Biography

British rider Will Furlong (23) made a successful four-star debut at Badminton last year completing with Collien P2 – his entry this year. Will who will be one of the youngest competitors celebrates his 24th birthday the week after Badminton

Will, the 2017 British Under-25 Champion, is based at Ingrams Eventing near the town of Battle in East Sussex. He started riding aged nine when his mother took him to the local riding school and started eventing with the East Sussex Pony Club. In 2008 he competed in his first affiliated event (aged 12) and in 2010 he was selected to represent the South East region at the Weston Park JRN. The following year he won the same competition (Pioneer Silvie) and in 2012 won the CCI1* at Weston Park with his new ride Livingstone. In 2013 he and Pioneer Silvie won individual bronze at the Junior European Championships in Jardy and the following year, on Livingstone, was the U21 National Champion. In 2015 he won team and individual gold at the Young Rider Europeans in Strzegom and in 2017 with Collien made his senior Nations Cup debut at Houghton (4^th & team 2^nd). After a successful 2017 – including winning the U25 championship at Bramham – Will was the winner of the British Eventing Britannia three-star league – awarded to a rider who has not represented GB at a senior championship.

Will trains with Marion Goggin and Christopher Bartle. As well as riding, during his time at school Will represented England at U16 hockey winning nine caps at youth level – he now plays for Tonbridge School Old Boys. He has completed the Brighton half-marathon on four occasions

Collien P2 (aka Tinks) is an 12-year-old German-bred Oldenburg mare. She is by Carentan (a son of the great Caretino) out of Compita by Carolus. Compita is also the dam of the winning three-star horse Chico Bella P ridden by Gemma Tattersall.   Collien P2 was produced in Germany to three-star level by Josephine Schnaufer and was acquired by Will in April 2016.