Sarah Bullimore

Sarah Bullimore, born 18 May 1973, is an event rider who has represented Britain at European Championship and Nations Cup level.

Sarah Bullimore and Corouet take individual bronze at the European Eventing Championships 2021. Credit: Peter Nixon

What championships has Sarah ridden at?

Sarah made her senior championship debut as an individual at the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle Horse Trials in 2015, riding Lilly Corinne.

In 2021, she was selected for the European Eventing Championships in Avenches, Switzerland, riding Lilly Corinne’s son, Corouet (“known as Elfie”). He is her first offspring, born via embryo transfer.

The pair had a brilliant championship, coming home with individual bronze, Sarah’s first medal.

Corouet is only small – Sarah says he measured 15.2hh as a four-year-old and she hasn’t measured him since “because I’d have to admit how small he is”. But it’s never held him back.

“He thinks he’s 18.2hh and has a huge stride,” says Sarah. “You just have to remember before you leap off as if you’re on a big one and smack your feet on the floor!

“Elfie always had such presence – he was a confident, cocky little devil, very sure of himself. But all Lilly’s offspring have been lovely to back and break in. I think it helps they spend their early days in a field next to the school, so they watch and learn.

“At the time I was starting him, I was looking for other horses for owners too. I looked at hundreds and kept coming back and seeing him on the lunge or long-reining and thinking there was nothing out there even half as good as this. He might be a couple of inches smaller than most, but the quality has always been there.”

What are Sarah’s best five-star results?

Sarah’s best five-star result is second at Pau Horse Trials 2017 with Reve Du Rouet, the talented but quirky horse with whom she achieved numerous completions at the top level. The pair were also fourth at Burghley Horse Trials 2018 and 2019 and fifth at Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2019.

“He’s the weirdest horse, the most difficult one I’ve ever trained but I love him to bits,” said Sarah of Reve Du Rouet, known as “Blou”, in an interview in H&H in 2017.

“He’s unreal to jump a fence on, yet so frustrating you’ll tear your hair out. But there’s no point in getting cross because he’ll dig his toes in, cross his arms and say, ‘How long do you want to wait?’”

Sarah was also eighth at Luhmühlen 2019 on Conpierre, eighth at Pau 2015 and ninth at the same event in 2013 on Valentino V and sixth at Luhmühlen 2017 on Lilly Corinne.

Is Sarah Bullimore married?

Yes. Sarah’s husband Brett is very involved in her career and is the co-owner of many of the horses she rides.

Where is Sarah based?

Sarah’s yard is in North Bedfordshire, less than a mile from Keysoe Equestrian Centre. Her yard is a purpose-built facility which she designed with Brett in 2000.