EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

The first-ever Blenheim Challenge is in the books, and the Stars & Stripes have plenty to celebrate!
Nicole, Diarmuid and Annie are back to unpack a weekend that saw the Stars & Stripes defeat the Rising Lions 12.5–4, with head-to-head battles, Joker tactics and £50,000 in prize money bringing a whole new dimension to Blenheim.
From Oliver Barrett's brilliant week with Sandhills Briar to the pressure of jumping for £5,000 on the final day, the team reflects on the performances, personalities and moments that made the inaugural Challenge such a success.
Highlights
How the Stars & Stripes secured their Blenheim Challenge victory.
Oliver Barrett's career-best dressage and top-10 finish.
The £5,000 show jumping head-to-heads and the pressure of delivering a clear.
The young horses and riders who caught the team's attention.
Jess Rimmer's Team Spirit Award and what the Challenge meant beyond the scoreboard.
Why the team format, prize money and involvement of the grooms made this weekend feel different.
Plus, Nicole shares a few stories from behind the scenes, including Philip Dutton's Joker discussions, Tom McEwen's involvement with the Rising Lions and the live draws that kept everyone guessing.
Was this the start of something special for eventing?
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more from across the sport.

The Blenheim Challenge is well and truly underway, and after dressage, the Stars & Stripes have the early advantage.
Nicole and Annie break down a brilliant first phase, with 21-year-old Oliver Barrett producing a career-best test to lead both the Stars & Stripes and the entire CCI4*-L aboard Sandhills Briar.
With £50,000 on the line, attention now turns to cross country and four head-to-head matchups that could completely change the scoreboard.
Highlights
Oliver Barrett's career-best dressage test puts him at the top of Blenheim.
The Stars & Stripes lead the Rising Lions 5–2 after the opening phase.
The cross-country head-to-heads and where the key points could be won.
Why the Rising Lions have played their final Joker on Izzy Cook.
The numbers behind the combinations who could make the difference on Saturday.
Plus, we hear from Oliver Barrett and Barnie Brotherton ahead of cross country as both teams prepare for the next round of the Blenheim Challenge.
Can the Rising Lions fight their way back, or will the Stars & Stripes extend their lead? Game on at Blenheim

Two four-star classes, some serious names and plenty of decisions to make as we head to Blenheim.
Nicole, Diarm and Sam preview both the CCI4*-L and the eight and nine-year-old CCI4*-S, digging into the favourites, the form and the combinations they think could make their mark this week.
Brookfield Quality heads the Prediction Centre in the four-star long, but with Jesse Campbell, Oliver Barrett, Gemma Stevens and plenty more in the mix, there is a lot to consider. Then it's onto the future stars of the eight and nine-year-old class, a division with a pretty impressive record of producing horses we hear a lot more from. And, of course, they're building their Eventing Manager teams along the way.
Highlights
Why Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality set such a high standard in the CCI4*-L
The riders and horses who could challenge at the top
Where the Eventing Manager value might be hiding
Gemma Stevens looking to continue a brilliant run of form
Oliver Townend and an intriguing catch ride
The young horses to know in the eight and nine-year-old class
Who makes the team when £10 million suddenly doesn't feel like very much
A few under-the-radar combinations worth keeping an eye on
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Connolly's RED MILLS. If you're heading to Blenheim this week, make sure you stop by the RED MILLS trade stand and chat to their team. Whether you have a feeding question, want to learn more about their range or just want some expert advice, they'll be there to help throughout the event.
Find out more about Connolly's RED MILLS and their equine nutrition range at redmillshorse.com.

Rising Lions vs Stars and Stripes. The first ever Blenheim Challenge is here, and things are already getting competitive.
Nicole is firmly flying the flag for Britain, while Diarm and Annie are backing the US team, with a very handy Australian thrown into the mix. With head-to-head matchups in every phase, joker cards to play and £50,000 in prize money on the line, there is plenty to get stuck into.
Who has the strongest team on paper? Where could the points be won and lost? And, most importantly, who are we backing to come out on top?
Highlights
How the new Blenheim Challenge actually works
Rising Lions vs Stars and Stripes across all three phases
Why Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar could be the pair to beat
The joker cards we would play and when
Why Saturday could be the Rising Lions' chance to take control
The serious show jumping strength on the Stars and Stripes side
Our picks to win the first ever Blenheim Challenge
Guests
Nicole Brown
Nicole takes up the Rising Lions cause and makes the case for why a big Saturday could put the British team in the driving seat.
Diarmuid Byrne
Diarm is very firmly Team Stars and Stripes and is already putting himself forward for the team manager job.
Annie Bishop
Annie brings the US perspective, digging into the form of the Stars and Stripes combinations and where they could have the edge.
The Blenheim Challenge gets underway this week. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Nicole is joined by Catherine Austen from Cornbury House International for a look at a week that feels like an important one for the event's future.
The brand-new Advanced Under 25 class brings together an international field as Cornbury starts learning, testing and preparing ahead of hosting the FEI Eventing World Championships for Under 25s in 2027. And they'll face a new challenge, with the courses reversed for the first time and a brand-new Advanced track ready to be tested.
There's plenty happening beyond the U25s too. The British Eventing Young Horse Championships bring some of the country's best five, six and seven-year-olds together, the £45,000 Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup returns, and there are seriously good horses and riders to follow right across the sections.
Highlights
Cornbury's first step towards the 2027 U25 World Championships
The international names to watch in the Advanced U25
A brand-new Advanced cross-country track
Five, six and seven-year-olds chasing national titles
£45,000 on the line for the Thoroughbreds
The combinations to follow across a packed week
Guest Catherine Austen – on site at Cornbury with the inside track on the competition, the horses and what's ahead.