Oliver Townend 43 y/o

Great Britain

CCI5* -L Starts (total since 2008): 99

3 - Ballaghmor Class
90 - Cooley Rosalent

Biography

Oliver has completed Badminton more times (19) than any other rider competing here today. He made his debut in 2005, finishing 12th on Topping, and won in 2009 on Flint Curtis. He has finished runner-up five times: in 2014 (Armada), 2018 (Cooley SRS), 2019 and 2023 (Ballaghmor Class) and last year on Cooley Rosalent (‘Rosie’), his ride this time.

He has produced Cooley Rosalent since she was a youngster and she showed her exciting promise early on when they were second in the prestigious Young Horses World Championship at Le Lion d’Angers, France, in 2020. In 2023, they won the CCI4* for eight- and nine-year-old horses at Blenheim and went on to be third at Elkton, Maryland CCI5*; the mare won Kentucky CCI5*-L in 2024 as a 10-year-old and last year finished 12th at Burghley.

Oliver has been world and British number one several times and has been a member of the senior British squad since 2005, winning an Olympic team gold medal at Tokyo in 2021 as British pathfinder on Ballaghmor Class, plus four European team gold medals. Besides Badminton, his other five-star victories include Burghley (three times), Elkton/Maryland (2024) and Kentucky four times.

Oliver, who is Yorkshire-born, has run his own yard, Oliver Townend Eventing, at Gadlas, Shropshire, since he was 26.

Entries

Ballaghmor Class

ISH, Ireland, 2007
16.3hh , grey , gelding

Sire Courage

Breeder Mr Noel Hickey

Owned Karyn Shuter
Angela Hislop
Val Ryan

Cooley Rosalent

ISH, Ireland, 2014
16.2hh , grey , mare

Sire Valent

Dam Bellaney Jewell (Roselier)

Breeder J Rosbotham

Owned Diana Ridgeon
Paul Ridgeon

Stats & Insights from

PB – Dressage(CCI5*-L)

21.1 - Badminton 2025

PB – Finish(CCI5*-L)

26.3 - Badminton 2025 - 2nd

Dressage(Last 6 tests avg.)

23.6

XCJ – Clear Rate(Last 10 runs)

80%

SJ Faults(Last 6 avg.)

3.3

Insights

Oliver holds the record dressage score in the modern Badminton era (2006 onward) with Cillnabradden Evo, scoring 19.7 in 2019.
Cooley Rosalent is one of the top 5 highest-rated dressage horses in the 2026 Badminton field.

Editor's highlights

Badminton Record

2025 – Ballaghmor Class WD
2025 – Cooley Rosalent 2nd
2023 – Ballaghmor Class 2nd
2023 – Swallow Springs EL
2022 – Ballaghmor Class 5th
2022 – Swallow Springs 3rd
2019 – Ballaghmor Class 2nd
2019 – Cillnabradden Evo 6th
2018 – Ballaghmor Class 5th
2018 – Cooley SRS 2nd
2017 – ODT Ghareeb 16th
2017 – Samuel Thomas II 25th
2016 – Armada 25th
2016 – Black Tie RET
2015 – Armada 11th
2014 – Armada 2nd
2013 – Armada 34th
2011 – Ashdale Cruise Master EL
2009 – Flint Curtis 1st
2008 – Coup De Coeur 12th

Notable Results

2025 Bramham CCI4*-L – Dromgurrihy Gold 26th
2025 Burghley CCI5*-L – Cooley Rosalent 12th
2025 Pau CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 21st
2024 Bramham CCI4*-L – Crazy Du Loir 13th
2024 Bramham CCI4*-L – En Taro Des Vernier 14th
2024 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Cooley Rosalent 1st
2024 Maryland CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 1st
2024 Pau CCI5*-L – Cooley Rosalent 16th
2024 Pau CCI5*-L – Crazy Du Loir 17th
2024 Pau CCI5*-L – En Taro Des Vernier 28th
2023 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Crazy Du Loir 12th
2023 Burghley CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 1st
2023 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Cooley Rosalent 27th
2023 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Swallow Springs 7th
2023 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Tregilder 9th
2023 Maryland CCI5*-L – Cooley Rosalent 3rd
2023 Pau CCI5*-L – Tregilder 2nd
2022 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – Cooley Rosalent 2nd
2022 Bramham CCI4*-L – As Is 7th
2022 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Dreamliner 12th
2022 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Lukas 8th
2022 Maryland CCI5*-L – As Is 3rd
2022 Pratoni del Vivaro World Championships – Ballaghmor Class 16th
2021 Bicton CCI5*-L – Tregilder 7th
2021 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – Arklow Puissance 11th
2021 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Lukas 28th
2021 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Swallow Springs 10th
2021 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 1st
2021 Maryland CCI5*-L – Cooley Master Class 2nd
2021 Pau CCI5*-L – Ridire Dorcha 6th
2021 Tokyo Olympics – Ballaghmor Class 5th
2020 Burnham Market CCI4*-L – Tregilder 15th
2020 Pau CCI5*-L – MHS King Joules 6th
2019 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Dreamliner 2nd
2019 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Ulises 4th
2019 Burghley CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 3rd
2019 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Cooley Master Class 1st
2019 Luhmühlen Europeans – Cooley Master Class 9th
2019 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Tregilder 7th
2018 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Ulises 19th
2018 Burghley CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 2nd
2018 Burghley CCI5*-L – Cooley SRS 12th
2018 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Cooley Master Class 1st
2018 Kentucky CCI5*-L – MHS King Joules 7th
2018 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Ulises 9th
2017 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Lanfranco 1st
2017 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Ridire Dorcha 11th
2017 Burghley CCI5*-L – Ballaghmor Class 1st
2017 Burghley CCI5*-L – Samuel Thomas II 21st
2017 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Black Tie 18th
2017 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Ballaghmor Class 4th
2016 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Fernhill Ultimate 6th
2016 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Lanfranco 4th
2016 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Ulises 5th
2016 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – Lanfranco 3rd
2016 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – ODT Ghareeb 2nd
2016 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Dunbeau 9th
2016 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Note Worthy 30th
2016 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Ballaghmor Class 40th
2016 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Cooley SRS 3rd
2016 Bramham CCI4*-L – MHS King Joules 3rd
2016 Bramham CCI4*-L – Samuel Thomas II 9th
2016 Burghley CCI5*-L – Dromgurrihy Blue 23rd
2016 Burghley CCI5*-L – Samuel Thomas II 7th
2016 Saumur CCI4*-L – Cillnabradden Evo 5th
2016 Saumur CCI4*-L – ODT Ghareeb 8th
2015 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Cooley SRS 1st
2015 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – MHS King Joules 8th
2015 Blair Castle Europeans – Fenyas Elegance 17th
2015 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Dunbeau 61st
2015 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Sandiman II 53rd
2015 Bramham CCI4*-L – Dunbeau 47th
2015 Bramham CCI4*-L – Lanfranco 30th
2015 Bramham CCI4*-L – ODT Ghareeb 15th
2015 Burghley CCI5*-L – Armada 23rd
2015 Burghley CCI5*-L – Dromgurrihy Blue 11th
2015 Burghley CCI5*-L – Samuel Thomas II 32nd
2015 Saumur CCI4*-L – Fenyas Elegance 3rd
2015 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Dromgurrihy Blue 9th
2014 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Bandit King 9th
2014 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Samuel Thomas II 13th
2014 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Skyhills Cavalier 2nd
2014 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Cooley Master Class 13th
2014 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Dunbeau 56th
2014 Bramham CCI4*-L – ODT Ghareeb 15th
2014 Burghley CCI5*-L – Armada 8th
2014 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Black Tie 4th
2014 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Sandiman II 11th
2013 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Neo Du Breuil 60th
2013 Saumur CCI4*-L – Black Tie 11th
2013 Saumur CCI4*-L – Neo Du Breuil 22nd
2012 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Arctic Mouse 1st
2012 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Outside Chance 8th
2012 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Douglas 52nd
2012 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Imperial Master 48th
2012 Burghley CCI5*-L – Armada 4th
2012 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Armada 8th
2012 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – ODT Sonas Rovatio 7th
2011 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Pepper Anne 11th
2011 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Arctic Mouse 57th
2011 Bramham CCI4*-L – Neo Du Breuil 3rd
2011 Kentucky CCI5*-L – ODT Sonas Rovatio 6th
2011 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Master Boy 7th
2011 Strzegom CCI4*-L – Pepper Anne 16th
2011 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Brigadier 6th
2011 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Imperial Master 2nd
2010 Boekelo CCI4*-L – ODT Sonas Rovatio 8th
2010 Burghley CCI5*-L – Carousel Quest 4th
2010 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Ashdale Cruise Master 5th
2010 Pau CCI5*-L – Master Boy 13th
2009 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – Three Wishes 5th
2009 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Master Boy 5th
2009 Burghley CCI5*-L – Carousel Quest 1st
2009 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Carousel Quest 8th
2009 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Golden Hue 17th
2009 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Sandyman 15th
2009 Pau CCI5*-L – Carousel Quest 8th
2009 Saumur CCI4*-L – Master Boy 30th
2008 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Golden Hue 13th
2008 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Master Boy 15th
2008 Bramham CCI4*-L – Divine Inspiration 17th
2008 Bramham CCI4*-L – Flint Curtis 9th
2008 Strzegom CCI4*-L – Clover Curtis 1st