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“This year, I have had good horses and a really good team at home,” Great Britain’s Harry Charles – leading FEI U25 rider and current world number 13 – tells World of Showjumping as he reflects on the past year. 

“First of all, I would say one highlight was when Balou came to the stable,” the 24-year-old tells about getting the ride on Ann Thompson’s Balou du Reventon (Cornet Obolensky x Continue) in January 2023. “Getting to compete with him, that was one of the biggest highlights for me. What makes me smile the most was probably going to our second show in Bordeaux, placing fourth and securing the qualification for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Omaha with him. Also, we were clear in my first ever Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major – in the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. Then we went to Omaha where we ended in the top ten. Every show I did with him, he produced a really good result and looking back I am very proud of that.”

“Of course, winning the Nations Cup at Hickstead was another highlight,” Harry continues. “It was my first ever Nations Cup win and back then, we did not know where Hickstead’s future stood with the new League of Nations; we were not sure if that was our last Nations Cup on home soil. Therefore, we really wanted to win – for the home crowds, for the whole British Equestrian – so when it came off as it did, it was very special. It was nice to win my first at home.” 

The World Cup win with Sherlock was the cherry on the top for this year

In the beginning of December, Harry won the seventh leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League at A Coruña, Spain, with Sherlock (Bisquet Balou C x Malito de Reve) – a horse his father Peter bought as a 4-year-old. “The World Cup win with Sherlock was the cherry on the top for this year,” Harry smiles. “I have been second so many times in Grand Prix classes over the last two years and I was wondering whether it was going to happen, because we came so close so many times. This one was one that I did not expect, especially not with Sherlock. From he was a young horse, I always knew that he was a super star, but I didn’t expect it all to go so quick so that was a very special moment for me and probably my biggest personal highlight of the year.” 

“I have been lucky to have two good years on top level behind me now and I came into this year with more experience,” Harry reflects on the reasons behind his success in 2023. “Also, at the beginning of the year, I made the decision to not be a part of the Global Champions League. I was lucky with my ranking to be high enough to do the shows that I wanted to, and I think not having the pressure to go to shows where other people want you to go and use your horses to their benefit really gave me an advantage this year. I got to plan the year very transparently and from the start of the year, I selected all my shows and knew I could get into them, without having pressure of jumping classes I didn’t want to jump.”

“And, most importantly, thanks to my great owners Ann Thompson and Stall Zet, I have had exceptional horses,” Harry highlights. “We have been really lucky, and with Sherlock coming through the ranks this year we have one more horse to add to the string. Hopefully next year there is another one coming through to top level as we have a promising eight-year-old turning nine.” 

We are all very proud of what we have achieved

In addition to his good horses, Harry has also been lucky to have a really good team at home, which he points out as another secret to his success. “I have a great rider at home, Rachel Steffen, and of course my sisters Scarlett and Sienna. I can go away to the shows and know my horses have very talented riders on them who know them well. I can come back on Monday and find them exactly as I left them on Thursday; that makes a huge difference. It is a huge advantage having my sisters and Rachel at home, and my groom Georgia has been absolutely amazing all year. I think we are all enjoying the moment right now, which helps a lot; we are all very proud of what we have achieved.” 

“When it comes out January next month, I have been two years on the top undisturbed,” Harry says about his steady position as the leader of the FEI U25 ranking. 

While it is a position that might be nice to look at, it ultimately gives nothing back – unlike the Longines Ranking which is closely tied to the FEI invitation system. “It would be nice – not just for me – to have something in the invitation system to help get the U25 riders selected as well,” Harry points out.

For any other U25 rider, making this ranking count more for the invitation system would give them more incentive

“I am lucky to be high on the Longines Ranking as well, so I can get into most shows, but for any other U25 rider, making this ranking count more for the invitation system would give them more incentive. At the moment, there is no actual benefit from being number one on the U25 ranking. As an example, including one rider from the U25 ranking for each five-star show would create a huge opportunity for the young, up-and-coming riders. It is hard enough for young riders to get into shows, and the current discussion about reducing ranking points in Nations Cups is a little bit worrying as a young rider, since for us, basically the only way up – without paying – is through the Nations Cups where the selection is solely on the national federations. We should not only think about the top 50 when discussing the concept of the world ranking; there are thousands of riders on the ranking, many of them talented and capable enough who simply don’t get an opportunity.”

“For next year, there is really only one main goal and I think it is the same for every top rider; the Olympic Games in Paris,” Harry says about the new year ahead. “It is important for me to make a plan for that and everything we do will be building up towards Paris. I am fortunate to have a few horses to maybe select from. We are going to sit down after Christmas – me and my dad and my owners – and make a plan for the horses we think could do it and work backwards from there.”

Everything we do will be building up towards Paris

“I am going to start off the year with Sherlock, I want to give him more experience in the World Cups, because I would want him for the finals,” Harry tells. “It is nice to be qualified early enough, so I can relax a bit and make a good plan for him. Even though he won in A Coruña, he is still very green and I felt in some places how he lacked experience. I would want to do two more rounds with him indoors and hopefully have him ready for April. That is my first main goal of the year.”

“Hopefully I can do the Nations Cup in Ocala with the new League of Nations and see what that is all about, and then do a few weeks of Wellington on each side of it. I have always wanted to compete in America, but it is very expensive. However, with the Nations Cup, I will try to do that. When the summer comes around, Paris will be the full focus,” Harry closes off. 

28.12.2023 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.