The unveiling of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course each year is one of the highlights of the eventing calendar. Will there be plenty of big ditches for 2026? Or a focus on corners, skinnies and angles?
Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course in pictures
HorseQuest Quarry Fences (4AB) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Fence 4ab, the HorseQuest Quarry, is the first combination on course. Riders jump an upright wall, followed by a left-handed turn and out over another wall.
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Ebony Horse Club Gates Fences (5AB) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The double of gates at the Ebony Horse Club complex (fence 5ab) will be taken on one stride.
William Fox-Pitt at the EQUIDRY Huntsman’s Close Fences (6AB), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William Fox-Pitt walks the line between the two bucket brushes at fence 6ab, the Equidry Huntsman’s Close.
Beaufort Owl Hole Fence (8) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Fence eight, the Beaufort Owl Hole, is the first time horses get their feet wet on this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course.
William Fox-Pitt at the MARS Lake Fences (9AB & 10AB), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William exits the Mars Lake after walking the route through fence 9ab.
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William Fox-Pitt at the British Eventing Broken Bridge Fence (13), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The British Eventing Broken Bridge (fence 13) is always a favourite with photographers.
William Fox-Pitt at the KBIS Slalom Fences (14AB & 15), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Course-designer Eric Winter watches as William susses out the line through the KBIS Slalom at fences 14ab and 15.
Vicarage Oxer Fence (16) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The Vicarage Oxer (fence 16) is the first time horses cross the Vicarage Ditch – but certainly not the last!
William Fox-Pitt at the Joules T Bar Log Fence (17), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Even William Fox-Pitt looks quite small behind the imposing Joules T Bar Log (fence 17)!
William Fox-Pitt at the Spillers Sustainability Bay Fences (20ABCD), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William points out the route over the corner in the Spillers Sustainability Bay water (fence 20abcd).
William Fox-Pitt at the INEOS Sunken Roads (21AB), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The terrain is part of the question at the Ineos Sunken Road (fence 21ab).
William Fox-Pitt at the Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard Fences (22AB), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Competitors jump a ditch before a single stride up a bank to this slightly angled rail at Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard at fence 22ab.
William Fox-Pitt at the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee Fences (25AB), while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William on the landing side of the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee (fence 25ab), which is always a rider frightener.
Rathbones Curve Fences (28AB) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The Rathbones Curve (fence 28ab), two brush corners, is one of the final questions on course.
William Fox-Pitt in the main arena (The start and finish) while walking the MARS Badminton cross country course with Eric Winter (Cross Country Course Designer) before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, in the of Badminton village, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK on the 15th April 2026
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
William chats to course-designer Eric Winter.
Read William’s full thoughts on every fence on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course in the Badminton preview issue of Horse & Hound (dated 30 April).
How to watch and listen to Badminton Horse Trials
To watch every phase of 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.
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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.
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.
