Six of Britain’s best named for Paris Olympics jumping squad

One senior championship debutant and five team regulars have been included on the list of British showjumping Olympic entries for the 2024 Paris Games.

British Equestrian and the British Showjumping selectors have today (24 May) confirmed the 12 combinations – six riders and 12 horses – whose names will be submitted to the FEI. The final squad will be confirmed next month.

This would be a first senior championship for Robert Whitaker, and a first Olympics for Joe Stockdale, who represented Britain with Equine America Cacharel at the 2021 Europeans and 2022 World Championships, and Tim Gredley, who jumped Medoc De Toxandria at last year’s Europeans, and Omelli at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. Olympic champion Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles all represented Britain in Tokyo, and Scott and Ben were on the team that won gold at London 2012.

British showjumping Olympic entries:

Scott Brash with 15-year-old Hello Jefferson (pictured)

Owners: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham

Breeder: Bernard Mols

Breeding: by Cooper Van De Heffinck, out of a mare by Irco Mena

Scott Brash with 10-year-old Hello Valentino

Owners: Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham

Breeder: Tina Petersson-Lind

Breeding: by Diamantino, out of a mare by Careful 28

Harry Charles with 12-year-old Aralyn Blue

Owners: Ann Thompson and Harry’s father Peter

Breeder: Franjo Udovc

Breeding: by Chacco-Blue, out of a mare by Ludwig AS

Harry Charles with 15-year-old Romeo 88

Owners: Ann Thompson and Harry’s father Peter

Breeder: Picobello Horses

Breeding: by Contact Van De Heffink, out of a mare by Orlando

Harry Charles with 11-year-old Sherlock

Owners: Stall Zet and Harry’s father Peter

Breeder: Gustaaf Quintelier

Breeding: by Bisquet Balou C, out of a mare by Malito De Reve

Tim Gredley with 11-year-old Imperial HBF

Owners: Tim’s father William and wife Rachel, and Unex Competition Yard

Breeder: HBF Stud

Breeding: by Glasgow-W VH Merelsnest, out of a mare by Original VDL

Tim Gredley with 12-year-old Medoc De Toxandria

Owners: Tim’s father William and wife Rachel, and Unex Competition Yard

Breeder: Werner Dierckx

Breeding: by Der Senaat III, out of a mare by Kelvin De Sainte Hermelle

Ben Maher with 11-year-old Dallas Vegas Batilly

Owners: Rider, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: Jean Claude Viollet

Breeding: by Cap Kennedy, out of a mare by L’Arc De Triomphe

Ben Maher with 10-year-old Enjeu De Grisien

Owners: Rider, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: SCEA Elevage de Grisien

Breeding: by Toulon, out of a mare by Andiamo

Ben Maher with 10-year-old Point Break

Owners: Rider, Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright

Breeder: Nya Äppelvikens Ridskola AB

Breeding: by Action-Breaker, out of a mare by Baloubet Du Rouet

Joseph Stockdale with 13-year-old Equine America Cacharel

Owners: Joy Cocklin and Joe’s mother Laura

Breeder: Bohm Helmut

Breeding: by Cachas, out of a mare by Quinar

Robert Whitaker with 11-year-old Vermento

Owners: Stephen and Caroline Blatchford

Breeders: Robert’s parents John and Clare Whitaker

Breeding: by Argento, out of a mare by Skippy 12

The grooms’ names have not been confirmed but will be included in the final squad announcement.

Selection decisions are subject to riders’ and horses’ maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any point up to 25 June. The selected squad of four combinations to travel to Paris, plus reserves, will be announced in late June.

Nominated entries for dressage combinations will be announced in the coming weeks; nominated entries for the para dressage squad for the Paralympic Games in Paris will be published in June.

You might also be interested in:

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.