Author: Amy Kingham

Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Red Hot Win for Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight at Defender Burghley

Thirty-one five star starts and 15 years later, Gemma Stevens finished on her dressage score of 29.6 penalties to be crowned the Defender Burghley champion for the first time, on board the indomitable Chilli Knight. Their story is the stuff equestrian dreams are made of – the pair met the day “Alfie” was born, out of Gemma’s 5 star mare, King’s Gem, and have forged an unbreakable partnership over the subsequent 16 years of the gelding’s life. “I knew him as an embryo” Gemma said of Christopher and Lisa Stone’s British Sports Horse.   It’s partnerships like that which see

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Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Leaderboard Shake Up After Cross Country at Defender Burghley

After a customary day of Defender Burghley cross country day thrills and spills, it’s all change on the leaderboard which now sees Great Britain’s Gemma Stevens sitting at the top with Chilli Knight, thanks to the formidable cross country duo posting one of only two clear rounds of the day. Stopping the clock well inside the optimum time of 11 minutes and 20 seconds, with three seconds to spare, Stevens stormed around Derek di Grazia’s immaculate course to remain on her dressage score of 29.6, meaning she and the 16-year-old former 5 star winner are now the only combination in

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Defender Burghley Horse Trials Nadja Minder
Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Nadja Minder Makes History to Lead Defender Burghley After Dressage

For the first time in history, a Swiss rider tops the CCI5* Defender Burghley Horse Trials dressage leaderboard as the first phase of the competition comes to an end. Nadja Minder and Toblerone chose the perfect moment to produce their five-star personal best in the dressage, posting one of only two sub-30 scores to take an overnight lead on 29.5 penalties. “Dressage doesn’t come naturally for him and I saw his nostrils a couple of times when I first started riding,” Nadja said with a wry smile of the 19-year-old Swiss warmblood, whom she has competed at international level for

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Michele George (BEL), winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle Test Grade V with Best of 8 at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship Riesenbeck 2023© FEI / Leanjo de Koster
Horse News
Amy Kingham

Europe’s best head to Ermelo (NED) to battle it out at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2025

The stage is set at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo (NED) for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2025 where on the 3 – 7 September, a grand total of 20 nations will descend upon the impressive venue to contend for the European titles. Throughout the five days of competition, 57 combinations from across the five Grades will head down the centreline, representing their country in three separate competitions. Wednesday and Thursday will see the Individual champion crowned, then on Friday and Saturday, thirteen of the Nations will step forward to contest the Team title and finally, the crowd-pleasing

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Horse News
Amy Kingham

Ros Canter and Walter Win Again at Badminton Horse Trials

After a tense day of show jumping with clear rounds as rare as hens teeth and tears aplenty, the Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025 winner is crowned. Amy Powell reports on the last day of what was, once again, a vintage year of competition. The first action of the day was the final vet inspection, which saw 5 withdrawals overnight (that wouldn’t trouble the leaderboard) and after both of Oliver Townend’s rides were sent to the holding box, his longtime 5* partner, Ballaghmor Class, who was sat handily in 7th overnight was withdrawn and, thankfully, his overnight leader Cooley Rosalent

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Horse News
Amy Kingham

Townend Retains the Lead at Mars Badminton Horse Trials

After a classic day of thrills and spills at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, it’s GB’s Oliver Townend who narrowly retains his lead after a contentious 15 point flag penalty was removed. Amy Powell reports on the day’s action and another British 1-2-3. Eric Winter’s 2025 cross country course caused it’s customary level of carnage today, with only 60 completions recorded out of the 80 riders who left the start box, but the good ones certainly made it look easy. An uncustomary proportion of 6 combinations made the time, partly down to the fast but excellent ground which was a tribute

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Oliver Townend (GBR) and Cooley Rosalent (Starting Order: 90)
Eventing News
Amy Kingham

Leaderboard Reshuffle After Dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials

There’s a reshuffle of the leaderboard after the completion of the dressage phase at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, and a British top 10, to boot. Amy Powell reports on the action. It was a steady day of dressage up to the afternoon coffee break, where only Ros Canter troubled the top three in the first session of the day posting a score of 25.3 with her Badminton 2023 winner and Paris Olympics team gold medalist, Lordships Graffalo. Like teammate Tom McEwen yesterday, she too struggled to produce a faultless test and ‘Walter’ showed some costly greenness in the flying

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Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin (Starting Order: 44)
Eventing News
Amy Kingham

Brits Dominate on Day One of Dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials

At the close of dressage day 1 at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, the results sheet is dominated by Brits who take up the first 9 places. Amy Powell reports on the first day of action. 7 Storming into the lead after the afternoon coffee break with his best 5* dressage score to date of 22.4 penalties, was Tom McEwen riding his Paris gold medal winning mount, JL Dublin. The pair gave the crowds an almost foot perfect performance were it not for a blip in the first medium trot of the test, “Shame that in our highlight piece we broke

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Caroline Powell (NZL) winner of the Mars Badminton Trophy riding Greenacres Special
Eventing News
Amy Kingham

An Unexpected Victory at the 75th Mars Badminton Horse Trials

Olympic years can always throw up unexpected results at Badminton, and 2024 is absolutely no exception with a total shakeup of the leader board. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell came from 6th place overnight to take her first Badminton Horse Trials title with the feisty mare Greenacres Special Cavalier, having finished here in last place in 2023. Ireland’s Lucy Latta climbed up one to eventual second place – an incredible result for her first five star event, let alone her first Badminton with the incredibly promising RCS Patron Saint, followed by best of the Brits, Alex Bragg riding Quindiva, a horse

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Eventing News
Amy Kingham

All Change on the Leader Board After Cross Country Day at Mars Badminton Horse Trials

After a thrilling day of cross country at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, the leader board after dressage took quite the shakeup to see New Zealand’s Tim Price climb up from third into the top spot, followed by a legend of the British team, William Fox-Pitt rising to second from overnight 8th and Ireland’s Lucy Latter storming into third in her first ever 5 star competition from 46th position after dressage. The story of the day certainly goes to 27-year-old Badminton and 5 star first timer, Lucy Latta, who put in an incredible round on board RCA Patron Saint to

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Rosalind Canter (GBR) riding Izilot DHI following dressage at Badminton Horse Trials 2024
Eventing News
Amy Kingham

A Familiar Name Leads After Dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials

In the 75th Anniversary of the Badminton Horse Trials and its inaugural year with Mars as the title sponsor, the sun shone over two days of fantastic sport to give us the phase one leader of Ros Canter with Izilot DHI. Riding into second place is Bubby Upton on Cola for Great Britain, and in third, is New Zealand’s Tim Price on board Vitali. Tim and the 14-year-old black gelding produced their customary fluid test to finish on a first phase score of 27.7. The result wasn’t quite their Burghley record-setting score of 18 from last September having had a

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Oliver Townend with Ballaghmor Class for GBR winners of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in the parkland of Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 30th August to 3 September 2023.
Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Class by Name, Class by Nature.

Under the beaming sunshine, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials arena once more witnessed a historic afternoon as Great Britain’s Oliver Townend is crowned the winner for his third time on board Ballaghmor Class. The 16-year-old Irish Sports Horse is no stranger to the hallowed turf of Burghley, having won here in 2017 as a fresh faced 10-year-old at his first five star, as well as notable results in 2018 and 2019, finishing second and third respectively. “He jumped as good as he’s ever jumped, what can I say about him? He’s a freak of nature, he feels better than he’s

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Tim Price riding Vitali for NZL during the cross country phase at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, in the parkland of Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire in the UK on the 30th August to 3 September 2023.
Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Tim Price Retains his Lead at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

After a day of the usual thrills and spills at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials, despite the shuffling leaderboard beneath him, New Zealand’s Tim Price remains on top. Adding eight time penalties to his overnight score to lie on 26.7, Tim’s breathing space at the top is somewhat diminished, to leave him without even a fence in hand over Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class going into tomorrow’s show jumping phase. “He’s shown his class again, he didn’t feel like the horse I’ve had around this place last year, but for whatever reason, he just wasn’t really up in front of

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Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

A Record Breaking Day of Dressage at Defender Burghley Horse Trials

The familiar green and white stripes that adorn the stands of the Defender Burghley Horse Trials arena are no stranger to historic moments, and today just happened to be another one of those days. After 58 riders completed the CCI-L 5* event’s dressage test, it’s New Zealand’s Tim Price and Vitali that sit on top of the leader board with the best 5* score since comparable records began back in 1978, of 18.7 penalties. The 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding is no stranger to the hallowed turf of Burghley House, having finished third here last year, and treated the crowds to a

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Rosalind Canter riding Lordships Graffalo for (GBR) wins at Badminton Horse Trials 2023
Horse News
Amy Kingham

It’s third time lucky for Ros Canter at Badminton

At a damp and muddy Badminton Horse Trials presented by Mars Equestrian, it was third time lucky for Britain’s Ros Canter who bettered her 2022 runner up spot with Lordships Graffalo to take home the coveted trophy along with a hefty £105,000 first prize. The 2023 Badminton win sees Ros and her ride solidify their place in the history books as only the third combination since 2008 to lead from start to finish. Another moment to savour is the pair now become one of only five riders in history to win both Badminton Horse Trials and the World Championship title

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Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Only 30 Finish Badminton Cross Country While Ros Canter Remains Top of the Leaderboard

After a day of thrills and spills across the country today at the Badminton Horse Trials presented by Mars Equestrian, Ros Canter remains in pole position with Lordships Gruffalo whilst the rest of the leader board shuffles around beneath her. Amy Powell reports on the cross country action. With the heavy rain yesterday, the soft ground combined with the longest Badminton track we’ve seen in a number of years, it was always going to be influential, and boy did today’s results reflect that. Only 30 horse and rider combinations made it through to the next phase of the event. From

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Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

New Dressage Leader Crowned on Coronation Day.

After the completion of a very soggy day two of dressage at the Badminton Horse trials 2023 presented by Mars Equestrian, a new combination tops the leader board on the day of King Charles’ coronation. Amy Powell reports on the day’s events. With very different ground conditions inside the white boards today and as the rain teemed down, it is all change at the business end of the competition as Ros Canter takes the lead with the horse she piloted to runner up spot here last year, Lordships Gruffalo, on a score of 22.1 penalties. The 2018 world champion was

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Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

An Indomitable Top Three After Day 1 of Dressage at Badminton.

On day one of the Badminton Horse Trials 2023 presented by Mars Equestrian, we see two British stalwarts battling it out for the top spot, closely followed by the current World Number 1 after the first 44 competitors have completed their dressage. Amy Powell reports on the day’s action. Olympic Team Gold medallist, Oliver Townend, produced a fluid and accurate test with 15-year-old Swallow Springs to score 23.2 penalties, leading by the narrowest possible margin over fellow Brit, Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall), riding Jalapeno who sits just 0.1 penalties behind on a score of 23.3. “I was very happy with

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Event Reports
Amy Kingham

Piggy March and Vanir Kamira tell their own story for a win at Burghley

After a nail biting finish to a truly epic event, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials culminated in an historic first win for Great Britain’s Piggy March on board the indefatigable Vanir Kamira, Amy Powell reports. Entering the arena on the final day of competition with two fences in hand over their nearest rivals, March and “Tilly” (as she is known at home) had a job on their hands to navigate a show jumping track which had only produced seven clear rounds throughout the day. The combination are capable of a four or eight fault round at five star level,

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Piggy March Burghley Horse Trials 2022
Horse News
Amy Kingham

Piggy March Reclaims the Lead after Cross Country Day at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

After a three year hiatus, the parklands of Burghley House once more saw a thrilling day of cross country at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Thursday’s dressage leader, Great Britain’s Piggy March, reclaimed the top spot on board Vanir Kamira after a shakeup of the leader board, Amy Powell reports. Stopping the clock just one second over the optimum time of 11 minutes 20 seconds, March gave a cross country masterclass on board the 17-year-old mare. Eating up the undulating terrain, the challenging course never looked to trouble the Burghley stalwarts, “She knows her job, it’s just me not

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Gregory Wathelet riding Nevados Swinners Royal Windsor Horse Show
Horse NewsShowjumping News
Amy Kingham

Royal Windsor Rolex Grand Prix Sees a New Name Take the Title

Royal Windsor Rolex Grand Prix Sees a New Name Take the Title Words by Amy Powell The pinnacle class of Royal Windsor Horse Show, the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, saw the world’s top showjumpers battle it out in front of a packed crowd for a share of the £500,000 prize pot. The 32-strong start list read like a who’s who of the sport’s best, but the taxing track of 14 fences designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral saw its fair share of carnage in the first round with only three progressing to the jump off. With a total of 12 combinations

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Horse News
Amy Kingham

Day of Five Star Showjumping at Royal Windsor 2022

Words by Amy Powell. In the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, showjumping’s elite lit up the arena once more at Royal Windsor Horse Show. Saturday hosted no less than two 5* classes delighting the packed crowds with a truly international list of competitors. Kicking off proceedings was a 27-strong field contesting the CSI5* 1.50m Falcon Stakes – a Longines ranking class. The tough first round track saw no less than 17 combinations fall by the wayside including serious contenders such as Scott Brash riding his Tokyo Olympics partner Hello Jefferson. Just 12 went through to the second round with an incredibly

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Chedington Equestrian Bicton Park 5* - Gemma Tattersall and Chilli Knight
Eventing NewsHorse News
Amy Kingham

Foal to Five Star

Foal to Five Star On the final day of the Chedington Equestrian Bicton Park 5*, the Devon crowd was treated to top class action from a limited but talented field of some of the World’s best riders. Giving them the first all-female top three at a British 5* event in 18 years. The only rider to complete on their dressage score, finishing on 27.9 penalties was Great Britain’s Gemma Tattersall onboard Chris and Lisa Stone’s Chilli Knight, a horse she saw being born as a foal. The combination jumped an incredible clear round to better their overnight second place and

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Pippa Funnell
Event ReportsEventing News
Amy Kingham

Bicton Provides a Day of Five Star Competition

Bicton Provides a Day of Five Star of Competition Having stepped up to the plate to host the UK’s first five star event since 2019, The Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials certainly delivered on an action packed day of cross country and with a trio of Britain’s finest women taking the lead, it proved that girls really do run the world. Overnight leader after dressage, Pippa Funnel produced, in her words, “the best 5* cross country ride I’ve ever had” to cross the line with 4.8 time penalties with Billy Walk On to finish up the day in third

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