Top local 5* Eventing Rider David Doel prepares for the season and Badminton

12-03-2026 Jan Perrins

For someone who topped the British Eventing leaderboard as the rider with the most cross-country clears in 2025, experiencing two uncharacteristic falls with his top horse, Galileo Nieuwmoed, at both Badminton and Burghley could easily have been difficult to recover from. But leading Wiltshire event rider David Doel is very...

Badminton '25 - triumph again for Ros Canter

12-05-2025 Jan Perrins

Ros Canter and the stunning Lordship Graffalo claimed their second MARS Badminton Horse Trials title with a flawless round in the final showjumping phase, cementing the horse's status as one of the best eventers in the world. Canter now joins a select group of just five riders to have won...

Badminton 2025 - all star line up for this year's event

07-05-2025 Jan Perrins

The world’s greatest three-day event riders are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, which is just about to get underway (Wednesday 7 May).

British Eventing returns to Barbury

27-03-2025 Jan Perrins

The Barbury Castle estate saw a welcome return to British Eventing at the weekend with three days of competition, showcasing some of our top riders, including Laura Collett, David Doel, Tim and Jonelle Price, Tom McEwen to name just a few.

Badminton '25 - early bird ticket offer closes at end of March

19-03-2025 Jan Perrins

Badminton 2025 is nearly here, taking place in early May beytween 7 - 11th. One difference for this year - all tickets must be bought in advance as there won't be any tickets sold on the gate this year. There is the 'early bird' advance ticket discount available, but that...

Rockley's Will Rawlin delighted by Badminton debut

16-05-2024 Jan Perrins

New Zealander Caroline Powell pulled off a shock victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials at the weekend, after Tim Price and Vitali and William Fox Pitt and Grafennacht, who were in first and second respectively, had a number of fences down in the showjumping.

Rockley's Will Rawlin ready for first Badminton appearance this week

07-05-2024 Jan Perrins

Will Rawlin describes himself as “absolutely fine” as he faces his first ever appearance at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, which begin on Wednesday. The 30-year-old first timer, based at Rockley, said he is not overthinking the competition, regarded by many in the sport as the pinnacle in the eventing calendar,...

Olympics target for David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed after success at Burghley and Badminton

06-03-2024 Jan Perrins

David Doel’s past two seasons, with his star horse Galileo Nieuwmoed, are the stuff that most event riders can only dream of. A sixth place at his debut Badminton Horse Trials, eighth at Kentucky and runner up at Burghley are the highlights - but for him this is not quite...

Three retired racehorses, trained by local riders qualify for the horse of the Year Show

10-09-2023

Three former successful racehorses, stabled and trained now at Overton Manor Farm (and owned by the White family) in Wroughton have qualified for the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s NEC in October. Trained by the ladies who will be riding them, the three horses will be competing in the...

Bishopstone's Greta Mason looks forward to this weekend's Badminton

04-05-2023 Jan Perrins

When Greta Mason drives through the famous Badminton gates for her debut appearance this week it will be a culmination of a three-year plan. Greta and her 16.1hh gelding Cooley for Sure (Murphy) moved to base themselves with former Badminton winner Rodney Powell at his Bishopstone yard in 2020, with a...

Laura Thomas' syndicate horse Very Intense wins at Lockinge

Written by Tony Millett on 19 April 2017.

Easter Monday's point-to-point at Lockinge attracted a crowd of about 7,000 and saw an important victory for locally trained Very Intense.

Former racehorse Very Intense is owned by the syndicate organised by Laura Thomas, who trains near Barbury Castle. Ridden by Johnny Bailey Very Intense was the convincing winner of the Bentley Berkshire Restricted raver over two and two-third miles.

Laura Thomas was delighted with this win: "The syndicate who owns Very Intense are a local group and I am thrilled they’ve had a winner today. It’s very good to win here, as he’s been so consistent this season and thoroughly deserved to get his head in front."

Laura Thomas was not quite so successful in the previous race when she rode Urban Storm into second place to Butney Rock ridden by sixteen year-old Milo Herbert - his first win since getting his amateur licence last month.

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