I sat at home today watching the showjumping at Badminton Horse Trials. I think a lot of people in the equine industry that weren't out competing did. The difference though was they probably know a whole lot more watching it.

Safe to say after 3 years in the industry, and watching 3 Badminton's... I do get the rules (well at least most of them), the build up is very cool and the tempo, the speed, the bravery is mental is ways and so powerful in others. The trust needed between horse and rider is incredible...

Next year, very much hope that I/We will be there.

One thing I am weak on is knowing the stories behind what is going on, the competitors, their horses, their history and journey, the owners... the pathways that got them here... of course we keep up with the news, the results, the journeys now but I always think, what about before I got involved in this.

So, after watching Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo do some impeccable jumping and seeing Ros clinch her fist in the air and then hug those closest to her as she found out she won, again. I wanted to get to know her story and journey a little more...

As you all know at this stage, I have a strong affection for Artificial Intelligence... and use AI now for most things. So, I turned on my laptop, opened my ChatGPT account and did a Deep Research paper on Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo... it is a fascinating read, I learned a lot about their journey together and what got them to here.

**Warning: I have ran multiple tests to make sure all the info here is correct across 3 different AI Models... they have all said it is factually correct but I can not 100% Guarantee it.

Prompt Used: Do a deep research paper on Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. They just won badminton and I would like you to help me understand and learn about their story and journey together. I would like to publish an article about this... what an incredible partnership they have... so to be clear, I want you to do a deep research piece on the partnership, what they have overcome to get here and their achievements from the first moment they me. The information from this will be used in an article.

Lets begin.

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: A Historic Partnership Forged in Eventing Triumphs

In the world of three-day eventing, few partnerships have captured hearts and headlines like Britain’s Ros Canter and her remarkable horse, Lordships Graffalo. Together, this rider-and-horse duo have clinched two historic victories at the Badminton Horse Trials (in 2023 and 2025), dominating one of equestrian sport’s toughest stages with strength, an unyielding bond and a lot of trust in each other.

Their journey – from humble beginnings to record-breaking wins – is a story of talent, determination, and partnership in its purest form. This deep dive explores Ros Canter’s rise in eventing, the emergence of Lordships Graffalo as an “ultimate event horse,” and how their combined grit led to back-to-back triumphs that have secured their place in history.

Setting the Scene: Ros Canter’s Journey to the Top

Rosalind “Ros” Canter, born in 1986, hails from the rural heart of Lincolnshire, England. Long before she stood atop podiums at Badminton, Ros was steadily carving out a name for herself in the eventing world. After studying sport science at university, she spent formative years apprenticing with renowned trainer Judy Bradwell before establishing her own yard in 2011. Those early years of hard graft laid the foundation for a competitive career defined by quiet determination and meticulous horsemanship.

By 2017, her talents earned her a spot on Great Britain’s senior team, where she helped secure a European Championship team gold. It was a sign of things to come.

Ros’s breakthrough on the global stage arrived at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Riding Allstar B – a 17.1-hand bay gelding she fondly called “Alby” – Ros delivered a masterful performance under pressure. She finished on her dressage score to clinch individual gold and lead Britain to team gold, becoming the 2018 Eventing World Champion. This triumph marked Ros as one of the sport’s elite and was made all the more special by the fact that Allstar B was cherished so dearly by Ros and her longtime mentor, Caroline Moore.

In the wake of her world title, Ros briefly held the world No.1 ranking in eventing, underscoring her consistency at the top levels.

In 2020, she stepped away from competition to welcome her first child, a daughter named Ziggy. Balancing motherhood with an elite sporting career required a strong support team – something Ros acknowledges gratefully – and she returned to competition more focused than ever. Harder still was the heartbreak of losing Allstar B in 2021, when the champion horse suffered an injury and was tragically euthanised. The loss of “Alby,” the horse who had carried her to a world title, was a devastating blow to Ros and the British eventing community. It also marked a turning point: Ros would have to rely on up-and-coming horses to fill the void. One such horse was already waiting in her stable.

Lordships Graffalo: A Star in the Making

Lordships Graffalo, affectionately known in the stable as “Walter,” was not an overnight sensation but rather a star carefully nurtured over time. British-bred in 2012, the rangy bay gelding seemed destined for eventing excellence. He is the progeny of elite bloodlines – sired by the Trakehner stallion Grafenstolz and out of Cornish Queen, a mare by Rock King.

He was bred by Lordships Stud at Writtle College and brought to Ros as a young horse to be started under saddle. From the very beginning, Ros recognised something special in him. Wanting to keep him in her yard, she persuaded Michele Saul to purchase the horse, and together with her husband Archie, they became Walter’s owners. It proved a masterstroke.

In the stable, Walter quickly gained a reputation as a cheeky character. He would toss brushes around, dribble water, and generally amuse himself at others’ expense. Ros has often described him as “a bit of a clown” but added that he was fiercely competitive when it came to the sport. “He loves every phase,” she once said, “and he loves himself.”

Ros slowly and deliberately produced the horse through the levels, building his confidence and polishing his performance. By 2021, Walter had made a mark with a top-10 finish at Bramham and strong performances in four-star events. His talent was clear, and he earned a call-up to the British team for the 2022 Eventing World Championships in Pratoni. There, he delivered a clear cross-country round and finished fourth individually – an extraordinary result for a 10-year-old horse making his senior championship debut.

First Five-Star Glory at Badminton 2023

In May 2023, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo arrived at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials aiming for redemption. They had finished second the year before on Walter’s five-star debut – a sensational result, but they wanted more. That spring, they delivered a performance for the ages.

From the first day, they looked unstoppable. Ros and Walter took the early lead with one of their best-ever dressage tests, handled the cross-country phase with boldness and speed, and then jumped clear on the final day of showjumping. When it was over, they stood 15 penalties ahead of second place – a record-breaking winning margin in the modern era of five-star eventing.

It was Ros’s second-ever five-star victory and one that would go down in Badminton history. “It will take a while to sink in,” she admitted, smiling through disbelief. “Walter had to dig deeper than ever before.”

The win came not just from brilliance in one phase, but from total domination across all three. Very few combinations in the history of the sport have led Badminton from start to finish – Ros and Walter became only the third to do so in 15 years. And the manner of the win – calm, composed, error-free – had veteran commentators comparing Walter to the sport’s greats.

A Season of Gold

Later that summer, the duo travelled to France for the FEI European Championships at Haras du Pin. There, under heavy pressure, they delivered again. A flawless dressage test, a fast and clear cross-country round, and a strong showjumping phase secured them the individual gold medal. They also helped Team GB take gold – another incredible double.

It was the season of a lifetime. Walter’s maturity, Ros’s calmness, and the trust between them resulted in one of the most successful campaigns in modern eventing.

Then came 2024 – and the Paris Olympic Games.

Olympic Glory and a Burghley Crown

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ros was selected as part of Team GB’s eventing squad with Lordships Graffalo. The trust was well-placed. In a field full of pressure, tension, and the world’s best riders, Ros and Walter were solid as ever. They played a critical role in helping Britain take Olympic team gold. Though they did not win individual medals in Paris, Walter’s reliability proved crucial.

Later that year, the pair travelled to Burghley Horse Trials – another legendary five-star event – and added yet another title to their names. Ros and Walter won Burghley in 2024, confirming what many already believed: this was one of the greatest partnerships eventing has seen in decades.

Regaining the Badminton Crown: History Made in 2025

When they returned to Badminton in May 2025, Ros and Lordships Graffalo were already legends. They had won the event in 2023, taken European and Olympic gold, and triumphed at Burghley. Could they do it again?

Yes, they could – and they did.

After dressage, they sat in fourth place. But a fast and foot-perfect cross-country round lifted them to second, and when overnight leader Oliver Townend knocked a rail in the final showjumping, the door opened. Ros and Walter rode into the arena, delivered a faultless clear round, and regained the crown.

The crowd erupted. Lordships Graffalo became the first horse in history to reclaim the Badminton title after a gap – not just win it twice, but win it in non-consecutive years. The only comparable feat was Kauto Star’s reclaiming of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The win was tinged with emotion. Just two months earlier, Ros’s mentor and longtime friend Caroline Moore had passed away. “She was by my side my whole career and passed away a couple of months ago. I’m so pleased I managed to make her proud,” Ros said through tears. “It’s the first time I’ve done anything without her.”

The victory, then, was more than just a sporting triumph. It was a tribute. A goodbye. A closing of one chapter and the crowning of another.

Legacy of a Legendary Duo

With two Badminton titles, a European Championship, Olympic gold, and Burghley under their belts, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo now stand alongside the all-time greats. Their partnership – built on patience, humour, hard work, and love – has become a symbol of excellence in modern eventing.

Walter may have been a cheeky foal with big ears and a taste for mischief, but under Ros’s careful hand, he has become the ultimate event horse. Together, they’ve brought joy to fans, lifted British equestrianism, and inspired a new generation.

And with Walter still only 13, there may yet be more chapters to come.

AI Deep Research Article Ends.

So yeah… I didn’t expect to get this into it. Thought I’d skim a few articles, maybe watch the highlights back again, then carry on with Sunday and get setup for the week. But their story and journey intrigued me. And the more I read, the more respect I had for both of them and the more I wanted to do this piece.

Ros really doesn't flashy. She doesn’t seem to talk herself up. She really doesn't seem to be built for all the hype—she’s built for the biggest moments... like today and she put in a masterclass.... mad when you think she said how nervous she was in her interview afterwards and how it was without Caroline by her side... she is looking down proud, so very proud now I bet.

Ros is built for moments like this.

And Walter? Well, he sounds like a bit of fun in the yard but what an absolute machine when it matters. I love it. It makes it human. It makes it real. And the fact that she’s brought him the whole way up, from a cheeky young lad to one of the most decorated horses in the world… that’s pretty special.

I don’t know if we’ll ever fully understand what goes into a partnership like that... maybe some of you might, maybe some of you reading this do know... But the years. The trust. The setbacks. The silence. The small wins before the big ones. The sacrifice. To be that consistent at that level. Handling all that pressure.

What I do know is that Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo will surely when it is all said and done, go down as one of the greatest combinations in eventing history—and I’m glad I sat down long enough today to actually see why and then learn why.

Maybe next year I’ll be watching it in person. Maybe we’ll be covering it live. Who knows.

But I’ll tell you this much—I'll never just see a name and a horse and a scoreboard the same way again.

Until Next Time,

Shane