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Great Britain: Jo Chisholm Appointed England Chef d’Equipe Ahead of 2026 Home International
March 31 2026
Endurance GB has announced the appointment of Jo Chisholm as Chef d’Equipe for the England Squad ahead of the 2026 Home International, which will take place in Scotland on 5–6th September.
With a lifelong involvement in endurance riding spanning more than four decades, Chisholm brings extensive competitive and team experience to the role. Having started in the sport in 1989, she has amassed over 17,000km of competition mileage and completed eight 160km rides, alongside representing England as a rider at Home International level.
“I am very honoured to be appointed HI Chef,” said Chisholm. “This gives me another opportunity to give more back to the sport I love using all my experiences, and I hope to do my country and team proud.”
Chisholm is perhaps best known for her long-standing partnership with Grey Medlar, with whom she achieved multiple top results, including success at the Golden Horseshoe Ride and a BERA National Championship title in 2002.
Reflecting on her experience at the highest levels of the sport, she added: “Endurance riding involves the combination of athleticism and the ability to manage your pace over varying terrain and distances, whilst keeping your horse’s welfare as your top priority.”
In addition to her competitive career, Chisholm has previously held team management roles, including working with Young Riders and supporting squad leadership. Her appointment as Chef d’Equipe marks a return to a key leadership position within the England set-up.
“I wanted to make sure I could give 100% to the role,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to working with members of the England Squad—both familiar faces and new combinations—and supporting them to achieve their goals.”
The Home International is an annual fixture in the endurance calendar, bringing together teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Combining competition with a strong sense of camaraderie, it is widely recognised as a key development opportunity for riders progressing through the sport.
Chisholm believes the event plays an important role in building both performance and team culture.
“Team spirit is very important in endurance,” she said. “When the going gets tough, the team will rally behind a rider and provide the motivation needed to finish. That sense of support is invaluable.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 event, Chisholm’s focus is on creating a cohesive and supportive team environment.
“My priority is to get the best out of all our team members and to support each other with a real feeling of cooperation and encouragement,” she said. “A successful Home International is one where every rider achieves their aims to the best of their ability, alongside their horse.”
She also highlighted the accessibility of the Home International format, which enables riders at a range of levels to represent their country.
“Even our Elite riders started somewhere,” she said. “The Home International allows riders to experience being part of a squad and take that next step in their endurance journey.”
Chisholm’s appointment comes as Endurance GB continues to strengthen its pathway for riders, with the Home International serving as a stepping stone towards future international competition.
Encouraging riders to put themselves forward for selection, she added: “Go for it—you will receive support from the squad management to help you take that next step.”
‘A bond like no other’: farewell to horse Dilmun who represented Britain and completed extraordinary feats
HorseAndHound.co.uk - Full Article
Eleanor Jones
22 March, 2026 17:52
The owner and rider of a horse who twice represented Britain and completed extraordinary feats of endurance has paid tribute to his character and their bond after his death aged 27.
Annie Joppe’s Arab Dilmun, with whom she contested the 2009 European Championships and 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG), had spent a happy retirement with Annie, being pampered, loved and bossing the yard until the end.
“He was a star,” Annie told H&H.
But Annie nearly did not buy Dilmun at all; she said she first saw him advertised as a five-year-old, thought he looked good and went to see him.
“I went to try him, agreed to buy him and had the most terrible journey,” she said. “He wouldn’t load, it was awful, so he went back as I’d only had him on trial.
“Then, a year later, a friend of mine said ‘I’ve got this horse for sale’ and it turned out to be him. It was quite freaky really; I didn’t know she’d bought him.”
Annie said natural horsemanship techniques helped Dilmun learn to load happily, and “after that, he was brilliant”...
Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/endurance/farewell-dilmun-annie-joppe-918978
Bonnie Swiatek recognized as 3-time Century Club endurance rider
WyomingNews.com - Full Article
Boomerang staff
March 21 2026
Albany County resident Bonnie Swiatek has taken long-distance endurance horse riding to its highest level when she was recently honored by the American Endurance Ride Conference.
After Swiatek attended the Mountain Region Endurance Riders Conference on Jan. 31, 2025 and Feb. 1 of this year, she was presented with a framed award as a three-time Century Club Member. The mountain region comprises of members from Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and southwest South Dakota and western Nebraska
In the 54 year history of the national AERC organization, Swiatek is the only person to ride three horses into the AERC Century Club, which is when the ages of the horse and rider total 100 years or more each time. It took her four years with her Arabian mares...
Read more here:
https://www.wyomingnews.com/laramieboomerang/news/bonnie-swiatek-recognized-as-3-time-century-club-endurance-rider/article_bd6b2058-65d0-4dbe-b783-8aa91b7c982b.html