About Ros
Team and Individual World Champion 2018, Individual European Champion 2023 and with three European team gold medals in her haul, as well as the 2023 Badminton and Pau 5* titles, Ros had a phenomenal 2023.
She grew up on the family farm. Having two older sisters and a tennis playing father, competitive sport and ponies were a big part of her childhood. She was a keen hockey player, runner and tennis player growing up, as well as bringing on her young ponies to be competitive for her Pony Club.
It was with Ros’ first horse, Silver Curtis, that she got a taste of British Eventing. There followed a few years of great wins and big disappointments whilst she juggled her education with eventing.
After gaining a Sports Science degree, Ros worked for renowned event horse producer Judy Bradwall. There she spent four years learning to work hard and train, train, train.
At the end of 2011 it was time to set up on her own at Hallington, the family farm.
Allstar B joined the team in 2013. He was a big horse who didn’t quite match Ros’ 5’2″ petite frame, but the pair hit it off and, with the help of Ros’ other top horse, Zenshera, they propelled her career into elite sport.
Over the years Ros has enjoyed many successes, both in Young Event Horse Championships, Nations Cup teams and senior British teams.
Her 2017 fifth place finish at Badminton with Allstar B – where she was also best Brit and highest placed lady rider – earnt the pair a place on the British team for the European Championships in Strzegom, Poland where Ros finished 5th individually and won a team gold medal. Zenshera also posted two top 10 finishes at CCI5* level.
“I continue to love my sport, and I enjoy spending time with my friends and family – and of course Chris and Ziggy!”
Things were only set to get better in 2018. Ros and Allstar B took 3rd place at Badminton, Zenshera also 3rd at Luhmuhlen, both horses earning a place on the short list for the World Equestrian Games. It was Allstar B who made the flight to the States, and an immaculate dressage score finish resulted in both a team gold medal and the individual title of World Champions.
Allstar B finished the season as the British Eventing top points winner for the year, with Zenshera second following a 5th place at Pau CCI5*. Ros ranked 2nd on the FEI World Rider Points table.
Despite not competing in the early part of 2019, Ros did attain World Number One status for the month of May. In July she and now husband Chris welcomed their first baby, Ziggy Grace, Ros returning to competition just a month after the birth, posting some great international wins.
2020 was a season no one will forget, thanks to Covid 19. Ros still enjoyed success at events which were able to run, Allstar B remaining on great form to win the CCI4*S at Burgham with a record breaking dressage score and Izilot DHI winning his international class at the same event.
In 2021, with events gradually returning to normal although without Badminton or Burghley, Ros posted excellent results across the levels. Lordships Graffalo won two CCI4*-S and finished runner up in two CCI4*-L; both Izilot DHI and Shannondale Nadia won CCI3*-L classes, and Pencos Crown Jewel successfully stepped up to CCI5* level with a fourth place finish at Bicton.
Ros had the unenviable task of being travelling reserve with Allstar B for the Tokyo Olympics, never an easy role to fill but one she threw herself in to. Selected on both Allstar B and Lordships Graffalo for the European Championships, it was Allstar B back on the road. The pair came home with a team gold medal.
Lordships Graffalo made the step up to five-star at Badminton in 2022. He absolutely rose to the challenge, finishing in the runner up spot and the only horse to complete on a dressage score.
Allstar B completed what was to be his final Badminton, in 12th place. He suffered a serious injury when representing Britain at Aachen, and the only right decision was to have him put down.
The somewhat precocious Izilot DHI won Burgham and Bramham’s 4*S, with Pencos Crown Jewel runner up in the 4*L. The mare then completed her first Burghley in 11th place.
All eyes were now on Lordships Graffalo at the World Championships in Pratoni. Another foot perfect performance left the pair in fourth place, just missing a medal whilst on the same score as the bronze medallist.
Last season was Ros’ best yet. She became only the fifth rider in elite eventing history to win three majors in a single season and the fifth rider in history (and third British woman, following in the footsteps of Lucinda Green and Ginny Elliot) to win both Badminton and the world championship.
Lordships Graffalo returned to Badminton, posting the biggest winning margin (15 points) in modern times.
In September, she became world number one for the first time since 2019 thanks to double gold at the European Championships in Haras du Pin. Ros and Lordships Graffalo were the only combination to reach the optimum time on cross-country day.
International wins at the Blair Castle 4*S and Blenheim Horse Trials 4*L, both on Izilot DHI continued the theme. She then capped out the season with victory in Pau, again on Izilot DHI, a five-star first timer.
She remains totally grounded. “I am incredibly lucky to be based at Hallington, with such a supportive and forward thinking family. Mum not only spends hours every day helping me but she has developed her livery business and so our facilities are superb,” says Ros. “I continue to love my sport – although life has definitely changed since the arrival of Ziggy!”