In a thrilling conclusion to Badminton 2025, British rider Ros Canter clinched her second title on Sunday aboard the exceptional Lordships Graffalo. This victory not only underscores their dominance in the eventing world but also marks a historic achievement Badminton history, becoming the first horse and rider combination to regain the Badminton title. The pair won the competition in 2023. At just 13 years old, Walter, as Lordships Graffalo is known at home, may have more titles in his future as he made the impressive 5* course look easy.

The competition was fierce, with Canter and Walter delivering a flawless performance across all phases. After a solid dressage test, they executed a faultless cross-country round, positioning themselves as strong contenders. The final show jumping phase proved decisive; their clear round applied pressure on overnight leader Oliver Townend on Cooley Rosalent, who incurred a costly rail down at the 10th fence, securing Canter’s victory.

An Emotional Tribute

The win was particularly poignant for Canter, who dedicated her triumph to her late coach and mentor, Caroline Moore. Moore’s recent passing from cancer left a void in Canter’s support system, making this victory a heartfelt tribute to her guidance and friendship.

“This was for Caroline Moore, she was by my side my whole career,” Canter told Horse and Hound.

“I’m so pleased I managed to make her proud. It’s the first time I’ve done anything without her. Not only was she my trainer and mentor, but also the best friend.”

A Legacy in the Making

At 13 years old, Lordships Graffalo continues to demonstrate exceptional talent and consistency. So far they’ve won Badminton twice, and brought home the European Their partnership has yielded numerous accolades, including European Championship gold and an Olympic team gold medal in Paris 2024 . This latest victory at Badminton solidifies their status as one of eventing’s most formidable duos.

At just 13, Lordships Graffalo has already secured two Badminton wins, an Olympic team gold, a European title, and a Burghley victory. If he stays sound and competitive, Canter could target a third win, a feat accomplished just once before in the event’s 75 year history. Be Fair, ridden by Lucinda Green, won the event three times (1977, 1979, 1982). Green also won three more times on different horses (Wide Awake in 1973, 1976, and Regal Realm in 1983), making her the most successful Badminton rider ever with six victories.

“He’s just the most amazing horse,” says Ros, who becomes the first rider to regain, rather than retain, the Badminton title on the same horse. “He just relishes it. He absolutely loves it in there – he loves anywhere, though, where there’s people watching him. I think most horses, as they get older, they know the crowd, and they almost get trickier because the anticipation is always there. But with Walter, he relaxes in that environment in a nice, bubbly way, and he just thoroughly enjoys himself.”

As a big fan of the Trakehner breed, it’s worth noting that Lordships Graffalo is half Trakehner, sired by the Trakehner Stallion, Grafenstolz, who has sired many leading British Breeding Futurity young event horses and was ranked as the top eventing sire by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) in 2020.

Final Standings

An Exceptional Athlete . . . and Human Being

Canter’s typical day involves getting up at 5:30 a.m. for a run, riding 8-10 horses and being ready to pick up her 5 year old daughter at 3:00. She ran the London Marathon on April 27th, just 12 days before Badminton, in honor of her friend and fellow rider, Saffron Cresswell, who was paralyzed in a riding accident from the chest down, last June. She completed the run in 4 hours 15 minutes, cheered on by Cresswell and raising £11,118 for spinal research. You can donate to her Giving Fund here.

For all her focus and determination, Ros Canter also comes across as the kind of person you want to see at the top of the eventing world, generous with her praise and support of her fellow equestrians. A real role model for younger riders.

I watched an interview where she said she couldn’t watch Oliver Townend’s jumping round,

“I didn’t want to wish bad on anyone else,” she said. “I would have been quite happy with second and this win is the icing on the cake. Oliver is a fantastic performer, and his horse will definitely have her day here.