Ros Canter and LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO (Walter)

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo are possibly the best top level eventing combination the sport has ever seen. They have now won five 5* events (2 x Burghley, 3 x Badminton)

Archie and Michelle Saul’s 13-year-old Lordships Graffalo – “Walter” – is the first horse to win both Burghley and Badminton twice, and he is only the third horse to win back-to-back Burghleys, following Priceless (with Ginny Holgate, 1934-84) and Avebury (Andrew Nicholson, 2012-2013-2014). He is the only horse to have ever won Badminton three times.

“I really hope he will go down as a legend of our time and a legend of the sport, not only for the performances he gives, but his character as well. He is an unbelievable horse to have at home,” said Ros.

“He absolutely thrives on these occasions. I could have dropped the reins and waved at the crowd for 15 minutes and he would just have thoroughly enjoyed himself. I don’t think there are many horses in the world that would do that.”

Walter was bred by Lordships Stud, based at Writtle College near Chelmsford in Essex, who had been loaned her dam Cornish Queen by Pennie Wallace, a lecturer there at the time, as part of a breeding programme. His dam had a reputation as being strong and feisty, and had to be led in a bridle as a result of her tendency to rear. Caroline Farr, Lordships Stud Manager, remembers Walter as a very friendly foal who loved interacting with humans.

His dam Cornish Queen was bred by former Olympian and chair of BE selectors Bridget Parker and was by the former SHB(GB) advanced eventing stallion Rock King who was by the leading sire Just a Monarch. Just as importantly Cornish Queen was out of Cornish Faer by Ben Faerie xx who, with Bridget’s daughter Katie Parker, was 21^st at Badminton in 1995 and long-listed for the Atlanta Olympics.

When he was two years old Pennie Wallace sent him to Ros Canter in Louth, as Ros was doing such a good job with his older half-sister Pencos Crown Jewel.

He has a full sister called Pencos Sovereign.

I am very honoured to have been able to photograph Ros and Walter for all his British 5* successes and these images are all available for licensing and editing.

LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO (Results)

Gender: Gelding
Foaled: 2012
Height: 17
Sire: GRAFENSTOLZ
Dam: CORNISH QUEEN
Sire of Dam: ROCK KING
Breeder: Pennie Wallace and Lordships Stud
Owner(s): Michelle Saul, Archie Saul.

Rosalind Canter

Ros Canter grew up on the family farm in Hallington, Lincolnshire. She has a degree in sports science from Sheffield Hallam University.

In May 2026, LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO and Ros Canter led The Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials from start to finish to become the first combination to ever win the prestigious event three times and take their 5* wins to five.

Canter’s CCI5* previous results include finishing fifth at the 2017 Badminton Horse Trials on ALLSTAR B, and ninth at the 2017 Luhmühlen Horse Trials on ZENSHERA. She then won team gold and finished fifth individually at the 2017 European Eventing Championships on Allstar B, before finishing seventh at the 2017 Etoiles de Pau on ZENSHERA. In May 2018, she finished third at the Badminton Horse Trials on ALLSTAR B.

Canter won two golds at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, riding Allstar B. She is the fifth British rider to become World Champion in Eventing, after Mary Gordon-Watson (1970), Lucinda Green (1982), Virginia Leng (1986), and Zara Phillips (2006).

Speaking on The Eventing Podcast’s episode “Horses to watch 2023” in early 2023, Irish Olympian Sam Watson opined that Lordships Graffalo would inevitably become the highest-rated British event horse of all time.

She is sponsored by Emerald Green Foods, a local Market Rasen company.

Notable Results for Ros Canter and LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO

2026

Badminton CCI5*-L – 1st

2025

Burghley CCI5*-L – 1st
Hartpury CCI4*-S – 1st
Badminton CCI5*-L – 1st

2024

Burghley CCI5*-L – 1st
Paris Olympics – 21st and Team Gold.

2023

Badminton CCI5*-L – 1st

2022

Pratoni del Vivaro CCI4*-L – 4th
Hartpury CCI4*-S – 2nd
Badminton CCI5*-L – 2nd

2021

Blenheim CCI4*-L – 2nd
Blair CCI4*-S – 1st
Bicton CCI4*-L – 2nd
Aston-Le-Walls CCI4*-S – 1st

2020

Burnham Market CCI4*-S 8/9YO – 2nd