OLYMPIC gold medallist horse rider Oliver Townend has confirmed a new ground-breaking deal.

The three-day eventer, who is based in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, has teamed up with Caunton Stud as their official rider.

It's a collaboration that is unprecedented in equestrian sport, but a regular occurrence in Formula 1 and Premiership football.

The Nottinghamshire stud, home to stallions from top bloodlines and young competition horses, is the brainchild of Victoria Wright and her father, Sir John Peace.

Oliver, who has multiple victories at many of the world’s top events under his belt, said: “Accepting this contract with Caunton is hugely exciting and I’m delighted to be working with Victoria and Sir John; we have a mutual desire to promote and improve British breeding and the sport of eventing.”

Victoria added: “Oliver is a brilliant horseman with a focus and a drive that keeps him at the top, and one of the hardest working people in the sport.

"We have huge ambitions for Caunton; our dream is to create something world-class that has never been done before.

“We all share a passion for horse sport, for quality and for success, and a vision for the future of the sport and the way in which we feel it needs to progress.”

The news comes just weeks after Townend was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to equestrianism in the New Year Honours after he won gold as part of the Team GB eventing team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held last year because of Covid-19.

The 39-year-old, alongside teammates Tom McEwan and Laura Collett, earned the nation's first Olympic team in eventing since Munich 1972 and won in such a style that Townend was afforded the luxury of an imperfect round to win.

The Townend/Caunton collaboration can first be seen in action on February 12, 2022 at the British Breeding Stallion Event at Arena UK, Lincs, and at the Caunton open day on February 27, which will feature all the Caunton Stud stallions.

For more information, visit www.cauntonmanorstud.com.