Biography

British rider Louise Harwood (48) last competed here in 2019 gaining her seventh completion of the event. It will be a first Badminton for Native Spirit. Last year the combination completed Bramham and Blenheim and contested Burghley but did not finish.

Louise is based near Eardisley in Herefordshire. She began eventing with the Radnor and West Hereford Pony Club also taking part in other equestrian competitions including mounted games, show jumping and dressage. Aged 16 she first competed in affiliated competition and was a member of the Welsh JRN team. Louise gained a BSc in biology from Cardiff University followed by a PGDip in Applied Equine Science at the Royal Agricultural College and worked part-time in marketing before turning to a career in horses.

In 2003 Louise won the Welsh Championships and in 2006 competed at her first four-star completing with a double-clear at Burghley on the homebred Bit of a Barney. She competed and completed her first Badminton in 2007 with Partly Pickled – the full brother to Bit of a Barney – winning the award for ‘best first-timer’. After a good season in 2014 she was short-listed for the British squad for the WEG in France and gained 12^th place at Burghley with Mr Potts. Her ride Whitson was BE’s top horse of 2014. She has seven previous Badminton completions.

She also impressed on the racecourse in March 2019 winning the 12 horse St Michael’s Charity Flat race at Hereford on St Gallen from Olly Murphy Racing and helping raise £30,000 for St Michael’s Hospice.

Louise who is married to Greg Harwood, is an instructor (BHSII) and an accredited BE coach. She is also a trained gym instructor and runs her own classes in stability core ball for riders. She and her husband are currently building their own house. Louise trains with Adam Kemp and Jon Hansen.

Native Spirit (formerly Tullyvin Tabra) is a 15-year-old Irish Sport horse registered gelding. Bred by David Pickens in Co Cavan, he is by Corragary Cruising Porsch out of a mare of unrecorded breeding. He was acquired by Louise in 2020 from former British team rider James Robinson who produced the horse and with who he was 4^th in the 4*L at Ballindenisk.