Mark Phillips
H&H eventing columnist
Captain Mark Phillips is one of the world’s leading cross-country course-designers and a former top event rider. He is Horse & Hound’s longest-standing columnist and has been writing for the magazine for more than 30 years.
Mark won Badminton four times (1971 and 1972 on Great Ovation, 1974 on Columbus and 1981 on Lincoln) and Burghley in 1973 on Maid Marion. He was a member of the British team which won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics, riding Great Ovation and of the silver medal-winning team at Seoul in 1988 with Cartier. He was also a European team gold medallist at Burghley in 1971 on Great Ovation. At World Championships, Mark collected team gold in 1970 in Punchestown riding Chicago and team silver in 1974 at Burghley riding Columbus.
As a course-designer, Mark is particularly associated with Burghley, where he has designed the track more than 20 times. His other prestigious course-design jobs include the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe, an event where he also holds the role of chairman, and Barbury. He designed the track for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA.
Mark is also a renowned coach and was trainer to the US event team for 20 years, standing down after the 2012 Olympics. He continues to train riders across the levels and Andrew Hoy credited him for his return to form as a cross-country rider after he finished fourth at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Mark was married to the Princess Royal and he has two children from this relationship, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, who has won world and European individual gold in eventing. His second wife was dressage rider Sandy Pfleuger and they have a daughter, Stephanie. Mark’s current partner is US showjumper Lauren Hough.
You can read Mark’s column in the magazine or H&H VIP members can view them online below. Find out how to join H&H VIP
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Mark Phillips on Maryland’s cross-country course: ‘We need to build in some leeway’
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Mark Phillips on frangible penalties: ‘Riders hate it – but it’s here to stay’
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Mark Phillips on Tokyo 2020: ‘An immense effort... and Dickie Waygood deserves a medal’
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Mark Phillips: ‘This is a long pre-Tokyo month’
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Mark Phillips: ‘Given the short notice preparation time, perhaps I’ve been unfair’ *H&H Plus*
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Mark Phillips: ‘Why couldn’t we crowdfund Burghley?’ *H&H Plus*
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Mark Phillips: ‘An unacceptable number of horse falls’ *H&H Plus*
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Mark Phillips: ‘Ridiculous? It’s really off the scale’ *H&H Plus*
Mark Phillips reviews the current global travel and competition challenges facing riders and their support teams
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Mark Phillips: Do we really need prize money? *H&H Plus*
H&H’s eventing columnist questions whether regular events need to offer cash rewards
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Mark Phillips: Please, take these rules seriously *H&H Plus*
People must abide by the regulations as sport restarts, says H&H’s eventing columnist
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Mark Phillips: It’ll be a new normal in every way *H&H Plus*
H&H’s eventing columnist on the need for a vaccine – and a lean, mean British Eventing
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Mark Phillips: When can we get back to normality? *H&H Plus*
H&H’s eventing columnist makes plans to alter cross-country courses later in the year
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Mark Phillips: What does the future hold? *H&H Plus*
Between coronavirus and the rain, H&H’s eventing columnist is less positive than usual
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Mark Phillips: The format’s impossible to follow *H&H subscribers*
H&H’s eventing columnist says the Olympic format is not the sport he knows and loves
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Mark Phillips: Burghley was a learning curve for all *H&H VIP*
H&H’s eventing columnist says he won’t make Burghley’s cross-country soft next year
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Mark Phillips: We Brits can’t afford such largesse *H&H VIP*
H&H’s eventing columnist on tight margins, whip use and retiring at the right time
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Mark Phillips: An unjust legacy and an insurance worry *H&H VIP*
H&H’s eventing columnist reflects on terrain — and retiring before you’re past it
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Mark Phillips: What motivates owners and riders? *H&H VIP*
H&H’s eventing columnist ponders on what draws entries and corner fences
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Mark Phillips: Staying ahead of the game *H&H VIP*
H&H’s eventing columnist reflects on the importance of variety in course-designing