NEWs

What a journey this season has been!

Message from British Eventing CEO, Rosie Williams:

We kicked off with torrential rain and, fittingly, we wrapped it up with even more rain. The weather, relentless as it was, tested our resilience. But through every storm, we stood together, proving that nothing can stop us when we work as a team. 

I’ve had the privilege of witnessing thousands of horses and riders — from the tiniest to the towering — soar over fences both great and small. We’ve seen moments of brilliance, moments of struggle, and, yes, moments of heartache. But through it all, we’ve shared a collective passion for this incredible sport. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone involved — especially our volunteers, who proudly wore their “Here to Help” badges and lived up to the name. You are the backbone of every successful event, ensuring our members have an unforgettable experience, time and time again. 

As an organisation, I hope we have been more agile, working closely with event organisers to adapt, reschedule, and relocate events when necessary. Behind the scenes, there are so many unsung heroes in British Eventing who deserve a standing ovation. From technical advisors to the tireless event stewards, they work seamlessly with Organising teams to ensure everything runs smoothly, safely, and by the rules. Often, they’re invisible to competitors, but trust me — they are there, making it all possible. If you ever cross paths, please take a moment to thank them. 

And of course, we cannot overlook the monumental effort it takes to organize these events. From tents and toilets to cross-country courses and show jumps, the obvious logistics are only the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, teams of medics, volunteers, fence judges, caterers, and suppliers come together to create something extraordinary. Let’s not forget the sometimes most stressful part — the lorry park! The sheer complexity of organising an equestrian event is staggering, and it’s a testament to the dedication of so many that we pull it off time after time. 

There are two other groups I want to recognize. First, the unsung heroes in the white cabins at every section, compiling scores, managing the disciplines, and ensuring everything runs on time. They are linked to the nerve centre of the event — the cross-country control and the scorers, who oversee every detail of the competition. The controllers have one of the toughest jobs out there, coordinating with fence judges, medics, vets, course builders, and more. You might never meet them, but if you do, give them a wave. They keep us safe and keep everything moving. 

Our “Here to Help” campaign, along with the introduction of QR codes, has been a tremendous success. We have received over 5,000 completed forms delivering a huge amount of actionable feedback and yes, we’ll be continuing it next year!  

In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing wider feedback and stats with you, which I know the organisers find invaluable. Your input helps us improve, so please keep letting us know what we’re doing right — and what we can do better. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend so many incredible events this year, from Tweseldown to Burghley, Badminton to Offchurch, Blenheim to Swalcliffe. Whether it was running the bun run with Pippa at South of England or meeting passionate members across the country, every experience has been a gift. 

We face some challenges, no doubt. Ensuring we have enough events locally for our members is a big one. We’re working closely with organisers to plan events when the weather is least likely to disrupt them, and we are constantly striving to improve, keeping both equine and human welfare at the forefront of our mission. 

Of course, we can’t end the year without acknowledging the tough moments. We’ve had some significant rider injuries, and tragically, we lost Georgie Campbell this season. Our hearts are with her family and friends. In the background, the British Eventing Support Trust is doing everything it can to support those in need. If you can contribute to the trust in any way, please know how deeply appreciated it is. 

But let’s end on a hopeful note. Over the winter, the team and I will be working hard to make the fixtures calendar even better and to bring more value and clarity to what being a BE member truly means. We might even manage to sneak in a little rest — but rest assured, the work never really stops. We’re already planning for 2026! 

Thank you to each and every one of you, and here’s to an even brighter season in 2025. See you in March! 

 

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