Meet Jerry, the 14.2hh Welsh section D who cleared 1.55m to win the Bury Farm bareback challenge – then picked up his Royal International Horse Show ticket the next day.

Madoghill Goronwy, to give him his full name, joint-won the single-fence challenge on Saturday (14 February) with his owner Maddie Maher on board, then won the winter JC/JD qualifier at Kelsall Hill with Ella Kay, less than 24 hours later.

“I can’t stop watching the video!” Maddie told H&H. “It was unreal.”

Maddie said she bought Jerry four years ago and tried to event him but he was too careful.

“So we decided to get a junior rider to showjump him, so Aimee Paxton took him on, two years ago,” she said. “For the past two years, he’s been to Horse of the Year Show in the newcomers and Foxhunter finals, which is amazing.

“Ella rode him last year and is riding him this year but I luckily had him back home for a free months and thought ‘Let’s do that bareback thing’. I’d always wanted to do it but don’t think I’ve been brave enough. But I trust Jerry with my whole life, so I thought ‘Why not?’”

Maddie and Jerry practised at home, clearing 1.40m.

“So to jump 1.55m in the class – I never thought that would happen!” she said.

“Last year they got to 1.45m but this time, there were five clear at that height. They said we could either do a five-way win or go again and I actually said I was happy to leave it there, take the five-way split and win, but one of the girls wanted to go again, so we went again.”

The single-fence challenge is run almost like a puissance but, as its name suggests, there is no smaller fence before the big one.

“He was jumping that well in the warm-up, I was thinking ‘Well, at least I can only mess up at that one fence, not have a smaller one down, clear the big one and be out’,” Maddie said.

“In the warm-up, I only jumped about 1.20m and everyone else was jumping top of the wings. And the girl I was with, Ellie, she said ‘Are you gonna jump bigger?’ But I said ‘No, that’s fine. He feels good, confident, and I’m happy to go in with that’.

“I went in and I knew there were two clears. I gave him a little stroke and said to him ‘Come on. Jez, we’ve got this’. I remember clearing it, and the whole crowd going wild.”

Lauren Burt also cleared the 1.55m with her own Hassini III, as did Krissie Yeoman with her own Joey, to split the win three ways.

The morning after the bareback challenge, Maddie had to travel Jerry to Kelsall Hill, arriving in the nick of time for the qualifier.

“When I got there, Ella came running out saying ‘I’ve got four to go’!” Maddie said. “She had to warm up, and go in – and they went triple clear in the fastest time by about five seconds.”

“He was just playing”

Ella told H&H Jerry found the qualifier easy, after his high-jumping exploits in the bareback challenge.

“He was just playing,” she said. “Because he’s not ours, I hadn’t ridden him since South View [31 January-1 February]. I forgot how to ride him, went in the ring and he was point and jump.”

Maddie added that Jerry, 15, has many fans, in person and online, and she even named her rider wear brand Jerryco Clothing after him.

“He’s a Welsh D so he’s very cheeky, he will get away with everything, but he can because he’s the best,” she said. “He loves the crowd, it lights him up, and he loves to show off; he’s a diva and he’s very dramatic about life. We always say it’s Jerry’s world and we live in it.”

The Bury Farm bareback speed class challenge went to Rebecca Hales with Karen Jones’s LNG Huntingfield Cruiser.

A spokesperson for Bury Farm told H&H: “Such is the incredible popularity of Bury Farm’s bareback show that tickets sold out within an hour of going on sale and we welcomed over 1,000 spectators to the centre for Saturday’s evening gala.

“The atmosphere in the arena was electric and we applaud each and every one of the competitors who took part. The Bury Farm team would like to thank everybody who joined us on Saturday for their loyal support and for making the bareback challenge such a unique and unmissable part of our show calendar.”

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You may also be interested in:

The Welsh section D: the ‘native cobs’ with power, action and presence

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“My crown jewels will take a hammering to save other people’s crown jewels”

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If you were looking for proof that showjumpers know how to have a good time (and to make us smile), then the Bareback Challenge at Bury Farm on Saturday night (25 February 2017) is the perfect example. Held in memory of amateur showjumper Russell Pearson, who was tragically killed in a car crash in 2015, the event raises valuable funds for the Air Ambulance — which makes the fancy dress (and a few hairy moments) more than worthwhile… Watch the class, brought to you by CanterBanter.co.uk here

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

Image courtesy of SBM Photographic

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

A bareback showjumping challenge in memory of popular rider Russell Pearson, who was killed in a car accident in August, has attracted a phenomenal response.

Buckinghamshire venue Bury Farm has been inundated with riders wishing to compete — minus a saddle — for the evening, with a total of 120 entries received so far. The unaffiliated class will be the show’s highlight on 27 February and will take place at 8pm.

“Russell was a great personality and supporter of Bury Farm. He was one of those people who had such an infectious personality. He was nice and honest,” said show director Gareth Jenkins. “We were shocked following his death and wanted to do something at Bury Farm in memory of him.

“It seemed fitting to hold the bareback class in his memory. Three years ago, when we held the initial bareback challenge, I decided I would have a go — having not ridden for ten years — and he lent me a horse. That was the type of person he was.”

Gareth told Horse & Hound that the reaction to the class had exceeded expectations and that posts on Facebook had received more than 1,000 likes.

“The first year we held the challenge we had 20 entries, last year it was 32 — this year it has attracted a mammoth 120 entries,” he said. “We will only be able to accept 45, five of which will be wildcard entries.”

Online entries are being accepted until 18 February, with a ballot taking place on 19 February — entries will be pulled from a hat.

Admission is free for spectators and so to is entry to the class, although a deposit is required to secure a place.

“There will also be a finger buffet, although I am not sure how long the food will last,” added Gareth.

“The course will be round eight fences at 90cm. I think the course may be tougher this year, however, as there were some very good people in 2015. It is against the clock so the fastest clear wins.”

The class promises to provide plenty of entertainment. All riders are required to stop for a drink — water or something stronger if they wish — halfway round. “And this year no spillage is allowed,” said Gareth. Competitors have also been asked to wear something red.

The bareback challenge will be broadcast via CanterBanter TV and the class’ total prize-fund amounts to £1,500 — with £500 of that going to the winner.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Gareth is once again going “saddle less”. He has so far raised an impressive £700 for Herfordshire Air Ambulance through his Just Giving page.

“Penny Cornish has been great and lent me ‘Bert’ to ride. Although he has been renamed Greenacres Red Bull by my colleagues because of my love of the energy drink,” he said.

“I have been training at Penny’s and doing some jumping without stirrups but it is all about raising money for a great cause and remembering Russell.”

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Horse & Hound went behind the scenes at eventer Laura Collett‘s Lambourn yard to find out how her small but efficient set-up works.

During the day Laura jumped Mr Bass, a bright bay novice — “He’s only six, but a bit of a dude, and safe and comfy enough to jump like this” — bareback.

Known to some as the queen of high jump contests, Laura is happy enough to dispense with her saddle over a whopping fence — she once said if she hadn’t been an eventer, she would have liked to have been a jump jockey.

You’ll see that Laura’s position is rock steady as she jumps bareback. But it’s not just a party piece.

“Yogi [Breisner, British Eventing performance manager and Laura’s regular instructor, who teaches her roughly one day a week] has sometimes had me riding bareback in just a headcollar on the four-star horses,” explains Laura.

“They just lob around in canter and it switches them off — they can let go of their whole body. It’s good for their fitness too.”

Watch Laura jumping bareback below

Don’t miss today’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (31 July 2014), where we go behind the scenes at Laura Collett’s yard in our exclusive feature

Take a look at these 6 types of event horse you’ll find at every horse trials

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Visitors to Blenheim Horse Trials (6-9 September 2012) can look forward to new cross-country fences and a change of route on the course, plus a more spectator-friendly timetable and a bareback jumping competition.

“The course will look very different this year,” said event director Mandy Hervieu. “Eric Winter, our course designer, has come up with exciting ideas that will ask some different questions of the horses and riders.”

The water complex and the footbridge will be among those replaced with brand new fences. In addition, an entirely new section of the course will be introduced for the CCI3*.

There will also be more extra-curricular competitions including the new bareback showjumping class, sponsored by Saffery Champness.

Competitors will jump a 1.05m course bareback against the clock, with an optional joker fence at the end, standing at 1.15m.

“It has already attracted significant interest, especially from our young riders, who have threatened to show the older riders how it’s done,” said Ms Hervieu. “But with seniors such as Laura Collett (pictured top right) also showing interest, it is sure to be hotly contested.”

The class follows the success of the AmTrust Eventers High Jump, where riders can choose to jump the fence without a saddle in order to gain an extra life.

Both classes will run in the lunchtime break between the two feature eventing classes on the Sunday (9 September).

The official charity of this year’s event is The Horse Trust, and one of the ponies that it rescued from Spindles Farm in 2008 will feature as part of the charity’s display.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.blenheim-horse.co.uk

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Bilsdale and Hurworth supporter Peter Hunt is recovering after completing the last day of the season without a saddle.

For the stunt, Peter and his wife’s horse Ron tackled the pre-meet Bilsdale “gallop” of four miles and 23 jumps, then a couple of hours’ hunting – a total of 36 fences.

And Peter’s prediction that “as long as I stay with him [Ron] we’ll be fine” proved to be spot on – despite a sticky moment at the second fence.

“Ron tore into it and I didn’t sit well for the ridiculously large leap he put in,” said Peter.

“I landed awkwardly on his withers,” he added, wincing.

The “now-legendary” Ron pulled so hard that, at one point, Peter’s forearms locked.

His post-match audit of aches and pains included cramp, “spectacular bruising” and, of course, the “unmentionable pain between the legs“.

But his pain is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes’ gain. Peter’s efforts have so far raised £2,000 for the charities.

Bob Smailes, fundraising manager for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said it was “one of the most original fundraising ideas” he had seen.

“I’d like to thank Peter – and Ron – for raising this fantastic amount of money,” he added.

So would Peter do it again?

“Probably not,” he said, “although Ron just looked so pleased with himself [as they crossed the finish line] and clearly wanted to carry on.”

www.justgiving.com/teams/withoutasaddle.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 March 2012)

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

It might not be considered correct hunting attire, but on the day of the Bilsdale and the Hurworth’s final joint meet of the season, Peter Hunt will turn up without a saddle.

That’s if he survives the traditional Bilsdale “gallop” before the meet – covering a couple of miles and some 25 fences – which Peter will also tackle bareback.

The stunt is in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes.

It is all the more remarkable given that Peter only started riding five years ago when he got engaged to his wife Jen – whose horse, Ron, he will be riding.

“Ron will give anything a go,” Peter told H&H. “As long as I can stay with him, we’ll be fine.”

And Peter is confident that the day won’t end with a callout for the target of his fundraising efforts.

“People who’ve watched me jump bareback have commented that I am actually more stable without a saddle,” he said.

www.justgiving.com/teams/withoutasaddle.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 March 2012)

• View hunters for sale with Horse & Hound

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Robert Whitaker may have set a new bareback puissance record at the Stockholm International Horse Show.

The 27-year-old and Waterstone jumped a towering 2.12m wall on Friday (25 November) and possibly into the record books.

The venue hailed his win as a new world record, but it appears other riders may have jumped higher bareback.

“It’s an unofficial record,” Robert told H&H. “I think other riders may have jumped higher but it was high enough to win the class, which is the main thing.”

For a full report on British success in Stockholm, including John Whitaker’s grand prix win, see H&H on Thursday (8 December)

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An online dressage contest is running an innovative fundraiser for Christmas.

Interdressage, a website that offers riders the opportunity to compete online by submitting videos, has introduced a new class for daring dressage riders to compete bareback.

“The Christmas Pudding Bareback Challenge” requires competitors, riding without a saddle, to bounce their way through one of the Interdressage walk and trot and starter tests.

Each competitor will receive a sponsorship form to raise money for The Blue Cross and the Animal Health Trust.

“We want to raise as much money as possible for these two very worthwhile charities,” Karina Hawkridge of Interdressage told H&H.

“We thought by making it a bareback class, we could encourage a bit more sponsorship!”

Karin continued: “We work closely with the Blue Cross – they feature in our monthly news letter, and have one complimentary entry to our competitions per month.

“but we are hoping to raise sufficient funds to make a contribution to both charities. At the moment we are averaging about 100 entries per month, and so we are hoping for a good turnout.”

With entries closing on 7 January, those brave enough to test their power to stay on top will have plenty of time to perfect their bareback balance — and raise some sponsorship — before recording their test.

For more information visit www.interdressage.com

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Ledbury hunt subscriber Peter Finch is planning to raise money by hunting bareback with the Gloucestershire pack this Friday (13 February).

Riding the ominously-named Bouncer, an Irish draught-thoroughbred, Peter is planning to stay out until second horses — and will be jumping whatever is in his path. All money raised will go towards the Ledbury.

“I ride bareback at home a lot, and when I broke Bouncer in I rode him without a saddle for the first 10 days,” says Peter.

“[Joint-master] David Redvers originally said he would sponsor me £5 per hedge, but he’s now retracted that to £25 in total — although his wife says that the first offer still stands. And Tom Leeke, whose land I have been practising over for the past couple of Sundays, is sponsoring me a pound a fence, or £50 minimum — which seems like a lot of fences!”

To support Peter’s fundraising effort, email ledburyhunt@yahoo.co.uk

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The popular annual Palio race in Siena is a bareback dash around the city’s main square

Steeped in Italian tradition the legendary Palio race took place around the city square in Siena, Tuscany, on Friday (16 August.)

The event takes place twice a year in July and August and its roots can be traced back to the 13th century. Held in honour of the Virgin Mary the event was originally intended to occupy the Italian men when they were not fighting in wars.

The no-holds-barred race attracts huge crowds who come to watch the fast and furious event in which 10 jockeys race each other bareback for three circuits around the city’s Piazza del Campo.

Months of preparation and four days of frantic activity precede the race which lasts approximately 90 seconds.

Participating horses are chosen by lots and prior to the race, successful entrants are taken into local churches to be blessed by priests.

There are no hard or fast rules other than the jockeys may not grab the reins of another horse. Kidnap, bribery and drugging is said to be commonplace and it is the first horse past the post with or without its rider who wins.

Although celebrated by many Italians, the race has attracted criticism from animal lovers who highlight statistics which show that since 1970, 43 horses have died taking part in this annual event.

However, in recent years, the race organisers have worked hard and conditions for the horses taking part have improved considerably. They now race on compacted yellow earth and straw rather than road, and there have been no recorded horse deaths for the past three years.

David Ward from the World Equine Organisation said: “This race lasts a very short time and is far less damaging to the hoses taking part than completing a days hunting or taking part in theGrand National.”

Manfredi Bargioni, a Palio enthusiast from Florence, believes that it is more than a race. “It is a celebration of our history, our culture and our competitive nature,” he said.

“What the observer might not understand is that the Senesi [residents of Siena] love the horses which run the Palio. They are well cared before and after their racing life in special yards devoted to the training and the well-being of the cavalli da Palio [Palio horses].

“Several measures introduced in the past have also significantly reduced the risks of the race which now are probably lower than those in a three-day event.”

Read more about racing in Italy:

• Drugged horses run for the mafia

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19 June 2002

The British Horse Society warns of the dangers of bareback riding following the death of a teenager

A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest of teenager Rachel Crossley, who died after falling from a horse she was riding bareback.

Despite wearing a hat, the 13-year-old from Pontefract,West Yorkshire, suffered serious head injuries when she fell onto concrete and died a few days later in Leeds General Infirmary in April 2000

Rachel had been riding for four years and was a regular client at an equestrian centre in Yorkshire.

Det Insp Colin Prime told the hearing that a 14-year-old girl had given permission for Rachel to ride the horse bareback.

According to witnesses, the horse bolted and Rachel struggled to control him, lost her balance and fell onto the concrete floor.

Members of staff rushed to help Rachel who was bleeding and experiencing breathing difficulties. She was taken to hospital in Pontefract before being transferred to Leeds.

Michael Tucker, chairman of the BHS Safety Committee, told the hearing that the centre had good facilities and was well maintained, but claimed that bareback riding did pose a “greater risk” and should only be allowed under close supervision.

Nichola Gregory , spokeswoman of the BHS said: “Bareback riding, especially for children is an excellent way of developing a strong independent seat but it needs to be executed in a secure and safe environment.“

West Yorkshire Police were involved after health and safety officers raised concerns over the possibility of negligence by the equestrian centre. A file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided there was not enough evidence to bring a charges of manslaughter.

Read more about riding accidents :

• Pony and owner killed in road accident
• Young rider killed in river accident
• Road accident claims another victim

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