Biography

British rider Willa Newton (29) who is based near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire made her Badminton debut in 2017. She will be hoping to complete this time with Chance Remark with who she was eighth at Burghley and fifth at Luhmuhlen last year. In 2017 she was long-listed for the 2017 British team for the European Championships (Caja 20).

Willa comes from an equestrian family; her sister Chloe has previously competed at Badminton and Burghley, her father was a successful jockey and her mother rode point-to-pointing and competed in eventing. Willa contested her first four star with Neelix with who she previously enjoyed success at four consecutive Junior and Young Rider European championships winning Junior team gold in 2008 and Young Rider European team gold and individual silver in 2011. With Newmarket Vasco One, formerly ridden by her sister, she was 13^th at the 2015 Luhmuhlen four-star. In 2016 with Caja 20 Willa won the 8/9 year-old CIC3* at Blenheim and two weeks later with Lauries Laudatio the seven-year-old Young Horse championship two-star at Osberton – in 2015 she also won this class with Caja.

Willa has a degree in business management from Leeds University. She enjoys winter hunting with the Belvoir, sliing, running and swimming. Willa has spent time overseas training with German team riders Dirk Schrade and Bettina Hoy.

Chance Remark is a 17-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. Bred by Kevin Fawl he is by the thoroughbred Actinium out of a mare by Farney Clover. He was bought out of Ireland as a four-year-old and Willa acquired the ride in 2013 when one of his owners moved to the next door village and was looking for someone to campaign the horse. He was formerly ridden by his owner and Rebecca Crosbie Starling with who he completed Bramham CCIU253*. Willa describes him as; ‘an amazing horse with a huge heart whom I owe so much to and am very lucky and grateful to be able to ride him’.