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‘What will selectors be willing to forgive?’ H&H’s eventing expert on what Bramham means for World Championship selection – for Britain and beyond

Pippa Roome — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:40:34 +0000

H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome rounds up what last week’s Yorkshire showcase means for the British and others hoping for a ticket to Aachen

And so, with Defender Bramham Horse Trials over, we take stock again on where we are with regards to eventing World Championship selection.

Let’s start with the easy part. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin’s win in the CCI4*-S surely confirms their place in the British team. They are unbeaten in their four runs this year, two of them at CCI4*-S in competitive company, and those results added to their championship record over the past two years must be enough to put them on the lorry to Aachen.

Beyond that, it’s more complicated and the question for many nations will have to be, “What are selectors willing to forgive?” Few combinations offer perfect form so it’s all about what errors can be overlooked or what known weaknesses they would prefer to take on.

Britain’s Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time were very impressive winning the CCI4*-L. A year ago, their victory gave them a straight path to the Europeans. But from there, it all went pear-shaped, with three falls. Bubby talked brilliantly at Bramham about reassessing, starting training with Andrew Nicholson and putting a new system into action. And she put the talk into action.

One good result doesn’t wipe out past problems. The selectors will have to decide if that’s really behind this pair and if they’re willing for the World Championships to be the next testing ground for that.

Bubby and “Finn” offer the ability to win an individual medal on their best form and that has to be attractive. The selection policy says places “may be used to provide championship experience”, which plays in their favour – both horse and rider are young and Bubby is a serious, well-supported professional with more young horses coming through and potentially decades of British team service ahead of her.

My hunch? I think Bubby has a real chance of a spot.

I don’t think CCI4*-L runner-up Selina Milnes is in the running; she is not on the World Class programme and, while she and Cooley Snapchat have had other good results, they don’t have a consistent body of form.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir, who were fifth? I think the 10-year-old mare is quite likely Yasmin’s next British team horse – and her great first-phase performance would be valuable at a championship – but I also think she’s still inexperienced and her few time-faults and single fence down at Bramham confirm that. They may well be among the nominated entries (nations can submit up to 15 at this first entry stage) but I don’t think they’ll be selected.

Yasmin Ingham and Gypsie Du Loir at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

I didn’t mention Katie Magee, fifth at Badminton on Treworra, in my last selection piece and perhaps I should have. That result has to put her somewhere on the British selection radar, but she isn’t on the World Class programme and, much as eventing is a sport where athletes have longevity, as a rider who has come to five-star later (she’s 44), it’s harder to reconcile a rider with Katie’s profile with the “experience for the future” aspect of selection. Her seventh at Bramham on the beautiful Cushlas Indigo adds weight to Katie as a true top-level rider, but I don’t think she’s going to Aachen.

Ultimately, the Brits are lucky – there were no serious disappointments at Bramham from those in the running and with those who have played their hand already this spring, those who were at Bramham and Caroline Harris at Luhmühlen Horse Trials this week with D. Day, they are probably spoilt for choice.

If I’m forced to choose, I think the British squad will be Laura Collett (London 52), Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), Gemma Stevens (Flash Cooley) and Bubby Upton (Its Cooley Time), with Tom Jackson (United 36) and Harry Meade (Annaghmore Valoner) as first reserves.

Eventing World Championship selection: beyond the Brits

Bramham was more interesting for some other nations.

For Ireland, Aoife Clark was extremely impressive with her dressage score finish for fourth in the CCI4*-L on Full Monty De Lacense. They were a relatively new combination when they fell at the Europeans last year and this puts that firmly behind them.

Joseph Murphy has had three years away from the team scene, but Calmaro was 12th last time he made a squad appearance (2023 Europeans) and eighth in the huge CCI4*-S at Bramham must give him a chance.

Also for Ireland, Susie Berry looks to be building a good partnership with new ride Strangford (14th in the CCI4*-S) and Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis (17th in the CCI4*-S without being foot to the floor) consolidated their European team silver last year.

A run-out at the influential Defender combination for MGH Zabaione, the 2024 Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old champion, will have been frustrating for Padraig McCarthy. Would selectors prefer to take him on Pomp N Circumstance – who led last year’s team silver but had 20 jumping penalties across country at Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring – or will they pass him by completely?

New Zealand mixed good results – second in the CCI4*-S for Samantha Lissington, who bids for her championship debut on Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ, and fifth for Jonelle Price, who surely confirmed her spot with Millstreet CCI4*-S winner Senor Crocodillo – with the curveball of a dressage lead but cross-country run-out for Jesse Campbell and Speedwell. Again, what will selectors forgive?

For the USA, Tamie Smith was well up after dressage in the CCI4*-S on Lillet 3, Kentucky winner at the same level, but misjudged her line to a corner and fell across country. Can the selectors look past that? Maybe. None of the USA’s developing riders were outstanding at Bramham to elbow her out and Wiltshire-based Tiana Coudray, third in the CCI4*-L on D’Artagnan, hasn’t been to a championship since London 2012 and isn’t part of their performance structure.

Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan claim third in the CCI4*-L at Bramham 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

What’s next on eventing World Championship selection? Nations have to put in their nominated entries – up to 15 combinations – by 6 July and then their definite entries (the actual squad, bar injury or illness) by 27 July. While we expect some nations to announce squads before that deadline, there’s another month of speculation ahead…

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‘She carries herself beautifully’: promising mare second after dressage at Bramham for reigning world champion

Pippa Roome — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:50:47 +0000

Yasmin Ingham sits second after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage in the CCI4*-L class, having scored 24.8 today.

The British rider has returned to the Yorkshire venue with the promising 10-year-old Gypsie Du Loir, owned by Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund, 12 months after winning the CCI4*-S class here.

“She’s such an exciting horse and it’s even more special because I’ve had her since she was five, so we’ve gone on the journey together and she’s just getting better and better each year,” said Yasmin.

“I’m still not entirely happy with that – the late flying change at the end was super frustrating and that’s been her weakness in her dressage. We’re just trying to get that nailed, so I think we’ll be doing some more homework, but the rest of the test felt really fluent and she just carries herself so beautifully.

“She’s got a real natural cadence about her and her presence in general is quite attractive, so she’s a pleasure to ride.”

A narrow margin at the top after Bramham Horse Trials dressage

Yasmin is second to last year’s CCI4*-L winners Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time, who are 0.6 of a mark ahead.

Last night’s leader Piggy March holds third with MCS Maverick on 26.4, with US rider Tiana Coudray and D’Artagnan fourth (27.4) and Selina Milnes on Cooley Snapchat, another pair who performed yesterday, in fifth (27.9).

Caroline Powell’s test today with 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials winner Greenacres Special Cavalier, owned by Chris Mann, has allowed her to slot into sixth on 29.

“She got a bit nervous in the trot, but the canter was beautiful. She never scores great marks for the walk because she’s so long, but we know what she is and what she does, so we’re chuffed with her,” said the New Zealand rider.

Caroline said she hasn’t had a smooth build-up to a three-day with the mare in a long time, including this one.

She explained: “Every time you think you’ve got a straight run, there’s a great big, bendy turn in the way, and you’ve just got to rethink what you’re doing and change things. I’m this age and I’m still learning how to get horses to three days – it’s never, never easy, is it?

“The main aim for this week is to finish, because I think it’s very important for her mentally to actually come and get through and go home very happy.”

Riders are in agreement that Andrew Heffernan’s reworked cross-country track offers a serious test so tomorrow should be an exciting day of action.

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Joy and tears as British team horse moves to new rider: ‘There’s nothing not to love about him’

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:18:13 +0000

The up-and-coming young rider who has taken on Yasmin Ingham’s five-star and championship partner Rehy DJ said there is “nothing not to love about him”.

The 16-year-old with whom Yasmin represented Britain, came third at Luhmühlen twice and won at three-star level has been sold to 20-year-old Elizabeth Barratt, the national young rider champion and current young rider world number one eventer.

Elizabeth told H&H “Piglet” arrived at the end of last week and has settled in to his new home.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “While I was jumping in Spain, Yas messaged about the possibility of him needing a young rider jockey and we were very lucky that she allowed us to come and try him – and we fell in love with him.”

Elizabeth said she was delighted Yas had thought of her to take on the reins, and she went to try him a couple of weeks ago.

“We went up to Somerford and tried him, and there’s nothing not to love about him,” she said. “He’s just super cool, he settled in really well and seems to like his new home.

“We’ll get to know him for a bit; I’m taking him on quite close to the start of the season, so we’ll see how quickly we gel and get to know each other, but I’d love to have him to campaign for young riders – this is my last year in young riders – alongside my other horse, Chaman Dumountceau; it’ll be really nice to have the two of them campaigning for that.”

Championship aims

Elizabeth, who was crowned British young rider national champion last year with Big Boss Melo and has won at three-star level, also has the under-25 World Championships next year in her sights with Piglet.

“Hopefully he’ll be great at that,” she said. “I’ve only done a couple of four-stars so I’ve got a lot to learn but hopefully he’ll give me some great mileage at four-star and teach me a lot, and I’ll be very lucky to have him to do that, and to have this opportunity.”

Piglet was the first horse bought for Yasmin by the late Sue Davies, Eddie Davies and their daughter Janette Chin, and together they went from young riders – finishing fourth individually at the 2018 Europeans – to five-star level and senior championships; they represented their country at last year’s Europeans at Blenheim and in the 2022 Aachen Nations Cup, which Britain won.

“A decade of us, but now it’s time for our chapter to close,” Yasmin said. “I am delighted (with some tears!) to share that Piglet (Rehy DJ) will be piloted by the current world number one young rider Elizabeth Barratt.

“I am so grateful to Piglet for being my ultimate stalwart and best buddy over the past 10 years. We have learnt together, grown together, had some incredible results and memories together and now it’s time for a new chapter to begin for him and Elizabeth and I wish them so much luck. Thank you Piglet.”

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Tom McEwen, Oliver Townend and Zara Tindall among strong Pau five-star entries

Becky Murray — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:32:56 +0000

Tom McEwen with JL Dublin, Yasmin Ingham riding Rehy DJ and Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class are among the strong list of Pau Horse Trials entries for the French five-star (23–26 October).

Tom and the Lamberts and Deirdre Johnston’s 14-year-old JL Dublin come forward fresh off the back of their individual bronze medal-winning performance at the Agria European Eventing Championships at Blenheim last month.

They are one of 34 British combinations, with Tom also entered with the Perrys and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Quality. Both horses have form at Pau; JL Dublin was third there in 2023 and Brookfield Quality was third last year.

Fellow British Europeans squad members Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ (owned by the Sue Davies Fund) and Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time (owned by the rider and the Five Time Syndicate) are entered, following unfortunate falls for both riders at Blenheim. Bubby is also entered with her long-term rides Cannavaro and Cola, owned by Bubby’s mother Rachel Upton.

Oliver Townend and fan favourite Ballaghmor Class, owned by Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislp and Val Ryan, will be hoping to add a fifth five-star title to the horse’s name. The pair were third in the CCI4*-S prep run at Little Downham on Tuesday (30 September).

There are 69 combinations on the Pau five-star entries. Other Brits include European champion Laura Collett, who is entered with Dacapo (owned by Diana Chappel, Gillian Morris-Adams, Carolyn Taylor and the Smedleys) and Lucy Nelson’s Hester. Zara Tindall will ride Gleadhill Stud’s Class Affair and Emily King is entered with two rides; the Irlams’ Jackpot and Valmy Biats, owned by Emily and David and Paula Evans.

New Zealand’s Jonelle and Tim Price have four horses entered each, six riders will represent the US including Boyd Martin, and Padraig McCarthy is among the three Irish riders.

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Yasmin Ingham reacts to fall at Blenheim Europeans: ‘He just didn’t read it; it was no fault of his’

Pippa Roome — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 17:55:03 +0000

Yasmin Ingham is unhurt after her fall today on the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country course, saying “the main thing is we’re both ok and we will live fight another day” as she reflects on what happened.

The British team pathfinder was eliminated with Rehy DJ, who belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, at the FEI Mounds at fence 22ab. The fence consisted of an open parallel followed by an open corner, both on hillocks, at the turning point of the course.

“He was absolutely magnificent on the first part of the course and we were up on all our minutes,” said Yasmin. “We got to minute six and he was up on his minute [there] and had made it all feel really, really good – as I’d planned everything.

“We just got to the rails at the top field and I rode the line I’d planned to ride, rode the distance I’d planned to ride and he didn’t quite read the corner as I’d hoped he would. He just caught his left front leg on the back rail, which then caused him to crumple on landing and I just came off out the front door.

“So it was through completely no fault of his, no fault of mine and it’s just unfortunately one of those things, but the main thing is we’re both ok and we will live fight another day.”

The early fall of Yasmin Ingham on the Blenheim European Championships cross-country course marked the start of a tricky day for the British team, which runs in partnership with Agria, as her team-mate Piggy March (Halo) and individual riders Caroline Harris (D. Day) and Bubby Upton (Its Cooley Time) also had falls.

However, Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) both put in good fast rounds and they hold individual gold and bronze going into tomorrow’s showjumping.

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Tough start for Britain at Blenheim eventing Europeans after pathfinder rider falls on cross-country

Martha Terry — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:49:56 +0000

The pressure is on the home team in the Agria Blenheim European Championships cross-country phase after Britain’s first rider Yasmin Ingham had a fall from Rehy DJ two-thirds of the way round the course.

This leaves Britain with no room for error as the scores for all three of the remaining combinations (Tom McEwen, Piggy March and Laura Collett) will count.

Yasmin was the third rider out of the startbox after the withdrawal of Senne Vervaecke, with the target set by the trailblazer Nadja Minder and 18-year-old Toblerone jumping clear for 12.8 time-faults over Mark Phillips’ 5,710m track.

It started well for the British pairing. They jumped neatly through the Suregrow Dewpond at fence six, adding a tidy extra stride, and were copybook through the technical angled and corner fences in the arena and on the front lawn. Rehy DJ is such a straight, honest horse, Yasmin was able to present him on fences on tight angles – particularly coming over the angled brush out of the water at fence 19 –and the horse kept rising to the task.

But they had a problem at the tricky combination at fence 22, the FEI Mounds, an oxer on a mound turning left-handed to a corner also on a mound, causing a rider fall.

Yasmin, the pathfinder for the British team, running in partnership with Agria, was lying ninth after dressage on Rehy DJ on a score of 29. Fourth at the young rider Europeans in 2018 together, this was their first senior championship as a partnership.

Yasmin’s score was counting, so Piggy’s score of 29.4 will now come into play for the British team result.

Update: Yasmin gave her reflections on her fall at the end of cross-country day

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Frustrating mistakes, a tussle at the top and Blenheim memories: everything you need to know from Thursday at the Europeans

Pippa Roome — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:26:33 +0000

The Agria Blenheim European Championships dressage has drawn to a close for day one and it’s tight at the top of the leaderboard, with Germany just edging Britain to hold both gold medal positions at this early stage.

Let’s catch up on all the action…

Yasmin Ingham was the first Brit into the arena, on Rehy DJ, and she got things off to a good start.

How does Yasmin feel about being the pathfinder?

Germany took an early lead, with championship debutante Libussa Lübbeke impressing.

Read about Libussa’s test and her home-bred mare

After lunch, Britain’s second team member Piggy March came before the judges with stallion Halo.

Why was Piggy frustrated after her test?

At the end of the day, German rider Malin Hansen-Hotopp cruised into top spot, confirming Germany in double gold overnight.

More on Malin’s test and the full lowdown on team scores at the end of the day

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K in the Blenheim European Championships dressage. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

British individual rider Caroline Harris made her championship debut today, on D. Day.

What was the expensive moment in Caroline’s test?

Riders have been sharing their initial reactions to Mark Phillips’s cross-country course.

What Yasmin Ingham and Piggy March said about the track

The second half of the Blenheim European Championships dressage action takes place tomorrow.

When do the Brits go?

We also caught up with Kumru Say today – she’s making history for Turkey this week.

Check out Kumru’s fascinating story

Did you forget the GFS Saddles eight- and nine-year-old class, with all the Europeans excitement? We didn’t!

Who’s leading in the young horse showdown?

And finally, if you want to take a trip down memory lane, exclusively for Horse & Hound subscribers…

Relive Zara Tindall’s week taking double gold at the 2005 European Championships at Blenheim

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Yasmin Ingham kicks off British effort at Blenheim Europeans: ‘I’m not riding a big, flashy horse, so it’s gaining those small margins’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:31:11 +0000

Yasmin Ingham has started the British team off on a good note in the Agria Blenheim European Championships dressage this morning (18 September).

The reigning world champion and the 15-year-old horse, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, scored 29, the first pair to break the 30-barrier at this early stage.

Yasmin came down the first centreline with a huge smile on her face and steered Rehy DJ through a solid, consistent test. The bay was a little unsteady in his head and through the contact at times, but pulled off clean flying changes and an accurate performance.

“We’ve been working super hard with Chris Bartle and Sarah Higgins on the flat, said Yasmin. “They’ve been instrumental in my dressage training and just trying to gain those small margins – an extra half percent here or there and then you’re down into where you want to be.

“It’s just trying to be as accurate as possible. I’m not riding a big, flashy horse, so to be accurate and try to maximise each mark for each movement is where we aim to be with ‘Piglet’.”

Blenheim European Championships dressage: Yasmin Ingham and Piglet’s “special partnership”

Yasmin has a longstanding partnership with “Piglet” – the pair were fourth at the 2018 young rider Europeans and have since finished third twice at five-star. This is the first time he has been to a senior championship. Yasmin rode Banzai Du Loir to win individual gold at the World Championships in 2022 and team gold at the Europeans in 2023.

She said: “I’ve had Piglet for many years now, and I feel incredibly lucky to have such a special partnership with him. He’s just been an absolute stalwart, so it feels very special to be given the opportunity to ride for the team here at Blenheim. Hopefully we’ll give it our absolute best and we can come out on top on Sunday.”

Yasmin said there is a great team spirit in the British camp and that Blenheim holds good memories for her.

“This was where I had my first major win as a senior on Banzai Du Loir in 2021 and our trajectory then went upwards from there, so it’s an incredibly special place. It’s an iconic venue,” she said.

“I remember when I was very, very small, watching Zara Tindall win the European Championships here so it’s definitely one that I’d love for one of us British lot to win, to maintain that British European title. I’m delighted to be here and with such a fantastic team as well, led by [performance manager] Dickie Waygood and [coach] Chris Bartle.”

Talking about being the pathfinder for the British team, Yasmin added: “It’s a huge pressure to go out and get that all-important clear round inside of time, but I feel like we’re well prepped for it. I’ve been a few championships now, so I feel like I know the drill.

“I went out earlier in Pratoni [at the 2022 World Championships] as an individual, and that didn’t seem to bother me, so I think we’ll just go out and ride as planned – stick to the system, as Chris would say. We’ll go out with one plan in mind and that’s clear inside the time.

“I believe that each rider has their own system and they know their horse best, but I will be there afterwards to provide any information that they might want to hear.”

Piggy March and Halo are the next pair to go for the British team, which runs in partnership with Agria. They will perform between the white boards at 2.58pm this afternoon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Switzerland
Italy
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Sweden
Germany
France
Ireland

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

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

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

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

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

The British European Eventing Championships squad is:

Laura Collett with 16-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts

Breeding: By Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Groom: Tilly Hughes

Caroline Harris with 11-year-old D Day

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

Breeder: Fiona Olivier

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

Groom: Nellie Smith

Yasmin Ingham with 15-year-old Rehy DJ

Owners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund

Breeder: Noell Russell

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

Groom: Alison Bell

Piggy March with 12-year-old Halo

Owner: Jayne McGivern

Breeder: Bernard Hobe

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

Groom: Hannah Chowen

Tom McEwen with 14-year-old JL Dublin

Owners: James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston

Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze

Breeding: By Diarado, out of a mare by Cantano

Groom: Adam Short

Bubby Upton with 10-year-old Its Cooley Time

Owners: The Five Time Syndicate and rider

Breeder: Ennisnag Stud

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

Groom: Kirsty Campbell

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

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

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

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

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

Congratulations

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

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

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

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

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

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Yasmin Ingham scores first Bramham win by finest margin on ‘super brave and bold’ young mare

Pippa Roome — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 19:38:50 +0000

Yasmin Ingham topped the Defender Bramham Horse Trials results in the CCI4*-S today, finishing on her dressage score of 27.9 with Gypsie Du Loir, who belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

“She’s super brave and bold, so it’s a nice feeling when you’re sat on one that is always looking for the flags. You can tell her ears are always concentrating. She’s a lovely, exciting mare for the future,” said Yasmin.

Yasmin was third after dressage, but moved up to second when Piggy March and new ride MCS Maverick had the upright at fence three down in the showjumping for eventual eighth, just one spot ahead of Piggy’s other ride Cooley Goodwood.

France’s Sebastien Cavaillon led this class after both dressage and showjumping, but 1.6 time-faults across country dropped him and Elipso De La Vigne to third.

“I hoped to go inside the time, but my watch stopped at 4min 50sec, which I saw on the last loop,” said Sebastien. “I said, ‘Okay, let’s go’ but finished just four seconds over – two seconds less and we’d have been ok, so it’s a little bit of a shame, but the horse was very good in all three phases.”

Yasmin knew she could win when she set out – but she didn’t have even a second in hand.

She said: “I was on a mission. Sebastien very kindly left the door open for me, so I thought, ‘I’m not going to let this one slide’ so off we went. I meant business from the beginning and she’s super fast and a pleasure to ride cross-country.”

Yasmin does some training with new Bramham course-designer Andrew Heffernan.

“Andy has done such a good job of the course, so it was really exciting to ride around one of his beautiful courses here at Bramham,” said Yasmin, for whom this was a first outright Bramham win, although she was national under-25 champion here in 2019, when Irishman Cathal Daniels won the under-25 class.

This was a third CCI4*-S for Gypsie Du Loir, who is nine years old and has won twice at three-star.

Yasmin said: “She definitely surprised me by winning. The showjumping is always a little bit her weak phase, so when she jumped a clear round, and then Sebastien just picked up a couple of seconds over, I just thought this could be an opportunity, and it would be rude not to give it a go. She deserved it.”

Sebastien’s compatriot Astier Nicolas stayed on his dressage score with Alertamalib’or to move up from third after showjumping to eventual second, just 0.1 of a penalty behind Yasmin.

US rider Tiana Coudray was fourth in the Bramham Horse Trials results for the Defender CCI4*-S on Coeur De L Esprit Z, with Caroline Harris fifth on last year’s Pau Horse Trials CCI5* winner, with both pairs finishing on their dressage scores.

Alexis Goury (Je’Vall) made it three French riders in the top six with sixth place. China’s Alex Hua Tian took seventh on Chicko.

Tom Woodward took the national under-25 title riding Low Moor Lucky, finising 11th overall.

Time influences Bramham Horse Trials results

Time was the major factor sorting out the final Bramham Horse Trials results during the cross-country for this Defender CCI4*-S. The fact the short format provides a more intense test, with fewer galloping stretches, meant beating the 6min 47sec optimum was a tougher ask in this class than achieving the 10min 3sec target in the CCI4*-L. Ten came home fault free.

The Rail, Ditch, Rail to Owl Hole at fence 11abcd – complete with a corner with a roof decorated as a bird as the final element – caused its fair share of problems, as did the Womble Bond Dickinson Pond at fence 15abcd.

This was the first (and only) time the horses got their feet wet on this track, whereas on the CCI4*-L course, they had already been in the water at the earlier Kidney Ponds, which may have been a contributor to some refusals at the big hanging log in.

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A future force, an arrogant veteran and a five-star winner who’s gaining confidence in top 10 as Bramham dressage concludes

Pippa Roome — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:30:38 +0000

Yasmin Ingham and the promising nine-year-old mare Gypsie Du Loir hold third in the CCI4*-S after the Defender Bramham Horse Trials dressage.

Gypsie Du Loir was bred by Pierre Gouye, as was Yasmin’s world champion Banzai Du Loir. The mare scored 27.9 today to sit a mark behind French leader Sebastien Cavaillon (Elipso De La Vigne) and 0.4 of a penalty adrift of second-placed Piggy March (MCS Maverick).

“She’s such a talented young horse that I’m really excited about her for the future. It’s just coming out now at the four-star level as we establish her and get her confidence with the more difficult movements such as the flying changes and half-passes,” said Yasmin, who has won two three-stars with Gypsie Du Loir, who belongs to Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

“She’s got beautiful paces and great presence in the arena, and she’s a pleasure to work with, so I feel very lucky to be riding her. Although she’s very relaxed now after her test, she’s actually quite sharp – she’s quite blood.

“I really do believe, in a couple of years’ time, she’s seriously going to be a force to be reckoned with, so it’s very exciting.”

Behind Yasmin Ingham in the Bramham Horse Trials dressage results for the Defender CCI4*-S sits France’s Astier Nicolas, who is fourth on a score of 28 with the 15-year-old Alertamalib’or, who he’s had since a two-year-old. They are one of a number of French combinations here to prepare for the European Championships at Blenheim this autumn.

“He’s very arrogant – it’s all about him,” said Astier of his ride from the 2022 World Championships. “And he’s very expressive, he loves contact with humans and is like a pet.”

Tom Woodward, who rode yesterday with Low Moor Lucky, now sits fifth and keeps top spot in the under-25 national championship.

“A championship horse through and through”

US rider Tiana Coudray lies sixth on 10-year-old Coeur De L Esprit Z.

“He’s a mega horse – so flashy and we have really big hopes for him, but he’s weak in his body and sensitive in his mind,” she said. “Life is difficult for him, but he does show up, and he does try.

“He’s a championship horse through and through. Of course, when they look that way, the phone doesn’t stop ringing [with potential buyers] so of course I have to be realistic, but I also have to dream.”

Britain’s Caroline Harris sits seventh with last year’s Pau Horse Trials winner D.Day.

She explained her thought process coming into this season: “I was very adamant that I didn’t want to go to Badminton Horse Trials. I knew that wasn’t the right thing for him. He’s a super little horse, but I think maybe another year is needed for both of us.

“I’m very green at five-star, and he isn’t the most naturally brave, although when he goes good, he’s amazing. So I’d only want to go to Badminton knowing he felt on fire.

“We’ve always been gunning for Aachen, because I think it would really suit him, but whether we get selected or not, I don’t know. I wanted this year to bring him into some bigger international four-stars, where he’d get exposed to more atmosphere, bigger tracks and just learn more.”

Caroline added that the Pau experience has given D.Day more self-belief.

“He’s come out a bit arrogant. He used to be so timid and now he’s starting to believe he’s quite good. He’s such a cool little horse and you wouldn’t look twice at him in the stable, but he always gives you everything when you go in there,” she said.

The riders in this class showjump tomorrow morning, starting at 8.30am, and then go cross-country as their final phase afterwards.

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‘He’s a showman who could go up another level’: Tom McEwen wows to claim Badminton lead at end of day one despite costly error

Martha Terry — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:59:00 +0000

The judges had yet to be set alight on day one of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage phase when Tom McEwen woke them up with a glorious display late on Thursday afternoon. He steered his Paris Olympic partner JL Dublin into a massive lead on 22.4.

“He pulled together a super, super test, and got a mark he deserved,” said Tom of the 14-year-old, owned by James and Jo Lambert, and Deirdre Johnston.

They wowed from the outset, earning the judges’ first nine for their initial halt and several more as the test went on. They scored straight nines for the final halt, and their cadence and sparkle throughout set them apart.

It wasn’t perfect. Tom rode boldly in the extended trot, and Dublin lost his balance slightly, breaking into canter for a string of threes. It was the only blip in a delightfully soft yet flamboyant performance.

Badminton final scores

“Shame that our highlight piece, the extended trot was broken, but he was absolutely awesome,” said Tom. “He was relaxed, and showed all that power and rhythm yet still came out with that extended walk from the pirouettes.”

Tom explained how he’s kept the horse fresh, after a post-Olympic holiday with field-mate Toledo De Kerser.

“We know he’s unbelievably talented, but we’ve really saved him so he’s wanting to come out,” Tom said. “We’ve teased him by taking him to jumping and dressage, and he’s like, ‘this isn’t the real deal!’.

“Now he’s here, he’s been on it all week, he’s ecstatic to perform.”

Tom was grateful for his late start time towards the end of the afternoon on day one, as the horse thrives on atmosphere.

“The worst thing is if the stands are empty,” he said. “He’s a showman, and if it had been really busy he’d go up another level again.”

Debutant enjoys “electric atmosphere” of Badminton Horse Trials dressage

Next in was Yasmin Ingham, who had the hard act of following Tom and Dublin in full flow.

Yas was making her Badminton debut with Rehy DJ, who already has two podium results at five-star. In the shadow of his world champion stablemate Banzai Du Loir, this gelding is sometimes overlooked. But he produced a correct and confident test to score 29 and sit in fourth place overnight.

“He’s not naturally the biggest mover, but when he’s accurate and does things correctly he’s rewarded with the marks,” said Yasmin of the 15-year-old.

“It’s my first time at Badminton and it’s an electric atmosphere so I’m delighted with how he coped. He does react to noise and going in behind Tom was probably not ideal for me, but I was really pleased.”

Emily King moves into second spot

Emily King was another title favourite featuring on Thursday afternoon, riding Valmy Biats, who is owned by Emily, her father David, and Paula and David Evans.

Their test was accurate and smooth, with some lovely moments particularly in the canter work, but Dublin had set an unattainable standard with his flair and cadence. Emily’s score of 27.3 secured second at the end of day one.

“He held his breath a bit, so I was trying to get him to chill out,” Emily said. “He felt amazing [in the warm-up] and then just went a little tight when he went in, so I had to adapt to how he was in certain places in the arena. But the fact he tensed up and then stayed with me in the crunch movements made me so proud of him.”

Emily explained how she’s worked on Valmy Biats’ tension.

“I do a lot of test riding with him, not necessarily in the same order, but the set pieces, in different atmospheres,” she said. “He’s not scatty, but he tries so hard and holds his breath.

“So I’ve taken him to places this spring to try get him to imitate that [feeling], so I can pat him and tell him ‘don’t worry!’ He’s so sensitive and full of power, it’s been about trying to get him so I can put my leg on without going nought to 60.

“Today he trotted in and saw the cross-country fence, and I was like, ‘Val, come on, you know you don’t start with that!’ But I could feel his heart rate going up. So I turned him away from it and gave him a pat, to say ‘you’re not going out the start box now’.”

Badminton Horse Trials dressage leaderboard

The top six at the end of day one of the Badminton dressage are:

1, Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) 22.4

2, Emily King (Valmy Biats) 27.3

3, Tom Woodward (Low Moor Lucky) 27.9

4, Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ) 29.1

5, Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class) 29.3

6, Gemma Stevens (Chilli Knight) 29.5

View the full scoreboard

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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‘I just love working with the horses’ – Yasmin Ingham’s groom Alison Bell on travelling the world, a first Badminton and why Rehy DJ shouldn’t be underestimated

Lucy Elder — Thu, 08 May 2025 11:20:49 +0000

Alison Bell’s career and love for horses have taken her all over the world in her role as groom to world champion Yasmin Ingham. This week marks a milestone much closer to home for the pair as Yas makes her Mars Badminton Horse Trials debut in the saddle, and Alison has her first taste of grooming at the iconic British spring five-star.

“I’ve never been here before – it’s amazing,” says Alison, whose charge for the week is the 15-year-old Rehy DJ (“Piglet”, to his friends), owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund.

“I started grooming for Yas in 2019, so I’ve known Piglet a while now. He’s ace, such a dude.”

From left: Alison Bell, Rehy DJ, and Yasmin Ingham. (Image credit: Equigram)

Piglet’s flashy stable companion Banzai Du Loir, with whom Yas was crowned world champion at Pratoni in 2022, is the better known of this pair by virtue of that title and his senior team appearances. But lovable Piglet is a star in his own right too. He has twice finished on the podium at Luhmühlen and scored his third top-10 finish at five-star at Pau 2024 – his 34th international double clear.

Badminton final scores

Alison Bell: ‘He’s Pig by name, pig by nature!’

“He’s really special when you get to know him – he’s an amazing little horse. A real performer and he tries very hard,” says Alison, who has been by his side for much of his top-level career.

“Napping and snacking is his life. He is Pig by name, pig by nature – he is quite dirty in the stable and he eats like a pig! He’s really cute and sweet, but does also have a spicy side to him – you know when he wants to be here and wants to do it. Every now and then he’ll have a little spook and a little fizz.”

She adds that Piglet settles very well at events – “as long as he has food, he isn’t bothered” – and is enjoying his trip to Badminton so far.

“He’s super simple to care for at big events. He does a lot of grazing – short stints as he is definitely a good doer, bless his soul. He comes out of the stable a lot in shorter breaks, enjoys mooching around, a little walk, a bit of lunging to get that little fizz out of him,” she says.

“I love taking them away, I love being with them at home as well. They are funny and are all so individual, you really do get to know them and when you’re away, you get to know them on a deeper level. They really have their own likes and dislikes, their own ways to relax.

“I just love working with the horses. It’s such a satisfying job and they make you feel things you never thought you would experience in life. I’ve been all over the world with them now, it’s something I never thought I would do. They are incredible.”

How Alison Bell became an elite eventing groom

Alison grew up in Belfast and caught the horsey bug when her grandfather took her riding. She completed a bachelors degree in equine management and then went to work for Ireland’s Joseph Murphy for four years. A masters in veterinary physio brought her over to England, which is how she came to join Yas’s team.

“The course was part-time at weekends and Yas’s place was 40 minutes away, so I was able to do it as one,” says Alison, who ended up completing a postgrad diploma instead of the full masters, and went on to join Yas full-time.

She lists the world championships at Pratoni and Kentucky – where Yas has finished second and third with Banzai – and Piglet’s happy hunting ground of Luhmühlen, among her stand-out highlights.

“I never thought I would ever see Pig on a five-star podium and he’s been on one twice. That’s so special for a horse like him, as people tend to put him on the back burner, but he’s one to watch a lot of the time,” she says. “The two boys have struck a high in their careers, and in mine.”

She adds: “They are very different boys. Banzai loves having company – if he doesn’t have a horse, he likes to have you there, whereas Pig is like, ‘I love your company, but you can leave me alone now – bye! I’ll eat and sleep’. He’s so laid back, but Yas and I both know he does have that side to him, where he really does switch on.

“It’s really special to be here at Badminton. Everyone always says it, but you don’t really know until you’ve come. It’s a privilege to be here and I can’t wait to experience the whole week.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

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Three eventers who’ve joined new riders this winter – including a Paris Olympic medallist

Pippa Roome — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 08:30:49 +0000

New season, new rides… it’s always fascinating to see which event horses have switched jockeys over the winter. Perhaps the highest profile move this year has been the transfer of Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau from France’s Stephane Landois to young British rider Elizabeth Barratt.

The 13-year-old grey’s story is an emotional one as his former pilot, Thaïs Méheust, lost her life in a fall eventing this horse in 2019, after which her friend Stephane took on the ride. The pair fulfilled a dream when they took team silver and were 14th individually at the Paris Olympics last year.

Now running under the ownership of Barratt Eventing, Ride For Thais Chaman Dumontceau starts a new chapter with 19-year-old Elizabeth. After some showjumping practice in Spain in January and February, the pair couldn’t have made a better start to their eventing careers together, with a win in an open novice at Tweseldown on 9 March.

Elizabeth has experience in taking on more established horses – she won the young rider CCI3*-S at Cornbury in 2023 on Dargun, who had been Emily King’s partner in winning the Bramham Horse Trials under-25 championship in 2018. She has also had the ride since last summer on SAP Talisman, previously a championship horse for Ireland’s Sam Watson.

Joining the Townend stable

Another new partnership who’ve started 2025 with a win are Oliver Townend and Dromgurrihy Gold, who took the intermediate at Poplar Park on 1 March. Michael McGrath’s nine-year-old son of Royal Concorde was previously piloted by Jonelle and then Tim Price, competing up to four-star with Tim last year.

“I’m excited by him – he feels like he could be a very nice horse in the future,” said Oliver after the pair’s Poplar win.

Dromgurrihy Gold went on to finish second in an open intermediate at Riseholme College Lincoln on 15 March. Oliver plans to target securing a spring four-star long qualification.

Bred in the purple

Look out too for Kinda Corvette, an eight-year-old in advanced points – the Diarado son has been bought by The Sue Davies Fund for world champion Yasmin Ingham to ride, in a deal brokered through Uptown Eventing.

The horse was bred by five-star rider Kylie Roddy, out of Cosette II, a Jaguar Mail daughter of Fachoudette, the mare Georgie Dalton (née Davies) rode in young riders alongside Kylie and at the senior Europeans.

Kinda Corvette started his career with Kylie and then spent a couple of seasons owned by Luana Edge and ridden by Dani Evans, who made the difficult decision they would sell the horse to the right rider.

“I am delighted to have produced him this far and for ‘Corey’ to go to one of the best riders in the world is an honour for me. I hope he will make it onto teams as we know he has all the ability and scope to be a successful five-star and team horse,” said Dani.

Yasmin, who has had two steady runs on Kinda Corvette at Poplar Park in the open novice and Tweseldown in the open intermediate, added: “I’m so excited to form a partnership with Corey – he’s a horse I’ve admired with Dani, she’s done a fantastic job producing him and I feel exceptionally lucky to be riding him. He’s the full package and I’m looking forward to getting to know him this season.”

Kylie said: “As a breeder this really is what dreams are made of. Corey was one of the most balanced foals I have ever seen. At the grand age of three days old he had clean changes and cadence that gave him the wow factor. A massive thank you must go to Dani Evans for looking after him and doing such a good job – I burst with pride every time I watch him. I for one can’t wait to watch how his future unfolds.”

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‘If I could build a horse, it would be him’: Yasmin Ingham on the ingredients of a perfect eventer

Kate Johnson — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 08:32:52 +0000

“You want them to have a tidy, clean jump,” Yasmin Ingham says, as she explains what she looks for in a horse. “Two out of three phases of eventing are jumping; it makes up a lot of the competition.

“Also, character, and presence that stands out in the dressage arena, good paces, athletic, nimble, and good stamina. They have to tick so many boxes, they’re multi-athletes”.

To put it another way: Banzai Du Loir.

“If I could build a horse, it would be him!” she says. “He’s beautifully put together, elegant, with character and presence. His paces are beautiful, in cross-country he’s brave, agile and fast, and in showjumping he’s careful, quick and nimble.

“He ticks all the boxes and he’s in the back of my mind when I see other horses”.

Yasmin’s top horse Banzai Du Loir demonstrates his super uphill paces. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Temperament is key.

“You hear a lot that the quirky ones are the best,” Yasmin says. “Banzai was very sharp growing up, very giddy and excited at an event – he’s getting more relaxed. Every horse has something that makes their character special.”

At home, he’s undisputed king of the stables.

“He knows he’s the best; there’s a hierarchy, and he’s at the top,” she says. “He knows his place and he’s earned it.”

He’s a confident horse, but he’s also “such a gentleman, gentle and quiet, no trouble, everyone’s best friend and such a nice person, as well as a successful event horse”.

Banzai is sired by Nouma D’Auzay, and Yasmin’s a fan of the bloodline (her nine-year-old Goliath Du Loir shares the lineage).

“I love it when they’re talented jumpers,” she says. “On the last day of competition, you can have faith and confidence your horse can jump a clear round. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a stunning dressage test, being in the lead after the cross-country, and you lose on the final day.”

Ability over the coloured poles is a key asset for Yasmin. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Yasmin Ingham’s training philosophies: “I listen to the horse”

With any new horse, Yasmin starts slowly.

“I don’t have one system for every horse, they’re all different,” she says. “But what they all have in common is that the only way they learn is from positive repetition.”

She’s always listening – to how the horse is feeling, what they are telling her, whether they are ready to progress.

“If you have a careful jumper, and he over-jumps and scares himself, I listen, and take it back a level, or stay at the same level for longer, until they’ve grown in confidence to progress to the next level,” she explains.

Knowing your horse and establishing mutual trust is the building block to success, and Yasmin does that by using nothing more sophisticated than time.

“We have a very small string at the yard, and I spend pretty much every day with all of them,” she says. “We all chip in, tacking up, grooming, washing off, mucking out. I spend a lot of time with the horses, getting to know them inside out; there’s no better way to connect with them.”

Her grooms, Denise, Alison and Owen share the same goal to “forge an intimate connection with all of them”.

Yasmin builds strength and avoids the enemy of enthusiasm, staleness, with plenty of variety in their work. Hacking, cross-country schooling over water jumps, ditches and natural fences, spins up the gallops, water treadmills for conditioning and “not too much time in the school”. She’s ever mindful of her horses’ well-being, as she says: “They are your partner, you have to connect to bring results and their welfare is always at the front of my mind. They’re such important athletes, we really need to look after them.”

The goal of training is to make the competition easier, and her method of training is to give the horses exciting and interesting challenges at home, including “random and weird” cross-country jumps.

Jumping “random and weird” cross-country fences at home means Yasmin’s horses are ready for anything when it comes to the biggest stage of all, such as the World Championships. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“I also love gridwork,” she says. “It’s so important to have good footwork. Placing poles before and after fences, or a long line of a grid is interesting for them. Having fences of different heights, smaller and slightly higher, and if you want them to put their neck down and have a good stretch over their back, wider oxers in a grid.”

With physios, farriers, nutritionalists on call, she is quite sure, “they have a better routine than I do!”

Treats, carrots and holidays in the field

Elite athletes, but also beloved like family pets, with treat jars dotted round the yard to reward goodness and when they come back from big events, her grooms put up balloons outside the stable and carrots in the haynet.

“They’re so spoilt. we make such a fuss!” she admits happily.

She tries not to ask too much of them, explaining: “If I’m trying to get a perfect half pass or flying change, it’s about small wins, small progress, a pat to let them know it’s positive. Instead of doing it until it’s perfect, then they’re flustered and they’ve lost confidence, you’ve got to make sure they’re understanding what question you’re asking. If not, you need to simplify it, go back a few steps to make sure they understand so they don’t get tense and have a negative experience.”

Yasmin breaks her season in two parts. For instance in 2024, after a demanding, flagship event – in his case Kentucky – Banzai had a few weeks in the field to wind down and refresh, before Yasmin picked him up for the second part of the season, and the same after Bicton for her younger horses.

Horses need time to just be horses, enjoying their holidays in the field.

“I know what makes Banzai happy,” says Yasmin. “He loves to roll without his rug on. As much as I love to keep him as clean as possible, he loves to go out roll in sand and get dirty. As long as he’s happy I’m happy.”

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Top British eventer crowned sportswoman of the year for fourth time

Becky Murray — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:33:10 +0000

World champion eventer Yasmin Ingham has been crowned Isle of Man sportswoman of the year title for a fourth time.

The annual Isle of Man Sports Awards celebrate the achievements of Manx sportsmen and women over the previous 12 months.

The awards ceremony took place yesterday (27 February) at the Villa Marina Royal Hall, Douglas, where Yas was in attendance. The five other sportswomen shortlisted in the category were Nikki Arthur, Sarah Webster and Christa Cain of athletics, crossfit athlete Aimee Cringle and motorcycling trails rider Katyln Adshead.

Yas, who won the sportswoman title in 2019, 2020 and 2022, said she was “very honoured to receive the award alongside Sir Mark Cavendish, as sportsman of the year”.

“Congratulations to all nominees and award winners last night, so much talent and inspiration from such a small island,” she said.

“Thank you, Isle of Man Sport for the support.”

Yas, who is ranked fourth in the world, enjoyed a superb 2024 with many top placings. In April she was third at the five-star Kentucky Three-Day Event with her world individual gold medal-winning ride Banzai Du Loir, and the pair won the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S in June, and were were travelling reserves at the Paris Olympics. Yas was also third in the Luhmühlen CCI5*, and 10th at Pau five-star, with Rehy DJ.

The 2025 eventing season gets under way this weekend (1-2 March) at Poplar Park, where Yas is entered with Rehy DJ, Goliath Du Loir, Gypsy Du Loir and Kinda Corvette. Yas’s Paris teammate Tom McEwen will also be in action at Poplar, as will other top Brits including Harry Meade, Oliver Townend and Piggy March. Eventing is also taking place on Saturday at Epworth, Doncaster.

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The Queen hosts celebration to thank Paris Olympic and Paralympic riders

Becky Murray — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:24:57 +0000

The achievements of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic riders in Paris have been celebrated at a ceremony hosted by The Queen.

Yesterday evening (22 January) riders, owners, grooms, support staff, and British Equestrian (BEF) representatives attended a reception at Clarence House, London.

The Queen met the eventing team’s Ros Canter and travelling reserve Yas Ingham, dressage travelling reserve Andrew Gould and para dressage riders Natasha Baker, Mari Durward-Akhurt, Sophie Wells and Georgia Wilson. BEF chief executive Jim Eyre, performance director Helen Nicholls, dressage performance manager Caroline Griffith and para dressage performance manager Georgina Sharples were also in attendance.

The Queen spent time talking to owners and grooms, “acknowledging the vital roles they played in the teams’ successes”.

Mr Eyre thanked The Queen for her hospitality, “enduring support for the equestrian community” and continued patronage of the federation.

“He also took the opportunity to thank the athletes for their hard work and determination during their performances at the Games. He paid tribute to the owners, who are the backbone of our sport, and the grooms who dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of their equine charges,” said a BEF spokesperson.

“He ended by recognising the ‘team behind the team’ – the support staff, the performance managers and the practitioners, who all work tirelessly to ensure the athletes and horses can perform to their best on the world stage.”

The Queen was presented with a commemorative book of photographs, which captured “key moments and the team spirit” from Paris.

“I’m so proud to be your patron and what you achieved in Paris made us all feel very proud to be British,” said The Queen.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, but I was watching every bit of it on television and it really did bring tears to the eyes. Thank you to the whole team for everything you do.”

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‘I walked the cross-country course five times, I knew what I was going to do’ – how Yasmin Ingham prepared for the Olympic course she never got to jump

Kate Johnson — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:25:32 +0000

“Oh my God, this is the call,” Yasmin Ingham remembers thinking, when she saw technical director and performance manager Richard (Dickie) Waygood’s number flash up on her phone as she had a cup of tea one morning in July. It was indeed the call – she was going to Paris 2024 as the alternate or reserve rider for the British eventing team.

She was ready, coming into Paris “massively on form” as the reigning World Champion, finishing third at Kentucky in May and winning Luhmülen with her “horse of a lifetime”, Banzai du Loir.

Yas and Banzai arrived in Paris in top form. (Image credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark)

They had trained to the same level as the British trio who would win gold – Tom McEwen, Ros Canter and Laura Collett – right up to the event. And every evening throughout the competition, Yasmin prepared as she usually would if she were going to compete. She went through her dressage test, watched previous training sessions, revised the notes she’d written from them, and took advice.

“Chris Bartle [BE’s Eventing High Peformance Coach] and I were at the arena, visualising how I’d ride in the stadium and approach the centre line,” she remembers. “I walked the cross-country course five times. I had minute markers, I knew which route I was going to take and exactly what I was going to do. I looked through course photos and watched previous positive rounds I’d done, like the World Championship and Kentucky, because it gives you a feeling: we can do it, we’ve done it before. It gives you the confidence you need to go out and do your best.”

Yasmin Ingham walked the Paris cross-country course five times – here with Ros Canter and Chris Bartle. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

It’s all part of her system to “leave no stone unturned”, so that she goes in with “a clear vision of how I want to ride and what I want to get out of it. And understanding how your horse is feeling; they’re not predictable, and you always listen to your horse.”

It was Yasmin’s first Olympics and the sheer scale of the Games surprised her – the size of the crowds in the vast stadium, the traffic-stopping beauty of Versailles. “It’s like no event I’ve ever done” she recalls. “I feel so lucky, there was so much excitement throughout the week, I felt so proud to be there. It was a massive achievement to be in the four, so close but so far, and I realised I needed to take in as much as I could, be a sponge, soak it all up”.

How Yasmin stayed ready to compete – then coped with disappointment

It was a delicate balance to maintain readiness, while not performing, like balancing the accelerator and clutch ready for a hill-start in a car. Yasmin says: “I tried to keep everything normal. We hacked a lot and walked round the cross country field, I made sure he stayed relaxed. Banzai’s grown up a lot over the past few years; he’s so good at an event, he’s a real professional now. It was disappointing for him to watch all the horses go out in their cross-country tack, but I took him out, gave him a jump and a play.”

Yasmin rode Banzai Du Loir during arena familiarisation and around the venue throughout the competition to remain ready for the call up. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Every morning, she’d get the call that the deadline had passed and she wouldn’t be needed that day. Disappointing, of course, but she’s an elite athlete and managing her mentality is second nature. There were plenty of positives to focus on anyway. “I felt included the whole time,” she says. “I was at every team meeting, listening, chatting about the course, the venue, the horses. There was a real team spirit, we all got on so well, they’re great riders and friends”. The medal ceremony as the eventers took Team GB’s first gold of the Olympics only strengthened her resolve that “I want that to be me one day”.

After the podium, it was off to Paris for press duties – and selfies with Tom Daley, “he was so lovely and down to earth”. The celebration was nothing more raucous than a lunch for four in the Olympic village, reflecting on the momentous Games they’d shared.

“I was totally unaware of how much pressure they’re under”

What Yasmin took away from Paris was a sense of “I’ve been there, I’ve seen it all happen, I’ve been in the bubble, I’ve seen what it takes.” “It’s really helped me for the future,” she says. “It’s another string to my bow. I’m lucky to have been given the opportunity to experience it first hand, to be in the mix with all the riders, picking up lots of tools for my toolbox in the future.” Such as? “I was totally unaware of how much pressure they’re under – myself, too, being ready to step in. You’ve got the whole of the UK riding on your shoulders. Everybody only wants you to be successful and do well, the pressure is intense and I’ve seen it, so I know how to deal with it, were I to have the opportunity to go next time.

“Tom, Laura and Ros were role models all week, to watch the way they dealt with it was admirable. To look up to them and see where I want to be – there’s no one better to learn from. I gained so much from being in that situation, and the result was a credit, they deserved it.”

Returning from Paris, with so much emotion and tension wrapped up in just one week, was a little like “being spat out of the washing machine!” so Yasmin took a day, just the one, to relax. She was given a souvenir rosette from the Games and as she finalises her move to a new, 10-stable yard, she plans to display it with the collection she already has of the late Sue Davies’ mementos from previous Olympics.

The Sue Davies Fund and Sue’s daughter Janette Chinn own the yard, and Yasmin’s horses – including Banzai – and Sue was a great supporter. Yasmin says: “None of this would have happened without her and she’d have been very proud”. A poignant daily reminder of what is past, and what is yet to come.

Yasmin Ingram and Banzai Du Loir are moving to a new yard and are ready for their next team call-up. (Image credit: Equigram)

One horse eliminated and British horse among five held at Paris Olympic eventing first trot-up

Pippa Roome — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:42:02 +0000

Five horses were held, including Britain’s Banzai Du Loir, and one eliminated at the Olympic eventing first trot-up.

Austrian individual rider Lea Siegl will take no further part in the competition after Marianne Mühlböck’s DSP Fighting Line was spun when re-presented, having been sent to the holding box on first inspection.

The ground jury – president Christina Klingspor (Sweden), plus Xavier Le Sauce (France) and Robert Stevenson (USA) – did a thorough job and asked a number of horses to trot again, as well as sending five to the holding box.

The first horse to be held was Cash In Hand, ridden by Morocco’s individual Noor Slaoui and owned by her and Moulay Hafi d El Alamy. The second was Toubleau De Rueire, piloted for the Swiss team by Mélody Johner and owned by Peter Thuerler and Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser. These two were passed on re-inspection, then the third horse to be held, DSP Fighting Line, was eliminated.

Swedish alternate, Malin Asai, was the next rider to find herself in the holding box, with Karin Berglund’s Golden Midnight. Tense moments followed for British onlookers when alternate Yasmin Ingham was asked to trot up Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai Du Loir again and then held. Both Golden Midnight and Banzai were passed on re-inspection.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir at the Olympic eventing first trot-up. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The British team horses – Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and Laura Collett’s London 52 (ridden by Laura), Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (ridden by Ros Canter) and Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin (ridden by Tom McEwen) – all sailed through the Olympic eventing first trot-up.

The other horses who had to trot again but were then passed were Don Quidam (Australia’s Kevin McNab), Figaro Des Premices (South Africa’s Alexander Peternell) and Bryjamolga VH Marienshof (Sweden’s Sofia Sjoborg).

The US made a late change to their team shortly before the trot-up, with Liz Halliday promoted from the alternate spot to replace Will Coleman’s Diabolo.

There was a late change to the Polish squad yesterday, with original team members Pawel Warszawski and Lucinda Ex Ani 4 dropping out. They are replaced by Jan Kaminski and Jard, who have moved directly into the team, with the alternate spot still held by Wiktoria Knap and Quintus 134. Jan also represented the nation at the Tokyo Olympics on the same horse.

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Course walking and arena familiarisation: photos of the British Olympic eventing team’s day at Versailles

Pippa Roome — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:05:51 +0000

The British Olympic event horses moved into the beautiful venue in Versailles, Paris, yesterday and they and their riders have had a busy day today ahead of tomorrow’s first horse inspection.

Let’s get a glimpse of what Ros Canter, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Yasmin Ingham have been up to – and of course, Lordships Graffalo, London 52, JL Dublin and Banzai Du Loir…

This morning, the team walked the cross-country course, designed by Pierre Le Goupil.

Tom McEwen eyes up fence 6ab, with performance manager Dickie Waygood looking on (Image credit: creditUnknown)

This afternoon, each nation was given an allocated time to work horses in and around the main arena. The riders and horses progressed from the warm-up arenas behind the stand into the stadium, where they initially rode around the outside of the dressage arena while the team before them were between the white boards. Then, they had around 15 minutes in the actual arena where the tests will take place on Saturday.

Laura Collett and London 52 – owned by Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and his rider – enter one of the warm-up arenas. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The main arena at Versailles (Image credit: creditUnknown)

All four British Olympic event horses produced some great work under the watchful eye of team officials including Dickie and coach Chris Bartle.

Laura rides London 52 in a jumping saddle (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom McEwen practises some lateral work with Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternate rider Yasmin Ingham pilots Banzai Du Loir, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

World number one Ros Canter puts in some work with Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Grooms Alison Bell (Banzai Du Loir), Adam Short (JL Dublin), Sarah Charnley (Lordships Graffalo) and Tilly Hughes (London 52) were also in attendance.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The Brits will be the 18th of 27 nations to come forward at the trot-up tomorrow and the inspection starts at 9.30am local time (8.30am British time).

Other nations assess the course

We also caught some of the other riders on camera checking out the track.

Team member Karim Laghouag (left) and coach Thierry Touzaint lead the way for France (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Price goes barefoot (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Coaches Angela Tucker (left) and Pippa Funnell with the Japanese team (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Reigning Olympic champion Julia Krajewski, who was called into the German team from the alternate spot yesterday (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The German camp, including coach Peter Thomsen (left) and team members Michael Jung (centre) and Christoph Wahler (right) (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Pictures by Peter Nixon

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Who’s the alternate? Detail of British eventing squad for Paris Olympics released

Pippa Roome — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 16:02:47 +0000

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir have been named as the alternate for the British eventing team at the Paris Olympics.

The initial squad announcement released the four British riders and horses without specifying which three pairs made up the team and which will act act as the alternate, but it has now been confirmed that world champions Yasmin and Banzai Du Loir are the alternate combination. The unique Olympic eventing format brought in for the last Olympics in Tokyo allows for the alternate to be swapped in if necessary before any of the three tests, under certain circumstances, at a cost of 20 penalties to the team score.

The full British eventing squad for the Paris Olympics, including alternate, consists of:

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

Groom: Sarah Charnley

Laura Collett with 15-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Groom: Tilly Hughes

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

Groom: Adam Short

Alternate

Yasmin Ingham with 13-year-old Banzai Du LoirOwners: Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies FundBreeder: Pierre Gouye (FRA)Breeding: by Nouma D’Auzay out of a mare by LivarotGroom: Alison Bell

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‘I’m learning French!’ – Yasmin Ingham shares her Paris Olympic preparations

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‘I’m learning French!’ – Yasmin Ingham shares her Paris Olympic preparations

Pippa Roome — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 13:21:39 +0000

Most riders who are off to the Paris Olympics are busy training their horses, packing and getting themselves in the right mental state to perform at their best – eventer Yasmin Ingham is doing all that, plus she’s added another element to the mix…

“I’m starting to learn a few bits of extra French so I can string a sentence together,” she says. “I’ve downloaded Duolingo on my phone – each day it gives you a lesson. It’s quite basic stuff currently, but hopefully by the time I get there it will have reached a higher level.”

In terms of preparing her ride Banzai Du Loir, Yasmin will not be competing him again before the Games. He won his final outing, at Luhmühlen Horse Trials, last month.

“Now he’ll just continue to train at home – we’ll have some dressage lessons with Richard Davison and Chris Bartle, a spot of showjumping, some cross-country schooling,” she says. “It’s just making sure he’s in a good frame of mind mentally, not changing too much. We’ve had him quite a few years and know how he ticks.”

Yasmin herself will not be competing any other horses between now and Paris.

“Everything is completely focused on Paris now,” she says. “I’ll continue to train myself in the gym and the horses are doing plenty of training from home and we have lots of venues around our place where we can go and train.

“I think we always put the horse first in our sport. For myself, I want to make sure I’m going to Paris feeling energised and charged, ready to enjoy the experience as well. I enjoy watching other sports too – I was watching athletics over the weekend and it was their Olympic trial. I feel incredibly inspired on the run up to Paris.”

Yasmin Ingham: Paris Olympics selection ‘best phone call ever’

Yasmin says she was “sat on my sofa watching TV and having a cup of tea” when performance manager Dickie Waygood rang to give her the news she’d been selected.

“It’s something you can’t prepare for – for me the floods of happy tears and excited emotion were pretty uncontrollable, I said, ‘This is so exciting, it’s probably the best call I’ve ever received’,” she says.

Yasmin talked about Banzai as a contender for the Paris Olympics in an interview on the Horse & Hound Podcast back in 2021.

“He has been most incredible partner I’ve ever had and probably will have,” she says, mentioning the big wins he has had on the way at Blenheim, the World Championships and Aachen. “When we bought him we knew he had talent and all the attributes of a top event horse, but horses are unpredictable and testing at times. For him to be so solid on this path is a massive credit to my team around me and the horse himself.”

This year, Yasmin has tried to expose Banzai to big atmospheres which are similar to what he will experience in Versailles, competing at Kentucky Three-Day Event as well as Luhmühlen.

“It’s all about exposing them to crowds and lots of people and cheering – over the years he’s become relaxed about that. I think the best prep is to do those competitions and I was lucky enough to do that with the American crowd who cheer a lot and are very positive,” she said.

Paris is a first Olympics for Yasmin Ingham, but she has ridden at a World Championships – where she won individual gold – and Europeans (taking team gold), as well as youth championships.

“I thrive under pressure and don’t feel pressure from anybody but myself,” she says. “I think no one wants and understand the success as much as myself. It’s not about pressure from anyone around me – I want to do my best and the pressure comes from me. In many situations this year, I’ve produced my best under pressure, so I’m taking all of what I’ve learnt from every championship and now I’m lucky enough to be going into my first Olympics feeling happy and confident.”

Yasmin says that she and her team-mates “all get on well and bounce off each other in a really positive way – I couldn’t ask for a better group for my first Olympics”. She will have family and friends from her original home on the Isle of Man attending and says many have tickets to other sports so she’s happy and excited for them to experience the Games.

“And Banzai’s owner, Janette Chinn, has been a huge part of my journey, as was her mother Sue Davies who passed away a few years ago – Janette wants to come and support me as much as she can, with her mum in mind, so she’ll be making trip out,” she says.

14 gold medals, stable names and the youngest rider – what you need to know about the British eventers heading to Paris

Pippa Roome — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 17:30:12 +0000

It was the moment we’d all been waiting for – the British riders have finally been announced for the Olympic eventing in Paris in just a few weeks’ time.

The selected horses and riders are Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Laura Collett (London 52), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) and Yasmin Ingham (Banzai Du Loir). Let’s get to know them a little better…

Previous Olympics: Laura and London 52 are the only complete pair from the gold medal-winning team in Tokyo who return to the squad this time. Tom also rode at the Olympics in 2021, on Toledo De Kerser. Ros was the alternate rider in Tokyo, with Allstar B, so is technically an Olympic debutante, although she experienced much of the Games in Japan. Yasmin is a first-time Olympian.
Stable names: Lordships Graffalo is Walter, London 52 is Dan, JL Dublin is Dubs and Banzai Du Loir is just Banzai – or Banana!

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin on the way to second at Kentucky 2024. (Image credit: Amy Dragoo)

Horse medals: all four horses are previous medallists and three are individual gold medallists – Banzai at the 2022 World Championships, Lordships Graffalo at last year’s Europeans and JL Dublin at the 2021 Europeans, when he was ridden by Nicola Wilson. Additionally, all three hold a European team gold (Banzai and Lordships Graffalo from the 2023 Europeans and JL Dublin from that 2021 Europeans). London 52 is an Olympic team gold medallist from Tokyo, as well as a European team gold medallist (2023).

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo take double gold at the 2023 Europeans. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Rider medals: Laura and Yasmin have only won senior championship medals on these horses. Tom is a world team gold medallist (2022) and Olympic team gold and individual silver medallist (2021) on Toledo De Kerser. Ros also has four gold medals won with Allstar B in her cabinet – double gold at the 2018 worlds and European team golds from 2017 and 2021.
Five-star wins: Laura and London 52 are three-time five-star victors – Pau Horse Trials in 2020, Badminton Horse Trials in 2022 and Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2023. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo are also five-star winners, courtesy of Badminton 2023. Yasmin and Banzai have been second and third at five-star, both times at Kentucky Three-Day Event (2022 and 2024), while Tom and JL Dublin have been runners-up at Kentucky twice (2023 and 2024) as well as third at Pau (2023).

Laura Collett and London 52 celebrate winning Badminton 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Youngest and oldest horses: Lordships Graffalo is the youngest at 12 and London 52 the oldest at 15. Banzai and JL Dublin are both 13.
Youngest and oldest riders: Yasmin is the baby of the Olympic eventing British riders list at 27, while Ros is the oldest at 38. Laura is 34, Tom 33.

We can’t wait to cheer on this squad in Paris. Look out for more coverage online in the build-up to the Games, plus our full magazine preview (18 July) and form guide (25 July), which will cover all three Olympic equestrian disciplines.

British Olympic eventing team for Paris 2024 revealed: who’s off to Versailles?

Pippa Roome — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:20:15 +0000

The British Olympic eventing team for Paris 2024 has been revealed – although at this stage it is four riders named without confirming who will be competing and who will take the role of alternate.

As expected, the effort will be headed up by last year’s Badminton Horse Trials winners and European champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Ros was the alternate rider for the British team at the Tokyo Games, but this will be her debut actually riding at an Olympics.

She is joined by one complete pair who are veterans of that Tokyo gold medal-winning effort in Laura Collett and London 52, plus Tom McEwen, who rode Toledo De Kerser to team gold and individual silver in Tokyo and pilots double Kentucky Three-Day Event runner-up JL Dublin this time. The four-strong squad is completed by Olympic debutante Yasmin Ingham with her 2022 world champion Banzai Du Loir.

British Olympic eventing team

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

Groom: Sarah Charnley

Laura Collett with 15-year-old London 52

Owners: Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and rider

Breeder: Ocke Riewerts (GER)

Breeding: by Landos, out of a mare by Quinar

Groom: Tilly Hughes

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

Groom: Alison Bell

Tom McEwen with 13-year-old JL DublinOwners: Jo and James Lambert and Deirdre JohnstonBreeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze (GER)Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by CantanoGroom: Adam Short

‘I’m lucky to ride such an athlete’: British Olympic hopeful wins Luhmühlen CCI4*-S hours after five-star podium

Becky Murray — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:18:54 +0000

Yasmin Ingham has taken the honours with Banzai Du Loir in the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results today (16 June), keeping her Olympic dreams very much alive.

Luhmühlen was a particularly significant competition as the final event before the announcement of the British eventing team – or a shortened list – for the Paris Games. Of the 12 British horse and rider combinations listed as Paris potentials last month, five were in action here in Germany; Yasmin Ingham with Banzai Du Loir and Rehy DJ, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, Laura Collett and London 52, and Ros Canter and Izilot DHI.

“It was a very important weekend for me, and there was a lot of pressure involved,” said Yasmin, who earlier in the day finished third in the Luhmühlen CCI5* with Rehy DJ.

“Of course all of us have the goal of being selected for an Olympic Games for our country. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing everything I possibly could to put myself and Banzai in the best place for that.”

And that they did, when they produced a textbook clear round in the final showjumping phase this afternoon, to remain on their score after the cross-country, 29.3. This kept the pressure firmly on Germany’s Michael Jung and FisherChipmunk FRH, who had held the lead of the CCI4*-S since the second day of dressage on Friday (14 June), but had no room for error.

Laura Collett had been in second following the cross-country, but London 52 was withdrawn before the final trot-up this morning after he sustained a minor injury to his coronet band, meaning Yasmin moved up the order.

Things were going well for Michael and FischerChipmunk in the final phase until they had a rail at the third part of the treble combination at fence 10. They also added 0.8 of a time-penalty, to finish on a final score of 30.9, for third place in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results.

Yasmin said Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s 13-year-old Banzai Du Loir was “pretty perfect” in the showjumping.

“I felt like he was giving them lots of air, and he felt at its best. Overall he’s been brilliant all weekend, so I’m very proud of him,” she said.

“He is very elegant and holds a lot of presence in the dressage, in the cross-country he’s brave and fast, and in the showjumping he’s very agile. He just holds the ability to basically come out on top – or nearly – in each phase, and that’s what makes such a great event horse. I feel lucky that I’m able to ride such an athlete.”

“The decision is out of our hands”

Yasmin said “there’s so many British riders and horses that could all go and win a gold medal in Paris”.

“The decision is out of our hands, it’s down to the selectors and I’m sure they’ll make the right decision. We’ve come out this year; Banzai is a world champion, he’s an Aachen champion, he’s been on a five-star podium three times now – it’s very exciting,” she said.

“I feel very lucky to be in this position. I understand that with horses there’s lots of low days, and there’s lots of high days, and we must enjoy the good times and really appreciate that we get to do this sport – and that I get to ride horses like him.”

Another podium finish for Tom McEwen

Tom McEwen, too, enjoyed a double podium today, with a clear round on Paris hopeful JL Dublin earning him second spot on the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S results. Tom was second in the CCI5* with CHF Cooliser, owned by Vicky Bates and David Myers.

“Us Brits, as well as probably many other nations, are under a lot of scrutiny for our Olympic spots, and we just all try to do as well as we can,” said Tom.

“For ‘Dubs’ this weekend, he’s been fantastic, he jumped brilliantly in the cross-country, today’s showjumping was beautiful, and to be honest we could go a lot better on the flat. There’s a lot to look forward to, and whether we’re picked or not, it’s a nice step and the right progression. I’m delighted with him and he’s been a dude all week.”

Tom had said he had been “umming and ahhing” about his plan for JL Dublin prior to Luhmühlen. When asked whether that was choosing between running in Germany or on home soil at Bramham last month (where other Paris hopefuls including Kitty King and Vendredi Biats and Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo competed) – Tom said it came down to whether JL Dublin “needed to even run at all”.

“For me coming here where it’s intense, quick and sharp, was definitely the best prep if I was lucky enough to be selected for Paris,” he said.

“I wouldn’t necessarily run a horse that’s done a three-day like Kentucky (where Tom and JL Dublin were runners-up), and run well, necessarily this quickly round a proper cross-country track like this. For me Luhmühlen was always the answer because it’s got the surfaces, it’s got the proper twisty cross-country.

“Bramham is one of my favourite events, but here is definitely setting you more up towards what realistically all of us are here for, not just the Brits, but the Kiwis, the Italians, the Australians – everyone is here for the same idea.”

Michael Jung crowned German national champion

The Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4-S incorporated the German national championship, with the title going to Michael and FischerChipmunk. Michael also finished fourth in the CCI4-S with 11-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power.

“I’m very happy with both horses,” said Michael.

“Kilcandra Ocean Power did a fantastic round today, he jumped really well, and FischerChipmunk also. Sadly we had one down, every jump was very good, we were just a bit unlucky in the last combination.”

Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz were fifth and runners-up in the German national championship, while fellow home-side rider 23-year-old Calvin Böckmann was sixth and took the under-25 award on Altair De La Cense. Frenchman Benjamin Massie and Figaro Fonroy were seventh, Germany’s Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice and Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21 were eighth and ninth respectively, and New Zealand’s Tim Price was 10th on Falco.

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Top partnership delivers in Luhmuhlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country – as Brits come knocking

Becky Murray — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 20:46:31 +0000

Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH delivered yet another masterclass to remain at the top of the leaderboard after the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country today (15 June).

Following the morning’s dramatic thunderstorm during the five-star class, the rain made way to give the riders a more pleasant run around course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s twisty and intense track. Of the 60 cross-country starters, 53 completed – with 43 jumping clear and only two inside the 6 minute 56 second optimum time.

Overnight leader Michael was second last to go with 16-year-old FischerChipmunk FRH, and produced a clear jumping round, adding 3.2 time-penalties to their 22.9 dressage. Earlier in the session Michael jumped clear (with 5.6 time-penalties) aboard 11-year-old Kilcandra Ocean Power, who sits sixth ahead of the showjumping.

Michael – who is vying for the German national champion title in the Meßmer Trophy CCI4*-S – was thrilled with both his rides.

“On two lines I did an extra stride; fence 6ab (Willke rail Kombination), I did seven strides with my first horse and it felt good so I did the same with FischerChipmunk,” said Michael.

“He was just amazing, he gave me a great feeling today. He was very easy to ride, listening, and galloping super, it was just a wonderful feeling. In my head there’s a few more weeks, then there’s hopefully somewhere we can go…”

Laura Collett and London 52 keep the pressure on

Laura Collett, who won last year’s Luhmühlen five-star class with London 52, showed off his versatility, making light work of the CCI4*-S to stay in overnight second. Laura and her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s 15-year-old gelding added 1.6 time-penalties to their dressage score, to go into the showjumping phase tomorrow (16 June) on 26.4. This keeps the pressure on Michael and FisherChipmunk who are on 26.1, and can’t afford to have a pole.

Laura described her cross-country round as “amazing”, adding: “It was quite a lot of pressure, we’re getting close now to Paris and selection, and it’s just trying not to make a silly mistake.

“But that horse is unbelievable and I have to just remind myself how lucky I am to ride him, and believe in him because he’s sensational, and he loves it here. The combination at fence 6, I thought about turning left and he went to turn, and I thought ‘Not yet’, because we’re not lined up for it. That’s where he’s got so good that when I look, he turns, so I just need to make sure I don’t do it to the wrong one! But he’s fantastic.”

Laura added that London 52 is “such a great horse because he’s so adaptable”.

“He can gallop round a five-star, but he can be nippy round a tight four-star. It rode very intense today, things came up very quickly, and you don’t have that slight breathing space like you do in the five-star where you can put yourself back together and think about the next fence. It comes up on you super quickly, but he’s so quick thinking and always looking for the next fence, so I just need to make sure I point at the right one.”

“My horse of a lifetime”

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir crept up from overnight seventh ahead of the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country to slot into third going into the final phase. They stopped the clock at 6 minutes 59 seconds, for 1.2 time-penalties. The only rounds inside the time came from Germany’s Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale (6 minutes 53 seconds) who is in provisional 11th, and New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Damasco (6 minutes 56 seconds), who lie in 12th.

Yasmin said Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s 15-year-old was “super at every combination”.

“We didn’t have any hairy moments. We got a little bit close to the brush in the water (fence 19ab Longines Wasser), but it was just because he has such a huge stride. He’s an amazing horse and I’m so lucky to ride him.

“He’s fast, he’s brave, he’s careful. The most fantastic part about it is he just loves it, he’s such a cross-country horse. He is my horse of a lifetime. We’ve gone up the levels together pretty much, and winning my very first senior individual medal at the 2022 World Championships is something I will never ever forget.”

Biting at Yasmin’s heels is Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, who rose from 10th after the dressage (on a 28.4 score) to fourth ahead of the showjumping. The pair recorded the same cross-country time and time-penalties as Yasmin and Banzair Du Loir, and their dressage scores are separated going into the final phase by just 0.3 of a penalty.

Tom said Jo and James Lambert and Deidre Johnston’s 13-year-old gelding was “bold, straight, and keen” across country.

“He was definitely very fresh after having a few easier weeks after Kentucky (where they were runners-up in April). I couldn’t be happier. I just lost a bit of time through the woods where I wasn’t quite willing to fly down the hills at the last couple,” he said.

Praise for Mike Etherington Smith’s cross-country courses

“I’m sure the results look like the track has jumped really well, but there are a lot of Olympic combinations here – or vying for spots – so you’re looking at top-class horses here this week. Yes of course the fences have jumped well, but at the same time they should if you ride them well enough and you’re on good horses,” said Tom.

Tom added that both Mike’s courses had been “fantastic”.

“They’ve ridden as they’ve walked. They’ve been clear and true, there’s been some proper lines, skinnies, hidden fences and use of the ground, there’s been everything,” he said.

“There’s nowhere else we could have had these storms today and still continued with the best footing going. It’s been fantastic.”

The top five after the Luhmühlen Horse Trials CCI4*-S cross-country is rounded off by Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21. The CCI4*-S trot up takes place at 7am UK tomorrow (8am local time). The showjumping gets under way at 11.15am UK time (12.45pm).

Find out when British Olympic hopefuls and other top names go cross-country at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:26:44 +0000

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times have been released – with Brits holding podium places across both classes.

The CCI5* cross-country gets under way tomorrow morning (15 June), with an hour break before the CCI4*-S in the afternoon.

Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser will be the pathfinders across cross-country course-designer Mike Etherington Smith’s five-star track, which features 30 fences. The optimum time is 11 minutes and seven seconds.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times: CCI5* top 10

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI 9.37am UK time (10.37am local time)
Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality 10.29am UK time (11.29am local time)
Laura Collett and Hester 8.33am UK time (9.33am local time)
Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser 7.45am UK time (8.45am local time)
Nicolai Adlinger and Timmo 10.25am UK time (11.25am local time)
Lara De Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney D’Arville 8.09am UK time (9.09am local time)
Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34 9.21am UK time (10.21am local time)
Jennifer Kuehnle and Sammy Davis Junior 10.41am UK time (11.41am local time)
Mollie Summerland and Flow 7 9.29am UK time (10.29am local time)
Julie Simonet and Sursumcord’Or 8.37am UK time (9.37am local time)

The CCI4*-S gets under way at 11.51am UK time (12.51pm local time), with Australia’s Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam first out on course. The track features 23 obstacles and has an optimum time of six minutes 56 seconds.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times: CCI4*-S top 10

Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH 2.46pm UK time (3.46pm local time)
Laura Collett and London 52 1.56pm UK time (2.56pm local time)
Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39 12.48pm UK time (1.48pm local time)
Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power 12.16pm UK time (1.16pm local time)
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz 1.48pm UK time (2.48pm local time)
Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress 2.28pm UK time (3.28pm local time)
Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir 2.11pm UK time (3.11pm local time)
Tim Price and Coup De Coeur Dudevin 12.01pm UK time (1.01pm local time)
Thomas Carlile and Darmagnac De Beliard 1.13pm UK time (2.13pm local time)
Tom McEwen and JL Dublin 2.21pm UK time (3.21pm local time)

View the Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country times in full.

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