Top event rider Gemma Stevens etched her name into the history books at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead by becoming the first rider to win the Ashby Underwriting Eventers’ Challenge three times in its current format, producing a commanding performance aboard reigning champion Cooley Park Muze.
Last to go from a field of 24 starters, the West Sussex rider held her nerve to deliver a smooth, fault-free round over the demanding track, stopping the clock in 117.80 seconds to finish more than six seconds clear of her nearest rival.
“He is the most wonderful jumper, and safe to say, he’s probably the best horse I’ve ever sat on,” said Gemma of the talented 10-year-old gelding, who is owned by The Rex Syndicate.
Cooley Park Muze has incredible form with Gemma having finished second in the prestigious CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds at Blenheim last September, and more recently won the CCI4*-S at Thoresby Park in March and the CCI4*-L at Royal Jump in France in May.
Although best known as one of Britain’s leading event riders, Gemma continues to impress in the showjumping arena. Her victory capped an outstanding week so far at Hickstead, having also won Wednesday’s UNIBED High-Performance Equine Bedding BS Winter Grades B&C Championship with Warrior Special. She also finished sixth in last month’s Al Shira’aa Derby aboard Envoy Merelsnest Z.
Cooley Park Muze has proved equally adept across both disciplines.
“He could be a pure showjumper, but he’s brave enough to be an event horse, and he’s got lovely dressage, so at the moment we’re sticking with that,” Gemma explained.
She believes this gelding’s adjustability is one of his greatest strengths.
“He’s so incredibly adjustable. I can be full speed and go back to a collected canter in less than two strides – and there aren’t many horses that can do that.”
As defending champion, Gemma admitted there was added pressure returning to defend her title, but her showjumping victory with Warrior Special helped her approach the eventers’ challenge with confidence.
“I just thought, I’ve had a lovely win yesterday, so let’s just enjoy this wonderful horse and do the best we can do,” she said. “I knew my plan, and I tried to stick to it. Gary [Gemma’s husband] and I even watched last year’s round back to work out where I could take one or two fewer strides. I counted everywhere.”
That title defence proved too strong for Tara Dixon, who finished runner-up after an impressive debut appearance in the class.
The daughter of four-time Olympian Karen Dixon had made the Eventers’ Challenge one of her goals for the season.
“At the beginning of this year I wrote a 2026 bucket list, and this was on my list,” said Tara. “I watched Gemma’s round from last year, and I analysed that for a long time.”
Partnering the 13-year-old Master Smart, 23-year-old Tara produced an excellent clear round, adding just four seconds after knocking a fence down to finish on 124.30 seconds.
Third place went to last year’s runners-up Alexander Bragg and Ardeo Premier, who also jumped clear to complete the course in 125.13 seconds.
Gemma on a roll
Earlier in the week, Gemma claimed another major victory by taking the UNIBED High-Performance Equine Bedding BS Winter Grades B&C Championship.
Riding Nadia Al Mutawa’s stallion Warrior Special, Gemma was the quickest of six double clears in the jump-off, edging Thomas Pritchard and Princess SW by just 0.23 seconds.
“It’s one of my biggest showjumping wins here,” said Gemma. “Warrior Special is a big horse, he’s really careful with the most enormous stride, so I probably took 10 fewer strides than everyone else. For such a big horse, he’s got a real turn of foot.”
Gemma now turns her attention to next month’s FEI World Eventing Championships in Aachen, where she will represent Great Britain with Flash Cooley, the horse that won the 2022 Eventers’ Challenge title.
Picture courtesy of Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves.
