Achievements
- 2016 - Team 5th at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games
- 2015 - Winner Badminton CCI5*
- 2014 - Team Silver and Individual Bronze at the Caen World Equestrian Games
- 2014 - Winner Rolex Kentucky CCI5*
- 2014 - Winner HSBC FEI Classics (World Eventing Series)
- 2013 - Individual Bronze at the European Championships
- 2013 - Winner Pau CCI5*
- 2012 - Team Silver at the London Olympic Games
- 2012 - Winner Rolex Kentucky CCI5*
- 2012 - Winner HSBC FEI Classics (World Eventing Series)
- 2011 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
- 2011 - Winner Pau CCI5*
- 2010 - Team Gold and Individual Silver at the Lexington World Equestrian Games
- 2010 - Winner Rolex Kentucky CCI5*
- 2010 - Winner HSBC FEI Classics (World Eventing Series)
- 2009 - Team Gold at European Championships
- 2008 - Winner HSBC FEI Classics (World Eventing Series)
- 2008 - Team Bronze at the Beijing Olympic Games
- 2008 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
- 2008 - Winner Luhmuhlen CCI5*
- 2007 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
- 2006 - Team Silver at the Aachen World Equestrian Games
- 2005 - 4th at the FEI World Cup Finals
- 2005 - Team Gold and Individual Silver at European Championships
- 2005 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
- 2004 - Team Silver at the Athens Olympic Games
- 2004 - Winner Badminton CCI5*
- 2003 - Team Gold at European Championships
- 2002 - Team Bronze at the Jerez de la Frontera World Equestrian Games.
- 2002 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
- 2001 - Team Gold at European Championships
- 1997 - Team Gold at European Championships
- 1996 - Competed at the Atlanta Olympic Games
- 1995 - Team Gold at European Championships
- 1994 - Winner Burghley CCI5*
Notable Horses
Tamarillo
Cool Mountain
Chilli Morning
Parklane Hawk
Ballincoola
Moon Man
Oslo
Follow
International Four Star Event Rider
William Fox-Pitt’s name is synonymous with the sport of international eventing. His successful career has spanned decades and included wins around the world. He is notably one of the tallest riders in the sport of eventing (6ft5), despite his height he is known for his elegant riding styles and balance.
He was born in Hampstead to William Oliver Lane Fox-Pitt and Marietta Speed, both successful equestrians in their own rights. William began riding at age four and, after a brief break from the sport, began competing in eventing when he was 15. He received his education at Wellesley House School in Kent, Eton College and the University of London.
As a young rider, he won individual silver at the Junior European Championships in 1987 and two team gold medals in the Young Rider European Championships in 1988 and 1989. He completed his first CCI5* event at the Badminton Horse Trials when he was 20 and won his first CCI5* at Burghley five years later.
Over the course of his career, he has represented Great Britain consistently over the past 24 years, including 5 Olympic games, winning three team Olympic medals as well as team and individual medals at the World Equestrian Games. He has won seven team Gold medals at the European Championships and has been the British No.1 eleven times.
William Fox-Pitt is the only rider to have claimed victories at five of the world’s six CCI** events**, having won Burghley (1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011), Badminton (2004 and 2015), Luhmühlen (2008), Rolex Kentucky (2010, 2012, 2014), and Pau (2011, 2013).
He has also won the HSBC FEI Classics—the global series that links the top six Three-Day Events—four times (2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014), and was runner-up in 2011.
In 2011, William became the first rider to win six Burghley titles, each on a different horse—a record-setting achievement. That same year, he also made history at Tattersalls, Ireland, by becoming one of the first riders ever to win a CCI*, CCI**, and CCI*** at the same event on the same day.
In total, William has won an unprecedented 14 CCI** titles** and 59 CCI three-day events, making him one of the most successful British event riders of all time.
In 2015, a bad fall left William in a coma for two weeks with a serious head injury, but he still managed to come back to the top of his game and compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
He and his wife, Alice Plunkett, are based at their own Wood Lane Stables in Hinton St Mary, Dorset, with their four children: Oliver, Thomas, Chloe and Emily. William Fox-Pitt's career is one of record-breaking triumphs, team success, and personal resilience. As a rider, trainer, and ambassador, he remains a towering figure in the world of eventing, admired for both his competitive achievements and his thoughtful approach to the sport. William stepped back from top level competitions in May 2024, after his 26th completion at Badminton. Whilst not fully retired yet, he continues to enjoy working with his young horses and the team at home
