Izzy Squire’s mother Tracy Dodd has thanked the riders who wore ribbons in memory of the young eventer at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials last week (4-8 May), in both the Mitsubishi Motors Cup and four-star competitions.
Izzy, 19, was killed in February while backpacking in Vietnam. She was a keen event rider and a member of the Midlands region under-18 CCIJ* team at Weston Park last year riding B Walt Lando Z.
Other riders have since picked up the idea. Those wearing the ribbons at Badminton included Ben Hobday — who had an emotional return to the event after battling cancer last year — and H&H blogger Simon Grieve.
Simon Grieve riding Cornacrew during the dressage phase of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
“Mirelle has now made over 400 ribbons and continues to get requests from riders for them,” said Tracy. “It’s such a lovely tribute to Izzy.
“It was an honour to watch her ribbons being ridden around Badminton, as she would have loved to have done the four-star herself.
“A special thanks to Ben Hobday who wore Izzy’s ribbons while fulfilling his own dream this year! Plus a huge thanks to all eventers who have pledged to wear ribbons in Izzy’s memory this season.”
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Ben Hobday riding Mulrys Error during the dressage phase of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
The bodies of Sheffield-based Izzy, her 24-year-old sister Beth Anderson and Christian Sloan from Kent were found near a waterfall in Vietnam in February.
The sisters were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of South East Asia. They died while taking part in a licensed guided tour, according to the Foreign Commonwealth Office.
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
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
