A new five-star pathway could help combat declining entries for Mars Badminton and Defender Burghley, its proposer hopes.
Badminton’s 61 starters this year was its lowest for more than 20 years, and from 2023 to 2026, it had 274 starters in total, compared with 333 in 2011 to 2015 (excluding 2012 when the event was cancelled). Burghley had 52 starters in 2025. This is the same as in 2022, both the lowest starter numbers at the event for at least 20 years. The past four runnings of Burghley (2022 to 2025) have had 228 entries, compared with 292 in 2012 to 2015.
“These numbers will continue to drop, as long as we don’t do something about it,” said Sam Watson, eventer and co-founder of data analytics company EquiRatings. He cited a 36.9% decline at five-star feeder events, CCI2*-L, CC3*-L and CCI4*-L, from 2014/2015 to 2024/2025, while the equivalent short format events dropped by just 2.9%.
“What’s worrying is that this is not by design – it is not part of a vision or plan,” he told H&H.
Sam believes eventing has developed a “commercial horse”, suited to championships, and a five-star horse and that there is no appropriate pathway for the five-star horses, nor are breeders incentivised to breed them.
Removal of the steeplechase
Pinpointing the removal of the steeplechase in the early to mid-2000s, he said: “In the old days, we taught gallopers to do dressage and showjumping; now we are trying to teach dressage and showjumping horses to gallop. It took a long time for athletes to realise what they could get away with and then for that to filter to breeders. We are seeing a huge drop in thoroughbred blood. The phase influence at the lower levels doesn’t match it at five-star.”
Sam’s proposal is a few events at two- or three-star long with a steeplechase immediately after cross-country. It would be run at a faster speed than cross-country, jumping “safe profile” brush fences.
“Horses used to be in fourth gear across country, fifth on the chase, whereas now they are all-out across country, which puts them in a different balance. This new phase is a test of whether horses have the gallop needed later in their careers. You can do too much with young horses but also too little,” said Sam, adding that decent prize money would encourage riders and breeders to aim for the events.
Badminton director Jane Tuckwell told H&H that since a peak in the mid- to late 2000s, entries have reduced.
“With increased qualifications, we aim to host the best of the best – as a showcase, we can’t afford to have people who aren’t ready,” she said. “We are always trying to find that sweet spot and if some years we are up a bit and some years down, so be it. This year’s field was high calibre and 60 starters is perfectly acceptable.
“While breeding lines have changed, I don’t think anyone is not trying to breed a Badminton or Burghley winner. It’s a pyramid and some horses are not suitable for the top level for whatever reason.
Beyond the course
“Badminton and Burghley prepare pairs for championships in ways beyond the course, such as the crowds and the pressure.”
Burghley director Martyn Johnson echoed Jane’s point about showcases.
“Increased minimum eligibility results [qualifications] have restricted some that would come to Badminton and Burghley, which isn’t a bad thing, with social licence – we can’t afford to be showing bad pictures,” he told H&H. “I don’t think it’s necessarily a negative if we’re running 60 very good combinations rather than 80 including 20 who shouldn’t be there.
“It’s a big conversation and there isn’t a silver bullet. Thought has to be given to longer-term direction and how championships and five-stars fit in.
“There are a lot of considerations down to grassroots level, where numbers have fallen since Covid. The cost of living, competing and organising events are all up, which are challenges we have to try and counter, while remaining positive.”
Constructive discussion
FEI eventing director Molly Day told H&H Sam has raised important points, and it is positive to see constructive discussion.
“Participation numbers are something the FEI, organisers, athletes and national federations monitor closely,” she said. “I don’t think the drop in five-star entries is cause for alarm, but it’s something we take seriously and continue to analyse.
“I think Sam’s proposal is a really interesting contribution to the discussion – there is definitely value in continuing to explore how we prepare combinations for the demands of top-level eventing, both technically and physically.
“At the FEI, we continuously review athlete and horse pathways in eventing and particularly how we support combinations progressing from lower level to five-star – we do that as part of our everyday and we will continue to do that.”
> What do you think of Sam’s proposal? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
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