She’s back… and this time she’s a BURGHLEY WINNER!

Gemma Stevens returns to Shut Up and Ride after an incredible 2026 Burghley victory — and there was absolutely no way we were letting her get away without telling us EVERYTHING.

Gemma takes us inside that extraordinary week: the pressure, the cross-country, the emotions and what it actually feels like to finally get that Burghley win under her belt.

Simon is also taking notes as Gemma reveals a few secrets about how to go faster across country… because apparently there is still hope for him.

But, as ever, this episode goes well beyond the results sheet. Gemma speaks brilliantly and openly about periods, hormones and the realities of being a woman competing at the highest level of sport — and why we need to be much better at talking about it and supporting one another.

Then it’s Quickfire time… with a twist. Laura Collett has sent in a few questions of her own for Gemma, and naturally, we couldn't resist asking them.

Funny, frank, emotional and very Gemma.

Gemma Stevens: Getting Burghley Off Her Back! — out now.

This Podcast is sponsored by Charles Owen - https://www.charlesowen.com

AD - https://www.animalfriends.co.uk

Watch the whole shut up and ride tour here on vimeo vimeo.com/ondemand/suartour26

CONTACT US : shutupandridepodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW US : Instagram

Pod merch found - https://superxcountry.co.uk/

• (00:00:00) - Animal Friends Pet Insurance Ad
• (00:01:40) - Intro and Welcoming Gemma Stevens
• (00:05:01) - Why Burghley Means So Much
• (00:07:21) - Processing the Win After Burghley
• (00:12:24) - Dressage Day with Alfie
• (00:16:47) - Trot Up Scare and Pre-Show Jumping Nerves
• (00:20:46) - The Show Jumping Round and Celebration
• (00:25:51) - Reflecting on Arctic Soul and Past Heartbreaks
• (00:30:23) - Cross Country Ride Breakdown
• (00:37:52) - Sarah Bullamore's Fall and Five Star Rarity
• (00:40:20) - Winners Avenue and Party Plans
• (00:41:47) - Fitness, Food and Staying Fit at the Top
• (00:47:47) - Talking Periods, Hormones and Women in Sport
• (00:58:21) - Laura Collett's Questions: Betty and the Bed Prank
• (01:03:23) - Quick Fire Questions with Gemma
• (01:09:04) - Horsemanship vs Competing
• (01:10:39) - What's Annoyed Us This Week
• (01:14:51) - Call Drops and Sign Off

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of graphic injuries and animal suffering that some listeners may find upsetting.

This week on Shut Up and Ride, we’re joined by the wonderful Jill Barton, founder of Egypt Equine Aid, for an episode that, quite frankly, left us a little bit speechless.

Jill takes us behind the tourist photos and postcard views of the pyramids to talk about the reality facing many of the horses, donkeys, camels and working animals in Egypt — the injuries they see, the conditions these animals can endure, and the incredible work Egypt Equine Aid is doing to treat them, educate owners and try to create lasting change.

There are moments in this conversation that are really difficult to hear. Ben spends a fair amount of the episode with his jaw somewhere near the floor, and there were times when none of us really knew what to say.

But this is exactly why we wanted to make this episode.

Horse welfare has always mattered enormously to us at Shut Up and Ride, and sometimes that means having conversations that aren't comfortable. More importantly, it means asking what we can actually do to help.

So this episode is also a huge shout-out to you, our listeners. Please listen, share it, talk about it and, if you can, support the extraordinary work Jill and the team at Egypt Equine Aid are doing. Even a small contribution from this brilliant community could make a genuine difference.

It’s not our easiest episode. But it might be one of our most important.

Improtant info

info@egyptequineaid

https://egyptequineaid.org/

https://www.facebook.com/eea.egypt

https://www.tiktok.com/@egyptequineaid

https://www.linkedin.com/company/egypt-equine-aid

CONTACT US : shutupandridepodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW US : Instagram

This Podcast is sponsored by Charles Owen - https://www.charlesowen.com/

https://www.streamz-global.com/ Discount Code SHUTUP10

SHUT UP AND RIDE

• (00:00:00) - Content warning and introduction
• (00:00:46) - Meet Jill Barton and Egypt Equine Aid
• (00:03:56) - How the charity was founded and grew
• (00:07:13) - Training vets and pushback from the community
• (00:15:10) - Traditional harmful treatments and ignorance
• (00:20:55) - Working horses vs tourist horses
• (00:24:30) - Tourist industry, tour companies and exploitation
• (00:29:38) - Common injuries and diseases seen
• (00:32:33) - Rabies cases and the horror of the disease
• (00:36:53) - The no-buy policy and preventing exploitation
• (00:39:52) - Emotional toll and standing up to owners
• (00:43:08) - Success stories and rescued horses
• (00:45:54) - Laminitis and feeding practices
• (00:47:15) - Comparing elite sport horses to working horses
• (00:50:39) - Whipping abuse and cruelty at the pyramids
• (00:53:42) - Longines Global Champions Tour coming to Cairo
• (00:59:21) - Cycle of abuse around the pyramids
• (01:01:14) - How listeners can help and donate
• (01:06:02) - Equestrian bands and Matt shoutout
• (01:07:17) - Final thoughts on ethical tourism and animals
• (01:11:43) - Call for volunteer vets, farriers and dentists
• (01:12:53) - Closing remarks and thanks

Simon Grieve is back from Burghley — so it’s time for the full debrief.

From a disappointing dressage test to yet another brilliant clear cross-country round, Simon talks us through the highs, the lows and what it really feels like to ride around one of the biggest five-star tracks in the world.

We get into the pressure of Burghley, what went right, what didn’t, and how you pick yourself up when the weekend doesn’t quite start the way you hoped.

And then, because this is Shut Up and Ride, the conversation somehow ends up with Simon revealing the best underwear to ride in.

Serious five-star eventing analysis. Questionable underwear chat. Standard Shut Up and Ride.

AD - https://www.animalfriends.co.uk

Watch the whole shut up and ride tour here on vimeo vimeo.com/ondemand/suartour26

CONTACT US : shutupandridepodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW US : Instagram

This Podcast is sponsored by Charles Owen - https://www.charlesowen.com

Pod merch found - https://superxcountry.co.uk/

• (00:00:00) - Animal Friends Pet Insurance Sponsor Message
• (00:01:40) - Intro and Charles Owen Shoutout
• (00:02:51) - Listener Message and Simon's Underwear Choices
• (00:04:52) - Aussie Accents and Banter
• (00:06:22) - Burghley Buildup and Expectations
• (00:09:57) - Arriving at Burghley and Pre-Event Rituals
• (00:12:38) - Trot Up and Dressage Preparation
• (00:14:55) - Dressage Day Disappointment
• (00:17:00) - Dealing with Self-Doubt After Dressage
• (00:18:57) - Course Walking with Izzy Taylor and Chris Bartle
• (00:21:35) - Legends Night and Pre-Cross Country Evening
• (00:23:32) - Cross Country Day Begins - Wasp Sting Drama
• (00:26:47) - Cross Country Round: Early Fences
• (00:29:40) - Cross Country Round: Middle Course Challenges
• (00:35:31) - Cross Country Round: Defender Valley and Leaf Pit
• (00:39:17) - Finishing the Cross Country and Recovery
• (00:40:51) - Post-Cross Country Care and Commentary Duties
• (00:42:16) - Tina Cook Story and Commentary Praise
• (00:44:35) - Show Jumping Day and Crowd Celebration
• (00:47:39) - Final Placing and Dressage Improvement Plans
• (00:49:52) - Reflections on Burghley and Buster's Performance
• (00:52:04) - Commentary Style and Sport Understanding
• (00:54:30) - Future Plans and Financial Realities of Eventing
• (00:56:32) - Spruce Meadows Stories and Horse Ownership Stakes
• (00:59:41) - Blake Shelton Concert and Spruce Meadows Fun
• (01:01:51) - Show Jumping Family Stories - Whitakers and Philippaerts
• (01:03:38) - Celebrating Gemma Stevens' Burghley Win
• (01:06:08) - What's Annoyed You This Week
• (01:10:58) - Reflections on Horsemanship and Closing Thoughts
• (01:12:54) - Upcoming Events and Ben Maher's Incredible Win