Do you want to have a sneak peek at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, for this year’s event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May)? Of course you do!
Horse & Hound sent 2019 Badminton winner Piggy March on a mission to Gloucestershire to review Eric Winter’s track. You can read her thoughts on every fence in this week’s magazine (dated 27 April). In the meantime, check out these pictures of the course…
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Fence three, the Tortworth Hotel Brush, offers riders their first choice on course, with a right- or left-hand side available to jump.
Badminton final scores
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
At the Savills Staircase (fence 4abcd), competitors jump a big oxer, two steps down, then another big oxer.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Piggy eyes up the big spread at fence 5ab, the Countryside Alliance Stick Pile.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Fence 6ab, the Joules Coronation Corral, consists of two upright gates.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Fence seven, the Air Ambulances UK Bullfinch, has an old-fashioned feel.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Riders jump rails, then bounce to a drop down and over a shoulder brush at the Lightsource bp Hollow (fence 8abc).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
The landing side of the Isuzu 4 Bar 4 at fence nine.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
This big log forms the jump into the first water complex, the Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay (fence 10ab).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Fence 11, the Rolex T Bar, should be a let-up question for combinations at this level.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Piggy strides out the distance from the step up to the owl hole at the Holland Cooper complex (fence 12ab).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Piggy then checks out the KBIS Brush Boxes (fence 14abcd).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
The Footbridge at fence 14 should provide some dramatic photos, but is unlikely to trouble horses at this level.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
The Lightsource bp Pond (fence 15ab) offers a choice of routes over the solar panels.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Course-designer Eric Winter points out the route through the Lightsource bp Pond.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
The obstacle into the Lemieux Mound complex at fence 17ab.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
A view of Badminton House as Piggy checks out the Mars M Tables (fences 18 and 19ab).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Check out the route from the rails in to the corner in the Badminton Lake (fences 21abc and 22).
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Course-designer Eric Winter and Piggy March assess the challenge.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
A side view of the boxes at the Project Pony Splash (fence 23) – riders can choose which to jump.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
The direct route through the Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close (fence 25ab) consists of two inviting open corners.
Badminton Horse Trials Course Walk with Piggy March and Eric Winter - 6th April 2023 - Badminton, Gloucestershire
(Image credit: Benjamin Clark)
Riders are on the home straight of the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course by the time they get to the HorseQuest Quarry (fence 27ab).
Pictures by Benjamin Clark
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials
If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the BadmintonTV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoythe magazine deliveredto your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access ouronline servicethat brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
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.
