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 Meade and Grafennacht at Kentucky 2025. Credit: Amy Dragoo

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.