With the winter set in, endless mud and all the Christmas chocolate tins just full of wrappers (and those toffees that won’t get eaten) thoughts are quickly turning to the ever hopefully return of Spring and the Eventing season getting back underway.

Firstly a huge thank you for all the kind words from my recent blog post, really appreciate everyone who took time to message me (you can catch up here if you missed it) thank you

Now most restrained and some say ‘normal folk’ would title this edition ‘Six to Follow’, ‘Ten to follow’, ‘Ten not to miss this season’ perhaps? But alas there is no common sense or January-themed fad diets going on here… My ever-growing favourite list is bursting at the seems – but as the well-worn cliché goes, there’s always room for one more…. OK well a few more in my case.

From stable transfers to sales ring purchases, riders have been fortifying their strings over winter and well so have I, my favourites list grows by the day so without any more false starts; here are my notebook selections to watch out for this coming season:

Transfer News:

Renkum Jitterbug

After posting a super top 10 finish in the Blenheim 8&9yo class, this lovely son of Baloubet Junior Z, has joined Kitty King’s string for the 2026 season. He has delivered some pleasing 4* and advanced top10 placings and will surely be making his mark at the 4* level with Kitty this season, so I eagerly await their debut together in the Spring.

Young Guns Ready To Make Their Mark:

Jaksparo

This sweet 7yo, by the Selle Francais stallion Candy de Nantuel (Luidam), has been given all the time to slowly mature into his huge frame – he is going to be special for his owners Nick and Jane Moss and definitely one to watch this season out with Andrew Downes.

Dassett Flight Path

Buddy is such a raw talent, he held his own at Le Lion in the 6yo class back in 2024, only having a green glance off at the first water complex, but going on to jump an assured clear on the final day. Buddy and Kitty King then went on to take the 2*L win at Bicton back in the Spring, before a niggle kept them from returning to Lion. With some more mileage and Kitty’s watchful guiding eye, this guy is sure to build on his talent and go forwards this year to bigger and better things.

Cooley Ice Age

The British 7yo Champion from Cornbury House Young HorseChampionships – this striking grey son of Alicante has a great attitude to his competitions and is one for the ’26 notebook.

Calida Spice

Lizzie Baugh’s striking grey mare really impressed at Mondial du Lion in 2024. Taking the big-event atmosphere in her stride, she posted a strong dressage test then really delivered in the jumping phases. A super horse for the future, this mare needs adding to the notebook to keep an eye out for in 2026.

Barrington Boy

The 17hh+ stunning bay gelding made a huge impression in the young horse age classes and will hopefully be making a pathway towards the 8&9yo classes this season. A real favourite of mine, I shall be watching his progress closely.

Broadstone Lion Man

This rising 9-year-old British Bred son of Billy Tudor, out of Royal Sunset, a TB dam by Court Cave, made a strong impression during their 2025 campaign with Ros Canter. They achieved 4 wins at the Novice/2* level, finishing no lower than 7th in every competition last year including the British Novice Championship at Hartpury, which culminated in a win in the CCI2*L at Scone Palace International Horse Trials.

Senior Specials:

Of the Senior Class of 25, the following really caught the eye and I think will put their best hoof's forward this season:

Kinda Corvette

This handsome chap joined Yasmin Ingham’s string last season and made an immediate impact – the pair developed a solid partnership very quickly when winning the CCI3*S at Kelsall Hill International before stepping up to the 4* level with ease, delivering a top 10 finish in one of the spicy CCI4*S sections at Burgham International. The very handsome ‘Cory’ will definitely be one to watch list for the 2026 season.

Barrington Alice

Big Al’ is a dream, stunning dapple grey mare who made the often tricky step up to 4* look easy, with some great results at Burgham and Boekelo. She has great attitude and is very easy on the eye – definitely one to watch and look out for to watch in person if you can this year.

Cooley Foxtrot

Andrew Downes' has a real one-to-watch with this chestnut son of OBOS Quality out of a Cruising Dam. He has the breeding to go all the way and he delivered a pleasing debut at the 5* level in Pau at the end of the 2025 season. One of my favourite, if not ultimate favourite things about following this sport, is that you can follow combinations from the wobbly pre-novice years through to the events dreams are made of within a few seasons.

Watching this orange duckling transform into a streamlined 5* athlete, just taking all the hidden gems Pierre Michelet hid around his 5* Pau track in his stride (although he spent a little too long getting acquainted with Pau’s infamous Black Swan before then realising Andrew was actually trying to introduce him to the log in the water - once known he popped it like a poppet and carried on his adventure) He's a super talented chap and this partnership will look to build on their top level experience next season.

Keep It Cooley

Having won at every level of the sport at national level, this beautiful bright bay really catches the eye and has a great partner in the talented Wills Oakden. Michael as he is known, will be one to follow and I am sure he will be challenging the leaderboard at a 5* in the ’26 season.

The World Stage:

Everyone will be watching closely for clues as to who will get a coveted place on the British Team for the World Championships in Aachen in August, with a team of four and an individual spot at stake, I foresee some early stiff competition in the Spring 3 days. Capel Hollows Drift and hopefully Banzai du Loir will be returning to the competition field, along with some newer ‘kids on the block’:

United 36 put in a super Nations Cup debut at Boekelo with Tom Jackson and along with his Pau runner-up Plot Twist B, will surely give Tom some great opportunities for the season ahead. Anyone got their dream-team scribbled down yet?

Tom Jackson & Plot Twist B, Les 5 Etoiles de Pau, October 2025

Whilst the Senior Team selectors will have their work cut out, deciding on the final squad for Aachen, there is another World Championships that has arrived on the FEI fixture list - The newly minted Under 25’s World Championships will be held in Millstreet, Ireland and will surely be just as hotly contested as Aachen. There is real strong bunch of supremely talented Under 25s out there and it will be well worth a watch, with many notable performances likely to go into the senior selectors notebooks for the future. Ones to Watch:

Barnie Brotherton

DHI King Nelson won the CCI3*S at Bicton to complete their 2025 season, having made their FEI Nations Cup debut at the same venue in the Spring in very hot company. Barnie also has Whixley Qualitas to strengthen his string for Millstreet.

Millie Juleff

With a strong shout for the squad in Pencos Crown Jewel, Millie has also added to her string over the winter, with Skittel joining her yard.

The Customary Dark Horse:

And finally, any list wouldn’t be complete without a ‘dark horse’ - keep an eye out for Kylie Roddy’s new steed Leo aka Leporis -previously placed in Adelaide's five star event with Stuart Tinney, he’s now based with Kylie – they slowly developed their partnership this season and will be ones I shall look out for in the Spring.

Who are you most looking forward to following this season?

Keep up the good fight against those toffees still lingering after the festivities, good luck with all the winter fitness plans and schooling and only 48 sleeps until the ridiculously early alarm goes off for the 2026 Eventing season…

If you dedicated few have any suggestions for an upcoming blog topic, drop me a DM as all inspiration is gratefully received

Diary of a fledgling ‘tog:

Featured posts:

2026: Horses to Watch