As we prepare to welcome a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the incredible highlights and cherished memories from 2024.
THE GREAT BRITISH RAIN OFF
Rain, rain, and more rain! This year tested our resilience as we trudged through soggy grounds, questioning our sanity and appealing to the weather gods for mercy. Despite the lack of sunshine, the brilliance of our competitors lit up the season, giving us so much to celebrate.
OLYMPIC DREAMS COME TRUE
Team GB was unstoppable at the Paris Olympics, with Ros Canter, Laura Collett, and Tom McEwen breaking the Olympic Team dressage record with an impressive 66.6 penalties. Laura also set a new individual record with a stunning 17.5. Together, they defended Great Britain’s eventing team title from Tokyo 2020, bringing home Team GB’s first gold medal of the Games.
It was a year of personal triumph for the trio:
- Tom dominated the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, including a highlight win at the CCI4*-S in Kronenburg with JL Dublin.
- Laura added an individual bronze to her accolades with London 52.
- Ros capped the season with a victory at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials aboard Lordships Graffalo.
Paris offered unforgettable moments: Michael Jung (GER) made history with his third individual Eventing gold, and Chris Burton (AUS) waltzed back into the eventing spotlight, campaigning Ben Hobdays’ Shadow Man, which paid off with an individual silver medal. The vibrant performances of Team France and Team Japan kept us smiling, whilst Boyd Martin (USA) warmed hearts as he campaigned the late Annie Goodwin’s gelding, Fedarman B.
RIDING HIGH
This year’s eventing season was full of exceptional performances. New Zealand’s Caroline Powell was crowned champion once again as she jumped to a historic victory at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials on the event’s 75th anniversary. Greenacres Special Cavalier, an Irish-bred, 11-year-old mare by Cavalier Royale, bred in Ireland by Michael Callery, would also take top honours in the final Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials CCI4*-S.
Great Britain’s Oliver Townend won both the big events in the USA. He took the top honours in the Kentucky Three Day Event at Lexington (USA) aboard Cooley Rosalent. At Fair Hill, the MARS Maryland 5 Star title went to Townend and the absolute horse of a lifetime, dream teammate, Ballaghmor Class.
Caroline Harris and D. Day dazzled at Les 5 étoiles de Pau, climbing from 22nd to 1st with a stellar cross-country round before holding their nerve to jump clear in the final show jumping phase to take the win. Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier thrilled the home crowd by taking the Longines Luhmühlen CCI5*-L title, winning with homebred horse Hooney D’Arville.
Harry Meade triumphed at the 50th anniversary of Defender Bramham Horse Trials. Following in his Fathers footsteps (the late, great Richard Meade won here in 1975) Harry and Annaghmore Valoner jumped the perfect clear round to finish on their dressage score to win the coveted CCI4*-L title.
TAKE A BOW
Not only did Gemma Stevens pilot Chilli Morning IV to the seven-year-old eventing world champion title at Mondial du Lion, our crossover queen also claimed the Cavagon Six Bar win at The London International Horse Show with Envoy Merelsnest Z.
New Zealand Olympic representative and World Championship medalist Clarke Johnstone continued his fabulous 2024 form to finish second in the 4*-L and win the 4*-S at Strzegom Horse Trials.
David Doel (GBR) and Galileo Nieuwmoed secured another 5* podium, hinting at even greater triumphs ahead for the duo.
It was the first Badminton and first 5* for amateur Irish rider Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint and they took the competition by storm, finishing in second place.
Team CYCLE4CAROLINE inspired us all by turning a profound loss into a positive force. The team completed a gruelling 1,100km challenge in memory of Caroline and to raise funds and awareness for two charities close to Caroline’s heart: the British Eventing Support Trust and Spinal Research.
COMEBACK KIDS
We had all the feels seeing Falco flying high again. It was a long road back for this remarkable boy, and it was truly special to see him and Tim Price (NZL) back in 5* contention.
After breaking several vertebrae in a schooling fall at home and fighting her way back to fitness, Bubby Upton made her return to the sport in March. With over twenty-five top ten placings for the season, including five wins, our favourite moment was seeing her complete the CCI5*-L at MARS Badminton Horse Trials on board her beloved Cola.
After suffering no less than a broken femur, fractured pelvis, fractured elbow and numerous fractured ribs, Shane Rose (AUS) defied the odds to partner his 19-year-old stalwart Virgil at the Paris Olympics. Bowing him out from top-level competition in style.
A FAIRYTALE FAREWELL
For over a decade, we have taken the stunning drive up to Blair, and each time felt like the first time. Only this year, sadly, was to be the last.
Crossing the Forth, following the winding roads through the misted Cairngorms and the quaint and familiar Blair Atholl. The white castle greets you proudly, and the buzz from the showground travels far and wide. Blair is a truly magical venue and much like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you’re going to get! The only place where you need factor 50 and wellies on the same day.
The event has one of the most beautiful and dramatic settings of any horse trials in the world, and with its final fling, Blair went out in style. Scotland’s Wills Oakden claimed back-to-back victories in the CCI4*-L with Blair hat-trick superstar Keep It Cooley.
TRIUMPH AND A FEW TEARS
“That’s it for this level. I’m going to do young ones and carry on for a bit, but this is my last Badminton, for sure. There’s no tears and sobbing, I’m very matter of fact about it – it’s the right thing to do.”
We won’t lie. We sobbed as William took his final lap of honour at Defender Burghley Horse Trials. He is the record-man at CCI5*, with 14 grand slam titles and 64 CCI three-day event wins. William’s legendary career exemplifies dedication and excellence. We wish him all the best and hope to see him close to the sport he’s defined for decades.
Defender Burghley and tears went hand in hand as we all supported Jesse Campbell on his Burghley debut. Still reeling from the loss of our darling Georgie, the eventing family rode every stride and cheered every step of the way with him. Cheers were shared, too, for Alfies Clover as he danced down the centre line one last time with Richard Jones. It might not have been the fairytale event, but to see him finish, ears pricked, happy and healthy with so many fond memories to cherish of him was the fitting finale.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025
- Belsay International Horse Trials will host the Chatsworth replacement fixture, with a schedule that includes CCI4*S, Advanced, CCI2*S and Novice classes.
- Dutch Olympic event rider Andrew Heffernan takes over as cross-country designer at Defender Bramham Horse Trials.
- Blenheim Palace welcomes Agria as its new title sponsor and will host the FEI Eventing European Championships.
- Scotland celebrates with the arrival of South of Scotland Horse Trials and Scone Palace International Horse Trials.
- Bicton will host the British leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2025
A MILESTONE YEAR FOR EVENTING TIMES
This year, we turned five! Although having lost the best part of two years to Covid, we still feel like we are just getting started. We wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your support and for helping us achieve a reach of over 2 MILLION this year.
We love our sport and our community, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on over the last few months. 2025 is going to be pretty special!
Our favourite rider quote of the year?
“I was enjoying the half passes so much I forgot where I was going.” – Hannah Sue Hollberg, Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
For us, it’s the whole point of what we do. To get wrapped up in the love and magic of our sport.
As we move into 2025, we leave you with this wish: Be happy. Embrace each moment, learn from challenges, celebrate successes, and live fully.
To the members of our family we lost this year, we look for you in the stars in the sky. To the members of our family fighting through recovery, you are always in our thoughts.
May 2025 be bright for you all x
