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‘Talented but sharp’ youngster leads, but frustration for top rider in first Badminton dressage session

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 10:28:15 +0000

Tom Jackson leads at the close of the first session of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage this morning (7 May).

Tom piloted Michael Stenning’s 10-year-old United 36 to a score of 31.8. They put in a workmanlike test with the scores only marred by some greenness in the flying changes.

“He’s probably one of the most talented horses I’ve sat on in terms of his athleticism and his ability, but his brain is quite difficult,” said Tom Jackson after his Badminton dressage.

“He can be quite sharp and quite spooky and just as you think you’re getting somewhere, suddenly you’re halfway across the school, facing the other direction. I was really pleased with how he coped in there, because it’s a lot for any horse, especially one that’s not the most experience.”

Tom has ridden recent Thoresby winner United 36 since the end of his eight-year-old year and this is the horse’s first five-star.

Badminton final scores

Gemma Stevens sits second on a score of 34 after a frustrating experience with Christopher and Lisa Stone’s Chilli Knight.

The 16-year-old, who won Bicton Horse Trials five-star in 2021, is not naturally gifted in this phase, and today he also rested a hindleg in the mid-test halt and threw in a change in the medium canter.

“That was absolutely rubbish,” said Gemma. “He’s actually probably trotting the best he’s ever trotted – well, shuffled the best he’s ever shuffled.

“It was all going to plan until the halt. I must have done 150 halts in the last two weeks, every one’s been bang on, then he goes in the ring and thinks, ‘Oh, I’ll just have a little rest.’ Cheeky little monkey.

“And then the same in the canter – if I’ve gone across that diagonal 100 times, I’ve gone across there 150 times and not once has he gone to do a change and then he goes in the ring and does it. It surprised the hell out of me – I was like, ‘What are you doing?’

“I’m really frustrated but at the end of the day, they’re horses, not machines and he certainly does have his own mind. He probably thinks he can do all this without me, I’m just an irritation on top trying to tell him what to do.

“He is feeling blooming well and on Saturday it’s just going to be a case of keeping that under wraps and keeping him under control.”

Tom’s lead is likely to be short-lived, with strong tests expected from Bubby Upton on Cola and Sarah Bullimore with Corimiro in the next session.

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‘He’s a learner with real presence’: smart five-star first-timer takes Kentucky dressage lead

Pippa Roome — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:32:54 +0000

Will Coleman has taken top spot after the first day of Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage, riding Diabolo.

The home side rider scored 27.3 with the syndicate-owned 14-year-old, who won the CCI4*-S here in 2024 and is tackling his first five-star. Will had a two-point deduction on his score for halting in the wrong place at the end of his test.

“Diabolo is a learner – he really likes to be taught things and has a real conscience about everything that he does,” said Will, who acquired the horse in 2023 from the Tinney family in Australia.

“He really wants to be a good boy, but there’s a little bit of anxiety because of that. So it’s really teaching him to have confidence in himself and have confidence in what we’re asking him to do. I think now he’s starting to get that and he has a real presence about him, an energy that I think is pretty cool.”

Will Coleman admitted after his Kentucky Three-Day Event dressage test that the horse became a little excited and he didn’t feel he was totally with him in his final warm-up, but said he focused in the arena.

He said: “He did his job as best he could. There’s little things I’d love to clean up, but I can’t be anything but proud of him. I just really, really adore this horse.”

Phillip Dutton sits second on 28.1 with the syndicate-owned Possante, whose test was marred only by a spook early on. The 13-year-old was previously called Imposant and produced by Emily King.

“We struggled a little bit when I first got him,” Phillip admitted. “I’ve had him for quite a few years now and it’s starting to come together.

“He’s a kind horse, he wants to do the right thing and he’s not trying to get out of things. It’s just that he’s a bit bigger and it’s taken a while to get him quicker footed and secure in what he does.”

US Olympian Phillip added that Possante is very horse shy, saying: “I’ve now figured out it’s just a case of trying to keep him on his own and not letting him get wound up with the other horses coming at him.

“They’ve all got their quirks and, especially once you get to this level, you’ve got to try to work around those to get the best out of them.”

New Zealand’s Tim Price holds third, having punched in the first sub-30 dressage test today on Lance and Diana Morrish’s Global Quest, a horse he said he rides in honour of his former rider, the late Georgie Campbell.

“He’s not God’s gift to dressage – he’s quite a big horse and he finds it all quite difficult, but he was relaxed and giving as much of himself as he could,” said Tim.

“The naturally big, flamboyant horses can be on mud, they can be on grass, but ones that are really working at their maximum in terms of the movements and pushing through their bodies in the right way [really benefit from the fact] we’ve got such consistent surfaces all the way through to the main ring here.”

Tim added that the break the horses have with the journey and quarantine – they left the UK last Wednesday, arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday evening and do gentle work to ease back in on Sunday and Monday – also freshens the horses’ bodies up, “especially for a horse like him because physically he has to work really hard”.

Two Brits in top six

Harry Meade sits fourth with Superstition, while fellow Brit David Doel is in sixth on 30.8 with Galileo Nieuwmoed, owned by his rider, Mary Fox and Gillian Jonas.

“I’m absolutely stoked,” said David. “We just had one small blip going up the centreline towards the end when he put in some lovely tempi changes, which was costly, but the rest was one of his nicest tests.

“We’ve not probably worked him quite as hard as sometimes – we’ve done a little bit more jumping, a bit more canter work, especially this week.

“We came here three years ago and I think I tightened up when I went in there for the dressage and and he tightened up as well. We really made sure that we stayed nice and loose and relaxed.

“I’ve got Nick Turner out here, my trainer, and had a little bit of help from British performance manager Dickie Waygood as well and that worked really well today.”

The third British horse to perform today, Ruth McMullen and Mary Harris’s Plot Twist B, shares the bottom of the leaderboard with New Zealand’s Sophia Hill and Humble Glory on a score of 37.1, but rider Tom Jackson said he was pleased with how this tense horse coped.

“He’s an incredibly spooky, nervy horse, so for him in there is utterly terrifying. So for him to stay as with me as he did, even with a couple of spooks, was generally quite pleasing,” said Tom.

“We’ve just tried to acclimatise him to this whole area as much as possible in a really chilled out way over the past few days and I think on the whole, it’s worked.

“There’s still room for lots of improvements. He’s only 11 and hopefully we can keep building on that and get him more confident in those environments, because he’s more than capable.”

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Four British riders among ‘one of the highest-rated’ Kentucky five-star fields ‘on record’

Lucy Elder — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:23:15 +0000

World number one Harry Meade heads the British entries for the 2026 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (23 to 26 April).

Four British riders are among the 37 entries for the sole US CCI5* this spring.

Harry has four horses entered, including Et Hop Du Matz and Grafennacht, with whom he finished third and fourth respectively at Kentucky last year. He also has Superstition and Cavalier Crystal on the list for Kentucky at this stage.

All four of Harry’s possible rides are also entered at Badminton, and will not run at both, but holding entries at both spring five-stars keeps his options open at this stage.

Joining Harry in the British camp are Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality, who were fifth at Kentucky last year, 2025 Pau runners-up Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B, and David Doel with his great five-star campaigner Galileo Nieumoed. David and Galileo Nieumoed are also entered at Badminton.

New Zealand’s Tim Price is among the other key contenders set to cross the pond next month. He is entered with Global Quest and five-star stalwart Vitali. Ireland has three entered: five-star winners Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue, Padraig McCarthy and Pomp N Circumstance, and Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting Spirit. Both Austin and Joseph are also entered for Badminton with their potential Kentucky campaigners.

World number two Boyd Martin leads the charge for the home side. Boyd’s Kentucky entries are his 2025 Kentucky runner-up Commando 3, as well as Miks Master C, who finished third in 2023 with Liz Halliday, and Cooley Nutcracker, whom Liz rode at Paris 2024 and who has twice finished in the top 10 at five-star.

“With so many world-class combinations entered in this year’s event, Kentucky will celebrate one of its highest-rated fields on record,” said a Defender Kentucky spokesperson.

“There are four CCI5*-winning riders in the line-up: Boyd Martin, Tom McEwen, Austin O’Connor and Tim Price, who will be looking for his seventh victory at this level. Price also has the highest-rated horse, Vitali, on the entry list, with both Vitali and Colorado Blue ranked among the world’s top 10 eventing horses.”

For the full 2026 Defender Kentucky entries list, visit: https://www.kentuckythreedayevent.com/5-entries-and-ride-times

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‘A joy to ride such a talented animal’: Tim Price lands Pau five-star on outstanding Jarillo, after topsy-turvy showjumping phase; and a Brit is runner-up

Martha Terry — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:09:29 +0000

Tim Price emerged the winner of Pau Horse Trials 2025, with outstanding performances in all three phases on Jarillo. Fourth after dressage, the New Zealander moved up to second ahead of showjumping with a fast cross-country clear. His showjumping clear inside the time put pressure on the leaders Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro, who rolled a pole four fences from the finish.

One rail dropped Sarah to fifth, while clears from Tom Jackson (Plot Twist B) and Boyd Martin (Cooley Nutcracker) moved them up to the podium, in second and third respectively.

“Jarillo’s always been classy, but he’s sensitive and bringing out the best in him is what I’ve always wanted to do,” said Tim, logging his sixth victory at this level. “He’s just shown his class and more. It’s all about confidence with him. Horses like him look easy, and good, but if you give them a wrong distance, they don’t like it. He is a great horse and I’m just lucky to ride him, to have the joy of sitting there, just keeping my leg on and my heels down!”

This flashy 11-year-old, owned by Lucy Allison, Frances Stead and James and Rachel Good, really came of age at this his third five-star, and is one to watch ahead of the World Championships next year.

Plot Twist B – owned by Mary Harris and Ruth McMullen – moved stealthily through the field after lying 31st after dressage. One of the six clears inside the time on cross-country day, he finished on his dressage of 33.2 – the only horse to post a clean sheet.

“He isn’t the easiest on the flat, but he is a very good jumper and has produced what we knew he was capable of,” said Tom. “He is a big worrier, but sometimes it suits him jumping on the last day because he’s a bit more level-headed.

“I’ve really had to get inside his head to be able to ride him, but he’s still improving.”

Runners-up Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Boyd Martin was impressed with Cooley Nutcracker’s all-round performance, moving up from 10th to third on the final day. This is the pair’s first five-star together after Boyd took over the ride from Liz Halliday while she is injured.

“He is magnificent,” said the American, paying tribute to Liz’s production of Nutcracker, her 2024 Olympic ride. “I came to this weekend not knowing what to expect and was blown away by him in all three phases. He just catapulted himself into the air and flew around the course today.

“He’s unbelievable and I’m just thrilled for all of Liz’s connections. Liz was on the phone just now cheering him on – it was very emotional.”

Pau Horse Trials winner: Jarillo’s route to the trophy

The showjumping was always going to be a nail-biter – whether Yann Royant’s track was influential or not, as just one rail covered the top nine. Sarah Bullimore’s scintillating cross-country round with Corimiro had propelled her up from 11th to the top spot overnight.

“It was a tough, challenging course with a tight time, and the stage was set for good jumpers, but also good riders in the heat of the moment,” Tim said. “It’s always big here, but it was particularly big and long. The oxer at 13 was probably as big as we event riders see. But my horse is just such a talented animal.”

Although Bubby Upton’s ride Cannavaro, the second-placed horse after cross-country, was withdrawn from the hold box at the final horse inspection, Sarah still had little breathing space. The brilliant jumper Jarillo was within 0.9 of a penalty, and the two Frenchmen Benjamin Massie (Filao De Perle) and Astier Nicolas (Dirty Old Town) were lurking just 1.2 marks away.

But clear rounds were hard to come by. There were only six inside the time from 39 competitors.

Tim’s day started ominously when his first ride Global Quest, in 20th place but jumping first due to Tim having to fit in three rounds, broke a pole at fence two and later stopped – although he went on to complete. But Jarillo has only had two rails down cumulatively in his entire international career, and he never looked liked faulting.

“Global Quest’s round did rattle me,” admitted Tim, who also finished fourth with Happy Boy, another double clear. “I was actually damaged goods out there and didn’t get going well in the warm-up with Happy, but I’ve known him since he was four, and when I galloped down to number one, everything just felt right again.”

The French riders both entered the arena to slow hand-clapping from an adoring home crowd, but couldn’t give their fans the result they wanted. They lowered a pole apiece, which relegated Benjamin to seventh and Astier to eighth.

Chief beneficiary of was Alex Hua Tian, who produced a delightful clear round in the time on the ultimate trier Chicko for sixth.

“He’s so unassuming, like a posh hunter – always chirpy and happy,” said Alex. “I thought last year’s showjumping was big, this felt like it was a hole bigger.”

Last to go, Corimiro was foot-perfect until just tapping the upright at fence nine.

“He’s still awesome and he’s only nine and he’ll put himself in that position again,” said Sarah. “I probably needed to sit up a stride or two earlier and say whoa, but he said, ‘no Mum, I can do it’.”

Pau Horse Trials winner and top 10

Tim Price and Jarillo: 30
Tom Jackson and Plot Twist B: 33.2
Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker: 33.9
Tim Price and Happy Boy: 34.3
Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro: 34.4
Alex Hua Tian and Chicko: 34.5
Benjamin Massie and Filao De Perle: 35.2
Astier Nicolas and Dirty Old Town: 35.2
David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed: 37.2
Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo: 39.2
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‘Burghley is always the monster in this sport’ – riders react to new-look cross-country course

Pippa Roome — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 16:44:13 +0000

Irish rider Sam Watson described Burghley as “the monster in this sport” today (4 September), as riders reacted to the new-look Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course, which will be tackled on Saturday.

Designer Derek di Grazia has reversed the route around the track this year. The last time the course was ridden this way was in 2017 and it means a particularly intense early climb from the Boodles water fences at six and seven up to the Irish Horse Board Cottesmore Leap at 11.

“It’s massive and a serious track from the beginning to the end,” said Sam’s compatriot Austin, who has two rides here this week and is among the favourites to win with 2023 Maryland 5 Star winner Colorado Blue.

“It’s a long pull up to the Cottesmore Leap and you’ve got to be sensible and conserve as much energy as you possibly can. Then you run to the Maltings area and there’s a lot of big jumping there, so you’ve got to keep petrol in the tank.”

Irish 2018 world team silver medallist Sam Watson, co-founder of equestrian data analytics company EquiRatings, predicted that less than half the field will jump clear and there will be one inside the time.

“It’s technical and difficult in places like you might get on a very tough championship course,” he said. “Burghley is always the monster in this sport because of the terrain and then there are road crossings at Capability’s Cutting, the Leaf Pit is slow, and he’s made us really slow at the Trout Hatchery this year.

“The best we’ve seen in the sport over the past decade are here and I think it’s probably going to be their biggest test, aside from a wet Badminton or something like that.”

“Like riding at a fresh venue”

“A lot of big jumping” – Joules at the Maltings, fences 17 and 18. (Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Tom Jackson, who will pilot Hawk Eye round, said: “I think it’s very different and interesting going the other way around. I think the time is going to be really influential. I just can’t see anywhere, really, where we can get up on it or to it.”

Austin and Harry Meade are among those who have ridden the track this way round, although Harry pointed out that the addition of the “flyover” – where the track in one direction goes across a bridge over the other lane – since the last running this way round means the layout is actually slightly different.

“There’s lots to do and it’s really interesting going this way around. It’s not just a fresh set of questions, it’s almost like riding at a fresh venue,” said Harry, who has three rides this week.

Alex Bragg, who sits second after the first day of dressage on Ardeo Premier, added: “It’s just so different from last year. You can’t believe it’s the same designer, but maybe that’s a sign of a good designer – the fact that you never know quite what you’re preparing for and so you have to prepare for everything.”

Experienced Irish rider Joseph Murphy commented: “Nobody really knows how this course is going to ride this weekend. The first four minutes is a lot of uphill, and then if horses catch their breath, you can then gallop home – but how far you’re going to be behind the clock is anybody’s guess at the moment, so it’s going to be a tactical ride.

“Burghley is a bigger course than you ever see anywhere else and that means you have to ride forward and be brave and use your horse’s scope and stride. The distance are built beautifully for that.

“I don’t think it’s easy, but I have a good feeling about how it’s designed and laid out. I like it, so fingers crossed.”

Sam said the corner at Defender Dairy Mound (fence 9b) is “the blindest corner I’ve ever seen in the sport”.

“I think that’s a really tricky fence and I think anyone can be vulnerable there,” said Sam.

Sam also picked out the Trout Hatchery (fence 21abcd and 22) as a tough complex, because of the turning back.

He said: “It feels like a long route and a lot of the reason we don’t take long routes is because while the fences are easier, the twisting and turning is really hard, particularly at that late stage of the course. That’s often why we will actually go the straight route – the long route looks easier to jump, but it’s harder to ride. So here at the Trout Hatchery, we’ve got the difficulty to ride of a long route [in terms of turn backs], with the difficult fences of a straight route.”

The Trout Hatchery involves tiring turnbacks on the direct route. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom Jackson added that the accuracy questions have a “different style” to last year.

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.

‘Mr Consistent’ delivers, bonanza birthday celebrations – and a lost stirrup scuppers one rider’s chances at Burghley

Martha Terry — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 11:36:58 +0000

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country is proving every bit as tough as expected, with several high-profile retirements among the early runners. But Tom Jackson posted an eye-catching clear with Capels Hollow Drift to top the leaderboard at this stage, adding just 5.6 time-faults in a copybook round. Tom was lying 13th after dressage on 28.6, and is bound to move up considerably with this fast time.

Tom’s grey is tackling his fifth CCI5*, and lived up to his reputation as “Mr Consistent”.

“He delivers every single time – whatever you ask,” said Tom. “It’s one of the best rides I’ve had on him – he was really travelling for me. These courses always feel tough when you’re doing them, but the terrain here adds a whole new level. I’m so happy with the way he picked up and finished so strongly.

“It can feel like you’re just going through the motions with him, because he is such a special horse. He has not enjoyed heavy ground, but he likes it a bit quicker.”

The 13-year-old finished noticeably full of running here at Burghley, having tired a little over the last few fences at Badminton in the spring. He was immaculate over all the tricky combinations, with Tom just kicking out a couple of flags at the Trout Hatchery corner and the second Fairfax & Favor triple bar with his own leg.

First-timer success over Burghley Horse Trials cross-country

Several first-timers put in decent rounds, including birthday girl Bella Innes Ker, who turns 30 today. She steered another bold-jumping grey, Highway II, to a clear round. They did clock 25.6 time-faults, adding a couple of long routes to their journey round the Lincolnshire turf, but produced a very pleasing picture.

“I’ve always said he is my horse of a lifetime, the best cross-country horse I’ve ever had,” said Bella. “To finally feel like I might have done him justice today is a good feeling and incredible the way he galloped home.

“He’s always had a huge gallop, and it’s actually been a downfall to try to contain it. Everyone says to give them a breather on Winners’ Avenue, but I thought, ‘no, I’ve still got a lot of horse’.”

From a newcomer to one of the most experienced riders in the field, Dan Jocelyn completed on Blackthorn Cruise despite two run-outs – at the brush at Joules at the Maltings and the Dairy Mound house.

Meanwhile it was a hard luck story for France’s first competitor, Luc Chateau riding Viens du Mont. They set out well, but the 15-year-old gelding over jumped the rail into the Defender Valley at fence 5abc, and the horse veered sharply away from the ditch. This caused Luc’s stirrup to detach from the saddle, and with it being impossible to reattach, Luc retired.

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‘You always want a bit more’: British team horse makes a bold bid for best five-star result at Burghley

Martha Terry — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:12:24 +0000

With Ros Canter having set an impressive target of 19.9 as the second rider into the arena in the Defender Burghley Horse Trials dressage phase, the scores from the mid-morning segment couldn’t come close to that. Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick remain second at this early stage of the competition on 28.3.

But Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift, who were second here in 2022, put in a bold bid as one of the favourites for a top placing. They put in their usual consistent peformance in the first phase, but with Ros having scored such a stratospheric score, they are inevitably left with ground to make up some nine marks adrift.

This pair have three top-five finishes at CCI5* already, and for large parts of their test, it looked like they were propelling themselves right into the reckoning. While not as flamboyant as the leader, Capels Hollow Drift is wonderfully steady and accurate. However, their changes pulled their marks down – while they were trending on 23, the grey rather launched into the changes which upset what was overall a beautifully rhythmic test to finish on 28.6 to sit third at this stage.

“I’m happy enough with that,” said Tom. “He’s done four five-stars and has scored three 28s so its seems like we aren’t improving but there was a lot to like, you just always want a bit more. I’m glad to be in the mix, and hope we can finish close enough to that and be thereabouts on Sunday.

“He’s such a consistent performer – all the way through his career, that’s been one of his strongest qualities,” Tom added of the 13-year-old gelding, who is owned by Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb.

Two debutantes off the mark in the Burghley Horse Trials dressage

Nicole Mills lives just three miles away, as the crow flies, from Burghley, and is making her CCI5* debut at her local event this week. She scored 32.6 on her Arko gelding Fearless W with a calm and accurate test, and admitted the emotions nearly got to her as she realised the enormity of her achievement.

“I’ve been eventing for 24 years and it’s taken all this time – I take my hat off to these guys who get horses here year in, year out,” said Nicole, 41. “I went up the centre line and thought, ‘don’t cry, don’t cry’.

“Fearless does do his changes beautifully and I messed one up which is annoying. He’s a good boy because he loves an atmosphere and as I’m local there were so many people clapping, so I was thinking, ‘don’t do it until he’s finished’.”

Another Burghley debutante Bella Innes Ker already has two CCI5*s under her belt with Highway II, but this is her first British event at the highest level. Their mark of 38.6 was a bit below their best, with the changes being a little troublesome, but Bella is looking onwards and upwards.

“There are areas I wish I could have improved on, his changes are not established yet so I knew I would lose marks there, but I am delighted to have finished it,” said Bella, who turns 30 on Saturday. “I’m excited to give the cross-country a crack. Entering a British five-star is a feeling I’ve always dreamt of. It’s quite overwhelming but I’m going to enjoy the process and have fun – easier said than done!”

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Brit retains Bramham four-star long lead after great save across country: ‘I thought I was coming off twice’

Pippa Roome — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:23:32 +0000

Dressage leader Tom Jackson retains top spot after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials cross-country for the CCI4*-L class.

The Brit piloted SHE Eventing AB’s Ask For Manchier round inside the 10min 19sec optimum time over Ian Stark’s course to stay on his first-phase score of 28.8. The pair survived a hairy ride through the Suregrow waters at fence 11a and 12ab – when the flea-bitten grey hit the rail in at fence 11a and then added a stride to the final hedge oxer at 12b – in an otherwise secure round.

Tom said: “He was a really good boy – like I said yesterday, both my horses have come here really lacking on preparation and runs. He showed a little bit of greenness early on, but managed to survive and carried on and finished really well. He was super fast as well – it actually felt like he could have been quite a lot quicker without even trying so I’m really pleased with him.”

Explaining what happened at the Suregrow waters, Tom continued: “He just went quite green and left a leg going in and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going, I’m gone, I’m really gone.’ Then by the time I managed to get back in the plate and look up, we were sort of already on the way to the next one and I thought, ‘Well, carry on kicking and see what happens.’

“We managed to get over the next two, just about, and I then thought I was coming off the other way, but luckily he caught me and carried on. I genuinely thought I was coming off both times, so I don’t know how we managed to stay together, but we did. Luckily then after that, it was fairly uneventful.”

Tom Jackson performs a great save to stay on Ask For Manchier at Bramham 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Tom Jackson said showjumping hasn’t always been Ask For Manchier’s strongest phase: “He hasn’t actually done a long format for a few years now. So I’m hoping he might be a better jumper on the last day than he is at the one days because sometimes he gets a bit fresh and excited and that can hamper him. But time will tell.”

Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner, owned by Dinah and Stephen Posford and Jules Carter, also came home fault-free to rise from third after dressage to second overnight.

Max Warburton too moved up one spot, from fourth to third on The Paske Syndicate’s Deerpairc Revelry. Max was one of a number of riders who took the supposedly slower route at the Defender combination at the Roundhouse – taking a corner instead of the owl hole as the second element, but this was a more flowing line so did not actually waste much time. He came home inside the time.

Ros Canter incurred two time-faults on MHS Seventeen, owned by Lady Milnes Coates and Deirdre Johnston, which dropped her from second after the first phase to fourth.

There were 20 jumping clears from 31 starters in this class, with problems well spread round the course. The highest-place horse after dressage to incur jumping faults was Oliver Townend’s first ride Crazy Du Loir, who broke a frangible at the Rail, Ditch, Rail at fence 9abc and dropped from seventh after dressage to 16th.

Six horses made the time over the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course in this Defender CCI4*-L – Ask For Manchier (Tom Jackson, first overnight), Annaghmore Valoner (Harry Meade, second overnight), Deerpairc Revelry (Max Warburton, third overnight), Cooley Snapchat (Selina Milnes, fifth overnight), Et Hop Du Matz (Harry Meade, sixth overnight) and Friendship VDL (Aaron Millar, seventh overnight).

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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.

British rider leads Bramham four-star long dressage despite injury setback in build-up

Pippa Roome — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:18:59 +0000

Tom Jackson leads after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage in the CCI4*-L, despite an interrupted preparation for his ride Ask For Manchier.

The British rider mentioned events being cancelled due to the weather and also revealed he broke his leg in a fall from a young horse six weeks before Badminton Horse Trials, where he finished fifth on Capels Hollow Drift.

Tom paid tribute to World Class athlete health lead Ash Wallace and her team for helping him get back to fitness.

“They were phenomenal at being able to manage me so that I could do a few events with fewer horses and build me back up so I was fully fit for Badminton and I haven’t looked back since,” he said.

The 12-year-old Ask For Manchier, an attractive flea-bitten grey, belongs to SHE Eventing AB and his Swedish owner found him competing with an amateur rider in Sweden.

“We’ve had him from his six- or seven-year-old year, after he’d done the equivalent of a few pre-novices, and he’s been a really good, consistent horse for us all the way through,” said Tom, who won South of England CCI3*-S on him last year. “It’s his first time at this level so hopefully he’s got enough mileage under his belt to tackle Ian Stark’s course tomorrow.”

Tom Jackson scored 28.8 today in the Bramham Horse Trials dressage to sit 1.1 penalties ahead of last night’s leaders Ros Canter and MHS Seventeen.

“I was really pleased with all his trot work and then in the canter he just started to get a little bit behind me, so we missed the last change, which is frustrating because his changes are normally bang on. So we left a few marks in there, but he’s in first so we’ll take that,” said Tom.

Harry Meade now holds third in this Defender-sponsored class after scoring 31.3 with Annaghmore Valoner, owned by Dinah and Stephen Posford and Jules Carter. This 12-year-old mare was third at Blenheim Horse Trials last year at this level.

“I totally love this horse, I feel like a 10-year-old girl who’s in love with her pony,” said Harry, who took over the ride from Sam Griffiths three years ago.

“She is just the apple of my eye. I think she’s got lots of talent but she’s just a good person. She’s really game, very sensitive and she’s hot but she’s a trier –there’s no malice in her. I’m thrilled with her.”

Max Warburton holds fourth on The Paske Syndicate’s 10-year-old Deerpairc Revelry.

“He’s still quite a young horse, but he’s really improved over the winter and he’s strengthening all the time. I’m chuffed to bits with that,” said Max.

Two riders bidding for a senior championship debut among British eventing Olympic entries

Pippa Roome — Mon, 20 May 2024 11:05:30 +0000

The British eventing Olympic entries have been revealed. These are the 12 horse and rider combinations who will be submitted as the nominated entries for the Paris 2024 Games. The final team of three and one alternate will be chosen from this list.

The closing date for the nominated entries is Tuesday 25 June and the list may be amended before this; selection decisions are subject to pairs maintaining fitness and performance. The final squad will be announced in late June.

Nine riders have been named on the list, with Ros Canter, Yasmin Inham and Oliver Townend each appearing with two horses. Two of Britain’s horses from the gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Olympics (London 52 and Ballaghmor Class) could make an appearance in Paris, with the same riders in Laura Collett and Oliver. Tom McEwen, who rode Toledo De Kerser on that team, and Ros Canter, who was the alternate with Allstar B, are both listed this time with different horses.

Aside from Tom, Laura and Oliver, the other rider on the list who is already an Olympian is Kitty King, so five riders (Ros, Yasmin Ingham, Emily King, Tom Jackson and Bubby Upton) are bidding to make their Olympic debut. Emily and Bubby would both be making their senior championship debut should they get the final call-up for the Games.

British eventing Olympic entries

Ros Canter with 11-year-old Izilot DHIOwner: Alex Moody and riderBreeding: by Zavala VDL out of a mare by Cavalier

Ros Canter with 12-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo

Owners: Michele and Archie Saul

Breeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College (GBR)

Breeding: by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King

Laura Collett with 14-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Yasmin Ingham with 13-year-old Banzai Du Loir

Owners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund

Breeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)

Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay out of a mare by Livarot

Yasmin Ingham with 14-year-old Rehy DJOwners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies FundBreeder: Noel Russell (IRL)Breeding: By Tinarina’s Inspector, out of a mare by Big Sink Hope

Emily King with 14-year-old Valmy BiatsOwners: Phillipe Brivois, rider’s father David King and the Valmy Biats SyndicateBreeder: Phillipe Brivois (FRA)Breeding: by Orlando out of a mare by Aurelie Du Prieure

Kitty King with 15-year-old Vendredi Biats

Owners: Diana Bown, John Eyre, Sally Lloyd Baker and Samantha Wilson

Breeder: Phillipe Brivois (FRA)

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

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

Tom McEwen with 13-year-old JL Dublin

Owners: Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston

Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze (GER)

Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Oliver Townend with 17-year-old Ballaghmor ClassOwners: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val RyanBreeder: Noel Nickey (ILR)Breeding: by Courage II

Oliver Townend with 10-year-old Cooley RosalentOwners: Paul and Diana RidgeonBreeder: JW Rosbotham (IRL)Breeding: by Valent, out of a mare by Roselier

Bubby Upton with 14-year-old Cola Owner: rider’s mother RachelBreeder: Peter Boege (GER)Breeding: by Catoki, out of a mare by Contender

The names of the grooms have not been confirmed. H&H will include these with the final squad announcement or when they become available.

Nominated entries for Britain’s jumping and dressage combinations for Paris 2024 will be announced over the following weeks. The para dressage nominated entries for the Paralympic Games will be published in June.

‘He’s too naive to keep trucking on’: Pippa Funnell demonstrates her cross-country brilliance at Badminton

Martha Terry — Sat, 11 May 2024 16:32:31 +0000

Not a single rider finished inside the time over the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which made for a dramatic conclusion as any horses jumping fast and clear could make huge climbs up the leaderboard.

The final rider of the day, Pippa Funnell, might not quite have been able to wrestle the lead from Tim Price and Vitali on 31.7, but she would be pressing on his heels with a fast clear round. She was lying in the top 12 after dressage on 31.9 with MCS Maverick. Pippa gave this Badminton debutant a masterful ride, and although they weren’t ultimately fast enough to trouble the top few, they slotted into ninth with 13.2 time-faults.

Pippa explained that although this 11-year-old has plenty of speed, he is still a “work in progress”.

“I know I’m going to get back to the lorry and think ‘why didn’t I use his speed more?’ but it’s his first time here and I had to be escorted by two hunt horses to the field of play,” she explained.

Badminton final scores

“I have to channel his talent so I can warm him up in the right way – my warm-up here was over the first five fences getting the rideability before Huntsman’s Close. I was actually down on the clock at two minutes because he was just running fresh. So I had to try and anchor him.

“He’s a big galloping scopey horse and he’s just not ready. He’s too naive yet just to let him keep trucking in there.”

It was pretty much a copybook round jumping-wise, with Maverick just having a couple of pecks on landing at the Worcester Avenue Brushes towards the end of the course.

“He was weary, but he kept galloping and he’s going to strengthen up. To come to his first badminton and give me that feel – it’s lovely to come down to the Vicarage Vee on a horse like him.”

Tom Jackson climbs leaderboard after Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Tom Jackson under-achieved in the dressage with his European Championships partner Capels Hollow Drift, but this great jumper pulled out all the stops to finish with 10 time-faults and climb up from 21st to eighth.

Tom nursed this lovely grey home over the final four fences, but he kept jumping nicely and pulled up with his ears pricked.

“My horse is such a trier; he does it every single time, he delivers,” said Tom. “He finished quite tired and he made a massive effort today. It’s five-star and it’s Badminton and more often than not you have a 50% clear rate and that’s what we come here for, so that the great cross-country horses get to shine and move up the leaderboard.

“I went out with real determination to get close to the time after our dressage wasn’t our best performance, and he was there or thereabouts until he started to tire. It isn’t his perfect going as his action sends him down into the ground and he gets a bit stuck in it.”

Caroline Powell was the only rider left in the field in the final quarter who was able to depose Tim Price at the top of the leaderboard – but she’d need to clock one of the fastest times of the day with only 4sec in hand. The New Zealand rider was lying seventh after dressage with her mare Greenacres Special Cavalier on 30.

Unlike her compatriots Tim and Jonelle Price and Jesse Campbell, Caroline elected to go the long way at the angled log exiting the Mars Sustainability Bay, and this put paid to her advantage. It was a measured and confident round, but 33sec over the time gave her 13.2 time-faults.

“Wasn’t she brilliant?” said Caroline. “Last year she came and made a few mistakes. Young horses just need a bit of time and she’s a bit of a diva. Loves the crowd, loves the people, but now she’s looking for the strings and the flags. And she tanked me down to the stables afterwards so she’s feeling good.”

Badminton Horse Trials leaderboard after cross-country

Tim Price and Vitali top the leaderboard after cross-country on 31.7, just 1.3 penalties ahead of William Fox-Pitt and Grafennacht (33). In third is five-star and Badminton first-timer Lucy Latter riding RCA Patron Saint on 37.2, while Emily King and Valmy BIats are just behind on 38. Rounding up the top five is Sarah Ennis on Grantstown Jackson.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Albert the escort helps Pippa Funnell nurse her second Badminton ride to success

Martha Terry — Fri, 10 May 2024 16:21:50 +0000

The final section of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase featured five riders who have two horses running at the event, but none could trouble the leading trio of Ros Canter, Bubby Upton and Tim Price.

After a torrid time on her first ride Majas Hope, when he became over excited by the occasion the previous day, the crowd was rooting for Pippa Funnell on her second ride MCS Maverick.

Having been escorted up to the main arena by a grey hunt horse, named Albert, Pippa trotted in beaming with the horse seeming beautifully relaxed. Her 2023 Bramham winner has a tendency to lose focus in the dressage phase, and he’s been on his toes all week, but he was on side from the outset in the arena, banging out sevens and eights from the very first halt. They scored 31.9 to lie 12th before cross-country.

Maverick threw marks away in the rein-back and canter transition that followed, but that was his only error and the pair regathered quickly to nail the flying changes and canter work, clocking an eight for the extended canter.

Badminton final scores

“I’m delighted with the horse, I really am,” said Pippa. “It’s no secret that he’s tricky in that phase – he’s just a horse that is pumped with adrenaline. I had a blip in the rein back and struck off wrong, but overall I’m delighted.

“People underestimate [the atmosphere] here. One thing at Badminton that is very different to anywhere else is that the stables, behind the arches, is backstage and really quiet and relaxed. Then when [the horses] come into the park and in the main estate, they can get quite anxious.

“In the trot-up, you come through the arch and, bang, there are all these people. You can’t prepare [the horses] for that. You never know what they are going to do and there’s a little bit of nervousness so you try to hold their hand to help them, and he was really on side in the arena.”

“She loves a crowd”: mare shines in Badminton Horse Trials dressage

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier were best of this final group. They had a blip in the first halt, but quickly put that behind them and produced some excellent work, improving as the test went on to score 30 and slot into seventh.

The 11-year-old mare has a lovely uphill way of going, looking like she loves her job and wants to please. Her flying changes were a highlight, scoring sevens and eights, plus an 8.5 for her extended canter. So many tests in this Badminton field have been undone by the changes, but this is where this mare came into her own.

“I am really pleased with her – she gets better and better,” said the New Zealand rider. “It was very atmospheric in there but she didn’t miss a beat. Outside the atmosphere gets to her and she’s quite bright, but she goes into the arena and she knows she has to perform – she loves a crowd. It’s nice to have her at the stage when you can put her in this situation and push the buttons in the right way.”

Tom Jackson had a mixed test to score 34.4 on his European Championship partner Capels Hollow Drift. They started consistently until the horse spooked at a camera, which unsettled him. Their changes didn’t come off today, which undid the consistency in the trot work.

“It’s unlike him as he’s not normally spooky but he took one look and didn’t like it – horses will be horses,” said Tom. “If the judges aren’t chucking marks at you the beginning and something happens, it’s hard to get back up.

“He’s been feeling as good as he’s ever felt, so it’s a shame it didn’t quite come off today. But his forte is the jumping phases, and probably mine, so hopefully we can finish on that score and still be competitive.”

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‘He went like a champion’: Boyd Martin takes early Badminton dressage lead

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 09 May 2024 09:59:59 +0000

The USA’s Boyd Martin took the lead on 29 in the early stages of the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage. Boyd was riding Tsetserleg TSF, a 17-year-old owned by Christine, Thomas IV and Tommie Turner, with whom he was ninth at Burghley in 2023.

In the glorious morning sunshine, the pair earned a smattering of sevens throughout their test, with their medium walk being a highlight, garnering two eights and a nine from the ground jury of Sandy Phillips (GBR), Jane Halim (USA) and Christian Steiner (AUT).

“I’m thrilled with him. He went in there and went like a champion, so he couldn’t have done much better and it’s hard to get a dressage test where everything just goes nicely,” explained Boyd. “We’re in with a chance.”

Boyd never dropped below a 6.5 in his test, with no real mistakes and the horse remaining level and on-side with Boyd throughout.

Badminton final scores

When asked whether an early draw suits Tsetserleg TSF, meaning his dressage test takes place with less crowds present in the main arena, Boyd said “it doesn’t matter to him”.

“He’s a pretty laid back horse – he’s been around a bit,” stated Boyd, referring to this horse’s extensive experience, which also includes a second and fourth place finish at Kentucky, plus a world team silver and a Pan Am double gold.

Pippa Funnell and the incredibly experienced Majas Hope encountered problems in their Badminton Horse Trials dressage test when the horse lost focus. The 17-year-old gelding, owned by Pippa and Marek Sebestak, has previously scored consistently in the mid- to late-20s at five-star level. They scored 40.8 this morning.

First into the arena at 9am, Tom Jackson and Farndon, are currently in second on 33, with Tom Rowland and Dreamliner holding third on 34.9.

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Badminton draw revealed: find out who’s the pathfinder and when your favourite starts

Pippa Roome — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:09:18 +0000

Tom Jackson will be the pathfinder, as the Mars Badminton Horse Trials draw is revealed for the event next month (8-12 May).

Tom will start as number one on Farndon, with his British squad horse from last year, Capels Hollow Drift, near the end of the draw as number 80.

The favourites, Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, are number 53 so – with 82 horses drawn – are likely to do their dressage on Friday morning.

Oliver Townend still has three horses in the Badminton Horse Trials draw, but he double-entered so only two can start. Cooley Rosalent has landed in the USA to run in the Kentucky Three-Day Event this week, so it seems extremely unlikely she will start at Badminton. That means the world number one will ride Tregilder as number nine (although his participation has to be in some doubt as he has only had one open intermediate run this year) and Ballaghmor Class, his best shot at a second victory here, as number 78.

Badminton final scores

Full draw

Kirsty Chabert double-entered Classic VI and Opposition Heraldik Girl and both appear on the draw (numbers 43 and 44) but Classic VI is also in the USA so it looks as though Opposition Heraldik Girl has the Badminton call-up.

Harry Meade’s three horses are numbers four (Cavalier Crystal), 40 (Away Cruising) and 82 (Red Kite), the final horse in the competition. Harry will be the first rider since Lorna Clarke in 1970 to start Badminton on three mounts.

Assuming Oliver withdraws Cooley Rosalent, data analytics company EquiRatings currently have Ros as the favourite, then Oliver on Ballaghmor Class, then Tim Price on Vitali (number 64).

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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Tom Jackson completes senior squad debut at Europeans – plus Paris qualification update

Pippa Roome — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:06:00 +0000

Tom Jackson rounded off his senior squad debut with a beautiful clear round in the European Eventing Championships showjumping this morning (13 August).

The 30-year-old British individual rider will finish 30th or better with Capels Hollow Drift, owned by Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb.

“He recovered really well from yesterday and he’s getting quite good at jumping clear – he’s probably only had a pole once in the last three years so he’s a pretty impressive horse in that phase,” said Tom.

Reflecting on his 20 jumping penalties yesterday and his whole week, Tom added: “Obviously I’m still a little disappointed with the result yesterday, but I’m over the moon with the horse. He’s not put a foot wrong.

“Every day’s a school day and every time you come and do something like this you learn something. You can take it away and hopefully next time we can be where we want to be.

“He’ll have a nice well-deserved break now – that’ll be him done for the end of the year – then I guess we’ll start the preparation for Badminton again. Hopefully we can capitalise on the fifth place this year and see if we can go a few places better next year.”

Tom said his first senior championship had been “a really good experience”.

He said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a team environment – we don’t get to experience it that often and young riders was a little while ago now. But it’s been really good – everyone is so supportive and we have a really great team behind us. Thank you to British Equestrian and UK Sport for being able to send as many people as they do – it really helps us out.”

This morning’s showjumping session of 12 competitors yielded two clears in the time, from Tom and Sweden’s Amanda Staam, who completed yesterday’s cross-country despite her martingale breaking on course.

The Belgian squad have now completed their team score and have secured qualification for the Paris Olympics. The Netherlands are set to seize the other Paris 2024 ticket when their final rider, Janneke Boonzaaijer, jumps this afternoon.

The European Eventing Championships showjumping track has been designed by Quentin Perney and Jean-Pierre Meneau and there are 15 jumping efforts across 12 numbered fences.

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the action at the Europeans in Haras du Pin. 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/XHH-brandsite 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.

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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.

Britain’s second individual out of contention for European Championships medals

Pippa Roome — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 15:42:45 +0000

Tom Jackson has dropped down the leaderboard after incurring 20 jumping penalties over the European Eventing Championships cross-country course.

Tom was going well and riding a mature round with Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb’s Burghley Horse Trials runner-up Capels Hollow Drift until the final water at fence 25 (Le gué des nations FEI).

He tried to take the inside line and it didn’t quite come off to the final skinny; the grey only half-jumped the side of the fence on the left. The pair were able to extricate themselves and finish the course with 24 time-faults, as well as their 20 jumping penalties.

“He was tired – if I kicked him more, nothing happened and if I’d pulled we would have ground to a stop, so I knew I was on a bit of a dodgy one. I thought, ‘We’ve just got to sit here and keep hoping.’ Bless him, he tried his absolute heart out – it was just one of those things,” said Tom.

Reflecting on the round as a whole, Tom said: “I am absolutely delighted with the horse. He literally gave me everything and some more. Obviously I’m bitterly disappointed that we didn’t come back with a clear, but I couldn’t be prouder of him.

“That’s tougher than the going was at Badminton this year. I want to say that’s as deep as I’ve ever ridden in because it was deeper than that normally, I might have gone home. I think today the ground jury did a good job – it was clearly a good decision taking the two-minute loop out. These are good experienced horses, and they’re still finding it a bit tiring with that really holding ground.

“I thought that hopefully Badminton would have given him experience [in this sort of ground] and hopefully it helped. Unfortunately, today wasn’t quite our day, but hopefully he’ll learn from it.

“He’s pulled up really well and recovered really quickly. As far as he knows, he didn’t actually really do anything wrong, so he looks quite pleased with himself.”

Tom had put in a personal best dressage score of 25.7 to give himself sixth place overnight and a real chance of an individual medal at his first senior championship.

British pathfinder Kitty King still tops the individual leaderboard with Vendredi Biats going into the final rotation of team riders on this European Eventing Championships cross-country day, with Britain in team silver behind Germany and ahead of France. Germany’s Sandra Auffarth holds second individually on Viamant Du Matz.

End of day update: Tom Jackson finished the day in 32nd place, with Kitty King and Sandra Auffarth in indivdual silver and bronze behind Ros Canter. Full individual results

British championship debutant in reach of podium after scoring personal best

Martha Terry — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 14:27:56 +0000

Tom Jackson chose a big stage to score a personal best with Capels Hollow Drift on his British squad debut at the European Eventing Championships dressage in Haras du Pin, France. Tom, riding individually for Britain, scored 25.7, his best score at four-star by 1.7 penalties.

Capels Hollow Drift’s grey coat looked drenched from the rain but the weather barely seemed to affect him as he performed a calm yet expressive test, ears pricked and listening to Tom’s quiet aids. Tom’s neat ride on this 12-year-old gelding painted an elegant picture from the word go. They scored a nine for their entry from the M judge Seppo Laine, and a plethora of eights throughout the test.

Watch Tom speak after his test in the video below

“I’m happy to get that done and dusted and for him to be as good as he was – it’s a testament to all the training we’ve done with World Class,” said Tom. “Hopefully Pippa [Funnell, his trainer] will be happy as she’s always on about the little details. His good change was very good and his bad one is a work in progress, but his half-passes and expression in trot were all up to gear.”

Their score could have been even higher had “Walshy” not spotted something at the A end of the arena. Although his first flying change was excellent, he rather bounded into the second one to score fives. When he came round to that end again for the final line, Tom had to ride very tactfully to get Walshy’s concentration back, and finished well for more eights.

“I found out today that he’s not a massive fan of umbrellas, which is really unlike him because normally he’s super laid-back,” said Tom, 30.

“I feel like I’ve always been on a trajectory to get to a championship but it’s taken us a bit longer than I wanted when I was an 18-year-old and that makes it even more special.”

Tom is looking forward to tackling the cross-country track.

“I’m excited as I think it will really suit him and his way of going,” he said. “The ground will be a big factor, but it’s given me confidence knowing he dealt with that at Badminton.”

European Eventing Championships dressage: day two

Britain’s other individual rider, Tom McEwen, had already highlighted the squad’s strength in depth when he took the lead on Friday morning on JL Dublin on 22. Laura Collett pushed him close with her mark of 22.4 on London 52, just ahead of her team-mate Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir on 23.4. British riders hold the first four places at this stage, before the final dressage session on Friday afternoon (11 August).

Germany had also posted a super individual score with Jerome Robine and Black Ice earning 26 for fourth at this stage – the best from his country but also not counting for the team score. Their second individual rider, Nicolas Aldinger riding his grey gelding Timmo, made an impressive entrance under sodden skies to garner eights, but couldn’t maintain that form, especially after anticipating the collected canter, and wound up on 32.9.

End of day update: Tom Jackson now holds sixth place. Full results here.

Medal counts, stable names and quirks – what you need to know about the British squad for the Eventing Europeans

Pippa Roome — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 06:02:12 +0000

The British riders who will head to the eventing European Championships were announced earlier this month. Now that the dust has settled, what do you think of the squad?

We’ve pulled together a few key – and fun – facts so you’re in the know ahead of next month’s big event.

As a reminder, the selected British riders and horses for the eventing European Championships are:

Ros Canter with Lordships GraffaloLaura Collett with London 52Yasmin Ingham with Banzai Du LoirTom Jackson with Capels Hollow DriftKitty King with Vendredi BiatsTom McEwen with JL Dublin

Interesting facts about the British eventing squad

All the pairs on the squad are either five-star winners or runners-up. Ros and Lordships Graffalo won Badminton Horse Trials this year and were second last year, Laura and London 52 have taken Pau Horse Trials 2020, Badminton 2022 and Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2023, Yasmin and Banzai Du Loir were second at the Kentucky Three-Day Event 2022, Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift landed the runner-up spot at Burghley Horse Trials last year, Kitty and Vendredi Biats were second at Luhmühlen in June and Tom McEwen and JL Dublin claimed the second step of the podium at Kentucky this season.

All the horses except Capels Hollow Drift have previous championship experience, though JL Dublin’s was with former rider Nicola Wilson, rather than Tom McEwen. He did win double gold on that occasion, though!

Talking of medals, this squad have an impressive haul, with 12 senior championship gongs between them (five for Ros, three for Tom, two for Kitty, one for Yasmin and one for Laura).

What we’re building up to saying is, in short, this squad is good. Not just good. Excellent, in fact. They will start as favourites for team gold and all have a chance of an individual medal.

Tom Jackson is likely to lag a little behind the other in the first phase – we’d hope for low to mid 20s scores from the other five and high 20s for him. But if Tom McEwen and Andrew Hoy’s individual silver and bronze in Tokyo taught us anything, it’s that finishing on a 28 or 29 can still give you a medal chance in today’s sport. Of course, the Olympic format does offer an extra opportunity for leaderboard climbing because it has two showjumping rounds for individual gongs, whereas there is just one final-phase round at the Europeans.

Want to know all the horses stable names? Of course you do! Lordships Graffalo is Walter, London 52 is Dan, Banzai Du Loir is just Banzai – or sometimes Banana, Capels Hollow Drift is Walshy, Vendredi Biats is Froggy and JL Dublin is Dubs.

Like all top horses, these chaps have their quirks. Walter occasionally licks cars… Banzai always likes to get down in the mud and roll at competitions… Froggy spent a lot of time ditching his riders in his early career.

All these horses have been pictured on the front cover of H&H, with 21 appearances between them. For the record…

Lordships Graffalo’s headshot appeared marking him as one to watch on 22 June 2022 and he’s featured for his Badminton win (11 May 2023) and alongside Ros in an issue including a feature on how they won there (1 June 2023).
London 52 made his cover debut when he won Pau (29 October 2020) and we followed up with an interview, with him and Laura on the cover on 19 November 2020. Another picture from Pau appeared on the next spring’s show guide cover (25 Feb 2021). The pair were featured alongside their team-mates after Olympic gold in Tokyo (5 August 2021) and in the compilation picture on the Olympic souvenir issue (19 August 2021). Their Badminton win was next up (12 May 2022), then early this year a headshot when Dan featured in our Spotlight series (26 January 2023) and in the spring he was pictured on the gallops accompanying an Access All Areas feature on Laura’s Badminton preparations (30 March 2023). Their recent Luhmühlen win also made the cut (22 June 2023).
Yas and Banzai have three cover appearances – their Blenheim win (23 September 2021), their Kentucky second (5 May 2022) and their worlds individual gold (22 September 2022).
Capels Hollow Drift and Tom were interviewed with a cover in 29 September 2022 issue after their Burghley success and Walshy’s headshot is also on the cover of this week’s magazine (13 July 2023) as he features in Spotlight to tie in with selection.
Vendredi Biats was another to make the cover alongside a Spotlight appearance, in an earlier iteration of this series called We Can’t Wait To See…, during the sport-starved Covid year of 2020 (14 May).
JL Dublin graced the cover when he won the CCI4*-L at Bicton (Bramham replacement fixture) with Nicola (17 June 2021), again when he won European individual gold that year (30 September 2021) and then alongside Nicola for a follow-up interview (6 January 2022).

We can’t wait to support all the British riders at the eventing European Championships next month. H&H’s expert reporters will be bringing you all the headlines in the run up to the championship (9-13 August), as well as big name interviews, analysis of the action, videos and beautiful photography throughout every day of competition in Haras du Pin, France. A HorseandHound.co.uk unlimited website subscription gives you instant access, wherever you are, to all of our coverage with no limit on how much you can read, from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now

World champions, Badminton stars and medallists on British squad for European Eventing Championships

Becky Murray — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:50:01 +0000

The reigning world champion and this year’s Badminton winner are among those named in the British team for the European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin, France, 9-13 August.

Today (7 July) British Equestrian and the British Eventing selectors have confirmed the six horse and rider combinations that will form the list of definite entries.

The selected combinations for the British team for the European Eventing Championships, in alphabetical order, are:

The 2023 Badminton winners, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter with 11-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo

Owner: Michele Saul

Breeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College (GBR)

Breeding: by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King

Groom: Sarah Charnley

Laura Collett and London 52 at the eventing World Championships. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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

Groom: Tilly Hughes

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir at Kentucky 2022. (Image credit: amy@akdragoophoto.com)

Yasmin Ingham with 12-year-old gelding Banzai Du Loir

Owners: The Sue Davies Fund and Janette Chinn

Breeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)

Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay, out of a mare by Livarot

Groom: Alison Bell

Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift finish second at Burghley 2022. (Image credit: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials)

Tom Jackson with 12-year-old gelding Capels Hollow Drift

Owners: Patricia Davenport, Millie Simmie and Sarah Webb

Breeder: Jeanette Glynn (GBR)

Breeding: by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, out of a mare by Lucky Gift

Groom: Chloe Whitelam

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats competing at Burghley 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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

Groom: Chloe Fry

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin take second at Kentucky 2023. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom McEwen with 12-year-old gelding JL Dublin

Owners: James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston

Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze (GER)

Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Groom: Adam Short

The team of four and two individuals may not be confirmed until the declaration of starters.

The reserve combinations, in alphabetical order, are:

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

David Doel with 12-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed

Owner: Gillian Jonas

Breeder: 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 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

Piggy March with 10-year-old gelding Brookfield Cavalier Cruise

Owners: John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn

Breeder: 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 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 Class

Owners: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan

Breeder: 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 Roundabout

Owners: Bubby’s mother Rachel and The Zebedee Syndicate

Breeder: Sharon Stone (GBR)

Breeding: by Samraan

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.

‘He really showed his class’: top British rider’s exciting prospect delivers on five-star debut at Luhmühlen

Lucy Elder — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 16:38:43 +0000

Five-star debutant Farndon came of age to rocket up the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials scoreboard with Britain’s Tom Jackson, producing a classy double clear to finish sixth in the final results.

Tom and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding, by Hemmingway, were in 22nd place after dressage on a score of 34.9. Their quick cross-country clear was rewarded with a climb to 12th place ahead of the final phase. The pair then delivered one of just five fault-free showjumping rounds to cap their stellar week.

“He’s always wanted to be a careful horse. The rideability sometimes gets in the way, a little bit like with his cross-country. But I think we’re getting there,” said Tom, riding for Anne and Iain Slater.

“It’s just been a case of time, building the relationship with him and strengthening him up in the way that we wanted to.

“It’s been a progressive path to get to here and I’m over the moon that he has delivered for us and his owners as well.

“We always knew he had the potential to be very good. He’s always super brave, moves well and wants to be careful. But to actually go and do it is always a different thing.”

Farndon adds his five-star result to a CV that already features placings at four-star, plus 11th at Blenheim CCI4*-L last year.

Speaking after cross-country, Tom added the horse is “incredibly” exciting for the future.

“I’m over the moon with him. He hasn’t always been the easiest in this phase, not because he’s not brave or straight, just because of his rideability.

“We’ve been working quite hard on that over the past couple of years since we’ve had him. And it just all came together today. He’s been steadily improving all the time and I feel like today he really showed his class and I’m very excited for the future.

“He didn’t really miss a beat. It’s one of those rare occasions where everything did just go as planned. He cruised around and kept eating up the ground and the jumps. And suddenly you’re home and inside the time.”

“To see how far he’s come in such a short space of time bodes very well.”

Harry Meade and Tenareze played a strong role in the British success story at Luhmühlen this week. The 16-year-old, owned by David Bernstein, Nigella Hall and Sophie Caruth, was a model of consistency in all three phases, finishing on his dressage score of 30.7 for fifth place.

“I came out here not quite knowing what to expect from him,” said Harry.

“He’s got lots of ability, but he wouldn’t necessarily be the world’s bravest horse. I came just to try and do the best job I could and really couldn’t have wished for a better performance from him in all three phases.”

Harry Meade and Tenareze at Luhmühlen Horse Trials. (Image credit: Libby Law)

He added: “I always think that the proof of the pudding of a fit horse is how they feel the next day, not just how they finish across country and he felt like he hadn’t been cross country.

“He’s a very good show jumper. The time was pretty tight in there, so the main target was to just turn inside a couple of places and I was delighted he finished in the time and jumped a nice, clear round.”

Emily King and Valmy Biats were the first combination to produce a clear jumping round inside the time over course-designer Marco Behrens’ track. The pair picked up 20 penalties across country yesterday, meaning they finished down the order in 24th, ending on a high with a foot-perfect showjumping round. Will Rawlin and The Partner, who were also carrying 20 penalties from the cross-country, recorded their first five-star completion, tapping one rail in the showjumping to finish 23rd.

Ireland’s Suzie Berry and Monbeg By Design climbed 17 places after dressage to finish 11th, sitting just ahead of Britain’s Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver De Haar in 12th. David Doel and Ferro Point were also big climbers at Luhmühlen Horse Trials, rising 24 places from 37th to 13th.

Last week’s Bramham winner Pippa Funnell, who led the first day of dressage with MGH Grafton Street, enjoyed a steady cross-country and tapped two poles showjumping to finish 16th.

‘The best he’s ever gone’: Burghley runner-up bids to go one better at Badminton

Martha Terry — Fri, 05 May 2023 10:35:17 +0000

It’s early days, but third-to-go Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs, who is owned by Paul and Diana Ridgeon, still sit at the top of the leaderboard on 23.1 on day one of Badminton Horse Trials dressage, presented by Mars Equestrian (5 May).

The Burghley runners-up, Tom Jackson and Capels Hollow Drift, who is owned by Sarah Webb, Patricia Davenport and Milly Simmie, got their Badminton campaign off to an excellent start with 28. This puts them third at this stage behind Oliver and Tim Price (Vitali). The flying changes let them down, but nines for the collected canter lifted the score to their personal best at the level.

“I know there were a couple of little mistakes in there, but on the whole, I felt he was going better than he’s ever gone, I couldn’t ask much more,” said Tom, who has been working on the horse’s cadence over the winter. “He’s improving all the time. The changes on one rein have been difficult but they were clean this time, just a little bit exuberant in places. He’s a lovely mover and very rideable, just not the biggest and flashiest mover, but he felt very smart in there today. He’s still a relatively young horse so hopefully we can keep edging closer.

“With the ground conditions, I hope that going early on Sunday is going to be an advantage for me.”

Badminton final scores

Watch Tom reflect on his test

Harry Meade conjured a huge personal best out of the Irish Sport Horse Away Cruising, scoring 29 after the first coffee break. The long-striding grey looked relaxed and focused, with his exceptional canter drawing plenty of eights from the judges. He finished with a nine for his halt.

“He’s a lovely Irish old-fashioned type, not a warmblood dressage horse, and he produced a really solid test; he didn’t miss a beat,” said Harry of the 16-year-old, who is owned by Charlotte Opperman and Janie Dear. “Last year I kicked myself because I wanted him fresh and shortened the warm-up and he was too fresh. This year, I worked him for longer, and possibly he lost a fraction of his sparkle, but it was a good clear round of a test. Job done and on to the next phase.”

Watch Harry speak about his test with Away Cruising

Greys monopolise the Badminton Horse Trials dressage

It was a good morning for greys, who seem to have dominated the morning’s proceedings. Izzy Taylor and the Cevin Z-sired Happy Days produced some eye-catching work, but will just be ruing their flying changes. They were on target for a mark of around 25, but scores of twos for the changes dragged the mark down to 29.2, just behind Harry.

“It’s only his fourth three-day, so to come here and keep his brain as well as he did I was so pleased,” said Izzy of the 11-year-old owned by Caroline Wilson, Lavinia Taylor and Alex Colquhorn. “He’s a lovely horse who tries so hard, a little bit too hard as he demonstrated with his second changes, but I’m delighted with him. He’s got loads more to come so to score that without doing a clear round is very exciting.

“It’s definitely not going to be a dressage competition, there has been a lot of rain and we’ll be riding the horses we’re sat on at that minute.”

Kirsty Chabert also squeaked under the 30 barrier on Opposition Loire, who is making her five-star debut. Her canter work looked particularly strong.

“I’m chuffed to bits as it’s her first time in any sort of atmosphere like this,” said Kirsty, who was competing another horse in Kentucky last weekend.

“It will mean the cross-country morning will be familiar, which is better for the nerves than if you’ve just popped round some open intermediates. But we’ll take the cross-country step by step.”

Watch Kirsty talk after her test

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, 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.

11 pairs to watch at Badminton Horse Trials: will one of these riders win this week’s five-star?

Pippa Roome — Wed, 03 May 2023 07:32:22 +0000

Who are the favourites among the Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses at this week’s competition, presented by Mars Equestrian?

Here are 11 pairs you should keep a close eye on as the Gloucestershire five-star gets underway…

Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses: the top 13 contenders

List in number order, with info presented as follows:

Number. Rider name

Rider age, nationality

Badminton final scores

Horse name, horse age, horse colour, horse gender, horse sire x horse damsire, horse owner(s)

Form assessment

5. Oliver Townend

40, GBR

Swallow Springs, 15 gr g, Chillout x Cult Hero, Paul & Diana Ridgeon

Shropshire-based Oliver won Badminton in 2009 on Flint Curtis and this horse represents his best chance of repeating that victory this year, assuming he can put a fall at Burghley Horse Trials last year behind him. Oliver took on the ride in the autumn of 2021, after he’d been fifth at Badminton and third at Burghley with Andrew Nicholson, and they were third here last year.

11. Tim Price

44, NZL

Vitali, 13 b g, Contender x Heraldik xx, Alexander & Joseph Giannamore & rider

This horse, who was Tim’s Tokyo Olympic ride, finished 10th at Luhmühlen Horse Trials and third at Burghley last year. He had three showjumps down on both occasions, so it’s likely he’d need to improve in that phase for a top placing here, but he can be super-competitive in the first two phases. Dorset-based Tim’s best Badminton result is third in 2017 on Xavier Faer.

18. Tom Jackson

30, GBR

Capels Hollow Drift, 12 gr g, Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Lucky Gift, Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie & Sarah Webb

This horse started 2022 as a relatively inexperienced Badminton hopeful and had a stellar year, following 16th here with second at Burghley. They won’t lead the dressage but should be handily placed to capitalise on good jumping performances and improve on last year’s placing. Surrey-based Tom is a three-time junior and young rider team medallist.

30. Gemma Stevens

38, GBR

Jalapeno, 15 ch m, Chilli Morning x Shaab, Christopher Stone

Jalapeno was produced to four-star by Belgium’s Karin Donckers, with Gemma taking over in 2019. Their many good four-star results include two wins and they have completed Pau’s cross-country with 20 jumping penalties, so could be very competitive. West Sussex-based Gemma won the Bicton five-star in 2021. Her best result here is third on Arctic Soul in 2016.

48. Tom McEwen

31, GBR

Toledo De Kerser, 16 b g, Diamant De Semilly x Papillon Rouge, Fred & Penny Barker, Jane Inns & rider’s mother Ali

Olympic team gold and individual silver medallists, who had a rocky start to 2022 when they fell here. They ended the year with 12th at the World Championships – not bad, but they know they’re capable of more. Five-star winners at Pau 2019, they’ve been in the top 11 here three times and could go all the way if back at their best. Tom lives in Gloucestershire.

49. Kitty King

40, GBR

Vendredi Biats, 14 gr g, Winningmood x Camelia De Ruelles, Diana Bown, Sally Lloyd Baker, Samantha Wilson, & the late Sally Eyre

Kitty has a serious chance of her first five-star title here. She and Vendredi Biats are European team gold medallists (twice individual top 10 at Europeans), were seventh here last year and then sixth at Burghley, where they led the dressage and had a very unfortunate frangible penalty across country. They’ve also been in the top 10 at four-star 13 times.

71. Ros Canter

37, GBR

Lordships Graffalo, 11 b g, Birkhof’s Grafenstolz x Rock King, Michele Saul

This pair were second here last year on Lordships Graffalo’s five-star debut and went on to finish fourth individually at the World Championships, so they are very much contenders for the top spot this time. Nothing much seems to faze “Walter” or his rider. Ros has also been third here on Allstar B – can she complete the set of podium positions this time?

75. Oliver Townend

40, GBR

Ballaghmor Class, 16 gr g, Courage x unlisted, Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop & Val Ryan

The grand old man of Oliver’s entries and a true all-time great – Olympic team gold medallist (and fifth individually), double five-star winner and the holder of five other top-five placings at the level. The final phase is his potential Achilles’ heel – he had four down at the worlds last year – so Monday will be exciting if he runs as he should be right up there until then.

78. Laura Collett

33, GBR

Dacapo, 14 d br g, Diarado x Canturo, Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams, Alison & Michael Smedley and Carolyn Taylor

Laura was last year’s winner on London 52 and says this horse is as talented, but so opinionated you have to make him think it’s his idea. He was retired across country on his only previous five-star start, at Pau 2021, but was in the top five on all four of his four-star runs last year, including winning Millfield CCI4*-L, and recently won at Burnham Market so could be very competitive.

84. Pippa Funnell

54, GBR

Billy Walk On, 14 b g, Billy Mexico x Golden Bash, Barbara & Nicholas Walkinshaw

Badminton hasn’t yet been the happiest hunting ground for Billy Walk On, who has been pulled up twice here across country, but he was second in the one-off five-star at Bicton in 2021 and eighth at Burghley last year with a double jumping clear. Pippa is rarely competitive at one-day events, but she can spring a surprise at the big ones.

85. Tim Price

44, NZL

Coup De Coeur Dudevin, 11 b g, Top Gun Semilly x Leprince Des Bois, Jean-Louis Stauffer

Originally produced by Chris Burton, this horse was then ridden by Tim’s wife Jonelle, with Tim taking over last year. The pair were second at Millstreet CCI4*-L and then won Maryland on the horse’s five-star debut. He’s still inexperienced, but no five-star winner should be ruled out of contention and world number one Tim is on the form of his life.

For similar details on every Badminton Horse Trials rider and horse, plus score sheets to fill in as the week progresses, buy this week’s magazine, out Thursday 4 May or pick up a free copy from the organisers’s office or on site box office at Badminton.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

‘The best day of our lives’: top eventer and partner marry, and the dogs turn up too

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 16:01:38 +0000

Five-star eventer Tom Jackson married his long-term partner Sabrina Pryer on “the best day of our lives”.

Tom, whose fantastic 2022 season had included finishing second at his first Burghley on Capels Hollow Drift, tied the knot on Sabrina’s birthday, 3 November.

“He can’t forget that now!” Sabrina joked.

Sabrina told H&H the pair have been together about nine and a half years.

“He’s had a pretty good year, and it was so nice to finish it off with getting married; we’re very lucky,” she said.

“We didn’t involve any horses. Tom arranged for our two dogs Alfie and Otto to come to the church at the end; I’d been requesting them there and he’d been saying no but he arranged for them to turn up, which was really nice, and we had the crazy photo with the dogs!

Picture by Olive Joy Photography (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“We were so lucky; it was raining in the morning but as soon as we left for the church, it was beautiful sunshine, and it stayed all afternoon. Getting married in November, you expect torrential rain so anything else was a bonus.”

Sabrina added: “Everyone says it’s the best day of your lives, and it really is. It was amazing. We had lots of special family and friends there, and it was just an amazing day, it just went too quickly!”

The Jacksons then went on honeymoon; a safari in Botswana partly in vehicles and partly on horseback – “We didn’t want it to be totally a busman’s holiday!” – followed by a beach break.

They are now back to the norm of running the business together – “Tom doing the riding and I do everything else” – and looking forward to next season.

“[Capels Hollow Drift] will hopefully go to Badminton in the spring, and who knows, after that?” Sabrina said. “It would be amazing to look at team selection but you just don’t know. That would be the big aim but we keep plugging on. And it’s Tom’s big birthday [30th] next year, so it’s all exciting stuff.”

Tom added: “What a way to round off the year! Simply the best day of our lives.”

Is this Britain’s next top team horse? Meet the classy grey who could be on the way to stardom

Pippa Roome — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:32:59 +0000

Everyone loves a grey and Tom Jackson’s ride Capels Hollow Drift, who stars on the cover of this week’s Horse & Hound (6 October issue) alongside his rider, is certainly the stuff of dreams. The handsome 11-year-old son of Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan has been the most impressive younger horse on the British five-star circuit this year, finishing second at Burghley Horse Trials earlier this month.

Bred by Jeanette Glynn, the Irish sports horse known as “Walshy” was bought as a foal by mother and daughter Sarah Webb and Milly Simmie from John Walsh. Milly evented the horse’s full brother, Cooley Willows Gift, who had several placings at novice before he was put down when he had an accident in the field. Sarah and Milly still co-own the horse, alongside Patricia Davenport.

Capels Hollow Drift started his career with Georgie Campbell (née Strang) and impressed from the off – he won five times in his first two years eventing, including taking top spot in a CIC* (now CCI2*-S) at Chilham Park in July 2017.

After that win, Georgie commented: “It was an amazing arena in front of the house and felt like a special occasion. A lot of horses found it spooky, but he was really grown up and did a lovely test, which still has room for improvement. His double clear felt surprisingly easy and quite effortless.”

Tom Jackson took over the ride in 2018 and the horse showed his potential again when he finished runner-up in the seven-year-old World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers that autumn. He progressed to finish eighth in the competitive CCI4*-L at Bicton in the summer of 2021 and made his first five-star bid at Badminton Horse Trials this spring, where he finished 16th.

“He’s a little bit short of experience with Covid, but I needn’t have worried as he was class the whole way round and made it feel quite easy. He stayed really with me and focused and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Tom said about his cross-country round at Badminton, in which the pair jumped clear with 10 time-faults.

“The whole weekend he’s gone above and beyond our expectations.”

In the fashion of a true big-time campaigner, Capels Hollow Drift had just two runs between Badminton and Burghley, a competitive fourth on his dressage score at Burgham in July and then a quiet run round an open intermediate at Aston-le-Walls in August.

At Burghley, Tom and Walshy lay 13th after dressage on 28.9 and climbed up the leaderboard by adding just 3.6 time-faults on cross-country day. Fourth going into showjumping, their classy clear elevated them to second.

“We dreamt of doing this well but to come here and do it is another thing. Pippa [Funnell] just said, ‘Concentrate on what you’re doing, ride like you normally do.’ Hopefully I did that,“ said Tom after his second place had been confirmed.

“We’ve been working quite hard for a while, and I do hope that a lovely horse like him can keep progressing and get us closer to team selection.”

‘Her heart and her mind separates her from normal horses’: H&H talks to newly crowned champion and top performers at Burghley Horse Trials

Lucy Elder — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 21:24:10 +0000

Horse & Hound catches up with newly crowned Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials champion Piggy March, as well as second placed Tom Jackson, New Zealand’s Tim Price, who finished third, and hears from several other success stories of the 2022 five-star *please be patient for the video below to load*

A three-year wait for the return of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials was rewarded with a vintage result as a true Burghley mare secured her place on Winners’ Avenue.

Piggy March and Vanir Kamira have finished second twice at the Lincolnshire five-star, along with a fifth-place finish, on their previous three runs here. Bridesmaids no more, as the pair enjoyed a result “that dreams are made of” to lift the Burghley trophy.

“I owe her so very much and it’s her heart and her mind that has separated her from normal horses that I’ve had,” Piggy told H&H in the video above.

“She wants to do it for me, and I have nothing but pure respect for her. I’m so proud of everything that she’s done.”

Trevor Dickens’ 17-year-old mare joins two elite clubs with her Burghley Horse Trials victory – the 14-strong band of horses who have won both Badminton and Burghley, and the even more exclusive society of Burghley winning mares. That second club now counts three members in its ranks, with Vanir Kamira joining Headley Britannia (2007) and Maid Marion (1973).

British youth medal-winner Tom Jackson franked his place among the senior ranks at this level with a stunning Burghley debut, finishing second on the 11-year-old Capels Hollow Drift.

“I was thinking in the back of my mind ‘top five’, but to be second – especially to Piggy – almost feels like winning anyway,” said Tom, 29.

The Prices filled the next to spots for New Zealand. Former winner Tim eyeing a big future for his third-placed ride Vitali, while the 19-year-old five-star great Classic Moet and Jonelle claimed fourth and the Avebury Trophy for the best cross-country round.

“He’s just so good at a lot of things, so he’s really worth the investment and time and energy,” said Tim, reflecting on how, despite the result on paper of three down, this horse’s showjumping is improving and he has a bright future ahead.

While Kitty King finished feeling somewhat frustrated that Vendredi Biats did not get the “result he deserved” – breaking a frangible pin on the cross-country and rolling a pole with the showjumping in two otherwise stunning rounds – sixth at Burghley is not to be sniffed at.

And there were fairytales in the top 10 in a way that only sport can deliver. Alice Casburn, the youngest rider in this years field at 20 – born just one year before Classic Moet – shone with the second generation homebred Topspin to take fifth with a double jumping clear.

Tom Crisp, whose place at Burghley hovered under a question mark of injury, piloted the gutsy homebred mare Liberty And Glory to ninth on the mare’s first long-format and first five-star run since 2019.

“Two weeks ago I didn’t think I was going to be here after a nasty fall at home, but this place is magical and it brought the best out of me and the horse today,” he said.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster in the weeks coming into this event, but somehow it brought the best out in us.”

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

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‘He makes my job so easy’: British first-timer dazzles to finish runner-up at Burghley

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A deserving champion, a brilliant British first-timer, and a young rider beating the nerves: eight stories you won’t want to miss from Burghley

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The Horse & Hound Burghley Daily Podcast day five: final result and predictions review

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September).

A deserving champion, a brilliant British first-timer, and a young rider beating the nerves: eight stories you won’t want to miss from Burghley

Martha Terry — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:14:40 +0000

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2022 came to a conclusion today, with victory for Piggy March and Vanir Kamira. Here is a round-up of the key stories you won't want to miss from Sunday, 4 September

Vanir Kamira became the third mare to win Burghley Horse Trials after lowering one of the two fences she had in hand, with Piggy March on board.

What sets Piggy March’s ride apart from any other horse she has had?

British first-timer Tom Jackson produced the best result of his career as runner-up.

What did Pippa Funnell say to him before he went into the ring?

Tim and Jonelle Price rounded off the top four.

What other prize did Jonelle’s wonder-mare win?

The youngest rider in the competition finished an eye-catching fifth, but says she’s not as cool a customer as she looks.

How has Alice Casburn learned to cope with her nerves?

There were nerve-wracking moments, too, for top-10 contender Bubby Upton at the final horse inspection.

Find out who else was held at the trot-up and which riders withdrew

It was a fairytale completion for one horse, whose dam came from a trekking centre.

Discover how Andrew James’ ride has progressed from bucking four-year-old to five-star contender

It’s not all about the rosettes: Hollie Swain’s hothead first-timer just about controlled his anxiety to show promise for future five-stars

Why Hollie found the 17.2hh more tiring to trot up than steer round the Burghley cross-country track

And another Burghley debutant fulfilled a lifetime’s dream.

Why did Phil Brown’s Burghley bracelet mean so much to him?

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Seven feeds a day and bawling like a baby: Piggy March’s groom Amy Phillips on looking after Vanir Kamira at Burghley

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘I treasure every moment’: Classic Moet’s groom on tending the no-fuss veteran star

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Burghley fifth for youngest rider: ‘Family friends remember me crying at jumping 70cm’

(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)

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September).

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

Pippa Roome — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 15:45:40 +0000

Piggy March and Vanir Kamira topped the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2022 results this afternoon (4 September).

Trevor Dickens’ mare becomes the 14th horse to win both Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley and this was a fairytale result for the 17-year-old “Tilly”, who started as the favourite.

“It’s a dream come true as a young rider growing up – I think Burghley is the toughest event in the world and probably the hardest to win,” said Piggy.

“To have a horse that’s come second twice and fifth once and only has just over four time-faults in four cross-country rounds, she’s a true Burghley horse and deserves to have her name on a plaque on Winners’ Avenue. I can’t think anyone here doesn’t think she deserves it.

“This horse isn’t naturally the best mover or the best jumper. It’s her personality, her heart, her will to do the job for you and that’s what stands her apart from any other horse I’ve had and makes me so proud.”

Vanir Kamira tapped her way round Paul Connor’s track but only had down fence 4a, the first part of the blue and black double. The pair won with a fence in hand because an expensive round for the overnight runners-up, Tim Price and Vitali, gave her some breathing space.

“I think we hit every fence, we always have, sometimes they stay up, sometimes they don’t,” said Piggy. “I knew I could have two down, but would have loved the feeling that I could have three. I said to Tom, [Jackson, eventual runner-up] ‘You could have knocked one down and made me a bit more comfortable!’ Some good horses were having three down.”

British first-timer Tom Jackson scored an extraordinary result when he skilfully piloted Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb’s grey Capels Hollow Drift to a clear, which moved him up from fourth overnight to second.

New Zealand rider Tim had to settle for third when the Giannamores’ Vitali – whose showjumping has often been his weak phase – had fences two plus two elements of the treble at fence eight down.

Tim’s wife Jonelle Price also dropped down one place, to fourth, when she and 19-year-old mare Classic Moet took out fences 8a and 10.

Alice Casburn, 20, rode a beautiful round on the home-bred Topspin to come home penalty-free and move up from eighth overnight to fifth at her first Burghley.

Vendredi Biats touched the front rail of fence five and it came down, but he and Kitty King retained their overnight sixth.

Ros Canter dropped down the order from fifth overnight when she and Pencos Crown Jewel had fences six, 8b and 10 down. The finished 11th.

Debutante Bubby Upton also had an expensive round, with four faults down plus a 0.4 of a time-fault, which dropped her and Cola III from seventh overnight to 14th.

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Piggy March puts in brilliant Burghley round on 17-year-old Vanir Kamira: ‘She was really up for it’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Burghley completion for rider who rode his horse’s dam – who came from a trekking centre

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Burghley Horse Trials first-timer realises ‘childhood dream’ – wearing a bracelet in honour of another very special horse

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Top-10 contender among two horses held at Burghley final trot-up, plus three withdrawn

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September).

‘He makes my job so easy’: British first-timer dazzles to finish runner-up at Burghley

Martha Terry — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 15:11:22 +0000

Tom Jackson produced the best result of his career in finishing runner-up on his debut at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, riding Capels Hollow Drift. Lying fourth overnight on the grey 11-year-old after adding just 3.6 time-faults across country, Tom jumped a copybook clear this afternoon.

When the two ahead of him, Tim Price (Vitali) and Jonelle Price (Classic Moet) knocked down three and two apiece, Tom moved into second. The leader Piggy March (Vanir Kamira) had two fences in hand and used up one of her lives to land the top prize.

“That horse is just class,” said Tom of Patricia Davenport, Millie Simmie and Sarah Webb’s gelding. “To go round the cross-country like he did yesterday, and then go into the arena and jump like he did today – he makes my job so easy.

“He has that capability and he always wants to do the right thing.”

Capels Hollow Drift has long showed his potential. He finished runner-up at the World Young Horse Championships as a seven-year-old, and was clear on his Badminton debut in the spring. Here, he produced a 28.9 dressage score to lie 13th, and climbed up the leaderboard with two strong jumping performances.

“I just had to keep it all in perspective,” said Tom after his showjumping round. “It is easy to get distracted by the fact that we were in a good position, but you must jump clear on the day to win.

“We dreamt of doing this well but to come here and do it is another thing. Pippa [Funnell] just said, ‘Concentrate on what you’re doing, ride like you normally do’. Hopefully I did that, and he jumped very well for me.”

Several horses did look to be a little fatigued after yesterday’s gruelling cross-country, but Capels Hollow Drift was not one of them. He was spring-heeled throughout his round, and after this Burghley Horse Trials result Tom Jackson is buzzing about the future for this relatively young campaigner.

“He’s class and what he showed me especially yesterday has got me excited,” said Tom. “This is a positive experience, and I am looking forward to next time.”

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(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)

‘He flew home’: Tom Jackson presses the leaders after a hold on the Burghley course, and another debutant shines

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Super veteran mares, impressive debuts and high-profile faults: 14 must-reads about Burghley cross-country

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Seven feeds a day and bawling like a baby: Piggy March’s groom Amy Phillips on looking after Vanir Kamira at Burghley

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September).

‘He flew home’: Tom Jackson presses the leaders after a hold on the Burghley course, and another debutant shines

Martha Terry — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 14:31:55 +0000

Tom Jackson rode an impressive round over the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course on Capels Hollow Drift to move up into fourth with only a dozen horses to run. They were lying in 13th but clocked a comparatively fast round for just 3.6 time-faults.

Tom was held on course after Sammi Birch and Finduss PFP had a fall at the Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks, fence 19. But it hardly broke their rhythm and they picked up their slick-jumping round where they left off.

“You lose your momentum, and it wasn’t the perfect fence to get back into a rhythm but he was a total professional, straight back on to the job,” said Burghley first-timer Tom.

“He went round Badminton really well in the spring and has come here and delivered even better so I couldn’t be happier. It’s quite hard work out there: the beginning of the course is gruelling, steady climbing all the way and then you get to the top and they get second wind, and he flew home.”

Bubby Upton, 23, set out on a mission after an almost-perfect round at Badminton was blighted by a run-out at the final fence. They were lying 11th after dressage on 28.3 and their good clear moves them up the order to fifth at this stage.

The pair set the tone of their Burghley round with a copybook ride through the influential Holland Cooper Leaf Pit. If Cola might have been thinking about running out at the corner, a big kick from Bubby committed him.

“The Leaf Pit was the most challenging fence, once I had that out of the way, I said, ‘Come on, it’s game on now’,” she said. “As it’s my Burghley debut, I had no idea how he would jump that. Every other fence you can prepare for, but you can’t for that.”

Her misfortune at Badminton must have been playing on her mind, as she rode every fence with utter determination to stop the clock with 10 time-faults. Bubby motivated herself for her today’s round by replaying her Badminton video.

“I took a while to analyse Badminton and tried to take away the positives,” she said. “I watched my round before I went today because 99% was pretty perfect, and not many can say that about their Badminton debut. He’s a class act, and he proved it again today.”

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country: the hard-luck stories

Ireland’s Susie Berry, riding Ringwood LB, a first-timer at CCI5*, was going really well when the horse came down on landing from an oxer at the Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks, a similar fall to Sammi’s. This is the highest point of the course, and although the horse had a good shot, he just clipped the front rail with his back legs and couldn’t quite get his landing gear in order. They had been lying 14th.

William Fox-Pitt and Oratorio II had not had the start to Burghley that the six-time winner would have wanted, scoring 30.2 in a distracted dressage test to lie 18th. And his cross-country round came to a premature end when the horse, who was pulling hard, failed to lock on to the final corner element at the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit. After jumping the alternative William elected to save the horse for another day.

Piggy French is still leading after finishing one second over the time on Vanir Kamira, with leaders Kitty King and Vendredi Biats still to come.

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Superstar mare delivers fastest cross-country round at Burghley as top-three horse retires

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Piggy March puts in brilliant Burghley round on 17-year-old Vanir Kamira: ‘She was really up for it’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘Nothing else gives me that excitement’: Burghley first-timer Susie Berry on the magic of the horse-human partnership and her breakthrough year

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Burghley Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report on Burghley, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in next week’s magazine (8 September).

World-class British entries announced for 2022 eventing World Championships

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:26:09 +0000

The eventing World Championships nominated entries (14-18 September) have been announced.

British Equestrian and the British Eventing selectors have confirmed the 15 horse and rider combinations from which the squad travelling to Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, will be drawn.

In alphabetical order, the combinations are:

Sarah Bullimore with 11-year-old gelding Corouet

Owner: Sarah, her husband Brett, and the Kew Jumping Syndicate

Breeder: Sarah Buillimore (GBR)

Breeding: by Balou du Rouet, out of Lilly Corinne by Lovis Corinth

Ros Canter with 17-year-old gelding Allstar B

Owner: Ros and Caroline Moore

Breeder: FAJ Van der Burg (NED)

Breeding: by Ephebe For Ever, out of a mare by Erkstein

Ros Canter with 10-year-old gelding Lordships Graffalo

Owner: Michele Saul

Breeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College (GBR)

Breeding: by Grafenstolz, out of a mare by Rock King

Ros Canter with 13-year-old mare Pencos Crown Jewel

Owner: Kate James and Annie Mackin

Breeder: Pennie Wallace (GBR)

Breeding: by Jumbo, out of a mare by Rock King

Kirsty Chabert with 13-year-old mare Classic IV

Owner: John Johnston and Carole Somers

Breeder: Peter Charles (GBR)

Breeding: by Calvaro FC

Laura Collett with 13-yearold gelding London 52

Owner: Laura, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

William Fox- Pitt with 13-year-old gelding Little Fire

Owner: William and Jennifer Dowling

Breeder: Dr. Volker Steinkraus (GER)

Breeding: by Graf Top, out of a mare by Heraldik

Pippa Funnell with 15-year-old gelding Majas Hope

Owner: Pippa and Marek Sebestak

Breeder: Jack Murphy (IRL)

Breeding: by Porter Rhodes, out of a mare by Flagmount King

Yasmin Ingham with 11-year-old gelding Banzai Du Loir

Owner: Janette Chinn and Sue Davies

Breeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)

Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay, out of a mare by Livarot

Kitty King with 13-year-old gelding Vendredi Biats

Owner: Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker

Breeder: Phillipe Brivois (FRA)

Breeding: by Winningmood, out of a mare by Camelia de Ruelle

Piggy March with 17-year-old mare Vanir Kamira

Owner: Trevor Dickens

Breeder: Kathryn Jackson (IRL)

Breeding: by Camira de Haar Z, out of a mare by Dixi

Tom McEwen with 15-year-old gelding Toledo de Kerser

Owner: Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Coppell and Alison McEwen

Breeder: Kerstin Drevet (FRA)

Breeding: by Diamant de Semilly, out of a mare by Papillon Rouge

Izzy Taylor with 11-year-old gelding Monkeying Around

Owner: Izzy and and Mark Sartori

Breeder: Christian Heinrich (GER)

Breeding: by Bertoli W, out of a mare by Donnerhall II

Oliver Townend with 15-year-old gelding Ballaghmor Class

Owner: Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan

Breeder: Noel Hicky (IRL)

Breeding: by Courage II

Oliver Townend with 14-year-old Swallow Springs

Owner: Paul and Diana Ridgeon

Breeder: Maria Keating (IRL)

Breeding: by Chillout, out of a mare by Cult Hero

As part of the Eventing World Championships entries, the following 10 reserve combinations have also been selected, listed in alphabetical order:

Kirsty Chabert with 11-year-old mare Opposition LoireOwner: Kirsty and the Daisy ChainBreeder: Mr J Johnston (GBR)Breeding: by Opposition Heracles, out of a mare by Carnival Drum

Laura Collett with 13-year-old gelding DacapoOwner: Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams, Alison and Michael Smedley and Carolyn TaylorBreeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Canturo

David Doel with 11-year-old gelding Galileo Nieuwmoed

Owner: Gillian Jonas

Breeder: J W and A P Jurrius (NED)

Breeding: by Carambole, out of a mare by Harcos

William Fox- Pitt with 13-year-old gelding OratorioOwner: the Oratorio SyndicateBreeding: by Oslo Biats, out of a mare by Topanoora

Pippa Funnell with 12-year-old gelding MaybachOwner: S H E Eventing ABBreeder: Camilla Paradis (SWE)Breeding: by Jaguar Mail, out of a mare by Irco Mena

Tom Jackson with 11-year-old gelding Capels Hollow Drift

Owner: Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb

Breeder: Jeanette Glynn (GBR)

Breeding: by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan, out of a mare by Lucky Gift

Richard Jones with 15-year-old gelding Alfies CloverOwner: Richard, Sandra Martin and Dinah SaundersBreeder: James Hickey (GBR)Breeding: by Tajrassi, out of a mare by Clover Hill

Selina Milnes with 13-year-old gelding IronOwner: William and Angela RuckerBreeding: by Aquilino, out of a mare by Donnerschlag

Tom McEwen with 11-year-old gelding Bob ChaplinOwner: Fred and Penny BarkerBreeding: by Cashell, out of a mare by Silver Jasper

Tom McEwen with 12-year-old chestnut mare CHF CooliserOwner: Vicky Bates and David MyersBreeder: Raymond Carroll (IRL)Breeding: by Womanizer, out of a mare by Ramiro B

The names of the grooms for each horse will be included in the final squad announcement.

‘He’s gone above and beyond our expectations’: meet an exciting British prospect that shone on his Badminton debut

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 08 May 2022 19:02:49 +0000

Twenty-eight-year-old British event rider Tom Jackson is no stranger to Badminton Horse Trials, which is presented by Mars Equestrian in 2022, as he already had two completions under his belt. However, he can now add a third completion to that tally, thanks to the very promising talent of the eye-catching Capels Hollow Drift.

The 11-year-old, owned by Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb, joined Tom Jackson in 2018 after starting his career with Georgie Campbell and this afternoon (8 May), had one fence down to finish a very creditable 16th at what was the horse’s first five-star.

“He’s a little bit short of experience with Covid, but I needn’t have worried as he was class the whole way round and made it feel quite easy,” Tom said after his cross-country round yesterday, where they jumped clear, incurring just 10 time-faults. “He stayed really with me and focused and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Prior to Badminton, Capels Hollow Drift had done only one CCI4*-L before coming to Badminton, finishing eighth in the competitive CCI4*-L at Bicton last summer.

“The whole sort of the whole weekend he’s gone above and beyond our expectations.”

Badminton final scores

Mother and daughter duo and co-owners in Capels Hollow Drift, Sarah Webb and Milly Simmie acquired this horse when he was a foal from John Walsh, after Jenny Glynn bred him in Ireland.

“I’m not sure many owners buy a foal that then ends up at Badminton so I’m really, really happy for them,” said Tom.

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue and keep fully up-to-date with all the action during Badminton week via horseandhound.co.uk, where a host of features and reports will be published.

The horse who took a rising British star from Pony Club to Badminton: ‘He was so honest with a kid bobbling around on him’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 12:18:31 +0000

It sounds like the dream of every Pony Club rider – to ride at your first Badminton Horse Trials on your very first horse. But occasionally, that dream does come true: it did for Tom Jackson and Waltham Fiddlers Find.

“Wes or Wesley, as we call him at home, was my first horse coming off ponies,” explains Tom in an interview on episode 78 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

“We actually were a bit cheeky as a family – we went just to the local dealers down the road from us, just almost because my parents wanted to see how I would get on with riding a few horses.

“We turned up and he was there, a big gangly four-year-old that was probably completely unsuitable for a 15- or 16-year-old lad, but we ended up getting him.”

Tom had done one season of pre-novices – now BE100s – with his pony Landis State Blue Secret and started off competing Wesley at Pony Club level.

Tom remembers: “Every time we stepped up, we stepped up together and it was a really amazing journey to go through the junior and then young rider programmes with him and him really teach me – I was very lucky in that he was very talented and obviously a very honest horse. With a young kid bobbling around on top of him, he was still performing.”

Tom and Waltham Fiddlers Find won junior team gold and young rider team silver and bronze together, won the under-25 championship at Bramham and went to their first five-star at Badminton in 2017.

“It is always amazing going to Badminton – I’ve been lucky enough to have been a few times now,” says Tom. “When you turn up on Tuesday, it’s always amazing walking through the arch into the stables. It just has such a different feel to any other event you’ve ever done.

“Wes had just come back from an injury as well, so for us to get him there and do that was a real big achievement in itself. And then we were just really hopeful and looking forward to the week.

“In the end, I made a huge mistake on the cross-country after getting three-quarters of the way around the course and him feeling amazing. I messed up a little bit, but we still managed to complete and tick that box.”

Tom and Wes went on to achieve a cross-country clear at Badminton the following year and also completed the five-star at Pau Horse Trials twice with cross-country clears.

“We went through the highs and lows of eventing together and it was amazing that we got all the way to five -star. I’m really glad that we got him to be able to do that and he’s now happily retired here,” says Tom.

Hear from Tom about his recent top-10 finish at Pau Horse Trials with Billy Cuckoo by tuning in to episode 78 of The Horse & Hound Podcast, or search “The Horse & Hound Podcast” in your favourite podcast app.

‘I’m pinching myself’: Nicola Wilson gains ground to land the CCI4*-S at Blenheim Horse Trials

Martha Terry — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:34:53 +0000

The CCI4*-S had a dramatic conclusion as the leaderboard underwent a shake-up in an influential cross-country phase at Blenheim Horse Trials.

Nicola Wilson took victory riding Coolparks Sarco, who jumped a double clear inside the time to move up from third after showjumping. Piggy March was second on Cooley Lancer, climbing from sixth, while Caroline Harris was third with Miss Pepperpot. Meanwhile both first and second ahead of this phase, Ros Canter (Izilot DHI) and Tom Jackson (HH Moonwalk) dropped out of contention with run-outs.

Nicola Wilson had course experience over David Evans’ tough track. She had already steered Hawk Eye round clear inside the time when she came into the startbox on Coolparks Sarco, who repeated the feat.

“I’m delighted with both my horses, they both gave me a super ride, and finished on their dressage scores,” said Nicola, also fourth on Hawk Eye. “I thought it was a really difficult course with lots to jump. They had to be sharp and on their game. I’m so pleased with how they kept their focus. I’m pinching myself to have such very exciting horses.

“They have got bags of scope and ability and massive length of stride. It is all a bit unknown [at this level], you hope they stay confident and come up more grown up than they came in, and I couldn’t be more proud. Hopefully there’s something special round the corner for them.”

Piggy March’s former young horse world champion, eight-year-old Cooley Lancer, produced a stunning round just 3sec outside the time to move up from sixth and finish runner-up. Meanwhile Caroline Harris completed the podium in third spot with Miss Pepperpot. They jumped clear for two time-faults.

“She was amazing, very, very strong,” said Caroline. “She had a fall last time out at Wellington, but she didn’t let it faze her, she was keen and pulled me right the way through the finish. This was the toughest I’ve seen this course, testing the straightness and honesty of young horses.”

A day of drama on Blenheim horse trials cross-country

There was drama in the top 10, when long-time leader Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI glanced off one of the corners at the four-part combination at 12, in an otherwise excellent round.

Izzy Taylor came off seventh-placed ride Carolines Air KM before starting and the mare galloped off round the course. She was eventually caught and Izzy remounted and started out last of all. But it was not a going day for the mare, who decided to run out having already taken off at the corner at fence 5b and tipped Izzy out of the plate.

It wasn’t all bad for Izzy, as she had already jumped a super clear for 1.2 time-faults on Hartacker to seal fifth place, having started this phase in 11th.

“He is a real baby but he went round like a grown-up horse,” she said.

Tom Jackson was another to have the benefit of a clear inside the time with his lower-placed horse Ask For Manchier when he set off in the runner-up position on HH Moonwalk. But the bay had a run-out at a corner in the combination at fence 12b and took out a flag at another corner in the middle of fence 17.

Former winner of this class Willa Newton was lying fifth on Cock A Doodle Doo but dropped out of the prizes with a run-out at the final corner on course (17b).

“A relief to have a good run”

Will Rawlin made up for a fall across country in yesterday’s CCI4*-L, coming home in a decent time with 3.2 time-faults on Ballycoog Breaker Boy for eventual eighth.

“I really needed that round after yesterday [on The Partner], we had a miscommunication at an open corner and I hit the ground quite hard, so I’m still feeling it setting up a horse like Ballycoog Breaker Boy who is big and still quite weak,” said Will. “This horse is incredible, so straight not matter what line or gear I’m in he’ll jump whatever is in front of him. It’s a relief to have a really good run and get the job done.”

Blenheim Horse Trials: what times the leaders jump on the final day of action

Martha Terry — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 09:50:25 +0000

Showjumping times on the final day of action in the CCI4*-L at Blenheim Horse Trials have been released following the second horse inspection. Today (Sunday, 19 September) also features the cross-country for the CCI4*-S.

The showjumping runs in reverse order, with 75 competitors due to jump. The first rider will showjump in the Palace Arena at 11.30am. Yasmin Ingham will be last into the ring as she bids for her first victory at this level on Banzai Du Loir. One rail covers the top 10, so the pressure is on not to make any mistakes.

The top 25 are due to start at 2.30pm. It’s likely that Piggy March will jump her sixth-placed Sportsfield Top Notch early due to her also holding second spot with Brookfield Quality.

CCI4*-L showjumping times: top 10 after cross-country (in time order)

Piggy March and Sportsfield Top Notch, provisional sixth (27.9)
Gemma Tattersall and Jalapeno III, 10th (28.7)
Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs, ninth (28.5)
Tom McEwen and Bob Chaplin, eighth (28.5)
Pippa Funnell and Maybach, seventh (28.4)
Susie Berry and John The Bull, fifth (27.9)
Emily King and Valmy Biats, fourth (27.2)
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, third (26.7)
Piggy March and Brookfield Quality, second (25.8)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir, leading (25.2)

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country for young horses

A total of 47 combinations are set to come forward to tackle the 3,860m CCI4*-S cross-country course, which has an optimum time of 6 minutes 46 seconds. With only 10 penalties separating first to 20th place, and a tough track lying ahead for these eight- and nine-year-olds, there is all to play for in this final phase.

Brazilian rider Marcio Carvalho Jorge is the pathfinder over David Evans’ track, with the competitors running in reverse order. Izzy Taylor and Nicola Wilson, who both have two horses in the top 12, will go out of order on their lower-placed horses.

CCI4*-S cross-country times: overnight top six after showjumping (in time order)

1.24pm: Piggy March and Cooley Lancer, provisional sixth (31.3)
1.28pm: Willa Newton and Cock A Doodle Doodle, fifth (31)
1.31pm: Caroline Harris and Miss Pepperpot, fourth (30.8)
1.35pm: Nicola Wilson and Coolparks Sarco, third (29.8)
1.38pm Tom Jackson and HH Moonwalk, second (29.6)
1.42pm Ros Canter and Izilot DHI, leading (28.2)

View the full list of CCI4*-L showjumping and CCI4*-S start times.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Big crowds are back, dressage leaders prevail and a nasty wasp sting: 8 stories you need to read from Saturday’s action at Blenheim

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tokyo Olympic gold medallists, reigning world champion and an eventing legend: hear from the sport’s elite who rocketed into Blenheim Horse Trials CCI4*-L top 10 on Friday

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘Winning would be nice, but it’s about his future Olympic chances’: Ros Canter retains lead in Blenheim Horse Trials young horse class

Martha Terry — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 09:54:20 +0000

Ros Canter maintained her dressage lead in the Blenheim Horse Trials showjumping phase in the CCI4*-S on Izilot DHI with a clear round. There was a change from the dressage podium when third-placed Gemma Tattersall’s Flash Cooley knocked down two rails to drop to 17th, but Tom Jackson held on to second spot with a clear on HH Moonwalk.

Jumping in thick fog, Izilot DHI gave every fence inches to spare, his carefulness contributing to 1.6 time-faults. There were only eight out of the 50 competitors clear inside the time.

“He does not like touching poles,” said Ros. “It’s only his first advanced but I knew he had the scope. I could tell I would get time-faults as soon as I started because there is nowhere you can move along. Next time, I would take a stride out here and there, but it’s a clever track.”

Ros is “realistic” about the cross-country challenge on this eight-year-old.

“Winning would be nice, but it’s not about that for him, it’s about winning an Olympic medal in the future,” she said. “I’m open-minded about tomorrow. It might shock him a bit, but I couldn’t be more delighted so far.”

Tom Jackson described HH Moonwalk’s clear with two time-faults as a “mega round”.

“The time is frustrating but he jumped really well,” he said. “With the fog and atmosphere it was eerie in there, and he went rigid and tight in his body at first, but he’s amazingly talented.”

Nicola Wilson moved up to third place from seventh courtesy of Coolparks Sarco’s clear inside the time, while dressage fourth Dani Evans (Hollywood Dancer) dropped out of contention with three down.

Blenheim Horse Trials: “a proper showjumping track”

Caroline Harris (Miss Pepperpot) produced one of the early clears over this tricky track when the fog was at its thickest. The mare is bred to jump, being by Peppermill, and this effort put them into fourth.

“It’s really twisty, a proper jumping track,” said Caroline. “It’s not the height, more that you have to keep riding, keep thinking, especially to the final double. The fog didn’t affect her in the ring, but she was shaking her head a bit before the start. She is strong and feisty and she likes to go!”

Willa Newton will be hoping to repeat her 2016 victory in this class, this time riding Cock A Doodle Doo, who now lies fifth after a clear inside the time.

“It’s a technical track with lots of half strides so you have to make some decisions,” said Willa, who bought the grey as as project when he was a three-year-old from Dirk Schrade. “It wasn’t planned, but I took a stride out a couple of times when it was tighter and that may have helped me make the time.”

“I felt him go shy when he went in, but he’s such a cool jumper.”

Marching up the ranks at Blenheim Horse Trials

Piggy March moved up from eighth to sixth with a clear (two time-faults) on Cooley Lancer.

“He has loads of power and you can make up so much ground in between the fences but the striding was quite short,” she said. “I tried to make up time by turning tighter rather than speed, but I could have been braver to the last oxer.

Like Ros, Piggy is not putting too much pressure on her eight-year-old ahead of the cross-country day.

“It’s as technical as I’ve seen it for this class,” she said. “He’s a real galloper but very enthusiastic, and he can get really hot and run his race too quickly. I have no idea how it will go until we get going. If he doesn’t frazzled by the whole occasion, we’ll give it a go, but who knows!”

Izzy Taylor’s two rides swapped places after the lower placed Carolines Air KM jumped clear to move up to seventh, while dressage sixth Hartacker hit one to drop to 11th.

“Caroline is eight and very green, she did not want to go into the arena, but she was very good the whole way round,” said Izzy, who sat well when the horse reared before entering the ring. “It’s a big stadium and undulating. Fence two feels like you are jumping into the crowd. It’s a big ask just for her to be here.”

As for the fog – Izzy’s hunting background stood her in good stead.

“They say horses jump best at dusk – perhaps it helped her today,” she smiled.

With the time predicted to be tight on the CCI4*-S cross-country track, there’s all to play for at the top of the leaderboard. Just four penalties (10 seconds) covers the top eight horses.

View the full Blenheim Horse Trials young horse CCI4*-S showjumping results

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘In my world I’ve won my own little event’: Piggy March thrilled by young horse performance at Blenheim

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter retains her lead ahead of ‘tough’ cross-country in Blenheim Horse Trials’ young horse class

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter retains her lead ahead of ‘tough’ cross-country in Blenheim Horse Trials’ young horse class

Martha Terry — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 13:59:53 +0000

The overnight leaders of the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage in the CCI4*-S class have held their ground as the second day’s (17 September) contenders failed to shake up the podium places. Ros Canter is still in the lead, on 26.6 with Izilot DHI, ahead of Tom Jackson (HH Moonwalk on 27.6) and Gemma Tattersall (Flash Cooley on 28.3).

There were still plenty of competitive tests, however, with just five penalties covering the top 12, which will make for a fascinating day’s cross-country on Sunday for these young horses. They have to get through the showjumping first though – no winner of this class has ever lowered a rail.

Dani Evans came closest to a top-three dressage finish early in the morning (17 September), slotting into fourth on Hollywood Dancer on 28.4. Towards the end of the session, Izzy Taylor rode Hartacker into sixth.

“Like all these young horses, he’s never been anywhere or seen anything like this, so this has been very good for him,” Izzy said of Camilla Behrens’ gelding by Spartacus HN. “He was a little bit nervous and held his breath in his trot work. But he has a fantastic walk, which was rewarded, and a very good canter which pulled the marks back again. His trot will be very good, he just needs to be prouder of himself.

“He is very sensitive – you have to be very careful getting on him the first time with a tailcoat – so his preparation has to be quiet. That’s why he hasn’t yet learned to be a show-off.”

Izzy predicted changes in the leaderboard on cross-country day.

“The course looks plenty tough enough, the toughest I’ve seen it for the eight and nine-year-olds. It doesn’t look like it will be a dressage competition, but that’s good, we are event riders.”

Izzy’s team-mate at the forthcoming Europeans, Nicola Wilson, was less than a penalty behind in seventh on Coolparks Sarco, who was unaffected by his little spook before entering the arena.

“It’s his first four-star, and he’s not established but went in there and tried to do what was right, and did his changes, so I’m really pleased with him,” said Nicola. “The course is very big and there’s an awful lot to jump. He’s a big, powerful jumper but he won’t have seen these crowds so it’s a massive learning curve and I hope he enjoys it as much as he normally does. I want him to come home a happy horse. So far, he’s enjoying the attention and rolling and squealing a lot!”

Former Blenheim Horse Trials winner in contention

Willa Newton was another rider on the second day to produce an impressive test. She rode Cock A Doodle Doo to move into 11th on 31.

“It’s nice to have a horse back at this level,” said Willa, who won this class five years ago on Caja 20. “I was really pleased with this as it is a lot of walk for him, especially in a big atmosphere.”

Willa was ruing a mistake in the last flying change as “normally they are his thing”.

“He has a lot to learn, this is a step up,” she added. “ The cross-country is intense with a lot to do, and the time is definitely going to be a huge factor.”

Piggy French and her former world young horse champion Cooley Lancer also slotted into a top-10 position, taking eighth with 30.1.

Brilliant Blenheim atmosphere takes effect

Will Rawlin was delighted with Ballycoog Breaker Boy’s effort, scoring 31.8 and securing a top-15 berth.

“This atmosphere is quite something, and I didn’t have time to do the arena familiarisation, but he kept a lid on everything and produced a really nice test,” he said. “Just a few things need ironing out, but it seemed smooth. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the cross-country – it looks educational with some good questions.”

Caroline Powell also noted the effect of the atmosphere on these inexperienced horses. She rode eight-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier to score 33.8, good enough for the top 20.

“She got tense in the walk and a bit stilted, but she’s a big mare and I’m very happy with her,” said the Kiwi rider. “This is why we like bringing these young horses, to get them used to the atmosphere.”

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘The young horses will have to try hard’: riders react to Blenheim’s cross-country courses

Rosalind Canter riding Izilot DHI in CCI4*-S during the dressage phase of the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials Brought to you by The Jockey Club held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, in the village of Woodstock near Oxford in UK between the 16-19th September 2021 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Take a peek at what Blenheim Horse Trials’ CCI4*-S cross-country course has in store for young equine stars

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros Canter’s ride Izilot DHI heads Blenheim young horse class: ‘He’s only at 70% of his ability; I’ve never sat on a horse so talented’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:12:26 +0000

Two horses who have already been British champions in age classes hold the top spots in the eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S at the conclusion of today’s Blenheim Horse Trials dressage for this class.

Ros Canter sits in first with Izilot DHI, who was the British six-year-old champion in 2019, on a mark of 26.6. Izilot DHI, who belongs to his rider and Alex Moody, has won two CCI3*-Ls this year, and steps up to four-star for the first time this weekend.

“It’s a big ask coming here – we only decided the day of the ballot that we would give it a crack,” said Ros. “He can be quite a sharp character, a little bit of a naughty boy at times, but he’s really matured this year and I haven’t sat on a horse as talented at this one.

“He’s probably working at 60 or 70% of his abilities at the moment and he does a 26, so it’s very exciting for the future.”

Comparing Izilot to her world champion Allstar B, Ros said: “His ability surpasses what Allstar B has – Allstar B has the most incredible brain and kind personality and that’s what carries him to the great heights that he’s achieved. This horse has more physical ability so if I can tame the brain, he could be exciting.”

Ros explained what makes Izilot so special: “He’s just elastic, he’s got a length of stride, but he’s got balance with it. He actually feels like a pure dressage horse at times, with his ability to sit and wait and lighten at the same time. He’s highly intelligent – if he was a human he’d have an extremely high IQ. He picks things up and learns new movements very quickly.

“The challenge then is he obviously learns how to be naughty very quickly as well, so it’s trying to find that balance. He has a fair bit of work at a place like this so that he stays on side with me, but he’s actually got a very good brain for going in and doing a good test.

“From day one, he rode beautifully, but we have had our ups and downs with trying to stay on him, particularly in the winter. We have a window of May to now – he seems to need sunlight to behave himself and sometimes during the winter he has a lot of fun but he isn’t much fun for me.”

Talking about Izilot DHI in the jumping phases, Ros said: “He’s a phenomenal jumper. He’s like a cat in front. I was schooling him the other day and I thought I was running in a bit deep to quite a big upright, probably bigger than he really jumped before, and I thought, ‘Well, he’ll have this one down’ and he doesn’t – he just has that ability to get out of things.

“Across country, he’s brave and very careful – and also very spooky. So, it’s a case of whether he’ll cope with the people here and if there’s an ornament in the wrong place, sometimes he doesn’t see his jump because he’s busy spooking off that. If I’ve got his mind and he’s focused on the jump, he will do his best to jump it.”

Tom Jackson now holds second on last year’s British seven-year-old champion, HH Moonwalk, owned by Jonathan and Lexi Hambro and May-Britt Wedd. The pair are one mark behind Ros and Izilot DHI.

“I’m delighted with the horse – it’s his first time in anything like this at all,” said Tom. “He’s just an eight-year-old and he really was very concentrated on me, and delivered his best work in the arena, which is all we can ask for. He’s an extremely talented horse, but he can be quite sensitive and especially in an environment like that, sometimes shrink into himself. But today he really concentrated and stayed with me.”

Asked to pick some highlights of the test, Tom said: “I was very pleased with his extensions. He’d naturally finds those very easy. I thought he really nailed both changes as well, so I’m over the moon with him.”

Gemma Tattersall, who held the lead at lunchtime in the Blenheim Horse Trials dressage for this class, now sits third on Flash Cooley.

Naughty first ponies and exciting young horses: 5 mins with event rider Tom Jackson H&H Plus

Pippa Roome — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:55:29 +0000

British event rider Tom Jackson, 27, was a team gold, silver and bronze medallist in under-21 ranks on Waltham Fiddlers Find. He has been placed at five-star and rode HH Moonwalk to win last year’s British seven-year-old national championship. H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome grabbed him for some quick-fire questions to find out more…

Describe your first pony

Shadow was a Welsh section A grey mare. She was a brilliant lead-rein pony and would hardly put a foot wrong while attached to someone. However, the minute you thought you were good enough to be let off the lead, she would bring you back down to earth with a bump.

Countless times I would get just far enough away from any supervising adults before being promptly deposited. Shadow would then smugly trot off to the nearest source of food. We got her from a riding school and she taught me and both my younger sisters to ride before going on to two or three other families to do the same thing.

How do you handle competition nerves?

Focus on the process.

What superstitions or pre-show rituals do you have?

I used to have a few too many – everything from lucky socks to saluting magpies. I decided it was becoming a bit ridiculous so knocked it all on the head. The only thing I do now is chuck anything new out of the lorry so it has had a fall.

If you could have any horse, which would you want?

Toledo De Kerser. I have always admired him. He is a super athlete and I always think you would feel pretty confident going into the jumping on a Sunday, although I know Tom McEwen does a brilliant job as the horse has his quirks.

Toledo De Kerser at Badminton Horse Trials 2019. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

What do you eat for breakfast – and do you watch what you eat?

Coffee is a must for me in the mornings. I normally try to have some porridge with honey as well. I am lucky to have useful help from a nutritionist through the World Class programme.

What’s your favourite place to visit?

The French Alps in winter. I love skiing and don’t think you can beat the picturesque views from the top of a mountain.

Which famous person would you invite to dinner?

Roger Federer – the way he has remained at the top of his sport for so long and so consistently is amazing. I would love to find out more about how he mentally remains so focused.

Your favourite tipple?

A good red wine.

Describe your dog

Alfie is the sort of dog who has more friends then we do. He loves roaming around events and making new mates.

Share a horse you’re excited about

We’re all excited about the prospect of Billy Cuckoo contesting her first five-star this year. She is a much-loved member of the team and has been a consistent performer. I am also particularly excited about a couple of younger horses who I think could have big futures – they are Ask For Manchier and HH Moonwalk.

Pippa Funnell riding Billy Cuckoo at Belton Horse Trials 2016. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Do you have a useless talent?

Juggling.

What’s been your worst wardrobe malfunction?

I spent the last few events of the 2020 season with vet wrap around my boots, as they had worn through to my socks. My new ones were delayed arriving due to Covid and it wasn’t a great look.

What kind of sleeper are you?

I can pretty much sleep through anything. When I worked for Dassett Eventing, I managed to sleep through my alarms and answer the phone to a co-worker, which I still have no recollection of – in the end they had to come into my room to wake me.

This exclusive feature is also available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, 25 March 2021 issue

Another pair out of eventing squad for European Championships

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:52:56 +0000

Tom Jackson has been ruled out of the British squad for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (10-13 September) after a setback to his horse Waltham Fiddlers Find.

The partnership has been replaced by Wills Oakden and Greystone Midnight Melody.

It was revealed today (Thursday, 27 August) that Waltham Fiddlers Find, owned by Tom and his parents Ian and Sara Jackson, has had a “slight setback” that prevents him competing.

“As always we have ups and downs in the sport,” said Team GBR eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner.

“It’s very sad that Tom’s horse has been found not fit enough to be going.

“He is a young and very talented rider with a horse we’re very excited about for the future, which is another reason we didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”

Tom had been a late call-up from reserve, replacing Flora Harris and Bayano.

Flora and Bayano, owned by her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt, were selected for the championship following their win in the CCI3* at Bramham in June. However, the pair had three run-outs across country in the Nations Cup in Aachen earlier this month.

“All selected athlete/horse combinations are required to maintain their performance and fitness ahead of a championship,” read a statement at the time.

Following the withdrawal of Waltham Fiddlers Find, the eventing senior selectors have therefore called up the next named reserve — 25-year-old Wills Oakden.

He will compete his 12-year-old British-bred mare, Greystone Midnight Melody, owned by David Kenwright and Sylvia Douglas.

Wills joins the existing British eventing squad of Laura Collect (Grand Manoeuvre), Dani Evans (Smart Time), WIlliam Fox-Pitt (Bay My Hero), Pippa Funnell (Sandman 7), Kitty King (Persimmon), Gemma Tattersall (Arctic Soul), Izzy Taylor (Briarlands Matilda), Oliver Townend (Fenyas Elegance), Francis Whittington (Easy Target) and Nicola Wilson (One Two Many) and Holly Woodhead (DHI Lupison) at the competition at Blair Castle.

Flora Harris out of British eventing squad for Blair European Championships

Pippa Roome — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 08:10:51 +0000

Flora Harris will not ride on the British squad at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle (10-13 September). She has been replaced by first reserve Tom Jackson, riding Waltham Fiddlers Find.

Flora and Bayano, owned by her mother Caroline and Rebecca Salt, were selected for the championship following their win in the CCI3* at Bramham in June. However, the pair had three run-outs across country in the Nations Cup at Aachen, Germany, last week.

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) released a statement this morning saying: “The British eventing senior selectors have decided to substitute Bayano… following the horse’s recent lack of form at the eventing CICO3* Nations Cup event in Aachen… All selected athlete/horse combinations are required to maintain their performance and fitness ahead of a championship.”

Tom Jackson, 22, sprang into the spotlight when he won the under-25 CCI3* at Bramham last year on his parents’ and his own Waltham Fiddlers Find. The pair have also won junior team gold (2011) and young rider team silver (2013) and team bronze medals (2014). They finished sixth in the under-25 class at Bramham this year.

Waltham Fiddlers Find is a 12-year-old by Jetset D, out of a Lux mare called Sabina. He has 440 British Eventing points and Tom has produced him throughout his eventing career, starting from BE90 and BE100 in 2009. The pair will make their senior championship debut at Blair.

In addition to this change, there has been a change of horse for Blair squad rider Izzy Taylor. She was initially selected with Allercombe Ellie, but the mare was lame in Aachen so did not compete. Izzy will now ride her direct reserve horse, Guy Avis’ 15-year-old KBIS Briarlands Matilda.

Full report of the eventing Nations Cup in Aachen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 20 August. This issue also contains our bumper report on the European Dressage Championships.

Tom Jackson wins Bramham under-25 CCI3*

Pippa Roome — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 11:07:58 +0000

Tom Jackson claimed the Bishop Burton College under-25 CCI3* at the Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials this morning.

Overnight leaders Tom and Waltham Fiddlers Find had fences 10 and 11 down on Di Boddy’s showjumping track, but they could afford these and still take the title.

“The horse was struggling with the going, which was quite holding and tacky, but he tried his heart out,” said Tom. “They’ve done a lot with the ground, but there’s not a lot you can do when there’s as much rain as we’ve had and then today’s weather is as it is [sunny].”

Germany’s Niklas Bschorer (Tom Tom Go 3) also held 2nd despite knocking fences 4a and 8a.

Wills Oakden lay 3rd overnight, but an expensive 6 down on Alfi Brown dropped him to 6th.

Hector Payne moved up from 4th to 3rd on Blue Moonshine, while Gina Ruck’s clear elevated her from 6th to 4th.

Hector said: “Today was just about protecting that score, because he doesn’t find showjumping easy after cross-country and he tried his heart out yesterday.”

Brazil’s Gabriel Cury took 5th on the former Mark Todd ride NZB Grass Valley.

Final update on senior CCI3*

Full report on Bramham in H&H this Thursday, 12 June.

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Tom paid tribute to World Class athlete health lead Ash Wallace and her team for helping him get back to fitness.

“They were phenomenal at being able to manage me so that I could do a few events with fewer horses and build me back up so I was fully fit for Badminton and I haven’t looked back since,” he said.

The 12-year-old Ask For Manchier, an attractive flea-bitten grey, belongs to SHE Eventing AB and his Swedish owner found him competing with an amateur rider in Sweden.

“I was really pleased with all his trot work and then in the canter he just started to get a little bit behind me, so we missed the last change, which is frustrating because his changes are normally bang on. So we left a few marks in there, but he’s in first so we’ll take that,” said Tom.

“I totally love this horse, I feel like a 10-year-old girl who’s in love with her pony,” said Harry, who took over the ride from Sam Griffiths three years ago.

“She is just the apple of my eye. I think she’s got lots of talent but she’s just a good person. She’s really game, very sensitive and she’s hot but she’s a trier –there’s no malice in her. I’m thrilled with her.”

Max Warburton holds fourth on The Paske Syndicate’s 10-year-old Deerpairc Revelry.

“He’s still quite a young horse, but he’s really improved over the winter and he’s strengthening all the time. I’m chuffed to bits with that,” said Max.

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Yasmin Ingham with 14-year-old Rehy DJOwners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies FundBreeder: Noel Russell (IRL)Breeding: By Tinarina’s Inspector, out of a mare by Big Sink Hope

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“He recovered really well from yesterday and he’s getting quite good at jumping clear – he’s probably only had a pole once in the last three years so he’s a pretty impressive horse in that phase,” said Tom.

“Every day’s a school day and every time you come and do something like this you learn something. You can take it away and hopefully next time we can be where we want to be.

“He’ll have a nice well-deserved break now – that’ll be him done for the end of the year – then I guess we’ll start the preparation for Badminton again. Hopefully we can capitalise on the fifth place this year and see if we can go a few places better next year.”

Tom said his first senior championship had been “a really good experience”.

The Belgian squad have now completed their team score and have secured qualification for the Paris Olympics. The Netherlands are set to seize the other Paris 2024 ticket when their final rider, Janneke Boonzaaijer, jumps this afternoon.

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