Biography

British rider Harry Meade (41) has 13 completions of the event gaining eight top-twenty places. He gained his 13th completion last year (20th Away Cruising).

This year Harry brings Grafennacht the former ride of William Fox-Pitt (now retired from top level competition) with who the mare completed two Badmintons. Harry and Grafennacht ran out the winners of the recent 4*L in Montelibretti in March – the combination’s first FEI event together.

Cavalier Crystal started the event last year but was withdrawn after the dressage. The pair then gained 3^rd place at Burghley – they also placed 3^rd at Burghley last year.

It will be a first Badminton for Annaghmore Valoner with who Harry enjoyed a successful season last year. The pair won Bramham 4*L and was 4^th at Burghley – the horse’s first 4*.

Another Badminton first timer will be Superstition, Harry’s third ride at Burghley last year and was placed 12^th. It is also a first Badminton for the French-bred Et Hop du Matz who started the 5* at Elkton last October but did not complete.

Harry is currently ranked #7 in the FEI rider ranking.

Harry was born and grew up in the Beaufort Hunt country, close to Badminton. He is still based at the family home where he runs his yard. In 2000, as a member of the Beaufort Pony Club, Harry was the National Pony Club eventing champion and the following year a member of the British Junior team. After leaving school he combined horses with university and gained a degree in history of art from Bristol University. Before running his own yard Harry was apprenticed to several riders including William Fox-Pitt from who he took the ride on Midnight Dazzler, with who he made his four-star debut at Burghley in 2005 winning awards for the ‘best first timer’ and ‘best Under-25’. Midnight Dazzler and Harry completed Burghley three times and Badminton on four occasions. In 2009 Harry became the youngest person ever to receive an Armada dish awarded for five Badminton completions.

In 2013 whilst competing at Wellington horse trials Harry suffered a rotational fall which resulted in two fractured and dislocated elbows requiring much re-constructive surgery and incapacitation.  He started riding again mid-February and in 2014 gained a fairy-tale third place at Badminton with Wild Lone with who he subsequently gained his first senior flag as a member of the British team for the 2014 WEG in Caen. Sadly Wild Lone died after the cross country – albeit Harry braved the podium to collect team silver. He was voted rider of the year by the Event Horse Owners Association, (EHOA), Event Riders Association (ERA) The British Equestrian Writers Association and Horse & Hound.  He has since brought on younger horses and with Away Cruising made a successful return to top level competition at Burghley in 2017.

Harry is also involved of other aspects of the sport; he is a former Chairman of the FEI International Riders committee, a member of the Burghley Horse Trials Directors Advisory Group and in recent times been part of the BBC commentary team and occasional columnist for Horse & Hound Magazine. His father the late Richard Meade, won three Olympic gold medals in eventing, won Burghley in 1964 and completed Badminton 16 times winning the event twice (1970 & ’82).

In 2010 Harry married Rosie Bradford – having proposed during a Badminton course walk – and they have a daughter Lily (13) and a son Charlie (11). Harry trains with Ian Woodhead and Grant Wilson.

Grafennacht owned by Amanda Gould, is a 13-year-old British-bred Oldenburg registered mare. Bred by Susan Eggleton, she is an embryo transfer daughter of the leading sire Grafenstolz (also the sire of Badminton entries Lordships Graffalo, Graf Cavalier and Ellfield Voyager) out of the advanced eventing mare Nachtigall by the thoroughbred Narew. In 2019 with former rider William Fox-Pitt she was 2^nd in the 7-year-old young horse 3* at Osberton and subsequently 4^th in the World 7-year-old championship at le Lions. She completed her first 5* at Badminton in 2023. Harry took over the ride at the end of 2024 due to William’s retirement from top level sport

Annaghmore Valoner is an Irish Sport Horse registered mare. Bred by Sinead Healion she is  by the thoroughbred Coroner (a son of Mtoto) out of a mare by Black Walter a son of Cavalier Royale. She was formerly produced and ridden by Australian Sam Griffiths who passed the ride to Harry in 2022 when Sam took on the coaching role for team NZ. Last year with Harry she won Bramham 4*L and was 4^th at Burghley – her first 5*.

Superstition is a British-bred British Hanoverian registered 16-year-old gelding. Bred by Eva Meier she is by the Hanoverian showjumper Satisfaction I (by Stakkato) out of mare by Cordalme Z. She is a former ride of Lucy Jackson with who he won Millstreet 4*S and was 5^th at Bramham and has been with Harry for six years. In 2021 he was 5^th on his 5* debut in Kentucky and last year was 12^th at Burghley

Et Hop Du Matz is an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding. Bred by Roger and Jocelyn Servette he is by Nouma d’Auzay (Carthago-Quidam de Revel) out of a mare by Easy Star. He was formerly ridden by Mathieu Chombart and was acquired in France in 2021. Harry has produced him since a 7 year old, – the pair won their first FEI compeition together – the 3*L at Millstreet in 2023 – and finished 9th at Bramham 4*L last year.

Cavalier Crystal owned Charlotte Opperman is a 15-year-old Irish Irish-bred Irish Sport Horse mare. Bred by Thomas Horgan she is by Jack of Diamonds out of a mare by Cavalier Royale. She was initially produced by Alice Montgomery and Tiana Coudray and Harry took the ride in 2016 and has since been produced through the FEI levels by Harry. At the end of a successful season last year the pair was 3^rd in its first 5* at Burghley.