Top riders prepare to head to Pau
World number one William Fox-Pitt will be hoping to repeat last year’s win at Pau four-star in France later this month (23-27 October).
He has three rides among the 63 horses entered from 13 nations— 2011 Pau winner Oslo, 2012 Kentucky champion Parklane Hawk and last year’s winner Seacookie.
Some 24 British combinations areexpected to make the trip across the channel. Oliver Townend will be riding his Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) partner Black Tie and Pippa Funnell has entered Redesigned and Mirage D’Elle.
Blenheim CCI3* winner Francis Whittington has entered West Side for his first four-star. Mr Chunky (Lucy Wiegersma) and One Two Many (Nicola Wilson) will also both make their four-star debuts.
The French have seven partnerships entered to try to take the title on home soil, including two combinations from their WEG team — Pascal Leroy (Minos De Petra) and Jean Teulère (Matelot du Grand Val).
This year’s Burghley champion Andrew Nicholson only has one horse entered — Qwanza — who finished seventh at Luhmühlen, in 2012.
Fellow Kiwi Jock Paget currently has three horses entered — Shady Grey, Dustman and Kilcoltrim Ambassador.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Four German combinations will also be challenging for the title. Ingrid Klimke will ride Horseware Hale Bob and Andreas Ostholt will compete Pennsylvania, who finished third at Luhmühlen this spring.
North America is well represented with strong entries from Canada and America.
Christopher Burton is leading the Australian charge with his WEG ride TS Jamaimo and Samur CCI3* winner Haruzac.
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
Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.