When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When cross-country gives Caroline Powell a bad day, she makes (well, eats, ice cream). And so it was on Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day today (9 May).
Caroline Powell visits the ice cream van after retiring at Badminton 2026.
(Image credit: Val Orme @forestviewartdelamere)
Caroline’s ice cream came courtesy of Lucy Ayton and her family. Lucy was at Badminton with her mother Sarah, aunt Kathryn and friends Kay and Virginia.
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“Virginia and I were talking about getting an ice cream and after Caroline retired, we saw there was no queue so headed over,” Lucy told H&H.
“We’d just got ours and saw Caroline walk past with one of the hunt horses. She looped back towards the ice cream van and said, ‘Ooh ice cream’. We asked if she wanted one and she replied, ‘I’ve got no money on me’ so we offered to get one for her and she kindly accepted.”
Lucy reports that the chosen ice cream flavour of Caroline Powell was vanilla, with no flake.
Caroline Powell tucks into an ice cream on the way back after retiring at Badminton 2026.
(Image credit: Val Orme @forestviewartdelamere)
“We didn’t manage to get a photo as we were all far too excited and Greenacres Special Cavalier was still in cross-country mode, but Caroline was absolutely lovely and seemed really grateful. It definitely made our day and will be something we talk about for years to come!” said Lucy.
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Caroline reported that both her horses are safe and sound after cross-country day.
“The bonus of the day was the Beaufort Hunt’s Jason Wood escorting Cav and I off the cross-country via the ice cream van. Cav was in her element waiting in the queue! And I definitely appreciated a bit of kindness after a tough old day,” she said.
Lucy and her group are from Hertfordshire and they attend Badminton every year on Friday (for shopping and dressage) and Saturday (for cross-country) before heading home on Sunday to watch the highlights and showjumping on television. We wonder if they’ll spot themselves on the highlights tomorrow?
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.
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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.
