One eliminated at trot-up at Badminton Horse Trials
Piggy French’s ride What A Performance (pictured right competing earlier this season) was the only horse eliminated at the final horse inspection at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this morning.
Piggy lay 18th overnight after putting in an excellent cross-country round, finishing clear inside the time with Sir William and Lady Aldous’s horse. But this morning the bay gelding was sent to the holding box before being spun on re-inspection.
Two horses were withdrawn overnight, Swedish rider Viktoria Carlerback’s ride Ballys Geronimo (12th after cross-country) and New Zealander Bundy Philpott’s Fig Jam (32nd).
Task Force, ridden by America’s Jan Byyny, was sent to the holding box, but passed on re-inspection.
Badminton final scores
There was drama too for Caroline Powell, 16th overnight with Lenamore, when the horse spooked and fell over as the crowd cheered when Task Force was passed. She took the grey gelding aside and presented him a few horses later, when he passed.
The first session of show jumping for the lower-placed competitors starts at 11.15am, with the top 20 jumping at 2pm.
Log on later for a final report from Badminton from H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome, plus her blog.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Don’t miss Horse & Hound next Thursday (10 May) for full 18-page report, analysis and photographs from Badminton, including more on the riders’ reaction to the ground conditions on the cross-country.
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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.