Latest from Horse & Hound in Badminton-horse-trials

Farewell to Badminton eventer remembered for her ‘extraordinary, indomitable spirit’, aged 91

Becky Murray — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Virginia May, the former eventer, who completed Badminton Horse Trials twice during the 1950s, died on 6 July, aged 91.

Virginia grew up in Puttenham, Surrey. She came from a sporting family; her mother Marjorie played golf for England and her father Harold played cricket for Sussex and captained the England team in Australia.

She started riding as a child through a family friend and never lost her love of horses. Her first pony was named Janie and she enjoyed hunting with her sister Joanna and her pony Punch.

Virginia moved to Shamley Green, Surrey, and went on to compete at the highest level in eventing, riding alongside the likes of Sheila Willcox and back when the long-format included the phase E gallop section after cross-country.

She rode at Badminton twice with her much-loved mare Jungle Queen, a 15.2hh thoroughbred who was small in size but had a heart of a lion. They completed in 1956 and were fifth in 1958. Two years later, they were shortlisted for the Rome Olympics.

In 1959, Virginia married Peter May, the Surrey and England cricket captain, and the couple had four daughters – Suzanne, Nicola, Annabelle and Tessa.

Virginia was very involved with the Hampshire Hunt branch of the Pony Club and trained their event team, which included a young Hugh Thomas, his sister Helen, Brynley Powell and Malcolm Wallace.

She played a huge part in all her girls’ journeys, from learning to ride to competing at the highest levels in dressage and eventing, three of whom successfully competed at Badminton and Burghley.

Virginia will be remembered for her “extraordinary, indomitable spirit that she never gave up”.

She will be sorely missed by her daughters, five grandchildren and one great grandson, who all adored her.

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‘I needed help to get out of bed’ – Tim Price’s story of riding through Kentucky and Badminton with a broken collarbone

Pippa Roome — Sun, 31 May 2026 15:05:29 +0000

“It was proper throw up sort of material… on the Sunday morning of Kentucky, I needed help to get out of bed,” says Tim Price as he describes the pain of pushing through riding at two five-stars this spring with a broken collarbone.

The accident happened on the Saturday before Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event week, when Tim was competing four four-star horses at Oudkarspel in the Netherlands, with the intention of giving them a little warm-up run before he headed away for a couple of weeks.

“I was coming back from buying some studs, just before I was about to hop on my first horse for cross-country,” says Tim, who discussed what happened on the current episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, sponsored by Leader Equine.

“I was biking back in all of my cross-country kit and the bag of studs was hanging on my handlebars. It swung out and caught around one of those temporary fences and just yanked the handlebars to the left.”

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Tim continues: “The bike and I went down very quickly onto my right shoulder and I knew straight away, rolling around on the ground, crunch, crunch, and a lot of pain – and I could not believe what just happened.

“I do some silly things to hurt myself, not always off a horse, just some silly moments – perhaps when I was a bit younger – but this was just a total accident and a very untimely one.”

Tim’s two rides for Kentucky, Global Quest and Vitali, had landed in the USA 24 hours earlier.

“You have so many quids in when you’ve got horses in America, I just felt like I needed to do what I could do to get there,” says Tim.

“That involved sweet talking the local hospital to get me into surgery that Saturday night, to get a plate or two put in my clavicle to give it some strength. He was a really, really switched-on surgeon who understood what I was trying to achieve when I told him that I need to get on a plane the next day – which actually became the day after to give a bit of time after surgery.”

Tim was halfway round the Kentucky cross-country course on his first horse Global Quest, at Pete’s Hollow (fence14abc) at the top of the course, when the fix to his collarbone came apart.

“It was quite a moment on the course when it did happen – it was a fantastic sparkling sensation of pain,” says Tim.

Somehow, Tim managed to get home on Global Question, pilot Vitali round the cross-country clear with a few time-faults and showjump both horses on Sunday “basically with a broken collarbone because the two plates were rattling in there and so were the bones”.

He says: “It’s not something I ever want to repeat, that kind of feeling. I know childbirth is a very difficult thing for women but I reckon this is possibly up there in the pain department.

“It was terrible. It was a little bit mind over matter. It all happened so quick – the injury and then getting to America and then getting on with it. I just tried to tough it out – there’s only a certain amount of painkillers you can take through a competition, of course, and I just wanted to be normal, whereas by Sunday I wasn’t normal anymore.

“I had to be very soft in my contact and both horses showjumped clear, including Vitali’s first ever showjumping clear at five-star level, so that was interesting – there were some learnings to take away from it.”

Tim Price: a second collarbone surgery

Tim returned to the UK after Kentucky, but ended up going back to the same surgeon in the Netherlands for his second operation.

“It was a bit hard to convince the NHS to put me back on the road with the purpose of going to another big event so I went back to the guy that was already invested,” he says.

“We swapped WhatsApp numbers and he stayed in touch with me out in the US and I told him, ‘Look, I think it’s falling apart’, and he said, ‘Well, I can fit you in for surgery on Monday of Badminton week.’

“So off I trundle back over there, and he took those two plates out and had been conjuring up another plan – fortunately he’s a man for whom the more complex the surgery, the better and so he revelled in the challenge.

“He put me in a different plate set-up with a wire that pulls the plate down. It sounds all a bit funky in there and I can’t wait to get it out one day when it’s all healed.”

Tim Price and Falco on the way to second at Badminton 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Tim rode “another very old friend”, Falco, at Mars Badminton Horse Trials and said he “tippy toed” into the week, prepared to withdraw if it wasn’t possible and riding with his weakened shoulder front of mind this time.

“I cross-country schooled him before I went for the surgery, which wasn’t so comfortable, but I went and I rode him softly in the rein, just asking him, ‘Are you okay with this kind of feeling?’ And he seemed to be really good and he filled me with a lot of confidence that this was the right thing for him, so then we just needed to work out if it was the right thing for me.”

Wearing a good supporting vest to keep his shoulder in position, Tim managed to ride through Badminton week, keeping his shoulder plate in place, and finished second.

Hear more about what led to Vitali’s incredible showjumping clear and find out all about Badminton runner-up Falco losing his top front teeth on episode 177 of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

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‘Numbers will drop more if we don’t act’: top eventer’s suggestion to boost Badminton and Burghley entries

Pippa Roome — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:16:34 +0000

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.

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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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‘Badminton course designer Eric Winter will be pleased with his statistics, but he didn’t help British selectors,’ says Mark Phillips

Mark Phillips — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:28:29 +0000

H&H eventing columnist and one of the world’s top course designers Mark Phillips analyses the Badminton cross-country course and the TV commentary

In the old days, Frank Weldon built Badminton so that when the Brits reached the championship later in the year, the course would seem easy. With my selector hat on, I was disappointed with this year’s course!

This was not a bigger and more difficult version of what the squad will face at the World Championships in Aachen and was therefore of little value to selectors.

Over time, course-designer Eric Winter has developed the Mars Badminton Horse Trials track with more terrain and changes of direction, which has made the time more challenging.

This year’s course was undoubtedly of five-star dimensions which, combined with 13 combinations, made the time even more difficult.

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When the time is tight, people make stupid mistakes, especially when they feel the course is relatively straightforward.

Therefore, the fact that many of the combinations were of three- and four-star technical difficulty didn’t matter, as it was all about the clock and the riders making sure they jumped every fence without losing concentration.

Eric should be commended for producing a different type of track and will be pleased with his statistics. He will not be worried about the British selectors!

A different picture at Kentucky

Three weeks ago, at Kentucky five-star, the course was more traditional and therefore produced numerous flag penalties because of the proliferation of angles and skinnies. There were a number of controversial decisions by the ground jury, some of which had significant financial consequences in prize money won and lost.

I’m sure we will see the wording of the flag penalty rule amended before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as officials and riders must have a clear understanding of how the rule is interpreted before the Games. The Brits won gold despite Ros Canter’s flag in Paris – we don’t want to be forced into a situation where we rely on such luck again in Los Angeles.

On a more positive note, I congratulate the television team on their Badminton commentary. They did an excellent job in emphasising how much the riders care about their horse’s welfare. I came away on cross-country evening moved by how the competitors demonstrated their love for their horses. I’d always known it, but the commentary and Clare Balding’s interviews brought it home.

Five-star lives on

When Badminton entries were down, naysayers were quick to herald the end of the five-star era in the current world of 10-minute championships.

These people should have looked out of the window last weekend as Badminton, bathed in spring sunshine, attracted crowds the like of which I’ve not seen before. Even the grassroots classes swelled the car park in what felt like an unprecedented fashion.

The crowds were rewarded with the privilege of watching one of the all-time great combinations, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. They were in a league of their own in the dressage and produced a foot-perfect cross-country round. Their ability to slow down without pulling and ride forward at will to add and take out strides is unprecedented – and this just months after Ros’s second baby.

Not since the London Olympics with my daughter Zara have I been able to follow the progress of a combination around the course by listening to the cheers of the crowd.

This has to be the mark of superstar status.

At the end of the day, the story was Walter’s record-breaking three wins and now we can only wish him and Ros well for the World Championships.

Many will not know that Tim Price had his collarbone plated the Monday before Kentucky and then another operation the Monday before Badminton to put in bigger screws! How Tim rode through the pain barrier I will never know. His consolation for being second is that he was second to Lordships Graffalo which, on a normal day, would be a win.

Well done, too, to Harry Meade, who continues his impressive list of five-star finishes to stay in contention for championship honours.

But at the end of the day, everyone will remember Badminton 2026 for Ros Canter and the majestic Lordships Graffalo.

● What’s your favourite Lordships Graffalo memory? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, as well as exclusive insights from top names, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also enjoy reading:

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Badminton prizes: more accolades for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo plus best mare, best local rider and more

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

New mother Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo make history with third Badminton win: ‘I’m in awe of how he jumped’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘Badminton is one week of the year, children are forever’: overnight leader Ros Canter on combining motherhood and elite sport

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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Badminton prizes: more accolades for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo plus best mare, best local rider and more

Pippa Roome — Wed, 13 May 2026 08:10:07 +0000

The dust is starting to settle and it’s time for us to catch up with all the prize winners from the week after a fantastic Mars Badminton Horse Trials, dominated by record-breakers Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo.

Who was the best mare? The best Brit completing for the first time? The best local rider? Read on to find out.

Badminton Horse Trials prize winners 2026

Ros and Lordships Graffalo, and their connections, took home a glut of prizes…

The Challenge Badminton Horse Trials Trophy to the winning owners: Michele and Archie Saul for Lordships Graffalo

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Lordships Graffalo’s owners Michele and Archie Saul (right) with Ros Canter, plus the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and Bridgett McIntosh, director of Mars Equestrian. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Mars Equestrian Yeti Cool Box to the winning rider: Ros Canter

Butler Challenge Bowl, with replica for the highest-placed British rider: Ros Canter

46 Rosalind Canter riding Lordships Graffalo during the cross country phase of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials at fence fence 14 KBIS Slalom at Badminton, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK between 6 - 10 May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Mars Equestrian and Spillers prize – £1,000 – plus Mark Holliday Memorial Trophy to the groom of winner: Sarah Charnley

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Breeder of the winner: Lordships Stud and Pennie Wallace

Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain for the owner of best horse sired by a SHB(GB) graded stallion or premium stallion, provided it is in the top 12: Michele and Archie Saul for Lordships Graffalo (by Grafenstolz)

46 Rosalind Canter riding Lordships Graffalo winner of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK between 6 - 10 May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Meanwhile the rest of the top three were also treated to a replica of the trophy.

Replica of the trophy to the top three riders and the winning owner: Michele and Archie Saul, Ros Canter, Tim Price and Harry Meade

Tim Price and Falco on the way to second at Badminton 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Other Badminton Horse Trials prize winners

And here’s where the rest of the awards went…

Worshipful Company of Saddlers £1,000 saddlery voucher to the best-placed under-25 rider who has not previously won a Company prize in the calendar year: Tom Bird riding Cowling Hot Gossip

Tom Bird and Cowling Hot Gossip on their way to finishing 37th. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Silver Jubilee Plate to the most successful rider on a horse owned by the rider alone, or in conjunction with immediate family: Sam Watson for Ballyneety Rocketman, 20th

50 Sam Watson riding Ballyneety Rocketman during the cross country phase at during the MARS Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK between 6 - 10 May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Laurence Rook Trophy for the best British rider who has not previously completed Badminton: Holly Richardson riding Ballyneety Silver Service, 27th

Holly RICHARDSON (GBR) and BALLYNEETY SILVER SERVICE during the Cross Country phase, Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 9 May 2026. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission. (Image credit: Nico Morgan Media)

Glentrool Trophy for the horse and rider who have made greatest improvement on their dressage placing: Tayla Mason and Centennial, up from 40th to sixth

32 Tayla Mason riding CentennialShow Jumping PhaseMARS Badminton Horse Trials, Tetbury, 6th - 10th May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Frank Weldon Memorial Trophy for the rider of the youngest British-owned and ridden horse in top 12: Tom Jackson for United 36, fourth

5 Tom Jackson riding United 36fence 9 Mars Badminton LakeMARS Badminton Horse Trials, Tetbury, 6th - 10th May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Cotswold Life Trophy to the best British rider who is not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack badge and whose permanent address is in the county of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Somerset: Aaron Miller, who finished 11th on Friendship VDL

iiiAaron MILLAR (GBR) and FRIENDSHIP VDL during the Cross Country phase, Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 9 May 2026. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission. (Image credit: Nico Morgan Media)

The William Miflin Memorial Trophy to the rider of the horse with no cross-country jumping penalties and closest to optimum time: Sarah Bullimore with Corimiro, who finished one second inside the time and ended up 10th

Sarah BULLIMORE (GBR) and CORIMIRO during the Cross Country phase, Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 9 May 2026. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission. (Image credit: Nico Morgan)

Farriers’ Prize – plaque to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse: Jim Bendon for Tom Bird, Helen Kerry and Fran Bird’s Cowling Hot Gossip

Master Farrier John Cowper-Cole presents Jim Bendon with the prize for best shod horse. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Stud Voucher £500 to the owner of the highest-placed British-owned mare: Stephen and Dinah Posford and their daughter Jules Carter for Annaghmore Valoner, third with Harry Meade

Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner on their way to third place. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Embryo Transfer or OPU (0vum pick-up) session to the highest-placed British-bred or domiciled mare, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine: Annaghmore Valoner

iiiHarry MEADE (GBR) and ANNAGHMORE VALONER during the Cross Country phase, Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 9 May 2026. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission. (Image credit: Nico Morgan Media)

David Beaufort Memorial Trophy to the person who has contributed to the running of the horse trials over many years: Caroline Bromley Gardener, who has done the cross-country fence illustrations at Badminton since 1968

The Duchess of Beaufort presents Caroline Bromley Gardner with the David Beaufort Memorial Trophy. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Armada Dishes (for five Badminton completions, presented a year after the fifth completion): Sarah Ennis, Georgie Goss, Harry Meade, Tom Rowland (pictured below on Dreamliner at this year’s event), Joseph Murphy

iiiTom ROWLAND (GBR) and DREAMLINER during the Cross Country phase, Mars Equestrian Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 9 May 2026. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission. (Image credit: Nico Morgan)

Pictures of Badminton Horse Trials prize winners by Peter Nixon and Nico Morgan Media

How to watch and listen to Badminton Horse Trials

To watch Badminton Horse Trials 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.

Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound

To look back on 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 28-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 14 May.

Badminton Horse Trials 2026 results: Ros Canter tops the leaderboard and sets a new record

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 17:01:30 +0000

The final Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2026 results are in! Ros Canter was odds on to win today and the script played out, with the British rider piloting Lordships Graffalo to a clear round, so they became the first combination to win the title three times.

Behind her, it was a more topsy turvy situation, with none of the rest of the top 10 holding the same leaderboard position after showjumping as they occupied before the phase.

Badminton Horse Trials 2026 results: how the final day played out

The day started as it went on – with some changes to the leaderboard. Two horses were withdrawn before the final horse inspection.

Which horses were withdrawn?

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Three more horses left the competition at the final trot-up, with two not passed when they were re-presented to the ground jury and one withdrawn from the holding box.

Who was held and what happened to them?

This morning, we also caught up with some of those who didn’t finish the cross-country yesterday for an update on their horses’ welfare.

Hear what Gemma Stevens, Tom Strawson and more said

Moving into the afternoon, Tim Price jumped first of the eventual podium finishers, his faultless round on Falco putting pressure on the rest of the top pairs.

Tim finally talks publicly about how he broke his collarbone three weeks ago

Harry Meade had a single fence down to drop one spot with Annaghmore Valoner, a mare he adores.

Was Harry pleased with the round?

Ros Canter was the final rider in to jump and she and Lordships Graffalo put in one of their best rounds – there was little sign of the pressure of the situation in the way they performed to secure the title.

Why Ros won’t be celebrating tonight

And so the curtain falls on the 2026 Badminton Horse Trials, with the results set down in the history books and the legend of Ros and “Walter” continuing to spiral – what a pair.

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.

Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound

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 28-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 14 May.

Harry Meade secures third at Badminton with special mare: ‘She jumped out of her skin’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 16:20:17 +0000

Harry Meade claimed his second third place at Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (10 May), after one fence down in the showjumping.

Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter’s 14-year-old Annaghmore Valoner just touched fence six, the tricky red and white upright over a water tray, which caught out plenty of other combinations. Combined with 0.8 of a time-fault, this dropped the pair from second overnight to third.

Harry has made no secret this week of how much he loves this sensitive mare. He has had to instil self-belief in her for her to perform at this level and have confidence in her own undoubted talent. She has repaid him handsomely with two fourths at Defender Burghley Horse Trials and now third at Badminton.

“I thought she jumped beautifully. She went in and handled the cheers, the atmosphere, the crowd really well,” said Harry. “I was delighted with her round. She went in a beautiful, soft way and jumped out of her skin. She had a rail, which was very, very minor, but I couldn’t be happier with her.”

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Harry is the first eventing world number one who has not won a five-star and his quest for that honour continues.

But Harry would be the first to say today would have been a sad way for him to triumph at one, because it would have meant some kind of failure for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who had the whole crowd behind them as they put in a super round to seal the deal on their third Badminton title.

“Ros always plays down her own talent, but what she’s done is staggering and doesn’t happen in our sport,” said Harry. “She’s also a recent mother and to do this with all the challenges that go with that is outstanding.”

A clear inside the time for Tim Price saw him move up from equal fifth overnight to take second at Badminton, slipping ahead of Harry due to his showjumping penalties.

How to watch and listen to Badminton Horse Trials

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Horse who survived surgery and losing his front teeth claims second at Badminton Horse Trials with his injured rider

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 15:54:49 +0000

Tim Price secured second in the Mars Badminton Horse Trials showjumping today, his faultless round allowing him and Falco to rise from equal fifth overnight. It was a result with echoes of history because Falco’s owner Sue Benson was also the runner-up here, in 1979.

Showjumping clears were not easy to come by today at Badminton, but Tim Price and Falco showed their prowess in this phase to move up and take the runner-up spot behind history-makers Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo.

“I’ve always said it – when he was making mistakes [across country] at two- and three-star level, the thing I was desperate to get to was a Sunday at a long-format event, a significant one,” said Tim of the horse who was a Badminton first-timer this week, but who has significant experience at the top level.

“I’ve had a few of those Sundays now. We take all the horses for their qualities and every horse has their issues, but one of them is not showjumping for him, so it’s good fun.”

Badminton final scores

This was Tim’s best Badminton result and his second podium finish here after third on Xavier Faer in 2017 – and it came despite the fact he was riding injured, having broken his collarbone falling off a bike three weeks ago.

Tim was at an event in the Netherlands when the accident occurred. He was carrying a stud bag over his shoulder, which got caught on a gate and pulled him off the bike – “just as my horses were landing in the US for Kentucky,” said Tim today.

He went on to ride two horses at Kentucky Three-Day Event successfully, but said he has been more comfortable this week at Badminton, having had a second operation, as well as having the benefit of more time mentally “to compartmentalise it”.

At 17, Falco has already won Pau Horse Trials, been second at Maryland 5 Star, claimed double world bronze and landed sixth at the Paris Olympics.

He is a true servant to the sport and something of a warhorse. The son of Cardenio 2 has returned to top-level competition after having surgery to remove a tumour in October 2023 and disease meant he had his front teeth removed at the start of this year.

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New mother Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo make history with third Badminton win: ‘I’m in awe of how he jumped’

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 15:24:12 +0000

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo put in a super showjumping round to win Mars Badminton Horse Trials this afternoon (10 May), making history as the first combination to win the event three times.

By the time they entered the arena, the pair had two showjumps and some time-faults in hand, but their round was incredibly assured and “Walter” never looked like touching a rail. Ros piloted Michele and Archie Saul’s 14-year-old gelding round to finish with two time-faults to win by 8.2 penalties.

“I’m kind of stunned – I try not to let myself get involved in all the things people have been saying about him being the first one to do it three times, so I think that will sink in a bit later,” said Ros Canter, who added that Nick Turner and Chris Bartle warmed her up and filled her with confidence before her Badminton showjumping round.

“But gosh, I’m just absolutely in awe of how he jumped today. I thought it was probably one of the best rounds he’s ever jumped, and probably one of the best rounds I’ve ridden as well, so I’m delighted that we were able to pull it off at the right time.”

Badminton final scores

Ros added: “I can’t put into words what it means to ride a horse like that. He loves it, he lives for it, he’ll be so content tonight. He looks and feels a million dollars.”

Ros Canter had her second daughter Seneh less than four months ago and did her final Badminton interviews after showjumping with Seneh in her arms.

“I feel lucky to be able to juggle both jobs – family and sport. I’m privileged to be able to do both at the same time,” said Ros.

Asked about celebration plans, she added: “Seneh is normally a very good sleeper, but last night she was up between 1am and 4am and so I’m pretty exhausted actually. So Chris [McAleese, Ros’s husband] will drive us home, so hopefully I’ll sleep on the way home and so will she. We’ll celebrate at some point, but it definitely won’t be tonight.”

Tim Price finishes second to Ros Canter

Behind Ros, it wasn’t quite so easy. Harry Meade was second overnight on Annaghmore Valoner, owned by Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter, but they toppled the red and white upright over a water tray at fence six and had 0.8 of a time-fault, which ultimately dropped them from second to third.

This was Harry’s second time finishing third at Badminton, as he also collected this placing in 2014 with Wild Lone.

Tim Price moved up from fifth after cross-country to take second with a clear inside the time on Falco – the same spot the horse’s owner Sue Benson took herself in 1979.

The 17-year-old Falco has been first at Pau Horse Trials and second at Maryland 5 Star; his result here, despite Tim riding with a broken collarbone, truly franks his five-star form.

A single second over the time and a faultless round of showjumping secured fourth for Tom Jackson and the 10-year-old United 36, owned by Michael Stenning, who has come of age this week and looks like a serious horse for the future. They rose from eighth at the start of the phase.

Reigning British open champions Katie Magee and Angela Hislop’s Treworra just took out the first part of the orange butterfly double at fence 12 to move down one rank from fourth to fifth, their second good result here after 11th last year.

New Zealand’s Tayla Mason made a remarkable rise from 13th to sixth by just adding 1.6 time-faults on Centennial, while 12a also caught our France’s Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza, but they still rose from 12th to seventh.

It was an expensive day for Sarah Bullimore, who had the red postbox upright at four and the Mars Equestrian oxer at 10 down on the 10-year-old home-bred Corimiro. Their eight jumping faults and 1.6 time-penalties dropped them seven ranks from third to 10th.

Twelve jumping faults and seconds over the target cost both Ireland’s Lucy Latta (RCA Patron Saint) – riding with a dose of food poisoning – and Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (Hooney D’Arville). Lucy dropped from fifth to 17th and Lara from seventh to 19th.

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Celebrating Badminton Horse Trials winners: 1949 to current day

Carol Phillips — Sun, 10 May 2026 15:20:36 +0000

To have your name on the Badminton Horse Trials trophy is an achievement many dream of, but few accomplish

Following the 2026 running of the prestigious five-star in Gloucestershire, England, where history was made by Lordships Graffalo winning the Badminton title for the third time, we take a look back at the Badminton Horse Trials winners, dating all the way back to the first running of the event in 1949.

Who will add their name to the prestigious Badminton hall of fame in years to come?

Badminton Horse Trials winners

2026: Ros Canter (GBR) and Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo

2025: Ros Canter (GBR) and Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo

Badminton final scores

2024: Caroline Powell (NZL) and Chris Mann’s Greenacres Special Cavalier

2023: Ros Canter (GBR) and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo

2022: Laura Collett (GBR) riding her own, Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett’s London 52

2020/2021: The event was not held owing to the Covid-19 pandemic

2019: Piggy French (GBR) riding Trevor Dickens’ Vanir Kamira

2018: Jonelle Price (NZL) riding her own and Trisha Rickards’ Classic Moet

2017: Andrew Nicholson (NZL) riding Deborah Sellar’s Nereo

2016: Michael Jung (GER) with Jung Family and Erich Single’s La Biosthetique–Sam FBW

2015: William Fox-Pitt (GBR) with Christopher Stone’s Chilli Morning

2014: Sam Griffiths (AUS) riding his own, Dinah Posford’s and Jules Carter’s Paulank Brockagh

2013: Jonathan (Jock) Paget (NZL) on Frances Stead’s Clifton Promise

2012: Event cancelled due to waterlogged ground

2011: Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Bloodstock’s NZB Land Vision

2010: Paul Tapner (AUS) on his own and Jenny Waaler’s Inonothing

2009: Oliver Townend (GBR) on Robert & Edward Nicholson’s Flint Curtis

2008: Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) on Monique Girard Claudon’s Hildago De L’Ile

2007: Lucinda Fredericks (AUS) on her own and Clayton Fredericks’s Headley Britannia

2006: Andrew Hoy (AUS) on Susan Magnier’s Moonfleet

2005: Pippa Funnell (GBR) on Mr. & Mrs. R. Lincoln & Metier Consulting’s Primmore’s Pride

2004: William Fox-Pitt (GBR) on Mary Guinness’s Tamarillo

2003: Pippa Funnell (GBR) on The Pitt-Lewthwaite Syndicate’s Supreme Rock

2002: Pippa Funnell (GBR) on The Pitt-Lewthwaite Syndicate’s Supreme Rock

2001: Event cancelled due to foot and mouth disease

2000: Mary King (GBR) on Hiscox Insurance Company & D King’s Star Appeal

1999: Ian Stark (GBR) on Lady Hartington’s JayBee

1998: Christopher Bartle (GBR) on Mr and Mrs A Cantwell’s Word Perfect II

1997: David O’Connor (USA) on Custom Made

1996: Mark Todd (NZL) on Robert Howell Construction’s Bertie Blunt

1995: Bruce Davidson (USA) on Mr and Mrs G. Strawbridge’s Eagle Lion

1994: Mark Todd (NZL) on Horton Point Syndicate’s Horton Point

1993: Ginny Leng (GBR) on Citibank and Mrs H. Holgate’s Welton Houdini

1992: Mary Thomson (GBR) on Mrs G. Robinson and Mr. D. King’s King William

1991: Rodney Powell (GBR) on The Irishman II

1990: Nicola McIrvine (GBR) on Mrs J. Elliott’s Middle Road

1989: Ginny Leng (GBR) on Citibank Savings and Mrs H. Holgate’s Master Craftsman

1988: Ian Stark (GBR) on The Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s Sir Wattie

1987: Event cancelled due to bad weather

1986: Ian Stark (GBR) on The Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s Sir Wattie

1985: Ginny Holgate (GBR) on British National Life Assurance’s Priceless

1984: Lucinda Green (GBR) on SR Direct Mail Ltd’s Beagle Bay

1983: Lucinda Green (GBR) on SR Direct Mail Ltd’s Regal Realm

1982: Richard Meade (GBR) on George Wimpey Plc’s Speculator III

1981: Capt Mark Phillips (GBR) on Range Rover Team’s Lincoln

1980: Mark Todd (NZL) on Southern Comfort III

1979: Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR) on Mr C Cyzer’s Killaire

1978: Jane Holderness-Roddam (GBR) on Mrs S Howard and Mrs T. Holderness-Roddam’s Warrior

1977: Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR) on Mrs H. C. Straker’s George

1976: Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR) on Miss V Phillips’ Wide Awake

1975: Event abandoned due to waterlogged ground

1974: Capt. Mark Phillips (GBR) on HM The Queen’s Columbus

1973: Lucinda Prior-Palmer (GBR) on Be Fair

1972: Lt. Mark Phillips (GBR) on his own and Miss F Phillip’s Great Ovation

1971: Lt. Mark Phillips (GBR) on his own and Miss F Phillip’s Great Ovation

1970: Richard Meade (GBR) on the Combined Training Committee’s The Poacher

1969: Richard Walker (GBR) on Pasha

1968: Jane Bullen (GBR) on Our Nobby

1967: Celia Ross-Taylor (GBR) on Jonathan

1966: Event cancelled due to weather

1965: (Great Badminton) Major Eddie Boylan (IRE) on Durlas Eile; (Little Badminton) Capt. Martin Whiteley (GBR) on The Poacher

1964: (Great Badminton) Capt. James Templer (GBR) on M’Lord Connolly; (Little Badminton) Sheila Waddington (GBR) on Glenamoy

1963: Badminton ran as a one-day event due to ongoing poor weather

1962: (Great Badminton) Anneli Drummond-Hay (GBR) on Merely-a-Monarch; (Little Badminton) Penny Crofts (GBR) on HGraham-Clark’s Priam

1961: (Great Badminton) Laurie Morgan (AUS) on Salad Days; (Little Badminton) Capt. Peter Welch (GBR) on Mr. Wilson

1960: (Great Badminton) Bill Roycroft (AUS) on Our Solo; (Little Badminton) Capt. Martin Whiteley (GBR) on Peggoty

1959: (Great Badminton) Sheila Willcox-Waddington (GBR) on Airs and Graces; (Little Badminton) Shelagh Kesler (GBR) on Double Diamond

1958: Sheila Willcox (GBR) on High and Mighty

1957: Sheila Willcox (GBR) on High and Mighty

1956: Lt. Col. Frank Weldon (GBR) on Kilbarry

1955: (Held at Windsor) Major Frank Weldon (GBR) on Kilbarry

1954: Margaret Hough (GBR) on Bambi

1953: Major Laurence Rook (GBR) on J. R. Baker’s Starlight

1952: Capt. Mark Darley (GBR) on Emily Little

1951: Capt. Hans Schwarzenbach (SUI) on Vae Victis

1950: Capt. Tony Collings (GBR) on G H Crystal’s Remus

1949: John Shedden (GBR) on Mrs Home Kidson’s Golden Willow

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(Image credit: Future)

‘It’s a huge relief’: updates from Gemma Stevens and others who didn’t finish Badminton cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 10:00:12 +0000

Gemma Stevens reports that Chilli Knight is “home and very happy” after she pulled him up on the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country yesterday (9 May).

“He absolutely wrenched his shoe off, which made him sore – we are pretty sure it’s just that which is a huge, huge relief,” Gemma told H&H.

Gemma Stevens: “Ride of my life” on Badminton cross-country

Gemma Stevens was having a great round on the Badminton cross-country until shortly before she pulled up “Alfie” at the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee (fence 25ab)

Gemma said: “He was giving me the ride of my life – it’s like he grows wings at five-star. We are all absolutely gutted and would like to have a bit of luck sprinkled over us for next time! He deserves a good result at Badminton. Maybe things do come in threes… We’ve had our three so maybe next time.”

Badminton final scores

Gemma and the Stones’ Chilli Knight, who won the one-off Bicton Horse Trials five-star in 2021, would have won Badminton in 2024 but for a flag penalty which left them 14th and looked poised for a podium finish last year when they had 20 penalties in the showjumping, finishing 15th.

British first-timers report on their horses

Tom Strawson retired after the KBIS Slalom (fences 14ab and 15) with his own Public Address. He told H&H the horse tied up and lost both front shoes and is receiving fluids to help his recovery.

Fellow British first-timer Sam Ecroyd pulled up the Irlams’ Boleybawn Lecrae at fence 27, the Spillers Stables table.

Sam said: “I felt him not quite right – I just could feel in his gallop he wasn’t quite galloping as normal, so I backed off him from about halfway round. I was thinking I’ll just feel him out, see how he goes along and he was jumping a bit stickier and stickier, which is unlike him, so I pulled him up. He’s OK, he’s happy and he’s healthy but he has an injury.”

More from non-finishers

US first-timer Cassie Sanger and her own Redfield Fyre took a fall in the Spillers Sustainability Bay (fence 20abcd).

“Sadly it wasn’t meant to be today for ‘Yogi’ and me. We both took a tumble, but most importantly we both walked away and made it safely back to the barn,” said Cassie last night.

“He’s currently happy, healthy, and eating dinner. Not an easy one, but we will pick ourselves up and live to fight another day. I will always be proud of him.

“Thank you to our team and [groom] Meigs Rutherford for looking after us.”

Lithuanian rider Aistis Vitkauskas said his strategy was to go straight and fast to gain some positions after a poor dressage.

“But after having a mistake at number 15, I decided not to go further and spare Commander VG for better runs,” he said.

US rider Grace Taylor pulled up her mother Ann’s Game Changer after a run-out at the rail out of Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab).

“It wasn’t quite our day today. ‘Sydney’ was running exceptionally well and I felt we were so close to that clear and inside the time we have been working so hard towards. We will keep dreaming of that top-10 finish and will regroup and make a plan with our fantastic team,” she said, thanking everyone for their support.

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell reported that both her horses were “on the way home safe and sound” last night.

She fell with High Time (owned by Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West, Tom Craig, Annabel Jenks and his rider) at the Rathbones Curve and retired the Manns’ and her own Greenacres Special Cavalier after a stop at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab) – and, in a light-hearted moment, got an ice cream on her way home.

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Two top-20 contenders among three horses who leave competition at final trot-up at Badminton

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 08:59:55 +0000

Four horses were sent to the holding box at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials final trot-up today (Sunday, 10 May), with three of them leaving the competition at this stage.

Ireland’s Sarah Ennis was the first to be asked to go to the holding box with Grantstown Jackson, owned by Peter Cole and Susanna Francke, and they were not passed on re-inspection. The pair went clear yesterday, with 3.6 time-faults, to sit 19th overnight.

“Grantstown Jackson trotted up well this morning under the supervision of our team vet, but sadly the stewards at the final inspection saw something they were not completely happy with,” said Sarah.

“While it is of course disappointing, we fully respect and accept their opinion. Jackson’s welfare will always be the most important thing to us, and we would never take any risks with him.

Badminton final scores

“The good news is that he is bright, happy, and comfortable back in his stable being thoroughly spoiled by the team. We are incredibly proud of him and grateful for all the support and kind messages.”

Cancaras Girl, ridden by the US’s Tiana Coudray and owned by her rider and Jatial Ltd, was also sent to the holding box and she was passed when re-presented. They had 42 jumping penalties and 25.6 time-faults yesterday for 45th place after cross-country.

Kate and Peter Willis’ Chicko, ridden by China’s Alex Hua Tian, was the third horse into the holding box at the Badminton Horse Trials final trot-up. Chicko broke a frangible at the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee (fence 25ab) yesterday and had 14 time-faults for 34th overnight. He will take no further part in the competition after being spun when re-presented today.

Tom Rowland’s Dreamliner, owned by his breeders Mark and Angela Chamberlayne, was also held and Tom then decided to withdraw. He was 18th overnight after jumping clear and incurring 5.6 time-faults yesterday.

Badminton Horse Trials final trot-up: new route for horses

Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a slight logistical difference at the trot-up this year – Badminton has brought in a new system for horses leaving the horse inspection, so they go away through the gateway to the right of the end of the strip and don’t clash with horses coming through the arch from the stables before their turn.

Forty-three horses came before the ground jury this morning – Sweden’s Christina Klingspor (president), Angela Tucker (Britain) and Amanda Miller (USA) – after the withdrawal of two horses ahead of the inspection. Forty will therefore now progress to the final showjumping phase.

The showjumping starts at 11.30am with the lower-placed competitors. The top 20 then jump in the afternoon session at 2.45pm.

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Top-10 contender among two horses withdrawn ahead of Sunday’s final trot-up at Badminton

Pippa Roome — Sun, 10 May 2026 07:13:24 +0000

Two horses are on the Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals list ahead of the final horse inspection this morning (Sunday, 10 May).

Ballycoog Breaker Boy, ridden by Will Rawlin and owned by Will and his parents Andrew and Miranda, has been pulled out.

The British pair finished clear with 5.6 time-penalties yesterday and, in seventh overnight, were poised for their best Badminton result after 24th and 23rd in 2024 and 2025.

Fellow Brit Kylie Roddy’s ride SRS Kan Do, owned by Anne and Colin Fox and in 40th after cross-country, has also been pulled out.

Badminton final scores

“Sadly ‘GG’ is just not 100% to present today, so I have made the decision to withdraw,” she said. “Of course I’m disappointed not to complete Badminton, but my horse always comes first.

“GG is my buddy, my ride or die, and my partner for longer than most people’s marriages.

Thank you to everyone who has followed our journey and supported us along the way. That support means the world.”

The pair had 20 penalties at the arrowheads after the big drop at the Mayston Equestrian Hollow (fence 26abc) but completing the course was a landmark for Kylie, who has started here three times previously on “George” but not seen the finish flags.

Badminton Horse Trials Sunday withdrawals leave field of 43

Forty-five horses finished the cross-country yesterday, so these two Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals leave 43 expected to come forward for the Sunday horse inspection at 8.30am.

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‘We bought Caroline Powell an ice cream as she walked off course after retiring at Badminton!’ But what flavour was it?

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 20:49:51 +0000

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When cross-country gives Caroline Powell a bad day, she makes (well, eats, ice cream). And so it was on Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day today (9 May).

Having fallen with her first horse, High Time, Caroline retired her second, Greenacres Cavalier, on course after a stop at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab). Shortly afterwards, she was spotted on the live stream licking an ice cream, still mounted…

Caroline Powell visits the ice cream van after retiring at Badminton 2026. (Image credit: Val Orme @forestviewartdelamere)

Caroline’s ice cream came courtesy of Lucy Ayton and her family. Lucy was at Badminton with her mother Sarah, aunt Kathryn and friends Kay and Virginia.

Badminton final scores

“Virginia and I were talking about getting an ice cream and after Caroline retired, we saw there was no queue so headed over,” Lucy told H&H.

“We’d just got ours and saw Caroline walk past with one of the hunt horses. She looped back towards the ice cream van and said, ‘Ooh ice cream’. We asked if she wanted one and she replied, ‘I’ve got no money on me’ so we offered to get one for her and she kindly accepted.”

Lucy reports that the chosen ice cream flavour of Caroline Powell was vanilla, with no flake.

Caroline Powell tucks into an ice cream on the way back after retiring at Badminton 2026. (Image credit: Val Orme @forestviewartdelamere)

“We didn’t manage to get a photo as we were all far too excited and Greenacres Special Cavalier was still in cross-country mode, but Caroline was absolutely lovely and seemed really grateful. It definitely made our day and will be something we talk about for years to come!” said Lucy.

Caroline reported that both her horses are safe and sound after cross-country day.

“The bonus of the day was the Beaufort Hunt’s Jason Wood escorting Cav and I off the cross-country via the ice cream van. Cav was in her element waiting in the queue! And I definitely appreciated a bit of kindness after a tough old day,” she said.

Lucy and her group are from Hertfordshire and they attend Badminton every year on Friday (for shopping and dressage) and Saturday (for cross-country) before heading home on Sunday to watch the highlights and showjumping on television. We wonder if they’ll spot themselves on the highlights tomorrow?

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‘Badminton is one week of the year, children are forever’: overnight leader Ros Canter on combining motherhood and elite sport

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:59:58 +0000

Ros Canter has spoken about combining motherhood and being a top athlete as she rides at Mars Badminton Horse Trials this week, trying to make history with Lordships Graffalo by becoming the first combination to win the event three times.

“I’m very, very happy I’m a mum again – I think that’s overriding everything in that I wouldn’t change my situation for anybody else’s at this moment in time,” said Ros as she led the dressage yesterday evening (8 May).

Ros gave birth to her second daughter, Seneh – named after a house at the Black Country Museum, which she and husband Chris McAleese took their first child Ziggy to visit last year – in late January.

Ros said that she’s very short of time this week because “any spare moment I get I’m feeding her and things like that which is actually great, I’m really enjoying it”. So while she talks to people about the course and so on, those conversations are aimed at gaining information to help her performance and she tries not to get too worried about what others are doing.

Badminton final scores

“I’ve had two sports psychology sessions in the last few days, not really to learn anything new, but just to remind myself of the things I need to be a top performer at this level, in this environment,” Ros said.

“With my time being stretched, I’ve got to really utilise the bits of time I have by myself to use visualisation and all those sorts of things to make sure I’m in the right head space to compete.”

Ros Canter admitted she had “a little wobble” on arrival at Badminton Horse Trials on Tuesday.

She said: “We were later arriving than we wanted to be, we realised we had no water in the lorry, everything got really late and I suddenly felt a bit sorry for myself and I thought, this isn’t fair, everyone else is the enjoying the fact they arrived three hours ago, it’s getting dark, we’ve got four dogs in the lorry. We were just all over the place.

“Then I gave myself a bit of a talking to and when I got into bed I thought, but you don’t want to be anywhere else, you wanted to have this baby and you’ve got her, so as far as I’m concerned I’m very lucky.”

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo go clear across country at Badminton 2026. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Ros said Seneh is “a great distraction, sometimes she takes up too much of my time, but I wouldn’t change it for the world”.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying having her in our lives. Badminton is one week of the year and hopefully we have children to be part of our lives forever,” she said.

Ros said that she knows she hasn’t had the same preparation as other riders for this week, but she believes physically she is in good enough shape, although not the same shape as she has been previously.

“So my expectations are more realistic,” she said, going on to address the huge expectations around her and Lordships Graffalo, who have a superb record including two Badminton and two Burghley Horse Trials wins, a European title and an Olympic team gold medal.

“I’m also aware as a horse and rider, with two brains and everything else, that we’re not going to win every competition and at some point one of us is going to make a mistake.

“I’m not saying it would be a relief because it wouldn’t, but he is just a horse and I am just a rider so if I make a mistake or he makes a mistake, I will try to tell myself not to be too disappointed because that is life and it will happen one day. But I’ll be doing my best to prepare to stop that from happening tomorrow.”

Ros Canter on family at Badminton Horse Trials: “I gave Chris a good lecture”

At the public chat zone on Friday evening, third-placed Lara de Liedekerke-Meier talked about the fact she discusses the cross-country course with her husband, course-designer and former top-level rider Kai-Steffen Meier.

“I’d love to say that I have a husband to discuss my round with, but I know my discussion with my husband tomorrow would be how early he’s allowed to go to the beer tent and to remind him he has two children to look after while I concentrate on my job,” joked Ros.

The rider followed up on the conversation in the chat zone this evening, after going clear inside the time across country to keep her lead.

“I gave Chris a good lecture last night about my expectations of him today and he actually behaved really well,” said Ros.

“I also gave myself a bit of a talking to – thinking about the fact that if it wasn’t quite the normal that I didn’t have a bit of time to focus, that maybe I was at a stage in my career where I shouldn’t get too worried about that, and I should pull on previous occasions where it’s gone right.

“So that was fine and I did have a bit less time today. But I wrote a plan last night so everyone in my team knew at what point they weren’t to come back to the lorry, because I wanted a little bit of time by myself this morning, just to get myself in the groove. And fortunately they listened.”

Tomorrow, Ros Canter will be the final rider to showjump as she bids to defend her title successfully and set a new Badminton Horse Trials record with the incomparable Lordships Graffalo.

Whether she wins or not, she’s certainly an inspiration for mothers and mothers-to-be everywhere.

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Badminton Horse Trials 2026 results so far: Ros Canter retains top spot on leaderboard after action-packed cross-country

Becky Murray — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:01:49 +0000

The phenomenal Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo are a step closer to another five-star title as they remain at the top of the leaderboard following an action-packed day of cross-country. If you want a quick run down of the key stories, here is a speedy review of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2026 cross-country results.

The reigning champions maintained their leading position, while some others who tackled Eric Winter’s five-star cross-country track came unstuck, prompting a reshuffle of the lower podium places ahead of Sunday’s second horse inspection and all-important final showjumping phase.

Badminton Horse Trials 2026 cross-country results: how the day unfolded

North Yorkshire rider Holly Richardson posted the first clear inside the time with Ballyneety Silver Service – while Caroline Powell walked away from a fall on the first of her two rides.

Find out how the opening stages of cross-country day played out

Before we move on to the rest of the news, here are the top five scores.

Badminton final scores

Sarah Bullimore’s home-bred Corimiro posted a round wise beyond his years as one of the youngest horses in the field.

Read how this rising star shone to sit in third overnight

A problem for Tiana Coudray resulted in her tumbling from her second place overnight, a Brit gained a long-awaited Badminton cross-country finish, and a US rider had a water mishap.

Read about some of the ups and downs of cross-country day

Will Rawlin’s assured performance has him on track for his best five-star finish to date – while Wills Oakden’s Keep It Cooley took away some valuable learnings.

Read how the cross-country played out for Will and Wills

The crowd was with Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo all the way as they stormed home clear 13 seconds inside the time, after being held before the start.

Read what Ros had to say about the mental challenge of today

There was mixed fortunes for top names including Emily King, Laura Collett and Sam Watson.

Find out why Emily is annoyed with herself and who climbed an impressive 33 places

Tim Price and Falco enjoyed a good round – despite Tim riding with a broken collarbone.

Read what Tim had to say about his round

The Badminton Horse Trials cross-country phase came to a close with a surprise fall for world number one Harry Meade and the retirement of a former winner.

Find out how cross-country day concluded

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Rare fall for Harry Meade as Badminton cross-country concludes – but he holds podium position on another ride

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 16:10:52 +0000

The dramatic closing stages of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country today (9 May) included the unusual sight of a fall for Harry Meade and the retirement of 2024 Badminton winners Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier.

Harry’s third ride of the day, Cavalier Crystal, has been third at Burghley Horse Trials three times and was fourth here last year, so a strong performance was expected of Charlotte and Peter Opperman’s mare.

However, the pair came unstuck at Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab), where the mare stood on herself and was unable to get her legs up at the angled rail after the open ditch. She dived through the rail, breaking the frangibles and firing Harry off.

Harry explained: “Cavalier Crystal was sensational – she was almost my banker. She was up on the clock, giving me at least a good a ride as Annaghmore Valoner.”

Badminton final scores

Harry continued: “Then she jumped into the farm yard combination and stood on herself – she’s got quite a deep cut on her pastern. She basically pulled herself over. She’s a lovely horse who was desperately trying to do her job.

“I’ve had 18 rides here – 17 amazing rides – and that was best of all of them until then, but the sport keeps us all grounded, quite literally.”

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier seemed to slightly misjudge their stride to jump up onto the bank at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab). One of the mare’s hindlegs didn’t land cleanly and she was then unable to take on the jump on the top, leaning on the house with her chest and activating the frangible device. Caroline popped her over the alternative and then pulled up and walked home.

Although Harry Meade is out of the running on Cavalier Crystal after his cross-country fall, he holds second in the overnight standings at Badminton on Annaghmore Valoner, who earlier went clear inside the time.

“Annaghmore Valoner is a lovely mare who has historically lacked self-belief and been quite an introvert, a worrier. I always run her in a very relaxed, lobbing way round one-days, which means I can bring her out on a day like today and she can cruise with that relaxation,” said Harry. “She made it feel pretty easy.”

Overnight results after Badminton cross-country

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo lead the way at the end of the day after their superb round today and they will start showjumping tomorrow with a fence in hand. If they can win, Lordships Graffalo will make history as the first horse to triumph here three times.

Ros’s position remains unchanged from the dressage, but behind her, the leaderboard has changed significantly.

Harry Meade moves up from equal 11th to second on Annaghmore Valoner and Sarah Bullimore from 19th to third with her incredibly promising home-bred Corimiro, who also went clear in the time today.

Katie Magee’s fault-free round has elevated her from 26th to fourth with Treworra.

Ireland’s Lucy Latta breaks the British run by holding fifth on RCA Patron Saint and New Zealand’s Tim Price sits sixth on Falco. Both were a few seconds over the time today.

Thirty-five of the 59 starters (59%) jumped clear over Eric Winter’s track today, with seven (12%) inside the time.

Aside from the top four, the clears in the time came from France’s Gaspard Maksud (Zaragoza, equal 11th), New Zealand’s Tayla Mason (Centennial, 13th) and the home side’s Holly Richardson (Ballyneety Silver Service, 22nd).

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Mixed fortunes for Emily King and other top names during Badminton cross-country

Becky Murray — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:45:36 +0000

Emily King and Valmy Biats have dropped down the leaderboard following the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country – while others have enjoyed big climbs.

Emily and the 17-year-old gelding had been lying equal 11th going into the second phase, but it wasn’t to be their day. Emily rode a circle at both fence 20abcd Spillers Sustainability Bay and fence 30abc the Savills Keepers Rails, picking up 40 jumping penalties. The pair also collected 19.2 time-penalties.

“It was so foot-perfect and that nearly was a little bit of the problem,” said Emily.

“I came up to the water [Spillers Sustainability Bay] and he was a little bit flat; I landed and moved him on and he suddenly took a massive stride. I could tell we were going to be on basically no distance to the rail and I just overprotected him. I thought, ‘I don’t want you to scrabble all over it’.”

Badminton final scores

Emily continued: “I did a circle and came again, which in hindsight, I think if the rest was a bit more scrappy I probably would have rolled with it. But the fact it was so perfect and he was so absolutely spot on everywhere, I just made a bit of a mistake. He jumped all the hard stuff, I couldn’t have asked for any better, so I’m really annoyed with myself.”

Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge is another to drop down the leaderboard, having been sixth after the dressage with 11-year-old Royal Encounter. The pair had 15.2 time-penalties and 20 jumping penalties for a circle at fence 28ab Rathbones Curve.

“He was a good boy, but unfortunately he got tired in the end,” said Marcio, adding the combinations all rode well.

“It’s his first five-star and he did really well for his first one. He was inside the time, if I’m not wrong, near the nine minutes, but then he got tired. But it’s ok, it’s his first time at the distance and he will get there. He will be a good five-star horse in the future.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country leaderboard climbers

Ireland’s Sam Watson is one of the day’s big climbers. He has moved up from 53rd after the dressage with Ballneety Rocketman and now lies 20th, thanks to a speedy clear round across country, recording just 0.8 of a time-penalty.

“I did the exact same thing I did with Bushman when he was a youngster. People won’t believe me, but the quarry, I just let him run in there a little bit, because this is a course to put manners on a horse,” said Sam.

“He’s a horse that needs to let me in a little bit as he just takes over. I nearly lost my line on it, but it just got his attention. We can’t ride around that course by ourselves. After that he realised that he was the one jumping the fences, and he was class. He was green in places and he goes really brave in places, and he can gallop. He was a really good boy.”

Laura Collett and 13-year-old mare Bling added just four time-faults to their 33.5 dressage score following a super round across country to lie in 16th overnight.

“I’m absolutely delighted. She’s been waiting to do that all week,” said Laura. “She was phenomenal from start to finish. I couldn’t fault her. She was always looking for the next fence; how much she’s come on in a year is unbelievable.”

Bling ate up Eric Winter’s track showing no signs of tiredness towards the end.

“I’m a bit annoyed I didn’t use her a bit more, she galloped the whole way to the line. I’m not used to riding one so blood,” said Laura.

“There were a couple of single fences where I just took too much away and should have just let her roll and trust her jump, but the combinations I couldn’t fault her. Pretty much everything rode to plan, it’s all a bit of a blur but she was absolutely amazing.”

Just behind Laura and Bling on penalties is Tom Rowland and 16-year-old Dreamliner. They finish the day on 37.8 after jumping clear across country, with 5.6 time-penalties.

“I’m really proud of him. It’s his third time here and he has done very, very little since Badminton last year. He seems to like it here,” said Tom.

“It was a bit of a hairy round because I knew that to be competitive and fast, you had to be up on your minutes early on. With him I’ve always sort of left a bit in the tank, and this year I definitely emptied the tank more than I’d have liked.

“He dug really deep for me. I had this obsession of being in the time at five-star and I haven’t done it. I thought ‘today’s the day’, but he couldn’t have gone any faster and that twistiness at the beginning does take it out of them.”

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Time-faults juggle the order as Tim Price puts in strong Badminton cross-country round despite broken collarbone

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:08:17 +0000

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.

“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.

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‘He’s such a champ’: British rider moves into top five after his Badminton cross-country round

Becky Murray — Sat, 09 May 2026 14:27:56 +0000

Will Rawlin and 14-year-old Ballycoog Breaker Boy moved up to sit inside the top five of completed rounds immediately after their Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country performance.

The experienced pair, on track for their third consecutive Badminton completion together, jumped clear and added just 3.2 time-penalties to their 29.3 dressage.

“He pulls it out of the bag for me, he’s such a champ,” said Will, who is within touching distance of his best five-star result to date.

“I’m so lucky to be riding a horse like him. He really just performs on a stage like this, he loves the big tracks. I’ve always said he is not the biggest jumper over the fences, it doesn’t look pretty when it gets to the end and he gets tired, but he will always pick up and put down and carry on galloping.”

Will Rawlin on his Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

Will and Ballycoog Breaker Boy had been making good time, but the clock caught up with them towards the end of the course.

Badminton final scores

“It was such a shame as until that last 30 seconds we were really on our minute markers and I was quite shocked and surprised as I didn’t look at my time much, but I kept talking to him and plugging away,” said Will.

“The last three fences he really had to make an effort to jump, but I always knew he was going to get over the fences. From a spectator’s view, they got a bit hairy, but I’ve got so much trust in him and he’s got trust in me, that we’ve got such a good partnership and support each other, wherever we are on the course.”

Will said the course rode as he had planned, although he felt he didn’t get the best shot at the EQUIDRY Huntsman’s Close fence 6ab.

“I had to land quickly and react, so I didn’t land on a dead strike and I think we jumped one of the biggest parts. But it just shows his heart and grit to get over the fence,” he said.

“Down at the water (Mars Lake fence 9ab) I decided to go a slightly longer route and I should have got a bit more punchy up that lift to the corner, but I’m very glad I did that route and not the other.”

Inside the time cross-country for New Zealand pair

New Zealand’s Tayla Mason and Centennial are hoping to better their 19th place last year after a great round across country.

The pair came home inside the 11min 30sec optimum time, but their final score is still to be confirmed. Tayla had to give plenty of vocal encouragement on her approach to the Mars Lake fence 9ab and an awkward jump resulted in nine penalties being provisionally awarded for catching a flag.

“He’s always a bit cheeky at the water, but he was good. He’s so honest, he just goes, and you don’t want to be sitting on any other horse,” said Taya.

“I went out today, I wanted to make the time as he’s so established now. I know his little things, he can slither here, slither there, but he’s always going. As long as I’m sitting up and steering, he’s the most genuine boy.”

Tayla had a brief hold on course ahead of the Mayston Equestrian Hollow (fence 26abc) while fence repairs were made after previous combination, Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, activated a pin.

“It’s funny as until this year I hadn’t been held that much and I’ve been held twice on him this year. The team was really good out there keeping him cool and I kept him waking. He’s so brave, the hold didn’t even matter,” said Tayla.

Harry Meade tops the Badminton leaderboard with second ride

Meanwhile Harry Meade cruised around on his second horse Annaghmore Valoner, owned by Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter. He finished well inside the time to rocket up the leaderboard and take top spot as he finished.

“I love her. I’ve always had a real soft spot for her – I said to somebody the other day, maybe it sounds a bit weird, but she’s the only horse that I am happy to inhale her exhale. I wouldn’t even say that about my wife. That’s how much I love this horse,” said Harry.

“But she’s always been a highly strung, nervous, insecure horse, lacking confidence and slightly erratic. She’s done plenty of rounds lobbing round courses, with relaxed breathing.

“She’s done two five-stars before, being fourth both times at Burghley, and she jumped around that very easily today. It was a shame the time wasn’t 30 seconds tighter.”

There was disappointment for Wills Oakden and Geoff and Elspeth Adam’s 11-year-old Keep It Cooley, who had been lying eighth after the dressage. The pair picked up 20 penalties for a run-out at the final part of fence 20abcd Spillers Sustainability Bay, and 11 penalties for activating the pin at the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee fence 25ab.

“He’ll have learned a lot today. We knew it was a big ask for him, and he was still relatively inexperienced,” said Wills.

“Last year didn’t really go his way for many different reasons, but we wanted to come here and give him the opportunity. Ok he made a couple of mistakes, one because I was trying to baby him too much and I probably did too much and interfered.

“The other was just a sheer act of greenness, but horses have to learn. They have to come and have a go, and he’s learned that now he can get to the end of something like that. We hope that might just be of them making them.”

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New mother Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo hold their lead with foot-perfect Badminton cross-country round: ‘I believe I can do it because of him’

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 14:03:48 +0000

Ros Canter has held her dressage lead at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials with a clear inside the time over the cross-country course today (Saturday, 9 May) on her defending champion Lordships Graffalo (Walter).

“I just feel incredibly grateful to him, to have a horse that allows me to come out at a level like this not maybe feeling at my best, but believing I can do it because of him,” said Ros, who had her second daughter, Seneh, in late January.

Ros said the challenge for her in riding Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo was more mental than physical.

“Physically I’m not up to where I was, but I was confident with him, because he makes my life quite easy, it wasn’t going to be a massive physical battle,” she said. “It’s more mental and about time – the time isn’t there, I’m feeding a baby – so the question was could I do it without having those moments to myself that I usually get?”

Badminton final scores

Ros added: “I feel very proud, not really just of myself but of the team I have around me. They’re the ones who have enabled me to do it. I didn’t sit on Walter until well into February and they put the fitness work into him when I wasn’t there – there’s a period just before and after having a baby when you just aren’t there.

“And my amazing mum, who’s been through a lot this year. She gets up earlier and earlier and works so hard to make my dreams come true.”

Dressage leader Ros Canter was held at the start of the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country because the rider before her, France’s Luc Chateau, fell when Viens Du Mont hit the second brush bucket coming out of the Equidry Huntsman’s Close (fence 6ab). The horse galloped away and Luc walked home after receiving medical attention.

Once Ros and Lordships Graffalo got going, their partnership looked as superb as ever, with Ros riding with her customary longer reins and Walter putting his mealy nose forward to seek each fence.

They were copybook through the early combinations at the Equidry Huntsman’s Close (fence 6ab) and the Mars Lake (fences 9ab and 10ab), as well as through the Spillers Sustainability Bay (fence 20abcd), where Ros’s pupil Cassie Sanger fell earlier today.

Lordships Graffalo drifted slightly over the ditch at Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab) and got a little close to the rail out, touching it, but the frangible device did not break.

They made the time easily, finishing 13 seconds inside the target without looking under any pressure, and will start tomorrow’s showjumping with a rail in hand.

Ros said of her brilliant partner: “He’s amazing – he pricks his ears and says, ‘I’ve got it’ but never tows me through it, never tows me onto a difficult spot. He’s always light in the gallop and enables me to get into a position where I believe I can be one of the fastest riders in the world.”

In the section immediately before Ros, Emma Thomas finished with 20 penalties at the Mars Lake (fence 9ab) with Icarus, plus six time-penalties, and fellow Brit Fiona Kashel jumped round clear on Creevagh Silver De Haar with 12 time-faults.

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Dressage podium finisher drops down order as Badminton cross-country influences leaderboard

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:55:59 +0000

Tiana Coudray has lost her second place after dressage with a problem on the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country today (Saturday, 9 May).

The US rider was going well with her long-term partner Cancaras Girl until the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab). The mare tripped up the bank and ground to a halt at the house.

Badminton cross-country: Tiana Coudray completes as Magee excels

Tiana Coudray went on to complete the Badminton cross-country, but also broke the frangibles at one of the big oxers at the Savills Keepers Rails (fence 30abc) and had some time-faults. She also has a flag penalty under review at fence 15, the final part of the KBIS Slalom.

British open champions Katie Magee and Treworra, owned by Angela Hislop, punched in the third clear in the time and sit second on the leaderboard for those who had completed the cross-country, behind Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro.

Badminton final scores

“He was just brilliant every step of the way. He was looking for the flags and I wouldn’t have wanted to be on any other horse. He was just exceptional,” said Katie, who was 11th here last year with Treworra on her Badminton debut.

“We didn’t have any changes of plan. Nicola Wilson walked the course with me twice, and we made a plan and we stuck to it, which is lovely, and I even got to enjoy it, which was a novelty.”

Lucy Latta slots into third after Badminton cross-country

Ireland’s 2024 Badminton runners up Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint, owned by the Crampton family, also had a great round, finishing just five seconds over the time. They are third on the completed leaderboard.

“He’s an incredible cross-country horse. I’m so lucky to be sat on him – he really lives for days like this at the big Bs on on the Saturday,” said Lucy.

“I’m actually a little bit frustrated with myself [for being] five seconds over because he had the legs today. He felt incredible underneath me, just at literally one or two points he needed a fill of his lungs and he was fresh again.

“I just didn’t quite meet a few of the fences as flowing as I wanted and I took a little bit of time that way, but he was full of running right to the end.”

A water fall

The youngest rider, 21-year-old US competitor Cassie Sanger, had a fall in the Spillers Sustainability Bay (fence 20abcd) when Redfield Fyre caught a knee and twisted at the corner in the water and came down, with the frangible devices doing their job and allowing the the back rail to fall. Both horse and rider were quickly up on their feet.

France’s Arthur Marx had to sit tight when the pair had an awkward time at the corner out of the Spillers Sustainability Bay and Church’Ile pecked badly on landing. Surprisingly, the frangible devices did not break and he cantered on penalty free, though they were then penalised for breaking the frangibles at the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee (fence 25ab).

New Zealand’s Jesse Campbell is appealing 20 penalties at the Vicarage Vee – he said he made a last-minute decision to jump over the ditch to the side of the Vee and take the alternative, rather than jumping the Vee. It will be for the ground jury to decide whether he presented to the straight route – if so, his 20 penalties will stand.

First-timer Sam Ecroyd retired Boleybawn Lecrae at the Spillers Stables (fence 27). Fellow Brits Tom Bird (Cowling Hot Gossip) and Helen Bates (Carpe Diem) and Ireland’s Sarah Ennis (Grantstown Jackson) all came home with jumping clears and some time-faults, as did Jonelle Price, who had to make “a squiggle” and jump the long route out of the HorseQuest Quarry (fence 4ab) with Chilli’s Midnight Star.

Emma Hyslop-Webb and Jeweetwel were pulled up by the ground jury on course; she looked to be having some control problems.

A long-awaited Badminton cross-country finish

Kylie Roddy had a run-out at the first big arrowhead out of the Mayston Equestrian Hollow (fence 25abc) when she and SRS Kan Do ended up there on a half stride after the big drop. Kylie continued for her first Badminton cross-country completion.

“I lost his focus and came home with a 20, but really, we went out there to capitalise on what a good jumper is and make sure I get this finish line at Badminton put to bed,” said Kylie, for whom this was a fourth start here with this horse.

“I felt like the soil owed me before I went out there, after falling last year, and this year, it managed to keep me in the plate. I was like, ‘Do not miss at the last, I do not want to be lying down at the last fence.’ The horse is amazing and he gave me a peach of a ride.”

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‘He’s the reason I’m still doing this’: home-bred gelding impresses on Badminton cross-country to lead

Becky Murray — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:39:35 +0000

Sarah Bullimore and her home-bred Corimiro have delivered a superb clear inside the time for the 10-year-old gelding’s first Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country experience.

The pair stopped the clock with a second to spare, delivering the second round of the day inside the 11min 30 sec optimum time at Badminton Horse Trials. Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service were 12 seconds under earlier in the morning.

“He’s phenomenal. He’s the reason I’m still doing this and the reason I get out of bed in the morning,” said Sarah Bullimore.

“Every phase he’s a pleasure. He’s a pleasure to take out hacking, everything he does he just wants to go and do a good job. He wants to get on with it and he’s always saying, ‘Come on, let’s do the next thing’. And he has a great brain.”

Corimiro rose to the challenge and was full of running at the finish line.

Badminton final scores

“He could have gone again. In fact he didn’t want to come out of the arena, he was turning back towards the start,” said Sarah.

“He has such scope and such range and power.”

Sarah Bullimore on the Badminton cross-country course

Sarah said Eric Winter’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course rode as she expected, and despite Corimiro’s big stride, the shorter distances did not cause him any problems.

“Coming up to the beehives I was a little bit concerned because a lot of people were going six strides, and I thought I’m never going to get get six there, but he was amazing,” she said.

“We hadn’t planned to put the extra stride in at the corners at the end, but with the big slip in the middle, I think that just added one. But bless him, he just picked up. That was our only sort of sticky moment. And that wasn’t really his fault.”

Bubby Upton and her experienced 16-year-old gelding Cola – who had been ninth after the dressage – jumped clear around their fifth Badminton Horse Trials cross-country run, adding 9.7 time-penalties.

“He was just phenomenal, he digs so deep,” said Bubby. “He is not quick, he just plugs away at one pace and never gives up on me, he’s truly incredible.”

They enjoyed a super round, though Cola had a little look in places and Bubby had to keep his focus and maintain their rhythm.

“I really had to use my head at times, which I felt in the past I potentially lacked at times, which has caused expensive mistakes for Cola,” said Bubby.

“I was really pleased at the fact I engaged my brain at all times, put the clock aside and really rode the track, rode my horse, and hopefully did him justice.”

Earlier in the morning David Doel enjoyed a super round with the little mare Ferro Point. The pair were not chasing the clock, in what is Ferro Point’s first competition back at this level since 2023. They came home smiling with 28.2 time-penalties to add to their 41.9 dressage.

Lithuanian Aistis Vitkauskas and his long-term partner Commander G had a miscommunication resulting in a run-out at the second part of the KBIS Slalom fence 14ab and elected to retire.

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A fall, a retirement and a clear inside the time: mixed fortunes for early riders on Badminton cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 11:26:28 +0000

Holly Richardson has achieved the first clear inside the time on Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day (Saturday, 9 May).

The North Yorkshire rider was fifth out and piloted Fi and Issy Saxby’s 11-year-old Ballyneety Silver Service round to come home 12 seconds inside the 11min 30sec optimum time, following their fast round at Burghley last year.

After her impressive Badminton Horse Trials cross-country round, Holly Richardson said: “He’s an extremely fast horse, so I knew if any of them could do it, he can do it. He can open his stride and close it so easily and he’s polite – you can set him up right at the last minute. He’s also an extremely fast galloper – I don’t think I’ve sat on one that can gallop like him. It’s just a privilege to sit on him.”

Holly has started here once before, on Bally Louis in 2024, but seeks a first completion. She will ride Bally Louis round the course later today.

Badminton final scores

Harry Meade had a super ride as pathfinder over Eric Winter’s course on his own and Mandy Gray’s Et Hop Du Matz, guiding him through all the straight routes to finish 11sec over target. Although the horse is a Badminton first-timer, he has finished on the podium at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and ninth at Defender Burghley Horse Trials last year.

“I just tried to set off in the spirit in which I meant to keep going and he was galloping, ears picked, jumping. He was good at all the questions. He was superb and I couldn’t have been happier with him,” said Harry.

“For me, the biggest thing was that I think he absolutely loved that – he had a big beam on his face, it’s his first Badminton and he smiled the whole way round and finished full of running.”

Harry was followed by young US rider Cosby Green, who came home clear with 13.6 time-faults on her parents Clay and Edie’s Jos Ufo De Quidam.

She had a slightly dodgy moment when taking out a stride at the Mayston Equestrian Hollow (fence 26abc), a big drop to two arrowheads, and took the slightly slower route at Spillers Sustainability Bay (fence 20abcd).

Tom Jackson gave a great ride to the 10-year-old five-star first-timer United 36, owned by Michael Stenning, and the pair finished eight seconds over the time.

“It’s just quite unbelievable, actually, for a 10-year-old to come here and do that – this time last year, he hadn’t even done a four-star long and he just ate that up and made it feel like he’d been doing it for however many years before,” said Tom, admitting he’d been a little dubious about whether it was the right decision to enter.

“Like I said beforehand, the cross-country is reasonably straight in front of you, so I think it is one of those tracks that rides as it walks.”

New Zealand’s Caroline Powell, the fourth out, had a fall when High Time caught a knee on one of the big brush corners at the Rathbones Curve (fence 28ab). Both horse and rider walked away.

Gemma Stevens was going brilliantly on Chilli Knight until shortly before she pulled up after the Luckington Lane Corners (fences 23 and 24) – it looked like the Bicton Horse Trials 2021 five-star winner might have pulled off a shoe.

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‘I learnt to do showjumper plaits on TikTok!’ – meet Georgie Driver, groom to Badminton competitor and showjumper Gemma Stevens

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:49 +0000

“The plaiting is very different for showjumpers… I did learn how to do jumper plaits from TikTok!” says Georgie Driver, travelling head groom for Gemma Stevens.

Even before arriving at Mars Badminton Horse Trials this week, Georgie had had a busy seven months since joining Gemma’s team last October.

She travelled to the Sunshine Tour with her showjumpers in both the autumn and February, as well as accompanying her event horses to Kronenberg and one-day events such as Thoresby, where Gemma won the Lycetts Grantham Cup.

Georgie grew up quite near Badminton and before joining Gemma’s team she worked for eventer Kat Raybould.

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She said: “Obviously when you’re younger, you’re always like, ‘I want to ride’, but then I was like actually, ‘No, I don’t want to ride’. But I never wanted to go to uni, I was desperate to work with horses as soon as I could. I literally moved to Kat the day after I finished my A levels.”

What attracted Georgie to grooming?

“I think it’s the love of the horses. I like seeing how you get them and then they go on,” she said. “I’m quite competitive, so I like seeing them do well.

“It’s obviously so much pressure for the riders, so it’s nice to be that person with the horse where it’s nice and quiet and they can trust you. You get such a nice relationship with the horses when you go away.”

Like fellow Badminton groom Meigs Rutherford, Georgie mentions that time management is essential to be a good groom.

“I think you have to be really organised. Also, the riders are under so much pressure, so you’ve got to make sure the horse never feels that pressure,” she said.

Georgie is the head travelling groom for Gemma Stevens’ team of both showjumpers and eventers, while others take the responsibility for riding and running the yard at home.

“We’ve got a really good group of girls at home who have been so helpful for me coming into a new team – they’ve told me everything I need to know about the horses,” she said. “It works really well. We can get home from an event and have two days at home and be gone again and know that everything’s OK.”

Gemma Stevens and Chilli Knight at the 2026 Badminton first trot-up. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Georgie’s charge this week is Christopher and Lisa Stone’s Chilli Knight (Alfie), the winner of the 2021 Bicton Horse Trials five-star.

“He’s very cheeky – he’s an easy horse look after, but he knows what he wants,” she said.

“I have got stuck on the lawn multiple times this week, because he wants to stay there and eat grass all day. I tricked him on Friday morning with some treats, but he’s definitely not going to fall for that again. He doesn’t make Gemma’s life easy at times, but he’s pretty special.”

Georgie has actually spent more time with Gemma’s small string of showjumpers than her eventers since joining because of their two trips to the Sunshine Tour in Spain.

“When you go eventing, it’s like a family and you seem to know everybody, whereas jumping is more like a business,” she said, joking that the jumps in pure showjumping warm-ups are too high for her to reach as she is quite short.

“Generally we look after the showjumpers pretty much the same,” she added. “They have a different fitness regime because they’ve got to be able to go and perform for a short amount of time, while these guys have got to be able to go and run across country for stupid amounts of time.

“I still graze the showjumpers for hours when there’s time – I spend my life watching horses eat grass!”

Georgie says the busy lifestyle with a lot of travelling suits her.

“I’m not very good at sitting still, so it works quite well. I don’t know what my own bed is, but that’s fine,” she said.

And how does she keep her energy levels up?

“Good snacks! And I’m quite good at napping.”

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‘There won’t be much time in between’: Harry Meade’s day riding three horses cross-country at Badminton Horse Trials

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 07:32:00 +0000

Harry Meade will ride three horses around the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course today (9 May) so it will be a busy day for him – and all his team.

Harry’s first horse is the pathfinder Et Hop Du Matz, who starts at 11.30am, his second is Annaghmore Valoner at 1.53pm and his third is Cavalier Crystal, who is expected to leave the box at 3.43pm.

“Obviously, I can’t watch anyone else on course before my first horse because I’m first out,” said Harry Meade when asked after dressage about his cross-country day plan for riding three horses at Badminton.

“But I will ride all three horses early, before the crowd start arriving and just give them a limber up. I might even pop a couple of fences on my two later ones, just so that if my warm-up ends up being quite short, I’ve jumped a fence already.”

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Harry continued: “Then it’s very much getting going on the first and just thinking about each horse in turn. I will try and find out if there’s any feedback from what other people have done when I get off my first horse, but then I’ll get on my second, concentrate on that, get on my third, concentrate on that. There won’t be much time in between.

“I will try and hear what has happened to others – or if I can, watch a tiny bit – at the end of each ride, but at the same time it’ll be a case of eat, go back and start warming up the next one.”

Asked if he likes going out first, Harry said: “No, I think generally it’s a disadvantage going first. I don’t want to volunteer for it because I seem to be first at every five-star I go to – it’s about my 10th five-star where I’ve been first to go.

“But like being the one going out of the trenches and over the top first, it’s probably part of your character that you’d be up for that challenge and relish it. I have my plan and sometimes it’s simpler to just stick to my plan, go for it and what will be will be.”

Harry Meade: how entering three horses at Badminton works

World number one Harry is the only rider with three horses at Badminton this year. He initially entered five horses, using double entries to secure three slots in the draw. Double entries are when two horses are entered for a single entry space, with the rider deciding later which horse will run.

Riders can enter three horses (or for three spaces, if using double entries) at Badminton, but the third horse will only be accepted to start if all the other horses have come off the wait-list.

This year, there was no wait-list for entries so Harry immediately had three entries accepted – although which horses would fill the spots only became obvious when two of the five horses he had entered at Badminton boarded the plane to run at Kentucky Three-Day Event two weeks before Badminton.

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Horse in top 16 after dressage one of two withdrawn before Badminton cross-country

Pippa Roome — Sat, 09 May 2026 07:10:39 +0000

Two horses have joined the Mars Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals list before today’s cross-country phase (9 May).

Irish rider Georgie Goss has pulled out Feloupe, a 16-year-old mare owned by her rider, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes. Georgie and Feloupe were equal 15th after dressage, having scored 30.8, and were bidding for a third top-30 finish at the event.

“With ‘Lulu’ being 16 years old and having ridden her seven years, I know her inside out and it’s a privilege bringing her to Badminton as she’s a true professional, tough, brave and ultimately loves it but without the rain we were all hoping for and expecting, we have decided to save her for another day and look towards some big aims later in the year,” said Georgie.

“It’s not been an easy decision but as a team we have discussed it in detail and I believe this is the right decision for her. She’s my absolute world and her wellbeing is everything, and I want to be 100% confident in every element.”

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Georgie added: “I am wishing everyone the best of luck for today and wish the real life superwoman Ros Canter a safe and happy clear cross-country (inside the time). For now after many tears, I can relax and be happy my pony is safe and sound and ready for the next challenge.”

British contender Alex Bragg has withdrawn The Roe Family’s Quindiva, another 16-year-old mare, who had been held at the first trot-up. They had scored 39 for their dressage test yesterday, to sit 50th after the first phase. Alex and Quindiva were third at Badminton in 2024.

“Sadly ‘Diva’ wasn’t feeling 100% after her dressage, and you want to be on top of your game to successfully take on the challenge of Badminton Horse Trials. With this in mind we made the difficult but right decision to withdraw,” Alex told H&H.

Alex added: “We would like to wish everyone heaps of luck riding around the cross-country today. I will be a little jealous! But this is the right decision for Diva. I’d like to say a big thank you for the support that people have given us, especially the Roe family.”

These latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals leave a field of 59 horses and riders to tackle Eric Winter’s cross-country course today. The first horse, Et Hop Du Matz ridden by Harry Meade, leaves the start box at 11.30am.

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Badminton Horse Trials 2026 results so far: Ros Canter tops leaderboard after dressage

Oscar Williams — Fri, 08 May 2026 17:28:39 +0000

Defending champion Ros Canter has blasted to the top of the leaderboard at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on Lordships Graffalo after the second day of dressage (8 May), three and a half months after the birth of her second daughter, Seneh.

The pair sit 4.4 penalties clear of yesterday’s leaders, Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, with five different nations represented in the top five going into cross-country day.

Badminton Horse Trials dressage: how the second day unfolded…

In the early hours, Pippa Roome caught up with Meigs Rutherford – groom to US rider Cassie Sanger, who has been based with Ros Canter for the past year – on what she’s learned from watching the British star’s “horses as horses” approach.

Read about Meigs’ experience working at Ros’s yard

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Badminton debutant Sam Ecroyd, who came back from a rotational fall in 2021 that left him with a bleed on the brain and 57 facial fractures, talks about the journey from hospital bed to the Badminton centre line.

Find out how Sam changed his riding style after the accident

Ros credited a moment of self-talk before her test for getting her into the right frame of mind, after a stressful morning balancing being a mum and an athlete.

Read what Ros had to say after taking the lead

Emily King recovered from a fractured rib and torn lung earlier this year to score 30.3 on Valmy Biats – with partner Sam Ecroyd helping her prepare for tomorrow’s cross-country

Find out how Emily and Sam are juggling each other’s Badminton preparation

Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Royal Encounter scored 29.2 to make a strong start at Badminton, with Laura Collett relieved to “survive” a difficult start to the week on Bling and Swiss debutant Nadja Minder delighting on the “absolute chocolate legend” Toblerone.

Read about three of day two’s morning rides

The Queen visited Badminton today as patron of charity-of-the-year Ebony Horse Club, watching a riding display from young members and saying she “hopes the event goes on for ever”.

Read more about Her Majesty’s visit

Former British team stalwart Daisy Berkeley returned to compete at Badminton after a 16-year hiatus with Diese Du Figuier on her first ride at the event since coming third on Spring Along in 2010.

Read why Daisy didn’t expect to be back at Badminton again

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier scored a five-star personal best with Hooney d’Arville to go into third, with Felix Vogg and Cartania following her into fourth.

Read how Lara and Felix took on the dressage in the post-lunch session

The dressage phase wrapped up with 2024 Badminton winner Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier sneaking into the top five.

See how the final session played out and where the leaderboard stands ahead of cross-country

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Former Badminton winners cruise into top five as dressage wraps up with Ros Canter still out in front

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:33:12 +0000

No one could topple Ros Canter at the top of the the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage results, but Caroline Powell came closest in the final session today (8 May), moving into fifth.

The New Zealand rider and her 2024 Badminton winner Greenacres Special Cavalier, owned by Chris and Michelle Mann and her rider, scored 29 for their test, which was particularly well marked in the second half, with plenty of eights, plus one nine from Amanda Miller at B for their second flying change.

“I’m very pleased,” said Caroline. “It’s tough to get a good mark out there. She went out and put her game face on and I’m very happy with her.”

Caroline also has the less experienced High Time here, who sits 45th after dressage and will be the fourth horse out across country in the morning.

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Comparing her two horses, Caroline said: “They both jump. High Time would be a bit bigger in stride and more fiery. Greenacres Special Cavalier would just trot through – she’s a funny horse, she won’t jump a ditch and she won’t go over a piece of string and you can’t do polework with her, but you put your legs on and she’s off, so that’s just her and that’s the way she is.”

Badminton Horse Trials dressage results: six nations in the top six

The dressage phase finishes with defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo holding a 4.4-penalty lead over second-placed Tiana Coudray with Cancaras Girl.

The top six has a truly international look with six nations represented – US rider Tiana is followed by Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier in third (Hooney D’Arville), Switzerland’s Felix Vogg in fourth (Cartania), New Zealand’s Caroline Powell in fifth (Greenacres Special Cavalier) and Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge in sixth (Royal Encounter).

The cross-country phase gets under way at 11.30am on Saturday (9 May) with Harry Meade first out of the start box on Et Hop Du Matz. View more Badminton cross-country times.

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What time does your favourite start? Badminton cross-country times released

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:04:50 +0000

The Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country times have now been released for the action on Saturday, 9 May.

Harry Meade is first out of the start box at 11.30am on Et Hop Du Matz. Contenders then start at 4min or 5min intervals, with David Doel expected to be the last to go at 3.55pm on Midnight Rollercoaster.

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country times 2026: key contenders

Bubby Upton (GBR) and Cola, ninth after dressage: 12.15pm
Tiana Coudray (USA) and Cancaras Girl, second after dressage: 1.25pm
Will Rawlin (GBR) and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, seventh after dressage: 1.45pm
Harry Meade (GBR) and Annaghmore Valoner, equal 11th after dressage: 1.53pm
Wills Oakden (GBR) and Keep It Cooley, eighth after dressage: 2.01pm
Ros Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo, first after dressage: 2.17pm
Emily King (GBR) and Valmy Biats, equal 11th after dressage: 2.21pm
Marcio Carvalho Jorge (BRA) and Royal Encounter, sixth after dressage: 2.30pm
Nadja Minder (SUI) and Toblerone, equal 11th after dressage: 2.50pm
Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL) and Hooney D’Arville, third after dressage: 3.10pm
Felix Vogg (SUI) and Cartania, fourth after dressage: 3.15pm
Tim Price (NZL) and Falco, 10th after dressage: 3.19pm
Caroline Powell (NZL) and Greenacres Special Cavalier, fifth after dressage: 3.47m

View the full cross-country start list

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‘A PB at Badminton, that’s the right place to do it’: Lara de Liedekerke-Meier third as Felix Vogg follows close behind

Oscar Williams — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:48:03 +0000

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney d’Arville scored a five-star personal best of 28.6 to go third in the first ride after lunch on the second day of dressage at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials (Friday 8 May).

“If you do a personal best at Badminton, that’s the right place to do it,” Lara said. “She felt fantastic in there – she knows she’s at Badminton. She has been quite a lot to handle since we arrived, but my groom did a fantastic job. I think I made everyone proud.”

The 13-year-old mare arrived at Badminton fresh and unsettled, and Lara’s team have been keeping her calm with hours of in-hand grazing.

“Grazing, grazing – not letting her think too much about it,” said Lara. “She hasn’t eaten too much yet, and I think she’s lost some weight, so the challenge is being the good athlete, the good rider, and taking a lot of time out without the work. She’s 13, and she has nothing to learn now. It’s just about keeping her happy.”

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Lara’s preparation had been disrupted by a fall, after which Hooney d’Arville was kept in her stable for 10 days while the team feared a fracture.

“It ended up not being anything, but I wasn’t sure I was going to come here,” she said. “Now I’m here, and it’s such an accomplishment for her to be here – just riding in there, with nothing to lose really.

“I’m just finally enjoying my time at Badminton and not being so stressed – don’t speak to me about that before cross-country tomorrow. But it all happened the way I would have dreamt of.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Lara felt the Badminton cross-country course challenge is about cumulative pressure rather than any one fence.

“I like the flow,” she said. “I’d think more about the accumulation factor than one fence in particular. The Vicarage Vee is quite intense, so you want to be on time there, but you shouldn’t try to catch up. There’s a lot to jump.”

“Somehow we always get it done”: Felix Vogg fourth at Badminton

Felix Vogg followed Lara into the main arena and posted 28.7 with the experienced five-star campaigner Cartania to go fourth, making it two continental European riders muscling their way into the top four in a single afternoon session.

The Swiss pair won Maryland CCI5* last year and were 11th and 15th in their previous Badminton starts.

“It was a disaster the last few days,” Felix revealed. “She got nervous and everything, but somehow we always get it done in the test. The atmosphere here, the dogs barking – she’s not so used to all that stuff.”

The Swiss rider has walked the cross-country course twice and likes it, but is hoping for the ground to ride a touch slower than last year.

“I have to still walk it two or three more times,” he said. “I hope the ground’s not too fast – I said the same thing last year, and she got quite strong. Hopefully, this way around it’s better for me.”

Heading into the final group of riders, Lara and Felix sit third and fourth behind leader Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who took over at the top with a dominant 23.7 earlier in the day, with Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl second on 28.1. Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge rounds out the top five on 29.2 with Royal Encounter.

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‘Here I am again’: Daisy Berkeley returns to Badminton Horse Trials after a 16-year hiatus

Oscar Williams — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:27:48 +0000

Former British team stalwart Daisy Berkeley has returned to compete at Mars Badminton Horse Trials after a 16-year gap, scoring 32.9 with Diese Du Figuier to sit equal 23rd after her test on the second day of dressage (Friday 8 May).

Daisy last rode at Badminton in 2010 on Spring Along – the cheeky little bay who took her to European team gold, world team silver and Olympic team bronze – finishing third.

“If I got a fiver for every time someone mentioned that, I wouldn’t need to win this,” Daisy said. “Last time I was wearing a top hat – on Spring Along, and he finished third. I thought, ‘That’ll do me, I don’t need to come back here.’ And here I am again.”

The “petite, but beautifully balanced” 13-year-old gelding Diese Du Figuier, second at Blenheim CCI4*-L in 2024, was making his five-star debut.

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“It was a really good start,” said Daisy. “I think I probably slightly underrode him in his changes – they’re normally just really spot on and beautiful, and I was a bit wet, which meant they weren’t as good as they could be. He did a little head toss in his walk, and that brought us down to a five.

“He’s such a spooky horse in real life. I can’t walk him on the grounds where it’s wetter in one area, he can’t go near it. If he’s in an arena and someone’s harrowed it, the floor is lava. So to go in there with all that going on and not bat an eyelid, I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Daisy had originally planned to take Diese to Pau last autumn, but a training setback intervened.

“I said to his owner, ‘Let’s just run him at Burnham,’” she said. “And he went double clear. I thought, ‘Badminton is only up the road, rather than carting him all the way to the moon. He likes being on grass. He likes jumping on grass. He likes dressage on grass more than he does on a surface. So, why not?’

“If it comes off, brilliant. If it doesn’t – we haven’t found out in Pau.”

Looking ahead to the cross-country on Saturday, Daisy said the long break hadn’t dulled her feel for the place – partly because she’s been at Badminton most years anyway, working with the on-site radio team.

“It really doesn’t feel like that long,” she said. “I’ve been here every year in some capacity – I’ve always walked the course, so I’ve seen it gradually evolve. I’m hoping he’ll show that bit of fight tomorrow and not be too polite.”

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‘I hope it goes on for ever’: The Queen delighted on visit to Badminton Horse Trials

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:26:48 +0000

The Queen said she “hopes Badminton Horse Trials goes on for ever” as she visited today (8 May) in her role as patron of Ebony Horse Club.

Ebony is Mars Badminton’s charity of the year; riders from the stables based in Brixton, London, put on a display for Her Majesty in the main arena today.

The Queen first became aware of Ebony, which enables young riders from disadvantaged backgrounds to be with horses and potentially train for careers, some years ago at a meeting in Brixton when the club did not have premises.

“I was so moved and humbled by the whole thing, I felt now was the time to get it going with a riding school,” she said. “I can hardly believe now that there it is. I remember it as a patch of ground with nothing on it, and now all these ponies, these wonderful riders doing a fantastic job.

“Huge thanks to all the volunteers who come in and help because it wouldn’t happen otherwise, and it’s given all these children the most fantastic chance to get on in life. I’m so thrilled to be a patron.”

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Linda Mars representing MARS, Badminton’s title sponsor, presented a year’s supply of horse feed to Ebony.

The club’s chief executive Sid Holdsworth said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our brilliantly talented young people, who were so excited to ride for The Queen. Thanks to our fantastic group of volunteers, the team at Badminton and The Queen, we have all had a fantastic day.”

Theo Dorton, one of the four riders who performed the demo, said all of them were “beyond thrilled”.

“To have taken part in this, something so big, I never thought I would be part of,” he said.

“Thank you to Ebony for having me and giving me the opportunity to perform at Badminton. It has been amazing and I just can’t wait to do more.”

The Queen, who arrived at Badminton Horse Trials just as defending champions Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo were performing the test that took them into the lead, said she has been going to the event for years.

“Always on my feet, but I never cease to be impressed by all the wonderful riders here,” she said. “It’s such fun, and I just hope it can go on for ever.”

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Brazilian rider goes third at Badminton, Laura Collett ‘survives’ a tricky situation, and a Swiss debutant’s childhood dream comes true

Oscar Williams — Fri, 08 May 2026 12:54:00 +0000

Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and 11-year-old five-star debutant Royal Encounter have gone third at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on the second day of dressage (Friday 8 May), scoring 29.2.

Wiltshire-based Marcio has completed Badminton twice before, his highest placing 23rd in 2014 on Josephine MCJ.

“I’m really happy – he’s such a nice horse, with such a good brain,” Marcio said. “He coped really well with the crowd. I think it’s his first time in an environment like this, and I’m really pleased with him.”

Marcio bought Royal Encounter as a five-year-old with co-owners Annabel, Alistair and Ken Vere Nicoll, and has produced him from BE100 up to five-star.

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“He’s always had a nice brain – he’s very cute, he sleeps all day,” said Marcio. “Even today, before we tacked him up, he was lying down sleeping. He does this every day, doesn’t matter if he’s at a competition or at home. It’s funny, but it’s also good, because he rests his body and his legs.”

Asked if Royal Encounter had exceeded expectations, Marcio was measured in his response: “We had expectations, but we never know, competition is competition, sometimes it goes right, sometimes it goes wrong. But we always thought that if everything went well, it could be a good result.”

Marcio added that he’s walked the Badminton cross-country course and was clear-eyed about the challenge ahead for a five-star debutant.

“It’s a nice course – big, as it should be at Badminton,” he said. “But it’s not one or two jumps, it’s all together that’s the question. It’s his first five-star, so let’s see what happens.”

Laura Collett happy to “survive” Badminton dressage with Bling

Laura Collett – not long back from surgery – and Bling were next into the arena, scoring 33.5 penalties to go into joint 21st place – a result Laura was happy with after a difficult start to the week.

The 13-year-old mare came across hound exercise on Wednesday and bolted with Laura.

“There aren’t many horses that scare me, but she does,” Laura said. “When the red mist comes, there’s no thought process in what she’s doing – she just bolts. And when she goes, she properly goes.

“We bolted down the avenue. Luckily, no one was around. So we’re just very happy we’re here, we survived, and we’re still going. We’re just trying to do all we can to keep her chilled and calm – and it seemed to work.”

Bling finds dressage physically as well as mentally difficult, Laura said, but has recently started to soften.

“Just before Burghley last year, she started to think about maybe working with me and not 100% against me,” she said. “We’re definitely not fully there yet, but it’s a work in progress – she’s tricky in her head, so everything’s a bit of a mind game to get her to work in the way that you want her to.

“At home now she’s feeling really good, but it’s a whole different ball game when you go into an atmosphere and do a test like that.

53 Laura Collett riding BlingDuring the dressage stage of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials Tetbury 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“I was just very pleased she didn’t break in the counter-canter, because she’s just about got her head around doing a flying change on a diagonal line. Then it was like, ‘Oh no, you’ve got to do medium and stay counter-canter, then do a change’ – and she’s been a bit like, ‘You decide what you want, one or the other, not all three at once.’

“That’s just her mentality. If she understands something, if she allows herself to understand it, then she’s fine. But she’s not very good at giving herself that opportunity to listen.”

“Absolute chocolate legend”: Swiss debutant Nadja Minder joint seventh on Toblerone

Badminton debutantes Nadja Minder and Nicole Basieux’s 19-year-old gelding Toblerone – Nadja’s partner since her young rider days – put in a fantastic performance just before the break, going into joint seventh on 30.3 penalties.

“He’s an absolute chocolate legend,” said Nadja, who picked up three 9s on the way to her Badminton dressage score. “He was quite lit up in the warm-up, more than usual, but he’s such a professional, he tries so hard, and he just knows his job.”

Nadja, who is based in Switzerland, said the gelding had been getting better with age.

“To be honest, he feels better now than when I got him six years ago,” she said. “He’s got more supple through work, and he’s just an absolute athlete and machine.

“He started quite late, so he’s not as used as probably other 19-year-olds. He doesn’t need that much preparation now – I can just go from show to show and do what’s necessary.”

Nadja, whose mother is grooming for her this week, had a last-minute withdrawal at her previous attempt to come to Badminton.

“I had the Olympic dream, and I wanted to ride Badminton one day,” she said. “To come here now feels so unreal, with my mom as my groom – we’ve been on this journey together.

“It’s a childhood dream, and I’m so grateful for Toblerone and his owner for making it possible. We know how hard it is to get to one of these, so it feels special.”

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‘It hasn’t been a smooth build-up but I’m feeling strong’: Emily King back from injury to tackle Badminton

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 11:15:24 +0000

Emily King has moved into equal sixth as the second day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage progresses (8 May).

The British rider piloted her own and her father David’s Valmy Biats to a mark of 30.3 so they sit alongside Harry Meade and Annaghmore Valoner, the first pair into the arena today.

Emily King started her Badminton dressage test with a bang with two eights and a nine for entry and Valmy demonstrated great activity and impulsion throughout his trot.

He very nearly jogged at the end of the walk and the marks also dropped down in the first flying change, which did not sit perfectly in the canter rhythm.

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“He always goes a little bit anxious with the crowds in there, so it’s a balance of keeping him relaxed but still showing him off enough,” said Emily.

“In the past I’ve gone in really showing him off, then had some bigger mistakes and gone a bit underpowered, and then had on average, a lower score.

“So I was trying to get that balance with him. But today he did feel really good. He always finds his walk hard. He just wants to just get in gallop and I say, ‘You can in a minute, but you’ve just got to walk little bit longer’, but generally, I’m really pleased.”

Emily’s partner Sam Ecroyd makes his Badminton debut this year, riding Boleybawn Lecrae.

“Sammy always comes to the big ones and helps me with everything, but especially the cross-country, so he’s got his work cut out, because he has to train me and then do his own thing – I’m like, ‘Sam, I take priority, don’t listen to anyone else!’” joked Emily.

She added that their horses are very different, which has to be taken into account when planning the cross-country: “His horse is huge, but has got a quite a small, very quick stride. Mine is small, but has got a massive but slower stride. So ‘Valmy’ rides much bigger than ‘Patrick’, but he’ll get the feel for the lines as he is out early and then we’ll just have to adjust the specifics of the ride for my horse.”

Emily has been recovering from a fractured rib and torn lung after a fall earlier this year.

“It hasn’t been the the smoothest start to the year – I’ve had a few little hiccups along the way, but I’m feeling good, feeling strong and I’m healed up. It shouldn’t hold me back tomorrow,” she said.

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‘Focus is a very different thing at the moment’: new mother Ros Canter blasts into Badminton dressage lead

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:44:07 +0000

Ros Canter has blasted into the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage lead with a super test this morning (8 May) on four-time five-star winner Lordships Graffalo.

The defending champions scored 23.7 and so sit 4.4 penalties ahead of the overnight leader, Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray with Cancaras Girl, at this stage.

Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo demonstrated a super frame during his test, with his nose just in front of the vertical. His trotwork was very secure and relaxed and he gained two nines from Angela Tucker at H and Amanda Miller at B for his mid-test halt.

If there was a moment of tension, it was towards the end of the walk, but the following canter work was excellent, including a nine for one of the changes from Amanda Miller – particularly pleasing as the changes have been where this pair have sometimes lost marks in the past.

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Badminton dressage after a baby for Ros Canter

Ros had her second daughter Seneh three and a half months ago and so has made an impressive comeback to ride at Badminton.

“It’s been a funny few weeks, having just had a baby, and focus is a very different thing at the moment, so I’ve had to work really hard the last few days to make sure I’m in the right frame of mind,” said Ros Canter after her Badminton dressage test.

“I was possibly a little bit stressed this morning, but I gave myself a word, had a bit of time by myself, and came out with a real plan. So I’m just delighted that it paid off.”

Ros has Seneh with her at Badminton.

“I said goodbye to her a good hour and a half before my test, because I didn’t want to be anywhere near her – pumped a load of milk out my boobs to flatten me off a bit – and then away I go,” she said, adding that her older daughter Ziggy and husband Chris McAleese are coming to Badminton later today.

Talking about coming back from having Seneh to ride at the top level so quickly, Ros said: “It’s just been a process. It’s one of those things where, when you are on a timeframe, like I’ve been, you perhaps get on a little bit sooner than you ought to, and then you start worrying that the tummy is never going to knock back into shape and things like that. And then all of a sudden, it gradually just does.

“I just haven’t had the time to let it do that and then get back on. I’ve been doing it as part of the process, so it always makes me a bit worried in my head.

“But physically, I feel good and mentally, I feel good when I’m on a horse. There’s just lots to do at the moment and my time is pushed so it’s just trying to factor in those moments to be a mum and to be an athlete.”

Ros added that her flying changes weren’t on point this morning and explained how she has to balance that movement with “Walter”.

She explained: “I’m absolutely delighted because I think I rode them just how he needs me to ride a change. He’s not a horse that really would ever just choose to do a flying change, so I have to change the canter slightly. Last year I had the canter a bit hot and then I missed the changes, so it’s a really fine balance with him to get them relaxed, but on the ball.”

“She would have gone into her shell like a tortoise”

Harry Meade was first into the arena this morning with his second ride, Dinah and Stephen Posford and their daughter Juliet Carter’s Annaghmore Valoner. The pair put in a super test, with the mare demonstrating lovely uphill balance, and scored 30.3 to hold sixth at this stage.

“For me with her, it’s all about the softness of her brain and then allowing everything to come out and up and in front of her, said Harry.

“She’s a horse that would naturally have gone into a shell like a tortoise, shrinking back with a short neck, and gone quickly and breathed heavily. And so for me, it’s all been about filling her with confidence and enjoyment, never ever making her feel like she’s done something wrong.

“If there’s a mistake, I say, ‘Sorry, that’s my mistake’ and then I do it again. It’s really important for her confidence that she’s able to exhale and then really grow and travel with that freedom and liberty and flair.”

Wills Oakden’s Badminton dressage performance

Harry was followed by Wills Oakden, who had an early mistake when Elspeth and Geoff Adam’s 11-year-old Keep It Cooley misunderstood the aids to change from shoulder-in to half-pass and cantered. They then pulled off a good test to receive a mark of 29.4. They sit in fourth at the break.

“We love the horse and he’s still young and immature at this level, so this week’s about just trying to give him mileage and exposure in this kind of atmosphere and around that kind of track,” said Wills.

“We’re delighted with him around his test other than that one mistake and it’s so annoying, because it’s normally his best movement as well, but it is what it is. Everyone has a hard luck story somewhere in the week and if that’s the worst that’s going to happen this week then that’ll be fine and we’ll move on.”

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‘I changed my riding style after the accident’: Badminton first-timer Sam Ecroyd on coming back from serious injury

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 09:10:48 +0000

Riding at Mars Badminton Horse Trials has been a long-awaited goal for British rider Sam Ecroyd, who makes his debut at the event this week.

“I remember I was in Oliver Townend’s house at about 12 years old, because my mum and dad are friends with his mum and dad, and I held the Badminton trophy and my goal was to just ride at Badminton one day,” he said after his dressage yesterday.

“So we’re a third of the way to getting around and getting completed. It’s been my whole career. Each morning you wake up, get up at 2am to do a BE100 with some young horses, and it’s just for this moment. So I’m just pleased to be here.”

Badminton Horse Trials first-timer Sam Ecroyd feels lucky still to be riding – as he told H&H when we picked him out as one to watch this year before Christmas last year, in early 2021, when he was aiming for Badminton with two horses, he had a rotational across country at Kelsall Hill. He suffered a bleed on his brain and 57 breaks to his skull and face. He didn’t compete again that year.

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“The game’s the game. I don’t think there’s a rider in the top 10 in the world that hasn’t had some pretty big smashes. Unfortunately, it’s part of the sport, part of a lot of top sports,” he said.

“The accident is something I try not to dwell on. I’ve been really lucky. I have been some people very close to me that were less lucky and so I’m just grateful every day that I get to keep going and keep doing it.”

After his fall, Sam did a lot of self-analysis and changed the way he rode.

He said: “When you have a near-death experience, you think, ‘Well, I’d quite like to not do that again.’ Everybody is self-analysing something and I do it every time I ride a horse. I think, ‘What could I do better? What could I do worse?’”

Explaining the “boring technical stuff around” how he changed his riding, Sam elaborated: “I always have a real mantra of travelling cross-country, which is freedom of the horse, length of neck, let the horse be as much in front of you as you can. Make sure they’re drawing you to the fence.

“That’s been something I’ve done, right from when I went to Michael Jung when I was young. His main mantra was, ‘Let go of their neck, get their neck away from you.’ I used to be really good at that, but without quite enough balance on the way into the fence.

“I used to just try to use my natural eye and flow a bit to fences, racing style. After I had my injury, the thing that changed was before every fence, even island fences, is that now I make sure there’s a balance and prep for every single jump. I change the horse’s balance, make sure they know a fence is coming.

“It took me quite a long time to get quick again – I had a lot of time-faults for two or three years, because I used to rely on that flowing rhythm. But it’s amazing how then you adapt your system and horses learn that. And it actually is quicker, I find, because you can really travel up to the fence and the horses will naturally start to prep themselves.”

Badminton Horse Trials debutant Sam Ecroyd: “The sport is an addiction”

Sam said the accident also changed his perspective on life.

He said: “It’s an unbelievably humbling experience when you are sat in a hospital bed and you can’t move or do anything. All this stuff that you feel is pretty easy in life, you don’t take it for granted anymore.”

Asked what he still loves about the sport, despite his injury, Sam said: “I think it’s probably obsession, addiction, all those things that people have at top level sport – I wasn’t good enough at football so I had to find something else.

“But I love horses. I think they’re a special, special animal. We’ve had horses domesticated nearly as long as we’ve had dogs. Man and horses, we’ve been together, looking after each other, for 3,500 years.

“To be a part of that and be able to show off what they can achieve, it sort of symbolises all that long history that we have with the horse. It’s probably something that intrinsically draws me to it.

“I love training, I love working, I love trying to get better. The competing and trying to win every week doesn’t drive me really. It’s more of a desire to do better every day and work with the horse.”

Who is Sam Ecroyd’s Badminton horse?

Sam’s ride this week is Boleybawn Lecrae, with whom he was 17th at Pau Horse Trials last year.

“When he was young, he was just wild. He’s still pretty wild now – he’s just a real life enthusiast and wants to go everywhere at a million miles an hour. He definitely didn’t want to do any dressage or anything under control, so it took quite a few years,” he said.

“The owners Stewart and Vicki Irlam have been incredibly patient with him. He’s taken a long time and some do – he’s a big horse – and we’ve not won a huge amount along the way. It feels like we’re only at the start of what he can achieve.”

Sam’s girlfriend is fellow competitor Emily King and he says riding is much better than watching her riding.

“Watching is just the absolute worst. I hate it. I’ve had my girlfriend here many times and that’s a horrible experience, so I’m much preferring the riding,” he said.

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‘They treat their horses as horses and not like glass animals’: Cassie Sanger’s groom Meigs Rutherford on learning from Ros Canter’s yard

Pippa Roome — Fri, 08 May 2026 07:55:52 +0000

When a rider packs up and moves across the world, sometimes a groom uproots their life to go with them. And so it was for Meigs Rutherford, groom to the US’s Cassie Sanger, the youngest rider at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials this week.

Cassie, 21, and her team of horses have been based with double Badminton and Burghley winner Ros Canter for a year.

“We’ve learned an immense amount from being there,” Meigs told H&H. “It’s been really helpful to see how they treat their horses as horses and not like glass animals or such. That’s meant we can take the pressure off the horses and not be so worried about them looking perfect every day.”

Meigs previously worked for US-based British rider – and now top trainer – Leslie Law. She had a mare she competed at grassroots level.

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“I ended up retiring her and took a break for a couple months,” she explained. “Then Cassie was looking for somebody to help her part time – she was riding with Leslie at the time – so I took over part-time working for her. Once she left Leslie’s, we transitioned to me being full-time and managing everything.”

Meigs has now been working for Cassie for about four years.

“I do go back and forth a bit to the States to visit my family and take care of some things at home and then I come back. I love it,” she said.

Meigs said she finds Ros’s system very horse friendly, which really suits Cassie’s Badminton ride Redfield Fyre (“Yogi”).

“He is kind of a finicky horse, so it’s really worked out for him to be out 24/7 and just be a horse,” said Meigs.

Cassie has a team of six horses at Ros’s, including four-star ride Fernhill Zoro, three-star horses Mt Luxaan and Never Enough, plus two younger ones.

Meigs says she finds eventing here different in many ways.

She said: “But I think the biggest is that here, it’s not as over the top for everything – you do dressage on grass and usually at home it would be on a surface, and the same for showjumping.”

Cassie’s ride this week, Redfield Fyre, is a 13-year-old who has already finished in the top 20 at Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials.

“He’s a funny horse,” said Meigs. “He’s super, super sweet, but he doesn’t show it to everybody, and he’s brave as a lion, until he sees something that catches him off guard and he’s like, ‘What was that?’”

Cassie Sanger and Redfield Fyre in the 2026 Badminton dressage. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Cassie and Meigs came to Badminton two years ago to watch cross-country, but otherwise this is their first time at the event.

“I know Cassie and Yogi are going to have a blast on Saturday – he’s definitely a cross-country horse. It’s what he’s here for. But I just hope they have a great ride and have fun,” said Meigs.

“I don’t get super nervous for cross-country now with him and I can definitely watch. Sometimes I get a little more nervous about showjumping because it’s not our strongest phase, but he’s been really coming along and I just hope that it comes out on Sunday.”

Cassie is stabled next to Ros, in a block that also includes Alex Bragg and Quindiva. Experienced event groom Sarah Charnley is looking after Ros’s double Badminton winner Lordships Graffalo again this week.

“Sarah and I are like a married couple. We pick on each other, but we’re there for each other,” said Meigs.

And what qualities does Meigs Rutherford think make a great groom?

She replied: “I think there’s a bunch of different things, but I think the ability to have time management is big and then also just being able to accept the pressure from the rider and if they get short or snappy with you, you just have to understand that it’s just in the moment.”

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A US rider takes the lead, a British favourite is bumped to third and a vineyard owner sets a record: catch up on all the action from day one at Badminton

Lucy Elder — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:17:37 +0000

Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl lead after a great opening day of dressage at Mars Badminton Horse Trials (7 May).

Lunchtime leaders Bubby Upton and Cola held the top spot until the final session, when Tiana edged into pole position, and Will Rawlin (Ballycoog Breaker Boy) slotted into second.

Badminton Horse Trials dressage: how the first day unfolded…

British championship rider Tom Jackson and five-star debutant United 36 topped the provisional standings at this morning’s coffee break.

Find out more about this “talented but sharp” rising star

Bubby Upton and Cola were the first combination to break the 30 barrier in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials dressage, scoring 29.8 to steal a march on the rest of the field.

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Hear what Bubby had to say after her test

Ireland’s Georgie Goss inched into second place behind Bubby just before lunch, and finished the day in provisional fourth place.

Read about why Georgie was “a bit annoyed” with herself

Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint, runners up to Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier in 2024, set their 2026 Badminton campaign off to a solid start.

Discover more about how this pair got on today

Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl sprang to the top of the leaderboard after the tea break.

Find out what this mare and this performance means to the US rider

The penultimate Badminton Horse Trials dressage rider of the day, Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, posted 29.3 to slot into provisional second.

Read what Will had to say after his test, and how Alex Hua Tian got on with Chicko

Looking ahead to Saturday, this year’s competitors shared early thoughts on Eric Winter’s cross-country course.

Read what they had to say

Fancy taking a closer look at the cross-country fences on the 2026 course? H&H has snapped every fence…

Take a peek at H&H’s gallery of the fences on the 2026 Badminton cross-country course

Meanwhile yesterday vineyard owner Philippa Hendry, 61, topped the BE100 Badminton grassroots championships on Flyer Des Coupeaux, setting a new record dressage score in the process.

Read how Philippa and her French-bred gelding got the stars to align

Primary school teacher Holly Jessett claimed the BE90 Badminton grassroots championship on Lombard Lad, her only horse, ridden after work on full livery.

Hear how Holly took the red rosette in front of the house

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‘I would have been disappointed if I wasn’t in the top three’: Brit claims Badminton second place at end of day one

Oscar Williams — Thu, 07 May 2026 16:47:53 +0000

The penultimate rider of the day, Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy, went into second place on the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage (Thursday 7 May), with 29.3 penalties.

“All smiles,” said Will. “Even from Burghley last year, we’ve stepped it up again, and there’s still so much more in there.

“He was definitely keen in the canter and slightly grabbed hold of the bit, but he’s a very sensitive horse and can feel me, so if I kept myself relaxed, I’d like to think it followed through to him.

“It wasn’t perfect, there were a few things in there – but overall the picture and the feeling I had underneath me was fantastic.”

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Will, whose home is 40 minutes from the event, has walked the Badminton cross-country course once and likes this year’s direction.

“It’s bloody huge – there are a few big, big fences,” he said. “Having done both ways now, I just feel [this direction] gets you in the rhythm and the flow better, and it seems really inviting. Everything’s there for the horses to jump.”

Will was clear about where he and the 14-year-old Ballycoog Breaker Boy now sit in the sport.

“I would have been disappointed if I wasn’t in the top three today,” he said. “We’re at the stage now where we could start contesting those top positions.”

Alex Hua Tian: “I could have taken a few more risks”

Last to go, Alex Hua Tian and the experienced 16-year-old gelding Chicko went into eighth with 32.8 penalties.

“I’m really thrilled with Chicko – he’s such a tryer,” Alex said. “He isn’t the most talented in this phase, but he really goes in and tries to do his job, sometimes a little bit too hard.

“Today I really felt he was with me. He was trying hard, and he was relaxed enough. I’m a little bit annoyed at myself – I could have maybe taken a few more risks, had his ears a bit more up and just gone for it. But I’m happy.”

Alex has walked the cross-country course several times and last jumped the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee in 2016 on Harbour Pilot – a fence several riders picked out as one of the most apprehension-inducing on Eric Winter’s track.

“It’s a nice track,” he said. “Obviously, the Vicarage Vee is in there – always intimidating. But I think Eric’s been quite kind and given us a few chances to jump across the ditch in a similar way before. But the bank is massive.”

Will and Ballycoog Breaker Boy sit second overnight behind Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl, who took the lead in the final session on 28.1. Bubby Upton and Cola, who had led after the second session with the first sub-30 test of the day, dropped to third on 29.8.

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‘It’s mean to make us jump that ditch five times!’ Gemma Stevens, Harry Meade and Bubby Upton react to Badminton cross-country course

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:57:27 +0000

Fair distances but “mean” to make us jump that ditch five times – that was Gemma Stevens’ assessment of Eric Winter’s Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for this year’s competition.

The course comprises 32 numbered fences, with an optimum time of 11min 30sec.

“I think it’s a really fair course. I think he’s set fantastic distances, which I really like – I like it when designers don’t try and trick you,” said Gemma.

“You’ve got to be on your A game from number one to very last fence. There’s not really a let up anywhere. He’s making us jump the Vicarage Ditch five times – I feel like that’s quite mean, it’s scary enough just once.”

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The Vicarage Oxer at fence 16 is another of the times horses and riders cross the Vicarage Ditch. (Image credit: Lucy Elder)

Gemma added: “It’s going to be that typical five-star cumulative effect of the whole round. I don’t think you can pick out one particular fence. As riders, we’ve got to be accurate, we’ve got to look after our horses, and we’ve got to balance them and make sure they’re confident.”

Georgie Goss was another to mention the area around the Vicarage Ditch, saying: “I’d say 80% of the course looks really nice and the other 20% looks really horrible.

“I think the Vicarage line is always a rider frightener, but my bogey fence at the moment is the ditch to the rail [Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard at 22ab]. I did that a couple years ago when it was a ditch to the log and it never rode that well. But hopefully the more I walk, the smaller it’ll get.”

Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard (fence 22ab) on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for 2026. Credit Lucy Elder (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry Meade said after his first dressage test that he’d only had an initial look round in the dark last night, but he felt the route was slightly different from the horse’s point of view.

He said: “It covers the same ground, but actually for the flow of the horses, the intensity and the breathing gaps are slightly different. I didn’t think there was anything that was overly problematic, but I’ll have a better look this afternoon.”

Bubby Upton said she prefers the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course running this way round – anti-clockwise.

“Of course it’s massive and really difficult, but I think for my horse Cola, it will be a nicer way around for him,” she said, adding that the five-star stalwart doesn’t have a lot of thoroughbred blood (48%).

“I felt last year when we got through the Mayston Equestrian Hollow [fence 26abc this year] that he had done a huge effort and then I was like, ‘Oh my god, we’ve still got so much left to do.’ Whereas I hope this year we’ll jump that fence and feel like I can then ease him back a little bit more to get home.”

Kylie Roddy also said the track is more horse-friendly and has more flow than sometimes.

“It looks like the horses can see what they’re about to jump,” she said. “Sometimes it can be a bit blind and a bit bouncy off the trees, whereas I think they have found better flow for the ponies.”

The Spillers Sustainability Bay at fences 20abcd on the Badminton 2026 cross-country track. (Image credit: Lucy Elder)

Simon Grieve said he’d “be a bit disappointed” if the course wasn’t big, bold and quite scary.

He said: “I think the Mars Lake [fences 9ab and 10ab] is pretty serious and I just can’t ever get away from the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee [fence 25ab]. And the water at the top [Spillers Sustainability Bay – fence 20abcd] as well is very technical. It’s one big fence after another, and that’s what makes it such a challenge.”

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‘She proves correct training does develop a horse’: US rider holds Badminton dressage lead overnight

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:55:48 +0000

Wiltshire-based US rider Tiana Coudray has grabbed the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage lead, scoring 28.1 with her long-term partner Cancaras Girl towards the end of the first day of action (7 May).

The 16-year-old mare, who belongs to her rider and Jatial Ltd, received consistent scores for her beautiful, elegant work, iced with a nine from Angela Tucker at H for her final flying change.

This pair have completed here for the past two years, finishing 25th in 2024.

Tiana said: “Two years ago, when she went into third overnight on Thursday night, I was in floods of tears because I couldn’t believe that this little horse had done that. Now I’m going to cry again – to go in the lead at Badminton is the sort of stuff you dream of as a kid.”

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Tiana continued: “To be at Badminton is a dream – I had a little tear putting her on the lorry for her third Badminton, thinking that was pretty darn special, seeing as she was only supposed to be a project we were going to sell.”

Tiana was an Olympian in 2012 with Ringwood Magister, but then had a long period away from the top-level of eventing.

“I had a long period of not having a top horse and having to sell all my good horses and I had kind of resigned myself that I might not get back to top level again,” she said. “She’s the one that got me back here and so she will forever be the most special horse for keeping my career going.”

Tiana said they call the mare “Nana” at home and she is a “demure, sweet little girl” who doesn’t do drama, although they do have to work hard to keep her eating.

In terms of Cancaras Girl’s Badminton dressage test, the mark is a testament to training and time rather than talent, said Tiana Coudray.

“I have a phenomenal team behind us – physios, vets, trainers – just developing that strength,” said Tiana. “She really pleases me because she proves that correct training does develop a horse. She wasn’t a flashy mover and she didn’t do a good test as a young horse.

“But if you keep training and keep training, the theory is it’s supposed to make them stronger and more supple and athletic and she really proves that. It’s just been chipping away and letting her develop in her own time.”

Tiana said she was actually a little disappointed with some small mistakes in her test today.

“The flying changes have always been her highlight,” she said. “So it was a real positive when we got her to advanced and then to five-star, where she’s got four changes in a test.

“We messed up our first one a bit today – she locked on to the cross-country jump and came off the aids. So that’s one of the places where potentially she could have another nine.

“But overall it’s really exciting, and I’m really glad that the judges rewarded what we felt was happening at home.”

British rider Will Rawlin grabbed second in the final stages of today’s dressage on 29.3, riding Ballycoog Breaker Boy, with Bubby Upton and Cola on 29.8 holding third at the end of the day.

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Elite amateur moves into podium position in Badminton dressage: ‘He gave me everything he had in there’

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 14:22:42 +0000

Elite amateur rider Lucy Latta put in a super Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage test as the first into the arena after lunch on day one (Thursday 7 May).

Irish rider Lucy and the Crampton family’s RCA Patron Saint were the runners up here in 2024 on their Badminton debut and they bettered their score then by nearly five marks today to pull in a 31.8. They sit third behind leaders Bubby Upton and Cola and Georgie Goss with Feloupe.

“He gave me everything he had in there. He was really rideable and handled the atmosphere well, so I’m really pleased,” said Lucy Latta, who rode in a double bridle in the Badminton dressage.

“I’ve ridden him in a double for a couple of years. He’s quite a big horse and I’m quite a small person, so it just helps keep him soft if he gets a bit worried in the atmosphere. But he really held his cool today.

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“This is his third five-star now, so he’s getting more comfortable and familiar with these big stadium arenas.”

Flying changes are the downfall of many pairs in eventing dressage, but Lucy and RCA Patron Saint excelled in their first three changes, just having issues in the final one to earn three fours from the judges, in stark contrast to the three eights they pulled in for their second change.

Lucy said: “He’s really capable and has some lovely changes in him. It’s just about the quality of the canter. Towards the end of the test, I slightly lost him a little bit, so the change was off the aid and a little bit late. But he was super for the rest of them and very rideable, so I’m thrilled.”

The 29-year-old rider has recently started a short career break, having worked in marketing for a drinks company.

She said: “It’s only for probably a short time. This guy is 15 now so he won’t last forever, so I just wanted to take a little bit of time to enjoy a few more five-stars with him, fingers crossed. I intend to go back to my career as well.”

Lucy knows making it to a five-star is a fragile process because after their success here in 2024, Lucy and “Paddy” missed Burghley Horse Trials that year because the horse had colic on arrival and then also had to withdraw from Badminton last year when “Paddy” cut himself at home in the build up. The pair completed Burghley last year in 22nd, having had a late run-out across country.

Britain’s Kylie Roddy was the second-best of this first session after lunch, scoring 32.9 to pop into sixth with Anne and Colin Fox’s SRS Kan Do. She was pleased with “George” and just blamed herself for trying to over straighten the shoulder on the final centreline.

“Each year they come here, they know what they’re coming for – he was wild at Kelsall and I had to get off and take my spurs off in the warm-up for the dressage,” said Kylie.

“But when you’re actually at one of these big ones, you can get enough riding into them and that’s where they start to become more and more rideable with the athleticism and able to show the things that the horses need to provide to be top level athletes. He feels better than ever.”

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‘I’m a bit annoyed with myself’: consistent mare slots into second in Badminton dressage

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 12:38:57 +0000

Georgie Goss and Feloupe put in their customary smooth test to slot into second at lunchtime on the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage today (7 May).

Georgie, who has been riding for Ireland for three years after being an under-21 medal-winner for Britain, achieved a score of 30.3 with her own, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes’ Feloupe.

Her marks only dropped down for a mistake in the first flying change, which garnered a three from Angela Tucker at H.

“I’m just a bit annoyed with myself. She never misses the changes and I missed that first change, so I’m a little disappointed,” said Georgie Goss after her Badminton dressage.

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“I thought we would have been more 27 or 28, but the judges haven’t been giving the marks away, and I did miss that change. She’s very consistent on the flat. She always goes in and does the exact same test at every single event – you get the odd judge love her and then other ones not but generally, she’s always sat in the in the higher scores.”

Georgie described the mare as “a quiet little angel” to work with except that “she doesn’t hack – that’s her downside”.

The rider – who was, as usual, sporting nails decorated for the mare she calls Lulu Lemon – said dressage is not her own strong suit, so it’s a joy to work with a horse like Feloupe on the flat.

She said: “Everything you put into her, you get out of her. She’s never going to blow, she’s never going to get tense. I always try and get in the arena early, so I get the applause from the horse before just to lift her a little bit more. But she’s so consistent.”

This is a third Badminton in a row for Georgie and the 16-year-old mare Feloupe, who have been 27th and 28th on their previous visits together, with cross-country time-faults preventing them from finishing higher up the order.

Bubby Upton, who went earlier in the session after the coffee break, leads on Cola at the lunchbreak.

The reigning British open champions Katie Magee and Angela Hislop’s Treworra, who followed Georgie into the arena, have claimed fifth at this stage behind first-session leaders Tom Jackson and United 36.

Katie said: “He was a really good boy. He stayed with me, did some lovely lateral work and he stayed nice and soft and relaxed. I think I could have been just a fraction more positive and pushed for the slightly higher marks, but he was brilliant.”

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‘He has such natural presence’: Bubby Upton leads Badminton dressage with sub-30 test

Oscar Williams — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:59:56 +0000

Bubby Upton has gone into the lead after the second morning session on the first day of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage (Thursday 7 May).

Riding Cola, the 16-year-old gelding who has carried her from two young rider medals to a fifth consecutive Badminton, the pair were favourites to produce one of the best tests of the day.

They delivered a confident performance, only marred by some tightness behind in the changes, finishing on 29.8 penalties – a little below their six-test average.

“He was on the edge, how he’s been a bit all year, to be honest,” Bubby said. “A bit between fresh and too fresh.”

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Bubby continued: “I wouldn’t say it was a perfectly polished test, but he’s more established at the level now, and he’s such a beautiful horse; he has such natural presence anyway.”

Cola, who is forever changing as he gets older, is now producing his best work, but warms up for just 15 minutes.

“I actually felt today I probably needed five minutes more,” she added. “We went in a little on eggshells and I rode my first couple of movements very quietly, just to ease him into it.

“Then he felt like he got into the groove, particularly after the walk – he really relaxed in the walk, and then the canter was very good.”

Sarah Bullimore “disappointed” after Badminton dressage

Sarah Bullimore with the talented 10-year-old Corimiro, who is out of Sarah’s championship mare Lilly Corinne, were next to go, and another combination expected to challenge the top of the leaderboard.

However, a mistake in the medium canter and subsequent change, knocked their score to 32.1 penalties.

“I’m disappointed – I feel I let him down,” Sarah said. “The trot work was lovely, but his changes are normally beautiful, and they just weren’t quite on the button today.”

Corimiro is contesting his first Badminton, and Sarah felt the atmosphere had got the better of him.

“We forget he is only 10, and it’s his first Badminton,” she said. “He’s seen some big atmospheres, but nothing like this. You can’t replicate it – it’s another step up.

“But he loves the crowd. When we came out, we stopped at A where everybody was applauding and he just stood there and went, ‘Oh, for me, all for me’ – he does love it. Perhaps he loved it a little bit too much, and we just weren’t quite on the same wave for the changes.”

Sarah hasn’t yet walked the cross-country course – “It all gets quite hectic” – but has the rest of the day and Friday to do so.

Georgie Goss and Feloupe split the British pair, sitting second after the second session on 30.8, with Sarah and Corimiro third on 32.1, and Tom Jackson and United 36 fourth on 32.2.

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‘Talented but sharp’ youngster leads, but frustration for top rider in first Badminton dressage session

Pippa Roome — Thu, 07 May 2026 10:28:15 +0000

Tom Jackson leads at the close of the first session of Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage this morning (7 May).

Tom piloted Michael Stenning’s 10-year-old United 36 to a score of 31.8. They put in a workmanlike test with the scores only marred by some greenness in the flying changes.

“He’s probably one of the most talented horses I’ve sat on in terms of his athleticism and his ability, but his brain is quite difficult,” said Tom Jackson after his Badminton dressage.

“He can be quite sharp and quite spooky and just as you think you’re getting somewhere, suddenly you’re halfway across the school, facing the other direction. I was really pleased with how he coped in there, because it’s a lot for any horse, especially one that’s not the most experience.”

Tom has ridden recent Thoresby winner United 36 since the end of his eight-year-old year and this is the horse’s first five-star.

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Gemma Stevens sits second on a score of 34 after a frustrating experience with Christopher and Lisa Stone’s Chilli Knight.

The 16-year-old, who won Bicton Horse Trials five-star in 2021, is not naturally gifted in this phase, and today he also rested a hindleg in the mid-test halt and threw in a change in the medium canter.

“That was absolutely rubbish,” said Gemma. “He’s actually probably trotting the best he’s ever trotted – well, shuffled the best he’s ever shuffled.

“It was all going to plan until the halt. I must have done 150 halts in the last two weeks, every one’s been bang on, then he goes in the ring and thinks, ‘Oh, I’ll just have a little rest.’ Cheeky little monkey.

“And then the same in the canter – if I’ve gone across that diagonal 100 times, I’ve gone across there 150 times and not once has he gone to do a change and then he goes in the ring and does it. It surprised the hell out of me – I was like, ‘What are you doing?’

“I’m really frustrated but at the end of the day, they’re horses, not machines and he certainly does have his own mind. He probably thinks he can do all this without me, I’m just an irritation on top trying to tell him what to do.

“He is feeling blooming well and on Saturday it’s just going to be a case of keeping that under wraps and keeping him under control.”

Tom’s lead is likely to be short-lived, with strong tests expected from Bubby Upton on Cola and Sarah Bullimore with Corimiro in the next session.

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Fancy a peek at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course? Of course you do!

Lucy Elder — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:13:51 +0000

The Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course is dressed and ready for Saturday (9 May).

This year’s track, designed by Eric Winter, features 32 numbered fences, including iconic Badminton questions such as Equidry Hunstman’s Close and the Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee.

Fancy taking a look?

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2026

Fence 1: Pedigree Starter

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Fence 2: Wiltshire Brewers Drays

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Fence 3: Manor House Mound

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Fence 4ab: Horsequest Quarry

The direct route is over this wall (4a) and into the hollow, followed by the wall on the left in the background

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An overview of the quarry from the landing side (below). The direct route is in over the wall on the left-hand side of the picture, and out over the wall on the right-hand side. The wall in the middle is an alternative 4b.

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Fence 5ab: Ebony Horse Club Gates

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Fence 6ab: Equidry Huntsman’s Close

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The alternative at 6a (bel0w)

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Fence 7ab: Clipmyhorse Cord Piles

A choice between one big log pile, or two slightly smaller fences

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Fence 8: Beaufort Owl Hole

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Fence 9ab & 10ab: Mars Lake

The direct route is over the fish (9a) to an arrowhead in the water (9b) and out onto dry land. Competitors then turn back on themselves to an arrowhead (10a), followed by a final element in the water.

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Alternative fence at 9b (below)

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Alternative fence at 10a (below)

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Fence 11: World Horse Welfare Waterfall

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Fence 12: Project Pony Puzzle

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Fence 13: British Eventing Broken Bridge

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Fence 14ab & 15: KBIS Slalom

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Fence 16: Vicarage Oxer

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Fence 17: Joules T Bar Log

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Fence 18ab: Lemieux Village

The direct route is up the step and a bounce to a choice deformable houses

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Alternative fences at 18a and 18b

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Fence 19ab: Antech Trakehner

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Fence 20abcd: Spillers Sustainability Bay

Direct route, pictured below

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Alternate route

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Fence 21ab: Ineos Sunken Road

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Fence 22ab: Mike Weaver’s Farm Yard

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Alternative option at 22b

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Fence 23 & 24: Luckington Lane Corners

The direct route is to jump the ditch and corner in one

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The alternative (pictured, below) is to jump the ditch, followed by a separate corner

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Fence 25ab: Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee

The direct route is to jump the ditch and rails in one

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The alternative is to jump the ditch, followed by a house

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Fence 26abc: Mayston Equestrian Hollow

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Alternatives at 26b & 26c

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Fence 27: Spillers Stables

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Fence 28ab: Rathbones Curve

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The corners feature decorative carved horses

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Fence 29: Countryside Parallel

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Fence 30abc: Savills Keepers Rails

Competitors jump a big parallel, followed by a choice of either a second big parallel or two uprights

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Fence 31: Worcester Roll Top

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Fence 32: Mars M

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A jumpsuit, a cream suit and floaty dresses: check out our favourite outfits from the Badminton trot-up

Pippa Roome — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:39:36 +0000

Want to see pictures of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials first trot-up this afternoon (6 May)? Of course you do! We just can’t get enough of the five-star horses and riders as they prepare to take on this week of elite competition.

While the inspection serves the serious purpose of chﬁecking all the horses are fit to start the competition, it’s also something of a fashion parade. Here’s our pick of the outfits…

Young US rider Cosby Green caught the eye in a white and green dress as she trotted up Heather Morris’ Jos Ufo De Quidam.

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The prize for best-dressed female rider from Hiho Silver went to Emily King, who wore a blue Reiss jumpsuit with a statement collar to trot up her own and her father David’s Valmy Biats.

48 Emily King with Valmy Biats during the 1st Horse inspection before the start of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire in the UK between 6 - 10 May 2026 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Bubby Upton stood out in a red suit (here’s the Boden jacket) and black Fairfax & Favor boots as she ran alongside her ride Cola, who is owned by her mother Rachel.

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Wills Oakden leant into his Scottish side as he led Keep It Cooley for Elspeth and Geoff Adam.

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Georgie Goss’s floaty white and pale pink Holland Cooper dress drew admiration as she presented Feloupe, who is owned by her rider, Suzanne Doggett, Lucy Fleming and Kelly Holmes.

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Another rising star for the US, Cassie Sanger, came forward in the same Holland Cooper dress in pale blue and white pattern with her own Redfield Fyre.

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She was followed by Ireland’s Lucy Latta, who cut a smart figure in a short jacket, black trousers and sunglasses. She and the Crampton’s RCA Patron Saint were runners-up here in 2024.

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Kylie Roddy wore a brown suit with this cream bow in her hair as she trotted up Anne and Colin Fox’s SRS Kan Do.

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Will Rawlin cut a dash in a double breasted suit and this shirt as he came forward with his own and his parents Andrew and Miranda’s Ballycoog Breaker Boy.

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Fiona Kashel paired a pink waistcoat and trousers with a white blouse as she presented her own Creevagh Silver De Haar.

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Marcio Carvalho Jorge is the sole Brazilian rider and he looked smart in a dark suit and red tie as he brought forward Royal Encounter, owned by his rider and Alastair, Annabel and Ken Vere Nicoll.

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Daisy Berkeley stood out in a bright pink Beatrice von Tresckow coat, matched with white jeans and boots, as she returns to Badminton after some years away. Her ride is her own, her mother Caroline Dick and Camilla Case’s Diese Du Figuier.

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France’s Gaspard Maksud, who rides Martin Thurlow and Jane Young’s Zaragoza, received a special award for his characterful outfit.

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Badminton Horse Trials trot-up pictures by Peter Nixon

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Badminton Horse Trials dressage times released – when does your favourite go?

Pippa Roome — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:37:40 +0000

The Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage times for the next two days of action at the 2026 event have been released.

Harry Meade and his first of three horses, Et Hop Du Matz, will be first into the arena tomorrow (Thursday, 7 May) at 10am. David Doel is the final competitor on Friday, with his second ride Midnight Rollercoaster, at 4.13pm on Friday (8 May).

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times 2026: key contenders

Gemma Stevens (GBR) and Chilli Knight: 10.40am, Thursday
Bubby Upton (GBR) and Cola: 11.38am, Thursday
Sarah Bullimore (GBR) and Corimiro: 11.46am, Thursday
Lucy Latta (IRL) and RCA Patron Saint: 2pm, Thursday
Harry Meade (GBR) and Annaghmore Valoner: 10am, Friday
Ros Canter (GBR) and Lordships Graffalo: 10.48am, Friday
Emily King (GBR) and Valmy Biats: 11.40am, Friday
Felix Vogg (SUI) and Cartania: 2.32pm, Friday
Tim Price (NZL) and Falco: 2.40pm, Friday
Harry Meade (GBR) and Cavalier Crystal: 3.49pm, Friday
Caroline Powell (NZL) and Greenacres Special Cavalier: 3.57pm, Friday
View the dressage start list in full

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Two horses held at first Badminton Horse Trials trot-up, including one British ride

Lucy Elder — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:35:06 +0000

Two horses were held at the first Mars Badminton Horse Trials trot-up today (6 May). Both were accepted when re-presented to the ground jury so all 61 competitors go forward to dressage.

Alex Bragg’s ride Quindiva, who is owned by the Roe family and finished third here in 2024, was the first horse to be sent to the holding box by the ground jury of Christina Klingspor, Amanda Miller and Angela Tucker. She slotted in to re-present five horses later, and was given the nod of approval.

Quintera, ridden by Belgium’s Wouter De Cleene and owned by Katrien Arnauts and Bart Goeminne, was also held. The 14-year-old, who made her Badminton debut in 2025, was accepted on re-presentation.

Harry Meade kicked off the Badminton Horse Trials trot-up with his three campaigners – Et Hop Du Matz, Annaghmore Valoner and Cavalier Crystal. The trio sailed through the horse inspection in front of the house, watched by a huge crowd.

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Former winner Greenacres Special Cavalier, ridden by Caroline Powell who owns the 2024 Badminton champion with Chris and Michelle Mann, was on her toes in the chilly spring sunshine. Defending champion Lordships Graffalo also breezed through the first Badminton Horse Trials trot-up.

Tim Price’s 2021 Pau winner Falco, who he owns with Sue Benson, was trotted up by fellow competitor Marcio Carvalho Jorge, as Tim sustained a shoulder injury from falling off a bike the weekend before Defender Kentucky.

The Badminton Horse Trials entries thinned by eight horses in the final build-up to the Gloucestershire five-star following a flurry of late withdrawals this week. All horses named on the start list for the first trot-up presented and passed.

Harry Meade and Et Hop Du Matz will be the first pair into the arena at 10am tomorrow (Thursday, 7 May).

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