Biography

It will be the fourth visit to Badminton for British rider Wills Oakden (35) who made a successful debut here in 2019 (25^th Cooley Ramiro) and last year completed with Arklow Puissance (12^th). Whilst this year’s Badminton entry A Class Cooley did not finish, he went on to complete Burghley (17^th).  In 2023 A Class Cooley was the winner of the 4*L at Blair Castle, a venue that proves to be particularly successful for Wills – last year he won two classes there.

Wills is based north of the border in Fife where with his wife Stephanie he runs a competition and training yard – the couple has a four-year-old daughter.

Wills is a former British Young Rider team medallist – he won team gold in 2011 at Blair Castle (Button Clover). He worked for Ian Stark for two and half years before setting up his own yard. In 2015 with the mare Greystones Midnight Melody he rode as an individual at the 2015 Senior Europeans also at Blair Castle. In 2016 he made his Nations Cup debut at Ballindenisk in 2016 (15^th Merikano). In 2018 with former Badminton ride Cooley Ramiro Wills led the British Nations Cup team to silver at Strzegom where the pair was third individually. In 2022 with Oughterard Cooley he was 13^th at Burghley – his first visit to the event and a month later completed a double clear at the World Young Horse seven-year-old championships in Le Lions (11^th Keep It Cooley).

Will enjoys golf and is a keen pickleball player. His father, James Oakden and Aunt Frances Hay Smith have both completed Badminton.

A Class Cooley (aka Felix) is a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse registered gelding. Bred by Norman Watt he is by Heritage Fortunus out of a mare by Clover Echo. He was acquired from Cooley Farm. He is owned by loyal supporters Auntie Frances and Bridget Mazdon. In 2023 he was the winner of the 4*L at Blair Castle and contested his first 5* at Pau but did not finish. In 2024 he completed Burghley (17^th).