Boyd Exell and his team on the way to victory in London. Image: Boots & Hooves Photography.

Boyd Exell off to a flying start at London International Horse Show

By Equestrian Life

On Thursday afternoon, the International Arena at the London International Horse Show saw action from the first driving class of the show, the Extreme Driving.

Australian Boyd Exell got off to a flying start, claiming victory in the class with a double clear and the fastest time in the drive-off. He and his team finished on a score of 138.09, ahead of the Netherlands’ Koos de Ronde in second on 145.35, and fellow Dutch driver Ijsbrand Chardon in third with 167.5.

Boyd’s team included horses Bajnok, Mad Max 81, Maestoso Jupiter and Barny, with Emma Olsson and Hugh Scott-Barrett as the backsteps. Hugh was a long-time backstep for Boyd through many of his biggest career successes, before recently retiring from competition to focus on supporting the growth of the sport. At London, where he was the class sponsor with wife Karen, Hugh was reunited with his old team for an exciting win in front of a packed crowd.

The driving continues Friday at the London International Horse Show with the highly anticipated World Cup event.

Results and draws can be found here.

Published 15 December 2023. 

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