Harry Meade
Harry Meade is a British event rider who is currently world number one and is renowned for his success at the five-star events. He has been placed in the top 10 at Badminton Horse Trials and Burghley Horse Trials many times and is the youngest rider to have been awarded the Armada Dish, for completing Badminton five times. His best known former horses include Wild Lone, Midnight Dazzler and Away Cruising, while his current top string includes Annaghmore Valoner, Grafennacht, Et Hop Du Matz, Cavalier Crystal and Superstition.
Harry made an incredible comeback at Badminton in 2014 after shattering both his elbows in a fall in 2013. He finished third on Wild Lone and the pair were called up from the reserve bench to make their senior squad debut at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France. After a clear jumping round across country as the anchor horse for the team, Wild Lone collapsed and died at the finish. The British went on to take the team silver medal.
In 2020, Harry had another serious accident when his foot caught in the stirrup when he fell across country while riding at Thoresby in October. He broke his right arm and suffered a head injury. Once again he made a brilliant comeback, finishing fifth at Kentucky Three-Day Event in April 2021 with Superstition, the horse he took over the ride on from Lucy Jackson at the end of 2019.
Harry Meade is the son of the late Richard Meade, who was the individual Olympic eventing champion at the 1972 Munich Games on Lauriston. He also won team gold that year and at the 1968 Mexico Games on Cornishman V. Richard died in January 2015.
Harry is married to Rosie (née Bradford) and the pair have two children, Lily and Charlie. He is based in Gloucestershire, very close to Badminton Horse Trials.
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Can history repeat itself? Ros Canter and Izilot DHI set to defend Luhmühlen CCI5* titleBy Becky Murray Published
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Harry Meade secures third at Badminton with special mare: ‘She jumped out of her skin’By Pippa Roome Published
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Rare fall for Harry Meade as Badminton cross-country concludes – but he holds podium position on another rideBy Pippa Roome Published
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‘There won’t be much time in between’: Harry Meade’s day riding three horses cross-country at Badminton Horse TrialsBy Pippa Roome Published
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‘Focus is a very different thing at the moment’: new mother Ros Canter blasts into Badminton dressage leadBy Pippa Roome Published
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‘It’s mean to make us jump that ditch five times!’ Gemma Stevens, Harry Meade and Bubby Upton react to Badminton cross-country courseBy Pippa Roome Published
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Harry Meade on dramatic Kentucky moment: ‘I saw the fishes and tried my hardest not to join them’By Pippa Roome Published
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‘He couldn’t have given me more’: Brit on Kentucky five-star podium after dressageBy Pippa Roome Published
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‘Intense mental effort’ pays off for Harry Meade and Superstition in Kentucky dressageBy Pippa Roome Published
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World number one Harry Meade named Badminton pathfinder – but on which of his three rides?By Lucy Elder Published
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Harry Meade confirms entries for Kentucky and Badminton five-starsBy Pippa Roome Published
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Who will be first to ride at Kentucky Three-Day Event and when will the Brits go?By Becky Murray Published
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Four British riders among ‘one of the highest-rated’ Kentucky five-star fields ‘on record’By Lucy Elder Published
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The highest-placed British horse, top grooms, and cake: check out who won the Burghley special prizesBy Becky Murray Published
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‘I still have three superstars’: Harry Meade finishes with three horses inside the top 10 at Burghley Horse Trials 2025By Gemma Redrup Published
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A big gangly horse, a computer simulation and a sensitive overachiever: Harry Meade reflects on three Burghley clearsBy Pippa Roome Published
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Harry Meade excels again on second horse, as Piggy March’s Burghley challenge ends on cross-countryBy Pippa Roome Published
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‘It’s a very clever track’: seven of the first 11 complete Burghley cross-country with the leaderboard undergoing an early shake-upBy Gemma Redrup Published
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Harry Meade explains pre-test vet check for blood at Burghley: ‘It’s right to check’By Pippa Roome Published