Eventer Louise Harwood’s broad smile said it all after a successful Horse of the Year Show debut that saw her continue on the comeback trail from serious injury.
The Herefordshire-based rider has been a stalwart of the British eventing scene for more than 25 years, and a regular competitor at prestigious events such as Badminton and Burghley.
But her world turned upside down in 2024, when she suffered two major accidents – one when she fell from a muck trailer, and the other during an event.
The first one in June last year left her with a fractured skull, broken ribs, fractured shoulder and vertebrae. She was airlifted to hospital and had to wear a neck and body brace for six weeks.
Just three months later, she was back competing, only to break her leg in a cross-country fall at Blenheim Palace.
It has been a long recovery process, but never one to be beaten by adversity, Louise subsequently returned to the saddle and decided to campaign her experienced eventer Native Spirit in showjumping.
It was a new challenge for them both – Native Spirit’s eventing career included a completion at Badminton last year and a top-five finish at Blair Castle four-star in 2022 – and the combination has continued to flourish.
So much so, that they qualified for the NAF Five Star Silver League Championship at HOYS, jumping two impressive clear rounds and finishing a highly-creditable fifth.
“It has been very exciting, and so exciting to be able to do something big this year, having missed Badminton and Burghley as my body mended itself,” Louise said.
“I took on the Silver League, got myself qualified and then through the semi-final. This is a big gig, the Horse of the Year Show, and it is great to be here.
“I had to back off. I just didn’t think I was fit enough to go eventing. The cross-country side of it, my body wasn’t going to be able to do that this year.
“I decided to I concentrate on the showjumping, and we have just been having fun together. I have really enjoyed it – I have definitely got the bug.
“I have bought myself a couple of young horses that are bred to be showjumpers, so that is the way I am kind of thinking I am going to go in the future.”
Top eventers such as Pippa Funnell and Gemma Stevens have been regulars on the showjumping scene, while Oliver Townend is a former HOYS pony class winner, and Louise is not the only one contesting a national class in Birmingham this year.
Sunday’s action begins with the Grade C Championship, with double Olympic gold medallist Tom McEwen among the starters, riding Kilcannon Mischeif.
Tom, who qualified for HOYS at the Bicton Midsummer Festival in Devon, helped Great Britain win team gold medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, while he recently claimed an individual European Championship bronze medal behind winner Laura Collett and runner-up Michael Jung.
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2025, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image: Louise Harwood and Native Spirit
Image credit: 1st Class Images
