The dramatic closing stages of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country today (9 May) included the unusual sight of a fall for Harry Meade and the retirement of 2024 Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier.
Harry’s third ride of the day, Cavalier Crystal, has been third at Burghley Horse Trials three times and was fourth here last year, so a strong performance was expected of Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s mare.
However, the pair came unstuck at Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab), where the mare stood on herself and was unable to get her legs up at the angled rail after the open ditch. She dived through the rail, breaking the frangibles and firing Harry off.
Harry explained: “Cavalier Crystal was sensational – she was almost my banker. She was up on the clock, giving me at least a good a ride as Annaghmore Valoner.”
Badminton final scores
Harry continued: “Then she jumped into the farm yard combination and stood on herself – she’s got quite a deep cut on her pastern. She basically pulled herself over. She’s a lovely horse who was desperately trying to do her job.
“I’ve had 18 rides here – 17 amazing rides – and that was best of all of them until then, but the sport keeps us all grounded, quite literally.”
Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier seemed to slightly misjudge their stride to jump up onto the bank at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab). One of the mare’s hindlegs didn’t land cleanly and she was then unable to take on the jump on the top, leaning on the house with her chest and activating the frangible device. Caroline popped her over the alternative and then pulled up and walked home.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“Annaghmore Valoner is a lovely mare who has historically lacked self-belief and been quite an introvert, a worrier. I always run her in a very relaxed, lobbing way round one-days, which means I can bring her out on a day like today and she can cruise with that relaxation,” said Harry. “She made it feel pretty easy.”
Thirty-five of the 59 starters (59%) jumped clear over Eric Winter’s track today, with seven (12%) inside the time.
Aside from the top four, the clears in the time came from France’s Gaspard Maksud (Zaragoza, equal 11th), New Zealand’s Tayla Mason (Centennial, 13th) and the home side’s Holly Richardson (Ballyneety Silver Service, 22nd).
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.
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.
