An Eventful Life is filming at Blenheim Palace International – order or view cross country videos here
The rider/horse combinations for two teams at The Blenheim Challenge have been announced with Australia’s Oliver Barrett riding Sandhills Briar taking part.
The new and innovative competition held as part of the CCI4*-L class at Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (17th – 20th September 2026) will pit two teams against each other - Rising Lions (a team of under 25 riders from Great Britain) and Stars & Stripes (a team of international talent, featuring riders representing the United States and Australia).
Rising Lions Team
Isabelle Cook riding Cymoon “F” Z
Jess Rimmer riding The Spice Merchant
Barnie Brotherton riding DHI King Nelson
Josh Levett riding Huberthus AC
Stars & Stripes Team
Oliver Barrett (AUS) riding Sandhills Briar
Grace Taylor (USA) riding Banito Van Polderzicht
Tommy Greengard (USA) riding That’s Me Z
Olivia Dutton (USA) and Jewelent
How The Blenheim Challenge Works
- Prior to each phase a random draw will be made to be pair each rider in a team against a rider from the other team, resulting in 4 rider v rider matches in that phase; a new draw will take place before each phase
- Dressage scoring: the lowest score in each rider v rider match will win a point for their team (half a point each in the case of level scores)
- Cross Country scoring: the lowest number of penalty marks in each match will win a point for their team (half a point each in the case of level scores or both riders clear inside the time)
- Show Jumping scoring: the lowest number of penalty marks in each match will win a point for their team (half a point each in the case of level scores)
- Each team will have two one phase only ‘jokers’ to play during the competition; a rider carrying a joker for a phase will receive double points for that phase
- Recognising the important role played by the grooms in each team, an additional point will be awarded to the horse competing in The Blenheim Challenge judged to the best tuned out at the first trot up
The team with the most points at the end of the competition will be crowned the winners of The Blenheim Challenge. There is also an impressive £50,000 prize pot; a large part of the prize fund will go to the riders, but amounts are also allocated for the grooms of both teams, the youth programme of the national governing body/ies of the winning team and an equestrian charity selected by the winning team.
