Harry Meade will be the first rider out of the start box at Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2026 with one of his three rides at the five-star (6 to 10 May).
Harry will kick off the competition with Et Hop Du Matz. His second horse, Annaghmore Valoner, has been drawn in the middle of the pack (number 37), and his third ride, Cavalier Crystal, will wear number 71.
His other two entered rides, Grafennacht and Superstition, will not be at Badminton as they are competing at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event instead this week (22 to 26 April).
The way the draw is done includes Harry’s absent horses, which means the second rider into the arena, US competitor Cosby Green, will wear the number four bib. She has two horses at Badminton this year and the first of these is Jos Ufo de Quidam. Cosby has also been drawn number 70 with her second horse, Highly Suspicious.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell is drawn sixth with the first of her two rides, High Time, and towards the end of the pack in number 74 with her winning ride from 2024, Greenacres Special Cavalier.
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Defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who won the title in 2023 and 2025, will wear number 46, so will start around the middle of the field. Depending on withdrawals and how the final timetable falls, this means they are likely to do their dressage test on Friday morning.
Oliver Townend and his 2024 Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent, with whom he finished second to Ros at Badminton last year, are drawn 31st.
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Other CCI5*-winning combinations include Gemma Stevens and her 2021 Bicton champion Chilli Knight, who as number eight will be among the early competitors on course. Gemma is drawn 75th with her other ride, Chilli Knight’s full brother Chilli King. Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier is drawn 61st with her 2024 Luhmühlen heroine Hooney D’Arville, and they will be followed two horses later by 2024 Maryland victors Felix Vogg and Cartania (number 63), then Pau 2021 winners Tim Price and Falco (number 64).
Ireland’s Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint, runners-up on their debut in 2024, are drawn 19th.
Former Badminton-winning riders returning this year include Jonelle Price, number 27 with Chilli’s Midnight Star; and Laura Collett, number 53 with Bling.
Tom Jackson and David Doel, both among the two-horse riders in the field, will round off the competition with their respective second rides. Tom will be the penultimate competitor on course with number 76 Hawk Eye, and David will conclude proceedings with number 77 Midnight Rollercoaster. Tom’s first horse, United 36, is number five, and David’s (Ferro Point) is number nine.
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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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
