EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

A horse coming into her own. A summer that wasn't really the plan. And a trip to Europe that suddenly feels like it could mean much more.

Nicole Brown sits down for a cup of tea with Tamie Smith after a flying start to 2026 and ahead of a big summer campaign in the UK. With Lillet 3 arriving in England off the back of major wins and World Championship conversations becoming harder to ignore, Tamie reflects on the partnership that took time to build and why this season feels different.

They talk Bramham, supporting Team USA at Bicton, bringing riders and horses across the Atlantic, and what happens when the thing you hoped might happen starts becoming real.

Plus, an update on retired king Mai Baum and why there may already be another black horse waiting in the wings.

Highlights:

• Why Europe felt like the right next step
• The partnership that changed with Lillet 3
• World Championships and knowing when a horse is ready
• Watching Team USA from the sidelines at Bicton
• Molly Duda's summer campaign
• Life after Mai Baum

Guests:

• Tamie Smith: US Olympian, five-star winner, and one of the leading event riders in American eventing

This series is supported by Carr & Day & Martin, globally trusted equine care products since 1765 and now proudly part of the Connolly's Red Mills Group. Learn more about their full range at: https://www.carrdaymartin.com/

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

He's usually the one behind the microphone, helping tell the stories of the sport through data, insight, and conversation. This week, the spotlight is on Brayden Lissington.

Nicole Brown welcomes the Kiwi sports marketer, Eventing Weekly co-host, and EquiRatings commercial lead into the Strawmax Stable for a conversation about storytelling, sport, and the people who have inspired him along the way. From why eventing deserves its own Drive to Survive to the guests he'd most like to interview, Brayden shares the ideas that have shaped his career and his connection to the sport.

Highlights:

• Why eventing is made for a Netflix series
• The guests Brayden would most like to interview
• His dream job away from the sport
• The people on his ultimate dinner party guest list
• Summer Heights High and the stories he loves
• The menu for his perfect dinner party

Guests:

• Brayden Lissington - EquiRatings commercial lead, Eventing Weekly co-host, and former New Zealand futsal international.

To find out more about Strawmax bedding and how it could work in your yard, head to: https://www.strawmax.co.uk

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Badminton may be in the rear-view mirror, but the season is only just heating up.

Nicole Brown is joined by Rosie Williams to reflect on a huge spring for British Eventing, from record grassroots participation numbers to the growing impact of the Eventing Together campaign and the launch of the new official training programme for volunteers and officials.

Plus, hear from some of the people helping drive the sport forward. Fence Judge of the Year Pippa Best shares her extraordinary volunteering journey from Guernsey to Aachen, Young Volunteer of the Year Rose Chugg-Martin talks Badminton dreams and learning through volunteering, and Tom Rowland looks ahead to his first Nations Cup appearance at Bicton.

Highlights:

• British Eventing's strong start to the 2026 season
• Why grassroots participation continues to grow
• The importance of volunteers to the future of the sport
• Pippa Best's journey from Guernsey to championship fence judging
• Rose Chugg-Martin on volunteering, confidence, and Badminton ambitions
• Tom Rowland on Nations Cup debuts, Bicton, and future Burghley dreams

Guests:

• Rosie Williams, CEO of British Eventing
• Pippa Best, British Eventing Fence Judge of the Year
• Rose Chugg-Martin, British Eventing Young Volunteer of the Year
• Tom Rowland, British Nations Cup rider and international event competitor

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Zebra Products. Zebra Products are proud to distribute some of the world's leading equestrian brands across the UK, partnering with companies that prioritise performance, innovation and horse welfare. Their portfolio includes premium saddle makers Amerigo and Equipe, anatomical bridle specialists Menetics, bit experts Nathe and Sprenger, performance apparel brands EGO7, Cavalleria Toscana and RG, alongside trusted names in protection, nutrition and care including Veredus, Cavalor, Bucas, Mattes and Uvex, supporting horse and rider at every level of the sport.

Find out more at: www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Learn more about the Veredus E-VENTO cross-country boots, designed for lightweight protection and ventilation: https://www.veredus.com/jumping-eventing?lang=en_US

Explore the Sprenger equestrian range, known for innovative bit design and precision engineering: https://www.sprenger.de/en/collections/equestrian

Inspired to get more involved? Find out how you can support training, education and the eventing community: 👉 British Eventing Training Foundation 👉 Volunteer with British Eventing

Follow @britisheventing on Instagram to stay up to date with all the action.

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Kentucky, national titles, and a horse called Piglet.

Nicole Brown sits down with one of Britain's brightest young riders, Elizabeth Barratt, to talk about a whirlwind start to 2026, from flying horses to America for the first time to defending her Young Rider National title at Bicton.

Elizabeth reflects on the scale of the Kentucky experience, learning alongside Europe's top five-star riders, and why the trip left her hungry to come back one day for the five-star itself. Plus, she looks ahead to Bicton with two very different rides, the experienced Rehy DJ and exciting young talent Postman.

There's also talk of Young Rider Europeans ambitions, future four-stars, and the young horses listeners should keep firmly on their radar this season.

Highlights:

• Behind the scenes of travelling horses to Kentucky
• What it was really like competing at the Kentucky Horse Park
• Defending the Young Rider National title at Bicton
• Why Postman could be one for the future
• The horse Elizabeth says listeners need to watch, Camillo Boy
• Tack cleaning, hot chocolates, and a late-night Baileys recommendation

Guests:

Elizabeth Barratt, reigning U21 National Champion and rising British event rider

This series is supported by Carr & Day & Martin, globally trusted equine care products since 1765 and now proudly part of the Connolly's Red Mills Group. Learn more about their full range at: https://www.carrdaymartin.com/

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

Millstreet delivered exactly what it always promises, proper eventing. Tough ground, big questions, and a four-star leaderboard packed with quality.

Nicole Brown and Sam Watson review a huge weekend in Ireland, from Senor Crocodillo stamping his class ahead of Aachen, to Sam's own exciting young talent Ballybolger Goldman finishing fourth on his four-star debut. Plus, the story behind one of the fastest cross-country rounds of the weekend, and why soft ground might just be a dream scenario.

Highlights:

• Why Millstreet's conditions turned cross-country into a true stamina test
• Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo's dominant four-star win
• Sam Watson on Ballybolger Goldman's standout four-star debut
• Championship implications for Sarah Ennis
• Why Millstreet remains one of the best eventing venues in the world

Guests:

• Sam Watson, international event rider, EquiRatings analyst, and Millstreet podium finisher

EquiRatings Eventing PodcastFollow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

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There are now only six horses in history to have recorded an EquiRatings Elo above 900.

The latest to join the club? London 52.

On this episode, Nicole Brown and Sam Watson break down what the 900 Club actually means, why London 52's consistency is almost unmatched in modern eventing, and how his recent performances compare to some of the greatest horses the sport has ever seen.

From Le Lion d'Angers to Blenheim, Bicton, Badminton, and Belsay, the pair look back on the performances that built London 52's remarkable Elo, and why Sam believes he could already be even higher on the all-time list.

Plus, where do horses like JL Dublin, Lordships Graffalo, and fischerChipmunk FRH fit into the picture, and could we one day see the sport's first ever 1000-rated horse?

Highlights

What the EquiRatings Elo actually measures Why only six horses have ever crossed 900 London 52's extraordinary run of triple-figure HPRs The greatest event horses of the modern era Why Sam thinks London 52 could already rank even higher Could a horse ever break the 1000 barrier?

Guests

Nicole Brown Sam Watson

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Millstreet week is here, and with it comes one of the biggest fixtures in Irish eventing.

On this special Connolly's Red Mills preview show, Sam Watson joins Nicole Brown to look ahead to the four-star at Millstreet International Horse Trials, where championship contenders, rising stars, and experienced campaigners all collide.

From Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo, to Joseph Murphy's Aachen hopefuls, Cosby Green's Highly Suspicious challenge, and Sam's own exciting young horse Goldman stepping up to four-star, there's plenty to unpack ahead of cross-country day at Green Glens.

The pair also discuss the unique challenge of showjumping after cross-country, why Millstreet matters so much to Irish eventing, and what the new FEI Under 25 World Championships could mean for the future of the sport.

Highlights

• Millstreet's role in Irish eventing
• The FEI Under 25 World Championships at Green Glens
• Jonelle Price's strong hand in the four-star
• Aachen hopes for Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.S.
• Sam Watson's four-star debutant Goldman
• Why showjumping after cross-country changes everything

Guests

• Nicole Brown
• Sam Watson

Massive thank you to Connolly's RED MILLS for their support of this episode and of eventing at every level, from grassroots right through to championship sport.

You can learn more about their feed, supplements, and nutrition programmes at redmills.com.

Cross-country speed. Everyone wants it. Very few riders really understand how to build it.

On this episode of the Grassroots Podcast, Cameron Beer sits down with Sam Watson to unpack what actually makes riders fast across country, and why speed has far less to do with bravery than most people think.

From cruising speed and balance, to transitions, footwork, stamina, and course walking, Sam breaks down the systems, habits, and mindset that helped him become one of the sport's best against the clock. There are stories from Burghley, Badminton, the World Championships, plenty of honest mistakes, and practical takeaways every grassroots rider can use this season.

Because getting the time isn't about chasing. It's about understanding.

Highlights

• Sam's five pillars of cross-country speed
• Why "practice until you don't get it wrong" shaped his riding
• The biggest mistakes riders make when chasing the clock
• How to train speed at home, safely and progressively
• Course walking tricks that save seconds without taking risks
• Why smooth rounds are often the fastest rounds
• This week's Grassroots Challenge, Sam's Gear Challenge

Guest

• Sam Watson, Irish Olympian, World medalist, and EquiRatings analyst

Presented by Foran Equine, part of the Connolly's RED MILLS family.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

What a week at Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

As the dust settles on another extraordinary Badminton, Nicole Brown is joined by Catherine Austen, with Spike Milligan dropping in, to reflect on the performances, the pressure, and the moments that defined the week.

From Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo delivering one of the great five-star performances, to standout weekends for Tim Price, Harry Meade, Tom Jackson, Sarah Bullimore, and more, this is the final look back on a week that had everything.

Highlights

• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo's third Badminton title
• Tim Price, Harry Meade, and Tom Jackson on huge form
• Sarah Bullimore, Katie Magee, and the rising stars of the week
• The emotional moments, the near misses, and what comes next

Guests

• Nicole Brown
• Catherine Austen
• Spike Milligan

By Saturday night at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, the leaderboard looks different, and so does everyone who's been part of it.

On today's Badminton Diaries, we start the day with Simon Middleton from Zebra Products and the team behind Simon Grieve's Autograph, sharing the emotional story of a homebred who has gone all the way to five-star.

Then Marcus from Fairfax & Favor reflects on 13 years at Badminton, how far the brand has come, and why some stands become part of the fabric of the week.

Out on course, Sarah Bullimore joins us after one of the rounds of the day, a brilliant clear inside the time with the 10-year-old Corimiro.

Then, as the sun starts to drop over the lake, Laura Collett, Sam Watson, Georgia Patrick, and Diarmuid sit down to unpack a cross-country day that delivered everything, history, heartbreak, homebreds, and one combination that still looks untouchable.

Highlights

• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo hold the lead after cross-country
• Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro deliver one of the rounds of the week
• The emotional story behind Simon Grieve's Autograph, from foal to five-star
• Marcus from Fairfax & Favor on 13 years at Badminton
• Laura Collett and Sam Watson break down the pressure, the partnerships, and the performances that shaped Saturday
• The movers, the heartbreaks, and who still has it all to play for on Sunday

Guests

• Nicole Brown
• Diarmuid Byrne
• Simon Middleton, Zebra Products
• Marcus from Fairfax & Favor
• Sarah Bullimore
• Laura Collett
• Sam Watson
• Georgia Patrick

This year's Badminton Diaries are brought to you by:

Fairfax Saddles Scientifically designed saddles, bridles, and girths, built to help horses move freely, comfortably, and at their best. Visit Fairfax Saddles

EcoVoltz Built for life on the move, from walking cross-country tracks to covering every corner of the showground. ecovoltz.co.uk/— please use your existing partner link if you have a direct landing page.

Uvex Trusted by top riders worldwide for premium helmets and gloves, combining protection, comfort, and performance. Explore Uvex Equestrian

Zebra Products Supplying world-class equestrian brands, from performance tack to rider essentials, trusted across every discipline. Visit Zebra Products

US Equestrian Open A new era of championship sport across jumping, dressage, and eventing in the United States. Website: usequestrianopen.org

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:

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