14 Facts About Oliver Townend

Oliver David Townend was born on 15 November 1982 and is a British horseback rider.

Oliver Townend has represented Great Britain at the European Eventing Championships, winning the team gold medals in 2007,2009, and 2017.

Oliver Townend has won competing in events such as the Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials, and the Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Oliver Townend was the Event Rider Masters series champion in 2016 and has been ranked world number one in eventing twice, in 2009 and 2018.

Oliver Townend has been ranked number one British eventing rider on seven occasions since 2009.

Oliver Townend grew up in Scapegoat Hill, near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

Oliver Townend won the junior newcomers showjumping at the Horse of the Year Show with Cool Mule at age 11, rode in the pony European Eventing Championships at age 13, and left school at 16 to pursue a career in riding and selling horses.

Oliver Townend's father was an event rider and his mother was a side-saddle rider.

In 2010, Oliver Townend suffered a rotational fall at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day in Lexington, Kentucky, and was crushed by his horse.

Oliver Townend broke his collarbone, shoulder bones, sternum, and four ribs, but credited his airbag vest with minimizing his injuries.

Oliver Townend was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.

Oliver Townend has received several warnings for excessive whip use during competitions and for riding fatigued horses.

Oliver Townend received warnings for "abuse of the horse" in 2014, and for "abuse of the horse and wrong use of the whip" at Floors Castle in 2017.

Oliver Townend received further warnings for whip use at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials in 2018 and at an indoor horse trial competition in Stockholm in 2022, and was disciplined by the FEI for dangerous riding at Badminton in 2023.