Ros Canter plans to compete three horses at Lincolnshire this week, marking her return after giving birth to her second child in January. The reigning Mars Badminton Horse Trials and Defender Burghley Horse Trials champion shared news of her daughter's safe delivery on 2 February.
Ros Canter announced her competitive return via a social media video on 4 March, showing her jumping top horse Lordships Graffalo over an oxer at home. In the caption, she wrote: “We are back! Let the road to Badminton commence…” This follows her victory at Burghley last September while pregnant with her daughter, born in January and delivery confirmed safe on 2 February. Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, owned by Michele and Archie Saul and nicknamed Walter at home, are entered for the open intermediate class at Lincolnshire on Friday, 20 March. She will also ride Broadstone Lion Man and Armscote Explorer in the open novice class there on Sunday. Organisers of the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby, scheduled for 3-5 April over Easter weekend, confirmed her entry with Lordships Graffalo. Ros Canter follows a familiar spring schedule used since 2022, when Walter advanced to five-star level. This typically includes one or two runs at open intermediate or advanced intermediate before the CCI4*-S at Thoresby as major preparation. At Lincolnshire, she aims for a steady cross-country run rather than a win, based on past patterns. At Thoresby, she has held back, with her best finish fourth in the CCI4*-S on Walter. The 14-year-old horse boasts a strong Badminton record: first place twice and second once in three starts, positioning him as a favourite again this year.
