Photos by Libby Law & Cindy Lawler
“I’m a big Austin O’Connor fan” said Oliver Townend at the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials and he isn’t the only one.
The CCI5* win for Austin O’Connor riding Colorado Blue at Mars Maryland at Fair Hill in October 2023 warmed the hearts of the eventing world.
The pair had shown great form earlier in the year, finishing in third place at Badminton Horse Trials behind Oliver and Ros Canter and, as it turned out these three riders took four of the CCI5* events that year.
Colorado Blue moved up the placings at both Badminton and Maryland with fabulous cross country rounds but, while two showjumping rails at Badminton dropped them to third place, they sealed the deal at Maryland with the only clear showjumping round of the class.
Austin’s emotional interview afterwards says it all – but we think he deserved something a lot stronger than a mint!
