Motherhood and elite sport: a balancing act that champion equestrian Ros Canter knows all too well.
Just 16 weeks after giving birth to her second child, the 40-year-old from Lincolnshire made history at the Badminton Horse Trials. Riding her trusted partner, Lordships Graffalo—affectionately known as Walter—Canter became the first rider and horse combination to win the prestigious event three times.
"It's a big juggling act," she admitted. "I knew when I was pregnant the timing might work for me to get back to Badminton, but I knew it might be a push. Life is very busy, but I do have fantastic people around me."
Canter's remarkable comeback began just one month after giving birth, when she was back in the saddle. Within eight weeks, she was competing again. "It's fairly quick, but it's what my body knows," she explained. "I ride every day, so it didn't take too long to start to feel normal again. Fortunately for me, I had a fairly straightforward birth and I've just had a fantastic team of people around me."
The Olympic champion, who helped Team GB secure team eventing gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is managing to juggle motherhood and elite training despite a few sleepless nights. "I'm very lucky that my daughter is able to come to work with me every day—it's our family home, so mum's about," Canter shared. "We are in a bit of a routine where she sleeps well in the mornings, so I can ride while she is asleep."
This isn't Canter's first brush with balancing pregnancy and peak performance. Last September, just weeks after announcing she was expecting, she won a second consecutive Burghley Horse Trials. And now, with her latest triumph at Badminton, she's proving that motherhood and elite sport can go hand in hand.
As for her 14-year-old bay gelding, Canter couldn't hide her affection. "He's just the most fantastic character. He's very lovable—a little bit like a dog. He's really affectionate, but when it comes to competing, he is an absolute professional. He just loves performing."
For now, Canter is riding high on the adrenaline of her victory. "I'm sure the tiredness will hit at some point, but for now I think we are still on a high from Badminton," she said with a smile.