Event rider Eliza Bell (née Stoddart) and her husband William have welcomed their first baby.
Louis Alexander Michael was born on Thursday, 4 January and mother and baby are doing well.
Eliza, 31, said: “We are feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby boy. Will has had his first day’s field mastering since we had Louis and I am really excited to return to competition and I’m so thankful to all of my owners for their support.”
Eliza and Will got married at the end of 2022 and Eliza operates her team of event horses from Rolleston in Leicestershire.
Her mother Gina said: “Eliza is looking forward to the forthcoming eventing season with a great string of horses to work with and compete.
“Her home team has worked tremendously and her owners have been very supportive.”
Eliza was a medallist at European pony level in 2008 and junior national champion in 2010. Since then, she has produced horses to four-star level and led after the first day of dressage at Burghley in 2019. She has also enjoyed top results in young horse classes.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
