Tim Price and Falco have put in a good round as the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country hurtles towards its conclusion today (Saturday, 9 May).
Riding around the Badminton cross-country with a broken collarbone after a fall from a bicycle a couple of weeks ago, Tim Price steered Falco round with just four time-faults. The pair were 10th after dressage and sit sixth of those who have completed, with a couple of riders still to go.
“Falco is an old friend and I’ve had him 10 years. Owner Sue Benson – who is famous in her own right [she was second at Badminton 1979 and was the London 2012 Olympics course-designer] – trusted me with him and there’s not another horse I’d do it with,” said Tim of the horse with whom he has won Pau Horse Trials, been second at Maryland 5 Star and won world double bronze.
“Coming here with her knowledge and my knowledge, even with me being a being compromised – I rode him in a way I felt was sustainable and, with it being his first Badminton, I couldn’t be more thrilled for him and for Sue.”
Badminton final scores
Time-faults have resulted in some other top contenders moving down the leaderboard.
Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and home-bred Hooney D’Arville, the 2024 Luhmühlen Horse Trials winners, finished clear but their 6.4 time-faults dropped them further down the top 10 from third after dressage.
“We had a scary moment at fence two – I had a forward shot, she drifted to the left and took the decor on the side of the big barrel and I thought it was going to end early,” said Lara, who put things back on track for a good round.
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“I thought I rode my horse and not the results today, which was the biggest achievement for me. Obviously over 11 minutes 30 seconds, she was a bit tired at the end, but she managed pretty well.”
Switzerland’s Felix Vogg, similarly, had 7.2 time-faults with last year’s Maryland 5 Star winner Cartania to slip a few placings from fourth in the first phase.
Felix had some risky moments on course, including getting hung up on the rail in the middle of the Spillers Sustainability Bay (fence 20abcd), but the frangibles did not break so he was unpenalised.
The Swiss rider was taking the route which is technically the alternative, but which has become popular as the day progresses – it means riders avoid the corner in the middle of the water, jumping a rail in the water instead, but they do have to go up a steeper bank on the exit of the pond. Lara and Tim both took this route too.
Of his round in general, Felix said: “It’s easier for her when there’s a lot of galloping at the beginning. Here, it’s a bit like a four-star at the beginning and then in the middle part, it turns into a short four-star, so it’s a lot of work with her.
“I’ll have to think about what I do differently next year. I tried to prepare, because I knew what it was like from two years ago. But she has her own opinion and she just goes.”
Shortly before Lara’s round, her compatriot Wouter de Cleene was pitched forward on landing at the Beaufort Owl Hole and fell off Quintera in to the water.
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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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.
