Harry Meade will ride three horses around the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course today (9 May) so it will be a busy day for him – and all his team.
Harry’s first horse is the pathfinder Et Hop Du Matz, who starts at 11.30am, his second is Annaghmore Valoner at 1.53pm and his third is Cavalier Crystal, who is expected to leave the box at 3.43pm.
“Obviously, I can’t watch anyone else on course before my first horse because I’m first out,” said Harry Meade when asked after dressage about his cross-country day plan for riding three horses at Badminton.
“But I will ride all three horses early, before the crowd start arriving and just give them a limber up. I might even pop a couple of fences on my two later ones, just so that if my warm-up ends up being quite short, I’ve jumped a fence already.”
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Harry continued: “Then it’s very much getting going on the first and just thinking about each horse in turn. I will try and find out if there’s any feedback from what other people have done when I get off my first horse, but then I’ll get on my second, concentrate on that, get on my third, concentrate on that. There won’t be much time in between.
“I will try and hear what has happened to others – or if I can, watch a tiny bit – at the end of each ride, but at the same time it’ll be a case of eat, go back and start warming up the next one.”
Asked if he likes going out first, Harry said: “No, I think generally it’s a disadvantage going first. I don’t want to volunteer for it because I seem to be first at every five-star I go to – it’s about my 10th five-star where I’ve been first to go.
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“But like being the one going out of the trenches and over the top first, it’s probably part of your character that you’d be up for that challenge and relish it. I have my plan and sometimes it’s simpler to just stick to my plan, go for it and what will be will be.”
Harry Meade: how entering three horses at Badminton works
World number one Harry is the only rider with three horses at Badminton this year. He initially entered five horses, using double entries to secure three slots in the draw. Double entries are when two horses are entered for a single entry space, with the rider deciding later which horse will run.
Riders can enter three horses (or for three spaces, if using double entries) at Badminton, but the third horse will only be accepted to start if all the other horses have come off the wait-list.
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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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.
