Sophia Hill and Humble Glory in the CCI5*L Defender Burghley Horse Trials September 2024. Image by Hannah Cole Photography.
Australian eventer Sophia Hill and her Thoroughbred Humble Glory – known as Hughie – are set to contest their fourth five-star event at the prestigious Maryland 5-Star, marking another milestone in their impressive career.
Sophia Hill and her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Humble Glory, are preparing to once again step up on the world stage — this time at the Maryland 5-Star in the United States (16-19 October).
From arriving at Sophia’s Mansfield property in a stock crate in 2017 to competing at the top end of the sport, Humble Glory (Bernardini x Shovhog) – better known as ‘Hughie’ – has certainly shown the world what an Australian Thoroughbred is capable of.
Sophia, 28, has trained Hughie all the way through herself, tackling her very first five-star with the gelding two years ago. Listed as reserves for the Paris Olympics last year, the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen are now firmly on their radar – and the Maryland 5-Star is all part of the plan.
FIVE-STAR JOURNEY
Sophia and Hughie debuted at five-star level at the 2023 Adelaide Equestrian Festival, and Sophia says that first step up into the unknown was daunting, as until you’ve ridden at the level, you really don’t know how much harder it will be than four-star. As it turned out, they took it all in their stride and placed third.
“It was definitely a dream come true to tick off that first completion with a podium finish, and that gave the confidence to chase some of the bigger five-stars, including Burghley and now Maryland,” says Sophia.
The Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill, one of only two five-star events in the United States (the other being the Kentucky Three-Day Event) and seven internationally, was introduced in 2021. Sophia explains that she chose this event as her next goal because she felt it would suit her Thoroughbred.
Sophia and Hughie in their five-star debut at Adelaide in 2023. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
“The cross country is
where he really shines…”
“I felt like the hilly cross-country track will suit Hughie. The cross country was very influential on the finishing results last year, and that is the kind of event I target on Hughie, seeing as the cross country is where he really shines.
“After missing a jump in the show jumping at Adelaide this year, I didn’t get my qualifier for the FEI World Championships, which left me the option of playing it safe with a run at Sydney CCI4*L, or taking a risk and heading to another CCI5*L,” explains Sophia. “I chose the CCI5*L, seeing as I have the perfect horse to do it with, and I want to continue gaining more international experience.”
AMERICAN JOURNEY
Hughie flew out on 30 September, travelling from Melbourne via Sydney, Hong Kong, and Anchorage (Alaska) to Chicago, where he spent several days in quarantine.
“It’s a long journey to America. That’s one of the most difficult parts, having a horse five-star fit and then it having to stay in a box for seven days and only hand walk. After quarantine, Hughie then travelled 12 hours by road to reach Monica Spencer’s property in Maryland, who we are basing with,” says Sophia.
Sophia arrived in the US a couple of days before Hughie reached Monica’s property, and now Sophia and Hughie will have a week there before heading to the event. Sophia’s husband Andy and son Oliver have also travelled to the US and will be she and Hughie’s official cheer squad.
“After the event, Hughie is going to stay on in the US with Monica. We haven’t made firm plans for next year yet, but he is on a temporary import, which at this stage is a one-year visa. We hope to return and prepare him for another five-star, perhaps Kentucky or Badminton.
“We are so grateful for Monica’s support as it made the whole trip seem a lot less intimidating, having somewhere to stay, and someone who knows how to navigate eventing in the US!”
New Zealander Monica Spencer moved to her US base in 2024 and has previously competed in Australia – in fact, she competed alongside Sophia and Hughie at their 2023 five-star debut in Adelaide.
SPRING WARM-UP FOR HUGHIE
Sophia and Hughie had a final warm-up for Maryland at Werribee in September, where they enjoyed a steady run in the CCI4*S at the Eventing Victoria Spring Horse Trials.
“It is extremely tricky to go slow on Hughie. He hates it!” laughs Sophia. “But I feel like it’s important to save our fast runs for where it matters, and not go fast at every event just because we can.”
A ‘slow’ run for Hughie saw them accrue just 8.8 cross-country time faults, and they placed second.
STABLEMATES
While in the UK last year for Burghley and the Paris Olympic training camp (Sophia and Hughie were listed as team reserves), Sophia made the difficult decision to sell her other Australian Thoroughbred, Seattle Park, who also made the trip abroad.
A year on, and ‘Basil’ is going from strength to strength in his new home. “He is going amazingly for his new rider Jillian Giessen. He is in The Netherlands, and represented them in the Nations Cup at Arville recently in the CCIO4*S where he finished thirteenth out of over 100 starters. I am so thrilled to see him absolutely thriving in his new home. I think he has a real chance of representing The Netherlands at the World Championships next year. It’s so great to see him going so well.”
Sophia and Hughie at Adelaide in 2023. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
“I feel they
are all really
exciting horses…”
Alongside Hughie, Sophia’s current team at home in Australia includes four-star horse Tulara Baltango, two-star horse Bluebell Mystery, one-star horse Tulara Checkensky, and EvA95 horse Jen Jan Royal.
“I own Tulara Checkensky in partnership with Anna Fraser from Tulara Warmbloods, and the rest I currently own myself. I would love to share the journey with owners, and do have shares available in all of them. I feel they are all really exciting horses with top-level potential,” explains Sophia.
Sophia and Hughie at Burghley Horse Trials in 2024. Image by Hannah Cole Photography.
Sophia is looking forward to their fourth five-star start at Maryland. Image by Hannah Cole Photography.
BEST YET TO COME
Hughie will turn 14 just after Maryland 5-Star. Many elite eventers are just coming into their prime at this age, and Sophia feels this is the case with her off-the-track Thoroughbred.
“We have become more consolidated and confident at the level. I think Hughie is an amazing five-star horse, and capable of being competitive at the five-star level… I’m hoping the best results are yet to come!”
As Sophia and Hughie prepare to take on Maryland, their journey reflects the dedication, resilience, and passion that define top-level eventing. With growing international experience and unwavering belief in her talented Thoroughbred, Sophia’s sights are firmly set on continued success at the sport’s highest level. EQ
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Sophia Hill first rode at Melbourne International Three-Day Event 10 years ago. That was in the Junior one-star as a 17-year-old. She couldn’t have expected that 10 years later, she would be back there in the four-star on Tulara Baltango, let alone that she’d be winning it. Sophia admits that as time has progressed, so too have her goals. “My aspirations are much bigger now,” she says.
When Humble Glory arrived in a stock crate at Sophia Hill’s Mansfield property in 2017, she never dreamt of just how far the off-the-track Thoroughbred would take her – they’ve just finished on the podium at their first five-star event.