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Five-star winner down to one ride after four more Badminton withdrawals

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • One of Gemma Stevens’ rides is among four last-minute Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals, as riders prepare for the first horse inspection this afternoon (6 May).

    Gemma has withdrawn her second ride, the 11-year-old five-star debutant Chilli King, owned by Chris and Clare Mathias and Christopher and Lisa Stone. She will still start on the Stones’ Chilli Knight, with whom she won Bicton Horse Trials five-star in 2021.

    “I’m absolutely gutted to say that we have made the incredibly difficult decision to withdraw Chilli King from Badminton,” said Gemma.

    “It’s nothing serious but this morning on a lovely ride around the park ‘Raff’ just wasn’t feeling quite as I would like for such a tough test.

    “He is a very special young horse, and with it being his first five-star I’m not prepared to run him if things don’t feel absolutely 100% right!

    “All being well, he will re-route and get his first shot at the level at Burghley this autumn instead…

    “Now for a super fun week with our wonderful Chilli Knight (Alfie). Wish us luck!”

    Other Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals

    Among other late Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals, Ireland has lost another runner in first-timer Alice Copithorne (Fort Arthur Little Dolly) and New Zealand’s Hollie Field (née Swain) has pulled out Solo.

    The withdrawal of another debutante, Olivia Barton with Hollyander HG – the 2024 Adelaide five-star runners-up – means Australia now has no starters as she was the only Aussie entered.

    At the start of this week Oliver Townend withdrew second favourite Cooley Rosalent. Then Ireland lost two runners when Susie Berry withdrew Clever Trick and Joseph Murphy pulled out Belline Fighting Spirit. Dorset-based US rider Cosby Green withdrew Highly Suspicious, but is expected to start on Jos Ufo De Quidam.

    This leaves 61 horses expected to come forward to the first horse inspection, which gets underway at 4.30pm.

    How to watch and listen to Badminton Horse Trials

    To watch Badminton Horse Trials live or via catch up, including the trot-ups, from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world, you need a 2026 Badminton TV Pass. Badminton TV is once again powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £22.99. Go to badminton-horse.tv to sign up. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. Also check out the Badminton app, which provides free live results and much more this year. Sign up for Badminton Plus membership for £4.99 to access the live Radio Badminton broadcast and receive exclusive offers from on-site exhibitors. Search for Badminton Horse Trials in your app store.

    Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound

    To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 28-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 14 May.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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