Latest news with #AgriaFEIEuropeanEventingChampionships
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Canter misses out on European defence after announcing second child
The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships are returning to England for the first time in 20 years with Blenheim Palace set to host the competition in September. Canter took home gold in the individual and team eventing at the 2023 European Championships in France on Lordships Graffalo. The pair followed this up with victory at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in 2024 – the horse's first appearance at the event, and then victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials this year. And Ros won a further five-star horse trial at Luhmuhlen in Germany, riding Izilot DHI. Remarkably, Ros was short-listed on three different horses for the European Championship team. While Ros is undeniably at the peak of her powers, she has enjoyed incredible success since the birth of her daughter Ziggy, six years ago, and has spoken movingly about involving her daughter in conversations about what she does and why she does it. 'It's really exciting that the European Eventing Championships are coming to Britain and that my sponsor, Agria who is the UK's only provider of lifetime equine insurance, is supporting such a major competition,' said Ros. 'Of course, in one sense I'm sad not to be competing there, but my husband Chris, Ziggy and I are all very excited to be expecting another baby early in 2026.' Reflecting on the significance of a home Europeans, Ros added: 'When we competed in Paris, the French crowd was just unbelievable, but they were that bit extra when the French came in. 'I can just imagine that the Brits will try and replicate that at Blenheim. That will be an amazing atmosphere to experience.' Following her double gold in Europe, Canter went on to fulfil a lifelong dream and claim Olympic gold in the team eventing at Paris 2024, once again with Lordships Graffalo. 'The first emotion was probably relief. During the competition, there were a few ups and downs along the way that meant that I felt a lot of pressure right through until the end,' explained Canter. 'The moment we actually won the gold medal, it was just like, thank goodness we've done it and then you really get to enjoy it. 'The few hours after winning the gold medal were some of the most emotional, but the best emotions I've ever felt. '[Olympic gold] was something that I really, really wanted to achieve. I've ticked that box and it's almost a little bit of a relief, to be honest.' With the pressure of Olympic attainment now off her shoulders, Canter had been afforded a fresh perspective this season, and indeed won a hotly contested four-star competition at Hartpury a week before announcing her pregnancy. 'I've felt more open-minded about this year. I've really enjoyed riding and training my horses, thinking outside the box a little bit more,' she added. Eventing, which sees horse and rider compete across three disciplines of cross-country, dressage and show jumping, incurs a huge amount of sacrifice for those at the top of the sport. Canter herself juggles competing for the sport's highest honours with raising her six-year-old daughter, Ziggy. 'Ziggy is actually really proud of me, which is nice. She was really excited about the Olympics,' she said. 'A few months before, I was creeping out at 5am to go to the gym like I do, and she woke up and wanted to come with me and didn't understand why I was always leaving. 'So, I sat down, and I explained to her what the Olympics were and why it was important and that it was a dream. 'From that moment on, she got really behind it. She watched it on the telly. She thought that when I got my medal and I was waving, I was looking straight at her, so that was nice.' Canter expects to be at Blenheim on foot supporting Team GB and her sponsors, Agria, while the focus for the next few months falls on family more than sport. 'I will certainly be cheering my team mates on — just without the pressure and the nerves!' The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace take place from 18-21 September.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Canter misses out on European defence after announcing second child
The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships are returning to England for the first time in 20 years with Blenheim Palace set to host the competition in September. Canter took home gold in the individual and team eventing at the 2023 European Championships in France on Lordships Graffalo. The pair followed this up with victory at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in 2024 – the horse's first appearance at the event, and then victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials this year. And Ros won a further five-star horse trial at Luhmuhlen in Germany, riding Izilot DHI. Remarkably, Ros was short-listed on three different horses for the European Championship team. While Ros is undeniably at the peak of her powers, she has enjoyed incredible success since the birth of her daughter Ziggy, six years ago, and has spoken movingly about involving her daughter in conversations about what she does and why she does it. 'It's really exciting that the European Eventing Championships are coming to Britain and that my sponsor, Agria who is the UK's only provider of lifetime equine insurance, is supporting such a major competition,' said Ros. 'Of course, in one sense I'm sad not to be competing there, but my husband Chris, Ziggy and I are all very excited to be expecting another baby early in 2026.' Reflecting on the significance of a home Europeans, Ros added: 'When we competed in Paris, the French crowd was just unbelievable, but they were that bit extra when the French came in. 'I can just imagine that the Brits will try and replicate that at Blenheim. That will be an amazing atmosphere to experience.' Following her double gold in Europe, Canter went on to fulfil a lifelong dream and claim Olympic gold in the team eventing at Paris 2024, once again with Lordships Graffalo. 'The first emotion was probably relief. During the competition, there were a few ups and downs along the way that meant that I felt a lot of pressure right through until the end,' explained Canter. 'The moment we actually won the gold medal, it was just like, thank goodness we've done it and then you really get to enjoy it. 'The few hours after winning the gold medal were some of the most emotional, but the best emotions I've ever felt. '[Olympic gold] was something that I really, really wanted to achieve. I've ticked that box and it's almost a little bit of a relief, to be honest.' With the pressure of Olympic attainment now off her shoulders, Canter had been afforded a fresh perspective this season, and indeed won a hotly contested four-star competition at Hartpury a week before announcing her pregnancy. 'I've felt more open-minded about this year. I've really enjoyed riding and training my horses, thinking outside the box a little bit more,' she added. Eventing, which sees horse and rider compete across three disciplines of cross-country, dressage and show jumping, incurs a huge amount of sacrifice for those at the top of the sport. Canter herself juggles competing for the sport's highest honours with raising her six-year-old daughter, Ziggy. 'Ziggy is actually really proud of me, which is nice. She was really excited about the Olympics,' she said. 'A few months before, I was creeping out at 5am to go to the gym like I do, and she woke up and wanted to come with me and didn't understand why I was always leaving. 'So, I sat down, and I explained to her what the Olympics were and why it was important and that it was a dream. 'From that moment on, she got really behind it. She watched it on the telly. She thought that when I got my medal and I was waving, I was looking straight at her, so that was nice.' Canter expects to be at Blenheim on foot supporting Team GB and her sponsors, Agria, while the focus for the next few months falls on family more than sport. 'I will certainly be cheering my team mates on — just without the pressure and the nerves!' The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace take place from 18-21 September.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Canter misses out on European defence after announcing second child
The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships are returning to England for the first time in 20 years with Blenheim Palace set to host the competition in September. Canter took home gold in the individual and team eventing at the 2023 European Championships in France on Lordships Graffalo. The pair followed this up with victory at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials in 2024 – the horse's first appearance at the event, and then victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials this year. And Ros won a further five-star horse trial at Luhmuhlen in Germany, riding Izilot DHI. Remarkably, Ros was short-listed on three different horses for the European Championship team. While Ros is undeniably at the peak of her powers, she has enjoyed incredible success since the birth of her daughter Ziggy, six years ago, and has spoken movingly about involving her daughter in conversations about what she does and why she does it. 'It's really exciting that the European Eventing Championships are coming to Britain and that my sponsor, Agria who is the UK's only provider of lifetime equine insurance, is supporting such a major competition,' said Ros. 'Of course, in one sense I'm sad not to be competing there, but my husband Chris, Ziggy and I are all very excited to be expecting another baby early in 2026.' Reflecting on the significance of a home Europeans, Ros added: 'When we competed in Paris, the French crowd was just unbelievable, but they were that bit extra when the French came in. 'I can just imagine that the Brits will try and replicate that at Blenheim. That will be an amazing atmosphere to experience.' Following her double gold in Europe, Canter went on to fulfil a lifelong dream and claim Olympic gold in the team eventing at Paris 2024, once again with Lordships Graffalo. 'The first emotion was probably relief. During the competition, there were a few ups and downs along the way that meant that I felt a lot of pressure right through until the end,' explained Canter. 'The moment we actually won the gold medal, it was just like, thank goodness we've done it and then you really get to enjoy it. 'The few hours after winning the gold medal were some of the most emotional, but the best emotions I've ever felt. '[Olympic gold] was something that I really, really wanted to achieve. I've ticked that box and it's almost a little bit of a relief, to be honest.' With the pressure of Olympic attainment now off her shoulders, Canter had been afforded a fresh perspective this season, and indeed won a hotly contested four-star competition at Hartpury a week before announcing her pregnancy. 'I've felt more open-minded about this year. I've really enjoyed riding and training my horses, thinking outside the box a little bit more,' she added. Eventing, which sees horse and rider compete across three disciplines of cross-country, dressage and show jumping, incurs a huge amount of sacrifice for those at the top of the sport. Canter herself juggles competing for the sport's highest honours with raising her six-year-old daughter, Ziggy. 'Ziggy is actually really proud of me, which is nice. She was really excited about the Olympics,' she said. 'A few months before, I was creeping out at 5am to go to the gym like I do, and she woke up and wanted to come with me and didn't understand why I was always leaving. 'So, I sat down, and I explained to her what the Olympics were and why it was important and that it was a dream. 'From that moment on, she got really behind it. She watched it on the telly. She thought that when I got my medal and I was waving, I was looking straight at her, so that was nice.' Canter expects to be at Blenheim on foot supporting Team GB and her sponsors, Agria, while the focus for the next few months falls on family more than sport. 'I will certainly be cheering my team mates on — just without the pressure and the nerves!' The Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace take place from 18-21 September.
South Wales Argus
24-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Canter thrilled by latest victory as she targets European glory
Competing with Izilot DHI, the 39-year-old equestrian continued a run of fine form as she overtook Olympic teammate Laura Collett on the final day to take the title. Canter will hope the win bodes well as she eyes another title when the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships return to home soil at Blenheim Palace for the first time in 20 years. 'I'm just so thrilled. Isaac [Izilot DHI] has come out this year with so much confidence,' Canter reflected on her performance in Germany. 'He's such a genuine, unique horse. Some people think he's just a bit naughty but he's genuinely spooky. 'I'm so thrilled that we've managed to build a relationship to overcome that and show him off to his best.' Canter already boasts European Championship, World Championship and Olympic gold medals but still felt she had something to prove in Luhmühlen. She was able to dispel last year's disappointment at the event when missing out on the title on the final day despite having more than two showjumping fences in hand. 'Last year I felt I lost the win, so to come back and feel like I really deserved the win was fantastic,' she reflected. "I planned today in much more detail. I got caught out last year by how early everything ran [on the final day]. 'Normally at Badminton or Burghley if you're near the top you've got until mid-afternoon [before showjumping], so this time I planned how I wanted the morning to work.' Undoubtedly, Canter and Izilot DHI had to be at the top of their game as strong performances by Collett and London 52 in the dressage and cross-country required her to produce fast and fault-free rounds in both jumping phases. Canter, who took gold in the team eventing at Paris 2024, spends most of her time outside the so-called comfort zone anyway. 'I have to do it a lot to be honest, because just doing cross-country is out of my comfort zone,' she said. 'I've got better as I've got older. I know who I am as a person. I know that I can't keep that level of being at the top of my game up all the time. 'Now I pick and choose more when I need to peak, like at Badminton. Hopefully, if all goes well and I am lucky enough to be selected, I peak at the Europeans and between now and then I cut myself a little bit of slack.' So far Canter has seen most success — including her Olympic gold — on Lordships Graffalo, one of the two horses with whom she hopes she will be selected to compete at the Agria FEI European Championships at Blenheim Palace later this year. But her own extensive psychological training has allowed her to be successful on a range of horses, including Izilot DHI, who has now added a second 5* win to his record. 'I occasionally have a sports psychology session to get myself in gear,' she said. 'It's often just a reminder of what it's going to feel like, how I would like to react to those feelings, what feelings might come in that aren't useful and how can I put them to one side and bring out my best. 'If I feel mentally prepared then I feel quietly confident. Horses like confidence, they're herd animals, they often have a herd leader — I've got to be that herd leader, and I've got to be a good one.' It was Lordships Graffalo — affectionately called Walter at home — who helped Canter to claim European gold in the team and individual events in 2023. Also in that year, it was Izilot DHI on whom she won the 4*L competition at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, so she has two strong contenders for possible selection for the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace in September. 'Walter and Isaac are very different characters, but both have amazing personalities. They are fantastic horses who clearly love their job,' said Canter. 'If I'm lucky enough to go to the Europeans, it will be lovely for people to be able to see that and to see high-level sport really close up in front of the amazing backdrop of Blenheim Palace. 'Having known both horses since they were very young, I have a bond with them and a trusting relationship when it comes to riding and competing. 'I'm a privileged person just to get to ride them every day and I want to take that into my performance as well.' Backing up that incredibly close partnership between rider and horse is a wider team including owners, grooms, family, and sponsors like Agria, which introduced lifetime equine insurance to the UK, and sponsors Canter as well as being the title sponsor of this year's European Championships. With form on her side and her relationship with Walter and Isaac as strong as ever, Canter remains one of the favourites ahead of the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships in September. Agria, founded in 1890, is the only only provider of lifetime equine insurance in the UK. Find out more at
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Canter thrilled by latest victory as she targets European glory
Competing with Izilot DHI, the 39-year-old equestrian continued a run of fine form as she overtook Olympic teammate Laura Collett on the final day to take the title. Canter will hope the win bodes well as she eyes another title when the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships return to home soil at Blenheim Palace for the first time in 20 years. 'I'm just so thrilled. Isaac [Izilot DHI] has come out this year with so much confidence,' Canter reflected on her performance in Germany. 'He's such a genuine, unique horse. Some people think he's just a bit naughty but he's genuinely spooky. 'I'm so thrilled that we've managed to build a relationship to overcome that and show him off to his best.' Canter already boasts European Championship, World Championship and Olympic gold medals but still felt she had something to prove in Luhmühlen. She was able to dispel last year's disappointment at the event when missing out on the title on the final day despite having more than two showjumping fences in hand. 'Last year I felt I lost the win, so to come back and feel like I really deserved the win was fantastic,' she reflected. "I planned today in much more detail. I got caught out last year by how early everything ran [on the final day]. 'Normally at Badminton or Burghley if you're near the top you've got until mid-afternoon [before showjumping], so this time I planned how I wanted the morning to work.' Undoubtedly, Canter and Izilot DHI had to be at the top of their game as strong performances by Collett and London 52 in the dressage and cross-country required her to produce fast and fault-free rounds in both jumping phases. Canter, who took gold in the team eventing at Paris 2024, spends most of her time outside the so-called comfort zone anyway. 'I have to do it a lot to be honest, because just doing cross-country is out of my comfort zone,' she said. 'I've got better as I've got older. I know who I am as a person. I know that I can't keep that level of being at the top of my game up all the time. 'Now I pick and choose more when I need to peak, like at Badminton. Hopefully, if all goes well and I am lucky enough to be selected, I peak at the Europeans and between now and then I cut myself a little bit of slack.' So far Canter has seen most success — including her Olympic gold — on Lordships Graffalo, one of the two horses with whom she hopes she will be selected to compete at the Agria FEI European Championships at Blenheim Palace later this year. But her own extensive psychological training has allowed her to be successful on a range of horses, including Izilot DHI, who has now added a second 5* win to his record. 'I occasionally have a sports psychology session to get myself in gear,' she said. 'It's often just a reminder of what it's going to feel like, how I would like to react to those feelings, what feelings might come in that aren't useful and how can I put them to one side and bring out my best. 'If I feel mentally prepared then I feel quietly confident. Horses like confidence, they're herd animals, they often have a herd leader — I've got to be that herd leader, and I've got to be a good one.' It was Lordships Graffalo — affectionately called Walter at home — who helped Canter to claim European gold in the team and individual events in 2023. Also in that year, it was Izilot DHI on whom she won the 4*L competition at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, so she has two strong contenders for possible selection for the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace in September. 'Walter and Isaac are very different characters, but both have amazing personalities. They are fantastic horses who clearly love their job,' said Canter. 'If I'm lucky enough to go to the Europeans, it will be lovely for people to be able to see that and to see high-level sport really close up in front of the amazing backdrop of Blenheim Palace. 'Having known both horses since they were very young, I have a bond with them and a trusting relationship when it comes to riding and competing. 'I'm a privileged person just to get to ride them every day and I want to take that into my performance as well.' Backing up that incredibly close partnership between rider and horse is a wider team including owners, grooms, family, and sponsors like Agria, which introduced lifetime equine insurance to the UK, and sponsors Canter as well as being the title sponsor of this year's European Championships. With form on her side and her relationship with Walter and Isaac as strong as ever, Canter remains one of the favourites ahead of the Agria FEI European Eventing Championships in September. Agria, founded in 1890, is the only only provider of lifetime equine insurance in the UK. Find out more at
