Defending champion Ros Canter has blasted to the top of the leaderboard at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on Lordships Graffalo after the second day of dressage (8 May), three and a half months after the birth of her second daughter, Seneh.
The pair sit 4.4 penalties clear of yesterday’s leaders, Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, with five different nations represented in the top five going into cross-country day.
Badminton Horse Trials dressage: how the second day unfolded…
In the early hours, Pippa Roome caught up with Meigs Rutherford – groom to US rider Cassie Sanger, who has been based with Ros Canter for the past year – on what she’s learned from watching the British star’s “horses as horses” approach.
Badminton debutant Sam Ecroyd, who came back from a rotational fall in 2021 that left him with a bleed on the brain and 57 facial fractures, talks about the journey from hospital bed to the Badminton centre line.
Ros credited a moment of self-talk before her test for getting her into the right frame of mind, after a stressful morning balancing being a mum and an athlete.
Emily King recovered from a fractured rib and torn lung earlier this year to score 30.3 on Valmy Biats – with partner Sam Ecroyd helping her prepare for tomorrow’s cross-country
Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Royal Encounter scored 29.2 to make a strong start at Badminton, with Laura Collett relieved to “survive” a difficult start to the week on Bling and Swiss debutant Nadja Minder delighting on the “absolute chocolate legend” Toblerone.
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The Queen visited Badminton today as patron of charity-of-the-year Ebony Horse Club, watching a riding display from young members and saying she “hopes the event goes on for ever”.
Former British team stalwart Daisy Berkeley returned to compete at Badminton after a 16-year hiatus with Diese Du Figuier on her first ride at the event since coming third on Spring Along in 2010.
Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier scored a five-star personal best with Hooney d’Arville to go into third, with Felix Vogg and Cartania following her into fourth.
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.
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Oscar joined Horse & Hound in October 2023 and is the magazine’s dressage editor and sports manager, overseeing coverage of equestrian sport. After studying equine science at Myerscough College, he spent four years working for leading dressage rider Emile Faurie, competing at the 2015 National Dressage Championships and travelling with the yard to CDIs including Aachen and Saumur. He holds a master’s degree in Literature from York St John University (2021).
