The world’s best horse and rider combinations head East to Little Downham International (Tuesday 26th September), with six of the FEI’s top ranked riders set to compete.
Eventing’s power couple Tim and Jonelle Price make the trip to Cambridgeshire for the Advanced and CCI4*S with four rides. The pair have used the Ely Autumn fixture in the past to prepare for the Autumn 5* season in both the US and Europe.
2023 Defender Burghley CCI5* champion, Oliver Townend returns to Little Downham, this time with Tregilder in the feature class. The world number 3 was forced to pull up Tregilder before the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley earlier this month following a snapped rein. The pair will undoubtedly be looking to put the miss hap behind them as they take on the compact Little Downham track.
Laura Collett was the inaugural winner of the Little Downham CCI4*S in 2020, a win that started a string of impressive titles including Pau CCI5*, Badminton CCI5* and Olympic Gold. The world top 10 ranked rider brings forward two rides in the Intermediate sections, with Sportsfield Freelance the 10-year-old she’s recently taken on from Irish international Aoife Clark her sole ride in the CCI4*.
Tom McEwen has become a regular competitor at Little Downham over the past two seasons. He brings forward European Championship ride JL Dublin, and Blenheim dressage leader MHS Brown Jack.
Other notable entries include 2020 4* winner Piggy March, Pippa Funnell and Austin O’Connor who re-routes Colorado Blue from Burghley.
With the support of the Event Horse Owner’s Association, any EHOA member who is the owner of a competing horse is welcomed into the official’s barn for a complimentary lunch.
“Owners are the backbone of the sport and we wanted to offer our own thank you to them for their continued support, of not only Little Downham but of the sport of eventing in general” said Organiser Tina Ure.
Entry to the event is free of charge for spectators, with well-behaved dogs also welcomed.
