Biography

It will be the second visit to Badminton for American rider Lillian Heard (37) and LCC Barnaby. The pair made its debut here last year but did not complete. They have previously completed Burghley (2018 & ’19), Lexington on four occasions and Elkton twice and has eight 5* completions together.

Lillian began riding aged 7 and grew up competing through the Pony Club attaining her B test. She then went to work for American event rider Jan Byyny and spent time teaching at Pony Club and summer camps. She was a member of the North American Young Riders Championship team, competing at CCI1* and winning a team silver. Lillian continued training with Jan through her college years – she graduated with a BA double major in politics and English from the University of Virginia. Lillian then moved to Windurra to work as a groom and rider for Boyd and Silva Martin and then spent eight months working for Carol Gee in Ireland during which time she competed to two-star and also bought Barnaby and Dasset Profile. She then returned home to Bascule Farm in Poolesville, Maryland before relocating to Windurra in May 2017 where she was based for five years.

Lillian is a USEA level III certified instructor. In June 2022 Lillian married Australian rider Ryan Wood and the pair runs a yard in Cochranville PA.

LCC Barnaby, owned by the rider, is a 17-year-old Irish-bred, Irish Sport Horse gelding. He is by Guy Cavalier (by Cavalier Royale) out of Lady Tanjour by the Dutch-bred Rafael – a son of Lux Z. He was acquired in Ireland as a six-year-old. He has completed Lexington four-star four times.