Badminton is around the corner, and for Joseph Murphy, it feels personal.

Nicole Brown sits down with one of Ireland's most experienced championship riders to talk about Belline Fighting Spirit, going back to Badminton with unfinished business, and the mindset shifts that have shaped the last few years of his career. From rider mistakes and hard lessons, to equalling his best ever five-star dressage score at Burghley, Joseph opens up about what it really takes to keep evolving at the top of the sport.

The conversation goes far beyond one horse or one event. Joseph reflects on missing championships, losing confidence, rebuilding his system, and why sometimes the next day really can change everything. From hunting fields and point-to-points, to building businesses outside the sport, this is an honest conversation about longevity, resilience, and staying hungry at the top level.

• Going back to Badminton with Belline Fighting Spirit and unfinished business
• The rider mistake that still stays with him from last year
• How small changes led to a Burghley dressage breakthrough
• Missing championships, losing confidence, and finding a way through
• Why hunting and racing still shape his cross-country riding
• Building a business, a team, and a life beyond the sport

• Joseph Murphy — Irish Olympian, championship rider, and one of Ireland's most experienced five-star competitors

Sponsors:

Connolly's Red Mills are offering 15% off Foran Equine products to Eventing Podcast listeners! Use the code EquiRatingsPodcast15 to receive your discount. View the full collection here.

Note this does not apply to the already discounted Pre-Fuel & Refuel combo packs.

If you have any other questions regarding feeding click here to ask the Connolly's RED MILLS experts.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The Inside Burghley series returns for 2026, and this first episode goes behind the scenes at one of the sport's most iconic events.

Nicole Brown heads to Burghley HQ in Stamford to sit down with Event Director Martyn Johnson and get a look at what it really takes to build a five-star. From the day after one event finishes to planning years ahead, this is a full-time operation, shaped by feedback, detail, and constant evolution.

They talk through what's been happening over the winter, how the team balances tradition with change, and what's new for 2026, including a significant shift to the showground layout designed to bring the event closer together while protecting the parkland that makes Burghley so special.

There's also a look at how the event continues to evolve for fans, from the on-site experience and Burghley TV, to masterclasses, hospitality, and ways to make more of the week.

• Inside Burghley HQ and what happens year-round behind the scenes
• Customer experience, feedback, and how the event continues to evolve
• Major 2026 site changes and what they mean for the showground
• Balancing tradition with future-proofing the event
• Masterclasses, fan experience, and new ideas in the works
• What the next few months look like in the build-up to September

• Martyn Johnson — Event Director, Defender Burghley Horse Trials

🎥 Watch every moment on Burghley TV: exclusive live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes access all week.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

There is nothing quite like the Monday morning after a five-star, and this one had plenty to talk about.

Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne and Annie Bishop, fresh from Kentucky, to bring the raw reaction to a weekend that felt special from start to finish. From a dressage leaderboard packed tighter than usual, to a cross-country day that looked one way early and then quickly showed its teeth, this was a five-star that kept unfolding.

At the centre of it all, Will Coleman and Diabolo. A first five-star win, delivered across all three phases, and a performance that answered the biggest question mark coming into the week. Around them, the story kept shifting, big names in the mix, time penalties creeping in, and opportunities taken and missed.

They break down how it played out, the moments that mattered, and why this Kentucky felt like more than just another result.

• Will Coleman and Diabolo deliver a first five-star win
• A dressage phase that kept the field tightly packed
• Cross-country day, how it unfolded and where it changed
• Harry Meade and the reminder of how tough five-star time really is
• Standout performances from Galileo Nieuwmoed, HSH Blake, and more
• The atmosphere, emotion, and energy across the week

• Diarmuid Byrne — EquiRatings Founder and Executive Director
• Annie Bishop — US eventing analyst and regular contributor

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Diarmuid Byrne, Annie Bishop, and Spike the Vet live on Friday night, as dressage wraps up and the leaderboard looks wide open going into cross-country day. With no dominant force in the field, up to 12 combinations could still win - from the leading Kiwis to Tom McEwen and the strength in depth just behind.

They break down a more intense cross-country track, a tighter time, and why the winning score could land around 30 - setting up a Sunday where everything could change.

Check out the Defender Kentucky Fan Guide: https://equiratings.info/kentucky5l2026

Highlights

• Friday Night Lights: live from Kentucky
• Why this is one of the most open five-stars in years
• Up to 12 contenders heading into cross-country
• The Kiwi leaders — and the pressure to finish
• Cross-country demands and time pressure
• Why Sunday could see a major shake-up

Guests
Diarmuid Byrne, Annie Bishop, Spike the Vet

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Defender Kentucky might be one of the most iconic stops in the sport, but this year's five-star feels wide open.

Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne and Annie Bishop, with Spike the Vet calling in from Heathrow on his way to Kentucky, to preview a field with only one previous winner, leaving the door open for there for someone new to step up. From Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality at the top of the market, to Boyd Martin and Commando 3 leading the US charge, to Will Coleman's Diabolo bringing one of the most exciting profiles in the field, this is a line-up full of depth and questions.

There's also a cameo from British Eventing Performance Manager Dickie Waygood, adding to the build-up as the team heads out, and giving a snapshot of just how much this week matters.

They look at how Kentucky might play out across all three phases, from the demands of Derek di Grazia's cross-country track to the influence of show jumping on the final day, and where this year's result could be decided.

• Spike the Vet calls in from Heathrow as the team travels out
• A cameo from Dickie Waygood in the Kentucky build-up
• Why this year's Kentucky feels more open than recent renewals
• Tom McEwen, Boyd Martin, and Will Coleman, the key contenders
• Cross-country demands, time, and how the track might ride
• Show jumping trends and what it could take to win

• Diarmuid Byrne — EquiRatings Founder and Executive Director
• Annie Bishop — US eventing analyst and regular contributor
• Spike the Vet — FEI team vet with decades of championship experience
• Dickie Waygood — British Eventing Performance Manager

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Eventing Manager meets Kentucky… and yes, you will change your team at least three times.

This one kicks off with a live call to Will Coleman, straight from the build-up, giving a quick insight into Diabolo ahead of his five-star debut, before things quickly spiral into team picks, swaps, and second guesses.

From squeezing big names into the budget to convincing yourself your value pick is about to have the week of its life, this is exactly what playing Eventing Manager looks like at a five-star.

You'll have a plan. You'll ignore it. You'll build a new one. And then you'll watch it all play out.

Set your team. Regret nothing. Play now at manager.equiratings.com

Kentucky week is here, and this Inside Kentucky show brings you straight into the final stages of preparation.

Nicole Brown is joined by world number one Harry Meade and world number two Boyd Martin, two of the leading contenders heading into this year's five-star. With multiple horses between them, the conversation goes inside the decisions, the systems, and the reality of getting to the start line.

From differing preparation strategies to managing pressure, building confidence, and delivering when it matters, this is a look at five-star eventing from the very top.

Plus, they look ahead to Kentucky itself, the challenge of Derek di Grazia's cross-country track, and what it really takes to produce a performance across all three phases.

• Harry Meade and Boyd Martin on their Kentucky contenders and final preparations
• Different approaches to five-star prep, from minimal runs to traditional build-ups
• Managing pressure, expectations, and delivering on the biggest stage
• Cross-country insight, Derek di Grazia's design, and making the time
• The balance between individual goals and championship ambitions
• Why performance, not position, is the real focus at five-star level

• Harry Meade — British five-star event rider and current world number one.
• Boyd Martin — American Olympian and five-star event rider, currently ranked world number two.

EquiRatings Eventing Podcast
Follow the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast for more data-led insight, top-tier guests, and everything you need to keep up with the 2026 season on Instagram and Facebook.

Badminton is getting close, and on this week's British Eventing Showin partnership with Zebra Products, the focus turns to preparation.

Nicole Brown is joined by Simon Grieve and Megan Elphick for a look at what the final weeks really involve, from five-star systems to grassroots goals, and everything in between.

Simon heads back to Badminton with Autograph, four completions behind him and a completely different mindset to previous years. Megan returns with two rides at the grassroots, balancing the pressure of riding for an owner with a new level of confidence in her own system.

From stable yard routines to course walks, mindset work to managing nerves, this episode looks at the details that shape Badminton week, and what it actually takes to be ready.

Plus, Simon shares his top tips for grassroots riders, while Meg highlights how to make the most of the Badminton experience as a visitor.

• Simon Grieve's Badminton return and the system behind his preparation
• Megan Elphick's two rides and a new approach to pressure and confidence
• What Badminton week really looks like, from arrival to cross country day
• Mindset, nerves, and the work behind building confidence
• Course walks, alternatives, and the importance of having a plan
• Top tips for grassroots riders and first-time Badminton visitors

• Simon Grieve — British five-star event rider and co-host of the Shut Up and Ride podcast.
• Megan Elphick — Event rider and content creator documenting her journey through the sport, from grassroots to Badminton.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Zebra Products. Zebra Products are proud to distribute some of the world's leading equestrian brands across the UK, partnering with companies that prioritise performance, innovation and horse welfare. Their portfolio includes premium saddle makers Amerigo and Equipe, anatomical bridle specialists Menetics, bit experts Nathe and Sprenger, performance apparel brands EGO7, Cavalleria Toscana and RG, alongside trusted names in protection, nutrition and care including Veredus, Cavalor, Bucas, Mattes and Uvex, supporting horse and rider at every level of the sport.

Find out more at: www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Learn more about the Veredus E-VENTO cross-country boots, designed for lightweight protection and ventilation:
https://www.veredus.com/jumping-eventing?lang=en_US

Explore the Sprenger equestrian range, known for innovative bit design and precision engineering:
https://www.sprenger.de/en/collections/equestrian

Inspired to get more involved? Find out how you can support training, education and the eventing community:
👉 British Eventing Training Foundation
👉 Volunteer with British Eventing

Follow @britisheventing on Instagram to stay up to date with all the action.