My Journey!

Owen Davies-Brown — My Eventing Journey

I’m Owen Davies‑Brown, an 18‑year‑old event rider based in the Cotswolds. Horses and eventing have become a huge part of my life, and I’ve always loved the challenge of developing a true partnership with each horse I ride. Eventing is the perfect sport for me because it brings together three very different disciplines — dressage, show jumping and cross‑country — each demanding precision, trust and commitment.

Training & Professional Foundations

My grounding in eventing began at Greenhill Equestrian, where I worked, trained and was based. Greenhill gave me a strong foundation in horsemanship, discipline and correct production of horses — values that have shaped the way I ride today.

I later moved to Tom Rowlands, who himself trained at Greenhill and shares the same high standards and philosophy. I am currently based with Tom, where I work, train and continue developing as a rider. Being part of Tom’s yard has allowed me to gain experience within a professional eventing environment, ride a variety of horses and learn from someone who has followed the same pathway I began at Greenhill. This progression has been a key part of my development and has helped me build the skills and mindset needed to move up the levels.

Key Horses in My Journey

One of the horses who played an important role in my early development was Balu Gidran 40. I competed Balu at 90cm & 100cm level, including at the Cotswold Cup Final at Cirencester Park in 2024. Riding him gave me valuable competition experience and helped build my confidence as I worked towards the higher levels.

More recently, I have been competing Belline Ames to Please, another significant horse in my progression. Together we have been working towards Novice level, gaining experience at each event and continuing to develop our partnership. Every competition has been an opportunity to learn, improve and take another step towards my long‑term goals.

Why I Love Eventing

The cross‑country phase is where I feel most at home. There is something unique about leaving the start box, building a rhythm and making decisions in partnership with your horse. But I also know that successful eventing is about much more than cross‑country. It requires producing a consistent dressage test, jumping accurately in the show jumping and having the preparation, fitness and confidence to tackle the cross‑country course.

Eventing has taught me patience, responsibility and resilience. Horses have good days and difficult days, and every round — whether successful or challenging — teaches me something I can take forward.

Looking Ahead

At 18, I know I am still at the beginning of my eventing career. I have a huge amount to learn, but that is one of the things I love most about the sport. Every horse teaches me something new, every competition gives me another experience and every season brings new goals.

My ultimate long‑term ambition is to compete at 5★ level by the age of 25. I know this is a big goal, and there is a lot of work between where I am now and where I want to be. My plan is to take each stage steadily, develop myself as a rider, produce my horses correctly and gain the experience needed to compete successfully at the highest level.

I don’t want to rush the journey. I want to build strong foundations, make sure my horses are ready for each step and progress in a way that sets us up for long‑term success. Reaching 5★ would be an incredible achievement, but the journey — the training, the setbacks, the successes and the partnerships — is just as important to me.

Eventing is about more than results. It’s about the horses, the people who support me, the lessons learned along the way and the constant challenge of becoming a better rider. I’m determined to keep working, keep learning and see just how far I can take my eventing career.

The goal is 5★ by 25 — and I’m ready to work for it.