Harry Meade

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Harry grew up in an Eventing family. His father, Richard, won an abundance of medals, three of which were Olympic Golds, as well as Badminton and Burghley. For a list of Richard’s medal haul click here. During Harry’s childhood, Richard's yard was a hive of activity firstly as a competition yard and later as a training centre for international teams. Harry was soon hooked on the idea of becoming a professional event rider and emulating his father's Olympic success.

On leaving school, Harry became a working pupil for the Spanish show-jumper Luis Alvarez Cevera. Then he spent a winter working for the Austrian dressage trainer Ernst Bachinger (now chief trainer at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna).

On his return to England, Harry was leant a young horse by a neighbour for a month one summer; together they won the Pony Club Championships. This caught the eye of several owners who subsequently asked Harry to compete their horses. As Harry’s consistently good results built-up so did the opportunity to ride a greater variety of competitive horses. Harry was short-listed for the under 18 and under 21 British teams for five consecutive years, each time on a different horse.

At the age of 18, Harry competed at the Junior European Championships in Germany, where his secure yet sympathetic style of riding was recognised and resulted in an award for the most stylish cross-country rider.

Although always determined to pursue a professional career in Eventing, Harry was encouraged by Richard to gain some outside qualifications. Having achieved straight As at A level, Harry juggled training and studying for a degree at the nearby University of Bristol, from where he graduated with a 2:1.

For two years prior to university Harry had been apprentice rider to Will Miflin, but during his time at Bristol he was approached by William Fox-Pitt, the world number 1, who offered Harry a position as his apprentice rider. Harry moved down to Dorset where he competed William's younger horses and stood in on the training of the top horses when William was overseas.

In 2003 Harry was selected for the Student World Games, held in Tokyo, and the following summer he competed in the World Cup series. Harry’s potential was recognised when he it was announced that he would be one of three Event Riders to receive government funding through TASS (the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme).

After 2 seasons in Dorset, Harry was keen to strike out on his own and left William's yard. Having spent the previous five years working in different yards, first as pupil and later as apprentice rider, Harry then had the chance to move back to South Gloucestershire and to take over the yard in which his father had been based. It is from here that Harry now produces his horses, with the help of a hard working and experienced support team of grooms, farriers, vets and trainers. As a member of the British Senior Training Squad he also receives training from the British senior team trainers.

With horses Midnight Dazzler and Birthday Night competing at four star level, and with an exciting string of young horses coming through, this is an exciting time for those involved at Church Farm.

Carolyn Lissack has watched Bobby (Midnight Dazzler) progress through the eventing ranks with a series of riders. The Lissacks are convinced that in Harry the have found Bobby’s (Midnight Dazzler’s) perfect partner, who treats the horse like the special individual they believe he is. Carolyn said of the 23-year-old: “Harry is absolutely sure about what he wants and he investigates everything. He doesn’t try to put a square horse through a round hole. There is a policy on his yard that he will do everything to the best of his ability and he and Bobby fit together so well. I am confident that Harry loves him as much as I do. They are a true partnership. I knew that someone would get that out of him and I am so glad it’s Harry.
Extract from The Western Daily Press – 19th April 2007

Always assisted by supportive owners, for whom he will put in tireless work to develop a horse’s potential, Harry has risen from Pony Club competitor to the top echelon of intentional Eventing. With the right horses, Harry Meade is on track for Olympic honours.

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