Oliver Townend is a British event rider who is widely regarded as one of the greatest eventers of all time. He has won numerous championships at both the national and international level, including team gold at the 2007, 2009, and 2017 European Championships, and individual and team gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Townend was born in 1982 in Scapegoat Hill, West Yorkshire, England. He began riding horses at a young age, and his talent for eventing was quickly evident. He won the junior newcomers showjumping at the Horse of the Year Show with Cool Mule aged 11, rode in the pony European Eventing Championships aged 13, and left school at 16 to pursue riding and selling horses professionally.
Townend quickly rose through the ranks of the eventing world. He won his first CCI5* event in 2006, and he was named British Eventing's Young Rider of the Year in 2007. He has since won numerous CCI5* events, including Badminton Horse Trials in 2009 and Burghley Horse Trials in 2009 and 2017.
Townend has also represented Britain at the World Equestrian Games on three occasions, in 2006, 2014, and 2018. He won team gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, and he was a member of the British team that won team silver at the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
In 2020, Townend won individual and team gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He rode Ballaghmor Class to victory in the individual event, and he was part of the British team that won team gold.
Townend is currently ranked number one in the world by the FEI. He is known for his incredible horsemanship and his ability to get the best out of his horses. He is also known for his competitive spirit and his determination to win.
Townend currently rides a number of horses, including:
Ballaghmor Class: A 16-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a six-year-old. Ballaghmor Class is a multiple CCI5* winner, and he won individual gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Cooley Rosalent: A 10-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a four-year-old. Cooley Rosalent is a multiple CCI4* winner, and he won team silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2018.
As Is: A 12-year-old gelding that Townend has ridden since he was a six-year-old. As Is is a multiple CCI4* winner, and he was on the British team that won team gold at the European Championships in 2017.