One of eventing’s greatest-ever horses, Ballaghmor Class, will make a special appearance at this year’s Your Horse Live, where he will officially begin his retirement tour.
The 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse, known as ‘Thomas’ at home, will join long-time rider Oliver Townend at Stoneleigh Park (6-8 November) for what promises to be a memorable celebration of an extraordinary career.
During his brilliant career, Thomas became a two-time winner of Defender Burghley Horse Trials, as well as claiming five-star victories at Kentucky and Maryland, and Olympic team gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The grey gelding has been a cornerstone of Oliver’s success at the highest level for more than a decade.
“Thomas has been one of the most successful event horses in history and a phenomenal partner and teammate to me,” said Oliver.
Describing Ballaghmor Class as “a horse of a lifetime”, Oliver said bringing him to Your Horse Live offers fans the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything the remarkable gelding has achieved.
Billington’s back
Oliver will once again be joined by showjumping legend Geoff Billington, with the hugely popular duo returning to the show after delighting audiences in previous years.
Regular favourites with Your Horse Live visitors, Oliver and Geoff combine world-class horsemanship with plenty of laughter, making their demonstrations a must-see for spectators.
Their sessions will feature training insights, behind-the-scenes stories from life at the top of the sport and, this year, the chance to pay tribute to one of eventing’s true superstars as Ballaghmor Class embarks on his well-earned retirement.
About Oliver Townend MBE
Oliver Townend is one of the world’s most successful event riders. In October 2024, he secured the ninth five-star title of his career at the MARS Maryland CCI5* aboard Ballaghmor Class.
With the same horse, Oliver has won Burghley twice — in 2017 and 2023 — and they were pathfinders for the British team at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, helping secure team gold and finishing fifth individually.
This was Britain’s first Olympic eventing team gold since 1972.
As a result, Oliver and his Tokyo teammates were awarded MBEs in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list for services to equestrianism.
Oliver’s other five-star victories were at Badminton in 2009 and in Kentucky on four separate occasions.
He won there three years on the trot — 2021, 2019 and 2018 (the US event was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19) — and most recently April 2024.
Oliver has been world number one in the FEI Eventing World Rankings on multiple occasions, including at the end of 2023, when he topped the FEI Rider Rankings table with 569 points.
In 2022 Oliver was signed up to be Caunton Stud’s official rider in a deal that replicates a Formula One and Premier League type of deal and is unprecedented in equestrian sport.
About Geoff Billington
Geoff Billington has showjumped at two Olympic Games, competed in more than 50 Nations Cups for Britain and has been on the world’s top ten list for years.
He has also won various medals at World and European Championships.
He is perhaps best known for riding the wonderful It’s Otto, whom Geoff describes as being one of the best horses in the world and credits with changing his life.
Otto arrived at Geoff’s yard as a novice six-year-old in 1992. Four years later, they finished sixth individually at the Atlanta Olympics.
Geoff and Otto went on to win European team bronze in 1997 and team bronze at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Manheim.
They won another bronze the following year in Rome before heading to the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Geoff credits Otto with keeping him in the top 10 riders in the world for more than two years.
Geoff’s parents weren’t horsey. He started riding when he was nine after following a group of pretty girls to the local riding stables.
He got his first pony after 10 children (nine girls and Geoff) announced in the local newspaper that they were saving up to buy a pony.
That same day, a local man rang up and said his children were not interested in the four-year-old pony he’d bought as a surprise and if they gave £10 to charity they could have the pony.
That was only £1 each and within a few weeks the girls had either got boyfriends or lost interest — so Geoff got his first pony!
Geoff still competes and produces horses today. He also coaches up-and-coming riders and runs clinics around the UK.
Images © Badminton Horse Trials & Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media Ltd
Related content
- ‘Superstar’ Pinky to fly flag for Dartmoor Hill Pony at Your Horse Live finals amid critical time for breed
- A surprise Christmas present, a part-time Princess and a mud-loving mare triumph at SFAS qualifier
- Olympian Becky Moody shares insight to how she trains to succeed in dressage during Your Horse Live demo *Video*
