Tom McEwen is a British event rider who was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 World Championships, won team gold and individual silver at the Tokyo Olympics with Toledo De Kerser and claimed team gold at the Paris Olympics on JL Dublin.
Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser at Keysoe in July 2021.
Tom was born on 10 May 1991. He is from a horsey family – his mother Ali showjumped and his father Bobby is a vet. His sister Ella rode on the British pony team in 2007 and 2008.
He was a successful rider in under-21 ranks. He won pony team gold in 2007 on Dick Taytoe and two young rider team golds in 2010 on Major Sweep and 2011 on Private Rudolf.
Tom has also twice won the under-25 championships at Bramham, in 2013 on Diesel and in 2016 on Toledo De Kerser.
Yes, Tom claimed his first five-star victory in 2019 at Pau Horse Trials, riding Toledo De Kerser.
In an interview in 2021, Tom said: “Toledo’s unbelievably sharp, but he’s gone from being a complete weirdo to this amazing horse.
“You can’t jump him at home – if you try he’ll bolt blind, or refuse to come in a second time or he’ll be like a crouching tiger and press himself to the floor, then go flat out. He’s never done a grid or polework.
“Toledo’s always loved hacking, cross-country and going to events; he’s a born competition horse. He’s learnt to trust me, because I’m the one sat on his back for events – the part he loves – so he let me in. He’s a real show-off and loves an atmosphere; his preference is a big event with more people and fewer horses.
“I always thought he’d be a star. He’s only 48% thoroughbred and people questioned whether such a good jumper would have enough stamina, but I always believed in him because he has so much willingness.”
Tom has four senior championship medals.
His first senior championship medal was team gold from the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, where he rode Toledo De Kerser.
Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser at WEG 2018.
Three years later, he and Toledo took team gold and individual silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In 2024, Tom rode JL Dublin at the Paris Olympics and contributed to the British team gold, finishing fourth individually.
Tom was selected to make his championship debut at the 2013 European Championships in Malmö, but Diesel failed the first trot-up with a sore back.
Tom was also selected for the 2019 European Championships in Luhmühlen, but had to withdraw from the squad when Toledo suffered “a minor incident during routine work at home”.
Tom and Toledo were also on the British team at the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, where they finished 12th individually.
In 2023, Tom rode as an individual on the British squad at the European Championships in Haras du Pin, France. He made a strong start with third after dressage on JL Dublin, but fell off across country.
Tom married Harriet (née Fettes) in the autumn on 2023. In July 2024, the couple confirmed that Harriet is pregnant and expecting a baby in November.
Tom is based on the Princess Royal’s Gatcombe estate. He moved there in April 2016, having previously been based at Mark Todd’s yard at Badgerstown.
The event rider does share his name with an American drag racer who died in June 2018.
Read our full analysis of how riders tackled Pierre Michelet’s course, plus find out why it was a relief for leader Laura Collett that London 52 went so well today…
Find out the secret behind training the leading horse, who scored 10s and which up-and-coming British star has been training with Carl Hester…
It’s time for the big reveal of the entries for Pau 2020 – the only five-star of the year in eventing – and the field is as high class as expected
Jumping phases play into the hands of Georgie Spence at this “stunning” event
This year’s Nations Cup series, which had been due to begin in April but was postponed owing to the pandemic, will run with a reduced calendar of four legs instead of six
Many of the world’s best riders in all disciplines cut their teeth at the Pony Club Championships. Catherine Austen discovers some of their memories and the lessons they learnt
Five-star winners and leading names in the sport are among the early entries as eventing prepares to return at Barbury, Tweseldown and Aske
The British rider performed some impressive quick thinking to undo his martingale attachment and carry it round the course after it came free of the breastplate
Last weekend, British event rider Tom McEwen added a five-star victory at Pau Horse Trials (23-27 October) to his already impressive eventing CV. Here’s a few things you might not have known about one of the stars of the eventing world...
It was a sunny finale to the eventing season at Pau in the south of France. We check out autumn colours, beautiful horses and high emotion
‘I know everyone says their horses deserve a win, but he really does. I’m super-lucky to have him – he’s a mega horse.’
There was drama at the final horse inspection at the French showcase event as the leading British rider was asked to re-present
The British rider’s strong round leaves him in a commanding position ahead of tomorrow’s showjumping at the premier French event
One of Britain’s top event riders is in the lead at the conclusion of the final phase at the final CCI5* of the European season
Find out how the tight optimum time affected the final leaderboard
Two former winners of this class hold the joint lead going into the final cross-country phase tomorrow
A reserve has been called into the British squad for this week's eventing European Championships because one of the horses has been injured at home
There was a sense of déjà vu at the Festival of British Eventing today as two riders who won last year repeated their success
The showjumping proved influential on the final day of this German five-star
