Biography
This will be a third consecutive Badminton for Helen and Carpe Diem (stable name ‘Demon’), who completed in 2025 (42nd place) and in 2024 (37th).
The partnership has also twice completed Pau CCI5*-L, last year and in 2023.
Carpe Diem is owned by Helen and her ‘incredibly supportive’ parents. They bought him as a four-year-old from Brightwells Auction 12 years ago and he is now ‘part of the family’.
Helen did not grow up around horses but, when she was eight, her wish came true with a riding lesson as a birthday present, and she was hooked. She first trained with Mark and Tanya Kyle and in 2019 represented Great Britain on the CCI3* European Cup team in Germany with Geluk G, 21st.
She now runs her own yard at Rendcomb, Cirencester, Gloucestershire and competes a half-brother to Carpe Diem, the nine-year-old Moonstone (by Contendro l).
Helen trains with Australian Olympian Kevin McNab for jumping and New Zealand rider Samantha Lissington for dressage.
Entries
Carpe Diem
HANN,
Germany,
2010
16.1hh , dark bay , gelding
Sire Contendro I
Dam Elfi (Escudo I)
Breeder Franz Plantaz
Owned
Helen Bates
Alistair Bates
Christine Bates
- This will be Carpe Diem and Helen Bate's fifth time at the CCI5* level and their third visit to Badminton.
- Carpe Diem's highest rated performance came at Burgham CCI4*-S in 2024. They finished on their dressage score of 32.5 to finish 6th.