Badminton Horse Trials: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo claim record third win

Britain’s Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo have become the first rider and horse combination to win the Badminton Horse Trials three times.

Canter, 40, who helped Team GB to team eventing gold at the 2024 Olympics, was competing 16 weeks after giving birth to her second child, daughter Seneh.

Canter and ‘Walter’, as her 14-year-old bay gelding is also known, led from Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner after the dressage and cross-country elements, with a fence in hand.

Meade and Annaghmore Valoner put one fence down during the showjumping finale on Sunday, meaning the leaders had a cushion of 10.2 penalties.

Canter and Lordships Graffalo then used up just two of those penalties in excess time for a final score of 25.7, with Tim Price and Falco securing second place.

It was Canter and Lordships Graffalo’s third Badminton win in four years and they are the first pair to claim a trio of victories since the prestigious event began in 1949.

Having won Burghley Horse Trials for a second time last September, they are also now five-time five-star winners, making Lordships Graffalo the most decorated horse in eventing history.

“I thought he jumped his socks off in there today,” Canter said on BBC Two, while holding Seneh. “I can’t put into words how lucky I am to ride a horse like him.

“He enables me to get myself into a position where I believe I can be one of the fastest riders in the world.”

She added: “I can’t thank everybody enough for all they put in to help me because it takes an army to do this.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be able to juggle both jobs. To be an event rider, it’s a real family sport and we’re very privileged to be able to do both at the same time.”