William Fox-Pitt’s former four-star ride Highland Lad has died aged 22. Highland Lad was foaled in Ireland in 1993 and was bought from Goresbridge Sales in September 1997 by Carole and David Hudson. The gelding was produced by Owen Moore and taken over by William Fox-Pitt in 2001. The pair won the Burghley eventing in 2002. Before, in 1994, William had already won Burghley with Chaka. After the rider took it further four times after Highland Lad (Ballincoola, 2005, Parkmore Ed, 2007, Tamarillo, 2008 and Parklane Hawk, 2011). The rider still holds the record for most Burghley wins at six. Carole moved the horses from William’s yard to her own when the rider moved from Bicester to Dorset, which was too far for her to have a “hands on role” with the horses. She publicly thanked the rider at the time for all he had done. Both horses have enjoyed retirement at her Buckinghamshire base.
