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Pippa Funnell MBE

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 Pippa Funnell MBE

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In 2003, Pippa Funnell MBE  became the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing with consecutive wins at Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.

She also won Badminton in 2002 and 2005, two Individual golds (1999–2001) and three team golds (1999–2003) at the European Championships.

Pippa is a three-time Olympic medallist, winning team silver in 2000 and 2004, and an individual bronze in 2004. She also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Pippa remains at the top of the sport, and is a renowned producer of young horses from the Billy Stud ( https://thebillystud.co.uk/ )with her husband William Funnell.

Pippa’s horses have included Supreme Rock, Primmore's Pride, Sir Barnaby, Bits and Pieces, Walk on Star, and Ensign, and more recently, Redesigned, Billy Beware, Billy the Biz, Billy Llandretti, Mirage D`Elle, Billy Cuckoo and Sandman7. Her current horses are listed in the horse section of this website. 

Pippa became European Young Rider Champion in 1987 after successfully competing on Sir Barnaby at Bialy Bor, Poland. 

In 1999, Pippa became European Champion at Luhmühlen riding Supreme Rock and again on the same horse in 2001 at Pau – France.
She was a member of the British teams that won silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, bronze at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 both with Supreme Rock, and silver again at the Athens Olympics of 2004, this time with Primmore`s Pride. 

In addition, Pippa won the individual bronze medal at Athens. 

In 2003, Pippa became the first rider ever to complete the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, by adding the Burghley title to her victories earlier in the year at Kentucky and Badminton, to earn a $250,000 bonus from Rolex. 
The Kentucky and Burghley victories were on Primmore's Pride, while the Badminton victory was on Supreme Rock. 

Pippa remains one of only two riders to have won the Grand Slam. As a result of her achievements, she was voted Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2003 and was in the top five of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. 

Pippa then went to Punchestown in Ireland to defend the individual European title that she had won in 1999 and 2001, winning a bronze medal with Walk On Star and helping the British team to win their fifth successive team title. She also finished the year as the number one ranked rider in the world.

In total Pippa has won the Badminton Horse Trials three times: 2002, 2003 and 2005, and has won both the Blenheim and Windsor Horse Trials four times as well, the only rider yet to do so. 

Primmore's Pride became the 1st horse to win all three major four star titles - Kentucky & Burghley in 2003 and Badminton in 2005, becoming the 1st horse to win its own Grand Slam.

In 2010, Pippa won the CCI3* at Bramham International horse trials on Redesigned. 
They went on to finish 5th as an individual at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. In 2011, she won Barbary CIC3* on Billy Llandretti. 

In 2013, Pippa won Tattersalls CCI3* with Billy Beware, who finished 6th at his first 4* event at Badminton Horse Trials 2014. 

On 13 September 2015, Pippa helped GB win Team Silver at Blair Castle aboard Sandman 7. 

At the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, riding Billy the Biz, Pippa was part of the British team that finished fifth.
Pippa won the 2019 Burghley Horse Trials, riding MGH Grafton Street, having led from day one.

Alongside her riding career, Pippa has also written an autobiography, a training book (Training The Young Horse) and a series of children's books (watch this space!) 

For the past 4 years, Pippa has been trainer and mentor for the Wesko equestrian foundation previously know as the Windrush Foundation . You can find out more about the foundation here:
https://weskoequestrianfoundation.org.uk/

01. Pippa Funnell

My Children’s Books under the name of ‘Pippa’s Pony Tales’  are available for purchase through the following link or by scanning the QR code above.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLKX4427?binding=paperback&qid=1707135349&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk

The key message is to help children understand the responsibilities involved with horses and ponies, whether looking after them, riding them or even dreaming about them - building those partnerships based on trust and mutual respect.  
Each book is an individual story but over the series there is an overriding story of Tilly, a little adopted girl finding out who her real family are.
Full of horsey education and tips.

Hopefully these stories will keep inspiring youngsters to follow their dreams and will give them a valuable in sight into the responsibilities needed for looking after, riding and caring for our four legged friends.

If I can inspire one young child to follow their dreams through reading  my children’s books then it has been worth all the hours put in to writing these stories but I really hope many children will enjoy the Tales about Tilly and the horses and ponies she comes into contact with.

Learning not only valuable morals in life about kindness, good manners and the importance of friendship but above all the responsibilities they have even at a young age of the care, dedication and love needed for being involved with our incredible four legged friends.

We must educate these children at a young age that they absolutely have to treat horses as their best friends then I have full confidence they will enjoy their time spent with these magnificent creatures as much as I do.

Thanks to Fiona Kennedy of Zephyr (an inlet of Publishers Head of Zeus Books ) who has been instrumental in the release of these books. 

Pip x

Order Pippa's Pony Tales books 

The main-arena Masterclasses at Defender Burghley are always a major highlights of the event and this September, we are proud to announce our most star-studded line-up yet. 

With four Masterclasses taking place in 2024, we have a host of stellar names taking to the arena during the lunchtime breaks on Thursday and Friday, as well as after the CCI5* dressage finishes each day.

We will be announcing one Masterclass a day over the next four days – so keep your eyes peeled for some big names!

First up: PIPPA & WILLIAM FUNNELL

In what is sure to be a highly entertaining climax to Burghley’s host of Masterclasses, the illustrious husband-and-wife team of showjumper William and eventer Pippa Funnell - herself a dual Burghley winner - will present 'Showjumping - working in harmony!'

Fresh from his record fifth Hickstead Derby win last week, William will join Pippa for their Masterclass in the Main Arena on Friday 6th September after dressage concludes - you won’t want to miss it.

Tickets for Defender Burghley are on sale: https://burghley-horse.co.uk/tickets

#DBHT #Burghley

MASTER CLASS AT BURGHLEY 

♦️JOB OPPORTUNITY ♦️
So sad I’m loosing Lily after 6 amazing years.
Due to this an exciting opportunity has arisen to join my  small team of Eventers, Showjumpers and Young Horses.  Ideally I would love to have someone responsible and talented that would look at this role as a key stepping stone in their career.

🔹 Work Rider Position🔹
• Friendly dedicated team.
An opportunity to learn and improve your riding skills.
• Top class horses.
• Accommodation available.
 •All Yard Duties included
 •This role must be for someone who has had plenty of previous riding experience within the industry.

Please send your CV accompanied by a video of you riding to Archie 07772 906507.
We regret that we cannot accommodate own pets.
‼️⚠️Please share due to Facebook having not sorted out finding my Pippa Funnell Official blue ☑️ Facebook Page⚠️‼️

♦️JOB OPPORTUNITY♦️

A very very proud wife.  My husband has once again shown what an outstanding horseman he is to go into the record books by winning his 5th Hickstead Derby this time on another wonderful horse Dublon
An incredible achievement.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8k79oao9YW/?igsh=a3Qyd3Z6ZHMwYjVt
A great video from Equisportif capturing this special day.  
What a team we have at The Billy Stud.

A DAY TO REMEMBER 

I wanted to share the few paragraphs which I was asked to write for The Telegraph about the devastating, tragic loss of dearest Georgie. We will miss her and her bright smile so so very much .  

‘Words seem shallow to describe a person as unique as Georgie. She was absolutely beautiful both inside and out.  She was such a very special member of the Eventing community loved by so many.  It has shocked the Equestrian world to the core. 
Always, gracious, thankful and fun but incredibly hardworking and so so very talented.  I have had the pleasure in helping her with her dressage in recent weeks.  She was a joy  to teach.  It was very evident she adored her horses and between them I felt they had the attributes to go to the very top of the sport she so loved.  
She was a much loved family member and wife, devoted to her husband Jesse.  A very dear friend to many. 
It is so very very tragic.  My heart goes out to Jesse and all who loved her.
The Eventing Family is well known and we will all pull together to help and give each other support and comfort particularly for those friends and loved ones that need it most’.

RIP Dearest Georgie  you will never be forgotten, you will be so terribly missed.


 DEAREST GEORGIE CAMPBELL 

Life after Badminton is just as busy as life before hence the rather late update.
Firstly I want to say how delighted I was with Nick and Sarah Ross’s MCS Maverick (Eric) at his first Badminton. 
I can’t say I should take all the credit as Eric was previously ridden and expertly produced by Helen Wilson, who works for us at the Billy Stud.  It was Helen’s suggestion to Sarah that I took on the ride of Erik at the beginning of last year.  I always watched the horse with great interest  right from when he was a young horse cross-country schooling for the first time.   To end up riding a horse of his calibre at an event such as Badminton was a privilege and absolutely thrilling to finish 9th.

He has a massive amount of talent but it’s been no secret that he can at times suffer from nerves and be a little tricky, so throughout my time with him  the main thing has been working on getting his brain to just slow down and relax so that all his ability can be channelled in the right direction.

I was very happy with his mindset on arrival and relieved he settled so well and seemed quite relaxed when I worked him on the Wednesday.  My problems started in the first vets inspection.  Poor boy was so surprised by the crowd of spectators as he came under the archway from the stables to the trot up strip in front of the main house that he reared up in front of the ground jury.  Thankfully I managed to hold onto him before successfully trotting up.

This whole experience genuinely worried him to the point that he didn’t want to leave  the quietness of the stables.  It was a major concern for me that I might not even get him onto the field of play let alone perform a decent dressage test.  

So throughout the week this was my greatest challenge, to quietly persuade him that there was nothing to be worried about.  This is why I want to document it for people to understand how I overcome these sort of issues by dealing with it in a quiet reassuring, patient way, by holding his hand all the way through.

I know how nervous I feel at Badminton with all the pre competition nerves, being barraged by a sea of spectators on top of an electrifying atmosphere so why shouldn’t these super fit equine  athletes suffer pre competition nerves too. 

There was so much head scratching, I couldn’t plan my warm ups.  I had to leave all my options open and ride the horse that was underneath me at the time, trusting that if I could get his mind right I could rely on all the endless hours of training done at home.

The long walk up from the stables to the main arena was the hardest challenge. 
Emily and Lily were complete superstars in helping me deal with the situation.
Emily covered so many extra miles by following behind to help usher us up as I lead him in hand.  A lot of miles were covered last week on our poor feet. 

So for anyone witnessing, this was the reason why thanks to members of the Beaufort hunt and their trusty steeds that I had mounted escorts on the dressage and cross country days.  It took many people to help me get the 
tune I got from him, my girls, hunt staff, stewards, commentators even some of the security guards.

I know this is not the norm but Badminton isn’t the norm so I really do thank all those people that helped me.  As I said he is exceptionally talented and he really enjoys his job.  Every photo I’ve seen he has his ears pricked and a smile on his face.  It was so important to me that he had a good experience.
I feel excited as there is more to come from him.  It was so worth all the time taken to get his brain channelled without having to overwork him. I really hope how we handled him at Badminton will be of benefit to him in the future.  Only time will tell!

As we all know they are not machines and they are all so very very different.  As I have said many times before it is not about the colour of the rosette, it is about the satisfaction, achievement of the individual performance and I was so so proud of Eric’s performance and how he handled himself within the white boards, over those enormous XC fences and on the final day. 

I will just have to keep going a little bit longer!!!

Thank you Jon Stroud, Elli Birch and Serena Shelton for the great images




A very tense moment at the first trot up

Zoe and Albert the Escort waiting to take Eric up to the dressage

Eric doing a super relaxed test

Being escorted up to the XC  

Flying he second last fence

A fantastic shot by Boots and Hooves Photography 

So much happier in the final vets inspection 

And even relax in the prize giving

Dreaming about his experience at home the day after

BETWEEN THE EARS

For me one of my stand out moments for Badminton 2024 was when Emily Gibson my long standing Head girl won the Stable Managers Grooms Award.  Head girl is the wrong word because she is so much more than that, as is Lily Wilson. One is my left hand and one is my right.  I literally couldn’t function without them.

These two girls having been with me for over six years are out and out stars.  Their care, love, dedication to my horses is quite outstanding.
They have become very special to me.  How they cope with me I really don’t know.  My way  with how I deal with the horses must be so challenging for them.   I’m often having to change my mind on things due to the way the horses are feeling, thinking and reacting to situations.  This weekend was one of the most challenging examples of that. I will write about that in another news story if people are interested.
As riders we get so wrapped up in our own feeling of nerves and anxiety that we loose focus on what our poor grooms must go through, particularly on cross country day. Watching their beloved steeds tackle the demands of the course just praying above all else that they come back safe and happy.
They really are the unsung heroes and they deserve every bit of recognition they get and more.



A true team effort. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/ao62SyJdPzKfo8iA/?mibextid=WC7FNe



A disappointing start for me at Badminton.  See my interview with Horse and Hound. 

I can’t quite believe it was 36 years ago when I competed here for the first time on Sir Barnaby.   How lucky I am to be back again with two lovely horses. My old campaigner Majas Hope and Badminton first timer MCS Maverick.   I so hope I do them both justice and give them the opportunity to shine.

BADMINTON 75TH Anniversary 

Having had rather keen, enthusiastic xc rounds at Burnham Market with Badminton bound Majas Hope and MCS Maverick I decided schooling rounds were needed at Cirencester getting the horses relaxed and checking the ride ability.  
Personally since my fall at Thoresby I have had plenty of physio thanks to Ash Wallace and John Harris.  Added to that I have been going regularly to the gym.  For sure at 55 riding two at Badminton is going to be a big ask both mentally and physically.   
The horses feel in great shape so fingers crossed I will be at the start gates in ten days time.
🤞🤞🤞

A good final run at Cirencester 

“I have been incredibly lucky to have been supported by Allen & Page from the very start of my eventing career, so they have fed every horse that I have ever competed.” - Pippa Funnell



Allen & Page was first established as a limited company in 1936 and now has four generations of experience in producing quality horse feed, helping to build the business into the major national feed producer it is today. Although, the Page family had been producing and selling horse feeds for many years before that.

Originally based at the mill at Quayside, Norwich, Allen and Page quickly became renowned across East Anglia for the high quality feed produced.
The ability to be innovative and continually improve has always been something that is valued  at Allen & Page, as a part of that process they made the decision to move the business to its current state of the art mill in Shipdham, Norfolk. 

The new mill has provided them with the technology to produce our feeds, with precision feed blending and in an environmentally friendly way.
More than two decades ago they gained the accreditation of major food production and quality control bodies, including the Vegetarian Society, Soil Association (Organic) and ISO organisations.

This set a standard for them to continue working closely to ensuring the highest quality feed is always produced.

In 2009, Allen & Page was delighted to receive a Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales.
Looking to the future, they are always investigating new ways to improve and innovate; drawing on the experience and knowledge gained from almost a century of making horse feed.

Allen and Page Horse Feeds

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The name is a licence of the famous German clothing brand Kentucky Reitmoden established in 1961. Both companies are run separately and only share the same brand name/logo and distribution network worldwide. The Kentucky Horsewear offices are based in Belgium, under young entrepreneur, Kentucky Horsewear owner and MD Thomas Tuytens’ watchful eye

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