the first time in 20 years at the magnificent Blenheim Palace,” she said. “Everyone here at Agria wishes the entire squad the very best of luck in these final weeks of preparation and of course, at the competition itself. I can promise we will be the ones shouting them on at the top of our voices from the sidelines.”

Selection decisions are dependent on horse and rider fitness and performance.

The BEF added that National Lottery and UK Sport funding is “pivotal” in preparing teams for championships, and that it is very grateful for the support from its partners Agria, Bates Saddles, D&H, NAF, SEIB and Toggi and team suppliers Equi-Trek and Lotus Romeo.

“We’re indebted for the year-round support they provide to the World Class programme and British teams, which helps us to best prepare for senior championships,” a BEF spokesperson said.

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‘He’s angelic’ – meet Piggy March’s five-star stallion and ‘beautiful unicorn’ Halo

Pippa Roome — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 15:30:05 +0000

Every little girl wants a unicorn and Halo, who won one of the CCI4*-S sections at Burgham last weekend with Piggy March, is about as close to a real-life unicorn as you can get. The eventing stallion is small in stature, but he doesn’t know it or let it hold him back; he’s grey, he’s a stunner to look at, he’s a great character and a top-class performer.

“He’s a pleasure to ride, he’s beautiful and such fun,” said Piggy after the pair’s win in the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim Horse Trials in 2022, describing Halo as “16hh on his tiptoes”. She added: “He’s got the gallop, the brain, the jump, and the movement – and he’s angelic.”

Holsteiner Halo was born in 2013, bred by Bernhard Hobe. He is by Humphrey 61 – who showjumped up to 1.40m level – and out of a mare called Kimberly III, who is by Contender. Kimberly’s daughter Roxette I is the dam of the renowned sire Diarado, whose progeny include the Olympic team gold medallist and European champion JL Dublin.

Halo was originally called Scuderia 1918 Humphreys as he was owned by the multi-discipline equestrian team Scuderia 1918 and he started his competition career with Australian Olympic team silver medallist Kevin McNab, who is based in Surrey.

Halo began eventing in 2019 with Kevin and was consistently placed in his early events, finishing ninth in the six-year-old World Championship at Le Lion d’Angers at the end of that year. Two years later, at the close of the 2021 season, he scored his first significant win, in the CCI3*-L at Osberton, when he finished on his 27.6 dressage score.

“He is one of those horses who very rarely has a bad day – he is very consistent and makes my life very easy,” said Kevin after their victory. “He’s very brave and doesn’t have a weak phase. He actually hasn’t done that much, but I think he will be a great horse to aim for the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

It didn’t quite work out like that for Kevin and Humphreys, as over that winter, the horse was sold to Jayne McGivern for Piggy March to ride and renamed Halo.

Piggy told H&H in January 2022: “We went and tried him straight after Osberton last year and he looked a really cute little horse. I knew Jayne is quite excited by and interested in breeding lines, so we thought it was an interesting way of looking at owning an event horse and having a bit of variation and a different interest. We all really liked him and thought it’d be fun to have a go.”

Although Piggy didn’t have a lot of experience with stallions, the fact Halo was entire was a positive, with the potential for him to be used in Piggy’s husband Tom’s March Stud in the future.

“He was just mega”

The new partnership won a CCI3*-S at Rockingham in May 2022 and then stole the spotlight at Blenheim in the autumn, when Halo took the prestigious eight- and nine-year-old title. The pair led throughout after a dressage score of 21.3.

“He’s very uphill and has loads of movement and presence, so he’s a much bigger horse in his character [than his actual size],” said Piggy after their dressage score of 21.3.

After cross-country, she added: “He was just mega. I knew he could do it but it’s still a new ball game for our partnership. He feels very brave, but I could sense a bit of greenness with his eyes going everywhere, so I had to hold his hand and slowed up [at one of the water complexes]. I knew I didn’t need to take unnecessary risks just to finish on my dressage score, but could keep him enjoying it. We both had a great time!”

Halo takes the young horse class at Blenheim 2022 with Piggy March. (Image credit: Benjamin Clark Photography)

In 2023, Halo stepped up to four-star long, finishing sixth at that level at both Millstreet and Blenheim. It was a consolidating, learning year, as Piggy explained after their victory at CCI4*-S at Aston-le-Walls in July 2024.

“He didn’t do anything wrong last year, but it was just getting all three phases at one event,” she said. “He’s a different shape this year. Scrawny isn’t the right word as he always looked well and beautiful, but he’s definitely more conditioned now and stronger behind the saddle.

“We haven’t been in a hurry and he did a little bit of stud work in the spring – just for the owner, to check he was fertile and teach him what it’s about.”

Piggy March and Halo: a rare five-star stallion

Piggy admitted then she was “itching” to give Halo a go at five-star level and the pair duly headed to the south of France for Pau Horse Trials in the autumn last year, where – in a tough competition with a very wet cross-country day – they finished seventh.

“I’m so proud of the little chap,” said Piggy afterwards. “I was definitely conscious of considering what stage the horse is at in his career and what is the right thing for him, but he was as good as I know that he is.”

Piggy March, riding Jayne McGivern’s stallion Halo at Pau Horse Trials 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

After a win in the inaugural CCI4*-S at Belsay in May 2025, Halo headed to his second five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials, but a run-out at the final part of the water complex at 12b dropped them from seventh to eventual 18th.

The pair were long-listed for the European Eventing Championships at Blenheim this September nonetheless and Piggy brought Halo back out at Burgham in late July, storming to a win in a CCI4*-S. They set a new record finishing score for this class, completing on their glitzy 19.8 dressage mark.

“Halo loved it. I didn’t land from each fence and think ‘go’, I just had a strong rhythm and kept it,” said Piggy, adding that an inside line at an early combination saved her two or three seconds on the clock. “I did three strides and two, and 99% of the field did four and two. When I told some of my fellow riders, they looked at me like I had five heads. But I know him – he’s small but so rideable and scopey that I could sit there in third-and-a-half gear and be very smooth.”

Afterwards, she said she felt she’d done all she could to impress the selectors, explaining: “I wanted to put him in a position to try for championships; he was put on the planet for those classes.”

The British squad for the European Championships will be announced late in August, so we wait to see if Piggy’s unicorn makes the selected six.

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‘I rang Pippa Funnell and thought about going home’: Piggy March on her ‘nightmare’ preparation for Bramham dressage with new ride

Pippa Roome — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:50:25 +0000

Piggy March admitted she was questioning her decision to take on new ride MCS Maverick – and considering putting former rider Pippa Funnell on speakerphone to chat to him – before her Bramham Horse Trials dressage today.

But despite her misgivings, Piggy and 12-year-old pulled off a great test, scoring 27.5 to lie second at the conclusion of the first phase in the Defender CCI4*-S, behind yesterday’s leader, Sebastien Cavaillon (Elipso De La Vigne), who retains top spot.

MCS Maverick won the CCI4*-L here with Pippa in 2023 and has recently been sold to the Maidwell Mavericks syndicate for Piggy to ride. He is undoubtedly a talented horse, but also very sensitive to atmosphere, and Piggy said he was hot to ride in the arena familiarisation.

“I’ve had some hot ones before, but I’ve not had one that feels like his eyes and his brain are spinning that much at 6 or 7pm, with absolutely no atmosphere and a load of your mates walking around,” she said. “I had to get off and I’ve never done that in arena familiarisation before. I thought, ‘F***, this is going to be a nightmare.’

“I did ring Mrs Funnell this morning, because I thought, do I need to put her on a loudspeaker in his stable or something? Do I need to say, ‘Pip, just whisper the stuff you used to whisper to him – Come on Eric, we’re good friends, you could do this today’. Because I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my goodness, is this actually going to happen?’

“He’s a difficult horse because he’s clearly very sensitive, he gets wound up by an occasion quite easily. But he’s a beautiful horse, a lovely, light athlete who has been produced by the best rider in the world.”

Piggy March on MCS Maverick: “I thought we’ll have a go”

Piggy admitted she had some doubts when she went to pick up Maverick, but his former owner Sarah Ross kept ringing and saying he would suit her.

“I thought, ‘Really?’ but I do have time, because I don’t have many horses, and I love a blood horse. I like a sensitive horse. And so I thought, we’ll have a go,” she said.

“But I have to say, I was questioning it this morning… there was a point I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll just go home. I’ll go to Aston in two weeks’ time.’”

But she said she had entered Bramham because it has more atmosphere than any event except Badminton Horse Trials and she wanted to see Maverick at his worst – “which I did get for the last 24 hours”.

Piggy March followed Pippa’s advice to keep the horse on the move, including loose lungeing him, then got on and did just 15 minutes’ work with him before her Bramham Horse Trials dressage test, riding him in rising trot and low in the neck. Her tactics paid off in the arena, where she said she was “going on the back of Pippa’s training”.

The test had a couple of mistakes, but she was determined for this to be an educational day. The horse jogged a couple of times in walk, but she didn’t back off with her leg – “because I’ve got to get in there and be able to ride him” – and when he gave her a flying change early, she stopped and corrected him rather than just accepting it.

“If I was at Burghley Horse Trials or at a championship, I’d have go to with that, but today I was training. I would like to take him to Burghley at the end of the year, and I don’t care about winning a rosette this weekend,” she admitted. “This is my first big run on him, and I want to figure a lot of stuff out.

“But he came back to me, he understood the pressure and he didn’t lose his s***, which is where Pip’s work over the years comes in. Hopefully we’ll come on from that.”

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Five-star horse moves from Pippa Funnell to new rider: ‘He’s sensitive and there’s no better person to have him’

Pippa Roome — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:09:49 +0000

Five-star horse MCS Maverick has made a promising start to his new partnership with Piggy March.

The 2023 Bramham winner been sold to a syndicate for the 2018 world team gold medallist to ride, following a mutual decision on his future between former rider Pippa Funnell and his previous owners, Nick, Olivia and Sarah Ross.

Pippa took on the ride on Maverick from Helen Wilson in 2023. The pair won Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L that year, finished 11th at Pau Horse Trials that autumn and ninth at Badminton Horse Trials last year.

“It was always the situation that he wouldn’t be a keeper and I’m delighted that Piggy has found a syndicate to buy the horse,” Pippa told H&H.

“I loved riding for Sarah, Nick and Olivia Ross – they are great fun to ride for – and it was mutually discussed that the horse should be sold.

“Piggy has followed the horse and there is no better person to have Maverick because she is so sympathetic and, like me, will really get into his mind. We know he’s sensitive and suffers from nerves, so has to be dealt with in a sympathetic manner.

“The lovely thing is that with Piggy being such a good friend, the Ross family and I can still be involved in following his career.”

The 12-year-old gelding now runs in the ownership of the Maidwell Mavericks; Maidwell is the Northamptonshire village where Piggy is based.

Piggy March has had two quiet open intermediate runs with MCS Maverick, finishing eighth at Osberton where they put in a smart 22.5 dressage, had one showjump down and two time-faults in that phase, and ran slowly and clear across country. The pair then recorded a 28.4 dressage and a steady double jumping clear at Aston-le-Walls last week.

Maverick is entered to contest the CCI4*-S at Bramham next month.

What’s next for Pippa Funnell?

Pippa has not evented yet this year, having been busy with other commitments including having three Japanese riders based with her and hosting the Talk Horse podcast.

She told H&H: “Due to my new commitments and some personal situations, eventing has had to go on the sidelines, but I hope to be out competing again later in the year.”

Paris 2024 Olympic team bronze medallist Yoshiaki Oiwa, one of the Japanese riders based with Pippa, gave her five-star horse Billy Walk On a run in the open intermediate at Osberton this month, finishing fifth, but he has not taken over the ride permanently.

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‘It was relentless, but event riders are a different breed’ – Piggy March on the mixed emotions of finishing charity bike challenge

Pippa Roome — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 10:34:05 +0000

Piggy March spoke on Saturday (30 November) about the mix of emotions on finishing the Cycle4Caroline challenge, a 1,100km bike ride set up in memory of her sister-in-law Caroline March, to raise money for Spinal Research and the British Eventing Support Trust.

Piggy and her husband Tom, Caroline’s brother, were among the riders who left Blair Castle in Scotland on 20 November and arrived at The Savoy in London on Saturday, 10 days later, having raised over £280,000. It had been a very tough 10 days; the riders battling the worst winter weather, falls and injuries.

“It’s definitely tested us to the limits – in some ways, more than I expected, but then, I was actually terrified of trying to do it. I thought, ‘I don’t even know that I can get up these hills or to the end of these long days’, because I’m not a strong, fast cyclist,” Piggy said. “But in a group, I’ve climbed some hills that if I was training, there’s no chance I would have kept soldiering on up – I’d have got off and cried or had a strop. It’s different when it’s the real thing, you’re with such amazing people, you have the adrenaline. It’s like I always said to myself coming into this – my legs work, shut up, get on and do it.”

Piggy also spoke about her relief at making it to the end, particularly with a larger group cycling the final stretch from Windsor to London.

“I’m just really glad we’ve done it, we got to the end, and everybody is okay. I felt quite responsible for all that lot today, it’s not nice with the traffic on the bikes. It’s a bit scary.”

On the challenges the core riders have undertaken over the past two weeks, the double five-star winner said: “It was relentless. Some days the weather was hideous. But we’re event riders, we’re a different breed, aren’t we? Whatever the weather is, you go out and you do it, and we all have that mentality, even though it took you to places where I think we all thought, ‘Well, normal people might think this is not possible.’

“We would have walked it. We would have got to that destination that night or at 2am, or whatever it might have been. If there was a way, every single person in that group would have got there. The strength of people’s minds through the whole week is the extraordinary thing. But we know that in our sport anyway – it takes you to difficult places, so we are quite resilient.

“We got to the end. Caroline would have loved it. She would have loved doing something like that.”

Piggy said there were some “incredibly pleasurable moments” on the journey: “There were parts on a nice, flat bit of road, getting some miles knocked off and quizzing Scotty [Ian Stark] about all his experiences, his horses, his systems. I loved learning.”

Piggy March on Cycle4Caroline: “You see how much the charities need support”

Cycle4Caroline has raised over £283,000 and donations continue to come in. Piggy said: “It’s awful talking money and asking for money, but when you actually start getting involved with the charities, you see how much they need support. I’m just glad that this does just make a bit of a difference and hopefully the amount will rise again.

“There are still things we’ll do in the future to help, because we know how much it is needed, but not on a bike again. I’ve done that bit, never again. It’s been no secret all the way through that I found it bloody uncomfortable and not pleasant, but that’s good as well. You push yourself through pain and we’ve had a lot of pain for a while, but it’s actually quite nice that it’s on the outside of your feelings, if that makes sense.”

Piggy March said she has been “wired” during Cycle4Caroline, sleeping terribly and waking up thinking she was still pedalling.

She said: “I’ve been way more stressy than ever I was with the horses. I think we just wanted to get it done, everyone to be safe, money to be raised, and then hopefully, a little bit of closure. Caroline and this will never be forgotten, but we just tried to make something good out of bad.”

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‘We’ve gone through every emotion possible and dug deeper than ever before’: charity bike riders complete 1,100km

Pippa Roome — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 11:00:08 +0000

The Cycle4Caroline riders finished their 1100km journey yesterday afternoon (30 November) at the Savoy Hotel, London – and have so far raised £282,667 for Spinal Research and the British Eventing (BE) Support Trust.

The ride was set up by Tom March, in memory of his sister Caroline, who passed away by assisted suicide in March this year after sustaining life-changing injuries in an eventing fall in April 2022. Tom and his wife, double five-star winner Piggy March, were joined by seven other core cyclists for the whole ride, while guests took on some legs. Around 50 extra riders, including some equestrian celebrities, joined for the final section yesterday from Windsor to London.

Asked how he felt after finishing Tom said: “I don’t really know. Obviously, you’re relieved and you’re pleased to get there, but in funny way, when there are so many congratulations and this and that, you actually don’t really feel anything.

“Our son Max was dragging me off to go and show me the London Eye and Big Ben, which obviously we just cycled past. But suddenly it was just me and him and it was quiet and I nearly burst into tears. I don’t cry, but it was just thinking of everything that’s happened and what we’ve all been through, for the last 18 months, the last six months or so since Caroline’s gone, the last 10 days doing what we’ve all done. But anyway, before I could burst into tears, Max was then shouting at me to come over here, so you kind of snap back to reality again.

“I’m sure there will be a time when it all sinks in and you can process what we’ve done and all the rest of it. In the end, the idea was to take something that was horrific and try to achieve something positive. So, hopefully the money keeps climbing and there’ll be someone out there that it helps.”

Tom March and Ian Stark lead the Cycle4Caroline riders across the finish at the Savoy Hotel, London. (Image credit: Tilly Berendt Media)

Fellow core rider and event rider Holly Woodhead said: “A big part of me is very emotional that we’ve all done it as a team. We literally have put every single bit of heart and soul into that mammoth challenge. I’m actually quite sad that it’s finished, but also happy that I don’t have to get on a bike tomorrow.

“We’ve spent every minute of the day together and what’s shown on social media is only a tiny, tiny snippet. What has happened behind the scenes and the amount of effort and determination throughout has been insane, especially in the conditions we’ve had. When you can’t feel your face, your feet, your hands, everything, and you just look over and think, ‘Yeah, we’re all in it together’ that’s team spirit for sure.”

The BE Support Trust ball took place at the Savoy in the evening, where the cyclists were guests of honour, the fundraising continued and guests heard from two riders who have benefited from the charities being supported – Nicola Wilson, who suffered life-changing injuries in a fall in 2022, and Saffron Cresswell, who was paralysed from the chest down in a fall at Bramham Horse Trials this year.

In a speech at the ball, BE Support Trust chair Ian Stark – who persisted with the ride after breaking his thumb in a fall on the penultimate day – said: “I’ve hated it, I’ve loved it, I’ve gone through every emotion possible. We’ve been on a bike for nine or 10 hours a day, dug deeper than we’ve ever had to before. We have a group of people who I’d give anything for and who are lifelong friends. I hate to admit it but for Caroline and the charities, I’d probably do it again.”

The other core riders were Nicola’s husband Alastair (BE Support Trust patron), Piggy’s sister and five-star rider Nini French, Racesafe director and former event rider Tommy How and Catriona Williams, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Trust founder. Brett Bullimore, husband of championship rider Sarah, was forced to withdraw due to injury following a crash on day three.

Celebrities join Cycle4Caroline for final push

Among those who joined the ride yesterday were William Fox-Pitt, Zara Tindall, Tina Cook and showjumpers Joe Stockdale and Jack Whitaker.

“I’ve done a little bit of training, but so little, but it was just fantastic to be part of it and just an amazing vibe out there,” said William. “I’m much fresher, obviously, than the core riders and they must be exhausted – I can’t imagine how their bodies are coping, but what an amazing thing to have done. I just really hope for the team that they’ve raised a good bit of money because we’re here for Caroline and really good causes.”

Tina Cook was persuaded to join for the final leg by a phone call from Piggy, saying: “I do feel like a bit like a cheapskate, joining in just to do the last bit, but I don’t cycle anywhere. I live on the South Downs so I have no wish to get on a bicycle and cycle up a hill. I thought about joining at some point, but didn’t want to hold them up. I was a bit embarrassed about it.

“I haven’t practised at all to be honest and going up Richmond Hill was very, very steep. I hate doing something though I’m not prepared for. It was a bit like the hare and the tortoise – some, like Zara and the showjumping boys, set off quick, while I was with [commentator] John Kyle and [BE CEO] Rosie Williams and we set a good pace and kept to a good rhythm.

“So I did enjoy it and realised what I could do with absolutely zero training. But I have utmost respect for those guys – to think that they were cycling two or three times the distance we did – and that would just be one day. No wonder they look absolutely exhausted. They’ve dug really deep and found a different side to themselves that they probably didn’t even imagine they had.”

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‘Don’t be afraid to hope’: rider paralysed in fall joins bike marathon in memory of fellow eventer

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:02:09 +0000

“We can do this” is the message from a former eventer, who walked this summer, 22 years after she was paralysed in a riding fall.

Catriona Williams has flown from New Zealand to take part in Cycle4Caroline, a bike marathon in memory of fellow eventer Caroline March. She and others including Caroline’s brother and sister-in-law Tom and Piggy March, and British Eventing Support Trust patron Alastair Wilson, husband of 2021 European eventing champion Nicola, left Blair Castle in Scotland today (20 November) and will arrive at the Savoy Hotel in London in 10 days’ time. The 684-mile ride has so far raised over £58,000 for the British Eventing Support Trust and Spinal Research.

“We can do this,” Catriona told H&H. “Spinal cord injuries shouldn’t mean a lifetime in a chair. We can do more.”

Catriona competed at Badminton Horse Trials and was aiming to represent New Zealand at the 2004 Olympics until her fall in 2002. She set up the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Trust, which funds projects aiming to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Since she set up the trust, Catriona has completed the New York City Marathon and climbed to Everest base camp on a handcycle. She was a finalist in the 2014 KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year, inducted into the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show hall of fame, and recognised in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours list as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

She said she saw a post about the Cycle4Caroline ride by chance.

“I’m not very good on social media but it popped up,” she said. “I’d just got my bike, which I’d been working on for two years, and been for a ride. [My husband] Sam and I have a bit of a thing about either no or ‘Hell, yeah!’ and I said ‘I need to do this’.”

Picture by Graham Reid (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Catriona emailed Piggy but then found the Cycle4Caroline website and realised the ride was in memory of Caroline, who died aged 31 in March, nearly two years after she suffered spinal injuries in a cross-country fall.

“I realised this wasn’t just riders going for a cycle, it was a really big deal and maybe I was gate-crashing,” she said. “I sent another email apologising but within minutes, got a beautiful email back saying ‘We’d love you to come’. I feel very lucky to be among these courageous, brave, inspiring people.”

Follow the riders’ progress on Facebook

Catriona said it is 22 years, almost to the day, since her fall.

“Everyone remembers the day it happens,” she said. “When I read Caroline’s post, it really hit a spot. I have a friend who was really upset by it and I said no one can judge. Only someone in her shoes knows what she was going through and right or wrong, agree or disagree, we have to do more, as an industry. Everyone who’s capable of supporting or donating; we have to do more.

“We have to back the research because change is coming but it needs money and if we put our hands up, we can make things happen.”

Catriona said she “stepped sideways” from the trust she founded as she wanted to push herself and her body to see what she could achieve.

Donate to Cycle4Caroline online

“I’ve got my legs moving, I can stand in a frame,” she said. “I walked into our dinner this year.

“I’m 53 and the message is, this is what I’m doing, 22 years post injury. If we back the research and add it to what’s being done, whether it’s stem cells or electrodes – I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t believe it was possible. It’s so exciting when you speak to people at Spinal Research UK; this will happen, but it won’t happen without support.”

Catriona joked that “as a disabled person, able-bodied people don’t move fast enough” but stressed that every pound raised will help the “best and brightest minds” conduct the research needed to find a way for people with spinal cord injuries to recover.

“I feel it’s something the equestrian industry can really get behind,” she said. “Unless you’re really close to it, you tend to just go ‘yeah, yeah’ and carry on, which is of course natural, but if you’re the person in the chair or their family, this is really exciting.

“We need to get people not afraid to back this, and not afraid to hope. We put a man on the moon; we can do this.”

Supporters are invited to join the cyclists through Badminton Park and on the last leg from Windsor Castle to London; more information is online.

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‘He pricked his ears and loved it’: delightful little ‘unicorn’ joins exclusive club of five-star event stallions

Lucy Elder — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 22:15:18 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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‘He jumped his socks off’: exciting prospect leads Blenheim’s young horse class after two phases

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 21:45:30 +0000

British-based Irish rider Georgie Goss has maintained her dressage lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results in the CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds.

Riding the classy Kojak, who is owned by Georgie, Molly Fisher, Lucy Fleming and Samantha Wilson, Georgie jumped one of 30 clears inside the time allowed from 95 starters.

“He jumped his socks off – it was a perfect track for me: it’s a very jumping track, with long galloping lines, and he gets quite long and forward anyway, so I actually end up having to work quite a bit,” explained Georgie.

New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone has maintained second place after the first two phases in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping results in this young horse class riding the talented grey Rocket Man, a nine-year-old owned by Clarke and his family.

“The track rode how I thought it would – it’s quite a big arena, and the jumps are quite airy, so it’s quite a careful track,” said Clarke. “This horse is a very good jumper but he was very excited today, so he wasn’t always 100% listening to me, but I’m delighted with him.

“Tomorrow will be his biggest test so far, but he’s jumped one four-star, where he was clear. We weren’t going for the time at that one, though, and it’s always a bit different when they’re under pressure — but I think he’s a lovely cross-country horse and he should be up for it, so I think he’ll be brilliant.”

Piggy March and Olivia Davidson’s Dassett Arthalent capitalised on a clear round to head into the cross-country in third, having been sixth after the dressage.

“He’s a good jumper, and I knew he could jump a good round, it was just about keeping him focused,” stated Piggy. “He’s naturally careful, which helps. There’s obviously an atmosphere in there, and you do have to get a gallop on.”

The cross-country phase for this class is set to get underway at 9.30am tomorrow (22 September).

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Horses plagued with misfortune rocket to the top of the Blenheim CCI4*-L leaderboard

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:00:42 +0000

Two riders share the top spot in the Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L dressage results at the end of the opening day (19 September). New Zealand’s Tim Price, who is riding Happy Boy, and 22-year-old British rider Tom Woodward and his mount Low Moor Lucky, both scored 25.4 with fault-free tests.

Happy Boy, a 12-year-old owned by Susan Lamb and Therese Miller, hasn’t been seen competing internationally since retiring across country at Saumur in May and his 2023 season was plagued with bad luck.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky last 12 months with bits and bobs like he tied up at one point and then suffered from travel sickness at Luhmühlen – things have got in the way of me actually starting competitions – but we’ve got that all under control now and we know a lot more about him,” explained Tim. “He’s ready to go five-star, but we’ll just get this done and we’ll get back on track for a five-star next spring.”

Tim described Happy Boy as “an unassuming little character”.

“But time and time again he’s really tried hard when it counts – I just really like this horse. He’s like putty but although he’s quite short and compact. He always wants to lengthen his body a bit and it’s up to me to have him round and be able to ride him forward in a soft way.”

Tom Woodward was emotional upon completing his test with his own 17-year-old Low Moor Lucky, who is another horse to have overcome setbacks to return to competition.

“He’s had quite a bit of time off this year with niggles and I know what a great horse he is and it’s been frustrating to not be able to have him out competing – I’ve been longing to get him back out,” said Tom, who events full-time from his base in Hartpury, Gloucestershire. “I’m not one to get emotional, but I do feel emotional today because I just love this horse. He was my first horse off ponies and I did my first ever two-star on him, he gave me my first international win, and he’s just been the dream.”

Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky. (Image credit: Libby Law)

Tom explained that Lucky felt “magic” in his test today, with the flying-changes being a highlight – the second change earnt two eights and a seven from the judges.

“We’ve worked towards this all year really and I couldn’t be more pleased with how he felt – he’s a delight to ride out every day,” said the young rider, who trains with Lisa White, Sarah Verney and Carol Broad, who is one of his owners, for his flatwork. “We campaigned him at four-star last year and I probably wasn’t quite established enough in my riding to get the marks out of him that he deserved.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of other horses at four-star this year, which has enabled me to really develop my craft on the flat and now I’m able to put that into Lucky and it’s all come together.”

Tom’s aim for this weekend is to “enjoy having Lucky back”.

“He’s run in a couple of open intermediates recently and has felt in amazing form. The last time I did a four-star on him was here last year, so I’m just buzzing to get back out and jump around the cross-country because he loves it and I love it, so I can’t wait to get out there and give it a good crack.”

Twenty-three-year-old German rider Calvin Böckmann and The Phantom Of The Opera, who were alternates for their national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, currently sit third on 25.8.

“I’m actually very, very pleased – I think I can say that dressage is not our strongest discipline, because sometimes he can become a bit fresh,” explained Calvin, who was second in the competitive CCIO4*-S in Aachen earlier this summer and most recently won the CCI4*-S Nations Cup at Arville. “We were here last year and he was quite fresh then, but this year we could just keep it together so much more and test by test, it’s getting better and better.”

Calvin picked out his half-passes and halts as particular highlights today with the 13-year-old he owns alongside Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann.

“Usually he’s a bit on fire and doesn’t love to stop and halt!”

Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results: “A little unicorn”

Britain’s Fred Powell, 27, and Jackie and Jo Forrester’s 11-year-old gelding Grafiba, is fourth on 26 after producing a personal best at this level, while Piggy March and Jayne McGivern’s wonderful grey stallion Halo are fifth on 26.2.

“His changes were very good and on the whole, he’s pretty solid in this phase,” said Piggy. “Maybe there’s still one more half a gear to go with him, but he’s consistent – he feels really nice, he’s relaxed, he’s working well, he’s enjoying it and he didn’t make any mistakes. He’s lovely to work with and a little unicorn.”

Ireland’s Ian Cassells and Kellys Quality are sixth on 26.5, Daisy Berkeley and Diese Du Figuier are seventh on 27.9, while Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Jefferson JRA are eighth on 28. Rounding off the top 10 in the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage results, the USA’s Katherine Coleman is ninth on Monbeg Senna on 29.1 and Aaron Millar is 10th on 29.4 with Count Onyx.

There are 37 combinations to come on Friday, with the dressage for the CCI4*-L resuming at 10.20am.

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‘I suddenly realised, I could win this!’: top rider seals Burghley young horse title with rousing gallop

Martha Terry — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:25:07 +0000

Piggy March topped the four-year-old Burghley Young Event Horse results for the second time in three years, riding Quantum March. The class – held at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials – features a dressage, showjumping and small cross-country competition, before horses are judged on conformation. The top 10 at that stage are pulled forward for a go-round in all paces and a final gallop judged by Yogi Breisner. And this is where Quantum March – owned by Lady Aldous, Ann Tolhurst and the March Stud – sealed the deal.

Second before the gallop, Piggy let this German-bred bay by Verdi, out of a mare by Connor, stretch out along the arena in front of Burghley House and was duly moved up to the top spot.

“He’s a lovely horse – he’s been super easy; he has a lovely way of going and is the kindest person,” said Piggy. “Thomas [Piggy’s husband] bought him as two-year-old – we’ve bred so many of our own, but it’s like a drug, it’s addictive buying horses!

“It’s so brilliant for the owners. Lady Aldous was one of my first owners and is such a lover of the whole sport and has been such a supporter of mine – and she loves this class, loves a young event horse and loves a bay gelding so this means a lot. I feel so pleased to be able to do it for her.”

Several four-year-old winners of this class – such as Cekatinka and Jurassic Rising – have gone on to compete at top level, so it’s exciting to dream of the potential.

“He’s four, he’s only done one qualifier and I haven’t done much else,” said Piggy. “But he jumps nicely and he pops round, and I revved him up for the gallop. I suddenly realised, ‘I could win this!’ He’s a cool horse – who knows how far he’ll go, but we’ll enjoy today.”

The four-year-old BYEH champion Quantum March in front of Burghley House. (Image credit: Defender Burghley Horse Trials / Peter Nixon)

Rosette winners in the Burghley Young Event Horse results

The final phase proved pivotal, as the leader Max Warburton – who qualified two horses into the top 10 – dropped down to eighth on MCG Cornet with a more conservative gallop. Instead Michael Jackson’s second ride The Chosen One moved up from equal fourth to second – ridden by Muzi Pottinger for the gallop as Michael also had Crackington qualified. The Chosen One (Calibre Royale x Jaguar Mail) was deemed to have galloped best of all, and Muzi certainly had a job pulling him up afterwards.

Emma Hyslop-Webb and another great galloper, She’s-A’Lot, finished third. This mare by Fire And Ice, out of a mare by Collin L, was only seventh beforehand but her scopey canter elevated her onto the podium.

Max Warburton’s other ride Purple Rain finished fourth, partnered for the gallop by Roberto Scalisi as Max was aboard MCG Cornet, while Michael Jackson – who earlier won the five-year-old class – was fifth on Crackington.

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Piggy March: ‘It’s definitely not all downhill on the way home from Blair’

Piggy March — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:28:31 +0000

Piggy March reflects on Blair, a charity challenge and Paris 2024

I’m writing this after making the long journey back from Defender Blair International Horse Trials – the last fixture there, which is sad, but I feel lucky we’ve been able to compete there many times. We wish the best of luck to the new Scottish fixture at Scone.

I enjoyed the fact Blair was always a cross-country competition and over the years it’s taught many to ride terrain and get a horse fit. I was very pleased with how all mine ran up the hills and coped with the undulations and mud.

Wills Oakden topped off the final event by winning the CCI4*-L on Keep It Cooley, who has also won the CCI2*-L and CCI3*-L. It made for a special send-off for locals – the cruel Scottish weather didn’t stop vast crowds turning out. Wills is such a talent and that was no mean feat.

I won’t miss the drive home from Blair as it seemed to take three hours to travel 11 miles after leaving, but it did make me realise what a big deal Cycle4Caroline, the challenge we are undertaking in memory of my husband Tom’s sister, will be. We start from Blair on 20 November and there was definitely no feeling of going downhill on the way home, sadly!

I’m excited for the challenge, as much as I’m dreading it, because I really believe in the causes we are supporting: the British Eventing Support Trust and Spinal Research. We want to encourage our sport and a life with the horses, who we all so respect and care for, but this year has brought home how fine the line can be in terms of something going wrong.

Training on a bike is more difficult than I anticipated and incredibly uncomfortable. We try to cycle a few times a week – Northamptonshire is quite hilly, so even an hour here or there has to help – and to do one long ride a week, which is currently four hours but soon needs to be six or seven. Just finding time, with 20 horses and trying to be a mum in the school holidays, is tricky.

We’ll be doing 1,100km in 10 days, with bad weather likely as it’s November. It’ll be a hard slog, but my legs do work so I have to shut up and get on with it. We’ll keep positive as it’s something we very much want to do.

Three-in-a team was exciting

I think we all missed watching the Paris Olympics when they finished. For the first time, I thought the three-in-a-team format worked and made it exciting.

I never thought I’d say that as I have concerns about the mental health of the fourth rider – it’s brutal having reserves of the calibre of Yasmin Ingham – and horse welfare, with three needing to finish – but the Japanese bronze proved a medal is possible even with a substitution. If three in a team helps keep our sport in the Olympics, that’s what we have to do.

Much as I’d love to have been involved myself as an athlete, standing back looking in, I was very proud to be British. All our teams were outstanding.

My passion is eventing, obviously, and they all did what was expected. I was wowed by the showjumpers – their courses looked enormous and the style, composure and horsemanship our guys showed was breathtaking. As for the dressage team, it was wonderful they took home a medal, particularly for Carl Hester, who is one of the best the world has ever seen and was at his seventh Olympics.

We move on to the Paralympics and the autumn three-days, starting at Defender Burghley Horse Trials this week.

It’s rare that timings allow Olympic horses also to go to Burghley, but three who did the full event in Paris also tackle Burghley and one of those, Lordships Graffalo with Ros Canter, is my pick for the title. It’s a top field, which is great for the event and the sport, and I wish them all the best.

● Did you find the three-to-a-team format in Paris exciting? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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‘I was lost and grieving, I needed a challenge’ – Piggy March on 1100km charity cycle ride

Pippa Roome — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:49:22 +0000

Piggy March has spoken about why she’s taking part in the 1100km Cycle4Caroline bike ride, in aid of Spinal Research and the British Eventing (BE) Support Trust, and in memory of her sister-in-law Caroline March.

The Badminton and Burghley winner said at the launch of the event yesterday (19 August): “I’ve been eventing for 25 or 30 years and I love our sport, but I’ve realised over the past few years how fine the line is between enjoying a wonderful sport – not worrying about anything but whether you’ve won a rosette or had two fences down – and what really matters, which is family life, the people you care about. And I’ve seen how easily things can go wrong.”

She added: “I hate exercise, but I was mentally lost at the beginning of the year. I didn’t have any horses to aim for the Olympics and I was lost and grieving. I needed a challenge.”

Cycle4Caroline will involved Piggy March, her husband Tom and six other riders cycling from Blair Castle to London from 20-30 November, with the aim of raising £500,000 for the charities involved.

“It was important we did something that is going to be tough – to say, ‘Shut up, you’re lucky to have legs that still work, get to the top of that hill’,” said Piggy. “It’s important to put something back into the sport, to help other families in the future and give people the best possible quality of life after a serious accident.”

Piggy said she and bicycles are not natural friends: “I’d not been on a bike for years before we started training and one of my first memories is falling off a bike and breaking my nose when I was about eight years old.”

She added that she is used to sitting on a horse so the forward position of being crouched over handlebars is a different sort of conditioning for her body.

“I keep having to get off and lie down,” she said.

The riders are scheduled to arrive at the Savoy Hotel in London on 30 November, in time for the BE Support Trust ball at the venue that evening.

“I said to Tom, ‘Can’t we arrive a few days earlier?’ If we get to the Savoy for the ball and are still able to walk and talk and hold a glass of champagne, it’ll be a small miracle!” said Piggy.

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Piggy March among those tackling epic Cycle4Caroline ride to raise half a million pounds for charity

Pippa Roome — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 17:51:37 +0000

Double five-star winner Piggy March and her husband Tom will lead a group of eight cyclists on a 1,100km ride from Blair Castle to London this autumn, a challenge named Cycle4Caroline.

They will aim to raise half a million pounds for Spinal Research and the British Eventing (BE) Support Trust in memory of Tom’s sister Caroline, who passed away in March this year after sustaining life-changing injuries in an eventing fall in April 2022.

“It’s been very difficult for all her friends and family and we found ourselves a bit lost in terms of where we were going and what to do with ourselves,” said Tom, explaining that the idea for the ride came out of a discussion over lunch with former event rider Tommy How, now a director of body protector manufacturer Racesafe.

“He was talking about riding from London to Paris, then Piggy said she’d be up for that and another beer later, it was spiralling out of control.”

The ride will start at Blair Castle on 20 November and finish at the Savoy Hotel in London on 30 November, the day of the BE Support Trust ball at the venue. Along the way, it will take in all the British CCI4*-L and CCI5* venues – Blair, Bramham, Burghley, Badminton and Blenheim – as well as Belsay, Chatsworth and Windsor.

Joining Tom and Piggy on Cycle4Caroline will be Tommy How, Ian Stark (chair of trustees for the BE Support Trust), Piggy’s sister Nini French, event rider Holly Woodhead, Brett Bullimore (husband of medal-winning event rider Sarah) and Alastair Wilson, who is joint-patron of the BE Support Trust with his wife Nicola Wilson, who suffered life-changing spinal injuries in a fall at Badminton Horse Trials in 2022. Special guests will join for sections along the way.

Holly Woodhead, Tom March and Piggy March lead the Cycle4Caroline riders at the launch event. (Image credit: Jason Bax)

Training has started for most of the core participants, with some good-natured joshing at the event launch today (19 August) at Piggy’s yard in Maidwell, Northamptonshire.

“It’s downhill from Scotland to London – what can go wrong?” said Alastair.

Tom explained gently: “That’s not the case – and there’s a reason everyone cycles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which is the prevailing wind, but we only learnt that after we’d set the route, so we’re looking forward to lots of wind in our faces in November.”

The group’s route will involve some significant hills when they stop in at Ian Stark’s home near Selkirk – “I wasn’t sure that was such a good idea, looking at the topography map,” said Tom – as well as when they visit Chatsworth.

“Having a support system is fantastic”

The group hope Cycle4Caroline will raise £500,000 through donations and partnering with businesses. The money raised will be split equally between Spinal Research and the BE Support Trust.

Alastair said: “The BE Support Trust were very good to Nicola and me when we were in trouble two years ago. When you are at rock bottom, having a support system to get hold of you is fantastic.

“You can lose your sport, your business and it’s a lonely place to be. And they help people with less serious injuries, too.”

BE Support Trust general manager Jane Hunter-Walsh said the money will be “transformative” for the charity, which was founded in 2021 to support the physical and mental health of BE competing members. It has helped more than 60 people since then.

“The average beneficiary has six sessions, at a cost of £540, and when someone has a life-changing injury, supporting them can run into six figures,” she said.

Tom said “having a safety net there to help in that moment of need is invaluable”, going on to talk about Caroline’s passion for new technology and developments in spinal cord research.

“We wanted a charity beyond equestrian, which is fighting to make people’s lives better when they have suffered a spinal cord injury,” he said.

Spinal Research has been operating for 40 years and is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research worldwide to develop effective treatments for paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury. Someone in the UK suffers a spinal cord injury every two hours, many of them in car crashes or everyday situations such as falling down the stairs.

Tara Stewart, chair of Spinal Research, said this support “couldn’t have come at a better time” because the charity is finally at the stage where function-restoring therapeutics are being tested in human trials, offering real hope that curing paralysis will be the medical breakthrough of the 21st century.

The support team for Cycle4Caroline includes cycling trainer Sara Symington (double Olympic cyclist and now head of Olympic and Paralympic programmes at British Cycling), physio Ash Wallace, bicycle mechanic Alan Rayner, Sarah Skillin (founder and director of marketing agency EquiConsulting) and Pippie Polson and Piggy’s head girl Amy Phillips, who are leading on logistics, marketing and partnerships.

Find out how to support Cycle4Caroline

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‘A special mare with such heart’: Piggy March remembers Vanir Kamira’s superb Burghley victory

Lucy Elder — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 17:58:38 +0000

The 2022 Defender Burghley Horse Trials winner Piggy March reflected on her victory as she returned to the home of the Lincolnshire five-star.

Piggy, a Burghley Horse Trials ambassador, spoke to H&H at Burghley House at a media preview ahead of the 2024 event.

“I think the memory of that will stay really clear,” said Piggy. “It meant the world to us. I was even more delighted as Vanir Kamira won it at 17 years old and she had been placed very high in it four times before, so it was much deserved to have her name on Winners’ Avenue.

“She is such a special mare with such heart – they need heart to gallop and jump [around here] – and she has that in abundance. I’m just so very proud of what we achieved together, what she gave me.

“She is totally worthy of being a Burghley champion. The Burghley winners in the past have really been those horses who love to gallop and love to jump. She was definitely one of those.

“I will always think of that as one of the most special wins of my career, but also so very deserving of a horse who I felt, in some stage of her life, should have been a Burghley winner. To have been a part of that with her is really special.”

Vanir Kamira, who also won Badminton with Piggy in 2019, retired from top-level eventing in 2023 and has been enjoying an active second career in the dressage arena with Annabelle Wesley – the teenage granddaughter of Vanir Kamira’s owner Trevor Dickens.

While Piggy will not be riding in the five-star at Burghley this year, she is looking forward to being involved in other parts of the event, including competing in the Dubarry Young Event Horse final.

“We will be here to watch and I love to walk the course each year, even if I’m not riding, as I find it fascinating,” she said. “I love what they do with the terrain and the iconic, historic fences that we get. I will definitely come and watch that.

“I’ve been coming to Burghley for 30 years or something. I remember coming here to do Pony Club showjumping, young event horse days, being up at the campsite, running around after Mary King and my favourite riders. It’s an amazing vibe here. It comes at the end of the summer. It’s a very special atmosphere and a rider favourite. We are all very lucky to be here and privileged to be part of this great sport at such an amazing venue.”

She added: “Burghley always has a very special vibe to it. The adrenaline starts going the moment you drive in the gates at Badminton or Burghley, as they are both very special places in our sport.

“They are what dreams are made of and what has inspired us riders, from when we were very small or got into the sport, along with the love for our horses.

“It’s the pinnacle and where we all want to train ourselves to get to and have the chance to compete here. It holds a very special place in I think most equestrians’ hearts. Even today driving into the park gives you very special feelings.”

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‘A tough decision but the right one for him’: four-star winner to retire from eventing

Becky Murray — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:12:13 +0000

Young eventer Elizabeth Barratt has paid tribute to Dargun as the 16-year-old gelding retires from eventing to pursue dressage.

Dargun was a former top ride of Emily King, and later Piggy March, before the Barratt family bought him for Elizabeth during her final year on ponies in 2021.

“I was doing pony trials and pony two-stars with Noble Superman, and my parents thought Dargun would be a really good horse for me to learn from,” 18-year-old Elizabeth told H&H.

“In the beginning it was not the easiest, which is no secret. He was quite particular with his showjumping and liked me to get it right – which was fair as he was an experienced horse and teaching me to ride him properly. But it really helped me in the long run, and while riding tricky horses can be frustrating at times, it’s so good for experience and learning.

“He was always really good in the dressage, if you asked him to do something correctly he would always do it. He taught me to ride all the movements for the three-star tests and taught me flying changes, and to have a horse like that to learn from at a young age made such a difference to my riding.”

Before joining Elizabeth, Dargun had competed to CCI5* level. He won team gold at the young rider Europeans with Emily King in 2015, and they were Bramham u25 champions in 2018. After Emily’s owner Jane Del Missier moved away from the sport in 2019, Dargun joined Piggy March’s string. Piggy and Dargun were second at the Little Downham CCI4*-S in October 2020, and won the Burnham Market CCI4*-S in April 2021.

“By the end of our first season together we jumped double clear round our first CCI2*-S, at Bicton, which was amazing given I hadn’t had him very long,” said Elizabeth.

“I had a few lessons with Piggy, and Emily would always ask about him, so it was really nice they could see him out at events. The longer I had him we got stronger as a partnership, and each event we got to know each other that little bit better. He can be quite a complex little character and was quite quiet when we first got him, but as I got to know him he really brought out his personality and he was such a funny horse to have around and really loving.”

Dargun continued to teach Elizabeth the ropes and their best result came in September 2023 when they won the Cornbury young rider CCI3*-S.

“That was a real highlight. I didn’t really know what to expect going into it as I hadn’t done a lot of intermediates with him, and he performed so well,” she said.

“He gave me my first proper big win which was so exciting, and then a few weeks later I did my first three-star long at Osberton. To be able to jump around those bigger tracks on a horse like him was just amazing.”

Elizabeth and Dargun started their 2024 season at Poplar Park, but the decision was made to call time on his eventing career.

“He just sort of told us that he wasn’t really enjoying it anymore, and wasn’t quite jumping as well as he had been. We thought while he’s happy, fit and healthy, we’ll retire him so he can do another job,” said Elizabeth. “It was a tough decision but we knew it was the right one for him.”

Dargun has now joined junior rider Megan Fields to pursue a second career in dressage, and will return to the Barratts when he retires.

“It was sad to see him go but it was really nice knowing he’s going to do something that he enjoys, and then he’ll come home to us,” said Elizabeth.

“It hasn’t always been straightforward but I’ve learned so much, and I definitely wouldn’t change anything about it.”

Elizabeth will continue her season with Georgina W and new horse Fernhill Kankan, a former ride of Jonelle Price.

“I’ve had Georgina since last year and I just got Fernhill Kankan in April so I’m really looking forward to doing a bit more with her,” said Elizabeth.

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(Image credit: CHHT / Peter Nixon)

‘Persistent and torrential rain’ means international event abandoned

(Image credit: CHHT / Peter Nixon)

‘She tried her heart out’: farewell to 30-year-old pony who took a host of riders to the top

(Image credit: CHHT / Peter Nixon)

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.

Badminton and Burghley winner embracing new career with 13-year-old rider

Becky Murray — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:33:01 +0000

Vanir Kamira, the superstar mare who won Badminton and Burghley with Piggy March, is embracing a second career in dressage.

Trevor Dickens’ 19-year-old “Tilly” and Trevor’s 13-year-old granddaughter are among the combinations long listed for the children on horses at the dressage youth European Championships, in St Margarethen, Austria (16-21 July). The other combinations are Ella-Grace Dovey with Hannah Dovey’s Flaviano, and Evie Head with Rob and Nicola Lickley’s Gracia.

Read the full announcement for the youth European Championships

Tilly enjoyed a stellar five-star career with Piggy, winning Badminton in 2019 and Burghley in 2022. The pair were fourth at Badminton in 2022, second at Burghley in 2017 and 2019 and fifth in 2018, and third at the Bicton Horse Trials one-off five-star in 2021.

Piggy announced Tilly’s retirement from five-star eventing in March last year, stating that she was “still in great form and enjoying her work as much as ever”, but that they wanted to retire her from five-star level “when she was at the top of her game”.

A retirement ceremony was held for Tilly at Burghley in September, and soon after Annabelle started riding her. The pair made their winning British Dressage debut together in October, and have continued to build a flourishing partnership.

Annabelle Wesley and Vanir Kamira. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“They won the children on horses team test at Vale View in January, and then she was invited to the CDI at Addington in March. And now they’ve been long listed for the Europeans,” Trevor told H&H.

“It’s quite remarkable really. Tilly just goes on and on and on. It’s another career for her. She looks so well, you’d look at her and think she should be doing Badminton again.”

Tilly is no stranger to shining down the centre line, having posted a career best five-star dressage score at her final Burghley. Annabelle, who recently enjoyed two podium spots at the Petplan Winter Area Festivals Championships with her pony Armada Dyffryncothi and Trevor’s eventer Caroline’s Air KM, trains with Jade Clark three times a week.

“Annabelle has such a belief in Tilly,” said Trevor. “She hacks her out on her own, and always has done. The reputation of Tilly – she’s a right diva isn’t she – but she lets Annabelle ride her, which is lovely.”

Trevor said Annabelle has always had an affinity with Tilly.

“She’s adored her all her life,” he said. “When Tilly was doing the five-stars we’d be there all week and Annabelle would spend most of it in the stable with her telling her what a good girl she’s got to be.

“They’ve always had a bond. She’s a special horse, and I don’t think we’ll ever see another one like her.”

Annabelle and Vanir Kamira have another couple of competitions planned ahead of the final team announcements being made in due course.

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‘Thank you Tilly for all the amazing days you have given us’: Vanir Kamira officially retired at Burghley

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Double five-star winner to retire from top level: ‘The right decision for her’

Piggy March (GBR) riding Vanir Kamira during the showjumping phase of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, in the park land surrounding Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK between 31st August - 4th September 2022 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Piggy March and Vanir Kamira win Burghley: ‘This horse deserves to have her name on a plaque on Winners’ Avenue’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Piggy March on Badminton winner Vanir Kamira: ‘The days revolve around her, but she could sense my dreams and took me there’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Three horses withdrawn from Badminton, including title contender

Pippa Roome — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:58:38 +0000

The latest Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals for the event on 8-12 May include one of the favourites.

Piggy March has pulled out Brookfield Inocent, owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn. “Arthur” was the runner-up at Pau Horse Trials in 2020 and a European team gold and individual silver medallist in 2021, but he has not made it to a long-format event since then. Data analytics company EquiRatings had him as the favourite to win Badminton, with a 20% victory chance.

Bubby Upton has withdrawn Magic Roundabout, who belongs to her mother Rachel and the Zebedee Syndicate. The chestnut, who won the under-25 class at Bramham Horse Trials in 2023 with Bubby, was set to make his five-star debut and could have been competitive. Bubby will still ride at Badminton on Cola.

The third of the recent Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals comes from Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star, owned and bred by Michelle Harries. They would have been seeking a first completion at the event after retiring across country on their debut last year.

Badminton final scores

Piggy’s withdrawal leaves Ros Canter and the exciting young talent Izilot DHI in the spotlight as favourites for the event.

Assuming Oliver Townend withdraws Cooley Rosalent, who is expected to run at Kentucky Three-Day Event next week, double Grantham Cup winners Emily King and Valmy Biats become the second favourites behind Ros and “Isaac”.

Oliver and his seasoned five-star campaigner Ballaghmor Class will hold joint third place on EquiRatings’ prediction centre, alongside Tim Price and Vitali.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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‘Hopefully we did Nicola Wilson proud’: Coolparks Sarco placed in first five-star with Piggy March

Becky Murray — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 20:01:21 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Pau on the extreme’: Brits come out on top during dramatic five-star cross-country day

Becky Murray — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 21:30:54 +0000

British riders hold the top seven spots following an action-packed Pau Horse Trials cross-country.

Pierre Michelet’s twisty track proved hugely challenging for many today (28 October) at Pau five-star – with a reshuffle of the leaderboard ahead of tomorrow’s (29 October) showjumping.

The pathfinder was New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte, who were making super progress until they came unstuck at the triple brush at the water, fence 20b. This fall led to a number of riders opting for the longer route through this combination, which was one of the most influential on course.

Problems continued to come thick and fast, with fence 9c – the angle after the step jump out of the water – also playing an important factor throughout the day. Jesse Campbell had a fall with his second ride, Diachello, whom he had been sitting in fourth with, at fence 23. Tim Price, who had been in sixth with Viscount Viktor, had two refusals at fence 28a, to drop the pair down the leaderboard.

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI hold the top spot overnight, following a particularly testing round owing to a hold on course and a crossing string being left up when the pair approached the final combination, which resulted in an appeal being lodged.

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, the overnight leaders going into the cross-country, now sit in second, following a smooth and convincing clear jumping round, with 8 time penalties.

Tom said JL Dublin was “awesome from start to finish”.

“It’s been quite an intense day of cross-country really. It’s caused problems here, there and everywhere. It’s been a serious test,” he said.

One of the toughest fences at Pau Horse Trials cross-country

Tom added: “It’s Pau on the extreme for sure. But I’m delighted, all I needed was a bit more of a straight on the way home and he would have made the time back up again. With the intensity of the first half going out to the racetrack, I felt I needed to give him a little bit of a blow before opening him back up again, then as soon as you’ve got them back into running spirit, you’re back into the park and twisting around, so it’s a balancing show.”

Tom said the third water combination, fence 20ab is “one of the toughest he has seen this year”, and said when it came to challenges that it was an “accumulation of everything”.

“I adjusted a couple of things because of how I felt at the time, but that’s the whole point of a Pierre course, to be able to adjust,” he said.

Kirsty Chabert and 14-year-old mare Classic VI produced the fastest jumping clear of the day, with just 0.8 of a time-penalty, to move up into third ahead of the showjumping. The mare looked enthusiastic throughout their round, and made light work of the track that many struggled with.

“This mare is a should have, would have, could have – and today she did,” said Kirsty, who parted company with her first horse Opposition Heraldik Girl at fence 9b earlier in the day, in a fall that Kirsty simply described as “C’est la vie”.

“They’re actually two of the most similar rides for me, so that was really nice. They’re both go-karts and love the job. I fell off, it’s going to happen every now and again; I then watched some rounds, went off for a little snooze, had some pasta, then went again with Classic VI and she was cool.”

Kirsty’s round was also not uneventful as she was held on course at the same time as Ros Canter and Izilot DHI following Tom Rowland’s fall with MGH Maybe A Mission. To add to the challenge, Kirsty was stopped at the same fence she had fallen at earlier in the day.

“It wasn’t easy being stopped at nine, I thought they might have you go through nine and stop at the nice bullfinch at fence 10 but no. The offer was to go back and jump fence eight, which is the frangible rail – but I wasn’t loving the idea of doing that again!,” said Kirsty.

“I quite enjoy cross-country schooling, so stopping and restarting maybe made me more determined and you had the crowd cheering. She’s incredible, and she means the world to me. You wouldn’t select her as an event horse, I got her as a not-good-enough jumper, and for a couple of years I spent time on the floor trying to jump water and ditches, but actually she was just terrified of people – and to stand in a big crowd like that today, she’s changed. She loves it now.”

A beautiful day for an “unlucky five-star horse”

Oliver Townend and Tregilder are in fourth overnight . The pair jumped clear around the Pau Horse Trials cross-country and added 7.2 time-penalties to their score.

“He’s a very genuine horse and put himself between the flags,” he said. “It’s hard work out there, you feel like you’re on 20m circle for the first three minutes, which is difficult with a big horse – but at the same time he’s so genuine and a great galloper. I sat as still as I could for the first half, and had to ride him home for the other half, but he’s done very well.”

Oliver said he was “thrilled” for Tregilder and his owners, the Hazeldines & Mitchell Fox Group.

“He’s probably one of the unluckiest five-star horses in the world; he’s fallen at the second last at Burghley when we looked like we were going to be six seconds inside the time. He’s been to Burghley again and his rein broke, so it’s been a long time coming having another good result with him, but he was beautiful today,” he said.

Piggy March and Coolparks Sarco round off the top five, following a super jumping clear in the 11-year-old gelding’s five-star debut. The pair had been moments away from setting off across country when Coolparks Sarco pulled a shoe, delaying their start as this was refitted.

“I thought maybe I should have gone quicker, but I was quite conscious it was his first one. He felt very happy, and this will have built our experience and partnership up,” said Piggy.

Piggy explained at the start of her partnership with Coolparks Sarco she sought advice from his former rider, and Piggy’s close friend, Nicola Wilson.

“Nicola is a legend, and a wonderful friend. What she achieved on a horse, but even more so what she is doing off one. She is with us all the way, all the time, but she was also quite quick and told me after I had rang a few times, ‘Pig, it’s your horse now – you know what you’re doing, make him yours and get on with it’. It’s probably the best thing she did because I’m not protecting her situation with him of thinking ‘What would Nicola do?’ – I’ve got to get on with it, and that’s what we’re doing,” she Piggy.

“He’s really exciting, and he’s a really cool horse.”

Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick added 13.2 time-penalties to their dressage to sit in sixth ahead of the showjumping. Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do jumped clear, with 8.0 time-penalties for overnight seventh.

The only rider to make the 11 minutes six seconds optimum time in the Pau Horse Trials cross-country was US rider Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, however the pair activated a MIM clip at fence 13b, to add 11 penalties to their 31.7 dressage, and sit in eighth. Of 54 cross-country starters, there were 20 jumping clears.

The final horse inspection will take place tomorrow (29 October) at 11.45am local time (10.45 British time) ahead of the showjumping at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time).

**Update: the showjumping will now take place at 3.00pm local time (2.00pm British time).

‘Unestablished’ horse takes early Pau five-star lead – while Brits sit in second and third

Becky Murray — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:50:28 +0000

New Zealand’s Tim Price and Viscount Viktor lead the way after the first day of the Pau Horse Trials dressage.

Tim and nine-year-old Viscount Viktor, owned by Barbara Cooper, Glyn Norcutt, and Ginny Rusher, scored 28 for their smooth, flowing test. The pair’s performance was consistent throughout, with a number of eights being awarded for the extended trot, extended canter, and half passes.

Pau is Viscount Viktor’s first five-star and Tim was pleased with the up-and-coming gelding.

“He’s coming along, he’s a young horse and unestablished at all this stuff. But the end of the year is hopefully when you’re going to get a bit more relaxation, and he’s going to understand the movements a bit more,” he said.

“He does actually find the work quite easy. If he’s chilled, then he just goes through the motions and for me it was a little bit of an under-ridden test; I was just going for a nice test that didn’t have too many mistakes. And then we can build on that over the coming years.”

Tim said Viscount Victor has continued to progress with age and he can now ask for a bit more in tests.

“Not that long ago I used to sort of have to introduce the half pass, and then go into it, because otherwise he might pop into canter or lose balance. But now I can sit him up on the corner and say ‘Let’s go sideways’,” he said.

“And the same with the medium canter; I can come around the corner and say, ‘Let’s go’ and he goes into a good medium canter. Those moments are really fun in terms of training a horse, and building it up through the grades, so I was happy with him for those things. He showed a nice extended walk which shows a bit of relaxation.

“And then the places he finds difficult; coming back from a medium and extended canter – he likes to keep his body nice and long. He knows to come back and it will get better over the next couple of years – but he doesn’t have a big whoopsie moment now, he just tries a bit harder and comes back. It’s those little places that are showing progress in his training that makes it rewarding.”

Pau Horse Trials dressage: British riders in second and third

Piggy March is currently the best of the Brits in second with Coolparks Sarco following the first day of five-star dressage action. The pair sit just 0.1 of a penalty behind Tim and Viscount Viktor. The Lamberts’ 11-year-old gelding, a former ride of Nicola Wilson, was another horse making his five-star debut at Pau.

“He felt very nice,” said Piggy. “Maybe I needed to go up one gear to get a little bit more, but I was conscious not to feel like I was chasing when he felt so nicely in front of my leg and under me.

“In the last change I felt him a little bit concerned about the camera, and in the 8m circle he was a bit scared of it, but other than that he felt nice. I might look back and be questioning myself for not being a bit braver, but I don’t know. I didn’t ever go ‘Oh dear’. It all felt consistent. I’m delighted with his brain, he went in there and was really rideable and relaxed.”

Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel, owned by Kate James and Annie Makin, lie in third overnight after the first day of the Pau Horse Trials dressage on 28.3.

Ros said she was “absolutely delighted” with the 14-year-old mare’s test, but thought it was “a bit harshly marked”.

“There might have been things I could have done a bit better, but I was really delighted with how she went,” she said.

“The day before a competition she sometimes looks a bit spicy, but she needs to look spicy in order to be upbeat enough in there for changes and things. I’m really happy with the way she settled, you just have to persuade yourself 20 minutes is plenty in the warm-up – and most of that is spent in walk; I do two minutes work then have a walk, two minutes then have a walk – she just needs to feel good in her body.”

The second day of Pau Horse Trials dressage begins tomorrow (27 October) with home-side rider Cedric Lyard with Unum De’Or at 10am local time (9am British time). The first Brit is Helen Bates and Carpe Diem at 10.07am local time (9.07am British time).

Pau five-star dressage times released – find out when the British riders start

Becky Murray — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:50:08 +0000

The Pau Horse Trials dressage times for the first two days of competition have been released.

The first combination down the centre line this afternoon is New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell and 11-year-old gelding Cooley Lafitte, who will start at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time).

Next to go is the first of the Brits, Tom Rowland and 12-year-old gelding KND Steel Pulse, at 2.37pm local time (1.37pm British time).

Pau Horse Trials dressage times: the rest of the British competitors

Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel: 2.44pm local time (1.44pm British time) on Thursday
Kirsty Chabert and Opposition Heraldik Girl: 2.58pm local time (1.58pm British time) on Thursday
Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On: 3.12pm local time (2.12pm British time) on Thursday
Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do: 3.50pm local time (2.50pm British time) on Thursday
Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier: 3.57pm local time (2.57pm British time) on Thursday
Selina Milnes and Gelmer: 4.28pm local time (3.28pm British time) on Thursday
Izzy Taylor and Happy Days: 4.35pm local time (3.35pm local time) on Thursday
Piggy March and Coolparks Sarco: 4.42pm local time (3.42pm British time) on Thursday
Philip Brown and Harry Robinson: 4.49pm local time (3.49pm British time) on Thursday
Helen Bates and Carpe Diem: 10.07am local time (9.07am British time) on Friday
Libby Seed and Heartbreaker Star Quality: 10.21am local time (9.21am British time) on Friday
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin: 10.28am local time (9.28am British time) on Friday
Tom Jackson and Farndon: 10.42am local time (9.42am British time) on Friday
Oliver Townend and Tregilder: 11.37am local time (10.37am British time) on Friday
Harry Meade and Red Kite: 2.30pm local time (1.30pm British time) on Friday
India Wishart and Diamond Sundance: 2.37pm local time (1.37pm British time)
Bella Innes Kerr and Highway: 2.44pm local time (1.44pm British time) on Friday
Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley: 3.52pm local time (2.52pm British time) on Friday
Kate Rocher-Smith and HHS Dassett Class: 3.36pm local time (2.56pm British time) on Friday
Tom Rowland and MGH Maybe A Mission: 3.50pm local time (3.50pm British time) on Friday
Ros Canter and Izilot DHI: 3.57pm local time (2.57pm British time) on Friday
Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI: 4.21pm local time (3.21pm British time) on Friday
Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick: 4.35pm local time (3.35pm British time) on Friday

Check out the full Pau Horse Trials dressage times.

Two riders leave competition at Maryland 5 Star final trot-up, including one Brit

Pippa Roome — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 14:06:19 +0000

Piggy March is one of two competitors to leave the five-star competition at the Mars Maryland 5 Star final trot-up.

The British rider’s mount, John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s five-star debutant Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, was sent to the holding box and Piggy then decided to withdraw. The pair had been fifth overnight.

Piggy March with Brookfield Cavalier Cruise and groom Amy Phillips, at the final trot-up at Maryland 5 Star 2023. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Piggy reported that “Fletcher” gave her a super ride yesterday.

“The course was much the biggest he’s tackled but he really rose to the occasion and finished great – I couldn’t have been more proud of him,” she said. “Very sadly he is not quite right this morning and we decided to withdraw from the holding box so no showjumping for us today.

“Absolutely gutting for his owners John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn and Amy [Phillips] who has looked after him so well. It wasn’t to be for us this week but we will get him home and live to fight for another day. He’s a very special horse.”

The ground jury also sent Erin Kanara’s ride Campground, owned by Marnie Kelly and eighth after yesterday’s cross-country, to the holding box. The US competitor re-presented, but Campground was eliminated.

Maryland 5 Star final trot-up: 14 progress

The other 14 cross-country finishers were all passed by the ground jury, consisting of president Judy Hancock (Britain), Robert Stevenson (USA) and Andrew Bennie (New Zealand), at the Mars Maryland 5 Star final trot-up.

Data analytics company EquiRatings say overnight leader Oliver Townend now has a 68% chance of winning the event on Paul Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent. William Fox-Pitt sits second and has a 27% win chance with Amanda Gould’s Grafennacht.

Cooley Rosalent is only nine years old. The last nine-year-old to win at five-star was Oslo, William’s ride, who took the Blenheim Horse Trials eight- and nine-year-old class and then Pau Horse Trials in 2011. Cooley Rosalent has already won that Blenheim young horse class this autumn and now bids to emulate Oslo’s five-star triumph.

Should William win, he will extend his record of five-star victories – he currently tops the all-time leaderboard with 14 and he has won every northern hemisphere five-star except Maryland.

The five-star showjumping starts at 2.30pm local time (7.30pm British time).

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(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Brit on young superstar leads after Maryland 5 Star cross-country: ‘She’s a privilege to ride’

(Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Irishman leads after early stages of Maryland 5 Star cross-country plus one fall

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How to watch Maryland 5 Star live from anywhere in the world

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British one-two-three at conclusion of Maryland 5 Star dressage

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

Irishman leads after early stages of Maryland 5 Star cross-country plus one fall

Pippa Roome — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 18:55:10 +0000

Austin O’Connor holds the lead after the early stages of the Mars Maryland 5 Star cross-country.

The Irish rider was the pathfinder on his own and The Salty Syndicate’s seasoned campaigner Colorado Blue. He had a great round, finishing three seconds over the time having had to take a longer line to the final angled hedge element at the Mars Equestrian Crab Water (fence 22abcd).

No one else has come near to equalling Austin’s time over Ian Stark’s Maryland 5 Star cross-country track, with US rider Hannah Sue Hollberg the next fastest (7.2 time-penalties) on Capitol HIM.

Piggy March took the long route out of the Mars Equestrian Crab Water (fence 22abcd) on John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s five-star first-timer Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, finishing with 13.2 time-faults. Having been second after dressage, she is now second behind Austin on the leaderboard of completed riders, with Hannah Sue third.

New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, fourth after dressage, demonstrated how to take on the direct route out of the Mars Equestrian Crab Water with Artist, but still came home with 15.2 time-faults.

The home side’s Phillip Dutton had a fall with Azure when they didn’t get the stride they wanted into the second big corner at the Cecil County Corners (fences 18 and 19ab). Both were quickly up on their feet.

Fellow US rider Booli Selmayr had a couple of problems in the first half of the course and was pulled up by the ground jury at fence 24 with Millfield Lancando.

The leader after dressage, Oliver Townend (Cooley Rosalent), starts at 3.25pm local time (8.25pm British time).

End of day update: Austin holds fourth overnight, Piggy fifth, Hannah Sue sixth and Monica ninth.

Brit grabs clear lead on first day of Maryland 5 Star: ‘There’s so much more to come with him’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:24:01 +0000

Piggy March has taken a clear lead after her Mars Maryland 5 Star dressage test today (19 October).

The British rider and Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, owned by John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn, scored 24.2 to establish a lead of more than four penalties after the first day of action.

Piggy rode the five-star debutant “Fletcher” boldly through the test, showing off great energy. The 10-year-old Bramham Horse Trials CCI4*-L runner-up, by Cavalier Crystal, wore a double bridle and was at times fractionally hollow and above the vertical, but his active, athletic work and Piggy’s accurate test riding put them in different league to the other early competitors.

The pair were rewarded with consistent scores from ground jury president Judy Hancock and members Robert Stevenson and Andrew Bennie. Andrew gave them three nines – for their first and last halt and extended walk half circle – and their worst scores were three 6.5s.

Piggy said: “I’m super proud of him – he’s a beautiful horse, but what’s amazing is his temperament. He so tries and stays with you; he’s solid in his character. The exciting thing is he’s a big horse – 17.2hh – and still a bit of an empty frame. There’s so much more to come and develop with him. He tried his best and did a clear round, so I’m really proud of him.”

Piggy sits 4.2 penalties ahead of New Zealand’s early leaders Monica Spencer and Artist, with Hannah Sue Hollberg and Christa Schmidt’s Capitol HIM holding third in the Maryland 5 Star dressage for the USA on a score of 32.4.

US five-star debutant Andrew Mc Connon, a 37-year-old who has spent time training with William Fox-Pitt, impressed in the early part of the test with the expressive Ferrie’s Cello. Their trending scores putting them in second during the trotwork, but the horse tended to put his head up and leap through the flying changes, which dragged his mark down, so he finished on 33.4 for fifth at the end of the day.

Another home side first-timer at the level, Mia Farley, has slotted into fourth with a solid test on Phelps – who is owned by 2000 Olympic champion David O’Connor – for a score of 32.9.

Britain’s other two competitors, Oliver Townend (Cooley Rosalent) and William Fox-Pitt (Grafennacht), both do their tests tomorrow. William makes his Maryland 5 Star debut, while Oliver has been second (Cooley Master Class, 2021) and third here (As Is, 2022) in the event’s first two runnings.

New £50,000 competition for former racehorses to ‘showcase their talent’

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:45:49 +0000

A class for former racehorses worth £50,000 is to run at Cornbury House Horse Trials, aiming to demonstrate the quality and potential of thoroughbreds in a second career.

The class is the brainchild of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, supported by David Howden, group CEO and founder of Howden, and president and founder of the horse trials.

Ms McGivern, who owns top event horses, is donating the £50,000, making the prize fund one of the largest in the eventing calendar.

“The initiative has been in McGivern’s thoughts for a long time, wanting to make training ex-racehorses financially viable for riders,” a spokesman for the horse trials said. “Her aim is to also raise the profile of the adaptable nature of thoroughbreds, especially in terms of their suitability for eventing.

“The class will showcase thoroughbreds and their abilities, aiming to encourage riders to take on and retrain ex-racehorses and incentivise riders to work towards the 2025 class. It will also provide an additional opportunity for ex-racehorses, building on the existing resource and guidance provided by Retraining of Racehorses.”

The class will run from 2025, starting at CCI2*/novice level, and more details will be released “in due course”.

Ms McGivern said said: “I am thrilled to be able to launch a new ex-racehorse class that will run in 2025, and thank David Howden for his support in allowing my idea to come to fruition. Racing and eventing are both my passions and through this class we will be able to showcase the talent that thoroughbreds have in their second careers.”

Piggy March, pictured with Ms McGivern’s former racehorse, Our Old Fella at Cornbury House Horse Trials in 2021, said the idea is “absolutely brilliant”.

“Well done to Jayne McGivern,” she said. “Firstly, because this is a massive opportunity for both racing and eventing, which Jane is very passionate about, and her love for horses is why she wanted to do this.

“But for us as competitors I think it’s amazing because until you get to five-star there’s not really cash prizes that event riders can go for. And secondly, it’s just brilliant to get the [thoroughbred] blood back into eventing. Eventing has changed over the years and it’s all been about fancy moving and big flash jumpers. And when you get to the top level, as we’ve seen this year at the main events and it’s been a bit wet, it still comes down to stamina and class. And so to keep the racehorses, thoroughbreds, in our game would be amazing.”

Piggy added that she thinks the class is a “realistic aim” for former racehorses, and that she “might even start rocking up to Doncaster sales” and getting to know some racing trainers, to help find horses who have the potential to become eventers.

“It’s a wonderful sport. I love it and to put the two together will be fantastic,” she said.

‘Thank you Tilly for all the amazing days you have given us’: Vanir Kamira officially retired at Burghley

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:00:38 +0000

The wonderful five-star mare Vanir Kamira, who was piloted by Piggy March to both her Badminton and Burghley victories, was officially retired at this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

Vanir Kamira, an 18-year-old mare, known at home as Tilly and owned by Trevor Dickens, was retired in a ceremony prior to the top-20 showjumping at Burghley on Sunday afternoon (3 September).

Piggy rode Tilly, accompanied on the ground by her long-term groom Amy Phillips, into the main arena to rapturous applause from the crowd, who were then treated to one final lap of honour from the mare, who clocked a whopping 2,032 British Eventing points during her illustrious career.

“A special moment today with Vanir Kamira retiring from competition at her favourite event – Burghley,” Piggy said on social media. “She felt like she really enjoyed herself and was so relaxed in all the atmosphere, which was fantastic.

“She has been such a superstar for me and I’m so proud of everything we’ve achieved together. I really wanted her to finish whilst she was still at the top of her game and delighted she retires sound, fit and well and still loving her job.

“Thank you everyone for your appreciation and thank you Tilly for all the amazing days you has given us all. One in a million.”

A photo posted by on

Tilly has recently featured on Piggy’s social media providing Piggy’s son Max a lead on his new pony Muddy Puddles over some fences at home and out hacking.

A photo posted by on

Vanir Kamira was bred in Ireland by Kathryn Jackson, by Camiro De Haar Z. She started her career with Piggy, before spending four years with Izzy Taylor and Paul Tapner, and then returning to Piggy in 2017.

As well as their two wins at five-star, the pair finished fourth at Badminton last year and have landed second place twice at Burghley (2017 and 2019) as well as fifth in 2018. They were also third at the one-off five-star at Bicton Horse Trials in 2021. Piggy announced the mare’s initial retirement from top level competition earlier this year.

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Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

‘Gutting’ withdrawal of one of the favourites for the Burghley title

Pippa Roome — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:05:59 +0000

Piggy March’s ride Brookfield Inocent is the latest Defender Burghley Horse Trials withdrawal, with the horse unable to run at next week’s event (30 August-3 September) due to a “minor bone injury”.

Piggy won Burghley last year on Vanir Kamira and was looking forward to running “Arthur” at his first five-star since time out through a different injury.

“Very sadly we have had to withdraw Brookfield Inocent from Burghley this year. He has come back to top level competition in flying form but has sadly incurred a minor bone injury which requires a short period of rest,” said Piggy.

“Thankfully it isn’t serious and our dream of him getting to the big Bs can still live on! Gutting for all concerned, especially his owners John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn as we all long for him to have his chance at this amazing venue, but it’s just not meant to be this year.

“Best of luck to everyone going there – it’s such a great event and looking forward to an exciting week’s sport.”

Equine data analytics company EquiRatings had been touting Piggy as the favourite to win, with Brookfield Inocent given a 19% win chance, a 38% top three chance and a 62% top 10 chance in their prediction centre. This latest Burghley Horse Trials withdrawal leaves Oliver Townend top of the billing, with his rides Swallow Springs, Ballaghmor Class and Tregilder next in line.

Three riders seek to make championship debuts as British longlist for eventing Europeans revealed

Pippa Roome — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:06:17 +0000

Eighteen horse and rider combinations have been named as the British entries for the eventing European Championships at Haras du Pin, France (9-13 August). The selected squad of six combinations – a team of four and two individuals – will be announced in July.

The list consists of 12 riders, four of whom (Ros Canter, Yasmin Ingham, Piggy March and Oliver Townend) have two potential rides listed and one of whom, Tom McEwen, has three. David Doel, Tom Jackson and Bubby Upton are all seeking to make their senior squad championship debuts, while the other riders all have previous championship experience.

The nominated British entries for the eventing European Championships are:

Ros Canter with 11-year-old gelding Lordships GraffaloOwner: Michele SaulBreeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College (GBR)Breeding: by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King

Ros Canter with 14-year-old mare Pencos Crown JewelOwners: Kate James and Annie MakinBreeder: Pennie Wallce (GBR)Breeding: by Jumbo, out of a mare by Rock King

Laura Collett with 14-year-old gelding London 52

Owners: Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and Laura

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of mare by Quinar

David Doel with 12-year-old gelding Galileo NieuwmoedOwner: Gillian JonasBreeder: J. W. and A. P. Jurrius (NED)Breeding: by Carambole, out of a mare by Harcos

Pippa Funnell with 10-year-old gelding MCS Maverick

Owner: Sarah Ross

Breeder: Mrs M Watson (GBR)

Breeding: by Mill Law

Yasmin Ingham with 12-year-old gelding Banzai Du LoirOwners: The Sue Davies Fund and Janette ChinnBreeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay, out of a mare by Livarot

Yasmin Ingham with 13-year-old gelding Rehy DJOwners: The Sue Davies Fund and Janette ChinnBreeder: Noel Russell (IRL)Breeding: by Tinarana’s Inspector, out of a mare by Big Shot Hope

Tom Jackson with 12-year-old gelding Capels Hollow DriftOwners: Patricia Davenport, Millie Simmie and Sarah WebbBreeder: Jeanette Glynn (GBR)Breeding: by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, out of a mare by Lucky Gift

Kitty King with 14-year-old gelding Vendredi Biats

Owners: Diana Bown, the late Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker

Breeder: Phillipe Briviois (FRA)

Breeding: by Winningmood, out of a mare by Camelia De Ruelles

Piggy March with 10-year-old gelding Brookfield Cavalier CruiseOwners: John and Chloe Perry and Alison SwinburnBreeder: Martin Ryan (IRL)Breeding: by Cavalier Carnival, out of mare by Atlantic Cruise

Piggy March with 11-year-old gelding Coolparks SarcoOwners: James and Jo LambertBreeder: Michael Burke (IRL)Breeding: by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan out of a mare by Clarion Hotel Coolcorran Cool Diamond

Tom McEwen with 12-year-old gelding JL DublinOwners: James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre JohnstonBreeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze (GER)Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Tom McEwen with 10-year-old mare Luna MistOwner: Martin BelshamBreeding: by Alvescot Paper Moon, out of a mare by Wickstead Didger I Doo

Tom McEwen with 16-year-old gelding Toledo De KerserOwners: Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Coppell and Tom’s mother Alison McEwenBreeder: Kerstin Drevet (FRA)Breeding: by Diamant De Semilly, out of a mare by Papillon Rouge

Gemma Stevens with 11-year-old gelding Flash Cooley

Owner: Pru Dawes

Breeder: Jim O’Neill (IRL)

Breeding: by CSF Mr Kroon, out of a mare by OBOS Quality

Oliver Townend with 16-year-old gelding Ballaghmor ClassOwners: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val RyanBreeder: Noel Hicky (IRL)Breeding: by Courage II

Oliver Townend with 15-year-old gelding Swallow SpringsOwners: Paul and Diana RidgeonBreeder: Maria Keating (IRL)Breeding: by Chillout, out of a mare by Cult Hero

Bubby Upton with 13-year-old gelding Magic RoundaboutOwners: Bubby’s mother Rachel and The Zebedee SyndicateBreeder: Sharon Stone (GBR)Breeding: by Samraan

The names of the grooms have not been confirmed but will be included with the final squad announcement.

Pippa Funnell wins fourth Bramham, 31 years after first: ‘I can’t tell you how special winning a big one is at my stage’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 13:56:07 +0000

Pippa Funnell confirmed her place at the top of the Bramham Horse Trials results in the CCI4*-L with a clear showjumping round on MCS Maverick.

The rider did not have even a second over the time in hand, let alone a rail, to keep first place. Sarah Ross’s 10-year-old MCS Maverick touched the front pole of the oxer at fence 10 but it stayed put and the pair finished on their overnight score of 30.5.

This was Pippa’s fourth Bramham victory after wins in 1992 (Metronome), 2002 (Walk On Star) and 2010 (Redesigned).

“I can’t tell you how special winning a big one is when you get to my stage – you think you’re past all that,” said Pippa.

The rider has made no secret of the fact she came to Bramham to find out more about her new ride and she has played a lot of “mind games” to get the best out of this hot horse this week.

“This morning after the vet inspection, I didn’t want to jump him but I took him into the stables field and did pole work and stretched him – he’s got a very big stride and I just did some canter poles, getting him closed up but in a really relaxed way,” she said.

“He’ll sleep well after this! He’s running on adrenaline. Often you question if you’re doing it the right way with a horse that wants to go faster than you do in his brain, but I’m chuffed it worked and delighted for his owner, Sarah Ross.

“It’s just really sad she wasn’t here – her family organised a big party for her birthday yesterday ages ago and initially we didn’t think he would come to Bramham, but because I’d had such good rides on him, I said, ‘Let’s go’.”

Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick jump clear to win Bramham 2023. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The overnight top three all jumped clear, so Piggy March took second on Brookfield Cavalier Cruise (owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry) and Jesse Campbell third on Gambesie (owned by his rider and Sarah Moffatt).

Piggy said: “Obviously it’s his first four-star long and I’m delighted. He felt very careful and easy today. He has gone as well as I hoped, but until you do it you don’t know. The cross-country’s as tough as it gets for four-star so to deal with it well and come out and jump nicely today is very exciting.”

Jesse said he had sent a message to showjumping coach Shane Breen last night.

“He said just relax and remember how to be a showjumper! The horse just did it all for me, he is magic,” said Jesse.

“Shane is a true horseman and he understands horses on another whole level that I wouldn’t have even explored before. But his big thing for me is just use your legs more, but he does it in a certain way and the feelings that he gives me, I seem to be able to put them into practice quite well and I really enjoy being able to do that.”

There was some juggling of the Bramham Horse Trials results leaderboard behind the podium positions.

Tom McEwen moved up from sixth overnight to fourth with a clear on last year’s British intermediate champion Luna Mist and Harry Meade’s clear on Cavalier Crystal made it two mares side by side in the line-up when she rose from seventh to fifth.

Lizzie Baugh’s dressage score finish in her first Bramham four-star long lifted her from eighth to sixth and Aaron Millar’s fault-free performance elevated him and KEC Deakon from 10th to seventh.

On the other side of the coin, Harry’s two down with Red Kite – the oxers at fence three and 10 – meant the chestnut slipped from fourth to 11th. Nicky Hill similarly had eight jumping faults, and she added 0.8 of a time-fault too, to finish 16th on MGH Bingo Boy, having been ninth overnight.

Four faults at fence 10 cost Harry Mutch and HD Bronze three places and they finished eighth.

New partnership take the lead as dressage top three meet mixed fortunes on four-star long Bramham cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:22:01 +0000

Pippa Funnell leads the CCI4*-L class after the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country action today (10 June). Pippa and Sarah Ross’s MCS Maverick – a new partnership this year – were second after dressage and moved up by virtue of finishing just three seconds over the 10min 20sec optimum time.

“If ever I’ve had one that gives you the feeling that it’s going to run around Burghley or Badminton, he’s one and that’s why I quietly took him on, but he is a project – but it’s fun to be working on that sort of calibre of project,” said Pippa.

MCS Maverick was produced by Helen Wilson, who also rides for the Funnells’ Billy Stud, and Pippa explained she has always followed his career.

Pippa explained: “Sarah bought the horse as a three- or four-year-old and Helen’s always ridden the horse. I saw it actually as a young horse the first time they ever took it cross-country schooling and I said, ‘Gosh, what a lovely quality horse’, and so I always followed it because Helen was in the area.

“Helen said to sit on him out of interest a couple of years ago and I did. I liked it but it’s just quite hot. Anyway, last year Helen had ups and downs and I think found it fairly difficult because the horse was kept at the owners and so she couldn’t ride it really regularly. Between them they mutually decided to see if I would just give it a go.

“The suggestion came from Helen and I made it very clear I would, but that at my age, if I was not happy with it jumping and cross-country wise, then I wasn’t prepared to put in the work. But Helen always said it was a machine the way it galloped and she’s right about that, it does gallop and I’ve really enjoyed every run on him.”

Pippa said she had a super ride and always had it in the back of her mind that she might need to take the long route in the Suregrow kidney ponds complex, where on the direct route riders tackled a drop log, four moving strides to a log into the water and then a turn to two corners.

The rider had seen a video of Maverick’s spectacular jump into the water at Bicton and said the distance between the two logs meant you had to be brave and attacking – “you couldn’t ride it in a way that you created a pop jump”.

She explained: “I didn’t want to wrestle with him to try and get to the corner and I heard Piggy [March] had circled round the tree before going to fence 11 and made the time, so I thought, well, I’m sat on a galloper and I don’t know him very well, so I made that call and I think it was the right call.”

Pippa was held for 10 minutes during her round at fence 14, the Aardvark Safari Kennels, because of Morven Pringle and Dunbog Gypsy Rose’s fall at the bounce into the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond (fence 18abcde). Morven and the mare were both soon up on their feet.

Dressage leader Ros Canter had an early problem on course when Izilot DHI spooked at the decorative ice creams on the inside of the turn at fence three, the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Cones, put in a half rear and couldn’t make it to the second element of the combination. They went on to complete with 16.8 time-penalties.

Piggy March now holds the runner-up spot. She was the second out on Ian Stark’s course and showed the optimum time was achievable when she finished bang on target with Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry. This moved them up from sixth after dressage.

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell had two time-faults with his own and Sarah Moffat’s Gambesie, which let them hold onto third place.

Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course proves influential

Ian Stark’s cross-country track generally rode well, while proving influential. Problems were well spread and there were 27 jumping clears (60%), five inside the time (11%) and 33 finishers (73%), from 45 starters.

Izzy Taylor, fourth after dressage, performed an excellent save – Happy Days nearly dislodged her when he chipped in an extra stride and left a leg at the double of birds out of the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond at fence 18abcde. But the pair’s challenge for a top spot came to an end at the next fence, the Speedi-Beet Double at fence 19ab, where Happy Days ran-out at the skinny off a downhill bending line that forms element b.

Elsewhere in the dressage top 10, time-faults juggled the order.

Matt Heath had a good clear round but racked up 16.4 time-penalties with Askari, which dropped him from seventh to 19th.

Harry Meade’s clear inside the time with Red Kite moved him up from equal ninth to fourth and his three seconds over the time on Cavalier Crystal rocketed him up from 18th to seventh.

Harry Mutch retained fifth with 3.2 time-faults on HD Bronze, while Tom McEwen’s 2.8 time-faults allowed him to move from eighth to sixth on Luna Mist.

On-form rising star Lizzie Baugh hit the time exactly with B Exclusive, moving up from equal 25th after the first phase to eighth, and just 0.8 of a time-penalty was good enough for Nicky Hill and MGH Bingo Boy to rise from 21st to ninth.

Aaron Millar, who was the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country pathfinder, accrued 4.4 time-faults and now sits 10th with KEC Deakon, who was ninth equal after dressage.

Izzy Taylor leads Bramham four-star long on Happy Days: ‘He’s an introvert who likes to be loved and fed!’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 16:01:50 +0000

Izzy Taylor leads the CCI4*-L after the first day of Bramham Horse Trials dressage today (8 June).

Izzy, who won this class last year on Monkeying Around, was the only competitor to break the 30 barrier when she piloted Happy Days, owned by Alex Colquhoun, Caroline Wilson and Lavinia Taylor, to a mark of 29.9.

“I’m very pleased with him,” said Izzy after the 11-year-old’s performance. “He’s a very cool horse. He’s taken a while to come – no, that’s not really fair, he’s still quite young. But he’s grown in confidence. Usually he’s actually quite an introvert and this week he has been full of himself so far.

“He is happy, as his name would suggest, and he just stayed with me all the time today. Bramham is very different to say Badminton – it’s much closer to the crowd and we seem to be very close to the members’ marquee this year. So it’s much more of a close feeling atmosphere so I’m really pleased that he didn’t get over excited by that.

“He’s super laid back, but I think in a way, everyone expresses their worries differently. He’s super laid back and then he gets worried and he goes too laid back. But now he’s beginning to realise that he is alright, so he might show a few people a few things. But he’s very cool, very low maintenance in terms of he likes to be loved and fed. Food is key to Happy’s life!”

Bramham Horse Trials dressage: Piggy March holds second

Piggy March set the standard in the first session with a score of 30.8, riding Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s 10-year-old Thoresby CCI4*-S winner Brookfield Cavalier Cruise. Probably to her own surprise – as she was a little disappointed with the score, which is considerably worse than for the horse’s other recent tests – she held onto a strong placing, second, at the end of the day.

Brookfield Cavalier Cruise has returned to Piggy this year, having been ridden by her for a season as a seven-year-old but since been successful with Sophie Callard and Tom McEwen. He also won with Harry Meade before Piggy’s first stint riding him.

His previous two four-star tests with Piggy this year have netted marks in the mid 20s. At times today the horse’s head was a little in front of the vertical, which may have accounted for the lower marks.

Piggy said: “I’m very pleased with him – I’m just looking forward to watching it back because he felt like he did not a lot wrong and that’s definitely his worst mark for quite a while. So I’ll be interested to see and learn from that and try and pick the bits to be better next time, but he was pretty mistake free and showed himself off nicely.

“There’s still bits of his flatwork that could come more supple and be off the floor, but on the whole, his general attitude and way of going I thought was very nice, which is what matters.”

This is Brookfield Cavalier Cruise’s first CCI4*-L.

“He’s a big boy and just a lovely horse,” said Piggy. “This week is a big week for him. It’s a serious, serious cross-country track. So we’ll take each bit as it comes, but I’ve come here to be competitive and that mark for him, for what he’s been doing, seems quite off his pace. Hopefully, if the judges are grumpy, they stay grumpy for two days!”

Aaron Millar holds third in the CCI4*-L Bramham Horse Trials dressage with Heidi Bates’ KEC Deakon on a score of 32.4. They have re-routed to Bramham from Badminton, where Aaron fell off at fence 13. Canada’s Michael Winter sits fouth on El Mundo (33.3), his mount at last year’s eventing World Championships.

Watch Piggy March walk the Badminton cross-country course: ‘an old-fashioned feel’

Lucy Elder — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:28:25 +0000

The 2019 winner Piggy March has given her exclusive insight into the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course as competitors gear up for the Gloucestershire five-star.

This year’s event (4 to 8 May), presented by Mars Equestrian, has an amended timetable owing to the coronation, meaning riders will head out over the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course on the Sunday (7 May).

In Piggy’s full preview in today’s (Thursday, 27 April) Badminton preview issue of Horse & Hound, she describes course-designer Eric Winter’s 2023 track as having “quite an old-fashioned feel” and says it is “fair, not trappy and clear for the horses”.

Piggy also reflects on her first Badminton aboard Flintlock, with whom she had “grown up on the hunting field” and her superb win in 2019 with Trevor Dickens’s great Vanir Kamira.

“To win is what dreams are made of. Vanir Kamira is a very special little mare, a real fighter, and it means a lot to have won it on a horse who is all about the cross-country. I’ve competed here seven times in total, it’s either gone very well, or very badly!” says Piggy.

Badminton final scores

“I’ve walked home quite a few times after falling off, I’ve been first, second and fourth… It’s all great memories, and you learn so much even from the times things haven’t gone so well. As a rider, it makes you hungry to get back here.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: Piggy’s views on some key combinations

Piggy March assesses the challenge of the Badminton Lake on the 2023 cross-country course. (Image credit: Benjamin Clark)

Joules Coronation Corral (fence 6ab)

A new obstacle for the 2023, these are two upright white gates on a turning line.

“This will be the first serious question, where riders have to sit up, really respect and set their horses in a gear appropriate for this fence,” says Piggy.

She notes there are two lines here – the “brave man’s route” inside the hut, or a wider line going around it.

“These gates need serious respect and the riders to be accurate. But you should hope with horses being at this stage on the course and still fresh, that they’ve got plenty of jump and are still very careful at the minute. I’m hoping that ridden well, this jump should look good.”

The Lake (fences 21abc and 22)

The direct route here is a big brush corner, followed by a left-handed turn to a set of frangible rails into The Lake, followed by another big brush corner in the water.

“This year you’re not going to be disappointed with what you’ve got,” says Piggy. “You gallop up to a very big brush corner that certainly needs a lot of respect and will get the horse very much up into the air.

“You want to really sit up afterwards and make sure you get the horse back onto his hocks, really get this turn – there’s not a lot of room – to a very old-fashioned rail. We haven’t seen rails into The Lake for years, so it does have a very different feel to it.”

She adds the dressing that will be on the fence for the competition will make it more inviting.

“It’s got quite a decent drop on it. You’ve got a very big corner in the water and I think you want to get a positive good jump in, land and ride up to that big corner,” adds Piggy. “It should be a fair question.”

Voltaire Design Huntsmans Close (fence 25ab)

The direct route at Huntsmans Close is two open corners, while the longer route will be a hay wagon to an alternative corner.

Piggy walked the direct route and says these fences are “very inviting”.

“At this stage, we are on the home run. You want your horse to still have enough petrol, to have enough horse underneath you, and to ride accurately,” says Piggy, noting they are on frangible devices so riders “can’t be too blasé”

“They are both inviting and ridden properly, shouldn’t cause problems providing your horse still has enough running in him.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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

Sneak peek! Check out photos of Piggy March walking the 2023 Badminton cross-country course…

Pippa Roome — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:00:45 +0000

Do you want to have a sneak peek at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, for this year’s event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May)? Of course you do!

Horse & Hound sent 2019 Badminton winner Piggy March on a mission to Gloucestershire to review Eric Winter’s track. You can read her thoughts on every fence in this week’s magazine (dated 27 April). In the meantime, check out these pictures of the course…