Hugh Thomas

Hugh Thomas is a British former Olympic equestrian rider, technical delegate, course designer and event organiser.

Career Hugh's career began in the Hampshire Hunt Pony Club. As a rider, he won bronze in the Eventing World Championships in 1974, came second place at Badminton Horse Trials in 1976 and competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Hugh then was a BBC commentator on equestrian sports and worked for British Equestrian Promotions. He designed the course at the 1988 Summer Olympics, was the FEI technical delegate at the 1996 Summer Olympics and was chairman of the British Equestrian Federation for three years.

In the run up to the London Olympics, in June 2012, in protest at the decision by LOCOG to ban spectators from attending the horse inspections in violation of FEI rules, Thomas resigned his position as a member of the ad hoc committee, branding it as "disgraceful".

In 2019, he was awarded the BEWA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life

Hugh Thomas is the godfather of Zara Tindall.