Biography

It is a first Badminton and a first 5* for Brazilian rider Rafael Losano and Withington. Rafael (Rafa) who is based near Marlborough and Withington represented Brazil at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and was the highest placed of the Brazilian team. In 2023 the pair placed 9^th at the Pan Am Games (team bronze)

Rafa was brought up on a farm in the state of Sao Paolo, Brazil, in a village called Rio Claro. Whilst growing up he spent as much time as possible with horses on the farm and in the riding school  After a few meetings with Sir Mark Todd, who was then teaching the Brazilian eventing team, Rafa realised that there was a lot more to the eventing world. At the age of 17 he flew, with his horse, to America to spend a few months with Clayton Fredericks and later the same year travelled to the UK to Mark Todd´s farm, Wiltshire basing himself at Badgerstown – he is now based at Mere Park Farm. Rafa trains with William Fox-Pitt.

He is married to Amanda (Brieditis) who rides for Sweden and the couple has a young daughter.

Withington is a 14-year-old British-bred AES registered gelding. Bred by Penny Eckroyd he is by the Hannoverian Wolkenderry out of a mare by the thoroughbred Loughahoe Guy. He was acquired from Sam Ackroyd who produced him to 3*.