‘If British riders want an early four-star event, why not run one at Barbury,’ asks Andrew Nicholson

Thomas Hawke (C ) riding FIREBALL III at the Barbury Castle Horse Trials Nr Marlborough in Wiltshire in United Kingdom on the 27th March 2026

Five-time Burghley winner and Olympic team medallist Andrew Nicholson shares his thoughts on Barbury and how professional riders progress their horses up the levels

You really know you’re getting old when you don’t recognise anyone in the warm-up at your first event of the season. I wore my glasses the following weekend – and still didn’t! Luckily, at the third – Barbury – the older professional riders were out and about and I did spot some people I know. […]