Phew, with January done and dusted (was it just me that felt like January was 86789 days long?!) Whilst it was nice to slow things down, fireside cuppas, catching up with my favourite humans and some sleep; with entries now officially open, it’s about time I awoke from the winter slumber and dusted off the gear ready for Eventing to get underway in little under a month.

I won’t tell lies, so I’ll swiftly skip over the winter to-do list and how much of it has actually been achieved and fast forward straight to the part where we all jump around excitedly (OK just me then…) and look ahead to the action getting underway.

With a wealth of the Top athletes being Brits or basing themselves in Blighty, we are blessed with exceptional sport every weekend and to be honest, after the winter hiatus, we’ll all just be glad to be back in our muddy fields – but who are we most looking forward to seeing come cantering out of the start box?

Here are a few of my selections for Ones to Watch 2022:

Russal Z

The gorgeous grey mare by Russell put in some mega performances last season including second in the CCI4*Lu25 class at Bicton, a top ten finish in Blenheim’s CCI4*L along with several CCI48S classes over the year, Rosie as she is known looks to have an exciting season ahead of her. A step up to 5* is likely on the cards and given how well this pair stormed around those Bicton hills, who lnows what they can achieve in 2022.

Ballycoog Breaker Boy

Dear William is becoming a firm favourite for me – he has amassed some smart performances last season and with a step up to CCI4*L on the horizon this season, he is definitely one to watch for the season ahead.

Placed in the top ten of every age class in his career so far, William, a son of Heartbreaker, delivered a top ten finish at Blenheim in the prestigious 8&9 year old class after making a solid debut at the 4* level at Burgham in July.

Will Rawlin & Ballycoog Breaker Boy, Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, September 2021

Lordships Graffalo

The unassuming Walter didn’t put a hoof wrong last season, which ultimately earned him a Team GB shortlist for the Europeans. Michelle Saul’s Grafenstolz gelding took on and gave J L Dublin a good run for his money at Bicton CCI4*L in June, finishing 2nd before going on to finish in the same spot on the podium at Blenheim CCI4*L after taking two CCI4*S victories at Blair and Aston le Walls.

Much has been spoken about how Bicton’s tough 4* track was built as an educational stepping stone for the horses looking to step up to 5* and that’s certainly where I hope, and look forward to with much excitement, that he is heading towards this season.

Ros Canter & Lordships Graffalo, Aston le Walls International, May 2021

The five-star debutants

With Badminton and Burghley back with a bang, we will get the chance to see some exciting five star debuts this year.

We have heard the trickle of exciting information that the likes of Banzai du Loir, Shadow Man II and Valmy Biats will all be making the big step up to the five-star club this season, along with hopefully Lordships Graffalo, John the Bull and Heidi Coy’s Russal Z.

Ben Hobday & Shadow Man II, NAF Hartpury International Horse Trials, August 2021

Swallow Springs

I definitely can’t get away with calling this selection my dark horse of the season – but with his legendary rider taking a step down from top level competition, the gorgeous grey gelding has switched stables to Olympic medallist Oliver Townend’s Shropshire yard. Oliver and Swallow Springs put in a polished performance at Blenheim in the CCI4*L, given that they had only had one competition outing together beforehand, it bodes well for an exciting Badminton debut for this partnership come May.

MHS Monbeg Junior

I live in hope to be as happy as Junior is with life, I can't recall ever seeing his gorgeous ginger ears any less than fully pricked and looking forwards to the next adventure. After some solid 3* short performances last season, a step up to CCI3*L is surely on the cards with Kitty this season.

Cooley Rosalent

With an abundance of Cooley talent now flooding the British Eventing scene, it could be hard to narrow down a selection – but for me it could only be the shining Jewel that is Cooley Rosalent, an eight-year-old stunning grey mare who seemingly has immense talent – it is going to be very exciting where she will head and what can deliver in 2022. Cooley Rosalent has finished all her internationals no lower than 7th place and with 5 wins already under her belt, the daughter of Valent is very talented. With some great performances at 3* and Intermediate level last season, I hope to see her step up to advanced/4* level this summer.

Charly van ter Heiden

Now you may think I’ve lost the plot somewhat when I mention a five-star winner as a dark horse, but bear with me…

No one cheered louder that damp afternoon at Frickley, when watching on the livestream, Mollie Summerland and Charly managed to not only navigate the tricky journey to Luhmuhlen but then to convert dreams to reality with a stellar performance to take their 5* debut victory.

A victory that lead them to a well-deserved place on the Team GB long-list for the European Championships. A very minor setback following Luhmuhlen sadly meant that Charly had to withdraw from selection. Rested and raring to go this Spring, it will be fascinating to watch where Mollie and Charly head to. A solid Spring campaign would do Charly’s chances no harm in making the long-list for World Championships Team Selection in the Summer and this partnership are my ‘dark-horse’ for making their Championship debut this year.

Mollie Summerland & Charly van ter Heiden, Saracen Houghton International, May 2021

World Championships

Speaking of the World Championships, if you thought the race to Tokyo was a tough battle, you haven’t seen anything yet – with both the GB Olympic and European teams delivering a Team Gold medal, European Champions and five-star winners aplenty amongst the likely contenders, the battle is going to be fierce for a place in Pratoni in the summer.

Tickets have already gone on sale where you can enjoy both Eventing and Driving World Championships in the stunning venue of Pratoni (just South-East of Rome). .

Team Gold - Team GB collecting their Gold Medals at FEI European Championships, Avenches, Switzerland, September 2021

My list could be endless, with so many favourites and so much talent on display – I would definitely recommend wrapping up warm and heading out to watch some of the Spring events to watch your favourites fly by.

Now to go and finish that winter to-do list of jobs, charge the batteries and dust off the boots to get packing for the start of the season in little over a couple of weeks

Diary of a fledgling ‘tog:

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2022: Ones to Watch