UK Season Preview: Eventing is Back! Where to Find the Movers and Shakers as Badminton Beckons

There’s been a hint of spring in the air over in the UK, giving us all hope that the long, wet winter won’t actually last forever. But even better than not having to do barn chores soaked to the bone, battling through the dark, is the prospect that eventing is a go once more. 

As we head into the 2025 season, we’ve been taking a look at the early events which will draw in heavy-hitters and debutant CCI5* hopefuls alike, assembling en masse to get in their prep runs with the first of the UK’s big Bs in their sights.

There were some notable omissions from the Badminton start list last year, what with Paris coming up. Reigning Olympic Champion, Germany’s Michael Jung hasn’t had a 5* start since winning Kentucky in 2022. Will he pop up at the top level this year? Time will tell. China’s Alex Hua Tian is renowned for prioritizing representing his country over and above 5* entries. He won gold at the Asian Games both individually and with the team in 2023, and came 23rd individually at Paris. He took a breath from team duties to end an eight year hiatus from the top level with fifth place at Pau last season – he’s got some exciting prospects in his string should he be amongst the Badminton entries. Three-time 5* winners – including Badminton 2022 – Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 went to Luhmühlen last year for the 4*-S rather than taking on a 5* in the Olympic lead-up. And last year’s reigning Badminton Champion, Ros Canter, opted for a post-Paris 5* run at Burghley with her Olympic ride Lordships Graffalo, which they won, rather than returning to Badminton earlier in thecseason to defend their title. We’ll have to wait until entries are out before we’ll know for sure who’ll be chasing their Badminton dreams this time around, but it’ll be a competitive field, that’s for sure.

Without further ado, weather allowing (we are in the UK, after all), here’s an overview of some of what we’ve got to look forward to as the 2025 season gets underway.

Poplar Park, Suffolk (March 1-2)

The British season kicked off on a particularly sunny weekend – hopefully a portent of more eventing-friendly weather over the coming weeks – with the 41st running of Poplar Park, in Suffolk. With almost a hundred entries in the Open Intermediate division, the eventers were out in force to clear the cobwebs. Here’s a look at how things played out.

Open Intermediate (A):

1. Taking top spot, Piggy March and Cooley Goodwood posted the quickest time of the day, picking up just 2 cross country time penalties to add to their dressage of 24.3.
2. Leading after the dressage on 21.8, Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent posted the second-fastest round of the day. They had an expensive pole in the show jumping phase to finish on a score of 29.
3. Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do had been sitting in second with their dressage score of 22.7 but cross country time dropped them down a place.
4. The third-fastest round of the day bumped Jack Pinkney and Claragh Olala up into 4th spot.
5. Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI added just cross country time to their dressage score of 26.8 to finish in the money.

Poplar Park is the local event of Bubby Upton, who led the dressage at Badminton last year with long-time partner Cola II after her amazing comeback following a serious injury incurred on the flat at home the previous season; she would have won the whole dang thing but for a frangible device out on cross country. Their season opener at saw them post 26.4 in the dressage, to which they added just cross country time and one pole across the competition to end up in 10th place in the Open Intermediate (A). 

Open Intermediate (B)

1. Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class led the division from start to finish, with the best dressage score by 3 marks, the fastest time of the day on cross country and a clear round in the show jumping, finishing on a score of 28.8.
2. Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall were on the leaders’ heels throughout – second after dressage, the second-fastest time on cross country, and a clear show jumping round. They finished on 33.4.
3. Mary Edmundson and Lionel II finished third on a score of 36.9.
4. Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy were the third-fastest on cross country, which jumped them from 7th to 4th.
5. David Doel and Ferro Point were just 0.9 behind, with a finishing score of 39.9.

Open Intermediate (C)

1. World No. 1 Tom McEwen took the top spot with JL Dublin, leading from start to finish and ending on a score of 26.
2. They didn’t have the fastest round of the day though. That went to David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed, who finished on their dressage score of 29.6, the only combination to do so across the whole Open Intermediate division.
3. The USA’s Grace Taylor took 3rd place with Game Changer, ending up on a score of 30.4.
4. New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig jumped up from 10th after dressage thanks to a quick enough clear cross country round, ending up on a finishing score of 32.1.
5. Izzy Taylor and Bayaanaat rounded out the top-5 after adding one show jumping pole and a few cross country penalties to their score to end on 33.5.

Poplar Park: [Results]

Oasby (1) – Sponsored by Agria, Lincolnshire (March 6-7)

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Running over two weekends this year after wet weather forced the final day of competition to be abandoned in 2024, the organizers made the decision to add a second event in April to minimize the risk of deteriorating ground conditions as the competition progressed. Entries have been flocking in for the first edition, with the Open Intermediate division already having nearly hit the hundred-mark.

Here’s a taster of who we can expect to see at Oasby (1):

• Reigning Badminton champions, New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier get their season underway, surely with sights on another top result this year.
• Two-time 5* winners (Badminton 2023 and Burghley 2024) Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo will follow up their Poplar Park result intending to show the eventing world just what Walter’s made of.
• David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed have been knocking on the door of a 5* win since they almost cracked it on their debut at Pau in 2021 – since then they’ve picked up 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th place finishes.
• Another combination who’s due some luck at the top level, Emily King had her best 5* result thus far at Badminton last year, when she finished just off the podium with two-time Grantham Cup winner Valmy Biats after an uncharacteristically expensive show jumping round dropped them down the order.
• Alice Casburn has been racking up excellent finishes at 5* with second generation homebred Topspin over the last few years and this long-time partnership are surely ones to watch as we head into this year’s offerings.
• Another rider with some solid 5* results on his record, Wills Oakden has four entries at Oasby, including last year’s Burghley 5th-placer (who almost finished on his dressage score, but for a pesky pole) Oughterard Cooley.

Oasby: [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Tweseldown (1), Hampshire (March 8-9) 

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Held at the historic Tweseldown Racecourse, the venue for this spring event has seen over a century and a half of equestrian history, hosting the 1948 Olympic eventing and the first ever Sunday race meeting with legal betting in 1996. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest which is legally protected and subject to sympathetic management, to which organizers must pay heed when planning the event. Of specific note is the sandy soil which ensures excellent going whatever the weather, putting the venue in an enviable position when it comes to hosting an event early in the season which, as we’re all well aware, is no mean feat in the UK. 

The Open Intermediate entries have already surpassed 100, with a whole host of big hitters to watch out for. Expect to see the likes of:

• Reigning World Champions, Yas Ingham and Banzai du Loir are due to make an appearance and Yas is surely hungry for a 5* win this year. They’ve been runners-up and third at Kentucky, opting for the Stateside event over Badminton last season, and the 4*-S at Luhmühlen (which they won) with Olympic team duties in mind. 
• Three-time 5* winners Laura Collett and London 52 are back out eventing this season with another Olympic team gold and an individual bronze medal amongst their many, many accolades. We didn’t see them at the top level last year so it’ll be cool to see them gunning for another win this time around.
• New Zealand power pair, Team Price, have six entries between them (four for Tim and two for Jonelle), including Tim’s 5* winner and Olympic ride Falco IV, with whom he was 6th individually at Paris, won bronze at the World Championships in Pratoni and was runner-up at Maryland last year, and exciting young talent Jarillo, who finished top-10 at his 5* debut at Pau last year with much, much more to come from the gelding, for sure. Jonelle also brings her Olympic partner, Hiarado, forward.   
• Everyone’s favorite Irish 5* winner, Austin O’Connor has Maryland champ Colorado Blue amongst the entries. The two-time Olympic ride (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2023) was on the podium at the wet and wild edition of Badminton in 2023 and there’s no denying that we’d all adore seeing ‘Salty’ back there this year, galloping his way up the scoreboard.
• Another Badminton third-placer, this time from 2024, Alex Bragg and quirky mare Quindiva must have their sights set on more 5* success after having a taste of the podium, climbing from 51st after dressage to 3rd at the end of the competition, and then finishing on their dressage score at Burghley (which just 1% of combinations have achieved since 2006 – 12 from 1200 entries) last season for 8th place.
• British-based Americans Tiana Coudray and Cosby Green are also headed to the racecourse as they prep for their top level runs with Cancaras Girl and Copper Beach, respectively. They each flew the flag for the US at Badminton last year with solid completions and we can, hopefully, look forward to them building on that this season.

Tweseldown: [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

Riseholme College Lincoln, Lincolnshire (March 14-16)

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Previously known as Lincolnshire Horse Trials, this British Eventing fixture is organized and run by Riseholme College (hence the name change) at Lincolnshire Showground, with the good ground conditions drawing a whole host of big guns looking for early prep runs. There are already almost 70 entries in the Open Intermediate division; here are some of the exciting combinations we can expect to see:

• Two-time Olympians Laura Collett and exceptional 5* campaigner London 52 are on the list. Laura also brings Bling forward; the mare has gained plenty of 4* experience over the last three seasons so it’ll be interesting to see whether Laura feels she’s ready for the step up this year.
• They’re joined by 2023 Badminton winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Ros will also ride MHS Seventeen in the division, surely with the intent of heading to another 5* this year with the gelding after he finished just outside the top-ten on his debut at Pau at the end of last season.
• Kitty King and Vendredi Biats have been so close, so many times, to a win at the top level. They won team gold and individual silver at the European Championships in 2023 and were runners-up at Luhmühlen that year. They’ve also got solid top-10 finishes at Badminton and Burghley on their card. Kitty’s ready for her time at the top – will she realize that this year?
• A welcome name on the list is that of 5* stalwart and extraordinary talent Ballaghmor Class, piloted by Oliver Townend. It was disappointing not to see this popular gelding at a British 5* last year after coming second at Badminton and winning Burghley in 2023. It’s impossible to overlook this veteran’s truly impressive record – he won on his debut at the top level at Burghley in 2017; has not only completed in all of his ten 5* starts, but has been top-5 in every single one; he’s won four, been runner-up three times and come third once; he rounded out 2024 by taking the Maryland title. Seriously, this guy is an eventer through and through, but at eighteen we’ll have to wait and see what Oliver’s plans are for him this year. As if one 5* winner wasn’t enough, Oliver also has talented mare and 2024 Kentucky champion Cooley Rosalent entered.

Riseholme:  [Website] [Entries]

Barbury Castle, Wiltshire (March 21-23) 

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The ultimate spectator venue, with the cross country in the beautiful grounds of Barbury Castle running around the edge of a ‘bowl’, meaning that onlookers can see the whole course, it’s great that British Eventing is back at Barbury this year after a two year hiatus, albeit missing the international 3*-S and 4*-S classes it had run previously. The entry list for the Open Intermediate division is enormous, with almost 200 combinations already. Ones to watch out for include:

• Current World No. 1, Tom McEwen is on the list with Brookfield Quality, who was set up to win his first 5* at Luhmühlen last year when he headed out onto the cross country in the lead, only for a freak storm to descend, forcing Tom to seek shelter under a tree while the weather played havoc with the venue. Understandably, Tom called it a day. The gelding Brookfield came back out at Pau and showed all of his quality with third place. 
• Ireland’s Lucy Latta and RCS Patron Saint are also in the mix. They jumped onto the eventing scene with gusto last year when they came second at Badminton on their 5* debut. Lucy balances top-level eventing with a full-time job as a brand manager, making us all wonder just how many hours there are in her day.
• Laura Collett’s got five entries on the list, including Boekelo 4*-L runner-up from last season Dacapo. The gelding has made three 5* starts but is looking for his first completion. He was sitting in the top-5 after dressage at Badminton in 2023 when Laura decided to withdraw him before cross country due to the very tricky weather conditions the event endured that year. We’ll have to wait and see what her plans are for the 16-year-old this season.
• Other British riders with multiple entries are Alex Bragg, David Doel, and Harry Meade. As well as talented mare Quindiva, Alex’s Ardeo Premier is entering his third 5* season, whilst ‘finish on his dressage’ specialist, Galileo Nieuwmoed is one of four rides for David. Harry always seems to have around a hundred horses at events, but he’s narrowed it down to four here, with Maryland ride Et Hop Du Matz leading the charge in terms of experience. Harry had a very uncharacteristic tumble out at Maryland on the horse’s 5* debut, meaning Harry’ll be looking for a first top level completion with the ride this season. 
• There’s a good international flavor to things in terms of entries thus far, with two of the bronze medal winning Japanese eventers from Paris coming forward, Toshiyuki Tanaka with Olympic ride Jefferson JRA, and Ryuzo Kitajima with Burghley 2024 top-15 finisher Feroza Nieuwmoed.
• They’re joined by Kiwi Paris Olympic team, Tim and Jonelle Price and Clarke Johnstone, who all bring their Paris rides (Falco IV, Hiarado and Menlo Park, respectively), with Tim and Jonelle out in force with five horses each, including Tim’s stalwart 5* campaigner and Burghley 2024 runner-up, Vitali.
• For the US is Cosby Green, who has four entries, including former Chris Burton /Jonelle Price/Bubby Upton/Ben Leuwer ride, Clever Louis, who adds America to his fairly long list of representations (Australia with Chris, New Zealand with Jonelle, Britain with Bubby and Germany with Ben).

Barbury Castle: [Website] [Entries]

Thoresby Park International Eventing Spring Carnival, Nottinghamshire (March 27-30) 

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There is so much happening at the Eventing Spring Carnival held at Thoresby Park. As well as international eventing and the Lycetts Grantham Cup event, there’s a treasure hunt, face painting, classic cars and tractors, gun dogs and a dog show for spectators’ furry friends, a climbing wall, and if you’re attending with kids who’ve got energy to burn, a bounce house. Particularly exciting this year, the growing trend of horsing around sans actual, real live horse has reached international ranks, and Thoresby will host the UK’s first international hobby horse competition. What’s more, a clear round event will run alongside so everyone’s welcome to try out the latest horsey craze. A carnival it surely is.

There are notable entries in a number of divisions at the event. Here’s a look at what Thoresby has in store.

There are over 50 entries already for the Open Intermediate class, with the aforementioned 2024 Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier amongst the ranks. Other combinations of interest include:

• Ros Canter and her quirky, ultra-talented gelding Izilot DHI. He won Pau on his debut at the level and was runner-up last year, when he posted a score of 19 in the dressage. He’s not found Badminton or Burghley quite so much to his taste thus far, with a start at each but no completion. Will all that change with another year’s experience under his cinch?
• Sarah Bullimore’s spicey chestnut gelding Corouet hasn’t been at 5* since 2022, having spent the last couple of seasons gaining ground at the 4* level. He’s an exciting one to watch across all three phases and would be a welcome addition to the Badminton start list should Sarah be heading that way.
• Another popular horse who’s had some time away from the top level is John the Bull, ridden by Ireland’s Susie Berry. He was top-20 at Badminton in 2022 on his debut at the level, but was sidelined for the 2023 season, coming back last year with some solid runs at 4*. It would be cool to see this game gelding storming round a 5* cross country this year should that be on the cards.
• A very exciting addition to the line up is Harry Meade with former William Fox-Pitt ride Graffenacht. Set to deliver a dream ending to William’s 5* career at Burghley when the mare headed into the show jumping phase in second place, less than two penalties behind leaders Tim Price and Vitali, the poles came down, and down, dropping them to 13th. But the pair had proved their mettle already, taking second spot at Maryland the previous season and finishing 14th at Badminton on the horse’s debut at the top level. When William decided to hang up his boots – at least at 5* – Harry Meade took on the talented mare and it’s going to be very interesting to see the partnership come together this season. 

There’s American interest in the Advanced division with Grace Taylor and Game Changer, who were top-20 at Badminton last spring. Joining them is Britain’s Ben Hobday, who’s taken back the ride on Shadow Man II after lending the gelding to Australia’s Chris Burton for the Paris Olympics, where he delivered an individual silver medal at the end of an exceptional performance across all three phases to finish on a score of 22.4. On his return, Ben had a spin round Pau with the horse at the end of last season and finished just outside the top-10.

The big eventing focus, however, is the 4*-S which is also the Lycetts Grantham Cup event, designed to be the perfect prep run for the 5*s to come later in the season. Drawing huge entries each year, 2025 looks to be no exception with almost one hundred names on the list already.

Here’s a run-down of the type of quality this class attracts:

• Two-time winner of the Grantham Cup in consecutive years (2023 and 2024), Emily King and Valmy Biats will be defending their title and gunning to add a third. They went on to be 4th at Badminton last spring and Emily will surely be looking to get her foot on the podium this year.
• We’ve talked a bit about ‘Walter’ already, and Badminton and Burghley winner and Olympic team gold medalist Lordships Graffalo is amongst the high flying line-up here too, with Ros Canter.
• Another combination we’ve already mentioned is Laura Collett and two-time Olympic team gold and individual bronze medalist London 52. They’ll be getting their run in at Thoresby also.
• Continuing with the top players in British Eventing, Tom McEwen is due to bring forward his team gold medal winning Olympic ride, JL Dublin. They were 4th individually at Paris, runners-up at Kentucky two years running (2023 and 2024) and 3rd at Pau in 2023, so are surely ones to watch as they make their preparations for the season ahead.
• And rounding out the British representation in Paris, traveling reserve and reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham sets out this season with her long-time partner Rehy DJ. With two 5* podium placings to their record already, Yas must be feeling confident as she heads into what will be her eighth season with the gelding.
• There are notable entries hailing from the Emerald Isle, with Sarah Ennis and cross country machine Grantstown Jackson, EquiRatings brainiac Sam Watson with Ballyneety Rocketman, ‘amateur’ eventing star Lucy Latta with her Badminton hero (as mentioned above) RCA Patron Saint, and the darling of Maryland, Austin O’Connor with Colorado Blue all on the list.
• The Kiwi camp is also looking strong, with, amongst others, Tim Price and his expected five rides (as well as those already discussed, Viscount Viktor and Happy Boy make up the count); Clarke Johnstone and his Paris Olympic ride Menlo Park; Jonelle Price and her Olympic ride Hiarado; and Jesse Campbell, who was 15th at Badminton and 21st at Burghley with Cooley Lafitte last season, in what was a very difficult year for Jesse. He will also pilot his late wife, Georgie’s horse, Speedwell. 
• Representing the US are Cosby Green and the experienced gelding Copper Beach, who’s delivered 16th place at 5* for Cosby twice now (Pau 2023 and Burghley 2024), and Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, who were 25th at Badminton last year.
• A welcome inclusion on the entry list is China’s Alex Hua Tian, who comes forward with Chicko, who was 4th at Pau on his debut at the level last season, and Jilsonne Van Bareelhof, a horse Alex is understandably super excited about. The pair were joint-second after the dressage at the Paris Olympics on a score of 22, before an expensive frangible device out on cross country dropped them down the order. The gelding looks primed to make the step-up to 5* this season – watch this space.

Thorseby Spring Carnival: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream]

Also coming up:

Burnham Market International Sponsored by Barefoot Retreats, Norfolk (April 11-13): [Website] [Live Stream]

Kelsall Hill International, Cheshire (April 17-20): [Website]

Oasby (2) – Sponsored by Agria, Lincolnshire (April 18-19): [Website]

Osberton International (1) Sponsored by Aspen Cooling Ltd, Nottinghamshire (May 1-4): [Website]

And finally, the one we’ve all been waiting for – Badminton. Keep eyes on EN for all the coverage you can handle!

MARS Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire (May 8-11): [Website]