EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

2026 Horses to Watch

The new season is coming into view, which means one thing. It is time for the horses to watch in 2026. Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne and Catherine Austen to pick the horses they think could define the season ahead. From potential five-star winners to the young horses you might not know yet but will soon. Could Cooley Rosalent add another five-star? Will Lordships Graffalo, London 52 and fischerChipmunk FRH battle it out again at the World Championships in Aachen? And is Annaghmore Valoner the horse to finally give Harry Meade that long-awaited five-star victory? Plus the team share their dark horses for a five-star podium and the young names to keep firmly on your radar this year. If you want a few storylines to follow as the 2026 season begins, this is the place to start. Highlights * Five-star winners to watch in 2026 * The World Championships showdown at Aachen * Dark horses for a five-star podium * The young horses who could break through this season Guests * Diarmuid Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder * Catherine Austen, equestrian journalist and broadcaster EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Don't forget to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eventingpodcast/?hl=en] and Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/eventingpodcast]

British Eventing Show IWD Special: Season Plans, BE Prepared & The Road to 2026

International Women's Day lands right as the season comes back into view, and this British Eventing Show opener, in partnership with Zebra Products [https://www.zebraproducts.co.uk], feels like the perfect moment to celebrate what makes the sport so special. Nicole Brown is joined by British Eventing [https://www.britisheventing.com/] CEO Rosie Williams, five-star winner Gemma Stevens, and Belsay organiser Laura de Wesselow, for a behind the scenes look at how British Eventing sets competitors, organisers, and officials up for the year ahead. From the energy building towards opening day, to Belsay stepping up as a full four-star fixture, to British Eventing's BE Prepared campaign, this episode looks at the people, preparation, and collaboration that help the sport move forward. Plus, Gemma goes "In the Zone" with Zebra Products and shares three simple, practical ways to set yourself and your horse up for a strong start. Highlights * International Women's Day special with three standout voices across the sport * How British Eventing is building for the future with collaboration across the sport * BE Prepared, a practical new resource designed to help everyone feel ready for the season * Belsay's four-star step up, what's new for 2026, and the focus on the visitor experience * Gemma's season planning approach, and why flexibility matters as the year unfolds * Listener Qs, plus quick fire World Champs picks to finish Guests * Rosie Williams, CEO, British Eventing * Gemma Stevens, five star winner * Laura de Wesselow, Belsay organiser 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 [https://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 [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 [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 [https://www.britisheventing.com/train/train-with-be/the-british-eventing-training-foundation] 👉 Volunteer with British Eventing [https://www.britisheventing.com/about/volunteer] Follow @britisheventing [https://www.instagram.com/britisheventing/] on Instagram to stay up to date with all the action.

2026 Under 25 Riders to Watch

The next generation is about to get its own world stage. For the first time, the FEI Under 25 Eventing World Championships arrive this summer, with Millstreet set to host a championship that genuinely bridges the gap between young rider success and senior championship pressure. So… who's ready? Nicole Brown is joined by Diarm Byrne and Ali Barrett to look at the numbers, the standout performances, and the combinations already making noise at four-star short level. From established names like Calvin Böckmann and Alice Casburn, to emerging contenders from Australia, the US, Ireland, France and beyond, they start to piece together what this first edition could look like. U25 Article: https://news.equiratings.com/stories/looking-at-the-major-contenders-for-millstreet-2026 [https://news.equiratings.com/stories/looking-at-the-major-contenders-for-millstreet-2026] Highlights * The top Under 25 performances of 2025 * Who leads the High Performance Ratings * Which nations look strongest on paper * Early predictions for individual and team gold Guests * Ali Barrett – EquiRatings AI & Sports Media Analyst * Diarmuid Byrne – EquiRatings co-founder EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Don't forget to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eventingpodcast/?hl=en] and Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/eventingpodcast]

LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase: Review Show

Phillip Dutton is on the board. The 2026 season opened at the LiftMaster Grand Prix Eventing Showcase presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, and it was Phillip Dutton and Denim who walked away with the $100,000 win. A brand new four-star test caused early drama. Rails reshuffled the leaderboard. And Jay Hambly's cross-country track built pressure right to the final rider. Nicole Brown and Annie Bishop review the action from Aiken, from Humble Glory's podium climb to Elisa Wallace's statement performance, and what this result means as the road to Kentucky begins. Plus, Annie chat's with Phillip on his Showcase win and what it means for the rest of the season. Highlights * Phillip and Denim's $100,000 victory * The debut of the 2026 four-star dressage test * Key rails in show jumping * Jay Hambly's first Showcase cross-country track * Elisa Wallace and Lissavorra Quality step up * Sophia Hill and Humble Glory's podium finish * Early-season signals ahead of Kentucky Guests * Annie Bishop – Host of the US Equestrian Open podcast EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Don't forget to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eventingpodcast/?hl=en] and Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/eventingpodcast]

Through the Owners' Eyes – Alex Wakeley

Ownership in eventing rarely follows a straight line. For Alex Wakeley, it has been shaped by family history, a first tentative run at BE80, and a young grey bought quietly after the Rio Olympics who would go on to win at Le Lion d'Angers. In this episode of Through the Owners' Eyes, Nicole Brown sits down with Alex, owner of Cristal Fontaine and Chairman of the Event Horse Owners Association, to talk about what ownership really looks like. From the highs of a six-year-old World Championship title with Kitty King to the realities of injury management, long seasons, and knowing when a horse owes you nothing more, Alex reflects on the full ownership journey. Highlights * From first event nerves to owning a Le Lion d'Angers six-year-old World Champion * Buying young, trusting instinct, and choosing the right rider * The realities of injuries, longevity, and horse welfare at the top level * Syndicates, access, and bringing younger owners into the sport * The role of the Event Horse Owners Association, from hospitality to advocacy Guest * Alex Wakeley, event horse owner, Chairman of the Event Horse Owners Association For more information on the Event Horse Owners Association, including membership, owner hospitality at events, and grassroots initiatives, visit the Event Horse Owners Association [https://ehoa.org/]. This episode is powered by EquiRatings Horse Sales,the data-driven way to find your next superstar. From performance metrics to potential and price, EquiRatings helps take the guesswork out of buying and selling horses. Find out more here. [https://www.equiratings.com/solutions/horse-sales] EquiRatings Eventing Podcast: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eventingpodcast/?hl=en] and Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/eventingpodcast]