10 years ago I was…

A lot can happen in a decade. Top riders from 2019 inspire with their often incredible journeys

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Eventing Olympian and 14-time CCI5* winner

William Fox-Pitt

BACK then, I had lots of lovely horses and the focus was on London 2012. That Olympics was a high. As part of Team GBR, you felt you’d made it.

I thought I’d wind down after London, but Chilli Morning kept me going for another four years. In 2015, I won Badminton and that autumn had a serious fall. I’d had a bang on the head, but thought I’d be better in time for Rio 2016 and, amazingly, it happened.

Now I don’t want anyone else to ride Little Fire (pictured) and Oratorio round Badminton and Burghley, so I’m still going. But I hope I won’t be being counted down in the start box in 10 years’ time.

I enjoy helping Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, so I’d like to do more training. I’ve got a filly by Oslo, a foal on the way by Tamarillo’s clone Tomatillo, and if I could add a Chilli Morning foal, I’d be a happy old man.

2016 Burghley winner and Olympic bronze medallist

Chris Burton

TEN years ago, I was about to move to Britain from Australia. I felt I was starting again, even though I’d won a four-star at Adelaide (now five-star). I was anxious I wouldn’t be able to replicate that success.

Many have proved you can be based in Australia and compete on the world stage, but I knew Britain was the place to be if I wanted to be the best in the world. It was a shock to find a good performance wasn’t good enough at one-day events in the UK.

I want to make the most of living here. But I love Australia and we —my wife Bek and children Harry and Jack — will move back one day.