Louise Harwood

Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th May 2025

Louise Harwood

Great Britain
  • 104 - Mr Potts
  • 4 - Whitson

Biography

British rider Louise Harwood (48) last competed here in 2019 gaining her seventh completion of the event. It will be a first Badminton for Native Spirit. Last year the combination completed Bramham and Blenheim and contested Burghley but did not finish.

Louise is based near Eardisley in Herefordshire. She began eventing with the Radnor and West Hereford Pony Club also taking part in other equestrian competitions including mounted games, show jumping and dressage. Aged 16 she first competed in affiliated competition and was a member of the Welsh JRN team. Louise gained a BSc in biology from Cardiff University followed by a PGDip in Applied Equine Science at the Royal Agricultural College and worked part-time in marketing before turning to a career in horses.

In 2003 Louise won the Welsh Championships and in 2006 competed at her first four-star completing with a double-clear at Burghley on the homebred Bit of a Barney. She competed and completed her first Badminton in 2007 with Partly Pickled – the full brother to Bit of a Barney – winning the award for ‘best first-timer’. After a good season in 2014 she was short-listed for the British squad for the WEG in France and gained 12th place at Burghley with Mr Potts. Her ride Whitson was BE’s top horse of 2014. She has seven previous Badminton completions.

She also impressed on the racecourse in March 2019 winning the 12 horse St Michael’s Charity Flat race at Hereford on St Gallen from Olly Murphy Racing and helping raise £30,000 for St Michael’s Hospice.

Louise who is married to Greg Harwood, is an instructor (BHSII) and an accredited BE coach. She is also a trained gym instructor and runs her own classes in stability core ball for riders. She and her husband are currently building their own house. Louise trains with Adam Kemp and Jon Hansen.

Native Spirit (formerly Tullyvin Tabra) is a 15-year-old Irish Sport horse registered gelding. Bred by David Pickens in Co Cavan, he is by Corragary Cruising Porsch out of a mare of unrecorded breeding. He was acquired by Louise in 2020 from former British team rider James Robinson who produced the horse and with who he was 4th in the 4*L at Ballindenisk.

Entries

Mr Potts

ID x TB, United Kingdom, 2002
16.2hh , bay , gelding

Sire Old Leighlin

Dam Much of a Muddle (Roma Diamond Skip)

Breeder Jacqueline Skelton

Owner(s): Rider

Whitson

IDxTB, Great Britain, 2003
16.3hh , bay , gelding

Sire Cameos Reflection

Dam Castle weir Rebel (Coosheen Liam)

Breeder Mr Roy Baker

Owner(s): Roy Baker & Emma Baker-Jones, Lyonshall, Herefords.,

Notable Results

2023 – Blenheim CCI4*L 31st Native Spirit

2023 – Burghley CCI5* ret Native Spirit

2023 – Hartpury CCI4*S 51st Native Spirit

2023 – Alnwick CCI4* El Native Spirit

2023 – Bramham CCI4*L 24th Native Spirit

2022 – Pau CCI5*L El Native Spirit

2022 – Blair Castle CCI4*L 4th

2018 – Burghley CCI4* 25th Balladeer Miller Man

2017 – Pau CCI4* 35th Mr Potts

2017 – Burghley CCI4* 20th Mr Potts

2016 – Burghley CCI4* 24th Mr Potts

2016 – Luhmuhlem CCI4* 8th Whitson, 21st Mr Potts

2015 – Burghley CCI4* 45th Mr Potts, Ret Whitson

2014 – Pau CCI4* 13th Whitson

2014 – Burghley CCI4* 12th Mr Potts

2014 – Luhmuhlen CCI4* 30th Mr Potts

2013 – Burghley CCI4* 32nd Mr Potts

2013 – Luhmuhlen CCI4* 31st Mr Potts

2009 – Burghley CCI4* 16th Bit of a Barney

2007 – Burghley CCI4* 28th Bit of a Barney

2006 – Burghley CCI4* 23rd Bit of a Barney

2005 – Blair Castle CCI3* 1st Partly Pickled

Badminton

2019 – 45th Balladeer Miller Man

2018 – Ret Mr Potts

2017 – 44th Mr Potts, ret Whitson

2016 – 44th Mr Potts, ret Whitson

2015 – 53rd Mr Potts

2011 – El Partly Pickled

2010 – 41st Partly Pickled

2008 – 44th Bit of a Barney

2007 – 23rd Partly Pickled, ‘Best first timer’