Biography

British-based New Zealand Olympic rider Tim Price (46) first competed here in 2004. Last year Tim gained his 10^th completion of the event with 8^th placed Vitali – one of three entries this year. Later in the year the pair was 2^nd at Burghley. Vitali has completed six 5* events all with top 10 placings. With Xavier Faer Tim gained his best Badminton result in 2017 when 3^rd.

It is a first Badminton for Falco with who Tim was a member of the 2024 New Zealand Olympic team gaining 6^th place. The pair was the winner of the bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships and last year 2^nd in the Elkton 5* in Maryland.

It is also a first Badminton for Viscount Viktor who has completed Burghley, Luhmuhlen and Pau 5* events.

Tim has previously won the 5* events at Burghley (2018), Luhmuhlen (2019) and Pau (2021). He is currently #2 in the FEI world rider ranking.

Tim is based near Beaminster in Dorset where he runs a competition yard with his wife and fellow NZL team member Jonelle – the winner of Badminton 2018.

Tim grew up on a farm in Oxford, North Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. Surrounded by horses from an early age, it seemed natural that Tim would follow a career into horses. He showjumped to World Cup level before deciding that as the majority of the horses he was working with were New Zealand Thoroughbreds they were naturally more suited to eventing. With the NZ thoroughbred Vortex, Tim won the CCI2* at the National Championships in New Zealand. The pair went on to compete at four-star level and also won back-to-back Retraining of Racehorses Championships at Barbury Castle (2012/13).

In 2014 Tim achieved the biggest win of his career to date when heading the four-star at Luhmuhlen with Wesko with who he previously won at CCI one, and three-star level (Blair Castle) and was second at two-star CCI. In 2015 & ’14 at Badminton with Ringwod Sky Boy Tim was the winner of the William Miflin trophy for the ride closest to the optimum time. In September 2018 with Ringwood Sky Boy he won Burghley and at the WEG in Tryon was the highest placed member of the New Zealand team (8^th Cekatinka). He was a member of the fourth placed New Zealand team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games(Ringwood Sky Boy), the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo (Vitali), the 2014 WEG in France, the 2018 WEG and was the bronze medallist at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni.

Tim and Jonelle (nee Richards) began dating in 2001and two years later with their advanced horses Desamoray and Mazetto came to the UK to prepare for Burghley, with the aim of competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2004 both horses went to Badminton and the pair relocated to their current base in the UK the following year. They married, in New Zealand, in 2013. They have a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.

Tim’s brother Cam is CEO of Keyflow Horse Feeds and his brother Brad is a ‘genuine cowboy in Australia’. Tim trains with Spencer Wilton and Luis Alvarez Cevera. Outside of eventing, Tim enjoys camping, skiing, anything in the great outdoors and going home to New Zealand.

Vitali is a 15-year-old German-bred Holstein gelding. He is by the leading sire Contender out of Noble Lady 1 by the influential thoroughbred event sire Heraldik (similar bloodines to the 2022 Lexington 5* winner Fischer Chipmunk (Contendro-Heraldik). She comes from a respected Holstein damline and is the dam of 15 offspring – mostly showjumpers – including Camerino Blue showjumping with Swiss rider Felix Vogg. Vitali was initally produced by New Zealander James Avery with who he was 6^th in the World 6-year-old championships. Tim took the ride in 2021. In 2022 the pair won the British Open and was 3^rd at Burghley. Vitali has six 5* top ten completions.

Falco is a 16-year-old German-bred Hannoverian gelding. Bred by Norbert Nowak he is by the Holstein jumper Cardenio out of a mare by Weinberg. He is owned by course designer and former British team and Badminton rider Sue Benson (2^nd in 1979) who sent Falco to Tim as novice. In 2021 Falco won the 5* at Pau and in 2024 was 2^nd at the Elkton 5* in Maryland.

Viscount Viktor is an 11-year-old German-bred Hannoverian gelding. He is by Viscount 22 out of Noble Beauty by the thoroughbred Nobre. She is also the dam of Very Special currently successfully competing with German rider Brandon Schafer-Gehrau. Viktor has been produced by Tim and at the age of 11 has completed three 5* events.