It was good to hear injured event rider Nicola Wilson has undertaken the long journey to a specialist spinal unit closer to home, following her cross-country fall at Badminton. She was successfully transferred from Southmead Hospital in Bristol to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough on Wednesday (25 May). An update from British Equestrian said that Nicola was “comfortable, in good spirits and pleased to be closer to home” after the “long and tiring journey”. She will continue her “lengthy rehabilitation” at the specialist spinal centre, which can offer her “expert support”.
A young rider asked her mum if it was “just a dream” the day after she qualified her six-year-old pony for the 138cm final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) recently. Portia Taylor-Wilson and Whitethorn Smokey jumped a triple clear at Arena UK’s pony premier to take the ticket – after Portia’s mum Rebecca Clay almost pulled her out of the class as she thought the course might be too much for them. Rebecca said Portia is up at 6.30am every morning to ride before school and that she puts her “heart and soul” into her ponies.
3. The young showjumper everyone is talking about…
Ebanking at Adam Botham yard, Chimenys near Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 25th April 2022
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The eight-year-old stallion was one of the breakthrough showjumping talents of 2021 with his rider Adam Botham, proving unbeatable in a string of high-profile young horse classes including the CSIYH* seven-year-old class at Bolesworth. “Ebay” stepped up to jumping his first 1.45m ranking classes in Spain this year and is being targeted at the Hickstead eight-year-old championship this summer, and Adam says he believes in him “300%”.
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
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
