Olympic medallist Tina Cook has given exclusive insight into the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, for Horse & Hound’s preview ahead of this year’s event (8 to 11 May).
Tina, who has finished in the top-10 at Badminton on multiple occasions, rates and reviews all 32 numbered fences in this week’s magazine, which will be available from Thursday 1 May.
Eric Winter’s CCI5* track runs clockwise this year. The Agria Corners (fences six and seven) are one of the key early questions on the course and are swiftly followed by the Mars Lake.
“It’s the cumulative effect of the questions Eric has set that make this course testing, rather than individual fences that stand out for their difficulty. There’s plenty out there, and it’ll be great fun to watch,” says Tina.
Don’t miss today’s issue of H&H magazine – out now (1 May) for the full preview.
Badminton final scores
Watch Tina walk three fences on the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course
Mars Lake (10abc)
The direct route is over a rolltop, followed by a punchy one stride to a second rolltop, landing in the lake. From here, there are four strides to an arrowhead brush in the water, followed by another four strides to a second arrowhead brush up a slope on dry land (pictured before the brushes’ final cut). There is a very long alternative at this fence, where riders jump a rolltop, loop around the edge of the lake on dry land, followed by another rolltop heading in the opposite direction to the direct route. Competitors then jump an arrowhead brush in the water and loop back on themselves to another arrowhead brush on dry land.
“This is a real Badminton fence,” says Tina.
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Tina walks the direct route at the Mars Lake in the video below
Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay (14ab)
Competitors have a choice of a left- or right-handed route at this fence. They will jump one of two hedges at 14a, followed by a curving line to a brush hedge in the water – which can be jumped from either direction.
Tina walks the route from the right-handed hedge at this fence and also highlights the alternative option
Equidry Huntsman’s Close (25ab)
The direct route is a double of wide, open corners on five strides. Competitors have a choice of lines through the trees to the first one of these. There is also a long route at this fence, which features an oxer then a loop through the woodland to a corner.
“As a rider, you will know how much petrol you have left in the tank,” says Tina.
Watch Tina walk the direct route and point out the longer option
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials
If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.
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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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
