Biography

It is a second visit to Badminton for British rider Gubby (Daniel) Leech (41) and a first for his entry Royal Harvest. Last year the pair was 10^th at Bramham CCI4*L and in 2022 was 9^th in the 4*L at Blenheim.

Gubby, who is based near Salisbury in Wiltshire, grew up on his parent’s farm and has been ‘riding since he could walk’. He was a member of the Wilton Pony Club participating in tetrathlon, eventing and showjumping. On his 10^th birthday he received the surprise present of a foal ‘Surprise Opposition’ from his Godfather John Johnstone (owner of Landford Common Stud). Gubby produced Surprise Opposition, from foal to three-star and the pair was 19^th at Blenheim.

After leaving school Gubby decided to concentrate on eventing and spent three months with Harry Meade training with the late Richard Meade, after which he decided to forge a career in eventing. He spent a year with Pippa and William Funnell then took a job with Richard Ames in Suffolk running the event yard and training and competing. He then ran his own yard from home – in 2009 representing GB at the World Young Horse championships (Caetano) and at the end of that year relocated to Clarendon Park near Salisbury where he now runs Gubby Eventing.

In 2015 a fall at Rackham horse trials kept him out of the saddle for six months.

Gubby trains with Lisa White, William Fox-Pitt and Dicky Waygood

Gubby is married to Sarah and the couple has three children; Olivia (11) Jack (8) and Skye (6) – all three are  members of the Wilton PC as was Gubby and Sarah.

Gubby enjoys shooting, golf supporting Jack at Rugby, supporting all the children with riding and family holidays in the South Hams.

Royal Harvest is a British-bred, SHB(GB) registered 13-year-old gelding. He was bred by Mark Milligan and is by Royal Concorde (international grand prix jumper ridden by Shane Breen) out of Barley Bree by Jennie Loriston-Clarkes former international grand prix dressage stallion Dutch Gold. He was sent by his owners to Gubby as a naughty four-year-old ostensibly for a month but never left the yard. Badminton will be his first event at the level. He is described by Gubby as ‘the kindest loveliest horse who I would trust with all my children on his back’.