Wednesday, 17 September 2025
The hazy days of the British summer may have given way to grey autumnal skies, but Europe’s elite eventing combinations have gathered to round off the championship season. Fifty-five riders from 17 nations have descended on Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for the 37th installment of the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships, which promises to offer top-class sporting action over four days of competition.
It’s been a decade since Britain last hosted the FEI Eventing European Championships – when Blair Castle in Scotland had the honour – and you have to go back a further 10 years to see UNESCO World Heritage Site Blenheim Place in the championship roster. In 2005, Zara Phillips took double European gold at Blenheim with her horse of a lifetime, Toytown. Two years ago in Haras du Pin, France, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo emulated that for Britain, meaning the title is currently in British hands. Following the announcement of her pregnancy with her second child, Ros isn’t amongst the British names taking part, so it’ll be a new name on the individual champions’ roll of honour in 2025.
The British squad is a mix of experience and new faces – here’s the six who’ll be hoping to add to Britain’s 80-strong European championship medal tally:
The primary focus of today was the first horse inspection, where all 55 combinations came in front of the ground jury of Sandy Philips (GBR – President), Valerie Pride (USA) and Katrin Eichinger-Kniely (AUT) and Veterinary Commission President Alison Butler (GBR). This all-important process checks the horses for their readiness and fitness to compete in the three phases which make up the eventing test. In blustery conditions, there was a few frisky horses but all passed and will go ahead to the dressage phase.
The British contingent looked super-smart in their Agria-branded Toggi kit, with the horses all immaculately turned out courtesy of our fantastic team of grooms – Tilly Hughes (London 52), Nellie Smith (D. Day), Alison Bell (Rehy DJ), Hannah Chowen, Adam Short (JL Dublin) and Kirsty Campbell (Its Cooley Time).
Nine nations will contest the team title, with Britain drawn fourth to go as they aim to take their 25th team gold and successfully defend the European crown they won in Haras du Pin (FRA) in 2023. Performance Manager Richard Waygood has announced his team and running order, with reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham taking on the pathfinder role. Second is Northamptonshire-based Piggy March, back on a team for the first time since 2021 while Paris 2024 team gold medal duo Tom McEwen and Laura Collett go third and anchor respectively.
This afternoon, all competitors and their grooms took part in the Opening Ceremony, which took place in the main arena. Each nation was led in by local Pony Club members, with flags fluttering as far as the eye could see. After speeches from the Duke of Marlborough, Agria CEO Vicky Wentworth and FEI Eventing Chair David O’Connor, the event was declared officially open.
The final order of business for the day was an arena familiarisation session for those combinations competing in tomorrow’s first day of dressage. This gives an opportunity for horse and riders to experience the main arena while it’s fully dressage for competition, which is an important part of preparation ahead of competition.
The two-day dressage phase gets underway on Thursday morning at 10:30, with the scaffold-covered Blenheim Palace as the iconic backdrop – two team riders, plus an individual, will go down the centre line each day. Yasmin Ingham – based in Cheshire and originally from the Isle of Man – is first up with Rehy DJ at 10:51. Our first individual Caroline Harris, based in Gloucestershire, makes her senior championship debut with D. Day at 12:18, while Piggy March and Halo round off the first day for Britain at 14:58. At the end of day one, we’ll have a good idea of the team standings, with two rider from each nation posting their scores.
Friday is the turn of Gloucestershire-based Tom McEwen and JL Dublin at 11:59 for the team, with individual first-timer Bubby Upton – who hails from Suffolk – going at 14:51 with Its Cooley Time. The final British pairing down the centre line will be Laura Collett and London 52 at 15:54 (all times BST).
Saturday is the crucial cross-country phase, with Captain Mark Phillips in charge of setting the 5,900 metre course with 40 jumping efforts, all beautifully constructed by David Evans and his team. European championships are set at CCI4* level and Captain Phillips has sent a true championship test, making expert use of the undulating parkland – there’s plenty of room for errors, but where excellent horsemanship will be rewarded.
You can catch up on all the action from every phase of the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV. The weekend’s action will be available to livestream on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website – visit our online Eventing Hub for details. Find times and results on the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials website, plus everything you need to know about the British squad and the competition on our online Eventing Hub.
In addition to the Agria FEI Eventing European Championships, the Agria Blenheim International Horse Trials plays host to the dedicated GFS Saddles 8- & 9-year-olds class – and there’s a bumper entry. Could we see the 2027 European champion amongst the runners? Follow the competition live on Horse & Country TV to find out.