Olympic champion Ros Canter is balancing elite competition with caring for her newborn, just 16 weeks after giving birth to her second child. The 40-year-old equestrian made history at Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, winning the prestigious event for a third time alongside her horse Lordships Graffalo – the first rider-and-horse combination to achieve this feat.
“It’s a big juggling act,” said Canter, who is from Lincolnshire. “I knew when I was pregnant that the timing might work for me to get back to Badminton, but it was definitely a push. Life is incredibly busy, but I have an amazing support system around me.”
Canter was back in the saddle just one month after giving birth and returned to competition eight weeks postpartum. “It’s fairly quick, but it’s what my body knows,” she explained. “I ride every day, so it didn’t take long to feel normal again. I had a straightforward birth and a fantastic team supporting me.”
Despite some sleepless nights, Canter is managing to juggle motherhood and training. “I’m lucky that my daughter can come to work with me every day – we live on the family property, so my mum is often around,” she said. “We’ve established a routine where she sleeps well in the mornings, allowing me to ride while she rests. I’m sure the tiredness will hit eventually, but right now we’re still riding high from Badminton.”
Canter, who helped Team GB win gold in eventing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also secured her second consecutive Burghley Horse Trials win in September – just weeks after announcing her pregnancy. Her 14-year-old bay gelding, Walter (as Lordships Graffalo is affectionately known), is described as “the most fantastic character. He’s affectionate, like a dog, but when competing he’s an absolute professional. He loves performing in front of a crowd and it brings out the best in him.”
