Biography

British Olympic rider Tom McEwen (33) last competed here in 2023 gaining his best Badminton result – 4^th Toledo De Kerser and eighth completion. The combination won individual silver and team gold at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The pair was also a member of the British team at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni (12^th) and the 2018 WEG in Tryon (team gold).

In 2024 with Badminton entry JL Dublin he was 2^nd in the 5* at Lexington (the pair was also 2^nd at the event in 20223) then won his second Olympic team gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

It will be a first Badminton for Brookfield Quality with who he was 3^rd at Pau.

Tom, who is based near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, is currently #1 in the FEI rider ranking (01/04/25).

He is a former U-25 national champion and has represented GB at Pony, Junior, Young Rider and senior level. In 2007 Tom was a member of the British Pony team winning team gold at the Pony European Championships with Dick Taytoe. In 2010 he was a member of the British Young Rider team that won team gold at the European Championships in Pardubice (14th – Major Sweep) and at the end of the 2010 season he was awarded the Edy Goldman Trophy, for the Under-21 rider with the most BE points, as well as the Horse Trials Support Group Young Rider Training Bursary.

In 2011 he won another Young Rider European team gold at the Championships at Blair Castle (4th – Private Rudolph). In the September of that year he made an impressive four-star debut at Burghley with Dry Old Party winning the best ‘first-timer’ award and at the end of the season retained the Edy Goldman trophy. In 2012 with Diesel Tom won the two-star at Houghton and in 2013 the pair won the U-25 Championships at Bramham. They were subsequently selected for the British Squad for the European Championships (Tom’s first senior championship) in Malmo but Diesel was eliminated at the first horse inspection.

In 2013 Tom made his Badminton debut with Dry Old Party. The pair finished in 19^th place and won the prizes for the ‘best placed British rider aged under-25’ and the ‘best newcomer’. The following year he was the youngest rider to have qualified two horses for Badminton (Dry Old Party and Diesel).

Tom comes from an equestrian family. His Mother Ali was a showjumper and Father Bobby, a senior veterinarian, is an associate at Rossdales in Lambourn and has worked at Badminton horse trials for over 30 years. His Uncle, John McEwen (MBE), also a senior veterinarian was Vice President of the F.E.I. for eight-years and is currently Chairman of F.E.I. Veterinary Committee. Tom’s sister, Ella also formerly competed and rode for the British Pony Team in 2007 and 2008.

Tom is married to Harriet and the couple has an eight month old son. Tom enjoys rugby and racing and golf.

JL Dublin is a 14-year-old German-bred Holstein registered gelding. He is by Diarado out a mare by Canto 16. He was formerly ridden to 5* by Nicola Wilson – the former team rider won individual and team gold at the 2021 European Championships with JL Dublin. Tom was given the ride mid -2022 after Nicola suffered a life-changing fall at that year’s Badminton.

Brookfield Quality is 16-Year-old Irish Sport Horse registered gelding. BY OBOS Quality out of mare by Cavalier Royale. He was originally produced by Kevin McNab and then ridden by Piggy March with who he was 5^th at Blenheim in 2021. Tom took over the ride in 2022.