Harry Meade

Harry was born into an eventing family – his father, Richard, was a triple Olympic gold medallist and double Badminton winner.

Much of Harry’s childhood was spent in the saddle, but Richard discouraged lessons, believing untaught experience as a child develops a greater natural feel and instinct. Harry won the senior individual Pony Club Championships – on a borrowed horse that belonged to his Pony Club’s DC – and he was a member of the British team at the Junior Europeans.

He spent several seasons working for William Fox-Pitt, before setting up his own yard. He has since completed Badminton ten times – his best result there was 3rd in 2014, which was particularly notable as it marked a comeback after career-threatening injuries from a fall in which he shattered both elbows. Later that same year, he was part of the silver medal-winning British team at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Known for his quiet and sympathetic style of riding, Harry has always opted for a relatively small string of horses, and the smaller numbers allows a close working relationship with each horse.

It was with Midnight Dazzler that Harry first made an impact at 5* level, while still in his early twenties. The horse was notoriously difficult and had passed through the hands of a number of top riders – he was renowned for ‘blowing up’ in the dressage and had had a number of falls across country – but the new pairing developed into one of the most reliable partnerships of the time, and together they completed seven 5* events.

With Wild Lone, Harry formed a similarly strong partnership at top level. Harry had bought Wild Lone as a four-year-old, and together they completed six 5*s, despite his tragic death at the World Equestrian Games aged only 13.

Harry’s current top horse, Away Cruising, has also been with Harry since he was 4, and the partnership looks similarly strong, already producing top-10 placings at 5*.

Harry is a regular commentator and co-presenter for BBC Sport’s eventing television coverage, and a long-term columnist for Horse & Hound magazine. He is chairman of the International Riders’ Group, who feed in to the FEI – the sport’s international federation.

Harry has a degree in History of Art from Bristol University and is passionate about art and architecture. He is also an avid follower of boxing and tennis.

He is married to Rosie and together they have two young children – Lily and Charlie – who, unsurprisingly, are both budding horse riders.