If you are keen to follow the action at the Herning World Championships, but are wondering who the commentators are on the live stream, then you’ve come to the right place.

For those who can’t make it out to Denmark for the ECCO FEI World Championships in person, full coverage with English commentary is available on FEI.TV via ClipMyHorse.TV, although those hoping to follow via the BBC have been left disappointed.

Those watching the World Dressage Championships may recognise the voices accompanying the live stream – the dressage commentators are none other than dressage legend Carl Hester, alongside event rider and broadcast presenter Spencer Sturmey.

Spencer is an established and well-known equestrian commentator, who has been the voice of some of the world’s biggest shows. Carl needs no introduction for most of our audience, but his equestrian credentials include being a six-time Olympian and a member of the medal-winning British team at the Tokyo Olympics and European Championships in 2021. He is also co-owner of Imhotep, the World Dressage Championships ride of Charlotte Dujardin.

Spencer and Carl will be joined by various other guests throughout the competition in Herning.

Herning para dressage commentators

Top British rider and European medallist Erin Orford is also among the Herning World Championships commentators, taking over the hot seat for the para dressage competition, and she will also be joined by a number of guests over the course of the week.

Herning showjumping commentators

Meanwhile, the Herning World Championships commentators for showjumping are Phil Ghazala, Jessica Kuerten and Alice Watson. Phil is a regular FEI commentator at the world’s most prestigious events, and his voice will be recognisable to many. He is joined by British and Irish international showjumpers Alice and Jessica.

Commentary for the vaulting at the Herning World Championships will be provided by the hugely successful British vaulter Joanna Eccles, alongside guests.

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Anyone who would like to jump from a plane this summer — or sponsor others who do — could help bring home British medals and support equestrians in Ukraine.

The Horse Trials Support Group (HTSG) is organising a skydive on 26 June, in Wiltshire, to raise funds for the British team for the World Eventing Championships in September.

Eventer, commentator and HTSG committee member Spencer Sturmey told H&H the aim had been to do the jump to raise funds for the Tokyo Olympics, but Covid put paid to that plan. Given the situation created by the Russian invasion, the money will be split between the team and the Ukrainian equestrian federation.

Spencer said 10 jumpers have already confirmed, including British Equestrian eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood, and Gemma Tattersall’s mother Marcelle Tattersall, but he joked that trying to find other participants has been “like herding cats”.

Holly Farr of HPower, former Barbury International organiser, is signed up, and although eventer Tina Cook has had to pull out, her young daughter Isabel may step in.

“It’s open to everyone, and by doing it, you’ll support Equestrian Team GBR and Ukraine,” Spencer said.

“This could help win medals. The money the HTSG gives the team goes into the sport; we gave them about £20,000 for Tokyo and they brought back team gold and individual silver, and that’s what we’re trying to do for the World Championships too. We’re the reigning Olympic and European champions and we want to add the world title.”

The jump will be a tandem skydive, so strapped to a professional — “We could say a ‘hunky’ professional if that might attract more people,” Spencer joked — and anyone is welcome to apply.

“I did one in aid of Willberry Wonder Pony and was scared s**tless but I loved it, and if I can do it, anyone can,” Spencer said.

Former world champion eventer Ginny Elliott, who is also part of the HTSG, told H&H: “The more money we can raise, the more we can help Ukraine, as well as our riders.”

Ginny added that it may not be a good idea for her to do the jump herself, owing to the fact she badly broke a leg in a fall some years ago, but “I said I’d never run a marathon and I did, and that wasn’t fun!”

To apply, email spencer_sturmey@outlook.com or contact Spencer via social media.

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

The equestrian world is awash with charity pledges to raise money in memory of Hannah Francis, the young event rider who died of cancer on Monday (1 August). And a theme of riders saying farewell to their hair has started to emerge.

Zara Tindall will shave commentator Spencer Sturmey’s head at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (8-11 September) in aid of Wilberry Wonder Pony, the charity Hannah set up.

Spencer said: “Hannah was an inspiration to all of us in the way that she dealt with her illness and her determination to live her life to the full.

“Hannah loved her hair – Wilberry Wonder Pony was originally set up to raise money to buy her her first wig – and I love my hair, so it seemed an appropriate way to remember her and raise money.

“I hope that we can continue to build momentum behind Wilberry Wonder Pony, which funds bone cancer research and grants wishes to those with horsey dreams, and keep Hannah’s memory alive. Zara will shave my hair off live on TV during the Event Rider Masters final leg at Blenheim on Sunday 11 September.

“In less than 12hr we have raised nearly £700 and I hope we can raise a lot more in the month before Blenheim.”

Blenheim’s event director Mandy Hervieu said: “Zara and Spencer are terrific supporters of Blenheim and this is a fantastic idea to raise money for Wilberry Wonder Pony. Hannah’s story has deeply touched all of us and we already have several initiatives planned in her memory, which we are finalising – this is a great addition.”

Spencer added that a group of event riders will undertake a charity skydive in Hannah’s memory at the end of the season.

“More details will be announced soon, but rather a lot of people are at some ‘gymkhana’ in Rio at the moment so we’ll wait until they get back,” he said.

To donate to Spencer’s cause, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/spencer-sturmey.

Dressage rider Katie Johnston’s daughter, Jessica, is to cut off her very long hair and donate it to the Little Prince’s Trust, who make wigs out of donated hair for young people who have lost their hair through chemotherapy. She is also raising funds to donate to Wilberry Wonder Pony at the same time.

To donate click here

Related articles:

• ‘An inspiration to us all’: flood of tributes for event rider Hannah Francis
• Hannah Francis award to go to inspirational young eventer
• Willberry Wonder Pony becomes official charity

And hunt supporter Yvonne Heath will have her head shaved by Emma Goffe, wife of Warwickshire huntsman Will Goffe, at the Warwickshire Hunt open day on 7 August to raise money for Wilberry Wonder Pony as well.

“I saw Hannah’s story on Facebook and followed her progress,” said Yvonne. “It’s such a brilliant cause and really struck a chord with me – I’ve lost friends and family members to cancer, and my son Joshua is the same age as Hannah was.

“I’m not so worried about being bald, but all my life I have hidden my ears – I’m quite self-conscious about them – so exposing them is quite a big deal for me! I’ve raised more than £500 so far and really hope to make it £1,000 by next Sunday.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/yvonne-heath to donate.

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Eventers are calling for new dressage tests to be introduced at 3- and 4-star level. Some riders and judges have complained about their fluidity and technicality.

The international tests have stayed the same since 2009 — apart from minor changes to 2- and 3-star tests that are being implemented in July — meaning that many top horses have only ever ridden this set of tests.

The FEI told H&H that its eventing committee would discuss the issue at its next meeting, for which a date has not yet been set, but that any new test would not be introduced until 2016 at the earliest.

International dressage judge Isobel Wessels, who works with the New Zealand eventing team, said that some of the tests are “really negative”.

“The degree of difficulty is not constructive and just makes for a rather awkward test,” Isobel told H&H.

“Some of the movements stop even the best horses’ natural paces coming through. The quality of horses and their ability to move is getting higher and higher, but you need tests that allow riders to show this off.

“I would try to have more fl owing movements and allow the more diffi cult movements to take place with support from the wall.”

Sir Mark Todd raised the topic in his first column for H&H a fortnight ago (13 March).

“I dislike the four-star test with endless counter-canter loops and I hate the flying changes off counter-canter on a circle,” Mark said. “It’s very hard for an event horse to be balanced enough to do that well, and it certainly isn’t required at the same level in pure dressage.”

Mark would like to see the introduction of tempi-changes at 4-star level — something that not all event riders agree with.

“Unless you need to be doing tempi-changes down to The Lake at Badminton I don’t think they should be included in the test,” said 4-star rider Spencer Sturmey, who has worked for Carl Hester.

“Tests need to go back to concentrating on the basics. Event horses have to be galloping fit and therefore have different muscle groups to pure dressage horses. We should be able to show judges truly correct work without upping the technical level.

“Eventing dressage doesn’t require trick movements and horses’ muscles shouldn’t be compromised for this over balance and paces.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (27 March, 2014)

Gloucestershire-based event and dressage rider Spencer Sturmey has been discharged after spending six days in hospital following an accident.

Spencer, 36, broke two vertebrae falling from the top of the haystack at his yard on New Year’s Day. After going to Warwick A&E on 2 January as he was losing feeling in his left side, he was transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

“Having seen the spinal and neuro team, I was discharged on Saturday [7 January],” said Spencer. “I’m in a full body and neck brace, but the sensation in my left side is ever improving and the prognosis is good. In two weeks’ time I’ll return for more scans.

“Nothing will slow me down and I will start giving dressage and jumping clinics at Crown Farm [Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxon] towards the end of January.”

Spencer joked that Paul and Karen Beasley, who own his two-star horse Up 2 You, have suggested he wears his air jacket around the yard from now on.

“I have to thank everyone who has helped me, sent messages and phone calls – you’ve been amazing,” said Spencer.

“Sean White, who is a friend, was my nurse at Warwick – he was very supportive and kept me informed. Ros and John Hayward have kept the yard running while I’m out of action and I’d also like to thank Teresa Stopford Sackville, who owns the yard, for her support.”

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Gloucestershire-based event and dressage rider Spencer Sturmey is in the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford after an accident on New Year’s Day.

“I was in the haybarn and lost my footing from the top of the stack,” explained Spencer. “I eventually landed on my feet after a scrappy descent, but I got up and dusted myself down.

“I had quite severe pins and needles down my left side throughout the night. First thing in the morning, I mucked out three horses, then drove a friend back to Leamington Spa. The pain got worse as I was driving there and I was losing feeling in my left side, so after dropping my friend off I took myself to Warwick A&E. I don’t know how I got there.

“I was taken through quite quickly for assessment and following X-rays and a CT scan they found I had two vertebrae fractures, C7 [the bottom cervical (neck) vertebra] and T1 [the top thoracic vertebra – the thoracic vertebrae carry the ribs].

“I was then ‘blue lighted’ to the John Radcliffe hospital to have an MRI scan. Most of the feeling has returned to my left side now and I’m continuing with physio while I’m here.”

Spencer, 36, has a history of spinal injuries – he broke his neck in 1991 after a cross-country schooling fall and spent over five months in halo traction and also had five months in plaster after a non-equestrian accident in 2009.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be hospitalised or when I’ll be back in the saddle, but I am determined to be back and ready for the start of the 2012 season,” he said.

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