Lordships Graffalo leaps into the history books
Published: 13 September 2024 at 10:44
Superstar horse, bred at ARU Writtle, adds Burghley title to Olympic gold medal
Lordships Graffalo, the superstar horse bred at ARU Writtle near Chelmsford, has added the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials to his already glittering CV.
The 12-year-old bay gelding, affectionately known as Walter, joins an elite group of horses to have won at both Badminton and Burghley – the UK’s two blue riband horse trials. His latest victory crowns a remarkable summer, having played a starring role in Team GB’s Olympic team eventing success in Paris, which was Britain’s first gold medal of the Games.
Ridden to victory at Burghley by Ros Canter, the pair set a new record at the Lincolnshire course on their way to the £110,000 first prize. Their recent successes build on an outstanding 2023, which saw Lordships Graffalo and Canter triumph at the Badminton Horse Trials and the European Eventing Championships.
ARU Writtle, on Lordship Road, is one of the UK’s leading centres for equine education and performance, housing around 70 horses on campus.
As well as offering courses at college, undergraduate and postgraduate level, ARU Writtle has a number of indoor and outdoor riding arenas, livery facilities for students’ horses, and an Equine Academy for talented riders.
Caroline Flanagan, Head of the School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences at ARU Writtle, said:
“We followed his Burghley victory with delight, knowing that Writtle played just a tiny part in the production of this remarkable horse. Writtle staff and students, present and former, are so proud of him joining that elite and exceptional group of what we believe are now just 15 horses to have completed the English ‘5 star double’ by winning both Badminton and Burghley.
“Added to his Olympic team gold, his recent achievements prove he really is something special. Our hearty congratulations go to Ros and her team, including trainer Caroline Moore, to his owners Archie and Michelle Saul, and to co-breeder Pennie Wallace, a former member of staff at Writtle who loaned us her exceptional mare, Walter’s dam, Cornish Queen.
“Of course, none of it would have been possible without the support of Ken Rehill, from The Stallion Company. Walter is clearly a huge character, who loves the limelight, and we all look forward to continuing to support his career next year.”
Photo: Lordships Graffalo as a foal at Writtle, with his dam, Cornish Queen