Lucienne Bellissimo begins the 2026 season with a new flag beside her name, now officially representing the United States.

It is a change that reflects where life and sport have taken her. From riding ponies in the New Forest to building businesses, surviving serious injuries, and returning to the top level of eventing, Lucienne's journey has been anything but straightforward.

In this episode she reflects on the resilience behind that journey, the decision to build her life in the US, and the horses she believes could carry her towards five-star success.

Highlights

• Lucienne Bellissimo's move to represent the United States in 2026
• Growing up in the New Forest and finding her path into eventing
• Launching the Horse Scout platform and balancing business with riding
• Recovering from multiple serious injuries and returning to competition
• The US eventing landscape and the impact of the US Equestrian Open
• Five-star ambitions and the horses leading her 2026 season

Guest

• Lucienne Bellissimo – International event rider now competing for the United States.

The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park brings together one of the strongest early-season fields, with Badminton entries, returning champions, and a mix of horses at very different stages of their spring campaigns.

This episode previews the Grantham Cup and the wider four-star divisions, looking at who could win, who's likely using it as a prep run, and which combinations are starting to show form ahead of the five-stars. From established names to rising talent, it's a first proper look at how the season is shaping up.

Highlights

• Grantham Cup contenders and podium predictions
• Who's running to win vs. who's prepping for five-star
• Key horses to watch ahead of Badminton and Kentucky
• Standout names across both four-star divisions

Guests

• Nicole Brown – Host and analyst
• Spike Milligan – FEI team vet with decades of championship experience
• Catherine Austen – Eventing journalist

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:

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Buying a horse is one of the hardest things to get right in this sport.

Not because there aren't options, but because the right ones aren't always visible. The best horses are often off-market, spread across global networks, and difficult to compare without real context.

This episode breaks down how the EquiRatings Horse Sourcing process actually works, building a global pool of horses, filtering that pool using performance data, and narrowing it down through experience, insight, and real conversations with riders and owners. From first search to final shortlist, it's about giving buyers a clearer view of the market and the confidence to make the right call.

Highlights

• Why the best horses are often not publicly available
• How EquiRatings builds and filters a global pool of horses
• The role of data alongside rider feel and experience
• How shortlists are created and decisions are made
• The difference between the Complete and Light search models
• How the portal gives buyers a live view of the market

Guests

• Sam Watson – Irish international event rider and co-founder of EquiRatings
• Samantha Lissington – Horse Sourcing Analyst: Evaluates talent and potential in horses, helping buyers understand value and opportunity. Combines real-world experience with a data-informed perspective.
• Rozzie Bainbridge – Horse Sourcing Client Communications: Supports communication across the EquiRatings horse sourcing service. Ensures clients feel informed, understood, and connected through every step of the journey.

📩 Contact Rozzie Bainbridge (Horse Sourcing Enquiries)
Email: rozzie@equiratings.com

🌐 EquiRatings Horse Sourcing
Learn more about the process, services, and current offerings:
https://www.equiratings.com

📊 Free Horse Performance Metrics Screenshot
Get in touch with Rozzie to share your horse's status (for sale, not for sale, or future plans) and receive a personalised EquiRatings performance metrics snapshot

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.