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Oliver TOWNEND

Oliver TOWNEND is a British athlete and competes in Eventing.
Name Oliver TOWNEND
FEI ID 10005138
Gender Male
Date of Birth 15/11/1982
Competing for Great Britain - GBR
Registration Eventing 2025
Last update 11/07/2023
FEI Database





Eventing 70x70
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? He began riding at age seven.
Why this sport? His parents were involved in equestrian. His father Alan competed in three-day eventing and his mother Eve showed side saddle at county level. He competed in equestrian jumping before starting his eventing career.
Club / Team Oliver Townend Eventing: Ellesmere, ENG
Further Personal Information
Family Partner Isabelle Taylor
Residence Ellesmere, ENG
Occupation Athlete, Business Owner, Coach, Horse Trainer
Languages English
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Winning the 2017 Burghley Horse Trials in England. (fei.org, 03 May 2020)
Most influential person in career Manager, trainer, and horse owner Karyn Shuter. (fei.org, 08 Mar 2021)
Injuries He broke his nose in a fall during the cross-country phase at the 2016 Bramham Horse Trials in England. (yorkshirepost.co.uk, 12 Jun 2016) He broke his shoulder in a fall during the cross-country phase at the 2013 Ballindenisk Horse Trials in Ireland and missed the end of the eventing season. (yorkshirepost.co.uk, 12 Jan 2014) In 2010, at the Rolex Grand Slam in Lexington, KY, United States of America, his horse appeared to slip at the 20th fence and suffered a rotational fall. He was treated by paramedics at the scene and then transferred by helicopter to hospital. He broke the top of his shoulder, cracked his collarbone and sternum, and also fractured four ribs. (sportinglife.com, 17 Jun 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto "You have got to be single-minded, hugely ambitious, very willing to work hard for very little, and ride any type of horse." (ft.com, 05 Sep 2014)
Awards and honours In 2019 he and his horse Ballaghmor were inducted into the Eventing Riders Association [ERA] International Burghley Horse Trials Hall of Fame. (burghley-horse.co.uk, 05 Sep 2019) In 2014 he won the Tony Collings Award for the Best British Rider at the Badminton Horse Trials in England. (olivertownend.com, 19 Apr 2016)
Famous relatives His partner Isabelle Taylor has represented Great Britain in eventing. She placed 10th in the individual competition at the 2021 European Championships in Avenches, Switzerland. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Nov 2021; eventingnation.com, 21 Oct 2021)
Other information STABLES He runs Oliver Townend Eventing at Gadlas Farm in Shropshire, England, where he trains and trades horses. He bought the property at age 26. (shropshirestar.com, 05 May 2022; populous.com, 12 May 2021; olivertownend.com, 26 Oct 2020) DEATH OF CAROUSEL QUEST In 2020 his Burghley-winning horse Carousel Quest passed away at age 25. "Quest was a horse I had long admired before I had the pleasure of taking on the ride in 2008. From the word go we formed a strong partnership. Quest was always a quirky horse but had a heart of gold and was, besides a talented competition partner, a very dear friend to me and he will leave a huge hole behind. He was one of the horses who cemented my name on the map and I will always treasure the memories and what we accomplished together." (horseandhound.co.uk, 08 Jan 2020)