Biography

British rider Zara Tindall (42) who is based in Gloucestershire, last competed at Badminton in 2016 finishing 23^rd with High Kingdom. In 2023 with Class Affair she completed Lexington 5* (15^th) and the pair has previously completed Elkton.

Aged just 22-years-old Zara, a former Under-25 National Champion (2002), made her mark at senior level in 2003 when coming second at Burghley on her four-star debut (Toytown). Following that performance Zara, the daughter of The Princess Royal – a former European Champion in the sport and Captain Mark Phillips a former Olympic rider and Badminton winner – was long-listed for the Olympic Games in Athens.  She was unable to compete due to injury to Toytown. The following year (2005) the combination was second at Luhmuhlen 4* and selected for the European Championships at Blenheim where Zara made her senior team debut. She subsequently won team and individual gold emulating the success of her mother (European Champion 1971). The following year (2006) Zara and Toytown won the World Championship title at Aachen and added team silver to their medal haul. In 2006 she was awarded an MBE and was BBC Sport Personality of the Year.

She sprang back to the top of international eventing with an impressive performance at Burghley in 2011 (10th) with High Kingdom and subsequently was a member of the British teams that won silver at the 2014 WEG and the 2012 London Olympic Games where she was 8th (High Kingdom) individually.

In 2011 she married International Rugby player Mike Tindall in Edinburgh – Mike acquired 75 caps playing for England. The couple has three children, two daughters 9 & 4, and a two-year-old son.

Class Affair owned by Gleadhill House Stud is 14 year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. Bred by Maurice O’Brien he is by OBOS Quality out of a mare by Laughtons Flight. He was produced to CIC3* level in Ireland by Maria Byrne and acquired by the late Trevor Hemmings as a 7-year-old. Zara gained the ride at the end of 2016. In 2018 the pair was 10^th in the 8/9year-old CIC3* at Blenheim and in 2021 they completed the new 5* at Elkton in Maryland. He is described by Zara as ‘tricky in his brain but really talented and a good jumper’.