Katie Bradburne
Show jumper
Katie Bradburne, 16, has been riding since before she could walk. As a young child, she was already winning show jumping classes on her 11-hand ponies, Jack and Jimmy. She quickly moved up the levels, securing major wins with her 128 pony, including at Olympia. Katie then claimed the 138 Championship at the Royal International Horse Show and became British National Champion with her 138 pony, Dolly Du Carel. Now just finished her final year riding 148 ponies, Katie was considered one of the top pony riders in Europe, in the summer she represented Great Britain at the European Championships with Westpoint Foreign Affair (known as Trixie), a pony she discovered in January 2024. The partnership culminated in the pinnacle of her career: bringing home a European Gold medal. Now out of ponies due to age, Katie is aiming at the Junior Europeans (U18s) on horses for the next two years, which she is currently looking for investors for a horse to do so.
- Why did you pick your sport?
I do this sport because I have been riding for as long as I can remember and have had some incredible ponies who have made it so special to me and have allowed me to be competitive from a very young age. This has made me be able to continue aspiring to greater things and want to always improve.
- What motivates you to get better?
Wanting to achieve my goals motivates me to get better. My short-term goal is to compete in Europe to represent Great Britain on a Junior Nations Cup Team and European team. My goal in the next 2 years is to win a European medal for Juniors and bring on a young horse and qualify for HOYS in the newcomers/foxhunter final. My long-term dream is to have my own yard to produce young horses and bring them to high levels, jump at the Longines global tours and jump at the Olympics.
- Biggest success so far
My biggest success would be winning team gold at the pony European championships 2024 for Great Britain and individual 4th jumping treble clear with Westpoint Foreign Affair, and finishing 3rd in the Stuttgart World Cup pony trophy in Germany 2024 and being ranked 5th in the world on ponies.
- Sporting Hero?
My sporting heroes are Ben Mayer and Scott Brash, both 2-time team Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain and Ben individual gold. They are two of the most accurate riders and both perform incredibly under pressure and along with many others are 2 riders who I really look up to.
- Best sporting event you have watched on TV or live
The best sporting event I have watched would have to be the 2025 showjumping Olympics – team day. Team GB were in the lead with 1 rider left (Scott Brash) last to go of the competition and had to go clear to secure the gold. It was exhilarating to watch and one day I would love to watch it live. The Geneve Top Ten Final is a competition with the best 10 ranked riders in the world. It was one of the biggest and technical tracks seen and caught out so many of these incredible horses and riders. It was amazing to watch as it really highlighted the talents of the very best and the winner (Martin Fuchs) did the best jump off I’ve ever seen.