EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

Thursday at Burghley and the competition is officially underway. 🎙️

The first day of dressage has given us plenty to talk about. The judging is tough, the good scores are being seriously earned and Nadja Minder has thrown down the early marker with her five-star PB. But at Burghley, we all know Thursday is only the beginning of the story.

Sam Watson joins us to talk Saturday, why this year's track could flow better and just how many combinations might actually beat that famous Burghley clock. Plus, with Eventing Manager officially locked in, we find out who everyone is backing.

We head around the showground too, catching up with Marcus Fairfax Fountaine at Fairfax & Favor before finding Tom McEwen at Equine America, fresh from World Championship gold and with 19-year-old Toledo de Kerser back at Burghley.

And we finish with Lucy Jackson, a glass of rosé and a proper Thursday debrief. Who impressed, who could shake things up on Friday and who does Lucy think will be leading heading into Saturday?

Highlights

• Nadja Minder sets the early Burghley standard
• Sam Watson makes his Saturday time prediction
• The biggest Eventing Manager picks
• A trip to Fairfax & Favor
• Tom McEwen and the return of Toledo de Kerser
• Lucy Jackson's Thursday dressage debrief
• Who leads heading into cross country?

Guests

Sam Watson EquiRatings co-founder, stats man and Burghley competitor.

Marcus Fairfax Fountaine Co-founder of Fairfax & Favor.

Tom McEwen World Champion and Olympic medallist.

Lucy Jackson Five-star rider, commentator and Burghley Insights Stage host.

🎥 Watch every moment on Burghley TV: exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access all week.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The Burghley Diaries are officially OPEN. 🎙️

It's Wednesday, it's absolutely chucking it down and Nicole is in the middle of it all as Burghley week gets underway.

Tilly Berendt joins us fresh from a very soggy course walk to talk through a brilliantly wide-open field, why she's firmly Team Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro, and whether this could be the year the usual Burghley trends get ripped up.

Then, THEY MADE IT. 600km from Scone to Burghley, three and a half days on bikes and nearly £18,000 raised. Andrew Ransford and Henry Kinchin join us to talk through the challenge and the slightly alarming suggestion that £35k might get them back on the bikes to Cornbury.

There's a quick visit from Lily Meade before Wednesday delivers its first proper bit of Burghley drama: David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed are OUT. Nicole and Annie jump straight back on to work out what that means for the competition and a LOT of Eventing Manager teams.

Highlights

• A soaking wet Tilly reports back from the course
• Why Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro have Tilly's heart
• Dark horses and Burghley first-timers
• 600km DONE for the Scone to Burghley team
• A glimpse inside Team Meade with Lily
• David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed withdraw
• Time to rethink those Burghley predictions and Eventing Manager teams

Guests

Tilly Berendt Eventing Nation journalist, Burghley expert and, today, very soggy course-walker.

Andrew Ransford & Henry Kinchin Fresh from cycling 600km from Scone to Burghley for Riders Minds and the British Eventing Support Trust.

Lily Meade Giving us a quick peek inside Team Meade ahead of a huge week for Harry.

🎥 Watch every moment on Burghley TV: exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access all week.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Support the Scone to Burghley Cycle Challenge: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/17381/scone-to-burghley/

Burghley week is here, and this one feels genuinely wide open.

Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro head to Stamford as the Prediction Centre favourites, but there are questions to answer and a long list of combinations ready to challenge them. Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal know exactly how to deliver at Burghley, David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed bring one of the strongest cross-country records in the field, while Tom Jackson and United 36, Tim Price and Falco and plenty more come into the week with a very real chance.

Nicole, Diarm, Spike and Annie dig into the numbers and the form, make the case for the combinations they think could win and look at where this year's competition could be decided. With the Burghley terrain, an incredibly tough cross-country time and no obvious standout at the top of the market, there is a lot to unpack before the first horse enters the arena.

Highlights

• Why this could be one of the most open Burghleys in years
• The questions facing favourite Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro
• Why Harry Meade and Cavalier Crystal could have a huge opportunity
• The case for David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed
• Why Tom Jackson and United 36 are serious contenders
• The speed and stamina needed to make the Burghley time
• Could a horse starting in the 30s finally win?
• Podium predictions and dark horses from the team

🎥 Watch every moment on Burghley TV: exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access all week.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We're going behind the scenes at Burghley Media Day with two riders who could have a very big week ahead of them.

Sarah Bullimore and Tom Jackson sit down to talk all things Burghley, from what makes a true Burghley horse and tackling that famous cross-country test, to the final few weeks of preparation before five-star. Plus, Sarah talks about the very special Corimiro, while Tom looks ahead with two exciting chances in United 36 and Hawk Eye.

And we catch up with Andrew Ransford, Henry Kinchin, Thomas March and Alastair Wilson midway through their 600km Scone to Burghley Cycle Challenge, raising money for the British Eventing Support Trust and Riders Minds.

Highlights

• What actually makes a great Burghley horse
• Why heart, stamina and a horse that truly wants the job matter so much
• Sarah's journey with homebred Corimiro and why he means so much to her
• The pressure of heading to Burghley as a Prediction Centre favourite
• Tom's expectations for exciting ten-year-old United 36
• Why there could still be a big five-star result to come from Hawk Eye
• How experience changes the way riders tackle Burghley's terrain
• What the final weeks of five-star preparation look like
• An update from the Scone to Burghley Cycle Challenge as the team passes the halfway point

Guests

Sarah Bullimore – British five-star event rider and European individual bronze medallist, heading to Burghley with exciting homebred Corimiro.

Tom Jackson – British five-star event rider and former Burghley runner-up, returning this year with United 36 and Hawk Eye.

Go behind the scenes as Burghley week gets underway and hear from some of the people making their way to one of the biggest weeks of the year.

Support the Scone to Burghley Cycle Challenge: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/17381/scone-to-burghley/

A rare occurrence on the Eventing Podcast... Diarm gets to open the show!

With Nicole handing over the reins, Diarm is joined by Catherine Austen to look back on a brilliant weekend at Scone Palace International. From the atmosphere and old-fashioned eventing feel to some seriously exciting performances across the levels, there's plenty to unpack.

Gemma Stevens delivered under pressure with Cooley Park Muze, Piggy March and Cooley Anything You Like made a big statement in the four-star long, and some of the sport's biggest names filled the leaderboards.

Highlights

• Why Scone already feels like such a special event
• What changed from year one to year two
• Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze delivering under pressure
• Why Cooley Park Muze looks like a very exciting horse for the future
• Piggy March's impressive win with Cooley Anything You Like
• Why Piggy is so good at getting the best out of a horse
• The huge depth of talent across the levels
• Why the riders coming back to Scone says so much about the event

Guests

Diarm Byrne – EquiRatings co-founder and Eventing Podcast host, bringing the numbers, analysis and plenty of opinions on the sport.

Catherine Austen – Eventing journalist and commentator, bringing her expert eye and all the stories from behind the scenes at Scone.

It's been a busy few weeks for British Eventing, and Rosie Williams joins Nicole to look back at the World Championships in Aachen, the first U25 World Championships and the British Championships at Hartpury.

We also hear from Dickie Waygood on what was, in his words, one of the toughest championships he has ever done, and Laura Collett reflects on team gold, individual bronze and a build-up to Aachen that wasn't quite as straightforward as the result might suggest.

Plus, with Olympic qualification secured, what does that change for the British team between now and LA 2028?

Highlights

• Why Aachen was one of the toughest championships Dickie Waygood has experienced
• The team decisions behind a seriously technical cross-country day
• Laura Collett on a difficult run into Aachen and getting herself back on track
• What makes London 52 different when he knows it's a big occasion
• Rosie's take on Britain's World Championship performance
• What the first U25 World Championships can do for the next generation
• How Olympic qualification changes the next two years for the British team
• Rosie answers your questions on the event calendar, Burghley and more

Guests

Rosie Williams – CEO of British Eventing

Dickie Waygood – British Eventing Performance Manager

Laura Collett – Olympic and World Championship gold medallist

Heading to Burghley?

The British Equestrian Team Foundation is bringing together two of eventing's biggest names for a special breakfast conversation with Lucinda Green. Come join for stories, insight and plenty of conversation from two generations of top-level eventing, all while supporting the work of the BETF.

Places are limited, so book your ticket and join them at Burghley: BETF Breakfast with Eventing Legend Lucinda Green

This episode is brought to you by Zebra Products, the UK and Ireland's leading distributor of premium equestrian brands including Sprenger and Veredus, and title partner of the British Eventing Podcast for 2026. Find out more at: zebraproducts.co.uk

It's Scone week!

Nicole and Diarm are looking ahead to a brilliant few days in Scotland, with huge fields, exciting young horses and some seriously good combinations lining up across the CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L.

Can Cooley Park Muze get the better of the hugely experienced Valmy Biats? Could this be Piggy March's week with Cooley Anything You Like? Or can Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall make their return to the top a winning one?

Plus, there are future superstars to keep an eye on, plenty of names flying under the radar and, of course, Nicole and Diarm put their necks on the line with their podium predictions.

Highlights:

• The big names in the CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L
• Cooley Park Muze, Valmy Biats and a fascinating four-star short
• The young horses who could have LA 2028 in their future
• Piggy March and Izzy Taylor head up the four-star long
• Ones to watch throughout the weekend
• Nicole and Diarm's podium picks

Guests:

Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne to preview all the action from Scone.

Scone Palace International Horse Trials runs 27–30 August, so make sure you're following the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast to keep up with all the action.

And if you haven't already, catch up on our Inside Scone episodes with Lucinda Russell and Event Director Alec Lochore before the competition gets underway.

Two-time Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell joins Nicole ahead of Scone to talk about the two equestrian worlds closest to her heart: racing and eventing.

From her own eventing days to building a hugely successful career in racing, Lucinda shares what the two sports can learn from each other, why fitness and ground conditions matter so much, and what makes the Thoroughbred such an extraordinary athlete.

Plus, there's advice for anyone retraining an ex-racehorse, memories of the glory days of eventing, and even the possibility of a Lucinda Russell comeback at Scone.

Highlights

• Lucinda's journey from eventing into racing
• What eventing can learn from the racing world
• Why fitness, ground and riding forward matter
• The intelligence and bravery of the Thoroughbred
• Lucinda's advice for retraining racehorses
• Why Scone could bring racing and eventing audiences together
• Could we see Lucinda back eventing?

Guest

Lucinda Russell is a two-time Grand National-winning trainer whose roots are firmly in eventing. She joins Nicole to share lessons from a life spent producing equine athletes and why eventing remains so close to her heart.

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Aachen is behind us and attention turns to Burghley, with a seriously exciting five-star field ready to take on one of the biggest tests in the sport.

Nicole and Sam take their first look at the entries, from proven five-star stars to a new generation of horses and riders who look ready to put their names in the history books. With 19 Olympians, two former Burghley winners and much of the Badminton top ten heading to Stamford, there is plenty to unpack.

They dive into the Prediction Centre, the remarkable Burghley 1% Club, the combinations catching their eye and just what makes Derek di Grazia's cross-country track such a unique challenge.

Plus, Sam is heading there himself with Ballyneety Rocketman. He takes us inside his final preparations, how he gets a horse ready for Burghley's terrain and why this event still feels like the absolute pinnacle.

Highlights

• First reactions to the 2026 Burghley field
• Who could become the next first-time five-star winner?
• The Burghley 1% Club
• Sam's insight into tackling the terrain and making the time
• The combinations flying under the radar
• Sam and Ballyneety Rocketman's final preparations
• Nicole and Sam make their early winner picks

Guests

Nicole Brown is joined by Sam Watson, who brings both the EquiRatings numbers and a rider's perspective as he prepares to head to Burghley himself.

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🎥 Watch every moment on Burghley TV: exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access all week.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH are World Champions, completing an extraordinary week in Aachen on a record finishing score of 23.0. At 18 years old, Chipmunk adds World Championship gold to his Olympic title, delivering when the pressure was at its highest.

Great Britain take team gold with another formidable championship performance, while the USA secure bronze, Ireland book their ticket to LA and Belgium grab a crucial Olympic qualification spot.

Diarmuid, Nicole and Spike break down the performances that decided the medals, the combinations whose stock has risen and the moments that made Aachen 2026 a World Championships to remember.

Highlights

• Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH make history
• Great Britain take team gold
• The fight for the individual medals
• USA secure bronze
• Ireland and Belgium book their tickets to LA
• The standout combinations and biggest stories from Aachen
• Nicole takes us behind the scenes of an unforgettable week

Guests

Diarmuid Byrne, Nicole Brown and Peter "Spike" Milligan bring the final verdict on Aachen 2026.

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