October 29, 2023 
Last to enter the arena for the 2023 edition of Les 5 Etoiles de Pau, Ros Canter (GBR) was keen to quiet the enthusiastic French crowds.
Her mount, 10-year-old gelding Izilot DHI, is known to be quite spooky. Green to the level, the pair made their five star debut this week in France, and with a rail in hand, she had every reason riding on keeping her horse calm and focused for Sunday’s show jumping round.
“He’s only ten years-old so this occasion is far bigger and louder than he’s ever seen before—it was always going to be a big deal for him,” said Canter.
“But he is a super jumper and it’s always been the case that when he’s gone spooky he jumps higher. The first fence was really close to the spectators and I did worry about that but he is such a great jumper that he can have half an eye on something else and still jump superbly.”
Canter had every reason to be optimistic, even with spectators pressed to the rails of the packed stadium. In 16 completed FEI appearances since 2019, they’ve never pulled a rail in show jumping.
On Sunday, they kept that streak alive.
Canter and the elegant KWPN bay executed a poised track over the Yann Royant-designed course, adding just 1.2 time faults to their total to finish nearly six points clear of world no. 1 Oliver Townend and Tregilder. Townend moved up from fourth to second with a clear on the day while fellow Brit Tom McEwen and JL Dublin had a pole down to drop to third place.
It’s a spectacular finish to an outstanding season for Canter. The world no. 2 contested three of the seven five stars on the eventing calendar in 2023 and won two. In May, she captured the Badminton CCI5*-L with Lordships Graffalo, then went on to claim the European champion title in August. Now she has the Les 5 Etoiles de Pau title too.
Britain reigned supreme in France, claiming the top six places on the leaderboard. Piggy March and Coolparks Sarco (36.5) and Kylie Roddy and SRS Kan Do (39.7) took fourth and fifth, respectively. While Kirsty Chabert, lying third overnight with Classic VI, lowered two rails, demoting them from third overnight to sixth.
“The show jumping here is different from anywhere else I have been, as the crowd are allowed so close to the arena and can lean over the rails; it was quite intimidating, but great experience,” said Chabert.
“It’s a real achievement to have so many riders at the top and we have some really exciting horses working towards next year (for the Olympic Games, in Paris),” said Richard Waygood, the British World Class Eventing Performance Manager. “Looking at these results it’s put a lot of questions to bed at the end of the season, so those riders and horses will sleep well this winter!”
Boyd Martin and Fedarman B were the top placed American pair, jumping clear to finish eighth.
