EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

A course that riders dream about. A poem nobody saw coming. And one of the strongest Bramham fields in years.
Nicole, Sam and Spike are back to preview a huge week at Defender Bramham, from championship ambitions and under-25 selection pressure to the horses and riders they think could shape the weekend. There's a deep dive into the four-star long and short fields, Eventing Manager team selections, and plenty of debate over who has the edge in Yorkshire.
Expect discussion around returning winners, rising stars, championship pathways, and which combinations look ready to make the leap. Plus, thoughts on Bramham's evolving role in the calendar, what makes this venue such a special test, and why the under-25 competition deserves the spotlight.
Highlights
Why this could be Bramham's strongest field of the decade
Eventing Manager picks and dark horses for the weekend
Under-25 selection battles and future championship contenders
Championship prep versus five-star preparation: where Bramham fits
Four-star long and four-star short podium predictions
Course changes and what to expect from this year's track
The combinations flying under the radar
Sam's unforgettable cross-country love poem
Guests
Nicole Brown
Sam Watson
Spike Milligan
This show is kindly supported by Bedmax, purpose-made natural horse bedding designed to protect respiratory health, support hooves, and provide a clean, comfortable stable environment.

A horse coming into her own. A summer that wasn't really the plan. And a trip to Europe that suddenly feels like it could mean much more. 
Nicole Brown sits down for a cup of tea with Tamie Smith after a flying start to 2026 and ahead of a big summer campaign in the UK. With Lillet 3 arriving in England off the back of major wins and World Championship conversations becoming harder to ignore, Tamie reflects on the partnership that took time to build and why this season feels different.
They talk Bramham, supporting Team USA at Bicton, bringing riders and horses across the Atlantic, and what happens when the thing you hoped might happen starts becoming real.
Plus, an update on retired king Mai Baum and why there may already be another black horse waiting in the wings.
Highlights:


Why Europe felt like the right next step
The partnership that changed with Lillet 3
World Championships and knowing when a horse is ready
Watching Team USA from the sidelines at Bicton
Molly Duda's summer campaign
Life after Mai Baum
Guests:
Tamie Smith: US Olympian, five-star winner, and one of the leading event riders in American eventing
This series is supported by Carr & Day & Martin, globally trusted equine care products since 1765 and now proudly part of the Connolly's Red Mills Group. Learn more about their full range at: https://www.carrdaymartin.com/
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

He's usually the one behind the microphone, helping tell the stories of the sport through data, insight, and conversation. This week, the spotlight is on Brayden Lissington.
Nicole Brown welcomes the Kiwi sports marketer, Eventing Weekly co-host, and EquiRatings commercial lead into the Strawmax Stable for a conversation about storytelling, sport, and the people who have inspired him along the way. From why eventing deserves its own Drive to Survive to the guests he'd most like to interview, Brayden shares the ideas that have shaped his career and his connection to the sport.
Highlights:
Why eventing is made for a Netflix series
The guests Brayden would most like to interview
His dream job away from the sport
The people on his ultimate dinner party guest list
Summer Heights High and the stories he loves
The menu for his perfect dinner party
Guests:
Brayden Lissington - EquiRatings commercial lead, Eventing Weekly co-host, and former New Zealand futsal international.
To find out more about Strawmax bedding and how it could work in your yard, head to: https://www.strawmax.co.uk 
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Badminton may be in the rear-view mirror, but the season is only just heating up.
Nicole Brown is joined by Rosie Williams to reflect on a huge spring for British Eventing, from record grassroots participation numbers to the growing impact of the Eventing Together campaign and the launch of the new official training programme for volunteers and officials.
Plus, hear from some of the people helping drive the sport forward. Fence Judge of the Year Pippa Best shares her extraordinary volunteering journey from Guernsey to Aachen, Young Volunteer of the Year Rose Chugg-Martin talks Badminton dreams and learning through volunteering, and Tom Rowland looks ahead to his first Nations Cup appearance at Bicton.
Highlights:
British Eventing's strong start to the 2026 season
Why grassroots participation continues to grow
The importance of volunteers to the future of the sport
Pippa Best's journey from Guernsey to championship fence judging
Rose Chugg-Martin on volunteering, confidence, and Badminton ambitions
Tom Rowland on Nations Cup debuts, Bicton, and future Burghley dreams
Guests:
Rosie Williams, CEO of British Eventing
Pippa Best, British Eventing Fence Judge of the Year
Rose Chugg-Martin, British Eventing Young Volunteer of the Year
Tom Rowland, British Nations Cup rider and international event competitor
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Zebra Products. Zebra Products are proud to distribute some of the world's leading equestrian brands across the UK, partnering with companies that prioritise performance, innovation and horse welfare. Their portfolio includes premium saddle makers Amerigo and Equipe, anatomical bridle specialists Menetics, bit experts Nathe and Sprenger, performance apparel brands EGO7, Cavalleria Toscana and RG, alongside trusted names in protection, nutrition and care including Veredus, Cavalor, Bucas, Mattes and Uvex, supporting horse and rider at every level of the sport.
Find out more at: www.zebraproducts.co.uk
Learn more about the Veredus E-VENTO cross-country boots, designed for lightweight protection and ventilation: https://www.veredus.com/jumping-eventing?lang=en_US
Explore the Sprenger equestrian range, known for innovative bit design and precision engineering: https://www.sprenger.de/en/collections/equestrian
Inspired to get more involved? Find out how you can support training, education and the eventing community: 👉 British Eventing Training Foundation 👉 Volunteer with British Eventing
Follow @britisheventing on Instagram to stay up to date with all the action.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:9a6efdc0-0a78-42ca-a0dc-0cb5ffc6bd12-15" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:9a6efdc0-0a78-42ca-a0dc-0cb5ffc6bd12-15" data-testid= "conversation-turn-4" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Kentucky, national titles, and a horse called Piglet.
Nicole Brown sits down with one of Britain's brightest young riders, Elizabeth Barratt, to talk about a whirlwind start to 2026, from flying horses to America for the first time to defending her Young Rider National title at Bicton.
Elizabeth reflects on the scale of the Kentucky experience, learning alongside Europe's top five-star riders, and why the trip left her hungry to come back one day for the five-star itself. Plus, she looks ahead to Bicton with two very different rides, the experienced Rehy DJ and exciting young talent Postman.
There's also talk of Young Rider Europeans ambitions, future four-stars, and the young horses listeners should keep firmly on their radar this season.
Highlights:
Behind the scenes of travelling horses to Kentucky
What it was really like competing at the Kentucky Horse Park
Defending the Young Rider National title at Bicton
Why Postman could be one for the future
The horse Elizabeth says listeners need to watch, Camillo Boy
Tack cleaning, hot chocolates, and a late-night Baileys recommendation
Guests:
Elizabeth Barratt, reigning U21 National Champion and rising British event rider
This series is supported by Carr & Day & Martin, globally trusted equine care products since 1765 and now proudly part of the Connolly's Red Mills Group. Learn more about their full range at: https://www.carrdaymartin.com/
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.