Biography

It will be the sixth visit to Badminton for British rider Tom Jackson (31) who is based near Godalming in Surrey. Tom has four previous Badminton completions and gained his best result to date last year taking 5^th place with Capels Hollow Drift – his entry this year also. Last year the pair was a member of the British squad at the European championship in France. The pair was also second at Burghley in 2022 a first time at the event for horse and rider and a career best. He has a second Badminton entry this year, Farndon, with who he completed Luhmuhlen and Pau 5* events in 2023 finishing in 6^th place at Luhmuhlen.

Tom, who is a former British Junior and Young Rider team member and medallist is currently #17 in the FEI rider ranking.

Tom, originally from Maidstone, grew up surrounded by horses. He was an active member of the Ashford Valley Pony Club and during his teens combined eventing with hunting. In 2010 with Waltham Fiddlers Find, Tom won the one-star at Weston Park and the following year was a member of the gold medal team at the Junior European Championships. After completing GCSEs, with a sports scholarship at Bethany School, Tom spent two years working for event rider Sacha Pemble and a further year with Dassett Eventing. In 2013 he set up his own yard in Kent and that year with Waltham Fiddlers Find won team silver in the Young Rider Europeans. The pair won the 2014 Under-25 championship at Bramham and was again a member of the British Young Rider team winning team bronze (7^th individual). They were selected for the Senior Europeans at Blair Castle but were withdrawn due to injury. He completed his first four-star at Badminton in 2017 and gained a second completion in 2019.  He was unlucky to gain another Badminton completion in 2018 when parting company from Waltham Fiddlers Find in the showjumping. Later that year with Capels Hollow Drift he won a silver medal in the 2018 World seven-year-old Young Horse Championships at Le Lions

In 2019 he relocated to his present base near Godalming with partner Sabrina who runs the yard. The pair was married in November 2022 and has a 6-month old daughter.

Tom’s mother used to ride in dressage and his father is a farrier – Tom’s two sisters also event on an amateur basis. He enjoys playing golf. Tom trains with Pippa Funnell.

Farndon is a 14-year-old KWPN registered gelding. He is by Hemmingway out of a mare by Marlon. He was initially produced to 2*by Marcus Roberts and then Francis Whittington had the ride taking him to 4*S. Tom acquired the ride in 2021. In 2023 he won the 4*S at Little Downham and competed in and completed his first  5* events.

Capels Hollow Drift is a 13-year-old Irish-bred Irish Sport Horse. Bred by Jeanette Glynn he is by Shannondale Sarco out of Lucky Crest by the thoroughbred Lucky Gift – she is also the dam of 3* horses With Love (Frankie Reid Warrilow) and Triple Point (Sharon Reilly IRL). He was acquired by his owners as a foal from the breeder and has been ridden by Tom since a 7-year-old. The pair finished their first season together winning the silver medal in the World 7-year-old championship at Le Lions. Capels Hollow Drift completed his first 5* at Badminton last year (16^th) and was 2^nd at Burghley.