<![CDATA[ Latest from Horse & Hound in Cross-country ]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/tag/cross-country Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:10:05 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Top event riders share their tips for training horses to tackle drops with confidence ]]> From Burghley’s precipitous Leaf Pit to Pau’s rollercoaster mounds (and everything in between) the principles of negotiating drops and fences where horses can’t immediately see the landing are the same – namely giving the horse time rather than speed. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Badminton winner and British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle and five-star rider Tom Crisp share their top tips, and one useful exercise to practise

Horses are well-equipped to hop up and down steps and negotiate mounds, so long as we let them use the tools that nature has given them. Jumping cross-country drop fences or when the horse cannot see the landing requires certain techniques to help a horse develop trust in the rider to allow them to use their body effectively.

British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle encourages us to think about a horse’s biomechanics when training for eventing.

“The horse’s eyes are on the end of his neck and if we restrict the neck through our riding then the horse won’t be able to look forward and use his eyes to read the question,” he explains. “Horses can lose confidence when they are denied the freedom to use their necks.”

A fundamental skill to master for the safe and successful negotiation of drop fences is the ability to ride with longer reins to allow the horse to use his neck while maintaining a connection, similar to when riding down cross-country steps.

This training begins on the flat.

“When you allow the horse a longer rein you train him to reach forward to the contact and use his neck. It’s no different across country,” points out Chris. “This stretching down movement is even included in five-star dressage tests and is testing precisely this ability to maintain a connection on a longer rein.”

A typical question from novice level upwards is a drop followed a few strides later by an accuracy fence, such as a skinny or a corner. At the higher eventing levels this is likely to be on a bending line and possibly even off a blind turn. This means you have only a few seconds after the drop to re-establish your cross-country position and focus your horse on where he’s going.

Jumping cross-country drop fences with an accuracy question

A big drop to a skinny at Pau CC5*, but drops to accuracy questions start at novice level. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Sometimes, people get concerned that with longer reins they’re going to lose ‘control’,” says Chris. “It’s a delicate balance between achieving the line and the pace you want coming into fence yet at the same time giving the horse the possibility to use his neck and see what he’s doing.

“Ros Canter is a supreme example of somebody who has her horses really going to the contact, yet she rides with a long rein and is not restricting the horse or fighting for control. She uses her eyes to direct the horse rather than her reins. As she turns her neck and eyes to see where she’s going, her horses follow her. It’s something we have worked on together over the years, and even now when she comes to me for training she will say: ‘I need you to check on my eyes’.”

How to ride a drop fence

Five-star event rider Jesse Campbell explains how to approach a drop in a way that will give your horse confidence and prevent hesitation.

1. When introducing your horse to a drop for the first time, find an inviting, low step. Start by approaching at a walk on a long rein. Your horse should be straight and in front of your leg. He should stay relaxed and in a rhythm. Once this is established you can progress to larger steps, and approach in faster gaits but, until then, keep practising smaller steps to build your horse’s confidence and gain his trust.

2. Allow your horse to use his neck by slipping your reins so you don’t catch him in the mouth. This will give him the freedom to use himself. If this is something you’re not used to, practise letting the reins run through your fingers and collecting them back up.

3. As you progress to riding drops at canter, make sure your horse is listening, but still in front of your leg. You need to allow him time to take in the drop fence, and going too fast can hinder this. Establishing a strong, rhythmical canter is key.

4. A good rider position will instil confidence in your horse to come off the drop and encourage him to tackle this type of obstacle again. Remember to sit up, keep your shoulders back and your lower leg secure. Always keep your eyes up and don’t look down. This is also vital when you have another fence to jump after the drop — your eyes need to be focused on this. While jumping down, keep your hands wide and soft as this will help you to get the contact back more quickly.

If you ever have an issue with a drop, always go back to walking down an easy drop fence on a long rein – by re-establishing the basics, you can rebuild your horse’s confidence.

Foundation exercise for jumping cross-country drop fences

Chris Bartle uses an exercise he calls “the rollercoaster” to help riders rely less on the rein and to keep their balance and line through their body position.

Build five fences on a curve and alternate between small cavaletti and a taller upright fence (around 90-100cm). The jumps should be a bounce distance apart (roughly three yards apart on the inside line and four yards on the outside line).

Exercise to practise balance ahead of jumping drop fences.

A novice version of Chris Bartle’s exercise, with five small jumps set up as bounces on a curve, so the rider can practise keeping their balance and line without relying on the rein. (Image credit: Jasmine Punter Photography)

Set your canter, look at a point in the distance beyond where you are going. Always look down the road rather than at the road itself. Use your peripheral vision to see the poles in front of you. Let the horse’s nose out to encourage him to really use his eyes and his neck.

Your job as a rider is simply to stay in balance and not look down, while the horse is responsible for the jump. By separating out these responsibilities the task becomes clearer – you are in charge of direction, while your horse’s job is to jump the fences.

Chris adds that sometimes it can be more challenging for a horse to lower himself down over a steep drop with a tiny fence on top than it is for him to jump something more substantial on the way to dropping down.

“This is because over a small fence a horse has to drop his neck and look where he’s going,” he explains. “A classic example of this is the top water at Badminton, which often has a small log straight in with a big drop. It usually catches out one or two horses who don’t have the confidence to drop their neck and look where they’re going.”

Felix Vogg and Cartania at drop fence at Badminton

Felix Vogg shows how to jump the drop fence into the second water at Badminton, allowing the horse to drop her neck and look where she’s going. (Image credit: Alamy)

With any fence on a gradient it is important to make sure the horse has the confidence to understand that there will be a safe place to put his feet on the landing side.

“You need to support his decision-making by applying the right amount of aid and the right amount of encouragement,” says five-star rider Tom Crisp. “Our job is to teach the horse to believe that he can do it for itself, rather than making him. If he is already nervous and you are too dominant you will likely just fuel his anxiety.

“You absolutely don’t need to train over big fences,” he continues. “Quiet repetition is the key. When you go cross-country schooling you should be spending most of your time popping slowly off small steps and banks, concentrating on giving the horse a comfortable experience.”

Tom also emphasises the need to select the right gear for the type of obstacle.

“You will need a lower gear with plenty of power for fences such as banks and mounds, where the horse can’t see where he’s landing,” he says. “By creating a canter where every stride covers a shorter distance, you’re maximising the length of time that the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards. Come in too quickly and he may not have time to read the question.

“From your forward, galloping position you should be able to bring your upper body back and have the horse follow you.”

Chris adds that on the approach it is important that the preparation happens in the right order.

“I always say that the rider’s position is the preparation, their body language is the action, supported by their seat and leg, and finally the rein,” he says.

Tips for jumping cross-country fences where the horse cannot see the landing

  • Ride in a short, powerful canter so that you’re maximising the length of time the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards.
  • Be very decisive and clear in your preparation and in the quality of the canter and the gear you’ve selected.
  • Look up and beyond the fence, never at the base.
  • Support with your leg.
  • Feed the rein out a little on the approach before take-off so the horse can stretch out his neck and use his eyes to read the landing.
  • Stay secure in your position and go with the horse’s movement without unbalancing or restricting him.
  • Avoid letting your horse launch himself off the top of a drop through lack of confidence – this can give him a fright and make jumping a related element much harder.
  • To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Benjamin Bounce in a cross-country schooling session

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to make the most of cross-country schooling with advice from top trainers

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: example of cross-country riding uphill and downhill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Does cantering or jumping downhill fill you with dread? Improve your cross-country riding skills with tips from an Olympian

Harry Meade bandaging a horse's legs in a stable

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to manage horses for a long and successful career – the Harry Meade way

How Harry Meade gets horses fit, galloping up a hill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to get your horse fit like world number one event rider Harry Meade

Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//horse-training/jumping-cross-country-drop-fences-698862 hvc1wuWRT2jJzhkbX7E39u Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:10:05 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:44:59 +0000 false false true

From Burghley’s precipitous Leaf Pit to Pau’s rollercoaster mounds (and everything in between) the principles of negotiating drops and fences where horses can’t immediately see the landing are the same – namely giving the horse time rather than speed. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Badminton winner and British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle and five-star rider Tom Crisp share their top tips, and one useful exercise to practise

Horses are well-equipped to hop up and down steps and negotiate mounds, so long as we let them use the tools that nature has given them. Jumping cross-country drop fences or when the horse cannot see the landing requires certain techniques to help a horse develop trust in the rider to allow them to use their body effectively.

British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle encourages us to think about a horse’s biomechanics when training for eventing.

“The horse’s eyes are on the end of his neck and if we restrict the neck through our riding then the horse won’t be able to look forward and use his eyes to read the question,” he explains. “Horses can lose confidence when they are denied the freedom to use their necks.”

A fundamental skill to master for the safe and successful negotiation of drop fences is the ability to ride with longer reins to allow the horse to use his neck while maintaining a connection, similar to when riding down cross-country steps.

This training begins on the flat.

“When you allow the horse a longer rein you train him to reach forward to the contact and use his neck. It’s no different across country,” points out Chris. “This stretching down movement is even included in five-star dressage tests and is testing precisely this ability to maintain a connection on a longer rein.”

A typical question from novice level upwards is a drop followed a few strides later by an accuracy fence, such as a skinny or a corner. At the higher eventing levels this is likely to be on a bending line and possibly even off a blind turn. This means you have only a few seconds after the drop to re-establish your cross-country position and focus your horse on where he’s going.

Jumping cross-country drop fences with an accuracy question

A big drop to a skinny at Pau CC5*, but drops to accuracy questions start at novice level. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Sometimes, people get concerned that with longer reins they’re going to lose ‘control’,” says Chris. “It’s a delicate balance between achieving the line and the pace you want coming into fence yet at the same time giving the horse the possibility to use his neck and see what he’s doing.

“Ros Canter is a supreme example of somebody who has her horses really going to the contact, yet she rides with a long rein and is not restricting the horse or fighting for control. She uses her eyes to direct the horse rather than her reins. As she turns her neck and eyes to see where she’s going, her horses follow her. It’s something we have worked on together over the years, and even now when she comes to me for training she will say: ‘I need you to check on my eyes’.”

How to ride a drop fence

Five-star event rider Jesse Campbell explains how to approach a drop in a way that will give your horse confidence and prevent hesitation.

1. When introducing your horse to a drop for the first time, find an inviting, low step. Start by approaching at a walk on a long rein. Your horse should be straight and in front of your leg. He should stay relaxed and in a rhythm. Once this is established you can progress to larger steps, and approach in faster gaits but, until then, keep practising smaller steps to build your horse’s confidence and gain his trust.

2. Allow your horse to use his neck by slipping your reins so you don’t catch him in the mouth. This will give him the freedom to use himself. If this is something you’re not used to, practise letting the reins run through your fingers and collecting them back up.

3. As you progress to riding drops at canter, make sure your horse is listening, but still in front of your leg. You need to allow him time to take in the drop fence, and going too fast can hinder this. Establishing a strong, rhythmical canter is key.

4. A good rider position will instil confidence in your horse to come off the drop and encourage him to tackle this type of obstacle again. Remember to sit up, keep your shoulders back and your lower leg secure. Always keep your eyes up and don’t look down. This is also vital when you have another fence to jump after the drop — your eyes need to be focused on this. While jumping down, keep your hands wide and soft as this will help you to get the contact back more quickly.

If you ever have an issue with a drop, always go back to walking down an easy drop fence on a long rein – by re-establishing the basics, you can rebuild your horse’s confidence.

Foundation exercise for jumping cross-country drop fences

Chris Bartle uses an exercise he calls “the rollercoaster” to help riders rely less on the rein and to keep their balance and line through their body position.

Build five fences on a curve and alternate between small cavaletti and a taller upright fence (around 90-100cm). The jumps should be a bounce distance apart (roughly three yards apart on the inside line and four yards on the outside line).

Exercise to practise balance ahead of jumping drop fences.

A novice version of Chris Bartle’s exercise, with five small jumps set up as bounces on a curve, so the rider can practise keeping their balance and line without relying on the rein. (Image credit: Jasmine Punter Photography)

Set your canter, look at a point in the distance beyond where you are going. Always look down the road rather than at the road itself. Use your peripheral vision to see the poles in front of you. Let the horse’s nose out to encourage him to really use his eyes and his neck.

Your job as a rider is simply to stay in balance and not look down, while the horse is responsible for the jump. By separating out these responsibilities the task becomes clearer – you are in charge of direction, while your horse’s job is to jump the fences.

Chris adds that sometimes it can be more challenging for a horse to lower himself down over a steep drop with a tiny fence on top than it is for him to jump something more substantial on the way to dropping down.

“This is because over a small fence a horse has to drop his neck and look where he’s going,” he explains. “A classic example of this is the top water at Badminton, which often has a small log straight in with a big drop. It usually catches out one or two horses who don’t have the confidence to drop their neck and look where they’re going.”

Felix Vogg and Cartania at drop fence at Badminton

Felix Vogg shows how to jump the drop fence into the second water at Badminton, allowing the horse to drop her neck and look where she’s going. (Image credit: Alamy)

With any fence on a gradient it is important to make sure the horse has the confidence to understand that there will be a safe place to put his feet on the landing side.

“You need to support his decision-making by applying the right amount of aid and the right amount of encouragement,” says five-star rider Tom Crisp. “Our job is to teach the horse to believe that he can do it for itself, rather than making him. If he is already nervous and you are too dominant you will likely just fuel his anxiety.

“You absolutely don’t need to train over big fences,” he continues. “Quiet repetition is the key. When you go cross-country schooling you should be spending most of your time popping slowly off small steps and banks, concentrating on giving the horse a comfortable experience.”

Tom also emphasises the need to select the right gear for the type of obstacle.

“You will need a lower gear with plenty of power for fences such as banks and mounds, where the horse can’t see where he’s landing,” he says. “By creating a canter where every stride covers a shorter distance, you’re maximising the length of time that the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards. Come in too quickly and he may not have time to read the question.

“From your forward, galloping position you should be able to bring your upper body back and have the horse follow you.”

Chris adds that on the approach it is important that the preparation happens in the right order.

“I always say that the rider’s position is the preparation, their body language is the action, supported by their seat and leg, and finally the rein,” he says.

Tips for jumping cross-country fences where the horse cannot see the landing

  • Ride in a short, powerful canter so that you’re maximising the length of time the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards.
  • Be very decisive and clear in your preparation and in the quality of the canter and the gear you’ve selected.
  • Look up and beyond the fence, never at the base.
  • Support with your leg.
  • Feed the rein out a little on the approach before take-off so the horse can stretch out his neck and use his eyes to read the landing.
  • Stay secure in your position and go with the horse’s movement without unbalancing or restricting him.
  • Avoid letting your horse launch himself off the top of a drop through lack of confidence – this can give him a fright and make jumping a related element much harder.
  • To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Benjamin Bounce in a cross-country schooling session

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to make the most of cross-country schooling with advice from top trainers

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: example of cross-country riding uphill and downhill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Does cantering or jumping downhill fill you with dread? Improve your cross-country riding skills with tips from an Olympian

Harry Meade bandaging a horse's legs in a stable

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to manage horses for a long and successful career – the Harry Meade way

How Harry Meade gets horses fit, galloping up a hill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to get your horse fit like world number one event rider Harry Meade

Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

]]> <![CDATA[ 85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country ]]> We’ve put together a list of cross-country course hire venues across England, Scotland and Wales, so that you can find the perfect place to take your horse cross-country schooling, whether it’s just for fun or to prepare for the season.

Most cross-country schooling venues, if not open all year, tend to open between February and April as riders start training for the eventing season ahead. Depending on the ground conditions and the time of year, you might prefer to school on grass or on an all-weather surface and we have plenty of examples of both options listed below.

Some courses are available for hire all year round, with the exception of during events and the preparation period, and in extreme weather. We’ve included seasonal opening times where these are available.

One important cross-country schooling tip is to choose a venue to suit your needs – for example, if your horse needs practice in water, opt for a venue with a water complex and splash area – so where the information is available, we’ve listed the fence heights and features of each course to help you find the best option.

If you run a cross-country course or schooling venue for hire that is not listed, please email georgia.guerin@futurenet.com to be added.

Cross-country hire by location

East of England

Includes cross-country course hire in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Berwick Farm XC

Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex CM5 9PY

berwickfarmxc.com

01708 688232

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • 3.5 miles of tracks
  • Two water features
  • Three sunken roads
  • Two woodland areas
  • More than 100 fences

Blackwater Farm Equestrian Centre

Great Witchingham, Norfolk NR9 5PH

blackwaterfarm.co.uk

01362 688227

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.15m
  • Natural copses
  • Clear natural water complexes
  • Wide variety of fence types
  • New fences every season

Ely Eventing Centre

Little Downham, Ely, Cambs CB6 2TY

elyeventing.co.uk

01353 698839

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.15m
  • Two water complexes
  • Ditches and coffin combinations
  • Sunken road complex and step/bank area

Keysoe International

Keysoe, Beds MK44 2JP

keysoe.com

01234 708400

  • Arena XC only
  • Jumps from 70cm
  • Water, ditches, inclines
  • Built by Eric Winter

Kimpton Cross-Country Course

Kimpton, Nr Hitchin, Herts SG4 8HB

kimptonxcountry.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • More than 45 fences
  • Fences 50cm–1m+
  • Annual membership available

Poplar Park

Hollesley, Suffolk IP12 3NA

poplarpark.co.uk

01394 411023

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.20m
  • Six full courses
  • BE standard
  • No time limit
  • Updated yearly

Radley Green Equestrian

Radley Green, Chelmsford, Essex CM4 0LU

rgequestrian.uk

  • Two arena courses
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m and 40–70cm
  • Steps, ditches, water and trakehners
  • Additional all-weather canter track

Stratford Hills Equestrian Centre

Stratford St Mary, Colchester, Essex CO7 6PA

stratfordhillsequestriancentre.co.uk

01206 322494

  • Opens February
  • Fences 35cm–1.10m
  • 50 permanent and temporary jumps
  • Water jump and splash
  • Ditches and steps
  • Jumps in woodland

East Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, South Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

Arkenfield Stables

Gunthorpe, Notts NG14 7ER

arkenfieldstables.co.uk

  • Fences 50–80cm

Aston-le-Walls

Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Daventry, Northants NN11 6RT

astonlewalls.net

  • Grass schooling Feb–Nov
  • All-weather available

Aylesford Equine

Shoby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3PF

aylesfordequine.com

01664 812834

  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.15m
  • Mini course (25–60cm)
  • Additional all-weather arena
  • No time limit on grass
  • Water complexes, coffins, sunken roads, drops, banks and skinnies

Barrowcliffe XC

Queniborough, Leicester LE7 3RX

barrowcliffexc.co.uk

  • Opens early spring
  • 220 fences
  • 40cm–1.20m

Eland Lodge

Ashbourne, Derbys DE6 5HD

elandlodge.com

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 50cm–1.10m
  • BE standard
  • All-weather take-off and landings
  • No time limit

Field Farm

Mumby, Lincs LN13 9SL

field-farm.net

  • Open all year
  • Fences 50cm, 70cm and 90cm
  • Variety of fences

Field Farm Cross Country

Wymeswold, Leics LE12 6ST

fieldfarmcrosscountry.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard fences
  • 600m all-weather track with fences
  • Water, ditches, skinnies, banks and hedges

Grange Farm Cross-Country

Ingham, Lincs LN1 2YD

facebook.com

07711 238266

  • Opens early spring
  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1.15m

Golden Valley Equestrian Centre

Alfreton, Derbys DE55 4ES

goldenvalleyequestriancentre.co.uk

07377 853677

  • Seasonal opening (weather dependent)
  • Part woodland, part silica fibre surface
  • Range of fences

Vale View Equestrian Centre

Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3LX

valeviewequestrian.co.uk

  • All-weather arena open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard fences
  • Natural undulations, water complex with steps of varying heights, several ditches and steps

Well Vale Country Ride & Schooling Field

Well, Alford, Lincs LN13 0EU

wellvalecountryride.co.uk

01507 466644

  • 110 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m+
  • Water complex, steps, mounds and ditches
  • Additional 8 mile off-road ride with 30 optional fences (40–80cm)

Winters Equestrian Cross-Country

Thornton Manor, Market Rasen, Lincs LN7 6JD

wexc.co.uk

  • Opens in spring
  • 70 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.10m
  • Water, steps, banks and coffins

North East

Includes cross-country course hire in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Breckenbrough Helen Bell Equestrian

Thirsk, N Yorks YO7 4EL

helenbellequestrian.co.uk

07708708967

  • Closed in winter, but access to winter training area
  • Fences 45cm–1.20m
  • Three water complexes
  • Two bank complexes and ditch combinations

Foxberry Chasers

Caldwell, Richmond, N Yorks DL11 7QL

foxberry.co.uk

  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Full range of fences, plus track with all-weather take-offs
  • Water complex, steps, corner, arrowhead and coffin
  • Course regularly updated

Gloucester Lodge Farm

Blyth, Northumbs NE24 3PH

gloucesterlodgefarm.co.uk

01670 353633

  • Three courses – 60cm, 75cm, 90cm

Little Whittington

Corbridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE19 2LA

littlewhittingtonxc.co.uk

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 50cm–1.20m
  • Large water complex with ramp in
  • Steps, corners, skinnies, walls, ditches, logs, brush fences, combinations and tiger traps

Thornton Lodge 

Easingwold, N Yorks YO61 3QA

thorntonlodgefarm.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • More than 70 fences
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Water complex, two stream crossings and miles of grass

Todburn Equestrian Centre

Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumb NE65 8QZ

todburnequestriancentre.co.uk

  • Opens April
  • Fences 40cm–1.15m

North West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside.

Charity Farm

Wrightington, Lancs WN6 9PP

charityfarm.co.uk

  • 19 fences

Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre

Organsdale Farm, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0SR

kelsallhill.co.uk

  • Opens early spring
  • Fences 50cm–1.10m
  • Water complex complete with quarry, ski jump, trakehner, ditches, coffins and steps

Nord Vue

Armathwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 9TN

nordvue.com

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 40–90cm

Somerford Park

Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton CW12 4SW

somerfordpark.co.uk

  • Grass course open all year
  • All-weather Dec–March
  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 75cm–1.20m
  • Designed by Andrew Heffernan
  • Combinations, drops, arrowheads, ditches, banks, chase fences and large water complex

Scotland

Greenfields of Avondale

Strathaven, South Lanarkshire ML10 6QF

greenfieldsofavondale.co.uk

07775 782296

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1m

Ian Stark Equestrian Centre

Greenhill Farm, Selkirk TD7 4NP

ianstarkequestriancentre.co.uk

01750 20202

  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Built by Ian Stark

Lindores Equestrian

Newburgh, Cupar, Fife KY14 6HU

lindoresxc.co.uk

07736 044058

  • Open March–Oct
  • More than 180 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.10m
  • Ditches, spreads, corners, skinnies, uprights, log piles, whisky barrels, ski jumps, combinations, pheasant feeders, trakheners, beehives, brush, cottages, keyhole and 20x20m water complex with run ins, run outs, steps, an upturned boat and a jump into water

Loch Lomond Pony Trekking

Tullichewan Farm, Balloch, West Dunbartonshire G83 8QY

lomond-ponytreks.co.uk

07745 277320

  • Open all year
  • Fences 15cm–1m
  • Steps, logs, ski jumps, corners, skinnies, tyres, barrels and ditches

Totley Wells

Winchburgh, West Lothian EH52 6QJ

totleywells.com

  • Open all year
  • 31 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1m
  • Skinnies, banks, ditches, water splash, barrels, pigeon feeders, sharks teeth and tiger traps

Wilder Ways

Glen Kerran Farm, Southend, Argyll PA28 6PJ

wilderways.scot

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • 25 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1m

South East

Includes cross-country course hire in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Bonfleur Cross-Country Course

Maidstone, Kent ME17 4BD

bonfleurcrosscountrycourse.co.uk

07976138120

  • Opens March
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • More than 120 fences
  • Water complex, ditches, banks, coffins, trakheners and combinations

Boomerang Stables

Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, Berks RG17 0TW

boomerangstables.co.uk

07711 499596

  • Open all year
  • Fences 30cm to BE Intermediate-plus
  • Water, ditches, steps, skinnies and spooky questions
  • Fences moved regularly

Bucklands Farm

Balcombe, W Sussex RH17 6JT

bucklandsfarm.co.uk

07754 076108

  • 100 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Ditches, trekehner, shallow steps, water, woodland areas and sunken road
  • No time limit

Chilham Park

Chilham Castle Estate, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8DB

chilhampark.co.uk

01227 730811

Chiltern Cross-Country

Woodcote, Oxfordshire RG8 0PH

chilternxc.co.uk

07767 370148

  • Open Feb–Nov
  • Fences 60cm–1m
  • Extensive water complex
  • Banks, steps and ditches

Coombelands Equestrian

Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1BQ

coombelandsequestrian.com

07990 054863

  • Opens March
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m
  • Area with smaller arena-type fences for warm-up, lead-rein and small ponies
  • More than 100 fences

East Bysshe Equestrian

Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF

eastbyssheequestrian.com

  • Opens spring
  • More than 50 fences
  • No time limit

Fair Oak

Rogate, Petersfield GU31 5HR

fair-oak.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • Wide range of fences

Felcourt Cross-Country Course

East Grinstead, W Sussex RH19 2LQ

facebook.com/felcourtcrosscountrycourse

07817 422923

  • Opens in spring on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays
  • 60 fences
  • Fences 20–70cm

Gasston Stables

Headley, Epsom, Surrey KT18 6DY

gasstonstables.co.uk

07746 815796

  • Opens in spring
  • 40cm–1.50m
  • More than 150 fences
  • Water complex, ditches, skinnies and steps
  • Woodland area

Hickstead Showground

The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead BN6 9HS

hicksteadschooling.co.uk

  • All-weather arenas open Oct–Apr
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m and advanced
  • Water complex with steps
  • Step complex ranging from novice to advanced
  • Permanent ditches and banks

Homelands Equestrian

Partridge Green, W Sussex RH13 8EQ

homelands-equestrian.co.uk

01403 711076

  • Opens March
  • 100 fences
  • Fences 90cm–1.15m
  • Drops, gullies, mounds, ditches, sunken road, hollow, steps and water complex
  • Season pass and coaching available

Hurstwood Farm

High Hurstwood, East Sussex TN22 4AN

equestriantrainingcentre.co.uk

  • Fences 40cm–1.15m
  • Water complex
  • Separate mini course

Littleton Manor Equestrian

Littleton Manor Farm, Reigate Heath RH2 8QZ

lmeq.com

07771 600033

  • Open all year
  • 150 fences beginner to intermediate
  • Water complex, coffin, steps, sunken road, bank, skinnies and corners

Lockskinners Equestrian

Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7ND

lockskinners.com

  • Open May–Oct
  • Technical course of 150 fences (70cm–1.35m)
  • Introductory course of 161 fences (40cm–1m)
  • Mini course (up to 40cm)

Lodge Farm

Matfield, Tonbridge TN12 7ET

lodgefarmcrosscountry.co.uk

  • Opens March
  • More than 90 fences
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • Ditches, corners, arrowheads, skinnies and steps
  • Lots of combinations and two water complexes

Lyneham Heath Equestrian

Lyneham Heath, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6QQ

lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk

  • All-weather loop open all year
  • Grass opens approx end of April
  • Fences 70cm–intermediate
  • Mini fences (up to 60cm) in separate field
  • More than 200 fences

MK Equestrian Centre

Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK19 7HQ

mpbeesleyandson.com

07810 120498

  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard course
  • Two water complexes, range of steps, banks and ditches
  • Two additional mini courses (15–60cm)

Munstead 

Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UN

munsteadhorsetrials.com

  • Open all year
  • 70cm–1m

Nurstead Court

Meopham, Kent DA13 9AD

nursteadcourt.co.uk

07957 495146

  • BE-standard course

Parwood Equestrian Centre

Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JE

parwood.co.uk

  • Open Apr–Oct (Tues–Sun)
  • Fences 50cm–1.15m

Prime Ponies

Bridgehill Farm, Horsham, W Sussex RH12 4RN

prime-ponies.co.uk

07853 081669

  • Opens May
  • 35 fences
  • Fences 20–80cm

Snowball Farm

Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EH

snowballfarm.co.uk

01628 666222

  • Open for a limited time in spring
  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Variety of fences, including water complex

Swalcliffe Park Equestrian

Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5EX

swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk

01295 780206

  • Open all year
  • Fences up to 1.10m
  • Mini fences (30–60cm) in separate field
  • More than 150 fences
  • Ditches, sunken roads and water complexes

Tweseldown Racecourse

Church Crookham, Fleet, Hants GU52 8DY

tweseldown.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • 40cm to BE Intermediate (Jan–May)
  • 40cm–1m (May–Dec)

Wakes End

Milton Keynes, Bucks MK17 9FB

wakesendfarm.co.uk

  • Fences 60cm–1m

Wheatlands Farm

Finchampstead, Berks RG40 4LZ

wheatlandsfarm.com

0118 9731918

  • Open early spring to late Sept
  • More than 140 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Two waters, two banks, ditches and steps

South West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

Ace Cross-Country

Twyning, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 6DA

acecrosscountry.co.uk

  • Main course and separate mini course
  • Water complex

Bicton Arena

East Burdleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BL

bicton-arena.co.uk

01395 441162

  • Course hire selected days only
  • Arena XC hire (70cm–1m)

Castle Farm

Wickwar, Glos GL12 8NS

castlefarmliverycrosscountry.com

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • Fences 40–90cm

Cricket St Thomas (Amanda Taylor Eventing)

Puthill Farm, Cricket St Thomas, Chard, Som TA20 4EJ

amandataylor.co.uk

07980 625546

  • Opens in spring
  • 60 fences
  • Fences 75cm–1.10m
  • Two water complexes, two step complexes, two banks, ditches and combinations
  • Designed by BE-accredited Simon Bere

Deer Park Cross Country

Brockhampton, Glos GL54 5SR

deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk

07964 660702

  • Open all year
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • More than 100 fences
  • No time limit

Everleigh Equestrian

Quickset Stables, Everleigh, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3EU

everleigh-equestrian.co.uk

07990 571463

  • More than 35 fences
  • Suited to novice riders and young horses

Larkhill Eventing

Knighton Down, Larkhill, Wilts SP48QT

larkhilleventing.com

  • Opens specific dates
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE standards

Oxstalls Cross-Country

Stroud, Glos GL6 8HZ

oxstallsxc.co.uk

  • 50cm–1.20m
  • BE standard fences
  • Waters, steps, banks and drops
  • Range of ditches
  • Decorated fences
  • Regularly updated
  • Separate mini course

Pontispool

Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1BH

pontispool.co.uk

01823 461196

  • Grass schooling area open from Feb
  • All-weather open Nov–Mar
  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 70cm–1.15m (from 40cm at certain times of year)
  • All-weather take offs and landings at permanent fences
  • Three water complexes and two quarry complexes

Rectory Farm

Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester, Glos GL7 7JW

rectoryfarm.com

07824759655

  • Open selected dates
  • Fences 70–90cm
  • Steps, ditch, water, corners and skinnies

Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre

Buryhill Farm, Braydon, Wilts SN5 0AD

reinandshine.co.uk

01666 860068

  • Opens in spring
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Variety of fences

Rosamund Green Farm

Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4JG

teamdumas.co.uk

07511078285

  • Opens in spring
  • Fences BE100–5*
  • More than 350 fences
  • Two water complexes
  • All-weather take offs and landings

Stockland Lovell

Stockland Lovell Manor, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1JJ

stocklandlovell.com

01278 652224

  • Open 10 months of the year
  • Fences 50cm–1m
  • More than 100 fences
  • Two water complexes
  • All-weather take offs and landings
  • No time limit
  • New fences each year

Stour

Spetisbury, Blandford, Dorset DT11 9EE

stourxc.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • 38 fences, including mini course
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Logs, banks, ditches, water complexes and brushes

Wales

Coxlake Cross-Country

Robeston Wathen, Narberth, Pembs SA67 8EJ

facebook.com/coxlakecrosscountry

app.acuityscheduling.com

07837 989767

  • Open all year
  • Fences 40cm–1m
  • Ditches, banks, water and steps
  • Built by the Willis Brothers

Marian Bach Equestrian Centre

Babell, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 8PZ

marianbach.co.uk

  • No time limit

Mostyn Farm Ride and Cross Country

Wern Home Farm, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 9AR

mostynfarmride.co.uk

07765 402738

  • Open all year
  • 9km farm ride with more than 100 fences
  • Built by BE course builder
  • Ditches, trakehners, water, banks, drops, steps, skinnies and road crossing

West Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the metropolitan county of West Midlands.

Berriewood Farm

Condover, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 7NN

  • Open June–Sept
  • 30 fences
  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Water, ditch and step

berriewood.co.uk

Lincomb Equestrian

Lincomb, Nr Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs DY13 9RB

crosscountrycourse.co.uk

07986200777

  • More than 100 jumps on grass
  • Arena XC available
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Built by BE Gold level course builder

Radfords Equestrian

Lower House Farm, Llanymynech SY22 6LG

radfords-equestrian.co.uk

01691 831523

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Water features, ditches, steps and banks
  • Additional arena XC hire available

Yorkshire and the Humber

Includes cross-country course hire in East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Epworth Equestrian

Epworth, Doncaster, Lincs DN9 1LQ

epworthequestrian.co.uk

01427 872293

  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • 2 mile course with 21 fences (70/80/90cm/1m)
  • Additional single fences

Hopton Horse Centre

Mount Pleasant Farm, Mirfield, W Yorks WF14 8EH

hoptonhorsecentre.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • All weather
  • Mini course

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]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//eventing/enjoy-cross-country-schooling-this-winter-310548 b6E642H4kTxUL3dLsmwsGA Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:04:12 +0000 false false false

We’ve put together a list of cross-country course hire venues across England, Scotland and Wales, so that you can find the perfect place to take your horse cross-country schooling, whether it’s just for fun or to prepare for the season.

Most cross-country schooling venues, if not open all year, tend to open between February and April as riders start training for the eventing season ahead. Depending on the ground conditions and the time of year, you might prefer to school on grass or on an all-weather surface and we have plenty of examples of both options listed below.

Some courses are available for hire all year round, with the exception of during events and the preparation period, and in extreme weather. We’ve included seasonal opening times where these are available.

One important cross-country schooling tip is to choose a venue to suit your needs – for example, if your horse needs practice in water, opt for a venue with a water complex and splash area – so where the information is available, we’ve listed the fence heights and features of each course to help you find the best option.

If you run a cross-country course or schooling venue for hire that is not listed, please email georgia.guerin@futurenet.com to be added.

Cross-country hire by location

East of England

Includes cross-country course hire in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Berwick Farm XC

Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex CM5 9PY

berwickfarmxc.com

01708 688232

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • 3.5 miles of tracks
  • Two water features
  • Three sunken roads
  • Two woodland areas
  • More than 100 fences

Blackwater Farm Equestrian Centre

Great Witchingham, Norfolk NR9 5PH

blackwaterfarm.co.uk

01362 688227

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.15m
  • Natural copses
  • Clear natural water complexes
  • Wide variety of fence types
  • New fences every season

Ely Eventing Centre

Little Downham, Ely, Cambs CB6 2TY

elyeventing.co.uk

01353 698839

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.15m
  • Two water complexes
  • Ditches and coffin combinations
  • Sunken road complex and step/bank area

Keysoe International

Keysoe, Beds MK44 2JP

keysoe.com

01234 708400

  • Arena XC only
  • Jumps from 70cm
  • Water, ditches, inclines
  • Built by Eric Winter

Kimpton Cross-Country Course

Kimpton, Nr Hitchin, Herts SG4 8HB

kimptonxcountry.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • More than 45 fences
  • Fences 50cm–1m+
  • Annual membership available

Poplar Park

Hollesley, Suffolk IP12 3NA

poplarpark.co.uk

01394 411023

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.20m
  • Six full courses
  • BE standard
  • No time limit
  • Updated yearly

Radley Green Equestrian

Radley Green, Chelmsford, Essex CM4 0LU

rgequestrian.uk

  • Two arena courses
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m and 40–70cm
  • Steps, ditches, water and trakehners
  • Additional all-weather canter track

Stratford Hills Equestrian Centre

Stratford St Mary, Colchester, Essex CO7 6PA

stratfordhillsequestriancentre.co.uk

01206 322494

  • Opens February
  • Fences 35cm–1.10m
  • 50 permanent and temporary jumps
  • Water jump and splash
  • Ditches and steps
  • Jumps in woodland

East Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, South Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

Arkenfield Stables

Gunthorpe, Notts NG14 7ER

arkenfieldstables.co.uk

  • Fences 50–80cm

Aston-le-Walls

Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Daventry, Northants NN11 6RT

astonlewalls.net

  • Grass schooling Feb–Nov
  • All-weather available

Aylesford Equine

Shoby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3PF

aylesfordequine.com

01664 812834

  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.15m
  • Mini course (25–60cm)
  • Additional all-weather arena
  • No time limit on grass
  • Water complexes, coffins, sunken roads, drops, banks and skinnies

Barrowcliffe XC

Queniborough, Leicester LE7 3RX

barrowcliffexc.co.uk

  • Opens early spring
  • 220 fences
  • 40cm–1.20m

Eland Lodge

Ashbourne, Derbys DE6 5HD

elandlodge.com

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 50cm–1.10m
  • BE standard
  • All-weather take-off and landings
  • No time limit

Field Farm

Mumby, Lincs LN13 9SL

field-farm.net

  • Open all year
  • Fences 50cm, 70cm and 90cm
  • Variety of fences

Field Farm Cross Country

Wymeswold, Leics LE12 6ST

fieldfarmcrosscountry.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard fences
  • 600m all-weather track with fences
  • Water, ditches, skinnies, banks and hedges

Grange Farm Cross-Country

Ingham, Lincs LN1 2YD

facebook.com

07711 238266

  • Opens early spring
  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1.15m

Golden Valley Equestrian Centre

Alfreton, Derbys DE55 4ES

goldenvalleyequestriancentre.co.uk

07377 853677

  • Seasonal opening (weather dependent)
  • Part woodland, part silica fibre surface
  • Range of fences

Vale View Equestrian Centre

Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3LX

valeviewequestrian.co.uk

  • All-weather arena open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard fences
  • Natural undulations, water complex with steps of varying heights, several ditches and steps

Well Vale Country Ride & Schooling Field

Well, Alford, Lincs LN13 0EU

wellvalecountryride.co.uk

01507 466644

  • 110 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m+
  • Water complex, steps, mounds and ditches
  • Additional 8 mile off-road ride with 30 optional fences (40–80cm)

Winters Equestrian Cross-Country

Thornton Manor, Market Rasen, Lincs LN7 6JD

wexc.co.uk

  • Opens in spring
  • 70 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.10m
  • Water, steps, banks and coffins

North East

Includes cross-country course hire in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Breckenbrough Helen Bell Equestrian

Thirsk, N Yorks YO7 4EL

helenbellequestrian.co.uk

07708708967

  • Closed in winter, but access to winter training area
  • Fences 45cm–1.20m
  • Three water complexes
  • Two bank complexes and ditch combinations

Foxberry Chasers

Caldwell, Richmond, N Yorks DL11 7QL

foxberry.co.uk

  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Full range of fences, plus track with all-weather take-offs
  • Water complex, steps, corner, arrowhead and coffin
  • Course regularly updated

Gloucester Lodge Farm

Blyth, Northumbs NE24 3PH

gloucesterlodgefarm.co.uk

01670 353633

  • Three courses – 60cm, 75cm, 90cm

Little Whittington

Corbridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE19 2LA

littlewhittingtonxc.co.uk

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 50cm–1.20m
  • Large water complex with ramp in
  • Steps, corners, skinnies, walls, ditches, logs, brush fences, combinations and tiger traps

Thornton Lodge 

Easingwold, N Yorks YO61 3QA

thorntonlodgefarm.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • More than 70 fences
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Water complex, two stream crossings and miles of grass

Todburn Equestrian Centre

Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumb NE65 8QZ

todburnequestriancentre.co.uk

  • Opens April
  • Fences 40cm–1.15m

North West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside.

Charity Farm

Wrightington, Lancs WN6 9PP

charityfarm.co.uk

  • 19 fences

Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre

Organsdale Farm, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0SR

kelsallhill.co.uk

  • Opens early spring
  • Fences 50cm–1.10m
  • Water complex complete with quarry, ski jump, trakehner, ditches, coffins and steps

Nord Vue

Armathwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 9TN

nordvue.com

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • Fences 40–90cm

Somerford Park

Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton CW12 4SW

somerfordpark.co.uk

  • Grass course open all year
  • All-weather Dec–March
  • More than 100 fences
  • Fences 75cm–1.20m
  • Designed by Andrew Heffernan
  • Combinations, drops, arrowheads, ditches, banks, chase fences and large water complex

Scotland

Greenfields of Avondale

Strathaven, South Lanarkshire ML10 6QF

greenfieldsofavondale.co.uk

07775 782296

  • Open all year
  • Fences 60cm–1m

Ian Stark Equestrian Centre

Greenhill Farm, Selkirk TD7 4NP

ianstarkequestriancentre.co.uk

01750 20202

  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Built by Ian Stark

Lindores Equestrian

Newburgh, Cupar, Fife KY14 6HU

lindoresxc.co.uk

07736 044058

  • Open March–Oct
  • More than 180 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1.10m
  • Ditches, spreads, corners, skinnies, uprights, log piles, whisky barrels, ski jumps, combinations, pheasant feeders, trakheners, beehives, brush, cottages, keyhole and 20x20m water complex with run ins, run outs, steps, an upturned boat and a jump into water

Loch Lomond Pony Trekking

Tullichewan Farm, Balloch, West Dunbartonshire G83 8QY

lomond-ponytreks.co.uk

07745 277320

  • Open all year
  • Fences 15cm–1m
  • Steps, logs, ski jumps, corners, skinnies, tyres, barrels and ditches

Totley Wells

Winchburgh, West Lothian EH52 6QJ

totleywells.com

  • Open all year
  • 31 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1m
  • Skinnies, banks, ditches, water splash, barrels, pigeon feeders, sharks teeth and tiger traps

Wilder Ways

Glen Kerran Farm, Southend, Argyll PA28 6PJ

wilderways.scot

  • Open Apr–Sept
  • 25 fences
  • Fences 40cm–1m

South East

Includes cross-country course hire in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Bonfleur Cross-Country Course

Maidstone, Kent ME17 4BD

bonfleurcrosscountrycourse.co.uk

07976138120

  • Opens March
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • More than 120 fences
  • Water complex, ditches, banks, coffins, trakheners and combinations

Boomerang Stables

Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, Berks RG17 0TW

boomerangstables.co.uk

07711 499596

  • Open all year
  • Fences 30cm to BE Intermediate-plus
  • Water, ditches, steps, skinnies and spooky questions
  • Fences moved regularly

Bucklands Farm

Balcombe, W Sussex RH17 6JT

bucklandsfarm.co.uk

07754 076108

  • 100 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Ditches, trekehner, shallow steps, water, woodland areas and sunken road
  • No time limit

Chilham Park

Chilham Castle Estate, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8DB

chilhampark.co.uk

01227 730811

Chiltern Cross-Country

Woodcote, Oxfordshire RG8 0PH

chilternxc.co.uk

07767 370148

  • Open Feb–Nov
  • Fences 60cm–1m
  • Extensive water complex
  • Banks, steps and ditches

Coombelands Equestrian

Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1BQ

coombelandsequestrian.com

07990 054863

  • Opens March
  • Fences 70cm–1.10m
  • Area with smaller arena-type fences for warm-up, lead-rein and small ponies
  • More than 100 fences

East Bysshe Equestrian

Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF

eastbyssheequestrian.com

  • Opens spring
  • More than 50 fences
  • No time limit

Fair Oak

Rogate, Petersfield GU31 5HR

fair-oak.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • Wide range of fences

Felcourt Cross-Country Course

East Grinstead, W Sussex RH19 2LQ

facebook.com/felcourtcrosscountrycourse

07817 422923

  • Opens in spring on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays
  • 60 fences
  • Fences 20–70cm

Gasston Stables

Headley, Epsom, Surrey KT18 6DY

gasstonstables.co.uk

07746 815796

  • Opens in spring
  • 40cm–1.50m
  • More than 150 fences
  • Water complex, ditches, skinnies and steps
  • Woodland area

Hickstead Showground

The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead BN6 9HS

hicksteadschooling.co.uk

  • All-weather arenas open Oct–Apr
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m and advanced
  • Water complex with steps
  • Step complex ranging from novice to advanced
  • Permanent ditches and banks

Homelands Equestrian

Partridge Green, W Sussex RH13 8EQ

homelands-equestrian.co.uk

01403 711076

  • Opens March
  • 100 fences
  • Fences 90cm–1.15m
  • Drops, gullies, mounds, ditches, sunken road, hollow, steps and water complex
  • Season pass and coaching available

Hurstwood Farm

High Hurstwood, East Sussex TN22 4AN

equestriantrainingcentre.co.uk

  • Fences 40cm–1.15m
  • Water complex
  • Separate mini course

Littleton Manor Equestrian

Littleton Manor Farm, Reigate Heath RH2 8QZ

lmeq.com

07771 600033

  • Open all year
  • 150 fences beginner to intermediate
  • Water complex, coffin, steps, sunken road, bank, skinnies and corners

Lockskinners Equestrian

Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7ND

lockskinners.com

  • Open May–Oct
  • Technical course of 150 fences (70cm–1.35m)
  • Introductory course of 161 fences (40cm–1m)
  • Mini course (up to 40cm)

Lodge Farm

Matfield, Tonbridge TN12 7ET

lodgefarmcrosscountry.co.uk

  • Opens March
  • More than 90 fences
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • Ditches, corners, arrowheads, skinnies and steps
  • Lots of combinations and two water complexes

Lyneham Heath Equestrian

Lyneham Heath, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6QQ

lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk

  • All-weather loop open all year
  • Grass opens approx end of April
  • Fences 70cm–intermediate
  • Mini fences (up to 60cm) in separate field
  • More than 200 fences

MK Equestrian Centre

Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK19 7HQ

mpbeesleyandson.com

07810 120498

  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE-standard course
  • Two water complexes, range of steps, banks and ditches
  • Two additional mini courses (15–60cm)

Munstead 

Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UN

munsteadhorsetrials.com

  • Open all year
  • 70cm–1m

Nurstead Court

Meopham, Kent DA13 9AD

nursteadcourt.co.uk

07957 495146

  • BE-standard course

Parwood Equestrian Centre

Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JE

parwood.co.uk

  • Open Apr–Oct (Tues–Sun)
  • Fences 50cm–1.15m

Prime Ponies

Bridgehill Farm, Horsham, W Sussex RH12 4RN

prime-ponies.co.uk

07853 081669

  • Opens May
  • 35 fences
  • Fences 20–80cm

Snowball Farm

Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EH

snowballfarm.co.uk

01628 666222

  • Open for a limited time in spring
  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Variety of fences, including water complex

Swalcliffe Park Equestrian

Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5EX

swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk

01295 780206

  • Open all year
  • Fences up to 1.10m
  • Mini fences (30–60cm) in separate field
  • More than 150 fences
  • Ditches, sunken roads and water complexes

Tweseldown Racecourse

Church Crookham, Fleet, Hants GU52 8DY

tweseldown.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • 40cm to BE Intermediate (Jan–May)
  • 40cm–1m (May–Dec)

Wakes End

Milton Keynes, Bucks MK17 9FB

wakesendfarm.co.uk

  • Fences 60cm–1m

Wheatlands Farm

Finchampstead, Berks RG40 4LZ

wheatlandsfarm.com

0118 9731918

  • Open early spring to late Sept
  • More than 140 fences
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Two waters, two banks, ditches and steps

South West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

Ace Cross-Country

Twyning, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 6DA

acecrosscountry.co.uk

  • Main course and separate mini course
  • Water complex

Bicton Arena

East Burdleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BL

bicton-arena.co.uk

01395 441162

  • Course hire selected days only
  • Arena XC hire (70cm–1m)

Castle Farm

Wickwar, Glos GL12 8NS

castlefarmliverycrosscountry.com

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • Fences 40–90cm

Cricket St Thomas (Amanda Taylor Eventing)

Puthill Farm, Cricket St Thomas, Chard, Som TA20 4EJ

amandataylor.co.uk

07980 625546

  • Opens in spring
  • 60 fences
  • Fences 75cm–1.10m
  • Two water complexes, two step complexes, two banks, ditches and combinations
  • Designed by BE-accredited Simon Bere

Deer Park Cross Country

Brockhampton, Glos GL54 5SR

deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk

07964 660702

  • Open all year
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • More than 100 fences
  • No time limit

Everleigh Equestrian

Quickset Stables, Everleigh, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3EU

everleigh-equestrian.co.uk

07990 571463

  • More than 35 fences
  • Suited to novice riders and young horses

Larkhill Eventing

Knighton Down, Larkhill, Wilts SP48QT

larkhilleventing.com

  • Opens specific dates
  • Fences 60cm–1.10m
  • BE standards

Oxstalls Cross-Country

Stroud, Glos GL6 8HZ

oxstallsxc.co.uk

  • 50cm–1.20m
  • BE standard fences
  • Waters, steps, banks and drops
  • Range of ditches
  • Decorated fences
  • Regularly updated
  • Separate mini course

Pontispool

Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1BH

pontispool.co.uk

01823 461196

  • Grass schooling area open from Feb
  • All-weather open Nov–Mar
  • More than 200 fences
  • Fences 70cm–1.15m (from 40cm at certain times of year)
  • All-weather take offs and landings at permanent fences
  • Three water complexes and two quarry complexes

Rectory Farm

Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester, Glos GL7 7JW

rectoryfarm.com

07824759655

  • Open selected dates
  • Fences 70–90cm
  • Steps, ditch, water, corners and skinnies

Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre

Buryhill Farm, Braydon, Wilts SN5 0AD

reinandshine.co.uk

01666 860068

  • Opens in spring
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Variety of fences

Rosamund Green Farm

Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4JG

teamdumas.co.uk

07511078285

  • Opens in spring
  • Fences BE100–5*
  • More than 350 fences
  • Two water complexes
  • All-weather take offs and landings

Stockland Lovell

Stockland Lovell Manor, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1JJ

stocklandlovell.com

01278 652224

  • Open 10 months of the year
  • Fences 50cm–1m
  • More than 100 fences
  • Two water complexes
  • All-weather take offs and landings
  • No time limit
  • New fences each year

Stour

Spetisbury, Blandford, Dorset DT11 9EE

stourxc.co.uk

  • Open March–Oct
  • 38 fences, including mini course
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Logs, banks, ditches, water complexes and brushes

Wales

Coxlake Cross-Country

Robeston Wathen, Narberth, Pembs SA67 8EJ

facebook.com/coxlakecrosscountry

app.acuityscheduling.com

07837 989767

  • Open all year
  • Fences 40cm–1m
  • Ditches, banks, water and steps
  • Built by the Willis Brothers

Marian Bach Equestrian Centre

Babell, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 8PZ

marianbach.co.uk

  • No time limit

Mostyn Farm Ride and Cross Country

Wern Home Farm, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 9AR

mostynfarmride.co.uk

07765 402738

  • Open all year
  • 9km farm ride with more than 100 fences
  • Built by BE course builder
  • Ditches, trakehners, water, banks, drops, steps, skinnies and road crossing

West Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the metropolitan county of West Midlands.

Berriewood Farm

Condover, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 7NN

  • Open June–Sept
  • 30 fences
  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • Water, ditch and step

berriewood.co.uk

Lincomb Equestrian

Lincomb, Nr Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs DY13 9RB

crosscountrycourse.co.uk

07986200777

  • More than 100 jumps on grass
  • Arena XC available
  • Fences 45cm–1.05m
  • Built by BE Gold level course builder

Radfords Equestrian

Lower House Farm, Llanymynech SY22 6LG

radfords-equestrian.co.uk

01691 831523

  • Open Apr–Oct
  • Fences 30cm–1m
  • Water features, ditches, steps and banks
  • Additional arena XC hire available

Yorkshire and the Humber

Includes cross-country course hire in East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Epworth Equestrian

Epworth, Doncaster, Lincs DN9 1LQ

epworthequestrian.co.uk

01427 872293

  • Fences 70cm–1m
  • 2 mile course with 21 fences (70/80/90cm/1m)
  • Additional single fences

Hopton Horse Centre

Mount Pleasant Farm, Mirfield, W Yorks WF14 8EH

hoptonhorsecentre.co.uk

  • Open all year
  • All weather
  • Mini course

For more expert training advice from top riders and coaches, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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]]> <![CDATA[ Does cantering or jumping downhill fill you with dread? Improve your cross-country riding skills with tips from an Olympian ]]> Efficient cross-country riding is all about being able to tackle any terrain. While many of us typically train in arenas or flat fields, it’s crucial that both horse and rider develop the balance and strength to negotiate hills, being able to canter and jump fences both up and down slopes. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Olympian Nicola Wilson and top coach Cameron Beer explain how you can boost these skills

Riding up and down hills across country is an integral part of tackling terrain for all eventers, but it’s a skill that many of us neglect to practise. How do you build rider feel and horse strength for downhill balance and uphill impulsion? Should we be practising jumping and galloping downhill? We ask former European eventing champion, Nicola Wilson, and BE UKCC level 3 accredited coach Cameron Beer for the answers.

For a horse and rider to successfully tackle terrain, they need to ensure they have a strong core and good balance for a good cross-country position.

“Riders can improve their core through squats, Pilates, or by generally getting fitter and stronger,” says Olympian Nicola who is also a BHSI and Level 3 coach. “Stand on the ground in a squat position – that’s the balance and posture you need when riding uphill or downhill. You need to be able to engage your core consistently.”

Lady doing squat

Squats are good practice for cross-country riding, developing the rider’s balance and posture for when you are in the saddle. (Image credit: Alamy)

“The same applies to the horse. If they don’t do any hillwork they won’t develop their own core strength or balance.

“Riding uphill requires a light seat – out of the saddle, slightly leaning forward – while maintaining a strong position and engaged core. If we took you off the horse, you should be able to stand and balance in that same position.

“That means carrying yourself with an independent seat and not relying on the reins or the horse’s mouth for balance. Your core stays engaged, your body stays over your feet and over the horse’s centre of balance.”

When riding downhill you want your horse to go down as quickly as possible while also maintaining balance.

“Bring your shoulders up so you’re in a gentle squat,” advises Nicola. “Some people say you should be able to hold an egg between you and the saddle; I prefer the image of polishing the saddle with your breeches. You’re neither sitting nor standing – you’re carrying yourself.

“Engage your stomach muscles and your seat. Your shoulders should come back more towards the horse’s hips. Tucking your seat underneath you helps engage your core. You’re encouraging the horse to take more weight on the hindlegs, which lightens the front end and the rein contact.”

Whether you’re leaning slightly forward uphill or bringing your shoulders back downhill, your position must always be in balance with the horse, you should not be balanced on their mouth. Always use your leg to support the horse.

“It’s crucial the rider maintains their own balance when cantering downhill so the reins can remain light. You don’t want to use the reins for support, as that causes the horse to lean, putting more weight on the front legs, which increases the risk of injury or stumbling and makes the ride less efficient,” adds Nicola.

How to improve your cross-country riding up and down hills

Before attempting gradients, Cameron suggests riding in an arena or a flat field to ensure both horse and rider have adequate self-carriage.

“It’s important that we can go from a big canter to a small canter and in that small canter, we can give and retake the reins for, say, four strides, while we’re sitting down and on our seat, so that the horse is in self-carriage and we’re in self-carriage,” says Cameron.

“If you can’t do that, then you’re always going to struggle cantering down a hill because downhill is asking: ‘are you both leaning on each other, or can you both balance yourselves separately?’”

To practise this, Cameron recommends cantering around the arena for six or seven minutes putting in some gear changes while imagining you’re riding up and downhill.

“I would be thinking, ‘I’m coming down a hill so I’m going to release my rein slightly, sit back, put my leg down.’ Then I would pretend I’m going uphill and lean forwards, put my hands up a little bit more towards the neck so I’m practising those different body positions and the feeling of self-carriage within the arena and within gear changes,” says Cameron.

Take your skills on to the hills

Once you are competent at riding in self-carriage in an arena, you can take those skills onto the hills. Nicola recommends riding either a 100m circle or a straight line on a hill in a working or showjumping canter. This exercise improves strength and balance for both horse and rider.

“When you’re going uphill encourage the horse to stretch down and work over their back and the base of their neck to develop the topline and core,” Nicola says.

“Tilt slightly forward in a lighter seat, your leg keeps the horse’s back and the saddle up under you, and you’re encouraging them to work from their tail to their poll. Riding uphill will require a little more pace or impulsion.

Harry Meade cantering uphill

Harry Meade demonstrates cantering uphill – which horses must practise at home to develop core strength and balance. (Image credit: William Carey)

“At the top of the hill, bring your shoulders up, engage more lower leg, and encourage the horse to compress the canter by bringing their hocks underneath them, lifting their withers and shoulders, and moving into more of a dressage self-carriage frame. Maintain self-carriage and a light contact.

“At the bottom of the hill, stretch the horse down again and repeat maybe four times on each rein.”

These days most cross-country schooling venues have man-made mounds that are perfect for practising riding on terrain.

“When I take a young horse out, that first cross-country schooling session is less about jumping and more about tackling terrain so we might spend most of our session going up and down hills and working on rebalance,” reveals Cameron.

“Feel that you’re setting them up in balance, releasing the reins, setting them up, and releasing again. At first, maybe you can only release for one stride before balancing again, but gradually you will feel you could go down that hill in a collected canter, releasing the rein for, say, four strides at a time.

“Of course, in a cross-country course you’re not going to go down with loose reins, but at least you and the horse feel you have elements of self-carriage going down that hill, which should give you confidence,” adds Cameron.

Troubleshooting downhill fences

When you’re preparing to tackle jumps downhill it’s important to remember that horses may take a stride out or could go on a deeper distance than expected.

“Your body has to stay back, ready for anything and because you’re going to land more downhill than you started,” Cameron advises. “I tell everyone to lengthen the reins – not drop them – two or three strides before the fence so the horse has freedom of the head and neck over the fence.

“That way, mid-flight, you’re already tall rather than planning to release on take-off. If the horse takes a stride out and you haven’t prepared, you end up pulled forward with the reins and land on top of the horse and then it gallops off out of balance. Stay tall, be ready for landing, and then gather your reins gradually on landing.”

Horse jumping downhill fence

Lengthen the reins when jumping downhill fences to give the horse freedom to use his head and neck. (Image credit: Alamy)

Cameron also advises that whenever you’re jumping a single fence downhill, you should train with the mindset that one day there will be another jump after it.

“As quick as you can after landing in training, gather up and imagine there’s a B or C element four strides away. In competition, if you want to make time, you can roll on after the fence but in training, always prepare for a combination,” concludes Cameron.

  • Did you find this article helpful? You may also enjoy reading…

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]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//horse-training/cross-country-riding-up-and-down-hills-906109 v75R6uDkwzwPMf8jg9WA2i Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:32:04 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:44:59 +0000 false false true

Efficient cross-country riding is all about being able to tackle any terrain. While many of us typically train in arenas or flat fields, it’s crucial that both horse and rider develop the balance and strength to negotiate hills, being able to canter and jump fences both up and down slopes. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Olympian Nicola Wilson and top coach Cameron Beer explain how you can boost these skills

Riding up and down hills across country is an integral part of tackling terrain for all eventers, but it’s a skill that many of us neglect to practise. How do you build rider feel and horse strength for downhill balance and uphill impulsion? Should we be practising jumping and galloping downhill? We ask former European eventing champion, Nicola Wilson, and BE UKCC level 3 accredited coach Cameron Beer for the answers.

For a horse and rider to successfully tackle terrain, they need to ensure they have a strong core and good balance for a good cross-country position.

“Riders can improve their core through squats, Pilates, or by generally getting fitter and stronger,” says Olympian Nicola who is also a BHSI and Level 3 coach. “Stand on the ground in a squat position – that’s the balance and posture you need when riding uphill or downhill. You need to be able to engage your core consistently.”

Lady doing squat

Squats are good practice for cross-country riding, developing the rider’s balance and posture for when you are in the saddle. (Image credit: Alamy)

“The same applies to the horse. If they don’t do any hillwork they won’t develop their own core strength or balance.

“Riding uphill requires a light seat – out of the saddle, slightly leaning forward – while maintaining a strong position and engaged core. If we took you off the horse, you should be able to stand and balance in that same position.

“That means carrying yourself with an independent seat and not relying on the reins or the horse’s mouth for balance. Your core stays engaged, your body stays over your feet and over the horse’s centre of balance.”

When riding downhill you want your horse to go down as quickly as possible while also maintaining balance.

“Bring your shoulders up so you’re in a gentle squat,” advises Nicola. “Some people say you should be able to hold an egg between you and the saddle; I prefer the image of polishing the saddle with your breeches. You’re neither sitting nor standing – you’re carrying yourself.

“Engage your stomach muscles and your seat. Your shoulders should come back more towards the horse’s hips. Tucking your seat underneath you helps engage your core. You’re encouraging the horse to take more weight on the hindlegs, which lightens the front end and the rein contact.”

Whether you’re leaning slightly forward uphill or bringing your shoulders back downhill, your position must always be in balance with the horse, you should not be balanced on their mouth. Always use your leg to support the horse.

“It’s crucial the rider maintains their own balance when cantering downhill so the reins can remain light. You don’t want to use the reins for support, as that causes the horse to lean, putting more weight on the front legs, which increases the risk of injury or stumbling and makes the ride less efficient,” adds Nicola.

How to improve your cross-country riding up and down hills

Before attempting gradients, Cameron suggests riding in an arena or a flat field to ensure both horse and rider have adequate self-carriage.

“It’s important that we can go from a big canter to a small canter and in that small canter, we can give and retake the reins for, say, four strides, while we’re sitting down and on our seat, so that the horse is in self-carriage and we’re in self-carriage,” says Cameron.

“If you can’t do that, then you’re always going to struggle cantering down a hill because downhill is asking: ‘are you both leaning on each other, or can you both balance yourselves separately?’”

To practise this, Cameron recommends cantering around the arena for six or seven minutes putting in some gear changes while imagining you’re riding up and downhill.

“I would be thinking, ‘I’m coming down a hill so I’m going to release my rein slightly, sit back, put my leg down.’ Then I would pretend I’m going uphill and lean forwards, put my hands up a little bit more towards the neck so I’m practising those different body positions and the feeling of self-carriage within the arena and within gear changes,” says Cameron.

Take your skills on to the hills

Once you are competent at riding in self-carriage in an arena, you can take those skills onto the hills. Nicola recommends riding either a 100m circle or a straight line on a hill in a working or showjumping canter. This exercise improves strength and balance for both horse and rider.

“When you’re going uphill encourage the horse to stretch down and work over their back and the base of their neck to develop the topline and core,” Nicola says.

“Tilt slightly forward in a lighter seat, your leg keeps the horse’s back and the saddle up under you, and you’re encouraging them to work from their tail to their poll. Riding uphill will require a little more pace or impulsion.

Harry Meade cantering uphill

Harry Meade demonstrates cantering uphill – which horses must practise at home to develop core strength and balance. (Image credit: William Carey)

“At the top of the hill, bring your shoulders up, engage more lower leg, and encourage the horse to compress the canter by bringing their hocks underneath them, lifting their withers and shoulders, and moving into more of a dressage self-carriage frame. Maintain self-carriage and a light contact.

“At the bottom of the hill, stretch the horse down again and repeat maybe four times on each rein.”

These days most cross-country schooling venues have man-made mounds that are perfect for practising riding on terrain.

“When I take a young horse out, that first cross-country schooling session is less about jumping and more about tackling terrain so we might spend most of our session going up and down hills and working on rebalance,” reveals Cameron.

“Feel that you’re setting them up in balance, releasing the reins, setting them up, and releasing again. At first, maybe you can only release for one stride before balancing again, but gradually you will feel you could go down that hill in a collected canter, releasing the rein for, say, four strides at a time.

“Of course, in a cross-country course you’re not going to go down with loose reins, but at least you and the horse feel you have elements of self-carriage going down that hill, which should give you confidence,” adds Cameron.

Troubleshooting downhill fences

When you’re preparing to tackle jumps downhill it’s important to remember that horses may take a stride out or could go on a deeper distance than expected.

“Your body has to stay back, ready for anything and because you’re going to land more downhill than you started,” Cameron advises. “I tell everyone to lengthen the reins – not drop them – two or three strides before the fence so the horse has freedom of the head and neck over the fence.

“That way, mid-flight, you’re already tall rather than planning to release on take-off. If the horse takes a stride out and you haven’t prepared, you end up pulled forward with the reins and land on top of the horse and then it gallops off out of balance. Stay tall, be ready for landing, and then gather your reins gradually on landing.”

Horse jumping downhill fence

Lengthen the reins when jumping downhill fences to give the horse freedom to use his head and neck. (Image credit: Alamy)

Cameron also advises that whenever you’re jumping a single fence downhill, you should train with the mindset that one day there will be another jump after it.

“As quick as you can after landing in training, gather up and imagine there’s a B or C element four strides away. In competition, if you want to make time, you can roll on after the fence but in training, always prepare for a combination,” concludes Cameron.

  • Did you find this article helpful? You may also enjoy reading…

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Benjamin Bounce in a cross-country schooling session

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to make the most of cross-country schooling with advice from top trainers

Tim Price and Vitali at Tokyo Olympics: jumping cross-country drop fences

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Top event riders share their tips for training horses to tackle drops with confidence

Colorado Blue and Austin O'Connor galloping on the cross-country course at Badminton

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to improve a horse’s gallop: top eventers share their tips for productive fast work

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo: example for how to improve riding position cross-country

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to improve your cross-country riding position with secrets from Olympians – including exercises on and off the horse

Bay horse jumping fence cleanly: how to stop a horse knocking down jumps

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

No more poles down! Training exercises and tips to sharpen your horse’s reflexes and ace those important showjumping clear rounds

How Harry Meade gets horses fit, galloping up a hill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to get your horse fit like world number one event rider Harry Meade

London 52 heads the list of Laura Collett's top horses after being crowned European champion

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

From a wild Welshie to her new European champion, Laura Collett picks out 6 horses who’ll always have her heart

how to stop horse running out at skinnies on cross-country course as exemplified by a pro at the World Eventing Championships

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘Help! My horse is running out at skinnies’ Olympic eventer Ginny Elliot’s tips on how to stay between the flags

]]> <![CDATA[ Olympian Ginny Elliot’s tips to stop your horse’s cross-country spooks and nail a fast round – and her own reactive horse who turned a corner to become a champion ]]> What can you do if you have a horse who makes light work of jumping cross-country fences but is easily distracted and spooks at everything from crowds to trade stands and shadows to the tannoy? We speak to international event riders Ginny Elliot and Jeanette Brakewell to find out how to train focus and bravery outside the flagged fences

For some riders, it’s not the cavernous trakehners or ultra-skinny arrowheads that pose a problem out eventing. Instead, it’s the worry about their horse spooking on the cross-country course, not at the obstacles themselves, but other distractions, such as flags, noises, crowds – or even a different shade of grass colour.

Once you get within range of the fence, your horse might jump happily over, but it’s an issue you need to get to the bottom of. Spooking means time-faults, a less smooth round and sub-optimal preparation for the fences. This might be surmountable at the lower heights, but as you move up the levels, your horse needs all his focus on the job in hand.

How to stop your horse spooking on the cross-country course

“I would always try and figure out what is it that’s spooking the horse, is it noise? Is it sight? Is it both? Then I would try to find a way in which I could help the horse adjust to that environment,” says five-time Burghley winner, Ginny Elliot.

“You have to be sensible, if a plastic bag jumps across the road and they spook at it, well, who wouldn’t? So you have to figure out, is the horse being naughty or is it a genuine fright? Use your brain, try to look at it from their point of view and try and do everything you can to remove that problem.”

Ginny has first-hand experience of mastering a spooky horse as Night Cap II, her 1984 Burghley winning partner and the 1987 European champion, was initially reactive to noise, banners and any quick movement from somebody in a crowd.

“Night Cap II was such a fabulous horse, but he was not fabulous to start with,” says Ginny. “The first time he reacted was when he was at Blenheim, which was the first time he knew grandstands and that kind of thing. We had to figure out how we were going to help him with his issues.”

As best she could, Ginny replicated the sights and sounds Night Cap II was afraid of at home.

“We put some banners up in the arena and when I was schooling him, we played loud music or a football match on the radio,” reveals the former world and European champion.

“One day, we asked local people from the village to come up and clap while I did my dressage test in the arena. We called it ‘rent a crowd’ and we all enjoyed tea and biscuits. I think they quite enjoyed being involved and took a genuine interest in his improvement.

“I also remember taking Night Cap II to the Three Counties Show and spending three days there, just walking around. On the first day he was in a muck sweat because of all the noise and people but by the third day he was chilled and happy.”

Slowly, after months of meticulous planning, patience and determination, Ginny managed to overcome the fears and anxieties that Night Cap II had.

“At the European Championships in Luhmühlen I took him up to the main arena early in the morning and schooled him for a bit. Then I took his tack off and let him graze until the time I had to get back on him. That way the crowd came to him, as opposed to him going to the crowd.

“Gradually, he saw more people and heard all the clapping and the noise. He ended up doing the best test of his life and he won the competition,” says Ginny.

“It took about six months of pretty hard work. I thought about it all carefully but it worked as by the next spring he was at Badminton and was a different horse. All horses have their issues, it’s our job to find a way to help them overcome those issues.”

Horse galloping freely not spooking on cross-country course

Eyes on the prize: a horse galloping smoothly between fences, focusing on the job in hand. (Image credit: Alamy)

Jeanette Brakewell supports Ginny’s theory that exposure is the best medicine for a spooky horse.

“Spooky horses tend to get better as they do more,” says Jeanette, who won the individual silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. “I’ve got a very spooky horse who as a four- and five-year-old was very reactive to anything but then the more they saw things the less spooky they became.”

“Ros Canter’s horse Izilot DHI was very reactive but now he’s a bit older and he’s has seen and done a lot more and Ros has worked out a good routine for them he’s coming into his element.”

Jeanette stresses the importance of having a good relationship with your horse and training them to listen and respond to you and your aids.

3 practical steps for helping a horse spooking on cross-country

1. Connect and distract

“With spooky horses, it’s very important that you ride them with a good connection between leg and rein, because then you can feel if they’re about to spook or do something,” says Jeanette. “Ideally, you can then put the horse into leg yield or a shoulder in position, so that you are distracting the horse and putting their focus on you.

“Leg yield is a great exercise to practise at home. If your horse has spooked at something it’s not a case of making them approach it it’s a case of being able to move their bodies around it, so that they accept what it is, realise it’s not going to hurt them and they don’t need to be frightened of it.

‘Try to keep their legs moving. By getting them to cross their hindlegs over and move their body sideways then they don’t get stuck and go rigid.”

2. Course-walk and prepare

If you have a spooky horse you need to walk a cross-country course with that in mind. Be aware of the things that your horse might spook at so that you are prepared and ready for what might happen.

“Don’t forget that often when you walk the course the fence judges aren’t there yet, the fences may not have been dressed and there might not be any crowds. Think ahead and bear this in mind when you are thinking about what your horse may spook at,” adds Jeanette who also suggests hunting as a good way of training bravery.

3. Build confidence

“As a rider, don’t do anything stupid or over face them, not just hunting, but in anything. You should always be working on the horse’s confidence, because the more confident they are the less they question things.

“If you do have a blip in confidence, it’s important to go back a step and make things dead easy for them to help them overcome that confidence issue.”

Did you find this article useful? You may also enjoy reading…

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‘Help! My horse is running out at skinnies’ Olympic eventer Ginny Elliot’s tips on how to stay between the flags

Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country

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Alex Bragg training exercise with jumping grid

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Teach your horse the art of patience and power with Alex Bragg’s five-fence training exercise

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Acoustic ear bonnets and fly veils to help spooky horses

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Build your horse’s confidence with this expert’s guide to classical conditioning

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(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Can you change your horse’s behaviour and emotional state? Try operant conditioning as a training skill

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//horse-training/horse-spooking-on-cross-country-course-eventing-ginny-elliot-jeanette-brakewell-904249 gt1JwaEdFHyBsuxZTLg4ab Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:29:15 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:44:58 +0000 false false true

What can you do if you have a horse who makes light work of jumping cross-country fences but is easily distracted and spooks at everything from crowds to trade stands and shadows to the tannoy? We speak to international event riders Ginny Elliot and Jeanette Brakewell to find out how to train focus and bravery outside the flagged fences

For some riders, it’s not the cavernous trakehners or ultra-skinny arrowheads that pose a problem out eventing. Instead, it’s the worry about their horse spooking on the cross-country course, not at the obstacles themselves, but other distractions, such as flags, noises, crowds – or even a different shade of grass colour.

Once you get within range of the fence, your horse might jump happily over, but it’s an issue you need to get to the bottom of. Spooking means time-faults, a less smooth round and sub-optimal preparation for the fences. This might be surmountable at the lower heights, but as you move up the levels, your horse needs all his focus on the job in hand.

How to stop your horse spooking on the cross-country course

“I would always try and figure out what is it that’s spooking the horse, is it noise? Is it sight? Is it both? Then I would try to find a way in which I could help the horse adjust to that environment,” says five-time Burghley winner, Ginny Elliot.

“You have to be sensible, if a plastic bag jumps across the road and they spook at it, well, who wouldn’t? So you have to figure out, is the horse being naughty or is it a genuine fright? Use your brain, try to look at it from their point of view and try and do everything you can to remove that problem.”

Ginny has first-hand experience of mastering a spooky horse as Night Cap II, her 1984 Burghley winning partner and the 1987 European champion, was initially reactive to noise, banners and any quick movement from somebody in a crowd.

“Night Cap II was such a fabulous horse, but he was not fabulous to start with,” says Ginny. “The first time he reacted was when he was at Blenheim, which was the first time he knew grandstands and that kind of thing. We had to figure out how we were going to help him with his issues.”

As best she could, Ginny replicated the sights and sounds Night Cap II was afraid of at home.

“We put some banners up in the arena and when I was schooling him, we played loud music or a football match on the radio,” reveals the former world and European champion.

“One day, we asked local people from the village to come up and clap while I did my dressage test in the arena. We called it ‘rent a crowd’ and we all enjoyed tea and biscuits. I think they quite enjoyed being involved and took a genuine interest in his improvement.

“I also remember taking Night Cap II to the Three Counties Show and spending three days there, just walking around. On the first day he was in a muck sweat because of all the noise and people but by the third day he was chilled and happy.”

Slowly, after months of meticulous planning, patience and determination, Ginny managed to overcome the fears and anxieties that Night Cap II had.

“At the European Championships in Luhmühlen I took him up to the main arena early in the morning and schooled him for a bit. Then I took his tack off and let him graze until the time I had to get back on him. That way the crowd came to him, as opposed to him going to the crowd.

“Gradually, he saw more people and heard all the clapping and the noise. He ended up doing the best test of his life and he won the competition,” says Ginny.

“It took about six months of pretty hard work. I thought about it all carefully but it worked as by the next spring he was at Badminton and was a different horse. All horses have their issues, it’s our job to find a way to help them overcome those issues.”

Horse galloping freely not spooking on cross-country course

Eyes on the prize: a horse galloping smoothly between fences, focusing on the job in hand. (Image credit: Alamy)

Jeanette Brakewell supports Ginny’s theory that exposure is the best medicine for a spooky horse.

“Spooky horses tend to get better as they do more,” says Jeanette, who won the individual silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. “I’ve got a very spooky horse who as a four- and five-year-old was very reactive to anything but then the more they saw things the less spooky they became.”

“Ros Canter’s horse Izilot DHI was very reactive but now he’s a bit older and he’s has seen and done a lot more and Ros has worked out a good routine for them he’s coming into his element.”

Jeanette stresses the importance of having a good relationship with your horse and training them to listen and respond to you and your aids.

3 practical steps for helping a horse spooking on cross-country

1. Connect and distract

“With spooky horses, it’s very important that you ride them with a good connection between leg and rein, because then you can feel if they’re about to spook or do something,” says Jeanette. “Ideally, you can then put the horse into leg yield or a shoulder in position, so that you are distracting the horse and putting their focus on you.

“Leg yield is a great exercise to practise at home. If your horse has spooked at something it’s not a case of making them approach it it’s a case of being able to move their bodies around it, so that they accept what it is, realise it’s not going to hurt them and they don’t need to be frightened of it.

‘Try to keep their legs moving. By getting them to cross their hindlegs over and move their body sideways then they don’t get stuck and go rigid.”

2. Course-walk and prepare

If you have a spooky horse you need to walk a cross-country course with that in mind. Be aware of the things that your horse might spook at so that you are prepared and ready for what might happen.

“Don’t forget that often when you walk the course the fence judges aren’t there yet, the fences may not have been dressed and there might not be any crowds. Think ahead and bear this in mind when you are thinking about what your horse may spook at,” adds Jeanette who also suggests hunting as a good way of training bravery.

3. Build confidence

“As a rider, don’t do anything stupid or over face them, not just hunting, but in anything. You should always be working on the horse’s confidence, because the more confident they are the less they question things.

“If you do have a blip in confidence, it’s important to go back a step and make things dead easy for them to help them overcome that confidence issue.”

Did you find this article useful? You may also enjoy reading…

how to stop horse running out at skinnies on cross-country course as exemplified by a pro at the World Eventing Championships

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

‘Help! My horse is running out at skinnies’ Olympic eventer Ginny Elliot’s tips on how to stay between the flags

Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country

Harry Meade doing jumping training

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Improve your horse’s rideability and straightness with Harry Meade’s three-fence jumping exercise

Alex Bragg training exercise with jumping grid

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Teach your horse the art of patience and power with Alex Bragg’s five-fence training exercise

Horse wearing Coldstream acoustic ears for horses

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Acoustic ear bonnets and fly veils to help spooky horses

Rider looking at her horse and scratching withers

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Build your horse’s confidence with this expert’s guide to classical conditioning

Young woman looking up her horse

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Can you change your horse’s behaviour and emotional state? Try operant conditioning as a training skill

]]> <![CDATA[ Researchers develop new way to estimate how much energy horses use in cross-country ]]> Researchers have developed a new way to estimate how much energy horses use during international cross-country, which could benefit riders, trainers, vets and course-designers.

In a study published in Animals, the German Olympic equestrian committee (DOKR) and researchers from the free university of Berlin looked at the demands on horses during the cross-country phase at two- to five-star events.

The researchers developed a model, based on 691 runs by more than 250 horses at international events, by combining horse heart rate and blood lactate data with course information such as speed, terrain and difficulty level. Key findings included that terrain, speed and speed variability influence the energy demands – and that short-format competitions generally require more anaerobic effort than long-format.

“However, in general, anaerobic contribution to energy consumption during cross-country is only about 10% at most, indicating that 90% or more of energy requirements are supplied by aerobic pathways. Increasing the aerobic capacity of the horses should therefore be a primary goal of effective training programmes,” co-author Katharina Kirsch told H&H.

“For horses that compete at higher levels, anaerobic exercise should also be taken into account – especially for short format – however. The energy requirements attributed to speed fluctuations increased with increasing average speed, and were higher in short format. Therefore, the higher the average speed, the greater the impact of speed variations.”

Aerobic exercise is fuelled by oxygen that breaks down glucose in the horses’ muscles to provide sustained energy. Anaerobic exercise begins when the levels of oxygen are no longer able to supply the muscles with sufficient energy. Anaerobic exercise uses the energy stored in the horses’ muscles in the form of glycogen, and cannot be sustained for long periods.

Ms Kirsch said a very “irregular course” that requires the horse to change speed frequently, for example due to a lot of turns, can therefore significantly increase the effort required – but if a horse and rider “are very well attuned to each other and the course is completed very smoothly without extreme changes in speed, this may considerably decrease the effort that is required from the horse”. She added that individual horse fitness plays a major role, indicating the importance of individual training programmes.

“We already suspected that differences between horses would be high, but how big these actually are was somewhat surprising,” she said.

“Although horses in the same competition have to complete the same course under similar conditions, and we already accounted for speed and speed changes, it might still be that they perceive the physical demand very differently.”

Ms Kirsch and co-author Anna Liedtke added that the sport has changed significantly over time since the removal of roads and tracks and steeplechase, and an increase in technical difficulty.

“The deceleration required when approaching technically difficult obstacles consequently necessitates that the horses are galloping at higher speeds between fences. This frequent acceleration and deceleration has the potential to considerably increase energetic demands,” the researchers said.

“We showed in previous work that short formats usually elicit higher heart rates and blood lactate concentrations, potentially due to the fact that they involve a higher number of jumps per distance. In this study we were able to confirm our hypothesis and could show that speed changes have a significant impact on how much energy is required.”

Ms Kirsch said this work could help riders, trainers and vets in developing tailored training programmes and with early identification of over-training or injury risk – and course-designers may use the findings to “assess the physiological challenge posed by terrain and layout, beyond just jump complexity or distance”.

“Acknowledging the considerable impact course design may have on energetic demands may promote horse welfare by ensuring that courses are not unintentionally too demanding,” she said.

Ms Kirsch and Ms Liedtke said this study builds on a large dataset collected by DOKR’s performance monitoring programme, which supports the German national team and whose work involves ensuring horses are fit to compete and capable of meeting championship demands, “thereby improving the welfare of sports horses”.

“In future we would like to evaluate how our proposed model could be further refined to assess individual fitness levels and predict injury risks,” they said.

“We would also like to focus more on the mental load that is imposed on horses competing at high-level competitions.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/researchers-develop-new-way-to-estimate-how-much-energy-horses-use-in-cross-country-900726 mwXifmqaDL7irq9gH1jqbE Fri, 08 Aug 2025 12:03:08 +0000 false false false

Researchers have developed a new way to estimate how much energy horses use during international cross-country, which could benefit riders, trainers, vets and course-designers.

In a study published in Animals, the German Olympic equestrian committee (DOKR) and researchers from the free university of Berlin looked at the demands on horses during the cross-country phase at two- to five-star events.

The researchers developed a model, based on 691 runs by more than 250 horses at international events, by combining horse heart rate and blood lactate data with course information such as speed, terrain and difficulty level. Key findings included that terrain, speed and speed variability influence the energy demands – and that short-format competitions generally require more anaerobic effort than long-format.

“However, in general, anaerobic contribution to energy consumption during cross-country is only about 10% at most, indicating that 90% or more of energy requirements are supplied by aerobic pathways. Increasing the aerobic capacity of the horses should therefore be a primary goal of effective training programmes,” co-author Katharina Kirsch told H&H.

“For horses that compete at higher levels, anaerobic exercise should also be taken into account – especially for short format – however. The energy requirements attributed to speed fluctuations increased with increasing average speed, and were higher in short format. Therefore, the higher the average speed, the greater the impact of speed variations.”

Aerobic exercise is fuelled by oxygen that breaks down glucose in the horses’ muscles to provide sustained energy. Anaerobic exercise begins when the levels of oxygen are no longer able to supply the muscles with sufficient energy. Anaerobic exercise uses the energy stored in the horses’ muscles in the form of glycogen, and cannot be sustained for long periods.

Ms Kirsch said a very “irregular course” that requires the horse to change speed frequently, for example due to a lot of turns, can therefore significantly increase the effort required – but if a horse and rider “are very well attuned to each other and the course is completed very smoothly without extreme changes in speed, this may considerably decrease the effort that is required from the horse”. She added that individual horse fitness plays a major role, indicating the importance of individual training programmes.

“We already suspected that differences between horses would be high, but how big these actually are was somewhat surprising,” she said.

“Although horses in the same competition have to complete the same course under similar conditions, and we already accounted for speed and speed changes, it might still be that they perceive the physical demand very differently.”

Ms Kirsch and co-author Anna Liedtke added that the sport has changed significantly over time since the removal of roads and tracks and steeplechase, and an increase in technical difficulty.

“The deceleration required when approaching technically difficult obstacles consequently necessitates that the horses are galloping at higher speeds between fences. This frequent acceleration and deceleration has the potential to considerably increase energetic demands,” the researchers said.

“We showed in previous work that short formats usually elicit higher heart rates and blood lactate concentrations, potentially due to the fact that they involve a higher number of jumps per distance. In this study we were able to confirm our hypothesis and could show that speed changes have a significant impact on how much energy is required.”

Ms Kirsch said this work could help riders, trainers and vets in developing tailored training programmes and with early identification of over-training or injury risk – and course-designers may use the findings to “assess the physiological challenge posed by terrain and layout, beyond just jump complexity or distance”.

“Acknowledging the considerable impact course design may have on energetic demands may promote horse welfare by ensuring that courses are not unintentionally too demanding,” she said.

Ms Kirsch and Ms Liedtke said this study builds on a large dataset collected by DOKR’s performance monitoring programme, which supports the German national team and whose work involves ensuring horses are fit to compete and capable of meeting championship demands, “thereby improving the welfare of sports horses”.

“In future we would like to evaluate how our proposed model could be further refined to assess individual fitness levels and predict injury risks,” they said.

“We would also like to focus more on the mental load that is imposed on horses competing at high-level competitions.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ 7 standout cross-country questions at Luhmühlen five-star where riders will need to be on their A game ]]> The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country course has been reversed for 2025 – the last time the track ran in this direction was in 2022.

Competitors will face 28 numbered fences, with 46 jumping efforts over 6,340m, on the track designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. The Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 8 seconds.

Here, we take a look at seven key combinations on this track, which could prove influential on cross-country day (Saturday 14 June).

Key fences on Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

Fence 4, 5abc – The Longines Wasser

The Longines Wasser is the first question on this year’s track. There is a very long gallop through the woods between fences three and four, which will allow combinations to get into a rhythm but then riders will have to ensure their horses are set up and listening to them as they approach the coop on a downhill slope at fence four.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The coop has a drop behind it and riders will need to sit up on landing to prepare for the left-hand turn to the brush into the water at fence 5a.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5a has a near maximum drop (the permitted maximum drop height is 2m) and is followed by a curving four or five strides to an upturned boat in the water at fence 5b. The line to this middle element is very tricky to pick up and horses and riders will have to be very switched on at this early stage in the course to react quickly to what is happening.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

After the upturned boat, there are three strides to a brush at fence 5c, just out of the water.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Run outs at the upturned boat will be most pertinent here. However, there is a possibility of run outs occurring at the final element too. There are no alternatives at this fence.

Fence 8abc – Longines Kombination

This combination in the main arena will test accuracy early on in the course.

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Note: the screen in the bottom left-handed corner of this picture will be removed prior to the cross-country starting. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is a maximum width oxer at the first part, followed by a right-handed turn to two acutely angled brush fences with blue water trays below on a one stride distance.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The arena will be surrounded by spectators and riders will have to ensure that their horses are locked onto the angles at the double of brushes. There is no alternative at this combination.

Fence 11, 12ab – The Meßmer-Teich

The Meßmer-Teich is the second water complex on this year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course. It is a busy area and will be surrounded by spectators on the day, which might take horses by surprise as they round the corner towards this combination.

The direct route consists of a set of MIM rails with a drop into the water, followed by a big, narrow triple brush on the island, followed by another skinny fence at the top of the slope coming out of the water for the second time.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The fence into the water at 11 isn’t particularly big and horses will most likely land on dry ground before entering the water here. However, the MIM rail will probably be activated a handful of times throughout the day.

Riders will need to maintain their horses’ concentration throughout this combination to ensure they are bang on their lines to both triple brushes at 12ab.

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There is an incredibly long alternative route to this fence, which will add a considerable amount of time to combinations’ rounds, should they choose to take it.

Fence 14abcd – The Porsche Wellenbahn

This combination is one of the most technical on this year’s track. Horses and riders gallop through the woods and then up a steep slope to a narrow house on top of a mound at 14a.

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Horses won’t see the following elements of this combination until they are in the air over 14a.

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Upon jumping the first element, there is a steep downhill slope on three strides to a drop fence at 14b, which is followed by three strides to a double of angled brushes on a moving distance between the two.

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The landing side view of the drop. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Horses will have to pick up the line to the two brushes quickly in order to prevent a run out here. There is no alternative at this fence.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 16abc – the LeMieux Lagune

This combination is another test of accuracy. There is a brush corner at 16a followed by a run into water to another brush corner on either five or six strides, depending on the line the riders choose to take.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is then a curving three strides to a wide spread fence upon exiting the water at 16c.

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There is an alternative to the c element here, but it will prove time consuming.

Alternative 16c 

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Fence 23ab – The MIM-Ecken

Although horse and riders will be au fait with jumping a double of open corners by the time get they get to five-star level, there is still the possibility of this fence causing problems.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

These two corners are on a three-stride distance on a direct line, although they can opt to add in a more curving line on four strides in order to try and prevent a run out to the right. There is no alternative here.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 25abc – The Coffin

This fence at Luhmühlen always catches a few out.

The rail at 25a is on MIM Clips and will need to be set up for in order to try and prevent activating this device and incurring 11 penalties.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This is followed by a ditch one stride later, followed by a moving one stride up to the final element.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is an alternative, time consuming route to 25c, should riders require it.

Alternative 25c 

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The five-star cross-country is due to get underway at 8.45am (7.45am British time) on Saturday.

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Julia Krajewski riding Uelzeners Nickel cross-country at Luhmuhlen Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2026 live from anywhere in the world

The breeder of London 52, pictured here with Laura Collett, has been recognised at the 2025 WBFSH awards.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Former winners head up 23-strong British entry for Luhmühlen five-star

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(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/luhmuhlen-horse-trials-cross-country-course-2025-895513 atGWYn7Aif7VvshqyyydW5 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:12:35 +0000 false false false

The Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials five-star cross-country course has been reversed for 2025 – the last time the track ran in this direction was in 2022.

Competitors will face 28 numbered fences, with 46 jumping efforts over 6,340m, on the track designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. The Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 8 seconds.

Here, we take a look at seven key combinations on this track, which could prove influential on cross-country day (Saturday 14 June).

Key fences on Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

Fence 4, 5abc – The Longines Wasser

The Longines Wasser is the first question on this year’s track. There is a very long gallop through the woods between fences three and four, which will allow combinations to get into a rhythm but then riders will have to ensure their horses are set up and listening to them as they approach the coop on a downhill slope at fence four.

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The coop has a drop behind it and riders will need to sit up on landing to prepare for the left-hand turn to the brush into the water at fence 5a.

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Fence 5a has a near maximum drop (the permitted maximum drop height is 2m) and is followed by a curving four or five strides to an upturned boat in the water at fence 5b. The line to this middle element is very tricky to pick up and horses and riders will have to be very switched on at this early stage in the course to react quickly to what is happening.

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After the upturned boat, there are three strides to a brush at fence 5c, just out of the water.

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Run outs at the upturned boat will be most pertinent here. However, there is a possibility of run outs occurring at the final element too. There are no alternatives at this fence.

Fence 8abc – Longines Kombination

This combination in the main arena will test accuracy early on in the course.

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Note: the screen in the bottom left-handed corner of this picture will be removed prior to the cross-country starting. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is a maximum width oxer at the first part, followed by a right-handed turn to two acutely angled brush fences with blue water trays below on a one stride distance.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

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The arena will be surrounded by spectators and riders will have to ensure that their horses are locked onto the angles at the double of brushes. There is no alternative at this combination.

Fence 11, 12ab – The Meßmer-Teich

The Meßmer-Teich is the second water complex on this year’s Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course. It is a busy area and will be surrounded by spectators on the day, which might take horses by surprise as they round the corner towards this combination.

The direct route consists of a set of MIM rails with a drop into the water, followed by a big, narrow triple brush on the island, followed by another skinny fence at the top of the slope coming out of the water for the second time.

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The fence into the water at 11 isn’t particularly big and horses will most likely land on dry ground before entering the water here. However, the MIM rail will probably be activated a handful of times throughout the day.

Riders will need to maintain their horses’ concentration throughout this combination to ensure they are bang on their lines to both triple brushes at 12ab.

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There is an incredibly long alternative route to this fence, which will add a considerable amount of time to combinations’ rounds, should they choose to take it.

Fence 14abcd – The Porsche Wellenbahn

This combination is one of the most technical on this year’s track. Horses and riders gallop through the woods and then up a steep slope to a narrow house on top of a mound at 14a.

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Horses won’t see the following elements of this combination until they are in the air over 14a.

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Upon jumping the first element, there is a steep downhill slope on three strides to a drop fence at 14b, which is followed by three strides to a double of angled brushes on a moving distance between the two.

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The landing side view of the drop. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Horses will have to pick up the line to the two brushes quickly in order to prevent a run out here. There is no alternative at this fence.

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Fence 16abc – the LeMieux Lagune

This combination is another test of accuracy. There is a brush corner at 16a followed by a run into water to another brush corner on either five or six strides, depending on the line the riders choose to take.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

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Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is then a curving three strides to a wide spread fence upon exiting the water at 16c.

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There is an alternative to the c element here, but it will prove time consuming.

Alternative 16c 

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Fence 23ab – The MIM-Ecken

Although horse and riders will be au fait with jumping a double of open corners by the time get they get to five-star level, there is still the possibility of this fence causing problems.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

These two corners are on a three-stride distance on a direct line, although they can opt to add in a more curving line on four strides in order to try and prevent a run out to the right. There is no alternative here.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

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Fence 25abc – The Coffin

This fence at Luhmühlen always catches a few out.

The rail at 25a is on MIM Clips and will need to be set up for in order to try and prevent activating this device and incurring 11 penalties.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This is followed by a ditch one stride later, followed by a moving one stride up to the final element.

Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

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Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is an alternative, time consuming route to 25c, should riders require it.

Alternative 25c 

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The five-star cross-country is due to get underway at 8.45am (7.45am British time) on Saturday.

You may also be interested in:

Julia Krajewski riding Uelzeners Nickel cross-country at Luhmuhlen Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Luhmühlen Horse Trials 2026 live from anywhere in the world

The breeder of London 52, pictured here with Laura Collett, has been recognised at the 2025 WBFSH awards.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Former winners head up 23-strong British entry for Luhmühlen five-star

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Ready to jump this? Check out every fence on the Badminton BE90 grassroots cross-country course… ]]> Whether you know someone who has been competing, or you fancy having a look to see if you would be up for the challenge in the future, here are the fully dressed LeMieux BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course photos for the event at the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

The course is designed by James Willis and has an optimum time of 6min 22sec. The course is 2863m long.

You can also check out the BE100 course photos here.

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course 2025

Fence 1: MIM Rail

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: British Eventing Table

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: KBIS Wall

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4: KBIS Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: British Horse Foundation Trakehner

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab: LeMieux Hollow

Fence 6a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 6a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6b

90Fence6b

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Fence 7: Willis Brothers Steeplechase Fence

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: Equireel Funnel

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 8

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9: Bedmax Ditch Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 9

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab: Spillers Brush

Fence 10a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10b

90Fence10b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11: Wiltshire Brewers Drays

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12ab: World Horse Welfare Stables

Fence 12a – on the direct route, riders jump the left-hand end of this as a corner. If they want to take the alternative, they take the right-hand end as a spread fence

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b – direct route

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b – long route, which involves looping round away from the direction of travel

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b alternative

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Bloomfields Horseboxes Wishing Well

90Fence13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Lister Wilder Quarter Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

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Fence 15ab: CrossCountry App Corners

Fence 15a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 15a

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Fence 15b

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Fence 16ab: LeMieux Lake

Fence 16a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 16a

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Fence 16b

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90Fence16b-3

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Fence 17: LeMieux Lake

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Fence 18: LeMieux Saddle

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 18

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Fence 19: HorseQuest Hay Rack

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Fence 20ab: Mars Equestrian Gates

Fence 20a

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Fence 20b

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Fence 21: Guide Dogs Beech Log

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22: LeMieux Horseshoe

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from the five-star competition at Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

100-Lead.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Would you jump this ditch? See every fence on the 2025 Badminton BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course

Badminton Horse Trials wait list: Najda Minder and Toblerone have withdrawn, which gives the final pair on the wait list a chance to compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Another withdrawal gives final pair on Badminton Horse Trials wait list a chance to compete

Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle will not compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: ‘It’s devastating, but he’ll always come first’

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/be90-grassroots-championships-cross-country-course-2025-890820 cucoHA4wDvF3Gvsf37EygX Wed, 07 May 2025 14:30:31 +0000 false false false

Whether you know someone who has been competing, or you fancy having a look to see if you would be up for the challenge in the future, here are the fully dressed LeMieux BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course photos for the event at the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

The course is designed by James Willis and has an optimum time of 6min 22sec. The course is 2863m long.

You can also check out the BE100 course photos here.

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course 2025

Fence 1: MIM Rail

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: British Eventing Table

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: KBIS Wall

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4: KBIS Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: British Horse Foundation Trakehner

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab: LeMieux Hollow

Fence 6a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 6a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6b

90Fence6b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7: Willis Brothers Steeplechase Fence

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: Equireel Funnel

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 8

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9: Bedmax Ditch Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 9

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab: Spillers Brush

Fence 10a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10b

90Fence10b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11: Wiltshire Brewers Drays

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12ab: World Horse Welfare Stables

Fence 12a – on the direct route, riders jump the left-hand end of this as a corner. If they want to take the alternative, they take the right-hand end as a spread fence

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b – direct route

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b – long route, which involves looping round away from the direction of travel

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b alternative

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Bloomfields Horseboxes Wishing Well

90Fence13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Lister Wilder Quarter Brush

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15ab: CrossCountry App Corners

Fence 15a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 15a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15b

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16ab: LeMieux Lake

Fence 16a

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 16a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16b

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

90Fence16b-3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17: LeMieux Lake

90Fence17

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: LeMieux Saddle

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19: HorseQuest Hay Rack

90Fence19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20ab: Mars Equestrian Gates

Fence 20a

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20b

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21: Guide Dogs Beech Log

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22: LeMieux Horseshoe

90Fence22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from the five-star competition at Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

100-Lead.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Would you jump this ditch? See every fence on the 2025 Badminton BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course

Badminton Horse Trials wait list: Najda Minder and Toblerone have withdrawn, which gives the final pair on the wait list a chance to compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Another withdrawal gives final pair on Badminton Horse Trials wait list a chance to compete

Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle will not compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: ‘It’s devastating, but he’ll always come first’

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump this ditch? See every fence on the 2025 Badminton BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course ]]> Would you like to tackle the BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course at Mars Badminton Horse Trials? Have a look at all the fully dressed fences that riders have faced on the 2025 track for the LeMieux sponsored-competition below.

The course is designed by James Willis and is 2880m long, with an optimum time of 6min 4sec.

You can also check out the BE90 grassroots championship cross-country course here.

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course 2025

Fence 1: MIM Rail

100Fence1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: British Eventing Table

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: KBIS Wall

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4: KBIS Brush

100Fence4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: British Horse Foundation Trakehner

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 5

90Fence5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab: LeMieux Hollow

Fence 6a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 6a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6b

100Fence6b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7: Willis Brothers Steeplechase Fence

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8ab: Equireel Funnels

Fence 8a

100Fence8a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 8b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9: Bedmax Ditch Brush

100Fence9

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab: Spillers Brush

Fence 10a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10b

100Fence10b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11: Wiltshire Brewers Drays

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12ab: World Horse Welfare Stables

Fence 12a – to take the direct route, riders jump the left-hand end of this as a corner. On the longer option, they jump the right-hand end straight on as a spread fence

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b direct route

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b alternative – this involves turning right round away from the direction of travel

100Fence12b-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Bloomfields Horseboxes Wishing Well

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Lister Wilder Quarter Brush

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15ab: CrossCountry App Corners

Fence 15a

100Fence15a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: 15b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16ab: LeMieux Lake

Fence 16a

100Fence16a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 16b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17: LeMieux Lake

100Fence17

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: LeMieux Saddle

100Fence18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19: HorseQuest Hay Rack

100Fence19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20ab: Mars Equestrian Gates

Fence 20a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 20a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20b

100Fence20b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21: Guide Dogs Beech Log

100Fence21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22: LeMieux Horseshoe

100Fence22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from the five-star competition at Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses 2025: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo will compete again

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Is one of these riders the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials winner? 15 pairs to watch this week

Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle will not compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: ‘It’s devastating, but he’ll always come first’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Fence 9 and 10 - Badminton Horse Trials 2025 Course Preview, Tuesday 15 April 2025 © 2025 Nico Morgan. All Rights Reserved. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission.

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘There’s plenty out there’: watch Olympic medallist Tina Cook analyse key cross-country fences on the 2025 Badminton course

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/2025-badminton-be100-grassroots-championships-cross-country-course-890780 rUHabfAiH4e8HJwEeZ8adv Wed, 07 May 2025 13:50:46 +0000 false false false

Would you like to tackle the BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course at Mars Badminton Horse Trials? Have a look at all the fully dressed fences that riders have faced on the 2025 track for the LeMieux sponsored-competition below.

The course is designed by James Willis and is 2880m long, with an optimum time of 6min 4sec.

You can also check out the BE90 grassroots championship cross-country course here.

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course 2025

Fence 1: MIM Rail

100Fence1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: British Eventing Table

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: KBIS Wall

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4: KBIS Brush

100Fence4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: British Horse Foundation Trakehner

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 5

90Fence5

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab: LeMieux Hollow

Fence 6a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 6a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6b

100Fence6b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7: Willis Brothers Steeplechase Fence

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8ab: Equireel Funnels

Fence 8a

100Fence8a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 8b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9: Bedmax Ditch Brush

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab: Spillers Brush

Fence 10a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10b

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11: Wiltshire Brewers Drays

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12ab: World Horse Welfare Stables

Fence 12a – to take the direct route, riders jump the left-hand end of this as a corner. On the longer option, they jump the right-hand end straight on as a spread fence

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b direct route

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 12b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12b alternative – this involves turning right round away from the direction of travel

100Fence12b-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Bloomfields Horseboxes Wishing Well

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Lister Wilder Quarter Brush

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15ab: CrossCountry App Corners

Fence 15a

100Fence15a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: 15b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16ab: LeMieux Lake

Fence 16a

100Fence16a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16b

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 16b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17: LeMieux Lake

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: LeMieux Saddle

100Fence18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19: HorseQuest Hay Rack

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20ab: Mars Equestrian Gates

Fence 20a

BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 20a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20b

100Fence20b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21: Guide Dogs Beech Log

100Fence21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22: LeMieux Horseshoe

100Fence22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from the five-star competition at Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses 2025: Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo will compete again

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Is one of these riders the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials winner? 15 pairs to watch this week

Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle will not compete

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Latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals: ‘It’s devastating, but he’ll always come first’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

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(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Fence 9 and 10 - Badminton Horse Trials 2025 Course Preview, Tuesday 15 April 2025 © 2025 Nico Morgan. All Rights Reserved. No usage, third party sales or syndication granted without prior permission.

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘There’s plenty out there’: watch Olympic medallist Tina Cook analyse key cross-country fences on the 2025 Badminton course

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘Big and bold’: Kitty King shares her thoughts on the 2025 Badminton grassroots cross-country courses ]]> If you’re tackling either the BE90 or BE100 LeMieux grassroots championships cross-country course at Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (7 May), we have some great insight on the track from top event rider Kitty King and the course designer and builder, James Willis.

Find out what Kitty and James had to say…

“We switch the direction of both the five-star track and the grassroots cross-country course each year and so in 2025, most of the terrain comes early in the course,” says James. “It really makes this a course of two halves, with a lot going on early in the course.”

image00004

Fence two (Image credit: creditUnknown)

When we get to fence two, the British Eventing Table, some of those on this guided course walk are shocked by the dimensions of it, as it looks quite large for a BE100.

“I build and design the fences on the BE100 grassroots championship cross-country course at 100cm height, but with British Eventing novice level technicality,” explains James. “The course needs to be a challenge, but I want everyone to have a happy time too.”

image00011

Fece 6ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab, the LeMieux Hollow, is the first proper question on both the BE90 and BE100 tracks.

Kitty says: “On the BE100 track, I would jump the left-hand side of the first element as there is less terrain to have to deal with than on the right-hand side where the ground runs away a bit. The number of strides you get to the second element depends on how you go down the slope after the first element – it walks on five, but it could ride on six or even seven.”

image00015

Fence 8ab on the BE100 course (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8ab in the BE100, the Equireel Funnels, also involves some terrain and riders will need to ride on a good line between the two elements.

“This should ride on four strides and riders need to keep tight to the tree on the left, in-between the elements, in order to get the line and distance,” says Kitty.

image00019

Fence eight on the BE90 course (Image credit: creditUnknown)

As we arrive at fence eight on the BE90 track, the Bedmax Ditch Brush, James explains the work that went into the fence.

“We hollowed out the rail so that it became light enough in weight in order for us to be able to use a MIM Clip on it,” he says.

image00020

Fence 10ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab, the Spillers Brush, sits next to the five-star track’s Beaufort Staircase.

“The first brush at this question should help back horses off before going down the hill to the second brush,” states Kitty.

image00039

Fence 18 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

One of the best photo opportunities for riders on this year’s grassroots championships cross-country course is the LeMieux Saddle at fence 18 for both the BE90 and BE100.

“This was probably one of the first fences we put out and it should make a brilliant photo for competitors in front of the house,” says James.

image00009-scaled.jpeg

Fence 20ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The Mars Equestrian Gates at fence 20ab on both the BE90 and BE100 courses are very upright, with just two fences left after this combination before you’re home.

“These rails come after a long gallop and are here to try to slow people up,” says James. “Riders will have to really respect this question as the gate is very upright.”

Kitty summarises this year’s grassroots tracks by saying: “They are beautifully built courses. They are big and bold and riders will need to get stuck in and get behind their horses and if they do that, I think they’ll have a fantastic ride.

“I think James has been clever in the terrain he’s used – it’s really interesting and adds to the challenge.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

100-Lead.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Would you jump this ditch? See every fence on the 2025 Badminton BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Ready to jump this? Check out every fence on the Badminton BE90 grassroots cross-country course…

couple.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

‘Maybe I should try to catch him up on the cross-country!’ Husband and wife to go head to head at Badminton

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/grassroots-championships-cross-country-advice-2025-891604 212jfLtijsNEJfrC1WFDnj Wed, 07 May 2025 07:49:05 +0000 false false false

If you’re tackling either the BE90 or BE100 LeMieux grassroots championships cross-country course at Mars Badminton Horse Trials today (7 May), we have some great insight on the track from top event rider Kitty King and the course designer and builder, James Willis.

Find out what Kitty and James had to say…

“We switch the direction of both the five-star track and the grassroots cross-country course each year and so in 2025, most of the terrain comes early in the course,” says James. “It really makes this a course of two halves, with a lot going on early in the course.”

image00004

Fence two (Image credit: creditUnknown)

When we get to fence two, the British Eventing Table, some of those on this guided course walk are shocked by the dimensions of it, as it looks quite large for a BE100.

“I build and design the fences on the BE100 grassroots championship cross-country course at 100cm height, but with British Eventing novice level technicality,” explains James. “The course needs to be a challenge, but I want everyone to have a happy time too.”

image00011

Fece 6ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6ab, the LeMieux Hollow, is the first proper question on both the BE90 and BE100 tracks.

Kitty says: “On the BE100 track, I would jump the left-hand side of the first element as there is less terrain to have to deal with than on the right-hand side where the ground runs away a bit. The number of strides you get to the second element depends on how you go down the slope after the first element – it walks on five, but it could ride on six or even seven.”

image00015

Fence 8ab on the BE100 course (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8ab in the BE100, the Equireel Funnels, also involves some terrain and riders will need to ride on a good line between the two elements.

“This should ride on four strides and riders need to keep tight to the tree on the left, in-between the elements, in order to get the line and distance,” says Kitty.

image00019

Fence eight on the BE90 course (Image credit: creditUnknown)

As we arrive at fence eight on the BE90 track, the Bedmax Ditch Brush, James explains the work that went into the fence.

“We hollowed out the rail so that it became light enough in weight in order for us to be able to use a MIM Clip on it,” he says.

image00020

Fence 10ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10ab, the Spillers Brush, sits next to the five-star track’s Beaufort Staircase.

“The first brush at this question should help back horses off before going down the hill to the second brush,” states Kitty.

image00039

Fence 18 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

One of the best photo opportunities for riders on this year’s grassroots championships cross-country course is the LeMieux Saddle at fence 18 for both the BE90 and BE100.

“This was probably one of the first fences we put out and it should make a brilliant photo for competitors in front of the house,” says James.

image00009-scaled.jpeg

Fence 20ab (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The Mars Equestrian Gates at fence 20ab on both the BE90 and BE100 courses are very upright, with just two fences left after this combination before you’re home.

“These rails come after a long gallop and are here to try to slow people up,” says James. “Riders will have to really respect this question as the gate is very upright.”

Kitty summarises this year’s grassroots tracks by saying: “They are beautifully built courses. They are big and bold and riders will need to get stuck in and get behind their horses and if they do that, I think they’ll have a fantastic ride.

“I think James has been clever in the terrain he’s used – it’s really interesting and adds to the challenge.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

You may also be interested in:

100-Lead.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Would you jump this ditch? See every fence on the 2025 Badminton BE100 grassroots championships cross-country course

BE90 grassroots championships cross-country course: fence 14

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Ready to jump this? Check out every fence on the Badminton BE90 grassroots cross-country course…

couple.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

‘Maybe I should try to catch him up on the cross-country!’ Husband and wife to go head to head at Badminton

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: LeMieux Ltd)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Blenheim cross-country course ]]> The Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country course is ready and waiting to be tackled by competitors.

David Evans returns as course-designer for the Oxfordshire event for a seventh year. He has designed both of the 2024 cross-country courses at Blenheim Horse Trials – the CCI4*-L and the short-format CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses.

Take a peek at what horse and riders in the CCI4*-L – jumping the red numbered flags – can expect on Saturday (21 September)…

Fence 1: The Cross Country App Flower Bed

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: The KBIS Table 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Supastuds Oxer 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4abc: Brookfield Bold Question 

A big table on a related distance to a corner, lettered bc

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6763-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is also an alternative for the bc option of two separately lettered houses

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6764-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: Blake Morgan Flyer 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6: Strawmax Straw Pellets Table 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7ab: Game Fair Combination 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: The Volare Way 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9ab: The Volare Landing 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative at 9a and b 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10: Open Oxer 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11abc: Voltaire Rollercoaster 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12: Silverhand Escape 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13ab: Water Edge Challenge 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6780-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Water Edge Point 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 14 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15abcd: James Hallam Insurance Brokers Water Complex 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6785-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Alternatives for fences 15bcd – all jumped in the opposite direction to the direct route 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6790-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16: British Horse Society Canal Turn 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6791-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17abcde: The Isuzu Challenger 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6792-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative for the cd elements – the route involves a 180-degree turn between the two elements 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6795-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: The Duke’s Table, sponsored by Estribos 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6798-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19abc: The Subaru Quest 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6799-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 19c 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20: Bucas Leap of Faith 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6803-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21: The Flower Meadow Picnic Table with Fortnum & Mason 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6804-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22ab: Horslyx Balancer Offset Brushes 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6761-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 23: Suregrow Brush 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24ab: Karcher Solution 

image_50448129-scaled.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6806-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 25: British Eventing Support Trust Finale 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6751-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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One held at first Blenheim trot-up ahead of a bumper week of eventing action

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(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/blenheim-horse-trials-cross-country-course-photos-2024-872504 aPUpFjJSRz8acJ4GixpBM Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:02:45 +0000 false false false

The Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country course is ready and waiting to be tackled by competitors.

David Evans returns as course-designer for the Oxfordshire event for a seventh year. He has designed both of the 2024 cross-country courses at Blenheim Horse Trials – the CCI4*-L and the short-format CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-old horses.

Take a peek at what horse and riders in the CCI4*-L – jumping the red numbered flags – can expect on Saturday (21 September)…

Fence 1: The Cross Country App Flower Bed

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: The KBIS Table 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Supastuds Oxer 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4abc: Brookfield Bold Question 

A big table on a related distance to a corner, lettered bc

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6763-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There is also an alternative for the bc option of two separately lettered houses

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6764-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5: Blake Morgan Flyer 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6: Strawmax Straw Pellets Table 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6768-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7ab: Game Fair Combination 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6769-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6770-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: The Volare Way 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9ab: The Volare Landing 

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Alternative at 9a and b 

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Fence 10: Open Oxer 

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Fence 11abc: Voltaire Rollercoaster 

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Fence 12: Silverhand Escape 

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Fence 13ab: Water Edge Challenge 

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Fence 14: Water Edge Point 

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Alternative fence 14 

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Fence 15abcd: James Hallam Insurance Brokers Water Complex 

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Alternatives for fences 15bcd – all jumped in the opposite direction to the direct route 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 16: British Horse Society Canal Turn 

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Fence 17abcde: The Isuzu Challenger 

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Alternative for the cd elements – the route involves a 180-degree turn between the two elements 

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Fence 18: The Duke’s Table, sponsored by Estribos 

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Fence 19abc: The Subaru Quest 

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Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

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Alternative fence 19c 

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Fence 20: Bucas Leap of Faith 

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Fence 21: The Flower Meadow Picnic Table with Fortnum & Mason 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 22ab: Horslyx Balancer Offset Brushes 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 23: Suregrow Brush 

Blenheim Horse Trials cross-country 2024

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Fence 24ab: Karcher Solution 

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Fence 25: British Eventing Support Trust Finale 

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘A lot of head scratching’: riders share their thoughts on the Paris Olympics cross-country ]]> Competitors have been sharing their reactions after walking the 2024 Paris Olympics cross-country course, which is designed by French course-designer Pierre Le Goupil. So here is the lowdown on the fences on the Paris Olympics eventing cross-country course that the riders think are likely to determine who wins the Olympic eventing medals.

Check out every fence on the Olympic cross-country course

British pathfinder Tom McEwen echoes many rider’s sentiments in saying it is a “well-designed” and “beautiful” track.

“I think it’s a fantastic course. If I compare it to Tokyo, it’s slightly different with the ideas and questions, but I think it very cleverly opens you out,” he explains. “There’s galloping areas – it’s not just twisty – but I think at the end is when you’re going to slightly get caught out as there’s lots of twists and turns, not just fences.

“I see the optimum time being quite tight, and I think it will be intense to ride – I’d compare it to a nine-minute version of Luhmühlen.”

One fence that sticks out in Tom’s mind is the second water complex at fence 10 – The Vauban Citadel (pictured top).

“For me, I think it’s a big question. It’s a big jump in over the direct route and it’s at the highest point of the course,” he explains. “Then I think there’s a few different questions elsewhere and I think it will be an accumulation of effort for horses and riders. You could build the easiest course in the world, but it is the Olympics, and people will make some mistakes.”

Tom’s teammate and dressage leader Laura Collett says that there has been “a lot of head scratching” due to the number of combinations and options available.

“There’s a lot of options at fence 10 and we haven’t seen a shape of fence like the jump into the water before, plus it’s at the top of a long uphill pull,” she continues. “To be honest, I think it’s like any other cross-country course in that you’ve got to be on your A game from start to finish and you’re not home until you’ve gone through the finish flags.”

Ros Canter, who is anchor rider for the British team agrees with Laura in that “there’s plenty to jump”.

“The time is going to be a big factor and that’s where mistakes creep in. I’ve got a plan – I’m open to that plan changing, but I’m going to try and stay in my bubble,” she states.

Germany’s Michael Jung thinks the continued rain that the area has experienced over the past 24 hours will be “good for the ground”.

“When I first looked at the course a couple of days ago, I thought that the ground was maybe a bit hard in places,” he continues. “We have not much experience here, but my feeling is that cross-country will be amazing.”

Paris Olympics cross-country course: “It’s very clever”

Michael’s compatriot and reigning individual Olympic champion Julia Krajewski says that the course “shouldn’t be underestimated”.

“It’s very clever. I think if you ride forward and bravely and have an honest horse, you probably will do well,” she concludes.

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg was another to comment on the beautifully presented track, but with an interesting word of caution.

“It’s the prettiest course I have ever seen – I think it’s maybe a little bit too pretty and everyone feels comfortable. If a rider is on their line, maybe they’ll be lulled into forgetting how to ride a little bit,” he explains. “If you are not really focused and riding like it’s a cross-country, I think it will be tough.”

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor said to keep an eye out on ground conditions, owing to the heavy rain.

“The ground is getting soft and it’s certainly going to change the complexion of the competition – hopefully the blood horses will come to the fore,” he says. “Pierre Le Goupil is a very, very clever course designer – fair, but clever.

“It’s quite intense and it’s going to be quick, but you will need to have enough petrol. I think from seven minutes onwards it will be interesting with the riders that are having a real go. ”

Austin pinpoints fences 5abc and 7ab – The Ménagerie Pond and The Ulysees’ Companions – as jumps to look out for.

“The water at five will sort people out early on the course and fence seven, which is a step up to a rail, will either fill horses with confidence or suddenly have them thinking early on. I think from the word go, it’s all got to be respected,” he states.

element 7a on Paris cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Switzerland’s Robin Godel suggests that the time will be “difficult” to achieve and that people should keep an eye on the final water, The Etoile Royale Waters, at fence 23abcd.

“The angle is not so easy to ride at this fence and it comes after the eighth minute. We have to pay attention to the end and be on a good line and also, when the horse is a bit tired and long, we have to react and be ready.”

Jonelle Price, who is riding in her fourth Olympics for New Zealand, says that Pierre’s job as course designer for this Olympics is “not an easy brief”.

“Where you’ve got the world’s best combinations, but also some of the lesser nations as well – that can be tricky, but I think he’s done a really good job. There are some things we haven’t really seen before and Pierre has been creative. The dimensions are fair and you can make up some time in the third minute, but that’s about the only place you can on this course – during the second minute, I think there’s seven jumping efforts and it will be about minimising the damage to your time in those busy patches.”

You might also be interested in:

Pierre Le Goupil sits on a fence on the Paris Olympics cross-country course

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Chic, charming and fabulously French: the inside story on the Paris Olympic cross-country

Bridge fence

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘A track for brave riders and fast, reactive horses’: Paris Olympics cross-country course-designer on the challenge ahead

Paris Olympics cross-country course: fence

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

It’s time! First look at every fence on Paris Olympic cross-country course in Versailles

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(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/paris-olympics-cross-country-course-rider-thoughts-865553 7JnpregLJn4zyjZ1nBvNqx Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:19:49 +0000 false false false

Competitors have been sharing their reactions after walking the 2024 Paris Olympics cross-country course, which is designed by French course-designer Pierre Le Goupil. So here is the lowdown on the fences on the Paris Olympics eventing cross-country course that the riders think are likely to determine who wins the Olympic eventing medals.

Check out every fence on the Olympic cross-country course

British pathfinder Tom McEwen echoes many rider’s sentiments in saying it is a “well-designed” and “beautiful” track.

“I think it’s a fantastic course. If I compare it to Tokyo, it’s slightly different with the ideas and questions, but I think it very cleverly opens you out,” he explains. “There’s galloping areas – it’s not just twisty – but I think at the end is when you’re going to slightly get caught out as there’s lots of twists and turns, not just fences.

“I see the optimum time being quite tight, and I think it will be intense to ride – I’d compare it to a nine-minute version of Luhmühlen.”

One fence that sticks out in Tom’s mind is the second water complex at fence 10 – The Vauban Citadel (pictured top).

“For me, I think it’s a big question. It’s a big jump in over the direct route and it’s at the highest point of the course,” he explains. “Then I think there’s a few different questions elsewhere and I think it will be an accumulation of effort for horses and riders. You could build the easiest course in the world, but it is the Olympics, and people will make some mistakes.”

Tom’s teammate and dressage leader Laura Collett says that there has been “a lot of head scratching” due to the number of combinations and options available.

“There’s a lot of options at fence 10 and we haven’t seen a shape of fence like the jump into the water before, plus it’s at the top of a long uphill pull,” she continues. “To be honest, I think it’s like any other cross-country course in that you’ve got to be on your A game from start to finish and you’re not home until you’ve gone through the finish flags.”

Ros Canter, who is anchor rider for the British team agrees with Laura in that “there’s plenty to jump”.

“The time is going to be a big factor and that’s where mistakes creep in. I’ve got a plan – I’m open to that plan changing, but I’m going to try and stay in my bubble,” she states.

Germany’s Michael Jung thinks the continued rain that the area has experienced over the past 24 hours will be “good for the ground”.

“When I first looked at the course a couple of days ago, I thought that the ground was maybe a bit hard in places,” he continues. “We have not much experience here, but my feeling is that cross-country will be amazing.”

Paris Olympics cross-country course: “It’s very clever”

Michael’s compatriot and reigning individual Olympic champion Julia Krajewski says that the course “shouldn’t be underestimated”.

“It’s very clever. I think if you ride forward and bravely and have an honest horse, you probably will do well,” she concludes.

Switzerland’s Felix Vogg was another to comment on the beautifully presented track, but with an interesting word of caution.

“It’s the prettiest course I have ever seen – I think it’s maybe a little bit too pretty and everyone feels comfortable. If a rider is on their line, maybe they’ll be lulled into forgetting how to ride a little bit,” he explains. “If you are not really focused and riding like it’s a cross-country, I think it will be tough.”

Ireland’s Austin O’Connor said to keep an eye out on ground conditions, owing to the heavy rain.

“The ground is getting soft and it’s certainly going to change the complexion of the competition – hopefully the blood horses will come to the fore,” he says. “Pierre Le Goupil is a very, very clever course designer – fair, but clever.

“It’s quite intense and it’s going to be quick, but you will need to have enough petrol. I think from seven minutes onwards it will be interesting with the riders that are having a real go. ”

Austin pinpoints fences 5abc and 7ab – The Ménagerie Pond and The Ulysees’ Companions – as jumps to look out for.

“The water at five will sort people out early on the course and fence seven, which is a step up to a rail, will either fill horses with confidence or suddenly have them thinking early on. I think from the word go, it’s all got to be respected,” he states.

element 7a on Paris cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Switzerland’s Robin Godel suggests that the time will be “difficult” to achieve and that people should keep an eye on the final water, The Etoile Royale Waters, at fence 23abcd.

“The angle is not so easy to ride at this fence and it comes after the eighth minute. We have to pay attention to the end and be on a good line and also, when the horse is a bit tired and long, we have to react and be ready.”

Jonelle Price, who is riding in her fourth Olympics for New Zealand, says that Pierre’s job as course designer for this Olympics is “not an easy brief”.

“Where you’ve got the world’s best combinations, but also some of the lesser nations as well – that can be tricky, but I think he’s done a really good job. There are some things we haven’t really seen before and Pierre has been creative. The dimensions are fair and you can make up some time in the third minute, but that’s about the only place you can on this course – during the second minute, I think there’s seven jumping efforts and it will be about minimising the damage to your time in those busy patches.”

You might also be interested in:

Pierre Le Goupil sits on a fence on the Paris Olympics cross-country course

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Chic, charming and fabulously French: the inside story on the Paris Olympic cross-country

Bridge fence

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‘A track for brave riders and fast, reactive horses’: Paris Olympics cross-country course-designer on the challenge ahead

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(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

It’s time! First look at every fence on Paris Olympic cross-country course in Versailles

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘A great day for the sport’: course-designer Eric Winter’s thoughts on Badminton’s cross-country phase ]]> Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course-designer Eric Winter, who first designed this track in 2017, describes yesterday’s competition day as “fun” and says that his course was “about control” when speaking to H&H.

“If riders had a horse that didn’t go to the contact and ran through, it was difficult to jump the fences, but if you had a horse that was on rails and well trained, then you were good,” he explains. “Nothing really surprised me and it all jumped well.”

When asked whether any particular fences stood out with regards to how they rode, Eric pinpointed fence 18, the final part of the Mars Sustainability Bay.

“I wish more had taken the straight way at the log [fence 18],” he says. “Seven or eight jumped it, one had a stop – but he’d already had a stop earlier on on course – and all the others jumped it quite well.

Badminton final scores

“If more had jumped it, it would have brought another level [of competition] in but it didn’t matter as at the end of the day – if they did a circle, they didn’t make the time. Most did a circle and most of the really top boys finished four or five seconds outside the optimum time so it made a competition of it. It was a great day for the sport.”

Eric states that Irish riders Sarah Ennis, who is currently fifth with Grantstown Jackson and, and five-star first-timer Lucy Latta, who is third with RCA Patron Saint, particularly impressed him on Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day.

“They were phenomenal. I thought they really went out there, caught hold and rode it. Lucy has come all the way from 44th after the dressage to third and that to me is to me what Badminton is all about – if you’ve got the best cross-country horse in world come to Badminton.

“It’s not all about the old fantastic, phenomenal foreign dressage horses – if you’ve got something that really gallops and really can move up then the opportunity is there and the opportunity for sure was there yesterday.”

Eric also picks out some good rounds by the “older guys” too.

“William Fox-Pitt rode at his best – it melted the years away yesterday. Tim [Price] was phenomenal too, but also there were some outstanding rides from the younger people.”

Eric suggests other names to watch for the future.

“Some horses became green, like Pippa’s horse [Funnell, MCS Maverick] and Izilot DHI [Ros Canter]. They are great horses for the future, but they just need to be exposed this sort of atmosphere and that’s about mileage.”

In terms of Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day statistics, there were four rider falls, no horse falls, 50% jumped clear and there was a 66% completion rate. No-one made the time.

“I always want a 50% clear rate as that says to me lots of things have happened,” states Eric. “When people come and stand at a fence, they have a good chance of seeing three or four jump the fence really well and they see one person do something, break a clip or something.

“It was a good day for MIM clips yesterday – we had some incidents where they really saved horses and that’s such a move forward for the sport.”

The ground was a topic of much discussion before the cross-country and Eric was happy the sun put in an appearance.

“We were exceptionally lucky with the weather,” says Eric, referring to the fact that Badminton has been bathed in glorious sunshine for the duration of the event. “Alan Willis, father of the Willis brothers who are the course builders here, said to me last night that if you had to pick one week in the past 10 months to run a horse trials, this was the week.

“The ground got better and faster all the way through and it was a fantastic competition. Good weather brings everybody out – I think after last year it was nice to have a bit of good weather and have that sort of festival atmosphere – it was fantastic.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Badminton cross-country course

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-designer-eric-winter-reflects-2024-858571 ied93NTo5EpdNvXpSM4Dnn Sun, 12 May 2024 12:50:21 +0000 false false false

Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course-designer Eric Winter, who first designed this track in 2017, describes yesterday’s competition day as “fun” and says that his course was “about control” when speaking to H&H.

“If riders had a horse that didn’t go to the contact and ran through, it was difficult to jump the fences, but if you had a horse that was on rails and well trained, then you were good,” he explains. “Nothing really surprised me and it all jumped well.”

When asked whether any particular fences stood out with regards to how they rode, Eric pinpointed fence 18, the final part of the Mars Sustainability Bay.

“I wish more had taken the straight way at the log [fence 18],” he says. “Seven or eight jumped it, one had a stop – but he’d already had a stop earlier on on course – and all the others jumped it quite well.

Badminton final scores

“If more had jumped it, it would have brought another level [of competition] in but it didn’t matter as at the end of the day – if they did a circle, they didn’t make the time. Most did a circle and most of the really top boys finished four or five seconds outside the optimum time so it made a competition of it. It was a great day for the sport.”

Eric states that Irish riders Sarah Ennis, who is currently fifth with Grantstown Jackson and, and five-star first-timer Lucy Latta, who is third with RCA Patron Saint, particularly impressed him on Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day.

“They were phenomenal. I thought they really went out there, caught hold and rode it. Lucy has come all the way from 44th after the dressage to third and that to me is to me what Badminton is all about – if you’ve got the best cross-country horse in world come to Badminton.

“It’s not all about the old fantastic, phenomenal foreign dressage horses – if you’ve got something that really gallops and really can move up then the opportunity is there and the opportunity for sure was there yesterday.”

Eric also picks out some good rounds by the “older guys” too.

“William Fox-Pitt rode at his best – it melted the years away yesterday. Tim [Price] was phenomenal too, but also there were some outstanding rides from the younger people.”

Eric suggests other names to watch for the future.

“Some horses became green, like Pippa’s horse [Funnell, MCS Maverick] and Izilot DHI [Ros Canter]. They are great horses for the future, but they just need to be exposed this sort of atmosphere and that’s about mileage.”

In terms of Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day statistics, there were four rider falls, no horse falls, 50% jumped clear and there was a 66% completion rate. No-one made the time.

“I always want a 50% clear rate as that says to me lots of things have happened,” states Eric. “When people come and stand at a fence, they have a good chance of seeing three or four jump the fence really well and they see one person do something, break a clip or something.

“It was a good day for MIM clips yesterday – we had some incidents where they really saved horses and that’s such a move forward for the sport.”

The ground was a topic of much discussion before the cross-country and Eric was happy the sun put in an appearance.

“We were exceptionally lucky with the weather,” says Eric, referring to the fact that Badminton has been bathed in glorious sunshine for the duration of the event. “Alan Willis, father of the Willis brothers who are the course builders here, said to me last night that if you had to pick one week in the past 10 months to run a horse trials, this was the week.

“The ground got better and faster all the way through and it was a fantastic competition. Good weather brings everybody out – I think after last year it was nice to have a bit of good weather and have that sort of festival atmosphere – it was fantastic.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

You may also be interested in…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Badminton cross-country course

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘It’s very clever’ and ‘you’ll need a nimble horse’: riders’ thoughts on the 2024 Badminton cross-country course

Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘It’s very clever’ and ‘you’ll need a nimble horse’: riders’ thoughts on the 2024 Badminton cross-country course ]]> Competitors have been sharing their initial reactions after a first look at the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter (8–12 May).

Following a particularly wet winter in the UK, the sun is now shining relentlessly over the park at Badminton, and, alongside their thoughts on the fences, riders have also discussed how the ground will ride with these drying conditions.

Top British rider Pippa Funnell, who is seventh to go with Majas Hope, said “it’s beautifully presented and very clever”.

“There are lots of questions all the way through and we’ll be glad to get through Huntsman’s Close – it’s a tough ask early on,” said Pippa. “Then the same applies at The Lake and the Vicarage Ditch area is very intense – it seems like we are in that area for a much longer period of time compared to previous years.”

Badminton final scores

Pippa continued: “There are plenty of big drops, and if I’m honest, the fence I really don’t like is the log coming out of the water at the MARS Equestrian Sustainability Bay [fences 17AB and 18] – it’s an ugly thing and horses can’t see it until the last second.”

Rear view of fence 18

The angle on the final part of fence 17AB and 18 coming out of the water. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom Rowland agreed with Pippa, commenting there are “a lot more skinnies” than in previous years and “some really very, very tight acute turns, including coming out of fences 17 and 18”.

“You will need a really nimble horse, including at Huntsman’s Close,” said Tom, who has two rides this week in Dreamliner and KND Steel Pulse.

Irish rider Sam Watson, who is riding SAP Talisman, says that this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course “offers more chance of run outs than Eric normally builds”.

“It has all his normal features of slowing you down, using terrain, every lump and bump, but I’ve never known the Vicarage Vee (and there’s pretty much two of them) to be fence 25 on course,” continued Sam. “I don’t think it has ever been so close to the finish line.

“So it’s going to be interesting to see how horses are at that stage because the ground is dead, there’s a lot of jumping to do and a lot of concentration required – horses and riders are going to have to hold it all the way to the end.”

Young British rider Alice Casburn, who is riding Topspin, agreed saying: “I got brain ache walking the course.”

Alice’s mother Caroline Casburn (née Sizer) previously rode at five-star level and Alice commented: “Mum said if you put one of these questions in a four-star track, it would ride well, but the difference at this level is that there is an accumulation of effort with big fence after big fence.”

Australia’s Bill Levett was more relaxed about this year’s Badminton cross-country course. He said he believes it is “softer than previous years”.

“I think it allows you to get your lines better and it’s one of Eric’s better tracks. There are plenty of long routes too, so if you’re riding a first-timer, there’s a way over most of the combinations and opportunities to regain confidence.”

Ground conditions have also been a talking point, with the drying weather following a particularly wet winter.

Kylie Roddy said: “I truly believe that the ground is going to be a massive influencing factor. There is some softer going out there at the moment, which could become sticky.”

She continued by discussing the temperature forecast on Saturday when cross-country day rolls around.

“I think at the moment we’ve got 23 degree heat on Saturday. When you think about the winter these horses have had, they’ve probably not even galloped in temperatures near to that, so there’ll be a fatigue factor that kicks in and it’ll be a case of competitors riding efficient lines – I think that will pay dividends on Saturday.”

Sam Watson agreed saying: “That’s when sitting on a real blood horse will give you some confidence.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

You may also be interested in…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Badminton cross-country course

Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Nicola Wilson walks the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for Horse & Hound

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Nicola Wilson analyses key fences on Badminton cross-country course: ‘A lot to get their teeth into’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-rider-reactions-2024-858138 mPUnG2B4PizqrU8DhpU7px Thu, 09 May 2024 18:22:56 +0000 false false false

Competitors have been sharing their initial reactions after a first look at the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter (8–12 May).

Following a particularly wet winter in the UK, the sun is now shining relentlessly over the park at Badminton, and, alongside their thoughts on the fences, riders have also discussed how the ground will ride with these drying conditions.

Top British rider Pippa Funnell, who is seventh to go with Majas Hope, said “it’s beautifully presented and very clever”.

“There are lots of questions all the way through and we’ll be glad to get through Huntsman’s Close – it’s a tough ask early on,” said Pippa. “Then the same applies at The Lake and the Vicarage Ditch area is very intense – it seems like we are in that area for a much longer period of time compared to previous years.”

Badminton final scores

Pippa continued: “There are plenty of big drops, and if I’m honest, the fence I really don’t like is the log coming out of the water at the MARS Equestrian Sustainability Bay [fences 17AB and 18] – it’s an ugly thing and horses can’t see it until the last second.”

Rear view of fence 18

The angle on the final part of fence 17AB and 18 coming out of the water. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom Rowland agreed with Pippa, commenting there are “a lot more skinnies” than in previous years and “some really very, very tight acute turns, including coming out of fences 17 and 18”.

“You will need a really nimble horse, including at Huntsman’s Close,” said Tom, who has two rides this week in Dreamliner and KND Steel Pulse.

Irish rider Sam Watson, who is riding SAP Talisman, says that this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course “offers more chance of run outs than Eric normally builds”.

“It has all his normal features of slowing you down, using terrain, every lump and bump, but I’ve never known the Vicarage Vee (and there’s pretty much two of them) to be fence 25 on course,” continued Sam. “I don’t think it has ever been so close to the finish line.

“So it’s going to be interesting to see how horses are at that stage because the ground is dead, there’s a lot of jumping to do and a lot of concentration required – horses and riders are going to have to hold it all the way to the end.”

Young British rider Alice Casburn, who is riding Topspin, agreed saying: “I got brain ache walking the course.”

Alice’s mother Caroline Casburn (née Sizer) previously rode at five-star level and Alice commented: “Mum said if you put one of these questions in a four-star track, it would ride well, but the difference at this level is that there is an accumulation of effort with big fence after big fence.”

Australia’s Bill Levett was more relaxed about this year’s Badminton cross-country course. He said he believes it is “softer than previous years”.

“I think it allows you to get your lines better and it’s one of Eric’s better tracks. There are plenty of long routes too, so if you’re riding a first-timer, there’s a way over most of the combinations and opportunities to regain confidence.”

Ground conditions have also been a talking point, with the drying weather following a particularly wet winter.

Kylie Roddy said: “I truly believe that the ground is going to be a massive influencing factor. There is some softer going out there at the moment, which could become sticky.”

She continued by discussing the temperature forecast on Saturday when cross-country day rolls around.

“I think at the moment we’ve got 23 degree heat on Saturday. When you think about the winter these horses have had, they’ve probably not even galloped in temperatures near to that, so there’ll be a fatigue factor that kicks in and it’ll be a case of competitors riding efficient lines – I think that will pay dividends on Saturday.”

Sam Watson agreed saying: “That’s when sitting on a real blood horse will give you some confidence.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

You may also be interested in…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Badminton cross-country course

Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Nicola Wilson walks the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for Horse & Hound

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Nicola Wilson analyses key fences on Badminton cross-country course: ‘A lot to get their teeth into’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump this? Take a virtual walk of the 2024 Badminton cross-country course ]]> With competition about to get underway at the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Saturday 11 May.

The course is approximately 6,450m in length and has an optimum time of 11min19sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2024

Start box

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. Spillers Starter

Badminton final scores

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

2. The 75th anniversary Haywain

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

3. The Tortworth Brush Mound

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4AB & 5. HorseQuest Quarry Feeders – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side feeder at fence 4A and B

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6AB. Bloomfields Brush Boxes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

7ABCD. Voltaire Designs Huntsman’s Close

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7ABC

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Watch Nicola Wilson assess this combination

8. Pedigree Kennel

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

9. Lightsource bp Log

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10ABCD. MARS Badminton Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route for 10ABCD – everyone must jump the corner in The Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Find out what Nicola Wilson thinks about this year’s Badminton lake question

11. World Horse Welfare Waterfall

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

12. Joules Tables – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

13. KBIS Broken Bridge

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

14. BEF Fund Triple Bar

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15ABC. LeMieux Eyelash Brushes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3519-scaled-e1715195218993.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15ABC

IMG_3518-scaled-e1715195288515.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Nicola Wilson shares her thoughts on fence 15

16. Countryside Brush Oxer

16

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17AB & 18. Mars Sustainability Bay – direct route jumping the left-hand rail or the alternative route is to jump the right-hand rail

17a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

View looking back from the final element of fences 17 and 18

Rear view of fence 18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 17B

Alternative 17b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

19. Somerset Open Ditch

19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Side view of 19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20ABC. INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road

Fence 20a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 20A and C – every combination must jump up the step

Alternative 20

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 20c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

21. Agria Silver Birch Rails – riders can opt to jump either the left- or right-hand side rail

21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

22 & 23. Rolex Grand Slam Rails – direct route is to jump the open ditch rail on the right. The alternative route is to jump the ditch to the left and then turn right to jump the plain rail

IMG_3541-scaled-e1715195906816.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3542-scaled-e1715195930147.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

24 & 25. Holland Cooper Vicarage V

IMG_3545-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 24 and 25 is to jump an open ditch followed by a brush

IMG_3546-scaled-e1715195999802.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

26ABCD Lightsource bp Mound

IMG_3547-scaled-e1715196052826.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3548-scaled-e1715196087333.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3549-scaled-e1715196130529.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3550-scaled-e1715196155597.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route for fence 26BCD – every combination must jump down the drop

IMG_3551-scaled-e1715196183621.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3552-scaled-e1715196235416.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3553-scaled-e1715196264540.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

27AB. Wiltshire Brewers’ Drays

IMG_3554-scaled-e1715196293892.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 27AB

IMG_3555-scaled-e1715196318750.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3556-scaled-e1715196353603.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

28ABC. Worcester Avenue Brushes

IMG_3557-scaled-e1715196373139.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3558-scaled-e1715196395596.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3559-scaled-e1715196415722.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

29. Sound Gates

IMG_3562-scaled-e1715196458140.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 29

IMG_3563-scaled-e1715196518176.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

30ABC. Savills Keeper’s Curve

IMG_3564-scaled-e1715196534511.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3565-scaled-e1715196562629.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 30BC

IMG_3566-scaled-e1715196588561.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3567-scaled-e1715196615817.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

31. Rolex Brush Roll

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

32. Mars M

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

You may also be interested in…

Nicola Wilson walks the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for Horse & Hound

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Nicola Wilson analyses key fences on Badminton cross-country course: ‘A lot to get their teeth into’

Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/2024-badminton-cross-country-course-pictures-857692 nu6NwCMuceJA2Fv8CYrJZe Wed, 08 May 2024 20:47:55 +0000 false false false

With competition about to get underway at the 2024 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Saturday 11 May.

The course is approximately 6,450m in length and has an optimum time of 11min19sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2024

Start box

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. Spillers Starter

Badminton final scores

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

2. The 75th anniversary Haywain

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

3. The Tortworth Brush Mound

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4AB & 5. HorseQuest Quarry Feeders – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side feeder at fence 4A and B

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6AB. Bloomfields Brush Boxes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

7ABCD. Voltaire Designs Huntsman’s Close

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7ABC

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Watch Nicola Wilson assess this combination

8. Pedigree Kennel

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

9. Lightsource bp Log

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10ABCD. MARS Badminton Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route for 10ABCD – everyone must jump the corner in The Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Find out what Nicola Wilson thinks about this year’s Badminton lake question

11. World Horse Welfare Waterfall

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

12. Joules Tables – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

13. KBIS Broken Bridge

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

14. BEF Fund Triple Bar

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15ABC. LeMieux Eyelash Brushes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3519-scaled-e1715195218993.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15ABC

IMG_3518-scaled-e1715195288515.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Nicola Wilson shares her thoughts on fence 15

16. Countryside Brush Oxer

16

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17AB & 18. Mars Sustainability Bay – direct route jumping the left-hand rail or the alternative route is to jump the right-hand rail

17a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

View looking back from the final element of fences 17 and 18

Rear view of fence 18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 17B

Alternative 17b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

19. Somerset Open Ditch

19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Side view of 19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20ABC. INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road

Fence 20a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 20A and C – every combination must jump up the step

Alternative 20

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 20c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

21. Agria Silver Birch Rails – riders can opt to jump either the left- or right-hand side rail

21

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

22 & 23. Rolex Grand Slam Rails – direct route is to jump the open ditch rail on the right. The alternative route is to jump the ditch to the left and then turn right to jump the plain rail

IMG_3541-scaled-e1715195906816.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3542-scaled-e1715195930147.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

24 & 25. Holland Cooper Vicarage V

IMG_3545-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 24 and 25 is to jump an open ditch followed by a brush

IMG_3546-scaled-e1715195999802.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

26ABCD Lightsource bp Mound

IMG_3547-scaled-e1715196052826.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3548-scaled-e1715196087333.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3549-scaled-e1715196130529.jpeg

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Alternative route for fence 26BCD – every combination must jump down the drop

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27AB. Wiltshire Brewers’ Drays

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Alternative 27AB

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28ABC. Worcester Avenue Brushes

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29. Sound Gates

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Alternative 29

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30ABC. Savills Keeper’s Curve

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Alternative 30BC

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31. Rolex Brush Roll

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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32. Mars M

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…

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 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.

You may also be interested in…

Nicola Wilson walks the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for Horse & Hound

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Nicola Wilson analyses key fences on Badminton cross-country course: ‘A lot to get their teeth into’

Fence 30abc, the Savills Keeper’s Curve, on the Badminton 2024 cross-country course.

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pictures of Nicola Wilson walking the Badminton cross-country course

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump that? See the fences Ros Canter, Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell will tackle at Pau five-star ]]> Les Étoiles de Pau CCI5*, the final five-star competition of the eventing season, begins today (26 October). Pierre Michelet’ 2023 Pau Horse Trials cross-country course features 31 fences over a distance of 6,322m.

The optimum time is 11 minutes six seconds.

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence by fence

Fence 1: Maison du Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Pictured the first fence of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 2: Brouette de le Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pictured the fence two of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 3: Bergerie Centaure Event

Fence 3

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Fence 4ab: Contrebas & pointe des Cafés San Marco

Fence 4a

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Fence 4a alt view

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Fence 4b

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 5: Mur de pierre

Pictured fence five of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 6ab: Stères

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6a

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6b

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Alternative fence 6ab: long route

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6a alternative

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6b alternative

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Fence 7ab: Gué de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées Cygne & pointe

Pictured fence 7a of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 7b

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Alternative fence b: long route

Fence 7b alt

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Fence 8: Barrière blanche Loc Expo

Fence 8

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Fence 9abc: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénéese: oxer de haie, contru-haut, & haie

Fence 9a

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Fence 9b

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Fence 9c

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Fence 10: Oxer de haie

Pictured fence 10 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 11ab: Tronc & brush Loc Expo

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Fence 11a: side view

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 12: Palois de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 13ab: Oxer & pointe des bénévoles 5 Etoiles

Pictured fence 13 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 14: Palombière

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Fence 14: side view

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Fence 15: Trakehnen

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Fence 16: Haie de laurier

Pictured fence 16 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 17ab: Bille de bois & haie delta

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Fence 17a: side view

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Fence 18abc: Delta/fossé/bille de chêne Equi-Thème

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Fence 19: Brook mims sur fossé

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Fence 20ab: Gué Clear Channel: tronc & triple brush

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 21: Triple Brush

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Alternative fence 21: long route

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Fence 22: Maison béarnaise

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Fence 23: Pointe

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 23

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Fence 24ab: Gué Forestier: tronc/cygne

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Fence 25: Tronc Forestier

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 25

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Fence 26: Champignons de la Ville de Pau

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 26

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Fence 27: Vertical de la Sorcière

Pictured fence 27 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 28abcd: Bull finch du Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne, triple brush du Crédit, Haie du Crédit

Pictured fence 28a of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Alternative fence 28abcd: long route

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 29: Tonneaux de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pictured fence 29 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 30ab: Maisons béarnaises Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 31: Bull Finch 5 Etoiles de Pau

Pictured the final fence of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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The trot-up gets underway at 10am (9am BST) today, with the dressage starting at 2.30pm (1.30pm) BST. The second day of dressage takes place on Friday (27 October), and riders tackle the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course on Saturday (28 October), before the winner is decided during the showjumping on Sunday (29 October).

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Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Quality cross-country at Pau Horse Trials in 2024

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

Tom McEwen leans down to kiss Toledo De Kerser on the neck after winning Pau five-star in 2019.

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Previous winners of Pau Horse Trials: Olympic medallists, the sire of a five-star horse and a French female first

Pau Horse Trials entries: Izilot DHI will head to Pau

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

World number one, riders out to make amends and five-star first-timers among large entry for Pau

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/pau-horse-trials-cross-country-course-2023-841605 k1gmun7AbwqUcXrAnG9NK8 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:51:15 +0000 false false false

Les Étoiles de Pau CCI5*, the final five-star competition of the eventing season, begins today (26 October). Pierre Michelet’ 2023 Pau Horse Trials cross-country course features 31 fences over a distance of 6,322m.

The optimum time is 11 minutes six seconds.

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence by fence

Fence 1: Maison du Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Pictured the first fence of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Brouette de le Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pictured the fence two of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Bergerie Centaure Event

Fence 3

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Fence 4ab: Contrebas & pointe des Cafés San Marco

Fence 4a

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Fence 4a alt view

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Fence 4b

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Alternative fence b: long route

Fence 4b alt route

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Fence 5: Mur de pierre

Pictured fence five of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 6ab: Stères

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6a

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6b

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Alternative fence 6ab: long route

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6a alternative

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 6b alternative

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Fence 7ab: Gué de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées Cygne & pointe

Pictured fence 7a of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 7b

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 8: Barrière blanche Loc Expo

Fence 8

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Fence 9abc: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénéese: oxer de haie, contru-haut, & haie

Fence 9a

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Fence 9b

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Fence 9c

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Fence 10: Oxer de haie

Pictured fence 10 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 11ab: Tronc & brush Loc Expo

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Fence 11a: side view

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 12: Palois de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 13ab: Oxer & pointe des bénévoles 5 Etoiles

Pictured fence 13 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 14: Palombière

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Fence 14: side view

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Fence 15: Trakehnen

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Fence 16: Haie de laurier

Pictured fence 16 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 17ab: Bille de bois & haie delta

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Fence 17a: side view

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Fence 18abc: Delta/fossé/bille de chêne Equi-Thème

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Fence 19: Brook mims sur fossé

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Fence 20ab: Gué Clear Channel: tronc & triple brush

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Alternative fence b: long route

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Fence 21: Triple Brush

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Alternative fence 21: long route

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Fence 22: Maison béarnaise

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Fence 23: Pointe

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 23

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Fence 24ab: Gué Forestier: tronc/cygne

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Fence 25: Tronc Forestier

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 25

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Fence 26: Champignons de la Ville de Pau

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course fence 26

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Fence 27: Vertical de la Sorcière

Pictured fence 27 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 28abcd: Bull finch du Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne, triple brush du Crédit, Haie du Crédit

Pictured fence 28a of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Alternative fence 28abcd: long route

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Pau Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 29: Tonneaux de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Pictured fence 29 of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

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Fence 30ab: Maisons béarnaises Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 31: Bull Finch 5 Etoiles de Pau

Pictured the final fence of Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The trot-up gets underway at 10am (9am BST) today, with the dressage starting at 2.30pm (1.30pm) BST. The second day of dressage takes place on Friday (27 October), and riders tackle the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course on Saturday (28 October), before the winner is decided during the showjumping on Sunday (29 October).

You might also be interested in:

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Quality cross-country at Pau Horse Trials in 2024

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

Tom McEwen leans down to kiss Toledo De Kerser on the neck after winning Pau five-star in 2019.

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Previous winners of Pau Horse Trials: Olympic medallists, the sire of a five-star horse and a French female first

Pau Horse Trials entries: Izilot DHI will head to Pau

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

World number one, riders out to make amends and five-star first-timers among large entry for Pau

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Becky Murray)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Want to ride clear cross-country more often? Check out this new research… ]]> Factors associated with successful cross-country completion have been identified in a new study, and could have implications for minimum eligibility requirements (MERs).

Researchers behind three of the largest eventing safety studies have published a paper looking at the factors associated with the safe completion of FEI cross-country courses. The study, published last week in the Equine Veterinary Journal, aimed to understand which factors contribute to increased or reduced odds of a horse and rider combination jumping clear in the cross-country phase, by analysing 107,348 horse starts at FEI competitions between 2008 and 2018.

The work involved two research models; the first looked at horse starts from their first FEI competition to the end of the study period, the second used horse starts from those who were stepping up a level.

Of the 107,348 cross-country starts, 76,883 (71.6%) were clear rounds. From the data the researchers identified 16 factors – 14 in the stepping-up model – “significantly associated with the odds of running clear”. These included that each increase in event level compared to a one-star level was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of a combination jumping clear, men were at increased odds of going clear than women, and younger riders were more likely to go clear than those aged 51 or over. Riders whose previous FEI competition was within the previous seven days, horses who went clear in their previous three starts and combinations who had a better performance in the dressage phase were also associated with being more likely to go clear. Dressage scores in eventing have been highlighted previously by the research team, who identified that combinations that scored a higher number of penalties in dressage were more likely to have a horse fall than those who scored lower (news, 30 March).

Lead author Euan Bennet of the University of Glasgow told H&H there is a link between safety and jumping clear, and a potential benefit of identifying factors associated with successful cross-country completion is that these may be embraced “more readily by riders”, compared to factors associated with falls.

“We have done a lot of work on things like falls, and we thought it might be nice to look at something a bit more positive. Every competitor wants to ‘succeed’ but most will not necessarily think about ‘how not to fall’, although the two outcomes are closely linked,” he said, adding that similar research has been carried out in endurance and racing.

“We are very confident with the research we’ve done that there is a link between horse welfare, safety, and performance; those three are completely, inextricably linked. So we were trying to maintain that view, and not just focus on ‘here’s what you need to compete’.”

Dr Bennet added that the team believe the findings could feed into MER criteria.

“There’s definitely an influence of current form of horses in this, and we found the same for athletes, and this really has implications for potentially adding some evidence-based decisions into the minimum eligibility requirements,” he said.

“Some of the MERs can be quite restrictive if an event is cancelled due to the weather for example, so there might be an appetite within the industry to change the MER system, and these results here could feed into that. With the various studies we’ve done we’re identifying the areas for risk (such as risk factors for cross-country falls and fence and course-design related risk factors for cross-country falls), but now we’re also identifying areas for success, and that all can feed into a picture that can help secure the sports future in terms of strengthening the social licence.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H that a meeting with the researchers has been agreed for October to discuss the study.

Read the full study

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LO9B9701.jpg

(Image credit: Helen Revington)

‘We want to make eventing as safe as possible’: researchers’ calls to governing bodies to act

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Eventers with poor dressage scores could be blocked from cross-country, as 16 horse fall risk factors identified

cross-country falls

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Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls

Eventing safety has come under further discussion following new published research

(Image credit: Helen Revington)

Risk profiles for cross-country courses could be on the cards thanks to new research

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Helen Revington)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/new-jumping-clear-cross-country-research-838353 sHX5RaiJCkbVUTPeXpWDHV Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:52:28 +0000 false false false

Factors associated with successful cross-country completion have been identified in a new study, and could have implications for minimum eligibility requirements (MERs).

Researchers behind three of the largest eventing safety studies have published a paper looking at the factors associated with the safe completion of FEI cross-country courses. The study, published last week in the Equine Veterinary Journal, aimed to understand which factors contribute to increased or reduced odds of a horse and rider combination jumping clear in the cross-country phase, by analysing 107,348 horse starts at FEI competitions between 2008 and 2018.

The work involved two research models; the first looked at horse starts from their first FEI competition to the end of the study period, the second used horse starts from those who were stepping up a level.

Of the 107,348 cross-country starts, 76,883 (71.6%) were clear rounds. From the data the researchers identified 16 factors – 14 in the stepping-up model – “significantly associated with the odds of running clear”. These included that each increase in event level compared to a one-star level was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of a combination jumping clear, men were at increased odds of going clear than women, and younger riders were more likely to go clear than those aged 51 or over. Riders whose previous FEI competition was within the previous seven days, horses who went clear in their previous three starts and combinations who had a better performance in the dressage phase were also associated with being more likely to go clear. Dressage scores in eventing have been highlighted previously by the research team, who identified that combinations that scored a higher number of penalties in dressage were more likely to have a horse fall than those who scored lower (news, 30 March).

Lead author Euan Bennet of the University of Glasgow told H&H there is a link between safety and jumping clear, and a potential benefit of identifying factors associated with successful cross-country completion is that these may be embraced “more readily by riders”, compared to factors associated with falls.

“We have done a lot of work on things like falls, and we thought it might be nice to look at something a bit more positive. Every competitor wants to ‘succeed’ but most will not necessarily think about ‘how not to fall’, although the two outcomes are closely linked,” he said, adding that similar research has been carried out in endurance and racing.

“We are very confident with the research we’ve done that there is a link between horse welfare, safety, and performance; those three are completely, inextricably linked. So we were trying to maintain that view, and not just focus on ‘here’s what you need to compete’.”

Dr Bennet added that the team believe the findings could feed into MER criteria.

“There’s definitely an influence of current form of horses in this, and we found the same for athletes, and this really has implications for potentially adding some evidence-based decisions into the minimum eligibility requirements,” he said.

“Some of the MERs can be quite restrictive if an event is cancelled due to the weather for example, so there might be an appetite within the industry to change the MER system, and these results here could feed into that. With the various studies we’ve done we’re identifying the areas for risk (such as risk factors for cross-country falls and fence and course-design related risk factors for cross-country falls), but now we’re also identifying areas for success, and that all can feed into a picture that can help secure the sports future in terms of strengthening the social licence.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H that a meeting with the researchers has been agreed for October to discuss the study.

Read the full study

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘Various people have tried to talk me out of it’: Ian Stark plans his ‘semi-retirement’ ]]> Eventing legend, multi-medallist and three-time Badminton winner Ian Stark has confirmed he will step down from designing cross-country courses at the end of 2024 following his 70th birthday.

Ian started course-designing in 2005 at Chatsworth. He was behind the 2015 European Eventing Championships track at Blair Castle, and today designs for top events including Bramham, Chatsworth, and Maryland five-star in the US.

Ian, who turns 70 in February, told H&H he had always intended to retire from cross-country design at the end of 2024 owing to the former FEI age-limit that meant officials had to retire aged 70. However the rules changed in 2019 and there is no longer a limit.

“I’d always planned [to stop at] the end of next year, and I’ve decided to stick with it,” he said, adding that the 2024 Maryland five-star at Fair Hill will be his final event as a course-designer.

“It is tempting to go on, but I’ve always had it in my head. I’m a bit like that in my life and career where I have aims and goals, make decisions and I stick with them. I’m probably a bit bloody-minded when it comes to it, and various people have tried to talk me out of it, but that’s not going to happen.

“I’ve had a great time with all my eventing, course-designing, all the other bits and bobs from the racing world and commentating; I’ve had a pretty good go of it all. I think I should go out when people still want me, than to be still hanging around when they want rid of me!”

Ian, who is also contracted to coach the US eventing squad to the end of 2024 – with Paris the primary focus – plans a “semi-retirement”.

“I’ll do a bit of coaching, but not to the same level that I’m doing,” he said. “Although I’ll be stopping designing, the FEI has asked me to stay on in an advisory capacity; if I can help with people’s careers and futures and still be involved in the sport I’d be delighted. I just don’t want the huge commitment after the end of next year.

“In terms of the events, I’m working with the organisers about who will take over. I gave them all two years’ warning so they’ve known since the beginning of this year. They say they’d like to talk me out of it, but they understand why I’m doing it. We’ll see what happens, I may be doing a little bit of work, I may not be doing any. If I’m needed I’m around and if not, so be it.”

But Ian has no plans to stop riding, and will continue to event. He retired from top-level sport in 2007, but continues to compete.

“I’m incredibly lucky – I’m five months off my 70th, and I’m still reasonably fit and well. I did a 55-mile cycle tour of the borders the other day,” he said.

“The horse I’m eventing (Chatsworth Diamond) would have been advanced if it hadn’t been for me being so busy, and I’ve just bought a new five-year-old that I’m very excited about. I’ve also got four youngsters on the hill that I’ll break and produce,” he said.

“I’ll keep riding while I’m fit, and compete a bit. I enjoy it and I enjoy producing horses and getting out there. I’ve always said I’ll know when my reactions are no longer effective enough – and I have a very good wife and children who will very quickly tell me if it’s time to stop being an idiot and grow up, but I’m not ready to grow up yet!”

Ian said he is most looking forward to spending time with his four grandchildren, Freddie, 14, Alfie, 13, Hugo, aged six, and Eilidh, aged three.

“I like driving them around and doing things with them,” said Ian. “Freddie has a pony that Jenny and I bred that he’s eventing a bit. He’s already understanding the pressure of riding in my footsteps so he’s also riding out for a local racehorse trainer, Stuart Coltherd, during the holidays and at weekends. He may well decide that racing is the route he wants to go down, so I’m there to help and support wherever. I did point-to-points for a number of years and I can understand his desire for speed.

“Alfie is mainly a rugby player, and I think his aim is to play for Scotland in the future. Hugo and Eilidh are a bit younger, but they’re both quite gutsy too. All four are now into skiing, so they want to go skiing with me – they’re all very active, and I love nothing better than spending time with them.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/ian-stark-to-retire-from-cross-country-course-designing-838432 tFP2PoCaZhGwu2RBxBBBJc Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:32:07 +0000 false false false

Eventing legend, multi-medallist and three-time Badminton winner Ian Stark has confirmed he will step down from designing cross-country courses at the end of 2024 following his 70th birthday.

Ian started course-designing in 2005 at Chatsworth. He was behind the 2015 European Eventing Championships track at Blair Castle, and today designs for top events including Bramham, Chatsworth, and Maryland five-star in the US.

Ian, who turns 70 in February, told H&H he had always intended to retire from cross-country design at the end of 2024 owing to the former FEI age-limit that meant officials had to retire aged 70. However the rules changed in 2019 and there is no longer a limit.

“I’d always planned [to stop at] the end of next year, and I’ve decided to stick with it,” he said, adding that the 2024 Maryland five-star at Fair Hill will be his final event as a course-designer.

“It is tempting to go on, but I’ve always had it in my head. I’m a bit like that in my life and career where I have aims and goals, make decisions and I stick with them. I’m probably a bit bloody-minded when it comes to it, and various people have tried to talk me out of it, but that’s not going to happen.

“I’ve had a great time with all my eventing, course-designing, all the other bits and bobs from the racing world and commentating; I’ve had a pretty good go of it all. I think I should go out when people still want me, than to be still hanging around when they want rid of me!”

Ian, who is also contracted to coach the US eventing squad to the end of 2024 – with Paris the primary focus – plans a “semi-retirement”.

“I’ll do a bit of coaching, but not to the same level that I’m doing,” he said. “Although I’ll be stopping designing, the FEI has asked me to stay on in an advisory capacity; if I can help with people’s careers and futures and still be involved in the sport I’d be delighted. I just don’t want the huge commitment after the end of next year.

“In terms of the events, I’m working with the organisers about who will take over. I gave them all two years’ warning so they’ve known since the beginning of this year. They say they’d like to talk me out of it, but they understand why I’m doing it. We’ll see what happens, I may be doing a little bit of work, I may not be doing any. If I’m needed I’m around and if not, so be it.”

But Ian has no plans to stop riding, and will continue to event. He retired from top-level sport in 2007, but continues to compete.

“I’m incredibly lucky – I’m five months off my 70th, and I’m still reasonably fit and well. I did a 55-mile cycle tour of the borders the other day,” he said.

“The horse I’m eventing (Chatsworth Diamond) would have been advanced if it hadn’t been for me being so busy, and I’ve just bought a new five-year-old that I’m very excited about. I’ve also got four youngsters on the hill that I’ll break and produce,” he said.

“I’ll keep riding while I’m fit, and compete a bit. I enjoy it and I enjoy producing horses and getting out there. I’ve always said I’ll know when my reactions are no longer effective enough – and I have a very good wife and children who will very quickly tell me if it’s time to stop being an idiot and grow up, but I’m not ready to grow up yet!”

Ian said he is most looking forward to spending time with his four grandchildren, Freddie, 14, Alfie, 13, Hugo, aged six, and Eilidh, aged three.

“I like driving them around and doing things with them,” said Ian. “Freddie has a pony that Jenny and I bred that he’s eventing a bit. He’s already understanding the pressure of riding in my footsteps so he’s also riding out for a local racehorse trainer, Stuart Coltherd, during the holidays and at weekends. He may well decide that racing is the route he wants to go down, so I’m there to help and support wherever. I did point-to-points for a number of years and I can understand his desire for speed.

“Alfie is mainly a rugby player, and I think his aim is to play for Scotland in the future. Hugo and Eilidh are a bit younger, but they’re both quite gutsy too. All four are now into skiing, so they want to go skiing with me – they’re all very active, and I love nothing better than spending time with them.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Find out when your favourite riders will head out on Burghley’s cross-country course ]]> The Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country times for Saturday 2 September have been released.

The first horse will be counted down to leave the start box at 11.15am and the last horse is expected to set off at 4pm. Harry Meade is the pathfinder, riding the first of his three rides, Away Cruising, who is in 38th place. The final horse to run will be Tenareze, Harry’s third ride, currently lying 11th.

Fifty-eight horses have completed their dressage and are set to tackle Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track for the second phase of the five-star event. The showjumping will take place in reverse order on Sunday 3 September.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country times: top 10

  • 1st, Tim Price and Vitali: 3.o5pm
  • 2nd, Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs: 1.30pm
  • 3rd, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class: 3.55pm
  • 4th, Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser: 3.40pm
  • 5th, Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel: 12.15pm
  • 6th, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF: 3.30pm
  • 7th, Grace Taylor and Game Changer: 3.25pm
  • 8th, Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 2.05pm
  • 9th, Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way: 2.15pm
  • 10th, Emily King and Valmy Biats: 12pm

Other popular combinations to note are Zara Tindall and Class Affair, who start at 11.55am, and Ireland’s Austin O’Connor, who sets out on cross-country specialist Colorado Blue at 12.25pm.

Just 11.3 penalties cover the top 10, the equivalent of less than 30 seconds of time penalties on the cross-country phase.

The full list of cross-country times can be viewed here

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/burghley-horse-trials-cross-country-times-2023-836210 puCemhhbQmMkjxuMVZ2Qzd Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:30:41 +0000 false false false

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country times for Saturday 2 September have been released.

The first horse will be counted down to leave the start box at 11.15am and the last horse is expected to set off at 4pm. Harry Meade is the pathfinder, riding the first of his three rides, Away Cruising, who is in 38th place. The final horse to run will be Tenareze, Harry’s third ride, currently lying 11th.

Fifty-eight horses have completed their dressage and are set to tackle Derek di Grazia’s cross-country track for the second phase of the five-star event. The showjumping will take place in reverse order on Sunday 3 September.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country times: top 10

  • 1st, Tim Price and Vitali: 3.o5pm
  • 2nd, Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs: 1.30pm
  • 3rd, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class: 3.55pm
  • 4th, Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser: 3.40pm
  • 5th, Ros Canter and Pencos Crown Jewel: 12.15pm
  • 6th, Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF: 3.30pm
  • 7th, Grace Taylor and Game Changer: 3.25pm
  • 8th, Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope: 2.05pm
  • 9th, Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way: 2.15pm
  • 10th, Emily King and Valmy Biats: 12pm

Other popular combinations to note are Zara Tindall and Class Affair, who start at 11.55am, and Ireland’s Austin O’Connor, who sets out on cross-country specialist Colorado Blue at 12.25pm.

Just 11.3 penalties cover the top 10, the equivalent of less than 30 seconds of time penalties on the cross-country phase.

The full list of cross-country times can be viewed here

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

You might also be interested in:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Hold on tight! Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 10abc

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How to watch Burghley Horse Trials live: the action includes the cross-country phase. Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed are pictured at Burghley 2024.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘A great challenge for us to get our teeth into’: riders’ thoughts on Burghley’s cross-country course ]]> Top riders have shared their initial reactions to the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course, designed by the US’s Derek di Grazia.

The general consensus is that it is a horse-friendly track, but still has plenty of questions peppered throughout.

Watch riders talk about this year’s course in the video below

Harry Meade, who has three rides at this year’s Burghley in Away Cruising, Cavalier Crystal and Tenareze, has some insightful thoughts on the course.

“I think it’s a really good course and really interesting. It’s a classic Burghley in that there are some very big jumping efforts, but I think it’s very fair,” says Harry. “There’s a good variety of profile of fences as well so not everything is square boxes or square parallels. Derek eases you in at the Defender Valley [fence 5abcd] and then the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit [fence 7abcd], which will cause some problems but possibly not as many as last year.”

Harry “really likes” the Defender Trout Hatchery at fence 10abc and 11ab: “I think it’s very clear to horses if you ride that fence well. It’s got a real flow to it and it’s very horse friendly.”

He thinks it will be “interesting” to see how certain combinations ride: “The first is the Irish Horse Board Bank [fence 17ab]. The log is set at a 90 degree angle to the first element, so you are literally jumping towards the end of the log and you’ve got to make a turn. The bank has grass on the top and if you’re galloping at it the horses will jump out over it, but if you come steadily to it – which you’re going to have to – I wouldn’t be surprised if horses bank it. Therefore you ask yourself the question, do you actually come deliberately really slow, pop up onto it and then step down, or do you try and jump it, but then risk going a little bit quick and potentially miss the turn?”

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

The view from the oxer at part a to the skinny triple bar arrowhead at part b of the Defender at the Dairy Mound (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry says that fence 20abc, the Defender at the Dairy Mound, could cause some problems too.

“Those types of triple bar arrowheads never ride that well as they don’t back horses off. Horses arrive at the Dairy Mound in a very flat-footed way because it’s near the highest point on the course and they’re quite fatigued by that stage, so it’ll be interesting to see how that rides.

“You can have problems anywhere around the course but overall, I think it’s really well thought out and it’ll be a great challenge for us to get our teeth into.”

Derek di Grazia’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

Tom McEwen says that he thinks this year’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course is “awesome”.

“For me it’s a kinder ride this year compared to last year as in it’s not square oxer after square oxer, but at the same time, it’s a true five-star test – there’s Burghley terrain and there’s challenges all the way around and it’s going to be accumulative,” explains Tom. “There’s probably not something that you walk up and think ‘God, how are you going to jump that?’ but the corners at the Joules at the Maltings [fence 14abc] are huge.”

fence14b

One of the corners at Joules at The Maltings (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom agrees with Harry that there will be some “head-scratching” at the Irish Horse Board Bank.

“I think the head-scratching will only be because we have an option – if there was no option people would just jump it, but options always cause chaos,” laughs Tom. “The Leaf Pit also looks smoother to the eye than last year, but I actually think it’s possibly tougher, but hopefully it’ll ride really well.”

Oliver Townend says that he thinks the course “comes a little easier earlier on”.

“Obviously there’s the Leaf Pit to the angled brushes early on, but I think it is a little kinder early on but at the same time, it might lure you into a false sense of security,” he explains. “There’s plenty to do and it won’t matter what they’ve built out there – it’s the terrain at this place that makes it such a tough test.”

Zara Tindall says that she would like to get “further than the Leaf Pit” this year, after her past two Burghley campaigns came to an end there.

“Hopefully I can get past fence seven and then have a crack at the rest of it – that’d be great,” she laughs. “Pippa [Funnell] and I have had a little walk around and I think it looks great and is nice and flowing. I think Derek has learnt a lot about the ground from last year and there’s some big combinations out there.”

Newly crowned European eventing champion Ros Canter says “there’s lots to jump” on this year’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country track.

“There’s lots of places where you could have a little whoospie and also lots of places that look a bit friendlier than previously, but it’s definitely big,” she says.

Phil Brown, who completed with a steady clear round last year, thanks in part to a variety of long routes being available to riders, made an interesting point about some of the questions on this year’s track.

“I think there’s a few more angled questions than last year, which are probably not as easy for the horses to read and we’re going to have to work a bit harder – sadly for me, Derek’s taken away quite a lot of the long routes!”

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

You might also be interested in:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Hold on tight! Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 10abc

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Watch Kitty King walk the Burghley cross-country course: ‘A real course for horsemanship’

How to watch Burghley Horse Trials live: the action includes the cross-country phase. Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed are pictured at Burghley 2024.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

How to watch Burghley Horse Trials 2025 live streams and on TV wherever you are

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/burghley-horse-trials-cross-country-course-rider-reactions-2023-835966 vQpSJR3aPrDJsp6h2sou9h Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:23:28 +0000 false false false

Top riders have shared their initial reactions to the 2023 Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course, designed by the US’s Derek di Grazia.

The general consensus is that it is a horse-friendly track, but still has plenty of questions peppered throughout.

Watch riders talk about this year’s course in the video below

Harry Meade, who has three rides at this year’s Burghley in Away Cruising, Cavalier Crystal and Tenareze, has some insightful thoughts on the course.

“I think it’s a really good course and really interesting. It’s a classic Burghley in that there are some very big jumping efforts, but I think it’s very fair,” says Harry. “There’s a good variety of profile of fences as well so not everything is square boxes or square parallels. Derek eases you in at the Defender Valley [fence 5abcd] and then the Holland Cooper Leaf Pit [fence 7abcd], which will cause some problems but possibly not as many as last year.”

Harry “really likes” the Defender Trout Hatchery at fence 10abc and 11ab: “I think it’s very clear to horses if you ride that fence well. It’s got a real flow to it and it’s very horse friendly.”

He thinks it will be “interesting” to see how certain combinations ride: “The first is the Irish Horse Board Bank [fence 17ab]. The log is set at a 90 degree angle to the first element, so you are literally jumping towards the end of the log and you’ve got to make a turn. The bank has grass on the top and if you’re galloping at it the horses will jump out over it, but if you come steadily to it – which you’re going to have to – I wouldn’t be surprised if horses bank it. Therefore you ask yourself the question, do you actually come deliberately really slow, pop up onto it and then step down, or do you try and jump it, but then risk going a little bit quick and potentially miss the turn?”

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

The view from the oxer at part a to the skinny triple bar arrowhead at part b of the Defender at the Dairy Mound (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry says that fence 20abc, the Defender at the Dairy Mound, could cause some problems too.

“Those types of triple bar arrowheads never ride that well as they don’t back horses off. Horses arrive at the Dairy Mound in a very flat-footed way because it’s near the highest point on the course and they’re quite fatigued by that stage, so it’ll be interesting to see how that rides.

“You can have problems anywhere around the course but overall, I think it’s really well thought out and it’ll be a great challenge for us to get our teeth into.”

Derek di Grazia’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

Tom McEwen says that he thinks this year’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course is “awesome”.

“For me it’s a kinder ride this year compared to last year as in it’s not square oxer after square oxer, but at the same time, it’s a true five-star test – there’s Burghley terrain and there’s challenges all the way around and it’s going to be accumulative,” explains Tom. “There’s probably not something that you walk up and think ‘God, how are you going to jump that?’ but the corners at the Joules at the Maltings [fence 14abc] are huge.”

fence14b

One of the corners at Joules at The Maltings (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tom agrees with Harry that there will be some “head-scratching” at the Irish Horse Board Bank.

“I think the head-scratching will only be because we have an option – if there was no option people would just jump it, but options always cause chaos,” laughs Tom. “The Leaf Pit also looks smoother to the eye than last year, but I actually think it’s possibly tougher, but hopefully it’ll ride really well.”

Oliver Townend says that he thinks the course “comes a little easier earlier on”.

“Obviously there’s the Leaf Pit to the angled brushes early on, but I think it is a little kinder early on but at the same time, it might lure you into a false sense of security,” he explains. “There’s plenty to do and it won’t matter what they’ve built out there – it’s the terrain at this place that makes it such a tough test.”

Zara Tindall says that she would like to get “further than the Leaf Pit” this year, after her past two Burghley campaigns came to an end there.

“Hopefully I can get past fence seven and then have a crack at the rest of it – that’d be great,” she laughs. “Pippa [Funnell] and I have had a little walk around and I think it looks great and is nice and flowing. I think Derek has learnt a lot about the ground from last year and there’s some big combinations out there.”

Newly crowned European eventing champion Ros Canter says “there’s lots to jump” on this year’s Burghley Horse Trials cross-country track.

“There’s lots of places where you could have a little whoospie and also lots of places that look a bit friendlier than previously, but it’s definitely big,” she says.

Phil Brown, who completed with a steady clear round last year, thanks in part to a variety of long routes being available to riders, made an interesting point about some of the questions on this year’s track.

“I think there’s a few more angled questions than last year, which are probably not as easy for the horses to read and we’re going to have to work a bit harder – sadly for me, Derek’s taken away quite a lot of the long routes!”

Horse & Hound has a team of reporters covering all the Burghley action. To keep reading on our website after five articles, readers will need to buy a subscription. Visit horseandhound.co.uk/join to buy a Horse & Hound website unlimited subscription or, for great value, visit magazinesdirect.com for a combined magazine and website subscription. If you are already a magazine subscriber, the cost to upgrade your subscription to include full website access is minimal – call 0330 333 1113 to find out more.

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]]> <![CDATA[ ‘We want to make eventing as safe as possible’: researchers’ calls to governing bodies to act ]]> More calls have been made to use available data to improve eventing safety – as it is important for the sport “now more than ever”.

Researchers behind three of the largest eventing safety studies have produced a follow-up paper summarising their findings and asking, “What will happen next?” The studies looked at risk factors for cross-country falls (news, 21 October 2021), fence and course design-related risk factors for cross-country falls in FEI competitions (news, 11 August 2022), and falls in one-day British Eventing competitions (news, 30 March).

Based on the findings, some of the recommendations included creating risk profiles for riders and cross-country courses, continuing to regularly review minimum eligibility requirements and introducing a dressage penalties cap.

Euan Bennet of the University of Glasgow worked on all three studies and told H&H that “now more than ever” it is important to continue looking at ways to make eventing safer.

“Social licence is such a big topic, and we think there are ways to bolster the sport’s social licence. Governing bodies need to be seen to be acting, and we think there are great opportunities to progress in making the sport safer, but also in a way that’s visible – and that helps people to see everything is being done to protect the horses,” he said.

“Adopting evidence-based risk management has been done in other sports such as endurance and racing, so we don’t think we’re asking for anything too radical.”

Dr Bennet added that he is hoping for further engagement with the FEI and British Eventing (BE), and it would be “great to see” more of the recommendations put into practice.

“We don’t want it to seem like we’re saying the sport should stop existing; we don’t want that to happen,” he said. “What we want is to make the sport as safe as possible and make sure it remains acceptable to the public.”

Geoff Sinclair, chair of the FEI risk management steering group, told H&H the steering group and the eventing committee are “continuously working to minimise risk and optimise the safety of athletes and horses”.

“Emphasis is put on reducing horse falls, especially rotational falls and serious or fatal injuries for horse and rider,” he said, adding that since 2000 “a lot of progress has been made” in regards to safety and that the number of falls has “significantly” reduced from 1.73% of starters in 2011 to 1.18% in 2022.

Mr Sinclair said in relation to the recommendations, the eventing committee has reviewed – or is reviewing – qualifications, athlete categorisations, jumping penalties in short-format competitions, the Horse Form Index which tracks cross-country performance, a guide for officials, particularly course-designers and course-builders, and statistics on horse falls.

He said changes to qualifications brought in for 2023 have “eliminated some of the combinations that are more at risk” especially at four- and five-star level where the horse fall percentage on starters is higher. Four- and five-star minimum eligibility requirement (MERs) are under review for potential changes in 2024 in regards to cross-country penalties.

“The FEI also has plans to commence a retrospective study on eventing horse fatalities and career-ending injuries,” he said.

“New initiatives are always welcome to be part of the process to evolve and improve [safety]. The FEI has provided its extensive data to studies such as these and we thank this group for putting their own investigation forward, so we can all weigh the initiatives that will support the progress of reducing risk in future.”

BE national safety officer Jonathan Clissold has worked with the researchers and told H&H that in-depth analysis of FEI and BE data often comes up with some “interesting points, some of which we expect and some we do not”. He added that some of the recommendations have been covered by rule changes around MERs and continual performance requirements, “although not necessarily as a direct result of the research”.

“I am sure that BE would be supportive of any of the research that the group is recommending. However, the FEI – as the world-governing body of the sport – is in the best position to support and look at this work on an international basis,” he said.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/we-want-to-make-eventing-as-safe-as-possible-researchers-calls-to-governing-bodies-to-act-831728 vBTwy7u5AWYhkAMg3RAdvM Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:36:04 +0000 false false false

More calls have been made to use available data to improve eventing safety – as it is important for the sport “now more than ever”.

Researchers behind three of the largest eventing safety studies have produced a follow-up paper summarising their findings and asking, “What will happen next?” The studies looked at risk factors for cross-country falls (news, 21 October 2021), fence and course design-related risk factors for cross-country falls in FEI competitions (news, 11 August 2022), and falls in one-day British Eventing competitions (news, 30 March).

Based on the findings, some of the recommendations included creating risk profiles for riders and cross-country courses, continuing to regularly review minimum eligibility requirements and introducing a dressage penalties cap.

Euan Bennet of the University of Glasgow worked on all three studies and told H&H that “now more than ever” it is important to continue looking at ways to make eventing safer.

“Social licence is such a big topic, and we think there are ways to bolster the sport’s social licence. Governing bodies need to be seen to be acting, and we think there are great opportunities to progress in making the sport safer, but also in a way that’s visible – and that helps people to see everything is being done to protect the horses,” he said.

“Adopting evidence-based risk management has been done in other sports such as endurance and racing, so we don’t think we’re asking for anything too radical.”

Dr Bennet added that he is hoping for further engagement with the FEI and British Eventing (BE), and it would be “great to see” more of the recommendations put into practice.

“We don’t want it to seem like we’re saying the sport should stop existing; we don’t want that to happen,” he said. “What we want is to make the sport as safe as possible and make sure it remains acceptable to the public.”

Geoff Sinclair, chair of the FEI risk management steering group, told H&H the steering group and the eventing committee are “continuously working to minimise risk and optimise the safety of athletes and horses”.

“Emphasis is put on reducing horse falls, especially rotational falls and serious or fatal injuries for horse and rider,” he said, adding that since 2000 “a lot of progress has been made” in regards to safety and that the number of falls has “significantly” reduced from 1.73% of starters in 2011 to 1.18% in 2022.

Mr Sinclair said in relation to the recommendations, the eventing committee has reviewed – or is reviewing – qualifications, athlete categorisations, jumping penalties in short-format competitions, the Horse Form Index which tracks cross-country performance, a guide for officials, particularly course-designers and course-builders, and statistics on horse falls.

He said changes to qualifications brought in for 2023 have “eliminated some of the combinations that are more at risk” especially at four- and five-star level where the horse fall percentage on starters is higher. Four- and five-star minimum eligibility requirement (MERs) are under review for potential changes in 2024 in regards to cross-country penalties.

“The FEI also has plans to commence a retrospective study on eventing horse fatalities and career-ending injuries,” he said.

“New initiatives are always welcome to be part of the process to evolve and improve [safety]. The FEI has provided its extensive data to studies such as these and we thank this group for putting their own investigation forward, so we can all weigh the initiatives that will support the progress of reducing risk in future.”

BE national safety officer Jonathan Clissold has worked with the researchers and told H&H that in-depth analysis of FEI and BE data often comes up with some “interesting points, some of which we expect and some we do not”. He added that some of the recommendations have been covered by rule changes around MERs and continual performance requirements, “although not necessarily as a direct result of the research”.

“I am sure that BE would be supportive of any of the research that the group is recommending. However, the FEI – as the world-governing body of the sport – is in the best position to support and look at this work on an international basis,” he said.

You might also be interested in:

corn-___00173.jpg

(Image credit: IPC Media)

Eventers with poor dressage scores could be blocked from cross-country, as 16 horse fall risk factors identified

cross-country falls

(Image credit: IPC Media)

Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls

Eventing safety has come under further discussion following new published research

(Image credit: IPC Media)

Risk profiles for cross-country courses could be on the cards thanks to new research

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: IPC Media)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Heavy rain causes alterations to Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ]]> Due to heavy rain, some alterations have been made to the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ahead of competitors tackling it at the event, presented by Mars Equestrian, tomorrow (7 May).

The announcement was made by officials at Badminton at 12.30pm today.

The statement read: “Due to the weather conditions at Badminton, the following alterations are being made to the cross country course.”

The changes include hardcore stone footing being placed behind the B element of fence 15; the Lightsource BP Pond.

Badminton final scores

The B element will be removed from the LeMieux Mound at fence 17 (pictured below).

xxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The water level will be lowered at the Badminton Lake at fence 21.

Some decoration around fence 26, the Jubilee Clump Brush, will be removed to make it a “smoother line on the approach”. Some riders had raised some concerns over this fence prior to these alterations being announced.

Finally, the A element of the HorseQuest Quarry at fence 27 will be removed.

There is no alteration to the optimum time, time allowed or distance of the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You may also like to read…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘There are so many pins that you could make a dress’: riders’ reactions to the Badminton cross-country course

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats at Badminton horse trials 2023

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘He loved slopping around and splashing about in there’: Kitty King takes over the Badminton lead early on damp day two

Alice Casburn Badminton Horse Trials Topspin

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Meet the youngest rider at Badminton Horse Trials 2023 and her five-star second-generation home-bred: ‘We adore him’

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(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I could ride every inch of grass’: Gemma Stevens conjures magical test at Badminton

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-alterations-2023-824709 asmsdL1mvkqxDY2sDRPYRz Sat, 06 May 2023 12:07:52 +0000 false false false

Due to heavy rain, some alterations have been made to the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ahead of competitors tackling it at the event, presented by Mars Equestrian, tomorrow (7 May).

The announcement was made by officials at Badminton at 12.30pm today.

The statement read: “Due to the weather conditions at Badminton, the following alterations are being made to the cross country course.”

The changes include hardcore stone footing being placed behind the B element of fence 15; the Lightsource BP Pond.

Badminton final scores

The B element will be removed from the LeMieux Mound at fence 17 (pictured below).

xxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The water level will be lowered at the Badminton Lake at fence 21.

Some decoration around fence 26, the Jubilee Clump Brush, will be removed to make it a “smoother line on the approach”. Some riders had raised some concerns over this fence prior to these alterations being announced.

Finally, the A element of the HorseQuest Quarry at fence 27 will be removed.

There is no alteration to the optimum time, time allowed or distance of the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter.

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You may also like to read…

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘There are so many pins that you could make a dress’: riders’ reactions to the Badminton cross-country course

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats at Badminton horse trials 2023

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘He loved slopping around and splashing about in there’: Kitty King takes over the Badminton lead early on damp day two

Alice Casburn Badminton Horse Trials Topspin

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Meet the youngest rider at Badminton Horse Trials 2023 and her five-star second-generation home-bred: ‘We adore him’

Badminton Horse Trials dressage: Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I could ride every inch of grass’: Gemma Stevens conjures magical test at Badminton

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘There are so many pins that you could make a dress’: riders’ reactions to the Badminton cross-country course ]]> Competitors have been sharing their initial reactions after a first look at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May). The riders are all in agreement that the weather, and the ground conditions that result from it, will play a big part in the day’s sport.

Top British rider Pippa Funnell, who is fifth to go with Majas Hope, said “there are so many frangible pins that you could make a dress” and she particularly isn’t a fan of the rail competitors are required to jump into The Lake on the direct route.

“I don’t like the jump into The Lake with its frangible pin,” explained Pippa. “It could be one of those fences for the riders that are on early in the day where they go straight and the pin goes, and then people later in the day might not take it on and go the alternative route – that will be the penalty of the early draw. It will be sad if the direct route into The Lake isn’t jumped by many people because the frangible pin is activated a lot. It might not happen and it might jump well – it will be interesting.”

Izzy Taylor said “there has been a lot of chat about the rail into The Lake”.

Badminton final scores

“I think we will know by the time the fourth rider has jumped through there how that fence will ride,” explained Izzy, who rides both Happy Days and Graf Cavalier at this year’s event.

Izzy was one of many riders to highlight the wet conditions horses and riders might face on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course by the time the first competitor leaves the start box on Sunday morning.

“It’s definitely going to be an interesting competition, especially when the ground is getting soft. Minute markers go out of the window and we have to ride the horses we’re sat on at that particular moment and give them a good experience. I think stamina will be the biggest test. The Vicarage Ditch area is very intense and twisty, which will sap energy out of horses. Then you’ve got to let them take a breath and rejuvenate.”

The youngest rider in this year’s field is 21-year-old Alice Casburn, who will be riding the home-bred Topspin. She agreed with Izzy in that stamina will really come into play in 2023.

“I think the ground will play a big part in things now that it is getting wetter,” said Alice, who also made some interesting comments about the direction of the track this year. “If you can imagine a running treadmill, a lot of the course is on a 2% incline, which makes it different from last year when it was run the other way around because there were more chances where you could let your horse catch their breath. Whereas this year it feels like you don’t get that until you get to around fence 27.

“I don’t think the intense part at the Vicarage Ditch area is as bad as it was last year for me, but the accumulation of everything this year is going to make it tough.”

Harry Meade, who rides both Away Cruising and Tenareze this year, says that Eric’s track is “interesting”.

“I think quite a lot has changed this year and it’s nice to have some footwork exercises back like at the staircase at fence 4ABCD and the rail, bounce to a step at fence 8ABC,” said Harry. “It will be very interesting to see how horses jump the huge rail into The Lake – it’s a long way down into the water.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

The Savills Staircase (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry said that this year’s course has “some new things that will keep riders guessing” and that the weather can always play a part here.

“I always think it can be summer or winter conditions at Badminton as we are the cusp of seasons. I think the really important thing is that we have all got to ride the horse that is underneath us and set out knowing it’s not going to be a sprint because the big thing is that you’ve got to get home and jump the last fence and you need enough horse underneath you to do that.

“It’s about judgement of pace. Often when the ground is soft here, you get some good riding because people go out with feel rather than just chasing the clock.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

The Lightsource bp Hollow at fence 8ABC (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Price quite simply said that he thinks “it’s probably the biggest five-star track I’ve seen for a year”.

“It’s got some lovely profiles and it looks jumpable and I think we will see some fun pictures from it,” said Tim, describing it as a “cool course”. “The ground and horses’ stamina are obviously the question mark, but hopefully we’re prepared for that and I’m excited to have a go.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘One fence I really don’t like’

There is one fence that has got some riders talking, which might seem innocuous to some.

“I think one of the most difficult fences is fence 26, the Jubilee Clump Brush, after the Huntsmans Close, before The Quarry,” said Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall), who rides Jalapeno this year. “It’s off a really tight turn and on an angle right at the end of the track. I think competitors will really have to ride that fence because it comes at the end and horses will be a bit tired and not so easy to turn, which will make things tricky.”

She added: “The Vicarage Ditch area is intense and there are a lot of big jumps, but it’s all in front of you to be jumped and the distances between the related fences are all very fair, which Eric is very good at providing. You can get out there and attack, which is good. It’s going to be a stamina test with the soft ground.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

Fence 26 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Caroline Powell, who rides Greenacres Special Cavalier agreed with Gemma with regards to fence 26 saying: “One fence I really, really don’t like is 26, because you have to pull your horses off a line at the end of the course when they are tiring. But each fence is beautifully presented and jumpable and it’s just a case of putting everything together.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Badminton cross-country course

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Badminton Horse Trials dressage: Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I could ride every inch of grass’: Gemma Stevens conjures magical test at Badminton

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-rider-thoughts-2023-824596 jxBPtZ5e5E4zEaGz2WCb44 Fri, 05 May 2023 17:51:11 +0000 false false false

Competitors have been sharing their initial reactions after a first look at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course, which is designed by Eric Winter, at the event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May). The riders are all in agreement that the weather, and the ground conditions that result from it, will play a big part in the day’s sport.

Top British rider Pippa Funnell, who is fifth to go with Majas Hope, said “there are so many frangible pins that you could make a dress” and she particularly isn’t a fan of the rail competitors are required to jump into The Lake on the direct route.

“I don’t like the jump into The Lake with its frangible pin,” explained Pippa. “It could be one of those fences for the riders that are on early in the day where they go straight and the pin goes, and then people later in the day might not take it on and go the alternative route – that will be the penalty of the early draw. It will be sad if the direct route into The Lake isn’t jumped by many people because the frangible pin is activated a lot. It might not happen and it might jump well – it will be interesting.”

Izzy Taylor said “there has been a lot of chat about the rail into The Lake”.

Badminton final scores

“I think we will know by the time the fourth rider has jumped through there how that fence will ride,” explained Izzy, who rides both Happy Days and Graf Cavalier at this year’s event.

Izzy was one of many riders to highlight the wet conditions horses and riders might face on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course by the time the first competitor leaves the start box on Sunday morning.

“It’s definitely going to be an interesting competition, especially when the ground is getting soft. Minute markers go out of the window and we have to ride the horses we’re sat on at that particular moment and give them a good experience. I think stamina will be the biggest test. The Vicarage Ditch area is very intense and twisty, which will sap energy out of horses. Then you’ve got to let them take a breath and rejuvenate.”

The youngest rider in this year’s field is 21-year-old Alice Casburn, who will be riding the home-bred Topspin. She agreed with Izzy in that stamina will really come into play in 2023.

“I think the ground will play a big part in things now that it is getting wetter,” said Alice, who also made some interesting comments about the direction of the track this year. “If you can imagine a running treadmill, a lot of the course is on a 2% incline, which makes it different from last year when it was run the other way around because there were more chances where you could let your horse catch their breath. Whereas this year it feels like you don’t get that until you get to around fence 27.

“I don’t think the intense part at the Vicarage Ditch area is as bad as it was last year for me, but the accumulation of everything this year is going to make it tough.”

Harry Meade, who rides both Away Cruising and Tenareze this year, says that Eric’s track is “interesting”.

“I think quite a lot has changed this year and it’s nice to have some footwork exercises back like at the staircase at fence 4ABCD and the rail, bounce to a step at fence 8ABC,” said Harry. “It will be very interesting to see how horses jump the huge rail into The Lake – it’s a long way down into the water.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

The Savills Staircase (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Harry said that this year’s course has “some new things that will keep riders guessing” and that the weather can always play a part here.

“I always think it can be summer or winter conditions at Badminton as we are the cusp of seasons. I think the really important thing is that we have all got to ride the horse that is underneath us and set out knowing it’s not going to be a sprint because the big thing is that you’ve got to get home and jump the last fence and you need enough horse underneath you to do that.

“It’s about judgement of pace. Often when the ground is soft here, you get some good riding because people go out with feel rather than just chasing the clock.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

The Lightsource bp Hollow at fence 8ABC (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Price quite simply said that he thinks “it’s probably the biggest five-star track I’ve seen for a year”.

“It’s got some lovely profiles and it looks jumpable and I think we will see some fun pictures from it,” said Tim, describing it as a “cool course”. “The ground and horses’ stamina are obviously the question mark, but hopefully we’re prepared for that and I’m excited to have a go.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘One fence I really don’t like’

There is one fence that has got some riders talking, which might seem innocuous to some.

“I think one of the most difficult fences is fence 26, the Jubilee Clump Brush, after the Huntsmans Close, before The Quarry,” said Gemma Stevens (née Tattersall), who rides Jalapeno this year. “It’s off a really tight turn and on an angle right at the end of the track. I think competitors will really have to ride that fence because it comes at the end and horses will be a bit tired and not so easy to turn, which will make things tricky.”

She added: “The Vicarage Ditch area is intense and there are a lot of big jumps, but it’s all in front of you to be jumped and the distances between the related fences are all very fair, which Eric is very good at providing. You can get out there and attack, which is good. It’s going to be a stamina test with the soft ground.”

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course

Fence 26 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Caroline Powell, who rides Greenacres Special Cavalier agreed with Gemma with regards to fence 26 saying: “One fence I really, really don’t like is 26, because you have to pull your horses off a line at the end of the course when they are tiring. But each fence is beautifully presented and jumpable and it’s just a case of putting everything together.”

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Badminton cross-country course

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2023: Piggy March walks the course

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Watch Piggy March walk the Badminton cross-country course: ‘an old-fashioned feel’

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times revealed: find out what time your favourites will ride

Badminton Horse Trials dressage: Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I could ride every inch of grass’: Gemma Stevens conjures magical test at Badminton

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Badminton cross-country course ]]> With competition about to get underway at the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Sunday 7 May 2023.

The course is approximately 6,700m in length and has an optimum time of 11min45sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

1. Spillers Starter

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

2. Bloomfields Horseboxes Keepers Table

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton final scores

3. Tortworth Hotel Brush

3 copy

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4 ABCD Savills Staircase

4a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4 copy

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 4D

00

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

5AB Countryside Alliance Stick Pile

5x

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5AB

5a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

5d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6AB Joules Coronation Corral

6

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

7. Air Ambulances UK Bullfinch

7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

8ABC Lightsource BP Hollow

8a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

9. Izusu 4 bar 4

9

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10AB Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

11. Rolex T Bar

11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

12AB Holland Cooper Owl Hole

12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 12B

xxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

13ABCD KBIS Brush Boxes

13a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

cd

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 13BC

bc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

14. Footbridge

14

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15AB Lightsource BP Pond direct route A

IMG_5230

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15AB Lightsource BP Pond alternative route A

15a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There are three 15B options for riders to jump – the fastest is in the background of the above picture on the left, the second fastest is the fence in the middle in the background and the slowest route is the fence just in the top right-hand corner of the above picture, as shown in order below:

xxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_5234

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

16. Pedigree Dog Kennel

16

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17AB LeMieux Mound

17a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

?

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 17B

xxxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

18, 19AB Mars M Tables

18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

19a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20. World Horse Welfare Jetty

20

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

21ABC, 22. Badminton Lake direct route on the left of the corner, alternative on the right of the corner

21ab

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct 21C

zc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

??

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 21BC

zbc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct 22

2222

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 22

22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

23. Project Pony Splash

image0

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

24. Beaufort Brush Box

24

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

25AB Voltaire Design Huntsmans Close – first possible route

25a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Second possible route at 25AB – this one will be slightly faster

25aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zbb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

26. Jubilee Clump Brush

26

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

27AB HorseQuest Quarry – direct route

27a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

???

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzzzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27AB alternative route

27aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzzzzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

28AB Brewers Drays

28

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

yb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

29. Rolex Pheasant Log

29

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

30. Coronation Finale

30

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2023: Piggy March walks the course

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Watch Piggy March walk the Badminton cross-country course: ‘an old-fashioned feel’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times revealed: find out what time your favourites will ride

Badminton Horse Trials trot-up

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Some horses show off extra moves at first Badminton Horse Trials trot-up, plus one late withdrawal

Badminton Horse Trials riders: Ros Canter is among the favourites

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

11 pairs to watch at Badminton Horse Trials: will one of these riders win this week’s five-star?

Georgia Bartlett Thoresby Horse Trials pictures: Georgia Bartlett and Spano De Nazca

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Meet Badminton first-timer Georgia Bartlett: ‘He is my first horse and we’ve worked our way up from BE100’

RSH Contend Or, ridden by Felicity Collins, at Badminton 2022

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘We thought we might have to give up on him’: the Badminton-bound horse who’s like an eel to ride

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-2023-824041 ppmzaMXfkBiKsTRmZm47BM Thu, 04 May 2023 18:36:45 +0000 false false false

With competition about to get underway at the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Sunday 7 May 2023.

The course is approximately 6,700m in length and has an optimum time of 11min45sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2023

1. Spillers Starter

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

2. Bloomfields Horseboxes Keepers Table

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton final scores

3. Tortworth Hotel Brush

3 copy

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4 ABCD Savills Staircase

4a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4 copy

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 4D

00

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

5AB Countryside Alliance Stick Pile

5x

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5AB

5a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

5d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6AB Joules Coronation Corral

6

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

6b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

7. Air Ambulances UK Bullfinch

7

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

8ABC Lightsource BP Hollow

8a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

4

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

9. Izusu 4 bar 4

9

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10AB Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

10a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

10

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

11. Rolex T Bar

11

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

12AB Holland Cooper Owl Hole

12a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 12B

xxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

13ABCD KBIS Brush Boxes

13a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

cd

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 13BC

bc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

14. Footbridge

14

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15AB Lightsource BP Pond direct route A

IMG_5230

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

15AB Lightsource BP Pond alternative route A

15a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

There are three 15B options for riders to jump – the fastest is in the background of the above picture on the left, the second fastest is the fence in the middle in the background and the slowest route is the fence just in the top right-hand corner of the above picture, as shown in order below:

xxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_5234

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

16. Pedigree Dog Kennel

16

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

17AB LeMieux Mound

17a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

?

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

xxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 17B

xxxxxxxb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

18, 19AB Mars M Tables

18

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

19a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

20. World Horse Welfare Jetty

20

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

21ABC, 22. Badminton Lake direct route on the left of the corner, alternative on the right of the corner

21ab

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct 21C

zc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

??

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 21BC

zbc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct 22

2222

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 22

22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

23. Project Pony Splash

image0

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

24. Beaufort Brush Box

24

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

25AB Voltaire Design Huntsmans Close – first possible route

25a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Second possible route at 25AB – this one will be slightly faster

25aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zbb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

26. Jubilee Clump Brush

26

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

27AB HorseQuest Quarry – direct route

27a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

???

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzzzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27AB alternative route

27aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

zzzzzb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

28AB Brewers Drays

28

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

yb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

29. Rolex Pheasant Log

29

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

30. Coronation Finale

30

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2023: Piggy March walks the course

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Watch Piggy March walk the Badminton cross-country course: ‘an old-fashioned feel’

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times revealed: find out what time your favourites will ride

Badminton Horse Trials trot-up

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Some horses show off extra moves at first Badminton Horse Trials trot-up, plus one late withdrawal

Badminton Horse Trials riders: Ros Canter is among the favourites

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

11 pairs to watch at Badminton Horse Trials: will one of these riders win this week’s five-star?

Georgia Bartlett Thoresby Horse Trials pictures: Georgia Bartlett and Spano De Nazca

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Meet Badminton first-timer Georgia Bartlett: ‘He is my first horse and we’ve worked our way up from BE100’

RSH Contend Or, ridden by Felicity Collins, at Badminton 2022

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘We thought we might have to give up on him’: the Badminton-bound horse who’s like an eel to ride

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up to date with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from Nick Burton and Mark Phillips, in Horse & Hound magazine (on sale 11 May).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Eventers with poor dressage scores could be blocked from cross-country, as 16 horse fall risk factors identified ]]> A CAP on dressage penalties could make eventing safer – as findings from one of the sport’s biggest ever studies identifies 16 risk factors for cross-country horse falls.

The study, “Towards a safer sport: risk factors for cross-country horse falls at British Eventing competition”, was carried out by researchers from the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Nottingham Trent, with funding from Myerscough College.

The aim was to determine risk factors associated with horse falls by analysing data from 749,534 British Eventing (BE) cross-country starts from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. Of these starts, 2,633 horse falls were recorded, 3.5 falls per 1,000 starts and 16 risk factors were identified.

The findings included that male riders were associated with a greater odds of a fall than females, and older riders were less likely to have a fall than younger ones. Horses who started in the previous 15 to 21 days were less likely to fall than horses whose last start had been in the previous one to 14 days, and the risk of horse falls increased through higher levels of competition. Mares were more likely to have a fall than geldings, and ponies more likely to fall than horses between 15.3hh and 16.2hh.

Lead researcher Heather Cameron-Whytock, who has evented, told H&H the more “statistically significant” risk factor identified was the level of competition.

“This means it had the most profound effect on risk of falling. We know the jumps get bigger and more technical, they have to be going faster and the courses are longer, so it’s a matter of fact the higher levels are more challenging, so we would expect to see a higher risk of falls there,” she said.

“Our general recommendation on this is that minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) need to be carefully monitored and reviewed, which we know they are as they change regularly.”

It was also identified that combinations that scored a higher number of penalties in dressage were more likely to have a horse fall than those who scored a lower number. Based on this, the researchers suggested introducing a penalty cap to eliminate combinations who score 70 or more in the dressage.

“We found for every 10 additional dressage penalties, the risk of falls increased,” said Dr Cameron-Whytock. “When we explored this further, we saw that combinations that get 70 or more penalties are almost four times more likely to have a fall than combinations that score less than 70.

“Introducing a cap could be beneficial. Although it’s very rare to score 70 or more, it does happen and it’s in the data. These individuals are so much more at risk, so it’s worth trying to do something about that.”

Dr Cameron-Whytock added that it is unlikely to ever find “one thing” that will eliminate falls, but it is about making the sport safer where possible.

“If we can keep finding 1% reductions, that could be one rider not paralysed, or not sustaining a serious injury, and surely that makes it worth it,” she said.

BE national safety officer and technical adviser Jonathan Clissold has worked with Dr Cameron-Whytock on other eventing safety projects, and told H&H that this study comes up with “a lot of very interesting points” that support and justify the MERs in place.

“After comparing with the most recent data, BE will consider compulsory retirement for dressage penalties of 70 or more. The dressage requirement to gain an MER has been reduced this year from 50 penalty marks to 45,” he said.

Mr Clissold added that further analysis of the number of runs and the period between these “could be interesting”.

“The introduction of ‘continuing performance requirements’ since this data set has gone a long way to help address the points raised in this paper about poor performance increasing the risk of a fall,” he said.

BE chief executive Helen West told H&H she found the study “fascinating and extremely informative”.

“It is so good to be able to validate ‘gut instinct’ with solid, scientific findings,” she said. “The findings around gender and age affecting self-efficacy were striking and this highlights one of the extraordinary aspects of our sport, whereby we see riders continuing to participate at top-level into advanced age, even at professional level.

“There is no doubt that older event riders harness extensive experience that equips them with well-developed coping mechanisms and makes them less susceptible to external pressures and expectations placed upon them, enabling them to focus their performance and skill to completing the cross-country accurately and safely.”

Ms West added that the finding – that riders who had a fall during their previous start were more likely to fall again – supports findings from the “extensive work” equestrian data analysts EquiRatings has done with BE.

“This likely indicates that these individuals were competing at a level above their skill and therefore were at a heightened risk. This further highlights the importance of continually reviewing MERs,” she said.

“It is my belief that additional research is needed to enable further recommendations to be made in relation to MERs and their effectiveness for maximising safety, especially at the elite end of the sport. This is something that BE is continually monitoring as part of our risk-management strategy.”

You might also be interested in:

cross-country falls

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Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls

frangible cross-country fences

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Rotational falls in eventing at all-time low – but more work ‘still to do’

Eventing safety has come under further discussion following new published research

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Risk profiles for cross-country courses could be on the cards thanks to new research

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: www.focusonhorses.com)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/eventers-with-poor-dressage-scores-could-be-blocked-from-cross-country-as-16-horse-fall-risk-factors-identified-820175 ja7s3NPMf8cYqRjMpcACDH Mon, 27 Mar 2023 16:34:27 +0000 false false false

A CAP on dressage penalties could make eventing safer – as findings from one of the sport’s biggest ever studies identifies 16 risk factors for cross-country horse falls.

The study, “Towards a safer sport: risk factors for cross-country horse falls at British Eventing competition”, was carried out by researchers from the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Nottingham Trent, with funding from Myerscough College.

The aim was to determine risk factors associated with horse falls by analysing data from 749,534 British Eventing (BE) cross-country starts from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. Of these starts, 2,633 horse falls were recorded, 3.5 falls per 1,000 starts and 16 risk factors were identified.

The findings included that male riders were associated with a greater odds of a fall than females, and older riders were less likely to have a fall than younger ones. Horses who started in the previous 15 to 21 days were less likely to fall than horses whose last start had been in the previous one to 14 days, and the risk of horse falls increased through higher levels of competition. Mares were more likely to have a fall than geldings, and ponies more likely to fall than horses between 15.3hh and 16.2hh.

Lead researcher Heather Cameron-Whytock, who has evented, told H&H the more “statistically significant” risk factor identified was the level of competition.

“This means it had the most profound effect on risk of falling. We know the jumps get bigger and more technical, they have to be going faster and the courses are longer, so it’s a matter of fact the higher levels are more challenging, so we would expect to see a higher risk of falls there,” she said.

“Our general recommendation on this is that minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) need to be carefully monitored and reviewed, which we know they are as they change regularly.”

It was also identified that combinations that scored a higher number of penalties in dressage were more likely to have a horse fall than those who scored a lower number. Based on this, the researchers suggested introducing a penalty cap to eliminate combinations who score 70 or more in the dressage.

“We found for every 10 additional dressage penalties, the risk of falls increased,” said Dr Cameron-Whytock. “When we explored this further, we saw that combinations that get 70 or more penalties are almost four times more likely to have a fall than combinations that score less than 70.

“Introducing a cap could be beneficial. Although it’s very rare to score 70 or more, it does happen and it’s in the data. These individuals are so much more at risk, so it’s worth trying to do something about that.”

Dr Cameron-Whytock added that it is unlikely to ever find “one thing” that will eliminate falls, but it is about making the sport safer where possible.

“If we can keep finding 1% reductions, that could be one rider not paralysed, or not sustaining a serious injury, and surely that makes it worth it,” she said.

BE national safety officer and technical adviser Jonathan Clissold has worked with Dr Cameron-Whytock on other eventing safety projects, and told H&H that this study comes up with “a lot of very interesting points” that support and justify the MERs in place.

“After comparing with the most recent data, BE will consider compulsory retirement for dressage penalties of 70 or more. The dressage requirement to gain an MER has been reduced this year from 50 penalty marks to 45,” he said.

Mr Clissold added that further analysis of the number of runs and the period between these “could be interesting”.

“The introduction of ‘continuing performance requirements’ since this data set has gone a long way to help address the points raised in this paper about poor performance increasing the risk of a fall,” he said.

BE chief executive Helen West told H&H she found the study “fascinating and extremely informative”.

“It is so good to be able to validate ‘gut instinct’ with solid, scientific findings,” she said. “The findings around gender and age affecting self-efficacy were striking and this highlights one of the extraordinary aspects of our sport, whereby we see riders continuing to participate at top-level into advanced age, even at professional level.

“There is no doubt that older event riders harness extensive experience that equips them with well-developed coping mechanisms and makes them less susceptible to external pressures and expectations placed upon them, enabling them to focus their performance and skill to completing the cross-country accurately and safely.”

Ms West added that the finding – that riders who had a fall during their previous start were more likely to fall again – supports findings from the “extensive work” equestrian data analysts EquiRatings has done with BE.

“This likely indicates that these individuals were competing at a level above their skill and therefore were at a heightened risk. This further highlights the importance of continually reviewing MERs,” she said.

“It is my belief that additional research is needed to enable further recommendations to be made in relation to MERs and their effectiveness for maximising safety, especially at the elite end of the sport. This is something that BE is continually monitoring as part of our risk-management strategy.”

You might also be interested in:

cross-country falls

(Image credit: www.focusonhorses.com)

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Eventing safety has come under further discussion following new published research

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Risk profiles for cross-country courses could be on the cards thanks to new research

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(Image credit: www.focusonhorses.com)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘You’ve got to be on it all the way’: riders predict how Pau five-star cross-country track will ride ]]> Riders have been giving their reactions to the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course, designed by Pierre Michelet.

Cross-country day kicks off at 1pm (12pm British time) today (29 October).

Tom McEwen says: “There’s a lot of decisions to be made. I think you need to be quite quick to decide what to do based on how things going during your round.

“There’s a lot of similar-ish combinations going in different directions so if you don’t get one right, you might have to change your plan.”

Tom is in third and ninth place on Bob Chaplin and Braveheart B respectively after the first phase at Pau.

“I think the first water is quite nice to get us going because obviously we’re quite used to the waters being pretty hefty. I actually think fence four A and B [the Kiosque & pointe de la Ville de Pau] is a tough enough ask – Pierre Michelet always asks a very early decent question in the courses that he builds.”

Fellow Brit, Izzy Taylor, who is in second place after the dressage on Monkeying Around, says that there is “lots to do”.

“I imagine the time will be tight and it will be very easy for us to have an irritating 20 penalties for doing very little wrong,” explains Izzy. “You’ve got to be on it all the way. And, as we know, the fourth last combination always causes trouble, so you’re not home – as I demonstrated last year when I had a fall there – until you’re home.”

Harry Meade, who is in 11th with Tenareze after an impressive first phase performance says that he thinks the course is “really interesting”.

“Pierre Michelet is an extremely interesting course designer,“ he explains. “There’s a lot of questions. There’s a lot of places where you can have tricky little errors, but Pierre has given us choices between going on three or four strides on a repetitive basis throughout the course.

“There’s lots of places you can have a glance off and riders are going to have to concentrate the whole way. It’s obviously not the big, imposing, bold type of course like Burghley, but it’s technically difficult, and you can’t relax until you’ve landed over the last fence.”

Emily King, who is riding Valmy Biats, who scored a competitive 25.5 in the dressage to sit in fifth going into Pau Horse Trials cross-country day, also shared her thoughts on this year’s track.

“I haven’t walked it and felt sick like I have done in the past at Burghley or Badminton, which is nice, but there are so many places for really annoying things to happen – this is a rider accuracy course,” she explains. “If you ride your lines perfectly and your horse is genuine, you should be fine, and then it’ll just be about achieving the optimum time.”

British talent Mollie Summerland is in fourth after the first phase with Charly Van Her Heiden, and will be one of the last riders to take on Pierre Michelet’s course this afternoon.

“There’s plenty of places you can have a run out so riders definitely need to be concentrating the whole way around, but it’s a good track,” she says. “It should suit horses that riders have a really good partnership with.”

Overnight leader, Swiss rider Felix Vogg, says that the cross-country course is “tough enough”.

“There’s some challenging stuff and plenty of combinations, so riders will need to be on it. It’s going to be hard for our brains and the horses’ brains too.”

You might also be interested in:

PAU-38.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Take a leap of faith: check out the 2022 Pau five-star cross-country course

Pau Horse Trials cross-country times

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pau Horse Trials cross-country times: find out when your favourite riders will be tackling this five-star

Pau Horse Trials dressage results

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I was quite nervous’: five-star winner overcomes atmosphere to sit pretty at the end of Pau five-star dressage

Pau Horse Trials dressage Tom McEwen and Bob Chaplin in their 2022 test

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Variety proves the spice of life for British rider in top three after Pau five-star dressage

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Pau Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full magazine report on Pau Horse Trials in the magazine dated 3 November. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/pau-horse-trials-cross-country-course-riders-thoughts-807952 2ndfup5HtMQfkPTFfNt9dA Sat, 29 Oct 2022 07:13:49 +0000 false false false

Riders have been giving their reactions to the Pau Horse Trials cross-country course, designed by Pierre Michelet.

Cross-country day kicks off at 1pm (12pm British time) today (29 October).

Tom McEwen says: “There’s a lot of decisions to be made. I think you need to be quite quick to decide what to do based on how things going during your round.

“There’s a lot of similar-ish combinations going in different directions so if you don’t get one right, you might have to change your plan.”

Tom is in third and ninth place on Bob Chaplin and Braveheart B respectively after the first phase at Pau.

“I think the first water is quite nice to get us going because obviously we’re quite used to the waters being pretty hefty. I actually think fence four A and B [the Kiosque & pointe de la Ville de Pau] is a tough enough ask – Pierre Michelet always asks a very early decent question in the courses that he builds.”

Fellow Brit, Izzy Taylor, who is in second place after the dressage on Monkeying Around, says that there is “lots to do”.

“I imagine the time will be tight and it will be very easy for us to have an irritating 20 penalties for doing very little wrong,” explains Izzy. “You’ve got to be on it all the way. And, as we know, the fourth last combination always causes trouble, so you’re not home – as I demonstrated last year when I had a fall there – until you’re home.”

Harry Meade, who is in 11th with Tenareze after an impressive first phase performance says that he thinks the course is “really interesting”.

“Pierre Michelet is an extremely interesting course designer,“ he explains. “There’s a lot of questions. There’s a lot of places where you can have tricky little errors, but Pierre has given us choices between going on three or four strides on a repetitive basis throughout the course.

“There’s lots of places you can have a glance off and riders are going to have to concentrate the whole way. It’s obviously not the big, imposing, bold type of course like Burghley, but it’s technically difficult, and you can’t relax until you’ve landed over the last fence.”

Emily King, who is riding Valmy Biats, who scored a competitive 25.5 in the dressage to sit in fifth going into Pau Horse Trials cross-country day, also shared her thoughts on this year’s track.

“I haven’t walked it and felt sick like I have done in the past at Burghley or Badminton, which is nice, but there are so many places for really annoying things to happen – this is a rider accuracy course,” she explains. “If you ride your lines perfectly and your horse is genuine, you should be fine, and then it’ll just be about achieving the optimum time.”

British talent Mollie Summerland is in fourth after the first phase with Charly Van Her Heiden, and will be one of the last riders to take on Pierre Michelet’s course this afternoon.

“There’s plenty of places you can have a run out so riders definitely need to be concentrating the whole way around, but it’s a good track,” she says. “It should suit horses that riders have a really good partnership with.”

Overnight leader, Swiss rider Felix Vogg, says that the cross-country course is “tough enough”.

“There’s some challenging stuff and plenty of combinations, so riders will need to be on it. It’s going to be hard for our brains and the horses’ brains too.”

You might also be interested in:

PAU-38.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Take a leap of faith: check out the 2022 Pau five-star cross-country course

Pau Horse Trials cross-country times

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Pau Horse Trials cross-country times: find out when your favourite riders will be tackling this five-star

Pau Horse Trials dressage results

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

‘I was quite nervous’: five-star winner overcomes atmosphere to sit pretty at the end of Pau five-star dressage

Pau Horse Trials dressage Tom McEwen and Bob Chaplin in their 2022 test

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Variety proves the spice of life for British rider in top three after Pau five-star dressage

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout Pau Horse Trials with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full magazine report on Pau Horse Trials in the magazine dated 3 November. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘There are lots of places to have a whoopsie’: riders reflect on challenge of eventing World Championship cross-country course ]]> The eventing World Championships cross-country course at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, for this week’s event (15-18 September) has been designed by Giuseppe della Chiesa.

It is 5,600m long with an optimum time of 9min 50sec. We’ve asked some of the world’s top riders what they make of the track that they will tackle on Saturday.

Ireland’s Sam Watson says that he thinks it is designed to “catch a few people out”.

“It reminds me of a little bit of the World Equestrian Games track in Tryon in 2018 in the sense it’s not over-big. I think with the way the ground is, the going is always to be good here, so I think the hills are very manageable.”

Sam, who is riding SAP Talisman, believes that although Giuseppe has put in “a good quantity of questions, they’re all jumpable by themselves”.

“I think it’ll be a low-scoring competition. I think we’ll be surprised by how many make the time – there could be over 15, up towards 20, that will make the time, which will make it a very competitive, cutting-edge competition, and that might force more mistakes later on in the competition when people see that actually you’ve got to go out there and perform.”

There are a number of angled questions on the course, which Sam is a fan of.

“There’s a lot of ‘shoulder’ fences for a glance-offs, which I think is the right way to ask questions these days. We want run outs rather than anything else going wrong, so I think Giuseppe has done a good job.”

image00067

One of the ‘shoulder’ fences (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Britain’s Ros Canter says that there are lots of places to “have a whoopsie”.

“It’s definitely a championship course and there’s definitely plenty of questions out there – lots of challenges and I think it’ll be all to play for,” she says.

Ros, who is riding the talented 10-year-old Lordships Graffalo this week points out the KEP Italia Slide at fence 7abc on the eventing World Championships cross-country course as an early question.

“I think it’ll be a relief for everyone to get that Slide out of the way – it comes early on, so I think although we have a lovely uphill pull at the beginning, we could have quite fresh horses coming back down the hill,” she explains.

“And I think there are a couple of clever questions; one at the end as well, where the warm-up is just to the right-hand side, so it’s really about trying to get their focus on the job and not thinking that it is a little cross-country school and that we’re going back to the stables again. There’s lots to think about.”

Fellow British rider Yasmin Ingham agrees with Ros about fence seven.

“The Slide comes up pretty quick, so you might be shocked with that,” explains the 25-year-old, who is riding Banzai du Loir this week. “But it all looks jumpable and it’s over really undulating terrain, with plenty to look at and the waters are difficult too. Then there’s a couple of tricky ones up in the top of the hills too.”

Laura Collett, who went into the dressage lead on Thursday with a score of 19.3, said that it will be a good test on Saturday.

“It’s a proper championship track. I came here in 2005 for the pony Europeans, so I kind of knew roughly what to expect – sadly it’s not going to be a dressage competition,” she explained. “I think it’s full on from start to finish and there’s a lot of head scratching about what the direct route actually is. There’s so many options, so that’s taking a lot of thought to figure it out.”

Eventing World Championships cross-country course: the terrain

Australia’s Shane Rose, who is taking part with the 17-year-old Vigil, says that the course looks “challenging” with its terrain.

“There’s a lot of options and a lot of ways to get in and out of combinations, but I think it’s quite hilly early on with some awful camber that we’ve got to gallop on that I think will knock the horses about a bit,” he explains. “If you take a risk at the end of the course and your horse is tired, then you could have a glance off here and there, right to the second last.”

Shane states that the track is definitely a four-star, as it should be for the eventing World Championship cross-country.

“It’s certainly not five-star level, but I think Giuseppe has also given those less experienced combinations in the field an opportunity to get round with the long routes.”

You may also be interested in…

image00008.jpeg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Would you take this leap into thin air? View the World Championships cross-country course

Sarah Charnley, groom to Ros Canter, with Lordships Graffalo during the World Eventing Championships 2022

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘Lordships Graffalo is an absolute clown’: Sarah Charnley on 10 years grooming for Ros Canter – and juggling it with a full-time job

Yasmin Ingham’s groom Alison Bell

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Meet Yasmin Ingham’s groom Alison Bell: ‘I never thought I would be in this position’

How to watch eventing World Championships: Laura Collett and London 52 will compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch the eventing World Championships: your essential guide

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/eventing-world-championship-cross-country-course-rider-thoughts-802603 aGYCP5EfVoB8AYsG7PSmC Thu, 15 Sep 2022 14:23:12 +0000 false false false

The eventing World Championships cross-country course at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, for this week’s event (15-18 September) has been designed by Giuseppe della Chiesa.

It is 5,600m long with an optimum time of 9min 50sec. We’ve asked some of the world’s top riders what they make of the track that they will tackle on Saturday.

Ireland’s Sam Watson says that he thinks it is designed to “catch a few people out”.

“It reminds me of a little bit of the World Equestrian Games track in Tryon in 2018 in the sense it’s not over-big. I think with the way the ground is, the going is always to be good here, so I think the hills are very manageable.”

Sam, who is riding SAP Talisman, believes that although Giuseppe has put in “a good quantity of questions, they’re all jumpable by themselves”.

“I think it’ll be a low-scoring competition. I think we’ll be surprised by how many make the time – there could be over 15, up towards 20, that will make the time, which will make it a very competitive, cutting-edge competition, and that might force more mistakes later on in the competition when people see that actually you’ve got to go out there and perform.”

There are a number of angled questions on the course, which Sam is a fan of.

“There’s a lot of ‘shoulder’ fences for a glance-offs, which I think is the right way to ask questions these days. We want run outs rather than anything else going wrong, so I think Giuseppe has done a good job.”

image00067

One of the ‘shoulder’ fences (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Britain’s Ros Canter says that there are lots of places to “have a whoopsie”.

“It’s definitely a championship course and there’s definitely plenty of questions out there – lots of challenges and I think it’ll be all to play for,” she says.

Ros, who is riding the talented 10-year-old Lordships Graffalo this week points out the KEP Italia Slide at fence 7abc on the eventing World Championships cross-country course as an early question.

“I think it’ll be a relief for everyone to get that Slide out of the way – it comes early on, so I think although we have a lovely uphill pull at the beginning, we could have quite fresh horses coming back down the hill,” she explains.

“And I think there are a couple of clever questions; one at the end as well, where the warm-up is just to the right-hand side, so it’s really about trying to get their focus on the job and not thinking that it is a little cross-country school and that we’re going back to the stables again. There’s lots to think about.”

Fellow British rider Yasmin Ingham agrees with Ros about fence seven.

“The Slide comes up pretty quick, so you might be shocked with that,” explains the 25-year-old, who is riding Banzai du Loir this week. “But it all looks jumpable and it’s over really undulating terrain, with plenty to look at and the waters are difficult too. Then there’s a couple of tricky ones up in the top of the hills too.”

Laura Collett, who went into the dressage lead on Thursday with a score of 19.3, said that it will be a good test on Saturday.

“It’s a proper championship track. I came here in 2005 for the pony Europeans, so I kind of knew roughly what to expect – sadly it’s not going to be a dressage competition,” she explained. “I think it’s full on from start to finish and there’s a lot of head scratching about what the direct route actually is. There’s so many options, so that’s taking a lot of thought to figure it out.”

Eventing World Championships cross-country course: the terrain

Australia’s Shane Rose, who is taking part with the 17-year-old Vigil, says that the course looks “challenging” with its terrain.

“There’s a lot of options and a lot of ways to get in and out of combinations, but I think it’s quite hilly early on with some awful camber that we’ve got to gallop on that I think will knock the horses about a bit,” he explains. “If you take a risk at the end of the course and your horse is tired, then you could have a glance off here and there, right to the second last.”

Shane states that the track is definitely a four-star, as it should be for the eventing World Championship cross-country.

“It’s certainly not five-star level, but I think Giuseppe has also given those less experienced combinations in the field an opportunity to get round with the long routes.”

You may also be interested in…

image00008.jpeg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Would you take this leap into thin air? View the World Championships cross-country course

Sarah Charnley, groom to Ros Canter, with Lordships Graffalo during the World Eventing Championships 2022

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘Lordships Graffalo is an absolute clown’: Sarah Charnley on 10 years grooming for Ros Canter – and juggling it with a full-time job

Yasmin Ingham’s groom Alison Bell

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Meet Yasmin Ingham’s groom Alison Bell: ‘I never thought I would be in this position’

How to watch eventing World Championships: Laura Collett and London 52 will compete

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch the eventing World Championships: your essential guide

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Keep up with all of the breaking news, behind the scenes insight and the best of the action throughout the World Eventing Championships with no limit on how much you can read from as little as £1 per week with a Horse & Hound unlimited website subscription. Sign up now. Plus enjoy our full 20-page magazine report (on sale 22 September) including opinion from Mark Phillips and ground jury president Christina Klingspor.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the 2022 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course ]]> The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course looks set to be a true challenge for this year’s competitors.

The CCI5*-L Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course features 30 fences over four miles (6,445m) through the iconic Lincolnshire parkland, designed by Derek di Grazia and built by Philip Herbert and his team. The optimum time is set to be 11 minutes 19 seconds, with combinations required to travel at a speed of 570 metres per minute.

Take a look at what horses and riders will tackle on cross-country day (Saturday, 3 September)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course pictures

Fence 1: Defender Starter

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Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

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Fence 3: Pol Roger Table

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Fence 4a, b, c: LeMieux Stable Yard

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Fence 5a, b, c, d and e: Defender Valley direct route

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Defender Valley direct route alternative route

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Fence 6: Oxer over Ditch

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Fence 7a, b, c, d, e and f: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit direct route

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Fence 7a, b, c, d, e and f: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit alternative route

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Fence 8a and b: Defender Valley

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Alternative 8b

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Fence 9: Herbert’s Hollow

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Fence 10a, b, c, d, e and f: Trout Hatchery direct route

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Fence 10b, c, d, e and f: Trout Hatchery alternative route

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Fence 11: Triple Bar

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Fence 12: Household Cavalry Jackboot

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Fence 13: Joules at the Maltings

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Fence 14a, b, c and d: Joules at the Maltings direct route

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Fence 14a, b, c and d: Joules at the Maltings alternative route

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Fence 15: Rolex

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Fence 16a, b: Rolex direct route

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Fence 16a, b: Rolex alternative route

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Fence 17: Defender at the Dairy Farm

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Fence 18a, b and c: Defender at the Dairy Farm

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 18a, b alternative: Defender at the Dairy Farm

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 19a and b: Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 19b alternative: Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 20: Cottesmore Leap

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Fence 20 alternative: Cottesmore Leap

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 21: Pardubice

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Fence 22a and b: Voltaire Design

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 22b alternative: Voltaire Design

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Fences 23: Burghley Barn

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 24: Rolex Grand Slam

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 24 alternative: Rolex Grand Slam

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Fence 25: Agria Equine Lifetime Slate Mine

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 25 alternative: Agria Equine Lifetime Slate Mine

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 26a and b: Boodles Raindance

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 26a alternative: Boodles Raindance

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 27: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 28: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 28 alternative: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 29: Parasol Table

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 30: Defender Finale

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a course walk with Badminton winner and Olympic team gold medallist Laura Collett (issue dated 25 August), plus in the 1 September issue, you’ll be able to read a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider. Read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday, 8 September).

You might also like to read…

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: Laura Collett at the Cottesmore Leap

(Image credit: Future owns)

Watch Laura Collett walk the Burghley Horse Trials course: ‘it will require proper cross-country riding’

Andrew Nicholson wins Burghley Horse Trials 2014 on Avebury

(Image credit: Future owns)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 117: Andrew Nicholson | Burghley preview

Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals: David Doel has withdrawn Galileo Nieuwmoed

(Image credit: Future owns)

Eight horses withdrawn from this week’s Burghley Horse Trials

Burghley Horse Trials riders: Piggy March is among the favourites for the title

(Image credit: Future owns)

10 pairs to watch at Burghley Horse Trials this week – is one of these Britain’s autumn five-star winner?

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future owns)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/burghley-horse-trials-cross-country-course-2022-800355 pkzp2qESmgRyc6c1LGeByR Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:00:51 +0000 false false false

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course looks set to be a true challenge for this year’s competitors.

The CCI5*-L Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course features 30 fences over four miles (6,445m) through the iconic Lincolnshire parkland, designed by Derek di Grazia and built by Philip Herbert and his team. The optimum time is set to be 11 minutes 19 seconds, with combinations required to travel at a speed of 570 metres per minute.

Take a look at what horses and riders will tackle on cross-country day (Saturday, 3 September)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course pictures

Fence 1: Defender Starter

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Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

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Fence 3: Pol Roger Table

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Fence 4a, b, c: LeMieux Stable Yard

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Fence 5a, b, c, d and e: Defender Valley direct route

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Defender Valley direct route alternative route

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Fence 6: Oxer over Ditch

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Fence 7a, b, c, d, e and f: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit direct route

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Fence 7a, b, c, d, e and f: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit alternative route

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Fence 8a and b: Defender Valley

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Alternative 8b

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Fence 9: Herbert’s Hollow

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Fence 10a, b, c, d, e and f: Trout Hatchery direct route

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Fence 10b, c, d, e and f: Trout Hatchery alternative route

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Fence 11: Triple Bar

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Fence 12: Household Cavalry Jackboot

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Fence 13: Joules at the Maltings

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Fence 14a, b, c and d: Joules at the Maltings direct route

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Fence 14a, b, c and d: Joules at the Maltings alternative route

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Fence 15: Rolex

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Fence 16a, b: Rolex direct route

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Fence 16a, b: Rolex alternative route

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Fence 17: Defender at the Dairy Farm

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Fence 18a, b and c: Defender at the Dairy Farm

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Screenshot 2022-08-31 at 16.56.37

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Fence 18a, b alternative: Defender at the Dairy Farm

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19a and b: Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 19b alternative: Fairfax & Favor Boot Racks

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 20: Cottesmore Leap

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Fence 20 alternative: Cottesmore Leap

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 21: Pardubice

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Fence 22a and b: Voltaire Design

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 22b alternative: Voltaire Design

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Fences 23: Burghley Barn

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 24: Rolex Grand Slam

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24 alternative: Rolex Grand Slam

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 25: Agria Equine Lifetime Slate Mine

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 25 alternative: Agria Equine Lifetime Slate Mine

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 26a and b: Boodles Raindance

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 26a alternative: Boodles Raindance

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28 alternative: Lion Bridge

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Parasol Table

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 30: Defender Finale

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a course walk with Badminton winner and Olympic team gold medallist Laura Collett (issue dated 25 August), plus in the 1 September issue, you’ll be able to read a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider. Read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday, 8 September).

You might also like to read…

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course: Laura Collett at the Cottesmore Leap

(Image credit: Future owns)

Watch Laura Collett walk the Burghley Horse Trials course: ‘it will require proper cross-country riding’

Andrew Nicholson wins Burghley Horse Trials 2014 on Avebury

(Image credit: Future owns)

The Horse & Hound Podcast 117: Andrew Nicholson | Burghley preview

Burghley Horse Trials withdrawals: David Doel has withdrawn Galileo Nieuwmoed

(Image credit: Future owns)

Eight horses withdrawn from this week’s Burghley Horse Trials

Burghley Horse Trials riders: Piggy March is among the favourites for the title

(Image credit: Future owns)

10 pairs to watch at Burghley Horse Trials this week – is one of these Britain’s autumn five-star winner?

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future owns)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Risk profiles for cross-country courses could be on the cards thanks to new research ]]> Discussions around making cross-country safer without removing the challenge continue – as new data highlights where risk could potentially be reduced and scope to create course risk profiles.

In a newly published FEI-funded study, researchers at the universities of Glasgow, Bristol and Nottingham Trent aimed to identify cross-country fence risk factors using data from FEI eventing competitions between 2008 and 2018. Fences including corners and trakehners were identified as having increased odds of a horse or rider fall, compared to square spreads – and fences featured later on course, those with an approach and/or landing downhill or into water, and combinations, also had increased risk.

The researchers said it “should be considered” whether it might be possible to design around the “more challenging” fences, and suggestions included ensuring more challenging fences are not “over-represented” in the second half of the course, and including more alternative routes. They said the findings are the “first step” towards building a “risk profile or score” for every FEI cross-country course, which could be used to support the development of horses and riders, and be taken into account for qualification criteria.

Lead author Euan Bennet told H&H that although some of the findings might be “common sense”, the study provides quantification of the data.

“The really important thing that we want people to take away from this is we’re not suggesting that challenging fences should no longer be used – but we think we’ve identified that it’s possible to design around some of these more difficult elements,” he said.

“It’s not about making things easier, it’s about making things safer; having course-design that prioritises safety without detracting from that challenge. We think the results show that’s possible so that’s why we’d like to open up more of a discussion on that.”

Difficulty

The topic of cross-country difficulty and eventing safety and falls has been discussed at length this year, with Bramham course-designer Ian Stark sharing concerns around the sport’s future direction, and riders including Piggy March and Pippa Funnell speaking out against “dumbing down” courses (news, 23 June).

Badminton course-designer Eric Winter told H&H the study is “interesting” but that there is a “difficult line to walk” when it comes to course-design.

“Course-designers don’t want to see a horse on the ground. We absolutely hate that and try to prevent it as much as we possibly can. You don’t get to run a horse round the cross-country beforehand and you can’t tell how things are going to ride. It might ride perfectly for 90 horses and the 91st will fall,” he said.

“Course-design is an art, it’s not a factory-produced widget where thousands come out the same – it’s to do with the piece of ground you have. You could say don’t use downhill stuff and only build on the flat, but when you have horses travelling at 570 metres a minute and they’re a little bit tired, all sorts of unpredictable things can happen.

“It’s a really difficult thing because it’s easy to say X percentage of horse falls were at water jumps – so what do you do about that? You take water out of the competition. Then you say X percent of falls were at fences with a roof over the top, and you take those out. Before long you’ve only got logs left, and you end up galloping around a grass field. Without challenge, there’s no value.”

Mr Winter added that he would like to see future research around qualification.

“There are horses qualifying at the moment without doing some of the key challenges – they’re qualifying at four-star to go five-star without actually landing in a water jump. When a horse at four-star doesn’t have to perform that exercise to qualify, it leaves the sport at risk,” he said.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the study has allowed the FEI to “gather insights” regarding eventing risk management. The FEI eventing risk management steering group will review the conclusions and discuss these at the eventing safety seminar in January.

You might also be interested in:

Piggy-March_BROOKFIELD-QUALITY_Bramham-Inter_PN22_24568.jpg

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Debate rages on ‘dumbing down’ cross-country as safety work continues

Course-designer Ian Stark on Bramham’s cross-country: ‘The sport is vulnerable and we need to ask questions about what direction we’re going in’

cross-country falls

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/eventing-safety-under-discussion-following-new-cross-country-research-798080 dAKjqM3yy1RQxEVa68ZhJZ Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:03:21 +0000 false false false

Discussions around making cross-country safer without removing the challenge continue – as new data highlights where risk could potentially be reduced and scope to create course risk profiles.

In a newly published FEI-funded study, researchers at the universities of Glasgow, Bristol and Nottingham Trent aimed to identify cross-country fence risk factors using data from FEI eventing competitions between 2008 and 2018. Fences including corners and trakehners were identified as having increased odds of a horse or rider fall, compared to square spreads – and fences featured later on course, those with an approach and/or landing downhill or into water, and combinations, also had increased risk.

The researchers said it “should be considered” whether it might be possible to design around the “more challenging” fences, and suggestions included ensuring more challenging fences are not “over-represented” in the second half of the course, and including more alternative routes. They said the findings are the “first step” towards building a “risk profile or score” for every FEI cross-country course, which could be used to support the development of horses and riders, and be taken into account for qualification criteria.

Lead author Euan Bennet told H&H that although some of the findings might be “common sense”, the study provides quantification of the data.

“The really important thing that we want people to take away from this is we’re not suggesting that challenging fences should no longer be used – but we think we’ve identified that it’s possible to design around some of these more difficult elements,” he said.

“It’s not about making things easier, it’s about making things safer; having course-design that prioritises safety without detracting from that challenge. We think the results show that’s possible so that’s why we’d like to open up more of a discussion on that.”

Difficulty

The topic of cross-country difficulty and eventing safety and falls has been discussed at length this year, with Bramham course-designer Ian Stark sharing concerns around the sport’s future direction, and riders including Piggy March and Pippa Funnell speaking out against “dumbing down” courses (news, 23 June).

Badminton course-designer Eric Winter told H&H the study is “interesting” but that there is a “difficult line to walk” when it comes to course-design.

“Course-designers don’t want to see a horse on the ground. We absolutely hate that and try to prevent it as much as we possibly can. You don’t get to run a horse round the cross-country beforehand and you can’t tell how things are going to ride. It might ride perfectly for 90 horses and the 91st will fall,” he said.

“Course-design is an art, it’s not a factory-produced widget where thousands come out the same – it’s to do with the piece of ground you have. You could say don’t use downhill stuff and only build on the flat, but when you have horses travelling at 570 metres a minute and they’re a little bit tired, all sorts of unpredictable things can happen.

“It’s a really difficult thing because it’s easy to say X percentage of horse falls were at water jumps – so what do you do about that? You take water out of the competition. Then you say X percent of falls were at fences with a roof over the top, and you take those out. Before long you’ve only got logs left, and you end up galloping around a grass field. Without challenge, there’s no value.”

Mr Winter added that he would like to see future research around qualification.

“There are horses qualifying at the moment without doing some of the key challenges – they’re qualifying at four-star to go five-star without actually landing in a water jump. When a horse at four-star doesn’t have to perform that exercise to qualify, it leaves the sport at risk,” he said.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the study has allowed the FEI to “gather insights” regarding eventing risk management. The FEI eventing risk management steering group will review the conclusions and discuss these at the eventing safety seminar in January.

You might also be interested in:

Piggy-March_BROOKFIELD-QUALITY_Bramham-Inter_PN22_24568.jpg

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Debate rages on ‘dumbing down’ cross-country as safety work continues

Course-designer Ian Stark on Bramham’s cross-country: ‘The sport is vulnerable and we need to ask questions about what direction we’re going in’

cross-country falls

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘You have to be on your A game’: top riders’ thoughts on Bramham Horse Trials’ cross-country courses ]]> The 2022 Bramham Horse Trials is underway (9–12 June) and top riders have shared their initial thoughts on both the CCI4*-L and Land Rover-sponsored CCI4*-S Bramham Horse Trials cross-country courses with Horse & Hound.

The CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S tracks, designed by Ian Stark, are 5,970m and 3,725m in length respectively and the optimum times for the courses are set to 10min28sec for the CCI4*-L competitors and 6min32sec for those in the CCI4*-S. Combinations in both classes will tackle the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course on Saturday (11 June).

Tom McEwen, who is riding MHS Brown Jack in the CCI4*-S and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce and Dream Big in the CCI4*-L says that the course “looks amazing”.

“You don’t expect anything different now we’ve been here a few times and after Covid, it’s great to be back. It’s really nice to be jumping around one of Ian’s tracks again and I’m really looking forward to getting on and attacking it.”

Tom thinks that there are questions peppered around the entire course for both classes.

“As usual, the waters look like technical questions, but to be honest, I think there’s questions all the way around. I think that there’s quite a few places where you really have to be on your A game. I think the coffins in both the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S are a serious question. The CCI4*-S is a bit tougher than it has sometimes been in the past, but I think that’s really nice so those horses can really learn then hopefully come back next year for the CCI4*-L.

“Overall, the questions are from start to finish with curving lines and skinnies – it builds you into it and it’s a big course throughout – it’s a really great course.”

Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 9a

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Bramham Horse Trials cross-country reactions: ‘It’s a proper four-star’

Izzy Taylor, who won the CCI4*-S here in 2017 aboard Trevidden, has a busy Bramham week ahead of her, bringing forward Hartacker and Happy Days in the CCI4*-S, while she also has Monkeying Around and Ringwood Madras in the CCI4*-L.

“The course looks very good. It’s a proper four-star and it’s a typical Ian Stark track – forward, bold, attacking and with lots of ditches. It looks fantastic – the place looks brilliant – and I think it’ll be a very good competition,” she explained. “I think from word go, you’ve got to be on your A game. It’s the type of course where little cumulative mistakes actually can add up to a big problem or to an expensive problem. So if there is a little problem, you’ve got to get back on it and put the confidence back into the horse as quickly as you can because otherwise it’s not going to want to do it.”

Oliver Townend has As Is in the CCI4*-L and the promising Cooley Rosalent in the CCI4*-S in 2022.

“I haven’t walked the CCI4*-S, but obviously the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S are integrated,” he said. “It’s Bramham and the terrain has a massive part to play. I think it’s big and technical.”

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Keep up-to-date with all the action from Bramham via horseandhound.co.uk and read the full magazine report in the 16 June issue of Horse & Hound

You might also be interested in:

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(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Ready to face Ian Stark’s Bramham CCI4*-L course? Take a virtual walk round the track…

Yasmin Ingham rides Gypsie Du Loir cross-country at Bramham Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Bramham Horse Trials 2026 from anywhere in the world

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/bramham-horse-trials-cross-country-course-rider-thoughts-2022-791083 3t1Mk3KAvqKHPeXxw2Vad9 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 16:57:07 +0000 false false false

The 2022 Bramham Horse Trials is underway (9–12 June) and top riders have shared their initial thoughts on both the CCI4*-L and Land Rover-sponsored CCI4*-S Bramham Horse Trials cross-country courses with Horse & Hound.

The CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S tracks, designed by Ian Stark, are 5,970m and 3,725m in length respectively and the optimum times for the courses are set to 10min28sec for the CCI4*-L competitors and 6min32sec for those in the CCI4*-S. Combinations in both classes will tackle the Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course on Saturday (11 June).

Tom McEwen, who is riding MHS Brown Jack in the CCI4*-S and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce and Dream Big in the CCI4*-L says that the course “looks amazing”.

“You don’t expect anything different now we’ve been here a few times and after Covid, it’s great to be back. It’s really nice to be jumping around one of Ian’s tracks again and I’m really looking forward to getting on and attacking it.”

Tom thinks that there are questions peppered around the entire course for both classes.

“As usual, the waters look like technical questions, but to be honest, I think there’s questions all the way around. I think that there’s quite a few places where you really have to be on your A game. I think the coffins in both the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S are a serious question. The CCI4*-S is a bit tougher than it has sometimes been in the past, but I think that’s really nice so those horses can really learn then hopefully come back next year for the CCI4*-L.

“Overall, the questions are from start to finish with curving lines and skinnies – it builds you into it and it’s a big course throughout – it’s a really great course.”

Bramham Horse Trials cross-country course: fence 9a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Bramham Horse Trials cross-country reactions: ‘It’s a proper four-star’

Izzy Taylor, who won the CCI4*-S here in 2017 aboard Trevidden, has a busy Bramham week ahead of her, bringing forward Hartacker and Happy Days in the CCI4*-S, while she also has Monkeying Around and Ringwood Madras in the CCI4*-L.

“The course looks very good. It’s a proper four-star and it’s a typical Ian Stark track – forward, bold, attacking and with lots of ditches. It looks fantastic – the place looks brilliant – and I think it’ll be a very good competition,” she explained. “I think from word go, you’ve got to be on your A game. It’s the type of course where little cumulative mistakes actually can add up to a big problem or to an expensive problem. So if there is a little problem, you’ve got to get back on it and put the confidence back into the horse as quickly as you can because otherwise it’s not going to want to do it.”

Oliver Townend has As Is in the CCI4*-L and the promising Cooley Rosalent in the CCI4*-S in 2022.

“I haven’t walked the CCI4*-S, but obviously the CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S are integrated,” he said. “It’s Bramham and the terrain has a massive part to play. I think it’s big and technical.”

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Keep up-to-date with all the action from Bramham via horseandhound.co.uk and read the full magazine report in the 16 June issue of Horse & Hound

You might also be interested in:

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(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Ready to face Ian Stark’s Bramham CCI4*-L course? Take a virtual walk round the track…

Yasmin Ingham rides Gypsie Du Loir cross-country at Bramham Horse Trials

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Bramham Horse Trials 2026 from anywhere in the world

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘A tough track requiring instinctive riding’: how Badminton’s cross-country course is riding so far ]]> Eric Winter’s track is proving every bit a five-star test in the early stages at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country, at the event sponsored by Mars Equestrian. The pathfinder Kirsty Chabert was eliminated at the second Nyetimber Corner at 20, while the dressage runner-up Tom McEwen’s Toledo De Kerser had a fall at the bounce while putting in his usual dazzlingly brilliant round.

During the first third of the field, there was just two riders round inside the time. Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and his Olympic ride Colorado Blue, looks set to climb a long way up from 58th after phase one after stopping the clock four seconds inside.

“After the Olympics, a lot of people said he was one of the best cross-country horses in the world, and it’s up to me not to let him down,” said Austin. “It’s very tough. Dimensionally from the beginning everything is an effort. It’s really good cross-country because you’ve got to mix it up. You walk a distance but you don’t necessarily stay on the distance, it’s instinctive riding. Very good course-designing.”

Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs sauntered through the finish eight seconds inside the time. However he was later judged not to have jumped the pimple at the Quarry (fence 4C), when the grey took off a whole stride early and Oliver did well to stay on.

Meanwhile, Piggy March and Vanir Kamira showed just why they are defending champions after an early fright leaving a leg in Huntsman’s Close. They stopped the clock just one second outside the optimum.

Badminton final scores

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: plenty of action

There was early drama with Toledo’s tumble being followed two rides later by a nasty fall for the European champion JL Dublin and Nicola Wilson at the Mars M flower box at 27. This fence was subsequently removed. Nicola was taken to hospital for scans and is reported to be stable. The horse got straight up after the fall.

There was a third horse fall before lunchtime, when Cathal Daniels’ ride Barrichello popped in an extra stride at the Savills Hay Feeders (fence 29B) and somersaulted. Happily both horse and rider were quickly up on their feet and walked away.

There have also been two rider falls – Ben Hobday was just tipped off Shadow Man at the Mars M (fence 26), which also put paid to US rider Lillian Heard’s chances on LCC Barnaby.

Two riders so far have retired – Pippa Funnell had an uncomfortable jump when Billy Walk On ploughed through the C element at the KBIS Brush Village (14ABC) and the bay then refused the rolltop into water a few fences later. Having jumped through that complex neatly, Pippa put up her hand to retire. And Kiwi rider Bundy Philpott also called it a day on Tresca NZPH at the Nyetimber Corners.

Helen Wilson was eliminated after cumulative refusals on My Ernie, with her bid ending at the solar panels bounce.

‘It’s whoa, whoa, boom’

Riders unanimously agree that the course is tough, big from the outset and very intense.

William Fox-Pitt finished seven seconds outside the time on his first ride Oratorio, and said that it was “exciting to ride”.

“Although everything is fair and in front of you, there’s quite a lot of yanking left and two strides straight to a jump,” he said. “Even three strides away sometimes you cannot see the fence, so there’s a lot of whoa, whoa, whoa, boom! So you need a horse that’s listening enough on that turn, and quick enough to pick things up. There’s quite repetitively left, jerk, jump, whether you’re at the Quarry or the Lake or Huntsman’s. I think there’s only right turn, so that’s probably what’s catching people out. They haven’t got time to get straight, balanced and get up. I think they’re a bit surprised.

“I was so pleased with my horse. He was really genuine, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue and keep fully up-to-date with all the action during Badminton week via horseandhound.co.uk, where a host of features and reports will be published.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: Andrew Hoy gives his insight on the 2022 course

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Watch Andrew Hoy walk the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘A true five-star test’

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country Ros Canter

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Ros Canter clear with Allstar B after two contenders fail to complete Badminton cross-country

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-how-the-course-is-riding-787008 5aPxaCZZ4a2QayKF4zwbWr Sat, 07 May 2022 12:50:40 +0000 false false false

Eric Winter’s track is proving every bit a five-star test in the early stages at the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country, at the event sponsored by Mars Equestrian. The pathfinder Kirsty Chabert was eliminated at the second Nyetimber Corner at 20, while the dressage runner-up Tom McEwen’s Toledo De Kerser had a fall at the bounce while putting in his usual dazzlingly brilliant round.

During the first third of the field, there was just two riders round inside the time. Ireland’s Austin O’Connor and his Olympic ride Colorado Blue, looks set to climb a long way up from 58th after phase one after stopping the clock four seconds inside.

“After the Olympics, a lot of people said he was one of the best cross-country horses in the world, and it’s up to me not to let him down,” said Austin. “It’s very tough. Dimensionally from the beginning everything is an effort. It’s really good cross-country because you’ve got to mix it up. You walk a distance but you don’t necessarily stay on the distance, it’s instinctive riding. Very good course-designing.”

Oliver Townend and Swallow Springs sauntered through the finish eight seconds inside the time. However he was later judged not to have jumped the pimple at the Quarry (fence 4C), when the grey took off a whole stride early and Oliver did well to stay on.

Meanwhile, Piggy March and Vanir Kamira showed just why they are defending champions after an early fright leaving a leg in Huntsman’s Close. They stopped the clock just one second outside the optimum.

Badminton final scores

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country: plenty of action

There was early drama with Toledo’s tumble being followed two rides later by a nasty fall for the European champion JL Dublin and Nicola Wilson at the Mars M flower box at 27. This fence was subsequently removed. Nicola was taken to hospital for scans and is reported to be stable. The horse got straight up after the fall.

There was a third horse fall before lunchtime, when Cathal Daniels’ ride Barrichello popped in an extra stride at the Savills Hay Feeders (fence 29B) and somersaulted. Happily both horse and rider were quickly up on their feet and walked away.

There have also been two rider falls – Ben Hobday was just tipped off Shadow Man at the Mars M (fence 26), which also put paid to US rider Lillian Heard’s chances on LCC Barnaby.

Two riders so far have retired – Pippa Funnell had an uncomfortable jump when Billy Walk On ploughed through the C element at the KBIS Brush Village (14ABC) and the bay then refused the rolltop into water a few fences later. Having jumped through that complex neatly, Pippa put up her hand to retire. And Kiwi rider Bundy Philpott also called it a day on Tresca NZPH at the Nyetimber Corners.

Helen Wilson was eliminated after cumulative refusals on My Ernie, with her bid ending at the solar panels bounce.

‘It’s whoa, whoa, boom’

Riders unanimously agree that the course is tough, big from the outset and very intense.

William Fox-Pitt finished seven seconds outside the time on his first ride Oratorio, and said that it was “exciting to ride”.

“Although everything is fair and in front of you, there’s quite a lot of yanking left and two strides straight to a jump,” he said. “Even three strides away sometimes you cannot see the fence, so there’s a lot of whoa, whoa, whoa, boom! So you need a horse that’s listening enough on that turn, and quick enough to pick things up. There’s quite repetitively left, jerk, jump, whether you’re at the Quarry or the Lake or Huntsman’s. I think there’s only right turn, so that’s probably what’s catching people out. They haven’t got time to get straight, balanced and get up. I think they’re a bit surprised.

“I was so pleased with my horse. He was really genuine, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue and keep fully up-to-date with all the action during Badminton week via horseandhound.co.uk, where a host of features and reports will be published.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: Andrew Hoy gives his insight on the 2022 course

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Watch Andrew Hoy walk the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘A true five-star test’

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country Ros Canter

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Ros Canter clear with Allstar B after two contenders fail to complete Badminton cross-country

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Would you jump these? Take a virtual walk around the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2022 ]]> With competition about to get underway properly at the 2022 Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Saturday 7 May. The course is approximately 6,700m in length and has an optimum time of 11min45sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Fence one: Spillers Starter

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence two: Mike Weaver’s Haywain

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Badminton final scores

Fence three: The Badminton Logs

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence four ABC: HorseQuest Quarry

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence four BC alternative route

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence five: RDA Fundraiser

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence six ABC: Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence seven: Pedigree Kennels

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence eight: Lightsource bp Lower Lake

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence nine/10AB:Badminton Lake

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 10B

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 11: World Horse Welfare Lakeside

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 12AB: Clarence Court Egg Boxes

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 13: Ford Broken Bridge

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 14ABC: KBIS Brush Village

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 15: Mars Equestrian Footbridge

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 16: Countryside Alliance Roll Top Brush

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 17AB: Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 18ABC: LeMieux Leap

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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Fence in front will be removed prior to competition (Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 18C

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 19AB/20: Nyetimber Corners

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 19A

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 19B

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 21/22: Rolex Rails

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 21

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 22

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 23AB: Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 23AB

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 24ABCD: Lightsource bp Solar Farm

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 24ABCD

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 25: Badminton Collection Flower Boxes

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 26AB/27: Mars M

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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Fence 28: Brewers Barrels

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 29AB: Saville Hay Feeder

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Riders can choose which part B they want to take from the three boxes below

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 30: Joules Keepers Brush (riders can choose to jump either the left-handed or right-handed house)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 31: Rolex Trunk (fencing will be removed)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 32: Platinum Jubilee

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times 2022: Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser have an early draw

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times released: when does your favourite start?

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day tickets have sold out

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Badminton sells out cross-country day as site at capacity

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: Andrew Hoy gives his insight on the 2022 course

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Watch Andrew Hoy walk the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘A true five-star test’

Badminton Horse Trials things to do– Bubby Upton and Cola on the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials 2023.

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

11 things you absolutely must do and see if you’re going to Badminton Horse Trials

Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses to watch: Laura Collett and London 52

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

21 pairs to watch at Badminton Horse Trials: will one of these riders win this week’s five-star?

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/would-you-jump-these-take-a-virtual-walk-around-the-badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-2022-786271 wec9NehqMmgYY8W8f2pmnH Wed, 04 May 2022 20:16:54 +0000 false false false

With competition about to get underway properly at the 2022 Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on the cross-country course on Saturday 7 May. The course is approximately 6,700m in length and has an optimum time of 11min45sec. Designed by Eric Winter, how will this year’s Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ride?

Fence one: Spillers Starter

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence two: Mike Weaver’s Haywain

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Badminton final scores

Fence three: The Badminton Logs

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence four ABC: HorseQuest Quarry

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence four BC alternative route

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence five: RDA Fundraiser

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence six ABC: Voltaire Design Huntsman’s Close

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence seven: Pedigree Kennels

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence eight: Lightsource bp Lower Lake

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence nine/10AB:Badminton Lake

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 10B

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 11: World Horse Welfare Lakeside

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 12AB: Clarence Court Egg Boxes

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 13: Ford Broken Bridge

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 14ABC: KBIS Brush Village

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 15: Mars Equestrian Footbridge

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 16: Countryside Alliance Roll Top Brush

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 17AB: Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 18ABC: LeMieux Leap

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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Fence in front will be removed prior to competition (Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 18C

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 19AB/20: Nyetimber Corners

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 19A

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 19B

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 21/22: Rolex Rails

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 21

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 22

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 23AB: Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 23AB

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

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(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 24ABCD: Lightsource bp Solar Farm

image00015

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

image00013

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Alternative fence 24ABCD

image00016

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

image00014

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

image00012

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 25: Badminton Collection Flower Boxes

image00011

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 26AB/27: Mars M

image00010

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00009

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

image00008

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Brewers Barrels

image00007

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 29AB: Saville Hay Feeder

image00006

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Riders can choose which part B they want to take from the three boxes below

image00003

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 30: Joules Keepers Brush (riders can choose to jump either the left-handed or right-handed house)

image00002

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 31: Rolex Trunk (fencing will be removed)

image00001

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Fence 32: Platinum Jubilee

image00065

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP FREE REUSE)

Read our full Badminton form guide in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (issue dated 5 May 2022). Our bumper 20-page Badminton report will be in our 12 May issue.

You might also be interested in:

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times 2022: Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser have an early draw

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Badminton Horse Trials dressage times released: when does your favourite start?

Emily King jumps Valmy Biats into water in front of the house at Badminton Horse Trials

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials live from anywhere in the world

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country day tickets have sold out

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Badminton sells out cross-country day as site at capacity

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: Andrew Hoy gives his insight on the 2022 course

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Watch Andrew Hoy walk the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course: ‘A true five-star test’

Badminton Horse Trials things to do– Bubby Upton and Cola on the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials 2023.

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

11 things you absolutely must do and see if you’re going to Badminton Horse Trials

Badminton Horse Trials riders and horses to watch: Laura Collett and London 52

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

21 pairs to watch at Badminton Horse Trials: will one of these riders win this week’s five-star?

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: GEMMA REDRUP)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Find your next set of cross-country colours here ]]> The best cross-country colours will make you easily identifiable while you’re out on course and can help riders build their brand. But they’ll also allow you to express your personality, while making sure you look great in all your photos. It’s possible to customise your cross-country colours to the nth degree, so whether you prefer the “less is more” look or you’re after a complete matchy-matchy eventing wardrobe – including your base layer, saddle pad, cross-country boots and body protector – there is something for everyone.

Looking for matchy-matchy instead? Check out our guide to the best matchy-matchy sets.

Best cross-country colours

QHP Q-cross Vegas sport shirt 

(Image credit: QHP)

QHP Q-cross Vegas sport shirt

Colours: 4 options | Sizes: 6–16 | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £29.99

This quick-dry, stretchy, breathable base layer from QHP features large stars on the arms, contrasting under-arms and a quarter zip with a hidden motivational message. Matching silk available. 

View now at equus.co.uk

LeMieux My LeMieux base layer

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

LeMieux My LeMieux base layer

Colours: 14 options | Sizes: XXS–XL | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £39.95 

These base layers from LeMieux are designed to be coordinated with the rest of your wardrobe. Made of a sweat-wicking, thermal and anti-microbial material that offers a stylish tailored fit. Matching silk also available.

View now at amazon.co.uk, equus.co.uk, naylors.com or elandlodge.com

Hy baselayer

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Hy Sport Active base layer

Colours: 9 options | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £29.99

This close-fit base layer is soft and breathable fabric with a four way stretch. It has a zip at the neck and the Hy Sport Active emblem on the sleeve. Matching hat silk with a stiff peak also available.

View now at equus.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Custom XC cross-country set

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Custom XC cross-country set

Colours: 17 options and 10 patterns | Sizes: XS–XXL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £38 |

Use the online design tool to create your own personalised colours by customising the front, back, sleeves and silk. Choose from a wide range of print colours and designs to coordinate your look.

SXC Custom XC Colours

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

SXC Custom XC colours

Colours: 19 options and 11 patterns | Sizes: 6–16 | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £48.99 

Design your own SXC cross-country colours with hundreds of variations to choose from. Includes a matching hat silks, with optional wool or faux fur pompom. Items can also be purchased separately.

Equetech Spectrum cross-country shirt 

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Equetech Spectrum cross-country shirt

Colours: 22 options and 12 patterns | Sizes: XS–L | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £66.50 

Design your own cross-country eventing shirt in Equetech’s online design lab. Choose from 22 colours and 12 patterns, and add optional sponsor or club logos, etc. Custom lycra hat silks also available.

Stockinjur Elevation XC set 

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Stockinjur Elevation XC set

Colours: 26 options | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £52.99

Choose from 43 different print colours and add an optional pom pom to your hat silk with this Stockinjur set. Items can also be personalised with initials.

GG Gear cross-country base layer and hat silk set

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

GG Gear cross-country base layer and hat silk set

Colours: 15 options and 12 patterns | Sizes: XS–XXL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £49

Create some cross-country colours to suit your taste with this great range of colours and patterns. Add an optional pom-pom to the hat silk, too. 

Miranda Theobald eventing colours

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Miranda Theobald eventing colours

Colours: Contact for colours | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching available | RRP: From £75 

These cross-country shirts are made of hard-wearing cotton and feature a high neck and half zip. Choose from a range of designs and add optional logos. Matching hat silk also available.

You might also like:

Woof Wear matchy matchy set

(Image credit: Equigram)

10 matchy-matchy sets to keep you right on trend

Woman jumping horse in a bright pink base layer

(Image credit: Equigram)

Base layers in a wide range of colours and styles

mary-king-mug-1-e1533737855403.jpg

(Image credit: Equigram)

What do cross-country colours actually mean?

Equestrian PR and marketing consultant Rhea Freeman gets the low down on what a rider’s cross-country colours mean — and

Three horse riders of different ages wearing body protectors

(Image credit: Equigram)

11 of the best body protectors that meet the current standards

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Equigram)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//buyers-guides/best-xc-colours-738297 vk8fH9LU2HYTHxwdVBHVc2 Fri, 25 Feb 2022 08:25:37 +0000 false false false

The best cross-country colours will make you easily identifiable while you’re out on course and can help riders build their brand. But they’ll also allow you to express your personality, while making sure you look great in all your photos. It’s possible to customise your cross-country colours to the nth degree, so whether you prefer the “less is more” look or you’re after a complete matchy-matchy eventing wardrobe – including your base layer, saddle pad, cross-country boots and body protector – there is something for everyone.

Looking for matchy-matchy instead? Check out our guide to the best matchy-matchy sets.

Best cross-country colours

QHP Q-cross Vegas sport shirt 

(Image credit: QHP)

QHP Q-cross Vegas sport shirt

Colours: 4 options | Sizes: 6–16 | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £29.99

This quick-dry, stretchy, breathable base layer from QHP features large stars on the arms, contrasting under-arms and a quarter zip with a hidden motivational message. Matching silk available. 

View now at equus.co.uk

LeMieux My LeMieux base layer

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

LeMieux My LeMieux base layer

Colours: 14 options | Sizes: XXS–XL | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £39.95 

These base layers from LeMieux are designed to be coordinated with the rest of your wardrobe. Made of a sweat-wicking, thermal and anti-microbial material that offers a stylish tailored fit. Matching silk also available.

View now at amazon.co.uk, equus.co.uk, naylors.com or elandlodge.com

Hy baselayer

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Hy Sport Active base layer

Colours: 9 options | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: No | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £29.99

This close-fit base layer is soft and breathable fabric with a four way stretch. It has a zip at the neck and the Hy Sport Active emblem on the sleeve. Matching hat silk with a stiff peak also available.

View now at equus.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Custom XC cross-country set

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Custom XC cross-country set

Colours: 17 options and 10 patterns | Sizes: XS–XXL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £38 |

Use the online design tool to create your own personalised colours by customising the front, back, sleeves and silk. Choose from a wide range of print colours and designs to coordinate your look.

SXC Custom XC Colours

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

SXC Custom XC colours

Colours: 19 options and 11 patterns | Sizes: 6–16 | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £48.99 

Design your own SXC cross-country colours with hundreds of variations to choose from. Includes a matching hat silks, with optional wool or faux fur pompom. Items can also be purchased separately.

Equetech Spectrum cross-country shirt 

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Equetech Spectrum cross-country shirt

Colours: 22 options and 12 patterns | Sizes: XS–L | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching available | RRP: £66.50 

Design your own cross-country eventing shirt in Equetech’s online design lab. Choose from 22 colours and 12 patterns, and add optional sponsor or club logos, etc. Custom lycra hat silks also available.

Stockinjur Elevation XC set 

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Stockinjur Elevation XC set

Colours: 26 options | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £52.99

Choose from 43 different print colours and add an optional pom pom to your hat silk with this Stockinjur set. Items can also be personalised with initials.

GG Gear cross-country base layer and hat silk set

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

GG Gear cross-country base layer and hat silk set

Colours: 15 options and 12 patterns | Sizes: XS–XXL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching included | RRP: From £49

Create some cross-country colours to suit your taste with this great range of colours and patterns. Add an optional pom-pom to the hat silk, too. 

Miranda Theobald eventing colours

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Miranda Theobald eventing colours

Colours: Contact for colours | Sizes: XS–XL | Customisable: Yes | Silk: Matching available | RRP: From £75 

These cross-country shirts are made of hard-wearing cotton and feature a high neck and half zip. Choose from a range of designs and add optional logos. Matching hat silk also available.

You might also like:

Woof Wear matchy matchy set

(Image credit: Equigram)

10 matchy-matchy sets to keep you right on trend

Woman jumping horse in a bright pink base layer

(Image credit: Equigram)

Base layers in a wide range of colours and styles

mary-king-mug-1-e1533737855403.jpg

(Image credit: Equigram)

What do cross-country colours actually mean?

Equestrian PR and marketing consultant Rhea Freeman gets the low down on what a rider’s cross-country colours mean — and

Three horse riders of different ages wearing body protectors

(Image credit: Equigram)

11 of the best body protectors that meet the current standards

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Equigram)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

]]> <![CDATA[ And now for something completely different… The Whitaker family goes cross-country ]]> The Whitaker name is synonymous with the sport of showjumping, so seeing the legendary family tackle some cross-country fences caught us all by surprise.

But, as Robert Whitaker tells Horse & Hound, they loved every minute of the experience. He and his wife Kate took their daughters Evie, eight, and five-year-old Millie, both keen riders, to a local cross-country schooling venue near Lingfield, Surrey, and as these pictures show, it all came naturally to this gifted equestrian clan.

“We’ve taken them once before and they loved popping over some small logs and cross-country fences,” says Robert.

Evie is mounted on the lovely 12.2hh Buttons, with whom she has been showjumping competitively in classes between 60cm and 80cm, while her younger sister Millie is riding the sweet grey pony called Magnum. Both are clearly showing huge talent in the saddle, clearing the fences in great style.

06BD1992-BB86-4D22-8E9F-3E2D3412008E

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I think it’s good for them to do a bit of everything,” Robert tells H&H. “They are really keen and it’s great that we can all go out and do something together. They’re enjoying it all and having fun, which is the main thing.

“Evie’s done a bit of Pony Club and been to Pony Club camp – it’s the best way to learn.”

A photo posted by

But even Robert admitted he’d benefitted from the experience with the eight-year-old I’m Special Too, who has been showjumping successfully up to CSI3* level, but was equally in his element over these rustic obstacles.

“He’d never been cross-country before but he’s maybe a bit spooky at shows, so it was good to do something different,” he says. “I didn’t jump anything too massive! But it was good to have a play around and show him a few different natural fences.”

Might we see the Whitaker name on the start list at Badminton or Burghley? Watch this space…

You might also be interested in:

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Courtesy of Robert Whitaker)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/and-now-for-something-completely-different-the-whitaker-family-goes-cross-country-767585 95w7L4oFPUc2B6eLHQqsNR Sat, 30 Oct 2021 12:02:17 +0000 false false false

The Whitaker name is synonymous with the sport of showjumping, so seeing the legendary family tackle some cross-country fences caught us all by surprise.

But, as Robert Whitaker tells Horse & Hound, they loved every minute of the experience. He and his wife Kate took their daughters Evie, eight, and five-year-old Millie, both keen riders, to a local cross-country schooling venue near Lingfield, Surrey, and as these pictures show, it all came naturally to this gifted equestrian clan.

“We’ve taken them once before and they loved popping over some small logs and cross-country fences,” says Robert.

Evie is mounted on the lovely 12.2hh Buttons, with whom she has been showjumping competitively in classes between 60cm and 80cm, while her younger sister Millie is riding the sweet grey pony called Magnum. Both are clearly showing huge talent in the saddle, clearing the fences in great style.

06BD1992-BB86-4D22-8E9F-3E2D3412008E

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I think it’s good for them to do a bit of everything,” Robert tells H&H. “They are really keen and it’s great that we can all go out and do something together. They’re enjoying it all and having fun, which is the main thing.

“Evie’s done a bit of Pony Club and been to Pony Club camp – it’s the best way to learn.”

A photo posted by

But even Robert admitted he’d benefitted from the experience with the eight-year-old I’m Special Too, who has been showjumping successfully up to CSI3* level, but was equally in his element over these rustic obstacles.

“He’d never been cross-country before but he’s maybe a bit spooky at shows, so it was good to do something different,” he says. “I didn’t jump anything too massive! But it was good to have a play around and show him a few different natural fences.”

Might we see the Whitaker name on the start list at Badminton or Burghley? Watch this space…

You might also be interested in:

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Courtesy of Robert Whitaker)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Eventing risk profiles could help reduce cross-country falls ]]> RISK profiles could be constructed for combinations competing at international level aimed at reducing the number of cross-country falls, with the help of previous competition data.

In an FEI-commissioned study, FEI eventing: Risk factors for horse falls and unseated riders during the cross-country phase (2008–2018), researchers from the University of Bristol and Nottingham Trent University analysed data from 187,602 horse starts in the cross-country phase of FEI events between January 2008 and December 2018. Of these starts, 2,894 horse falls were recorded and 6,557 unseated riders.

A statistical model was used to identify potential risk factors that could be applied to combinations, based on their individual history and course-level factors. Findings included that combinations competing at two-star and above and over longer courses were at increased odds of a horse fall or unseated rider, compared to those competing at one-star. Mares were found to be at increased odds of a fall compared to geldings and stallions, as were horses with a previous fall at an FEI event compared to horses who had never fallen at an FEI competition. Male riders are at greater odds of having a horse fall compared to females, and combinations who recorded a dressage score of 50 or more were at an increased risk of a horse fall or unseated rider.

Lead author Euan Bennet, who has worked on similar research for the FEI in endurance, told H&H that as the study is multivariable, the results take everything into account.

“The findings show there are things that can be changed and done to reduce the chance of horse falls and unseated riders, such as looking at minimum eligibility requirements [MERs],” he said. “There are things that can’t be changed, such as rider or horse age or sex, but that doesn’t mean that we should just ignore them – it’s when we talk about building a risk profile these things should be taken into consideration.

“This data is about probabilities and we would never say don’t ride because you’re going to have a fall, but we might say what we can see is according to your risk profile you’re in the top 5% at risk of a fall.”

Dr Bennet hopes to meet the FEI eventing committee shortly to review the data and the study’s recommendations.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the study was commissioned as part of its global injury surveillance project aimed at identifying risk factors for horse injuries, particularly those that may have a catastrophic outcome.

“The study reinforces the findings identified by the eventing risk management analysis in risk factors of horse falls in cross-country since 2000. Results from the various studies are used for policy making and technical improvements, allowing the eventing committee to take relevant and informed decisions,” said the spokesman, adding that updates to MERs are being made each year taking into account conclusions of the eventing risk management expert group and the eventing committee based on data collected at all international events for the past 20 years.

Geoff Sinclair of the FEI eventing risk management steering group added that over the period of the study, the number of starts in international eventing increased 50% globally, particularly in the new short format.

“The quality and detail of reporting into falls and injuries has also become far more comprehensive and is reported annually. In 2016 the FEI formed the risk management steering group who have analysed many variables in falls such as MERs, frangible devices and course. Dozens of recommendations from this group have been implemented by the eventing committee and have resulted in significant reduction in rotational falls.”

Jonathan Clissold, FEI national safety officer for British Eventing (BE) told H&H BE “fully supports” the study, adding that BE has also worked on similar projects with researcher Heather Cameron-Whytock looking at risk factors in cross-country falls in BE competitions.

“The recommendation from this work of individual risk assessments at all levels is something BE is already doing and developing further for next year through the EquiRatings quality index (EQRI),” he said.

You might also be interested in:

British Eventing scrapping ballot system and new approach to fixtures list

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

Huge drop in horse falls at British events sparks questions and theories

A 33% reduction in horse falls has sparked questions, while British Eventing considers additional new safety measures

frangible cross-country fences

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

New rotationals falls research is a ‘vital’ safety step

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/eventing-risk-profiles-could-help-reduce-cross-country-falls-766966 cDPfqYhewhP8FqqtRhhk9c Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:33:42 +0000 false false false

RISK profiles could be constructed for combinations competing at international level aimed at reducing the number of cross-country falls, with the help of previous competition data.

In an FEI-commissioned study, FEI eventing: Risk factors for horse falls and unseated riders during the cross-country phase (2008–2018), researchers from the University of Bristol and Nottingham Trent University analysed data from 187,602 horse starts in the cross-country phase of FEI events between January 2008 and December 2018. Of these starts, 2,894 horse falls were recorded and 6,557 unseated riders.

A statistical model was used to identify potential risk factors that could be applied to combinations, based on their individual history and course-level factors. Findings included that combinations competing at two-star and above and over longer courses were at increased odds of a horse fall or unseated rider, compared to those competing at one-star. Mares were found to be at increased odds of a fall compared to geldings and stallions, as were horses with a previous fall at an FEI event compared to horses who had never fallen at an FEI competition. Male riders are at greater odds of having a horse fall compared to females, and combinations who recorded a dressage score of 50 or more were at an increased risk of a horse fall or unseated rider.

Lead author Euan Bennet, who has worked on similar research for the FEI in endurance, told H&H that as the study is multivariable, the results take everything into account.

“The findings show there are things that can be changed and done to reduce the chance of horse falls and unseated riders, such as looking at minimum eligibility requirements [MERs],” he said. “There are things that can’t be changed, such as rider or horse age or sex, but that doesn’t mean that we should just ignore them – it’s when we talk about building a risk profile these things should be taken into consideration.

“This data is about probabilities and we would never say don’t ride because you’re going to have a fall, but we might say what we can see is according to your risk profile you’re in the top 5% at risk of a fall.”

Dr Bennet hopes to meet the FEI eventing committee shortly to review the data and the study’s recommendations.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the study was commissioned as part of its global injury surveillance project aimed at identifying risk factors for horse injuries, particularly those that may have a catastrophic outcome.

“The study reinforces the findings identified by the eventing risk management analysis in risk factors of horse falls in cross-country since 2000. Results from the various studies are used for policy making and technical improvements, allowing the eventing committee to take relevant and informed decisions,” said the spokesman, adding that updates to MERs are being made each year taking into account conclusions of the eventing risk management expert group and the eventing committee based on data collected at all international events for the past 20 years.

Geoff Sinclair of the FEI eventing risk management steering group added that over the period of the study, the number of starts in international eventing increased 50% globally, particularly in the new short format.

“The quality and detail of reporting into falls and injuries has also become far more comprehensive and is reported annually. In 2016 the FEI formed the risk management steering group who have analysed many variables in falls such as MERs, frangible devices and course. Dozens of recommendations from this group have been implemented by the eventing committee and have resulted in significant reduction in rotational falls.”

Jonathan Clissold, FEI national safety officer for British Eventing (BE) told H&H BE “fully supports” the study, adding that BE has also worked on similar projects with researcher Heather Cameron-Whytock looking at risk factors in cross-country falls in BE competitions.

“The recommendation from this work of individual risk assessments at all levels is something BE is already doing and developing further for next year through the EquiRatings quality index (EQRI),” he said.

You might also be interested in:

British Eventing scrapping ballot system and new approach to fixtures list

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

Huge drop in horse falls at British events sparks questions and theories

A 33% reduction in horse falls has sparked questions, while British Eventing considers additional new safety measures

frangible cross-country fences

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

New rotationals falls research is a ‘vital’ safety step

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Benjamin Clarke Photography)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘Like we’ve come out of a washing machine’: top riders’ thoughts on European Eventing Championships cross-country course ]]> Some of the world’s top riders have shared their thoughts on this year’s European Eventing Championships cross-country course, which has been designed by Mike Etherington-Smith.

There are 32 numbered fences and the optimum time is 10min 7sec for the 2021 European Eventing Championships cross-country course in Avenches, Switzerland.

“It is a real championship course and I’m going to have to walk it a lot of times because there’s great potential for getting lost and going the wrong way up strings,” explained Piggy March. “There’s plenty of places to just run off things and it’s very technical. The single fences are all big enough too with a lot of twists and turns, so we have got to be on our A game. For sure it’s not going to be a dressage competition.”

Piggy highlighted fence six (pictured above) as a possible early problem for riders.

“It’s a very big fence on an angle, with a bunch of trees just to the side that can put you off your line if you were to spook – that would be a fence that I will look at quite a lot. I think the time will be tight as it is such a twisty track.”

Izzy Taylor agreed with Piggy, saying “it’s definitely not all going to be based on the dressage”, and warned that riders might be “lulled into a false sense of security” early on, but said that “by the end I think we’re going to feel like we’ve come out of a washing machine – there’s a lot to do out there, a lot, but it’s a very good track.”

Sam Watson felt some riders might make the mistake of thinking Mike Etherington-Smith’s track is softer than it is.

“You might think for the first seven or eight minutes that he’s built a slightly softer championship,” Sam explained. “Then jeez, it turns into a proper championship course in the last two minutes, which I think is so clever. You’ve only got 10 minutes, which is all there is space-wise here, and he’s looped us a good bit which I think will mentally be quite tiring for the horses and will slow us down a little bit.”

Sam highlighted the end of the course as a place where riders could run into trouble.

“To put the questions at the end is much more difficult for horses when they’re not so fresh and I think it’s a very clever course. I think the good ones will fly around and will go inside the time, but I think you have to have a very good horse [to do that].”

Germany’s Christoph Wahler echoed Sam’s sentiments about the layout of the course.

“It is very twisty, but with some very nice fences in the way they’re designed,” he explained. “It won’t ride very soft and easy with regards to all the turns and the changes of direction. It will be a little bit like driving a golf cart.”

You might also be interested in:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course 2021: fence 28b

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

The fences the Brits have to jump to win medals: photos of the European Eventing Championships cross-country course

European Eventing Championships dressage Piggy MARCH (GBR) riding Brookfield Inocent during the dressage phase at the FEI Eventing European Championships at Avenches held at IENA in Switzerland between the 23-26 September 2021

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘He gave his all’: Piggy March takes early European Eventing Championships dressage lead

European Eventing Championships dressage: Izzy TAYLOR (GBR) riding Monkeying Around during the dressage phase at the FEI Eventing European Championships at Avenches held at IENA in Switzerland between the 23-26 September 2021

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘I’m pleased he behaved – he’s called Monkey for a reason’: Izzy Taylor reflects on her European Eventing Championships dressage performance

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/european-eventing-championships-cross-country-course-top-riders-thoughts-764001 3DaRnuuJCcFDvfsVdyqHpQ Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:14:55 +0000 false false false

Some of the world’s top riders have shared their thoughts on this year’s European Eventing Championships cross-country course, which has been designed by Mike Etherington-Smith.

There are 32 numbered fences and the optimum time is 10min 7sec for the 2021 European Eventing Championships cross-country course in Avenches, Switzerland.

“It is a real championship course and I’m going to have to walk it a lot of times because there’s great potential for getting lost and going the wrong way up strings,” explained Piggy March. “There’s plenty of places to just run off things and it’s very technical. The single fences are all big enough too with a lot of twists and turns, so we have got to be on our A game. For sure it’s not going to be a dressage competition.”

Piggy highlighted fence six (pictured above) as a possible early problem for riders.

“It’s a very big fence on an angle, with a bunch of trees just to the side that can put you off your line if you were to spook – that would be a fence that I will look at quite a lot. I think the time will be tight as it is such a twisty track.”

Izzy Taylor agreed with Piggy, saying “it’s definitely not all going to be based on the dressage”, and warned that riders might be “lulled into a false sense of security” early on, but said that “by the end I think we’re going to feel like we’ve come out of a washing machine – there’s a lot to do out there, a lot, but it’s a very good track.”

Sam Watson felt some riders might make the mistake of thinking Mike Etherington-Smith’s track is softer than it is.

“You might think for the first seven or eight minutes that he’s built a slightly softer championship,” Sam explained. “Then jeez, it turns into a proper championship course in the last two minutes, which I think is so clever. You’ve only got 10 minutes, which is all there is space-wise here, and he’s looped us a good bit which I think will mentally be quite tiring for the horses and will slow us down a little bit.”

Sam highlighted the end of the course as a place where riders could run into trouble.

“To put the questions at the end is much more difficult for horses when they’re not so fresh and I think it’s a very clever course. I think the good ones will fly around and will go inside the time, but I think you have to have a very good horse [to do that].”

Germany’s Christoph Wahler echoed Sam’s sentiments about the layout of the course.

“It is very twisty, but with some very nice fences in the way they’re designed,” he explained. “It won’t ride very soft and easy with regards to all the turns and the changes of direction. It will be a little bit like driving a golf cart.”

You might also be interested in:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course 2021: fence 28b

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

The fences the Brits have to jump to win medals: photos of the European Eventing Championships cross-country course

European Eventing Championships dressage Piggy MARCH (GBR) riding Brookfield Inocent during the dressage phase at the FEI Eventing European Championships at Avenches held at IENA in Switzerland between the 23-26 September 2021

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘He gave his all’: Piggy March takes early European Eventing Championships dressage lead

European Eventing Championships dressage: Izzy TAYLOR (GBR) riding Monkeying Around during the dressage phase at the FEI Eventing European Championships at Avenches held at IENA in Switzerland between the 23-26 September 2021

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

‘I’m pleased he behaved – he’s called Monkey for a reason’: Izzy Taylor reflects on her European Eventing Championships dressage performance

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ #SundaySchool: Jumping a horse on an angle with Francis Whittington ]]> This simple exercise, courtesy of top event rider Francis Whittington (pictured), provides a solid foundation for skinnies and arrowheads to help you when jumping a horse on an angle

Jumping a horse on an angle — the aim

If the horse understands that he must stay straight, no matter what he is presented with, then you can jump anything. There’s no need to practise repeatedly over arrowheads and skinnies. The trick is to create an angle over a basic fence so the horse develops balance through his shoulder. By teaching him to be straight and even into the contact, you can both work on the precision needed for these more technical fences using a very straightforward jump — without scaring yourselves.

Exercise

Screen Shot 2019-02-14 at 10.44.48

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. Set up a simple fence on the centre line of your schooling area, something small and upright but wide. It should be easy, so the horse can work well within his comfort zone and you can both concentrate on staying straight and accurate. Canter down the centre line and over the fence in each direction, aiming for the middle spot each time.

2. Gradually increase the angle of the approach, still aiming for the centre of the fence and controlling the horse’s outside shoulder with your leg. His job is to stay straight in the direction you ride him, so make this clear.

3. With this established, you can begin to ask more questions. Continue to increase the approach angle by increments until you are almost coming across the arena on the diagonal. With practice, you’ll both develop an eye for jumping the fence on an angle.

4. Now aim to start jumping towards the outer edge of the fence. This will give the horse the opportunity to run out, but he should by now understand the requirement to jump.

5. Once you’ve mastered the exercise in the arena, try it over a basic fence when you’re cross-country schooling. It’s something you can practise on your own, without a trainer, and should provide a solid foundation when you do move on to the more demanding technical fences.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Medium trot Anna Ross riding Delgado in indoor

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

What is medium trot, and what are the benefits for your horse?

Trainer-Groupie-Web.jpg

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

8 ways to (attempt) to keep your unhorsey partner on side

There’s nothing half-hearted, part time or lackluster when it comes to you and horses. Which is unfortunate for your unhorsey

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Tips and pitfalls

  • A run-out in the early stages means going back to square one, so take things steady and don’t be tempted to rush the process. Increase the approach angle over a number of sessions.
  • Be positive, but aim for accuracy rather than pace.
  • Stay balanced in the saddle and be confident about jumping straight at your chosen angle, leaving your horse sure which way to go.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/jumping-a-horse-on-an-angle-679268 ewrJTh7sofYMa1tm6ukBQb Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:32:04 +0000 false false false

This simple exercise, courtesy of top event rider Francis Whittington (pictured), provides a solid foundation for skinnies and arrowheads to help you when jumping a horse on an angle

Jumping a horse on an angle — the aim

If the horse understands that he must stay straight, no matter what he is presented with, then you can jump anything. There’s no need to practise repeatedly over arrowheads and skinnies. The trick is to create an angle over a basic fence so the horse develops balance through his shoulder. By teaching him to be straight and even into the contact, you can both work on the precision needed for these more technical fences using a very straightforward jump — without scaring yourselves.

Exercise

Screen Shot 2019-02-14 at 10.44.48

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

1. Set up a simple fence on the centre line of your schooling area, something small and upright but wide. It should be easy, so the horse can work well within his comfort zone and you can both concentrate on staying straight and accurate. Canter down the centre line and over the fence in each direction, aiming for the middle spot each time.

2. Gradually increase the angle of the approach, still aiming for the centre of the fence and controlling the horse’s outside shoulder with your leg. His job is to stay straight in the direction you ride him, so make this clear.

3. With this established, you can begin to ask more questions. Continue to increase the approach angle by increments until you are almost coming across the arena on the diagonal. With practice, you’ll both develop an eye for jumping the fence on an angle.

4. Now aim to start jumping towards the outer edge of the fence. This will give the horse the opportunity to run out, but he should by now understand the requirement to jump.

5. Once you’ve mastered the exercise in the arena, try it over a basic fence when you’re cross-country schooling. It’s something you can practise on your own, without a trainer, and should provide a solid foundation when you do move on to the more demanding technical fences.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Medium trot Anna Ross riding Delgado in indoor

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

What is medium trot, and what are the benefits for your horse?

Trainer-Groupie-Web.jpg

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

8 ways to (attempt) to keep your unhorsey partner on side

There’s nothing half-hearted, part time or lackluster when it comes to you and horses. Which is unfortunate for your unhorsey

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: KEVIN SPARROW)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Tips and pitfalls

  • A run-out in the early stages means going back to square one, so take things steady and don’t be tempted to rush the process. Increase the approach angle over a number of sessions.
  • Be positive, but aim for accuracy rather than pace.
  • Stay balanced in the saddle and be confident about jumping straight at your chosen angle, leaving your horse sure which way to go.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘We really need to use our brains’: top riders share their thoughts on Bicton’s cross-country course *H&H Plus* ]]> This weekend, some of the world’s greatest eventing combinations will do battle at the Bicton International Horse Trials supported by Chedington. Here, some top riders share their thoughts on the course, designed by Helen West and assisted by Captain Mark Phillips ahead of Saturday’s CCI4*-L and Sunday’s CCI4*-S cross-country action...

Piggy March

“They are really strong, good courses with hard terrain — it will be a really tough test and something that I think we’re all probably ready for and probably need in order to see where we’re at.

“We’ve been competing around the same places quite frequently — Aston-Le-Walls, for example, which has very little terrain — and all credit to them as they’ve been doing a great job. However, we have got to be on our A game and really make something happen — it’s good, it’s what the sport should be, and what we probably all need at this stage as well — something to actually get stuck in to and really go and ride and see where we’re at.

“I really don’t like the rail, ditch, corner [fence 15 in the CCI4*-L, fence 16 in the CCI4*-S, picture, top]. I just think that fence could be a mistake for a horse who’s just not quite understanding or gets its footwork a little bit wrong rather than it being an un-genuine mistake — I’m not a lover of that.

“Coming out of the water is a serious question with the angled brushes [fences nine and 10 in the CCI4*-L; fences 10 and 11 in the CCI4*-S]. It is a serious line and you’ve either got the line or you haven’t — there is no adjustment for a little bit too left or right.

“It’s a really good track and I think it will be interesting to see how people ride it. I hope people take the terrain into account, because it’s a great course but it stays big until the end. I think we really need to use our brains, because the hills are a shock to us when we walk it so it will be a bit of a shock to our horses too. We’ve got to be responsible for our cross-country rides. It’s what the sport should be and there will be problems everywhere.”

Laura Collett

“Both courses are seriously beefy. The CCI4*-S basically jumps the same course as the CCI4*-L, bar missing out one loop. I got three-quarters of the way around when I was walking it and said to myself I had forgotten where the last let-up fence was — it’s just one question after another. I think it’ll be very intense to ride — it’s a proper track and it’s not going to be a dressage competition.”

There’s no margin for error. I think coming out of the water is a tough question and I’m not really sure how the rail, ditch, corner is going to work but with another coursewalk or two it will come become clear.”

Tom McEwen

“It’s a proper track and it looks unbelievable. You should never undermine Bicton if you’ve never been — personally I would never bring a first-timer here, because it’s always big, but they’ve done a great job. I don’t mean this in a rude way but with the step-in events we’ve had recently, maybe some people are expecting a similar sort of course to those, but we’ve come here and pretty much found Bramham at Bicton — it’s pretty exciting really.

“The rail, ditch, corner is tough. You can do all these schooling exercises at home to try to train for those sorts of questions, but tackling something like that five or six minutes into a course is different.

“I think all the lines look really good — they’re all positive distances. It’s just a shame that there’s no Burghley this year, because I think if you had a great ride around here, you’d have been pretty content heading there as it would set you up nicely with the terrain and the style of course.

“I think this course is a serious ask, especially with the types of competitions we’ve had since the second half of last year and people will have to be on form riding around here.“

Chris Burton

“It’s beautiful — the ground is great and they’ve gone to so much effort here. The parkland looks amazing. It’s like a proper proper four-star — it’s big and tough and really in your face.”

Andrew Nicholson

“It’s a decent track. I think it’s a bit strong for a first-timer at CCI4*-L level and for me, it’s a little bit more suited to the five-star horses that are here, but it’s all very fair and we’ve just go do it.”

Nicola Wilson

“I think it’s really intense — there is question after question from start to finish, and the terrain is really hard work. It’s going to be one serious cross-country test.”

Emilie Chandler

“It’s a proper course and it will take some riding so it’s all to play for.”

Read the full report from Bicton in the 17 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine and keep checking back to horseandhound.co.uk for further updates and insight

You may also be interested in…

How to watch Bicton Horse Trials Nicola Wilson riding JL Dublin to win the CCI4*-L class at Bicton International 2021. The pair joined the British Olympic eventing entries for the Tokyo Olympics after this result

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Bicton CCI5* Horse Trials: your essential guide

Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up: Eliza Stoddart and Renaissance Man

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Nine horses held and two eliminated at Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up *H&H Plus*

Nine horses were sent to the holding box and two eliminated in an eventful Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up this

Bicton Horse Trials dressage times

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Bicton Horse Trials dressage times released: find out when Olympic longlisted horses start

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Laura-Collett_DACAPO_BictonInter_PN21_12560.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Laura Collett takes early lead in Bicton CCI4*-L: plus drama as world medallist eliminated in the first phase *H&H Plus*

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//plus/news-plus/bicton-cross-country-course-rider-thoughts-748098 6YH32mHZd88j85UPgrjGv6 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:28:19 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:48:08 +0000 false false false

This weekend, some of the world’s greatest eventing combinations will do battle at the Bicton International Horse Trials supported by Chedington. Here, some top riders share their thoughts on the course, designed by Helen West and assisted by Captain Mark Phillips ahead of Saturday’s CCI4*-L and Sunday’s CCI4*-S cross-country action...

Piggy March

“They are really strong, good courses with hard terrain — it will be a really tough test and something that I think we’re all probably ready for and probably need in order to see where we’re at.

“We’ve been competing around the same places quite frequently — Aston-Le-Walls, for example, which has very little terrain — and all credit to them as they’ve been doing a great job. However, we have got to be on our A game and really make something happen — it’s good, it’s what the sport should be, and what we probably all need at this stage as well — something to actually get stuck in to and really go and ride and see where we’re at.

“I really don’t like the rail, ditch, corner [fence 15 in the CCI4*-L, fence 16 in the CCI4*-S, picture, top]. I just think that fence could be a mistake for a horse who’s just not quite understanding or gets its footwork a little bit wrong rather than it being an un-genuine mistake — I’m not a lover of that.

“Coming out of the water is a serious question with the angled brushes [fences nine and 10 in the CCI4*-L; fences 10 and 11 in the CCI4*-S]. It is a serious line and you’ve either got the line or you haven’t — there is no adjustment for a little bit too left or right.

“It’s a really good track and I think it will be interesting to see how people ride it. I hope people take the terrain into account, because it’s a great course but it stays big until the end. I think we really need to use our brains, because the hills are a shock to us when we walk it so it will be a bit of a shock to our horses too. We’ve got to be responsible for our cross-country rides. It’s what the sport should be and there will be problems everywhere.”

Laura Collett

“Both courses are seriously beefy. The CCI4*-S basically jumps the same course as the CCI4*-L, bar missing out one loop. I got three-quarters of the way around when I was walking it and said to myself I had forgotten where the last let-up fence was — it’s just one question after another. I think it’ll be very intense to ride — it’s a proper track and it’s not going to be a dressage competition.”

There’s no margin for error. I think coming out of the water is a tough question and I’m not really sure how the rail, ditch, corner is going to work but with another coursewalk or two it will come become clear.”

Tom McEwen

“It’s a proper track and it looks unbelievable. You should never undermine Bicton if you’ve never been — personally I would never bring a first-timer here, because it’s always big, but they’ve done a great job. I don’t mean this in a rude way but with the step-in events we’ve had recently, maybe some people are expecting a similar sort of course to those, but we’ve come here and pretty much found Bramham at Bicton — it’s pretty exciting really.

“The rail, ditch, corner is tough. You can do all these schooling exercises at home to try to train for those sorts of questions, but tackling something like that five or six minutes into a course is different.

“I think all the lines look really good — they’re all positive distances. It’s just a shame that there’s no Burghley this year, because I think if you had a great ride around here, you’d have been pretty content heading there as it would set you up nicely with the terrain and the style of course.

“I think this course is a serious ask, especially with the types of competitions we’ve had since the second half of last year and people will have to be on form riding around here.“

Chris Burton

“It’s beautiful — the ground is great and they’ve gone to so much effort here. The parkland looks amazing. It’s like a proper proper four-star — it’s big and tough and really in your face.”

Andrew Nicholson

“It’s a decent track. I think it’s a bit strong for a first-timer at CCI4*-L level and for me, it’s a little bit more suited to the five-star horses that are here, but it’s all very fair and we’ve just go do it.”

Nicola Wilson

“I think it’s really intense — there is question after question from start to finish, and the terrain is really hard work. It’s going to be one serious cross-country test.”

Emilie Chandler

“It’s a proper course and it will take some riding so it’s all to play for.”

Read the full report from Bicton in the 17 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine and keep checking back to horseandhound.co.uk for further updates and insight

You may also be interested in…

How to watch Bicton Horse Trials Nicola Wilson riding JL Dublin to win the CCI4*-L class at Bicton International 2021. The pair joined the British Olympic eventing entries for the Tokyo Olympics after this result

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

How to watch Bicton CCI5* Horse Trials: your essential guide

Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up: Eliza Stoddart and Renaissance Man

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Nine horses held and two eliminated at Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up *H&H Plus*

Nine horses were sent to the holding box and two eliminated in an eventful Bicton Horse Trials first trot-up this

Bicton Horse Trials dressage times

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Bicton Horse Trials dressage times released: find out when Olympic longlisted horses start

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Laura-Collett_DACAPO_BictonInter_PN21_12560.jpg

(Image credit: Pippa Roome)

Laura Collett takes early lead in Bicton CCI4*-L: plus drama as world medallist eliminated in the first phase *H&H Plus*

]]> <![CDATA[ US eventing rule aimed to improve safety put on hold until 2023 ]]> A US eventing rule change increasing minimum eligibility requirements has been put on hold until 2023 while further investigations take place.

The proposal, developed by the United States Eventing Association’s cross-country safety subcommittee following analysis of US eventing accidents, was first outlined at USEA’s annual meeting and convention in 2019. It called for an increase to minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) and rider categorisation, in US Equestrian’s (USEF) rules of eventing.

At the time Jonathan Holling, chair of the USEA cross-country safety committee, said he wanted riders to have more of a base knowledge and ability than the standard MERs asked for.

“We looked at records of very successful upper-level riders – Olympic calibre riders – and we found that in most cases (virtually all of them) did two to three times more than our minimum requirements to be able to move a horse up,” Mr Holling said.

“When we looked at that, we said, ‘maybe we don’t have right what we are requiring for the base of the sport.’ We felt pretty strongly, and the data confirmed, that one way we can increase the skill of riders and the horsemanship and relationship between the horses and the riders is to raise the minimum eligibility requirements. In a nutshell, people will have to do more at a level before they can move up.”

Under current rules, each national level has a different set of requirements, for example a horse can compete at intermediate level when it has four MERs at preliminary level horse trials, and one of these results can include 20 cross-country jumping penalties. A MER at national level is a completion with no more than 50 penalties in dressage, no jumping penalties and no more than 36 time-penalties across country, and no more than 16 jumping penalties.

The proposed rule change called for riders to hold licences in recognition of proven competence at a certain level. To hold an A licence, riders must have obtained 25 MERs at intermediate level and above, B riders must have obtained 25 MERs at preliminary and above, and riders who do not have these MERs would be categorised as “unlicensed”.

In line with the licences, this would mean to compete at preliminary level, A riders must have obtained an MER at four training level horse trials within 24 months, B riders must have obtained seven MERs within 24 months, and unlicensed riders must have obtained 10 MERs within 24 months. B and unlicensed riders must have obtained these with a horse as a combination.

In February 2021 following feedback from USEA members, the USEA board of governors voted to modify the proposal to lower the requirements, but still recommend the establishment of rider licences and increase of MERs. The revised proposal included a requirement that at preliminary level and above at least one MER must have been obtained within eight weeks prior to the competition.

The revised proposal also called for licence requirements for preliminary level to be changed to; four MERs for A riders at training level or above, B riders must have obtained four MERs plus two additional MERs with no more than 20 jumping cross-country penalties, and unlicensed riders must have six MERs, plus two additional with no more than 20 jumping cross-country penalties.

On 1 March the USEA’s board of governors submitted the proposal to USEF. The board “made it clear” they shared the position of the USEA cross-country safety subcommittee that more needs to be done to ensure riders and horses obtain more than just a minimal amount of experiences.

The USEF board gathered feedback from the public on the changes and received more than 1,200 responses and it had been recognised that due to not the USEA annual meeting and convention and other meetings not running in person last year, a portion of the membership did not feel “fully informed” about the proposal. Subsequently the board determined work needed to be done to investigate the questions raised and communicatie the reasoning behind the rule change.

“The USEA cross-country safety subcommittee has done an amazing job to champion a major change in how horses and riders are allowed to move through the ranks of our sport,” said Jonathan Elliott, USEA vice-president of competitions.

“The consensus from the feedback I have received and observed is that there is a need for this change, but there are many factors to consider. In the end, this is a safety-driven rule change proposal, and we need to make sure we get it right, not perfect because that will never happen, but right.”

Mr Elliott added he believed more time was needed to continue and develop a complete proposal “with justification” for the proposed changes.

“Big strides have been accomplished over the last few years with other safety-related rule changes and the frangible technology fundraising and I am optimistic an updated [proposal] will join that evolution of our sport in 2023.”

Continued below…

EquiRatings Horse Form Index (HFI) is hoped to be an additional tool for riders, with the aim of improving eventing safety

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Proposed US eventing rule change would bring sport more in line with Britain

“We checked with EquiRatings to see if there is any statistical evidence that knocking down rails in showjumping is indicative

United States Eventing Association cross-country course-designer Tremaine Cooper

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘True champion of eventing’: US course-designer dies in accident

In 2006 he was awarded the Neil Ayer Course Designers’ Award for his service to the sport as a cross-country

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The board unanimously voted to postpone the rule change with the intention to further investigate and communicate the purpose behind the proposal.

“The board has made it clear that they will submit an amended proposal again with the intent for implementation in 2023. To this end, the USEA will establish a task force to further review the proposal, make additional inquiries into related data, and analyze the input received,” said a USEA spokesman.

“This task force will consist of representation by individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographically varied locations around the country. The goal is to have an updated rule in effect for the 2023 competition year.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/us-eventing-rule-aimed-to-improve-safety-put-on-hold-until-2023-740745 ecpQ9NiQDPPBAu7UEDBtJL Sat, 20 Mar 2021 17:03:36 +0000 false false false

A US eventing rule change increasing minimum eligibility requirements has been put on hold until 2023 while further investigations take place.

The proposal, developed by the United States Eventing Association’s cross-country safety subcommittee following analysis of US eventing accidents, was first outlined at USEA’s annual meeting and convention in 2019. It called for an increase to minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) and rider categorisation, in US Equestrian’s (USEF) rules of eventing.

At the time Jonathan Holling, chair of the USEA cross-country safety committee, said he wanted riders to have more of a base knowledge and ability than the standard MERs asked for.

“We looked at records of very successful upper-level riders – Olympic calibre riders – and we found that in most cases (virtually all of them) did two to three times more than our minimum requirements to be able to move a horse up,” Mr Holling said.

“When we looked at that, we said, ‘maybe we don’t have right what we are requiring for the base of the sport.’ We felt pretty strongly, and the data confirmed, that one way we can increase the skill of riders and the horsemanship and relationship between the horses and the riders is to raise the minimum eligibility requirements. In a nutshell, people will have to do more at a level before they can move up.”

Under current rules, each national level has a different set of requirements, for example a horse can compete at intermediate level when it has four MERs at preliminary level horse trials, and one of these results can include 20 cross-country jumping penalties. A MER at national level is a completion with no more than 50 penalties in dressage, no jumping penalties and no more than 36 time-penalties across country, and no more than 16 jumping penalties.

The proposed rule change called for riders to hold licences in recognition of proven competence at a certain level. To hold an A licence, riders must have obtained 25 MERs at intermediate level and above, B riders must have obtained 25 MERs at preliminary and above, and riders who do not have these MERs would be categorised as “unlicensed”.

In line with the licences, this would mean to compete at preliminary level, A riders must have obtained an MER at four training level horse trials within 24 months, B riders must have obtained seven MERs within 24 months, and unlicensed riders must have obtained 10 MERs within 24 months. B and unlicensed riders must have obtained these with a horse as a combination.

In February 2021 following feedback from USEA members, the USEA board of governors voted to modify the proposal to lower the requirements, but still recommend the establishment of rider licences and increase of MERs. The revised proposal included a requirement that at preliminary level and above at least one MER must have been obtained within eight weeks prior to the competition.

The revised proposal also called for licence requirements for preliminary level to be changed to; four MERs for A riders at training level or above, B riders must have obtained four MERs plus two additional MERs with no more than 20 jumping cross-country penalties, and unlicensed riders must have six MERs, plus two additional with no more than 20 jumping cross-country penalties.

On 1 March the USEA’s board of governors submitted the proposal to USEF. The board “made it clear” they shared the position of the USEA cross-country safety subcommittee that more needs to be done to ensure riders and horses obtain more than just a minimal amount of experiences.

The USEF board gathered feedback from the public on the changes and received more than 1,200 responses and it had been recognised that due to not the USEA annual meeting and convention and other meetings not running in person last year, a portion of the membership did not feel “fully informed” about the proposal. Subsequently the board determined work needed to be done to investigate the questions raised and communicatie the reasoning behind the rule change.

“The USEA cross-country safety subcommittee has done an amazing job to champion a major change in how horses and riders are allowed to move through the ranks of our sport,” said Jonathan Elliott, USEA vice-president of competitions.

“The consensus from the feedback I have received and observed is that there is a need for this change, but there are many factors to consider. In the end, this is a safety-driven rule change proposal, and we need to make sure we get it right, not perfect because that will never happen, but right.”

Mr Elliott added he believed more time was needed to continue and develop a complete proposal “with justification” for the proposed changes.

“Big strides have been accomplished over the last few years with other safety-related rule changes and the frangible technology fundraising and I am optimistic an updated [proposal] will join that evolution of our sport in 2023.”

Continued below…

EquiRatings Horse Form Index (HFI) is hoped to be an additional tool for riders, with the aim of improving eventing safety

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Proposed US eventing rule change would bring sport more in line with Britain

“We checked with EquiRatings to see if there is any statistical evidence that knocking down rails in showjumping is indicative

United States Eventing Association cross-country course-designer Tremaine Cooper

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘True champion of eventing’: US course-designer dies in accident

In 2006 he was awarded the Neil Ayer Course Designers’ Award for his service to the sport as a cross-country

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The board unanimously voted to postpone the rule change with the intention to further investigate and communicate the purpose behind the proposal.

“The board has made it clear that they will submit an amended proposal again with the intent for implementation in 2023. To this end, the USEA will establish a task force to further review the proposal, make additional inquiries into related data, and analyze the input received,” said a USEA spokesman.

“This task force will consist of representation by individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographically varied locations around the country. The goal is to have an updated rule in effect for the 2023 competition year.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ The ultimate exercise to get you and your horse on the ball before going eventing ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to sharpen up both you and your horse before competition

This is an exercise I use regularly before a competition. It’s made using four oxers in a row set at 11 yards (or just over 10m).

It’s a useful tool to develop the rider’s reactions and to also get the horse jumping through his back and getting very clean and careful.

Aims of the exercise:

  • Develop scope and athleticism in the jump
  • Develop rider’s eye for holding a line
  • To improve horse’s suppleness
  • To develop the partnership between horse and rider

As a warm-up riders should pick the odd fence within the line and jump them on a slight angle. This is really good as it starts to develop a partnership between horse and rider so that the horse follows where the rider wants to go. It’s quite tricky because as a rider, you really have to hold a line with your eyesight and not allow your horse to deviate. You also have to react quickly and this exercise doesn’t allow you two or three strides on landing to collapse — you always have to look to the new direction.

By jumping every other fence, it encourages the horse to stay upright through the curving line.

As a rider you need to hold with your new inside leg each time to prevent the horse from drifting to the new direction. This will help your horse land onto the correct canter lead and in good balance.

Even with cross-country fences that you can jump out of a rhythm over, it is massively important that you still hold a line — be very disciplined and don’t allow your horse to drift.

With a set of flags, the exercise encourages a rider to hold an inside line, to stop the horse drifting away from the turn and makes their withers work hard in the jump.

Positional points to be aware of:

  • Legs losing contact with the horse’s sides
  • Symmetry
  • Eyesight focused

There’s a lot of challenges for the rider in this exercise. On top of the points above, you need to remain consistent in your aids, try to also keep some rein contact all of the time so that you can maintain your steering aids in the air.

By adding a little fence on a turn at the end of the exercise, the rider is encouraged to follow their eye after the last oxer. It’s important to think about how your flatwork will improve your next line of jumping, never letting a horse be sloppy on the turn.

Points to be aware of:

  • A square turn and ability to hold the line
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining rhythm throughout the turn
  • Quick reactions
  • Praise and reward for the horse

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-07-13-at-15.38.21-e1531492740846.png

(Image credit: Future)

Watch Lordships Graffalo cross-country schooling as a six-year-old under Ros Canter

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(Image credit: Future)

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/holding-a-required-line-cross-country-659661 uTm9EpTKAAVBZKiYHav8dD Tue, 09 Feb 2021 15:02:09 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to sharpen up both you and your horse before competition

This is an exercise I use regularly before a competition. It’s made using four oxers in a row set at 11 yards (or just over 10m).

It’s a useful tool to develop the rider’s reactions and to also get the horse jumping through his back and getting very clean and careful.

Aims of the exercise:

  • Develop scope and athleticism in the jump
  • Develop rider’s eye for holding a line
  • To improve horse’s suppleness
  • To develop the partnership between horse and rider

As a warm-up riders should pick the odd fence within the line and jump them on a slight angle. This is really good as it starts to develop a partnership between horse and rider so that the horse follows where the rider wants to go. It’s quite tricky because as a rider, you really have to hold a line with your eyesight and not allow your horse to deviate. You also have to react quickly and this exercise doesn’t allow you two or three strides on landing to collapse — you always have to look to the new direction.

By jumping every other fence, it encourages the horse to stay upright through the curving line.

As a rider you need to hold with your new inside leg each time to prevent the horse from drifting to the new direction. This will help your horse land onto the correct canter lead and in good balance.

Even with cross-country fences that you can jump out of a rhythm over, it is massively important that you still hold a line — be very disciplined and don’t allow your horse to drift.

With a set of flags, the exercise encourages a rider to hold an inside line, to stop the horse drifting away from the turn and makes their withers work hard in the jump.

Positional points to be aware of:

  • Legs losing contact with the horse’s sides
  • Symmetry
  • Eyesight focused

There’s a lot of challenges for the rider in this exercise. On top of the points above, you need to remain consistent in your aids, try to also keep some rein contact all of the time so that you can maintain your steering aids in the air.

By adding a little fence on a turn at the end of the exercise, the rider is encouraged to follow their eye after the last oxer. It’s important to think about how your flatwork will improve your next line of jumping, never letting a horse be sloppy on the turn.

Points to be aware of:

  • A square turn and ability to hold the line
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining rhythm throughout the turn
  • Quick reactions
  • Praise and reward for the horse

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-07-13-at-15.38.21-e1531492740846.png

(Image credit: Future)

Watch Lordships Graffalo cross-country schooling as a six-year-old under Ros Canter

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Slick and sharp: the building block cross-country exercise that will aid your success ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to begin to teach your horse how to turn to and over a fence

The aims of the exercise are to:

  • Warm up the horse’s muscles before jumping
  • Improve hoof/brain co-ordination
  • Aid correct muscle build-up and develop the horse’s core
  • To teach the horse a rider’s directional aids
  • To improve the horse’s eye
  • Encourage the horse to be physically and mentally careful

I have three variations on this exercise — I have raised poles, dressage boards and blocks of square poles. All of these obstacles cannot be easily moved, so they encourage the horse to draw back, use its shoulder and develop its core.

To begin with, go in a straight line and use a focal point to help you keep straight. This also helps the horse use its own balance and to develop its rhythm.

You can then add a turn into this exercise which helps the horse learn about their rider’s directional aids. Ask your horse to think about the beginning of their turn at the start of the first set of poles — the horse will then know where they’re going by the time the actual turn comes around. This is the first building block for teaching a horse about turning over a fence. Your turning aids are:

  • Eyes
  • Weight into inside heel
  • Left rein closing towards right rein
  • Inside shoulder staying forward

With this exercise, it’s really important to set up early, else you risk your horse falling out through their outside shoulder.

Points to be aware of:

  • Maintaining balance and rhythm
  • Eye level
  • Energy levels and fatigue
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-07-20-at-16.25.01-e1532100333485.png

(Image credit: Future)

The ultimate exercise to get you and your horse on the ball before going eventing

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/slick-sharp-building-block-cross-country-exercise-will-aid-success-660894 8hNDp7FiT8FS98BEpEouUT Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:02:14 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to begin to teach your horse how to turn to and over a fence

The aims of the exercise are to:

  • Warm up the horse’s muscles before jumping
  • Improve hoof/brain co-ordination
  • Aid correct muscle build-up and develop the horse’s core
  • To teach the horse a rider’s directional aids
  • To improve the horse’s eye
  • Encourage the horse to be physically and mentally careful

I have three variations on this exercise — I have raised poles, dressage boards and blocks of square poles. All of these obstacles cannot be easily moved, so they encourage the horse to draw back, use its shoulder and develop its core.

To begin with, go in a straight line and use a focal point to help you keep straight. This also helps the horse use its own balance and to develop its rhythm.

You can then add a turn into this exercise which helps the horse learn about their rider’s directional aids. Ask your horse to think about the beginning of their turn at the start of the first set of poles — the horse will then know where they’re going by the time the actual turn comes around. This is the first building block for teaching a horse about turning over a fence. Your turning aids are:

  • Eyes
  • Weight into inside heel
  • Left rein closing towards right rein
  • Inside shoulder staying forward

With this exercise, it’s really important to set up early, else you risk your horse falling out through their outside shoulder.

Points to be aware of:

  • Maintaining balance and rhythm
  • Eye level
  • Energy levels and fatigue
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-07-20-at-16.25.01-e1532100333485.png

(Image credit: Future)

The ultimate exercise to get you and your horse on the ball before going eventing

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Don’t get the cold shoulder: how to tackle a shoulder brush across country ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to tackle shoulder brushes across country

For this exercise I have set up a right-handed corner on a very subtle curving line, 20 yard (18m), to two angled brushes on a one non-jumping stride distance (8 yards/7.4m), set on a slight left-handed angle.

The important thing to remember when riding a line like this is having a good quality canter, that you have made a good, square turn and that you maintain your rhythm.

It doesn’t always go to plan in training. You might have a good jump into the exercise, but if the horse doesn’t automatically sight the move onto the next line, you have to always keep riding straight, giving the horse confidence by trying to make him forget the mistake he’s just made, and carry on riding forward. If this happens, ride through the line again to ensure he is confident, always giving a very strong inside leg aid, just to back up if he has a little wobble.

On a slightly different line through the exercise, there is a change of direction, so you have to make sure that you catch your horse’s shoulder to hold the line to the new direction.

I often put a few fences like this together in the school as it’s really good for the rider, making them more competitive. It will certainly also improve your reaction times by moving from one exercise to another. All of these exercises require balance and coordination.

The main points to be aware of are:

  • Making a good turn in — this is effectively your horse’s eyesight through the line. It’s really important that you follow this good turn through, riding with a focal point.
  • Make sure you always think about turning your horse’s withers and shoulders before his nose, then you will be turning your whole horse through the line, not just his head and neck.
  • Always give your horse lots of praise and reward for this — your horse will really appreciate it and want to work for you.

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-14.31.54-e1528896742710.png

(Image credit: Future)

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/riding-shoulder-brush-cross-country-657736 n4TPonaLz1wd441NRHojD7 Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:02:45 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to tackle shoulder brushes across country

For this exercise I have set up a right-handed corner on a very subtle curving line, 20 yard (18m), to two angled brushes on a one non-jumping stride distance (8 yards/7.4m), set on a slight left-handed angle.

The important thing to remember when riding a line like this is having a good quality canter, that you have made a good, square turn and that you maintain your rhythm.

It doesn’t always go to plan in training. You might have a good jump into the exercise, but if the horse doesn’t automatically sight the move onto the next line, you have to always keep riding straight, giving the horse confidence by trying to make him forget the mistake he’s just made, and carry on riding forward. If this happens, ride through the line again to ensure he is confident, always giving a very strong inside leg aid, just to back up if he has a little wobble.

On a slightly different line through the exercise, there is a change of direction, so you have to make sure that you catch your horse’s shoulder to hold the line to the new direction.

I often put a few fences like this together in the school as it’s really good for the rider, making them more competitive. It will certainly also improve your reaction times by moving from one exercise to another. All of these exercises require balance and coordination.

The main points to be aware of are:

  • Making a good turn in — this is effectively your horse’s eyesight through the line. It’s really important that you follow this good turn through, riding with a focal point.
  • Make sure you always think about turning your horse’s withers and shoulders before his nose, then you will be turning your whole horse through the line, not just his head and neck.
  • Always give your horse lots of praise and reward for this — your horse will really appreciate it and want to work for you.

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-14.31.54-e1528896742710.png

(Image credit: Future)

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Turn, baby, turn — how to teach your horse to turn over a fence onto a new line ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a horse and rider to turn onto a new line over a fence

Aims of the exercise:

  • Develop balance and confidence with a fence on a turning line
  • Develop rider strength through inside heel
  • To improve horse’s suppleness

This is a really important exercise to do a lot in training. You are always going to get what I call a turning fence in competition, where your horse has to follow your steering aids, either through a serpentine, a change of direction or just holding your line over a fence.

This exercise looks to develop a horse’s balance, confidence and safety when turning over a fence. The most important thing is that the rider needs to use a really good, strong weight down the inside heel and keep the inside shoulder forward so they keep themselves in balance and so that the horse can then stay in balance going to the new direction. It’s really important to use a guiding aid rather than a turning aid — this keeps the instruction to turn very subtle and it is very useful for the horse so that he doesn’t react against it and lose his shoulder.

You don’t have to use cavaletti — you can use any type of jump. I like to use them because it makes the hind leg work really hard and it also makes the horse careful.

To start with, I just go round the outside of the middle fence so that you can just practice doing a nice little turn on a gentle curve.

Use a small middle fence, but get the horse landing to the new direction. The rider really needs to look to the new direction and put their body on the line over the middle fence, putting a new inside heel down.

You can build this up so that you ride a full serpentine through the exercise. It’s really important to work hard to try and stay on the inside of centre, as this then makes the horse work hard with the inside front leg, which is a great part of this exercise. This brings the inside front leg higher than the outside one and encourages the horse to become more athletic.

You will see I then put a flag near the centre of the middle fence to encourage the rider to stay on the inside line.

Common mistakes for this exercise include:

  • The rider’s weight slipping to the outside
  • Their inside hip collapses
  • The rider’s inside knee comes up

As a rider you have got to look to the new direction, control the horse’s shoulder and then start thinking about the new direction again, so you really improve the horse’s suppleness and ability to follow the rider’s eye and hand.

Points to be aware of:

  • Keeping strength and balance to the inside
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining horse’s outside shoulder
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-14.31.54-e1528896742710.png

(Image credit: Future)

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

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(Image credit: Future)

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/horse-turning-over-fence-657163 v61bvU59ELJiruRykt9wkC Fri, 05 Feb 2021 15:02:10 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a horse and rider to turn onto a new line over a fence

Aims of the exercise:

  • Develop balance and confidence with a fence on a turning line
  • Develop rider strength through inside heel
  • To improve horse’s suppleness

This is a really important exercise to do a lot in training. You are always going to get what I call a turning fence in competition, where your horse has to follow your steering aids, either through a serpentine, a change of direction or just holding your line over a fence.

This exercise looks to develop a horse’s balance, confidence and safety when turning over a fence. The most important thing is that the rider needs to use a really good, strong weight down the inside heel and keep the inside shoulder forward so they keep themselves in balance and so that the horse can then stay in balance going to the new direction. It’s really important to use a guiding aid rather than a turning aid — this keeps the instruction to turn very subtle and it is very useful for the horse so that he doesn’t react against it and lose his shoulder.

You don’t have to use cavaletti — you can use any type of jump. I like to use them because it makes the hind leg work really hard and it also makes the horse careful.

To start with, I just go round the outside of the middle fence so that you can just practice doing a nice little turn on a gentle curve.

Use a small middle fence, but get the horse landing to the new direction. The rider really needs to look to the new direction and put their body on the line over the middle fence, putting a new inside heel down.

You can build this up so that you ride a full serpentine through the exercise. It’s really important to work hard to try and stay on the inside of centre, as this then makes the horse work hard with the inside front leg, which is a great part of this exercise. This brings the inside front leg higher than the outside one and encourages the horse to become more athletic.

You will see I then put a flag near the centre of the middle fence to encourage the rider to stay on the inside line.

Common mistakes for this exercise include:

  • The rider’s weight slipping to the outside
  • Their inside hip collapses
  • The rider’s inside knee comes up

As a rider you have got to look to the new direction, control the horse’s shoulder and then start thinking about the new direction again, so you really improve the horse’s suppleness and ability to follow the rider’s eye and hand.

Points to be aware of:

  • Keeping strength and balance to the inside
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining horse’s outside shoulder
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-14.31.54-e1528896742710.png

(Image credit: Future)

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Fancy footwork: how to get the most from your horse’s jumping canter ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to develop footwork in your horse’s canter

The aims of the exercise are to:

  • Develop energy in the canter
  • Improves horse’s footwork
  • Develop the balance and obedience between two fences
  • Improve suppleness
  • Learn to hold a curving line

I use two sets of three poles on a curving line for this exercise — square poles and also raised, round poles.

Using this exercise has a really good effect on a horse’s hind legs in the canter.

The rider will have to work hard, using their inside leg to help keep the horse in an upright way of going, while making sure the horse stays very symmetrical and straight in his balance.

As the horse opens himself a little bit over the poles, you have to land and shorten the canter up a little bit again, ready for the next set of poles, so that the horse is always in balance.

In another exercise to help teach a horse about turning to a new direction in relation to jumping, you will need:

  • Cavaletti or similar
  • 3.2m distance between the two obstacles
  • A minimum of 20m for the change of direction

Firstly, allow the horse time to work out the exercise and what he will need to do with his feet. The event horse has always got to look and think about his feet and how to use them.

When turning to the new direction, use the inside leg and rein to support the horse and to show them where they are going, to encourage a change of canter lead.

Points to be aware of:

  • Be reactive
  • Rider must sight the next fence
  • A loss of rider balance
  • The horse falling onto its shoulder between fences
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-08-03-at-14.52.08-e1533304366953.png

(Image credit: Future)

Slick and sharp: the building block cross-country exercise that will aid your success

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use

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(Image credit: Future)

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/fancy-footwork-get-horses-jumping-canter-662188 kqJvo9CVNaQWhKCXk9LLV1 Mon, 01 Feb 2021 15:00:57 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use this exercise to develop footwork in your horse’s canter

The aims of the exercise are to:

  • Develop energy in the canter
  • Improves horse’s footwork
  • Develop the balance and obedience between two fences
  • Improve suppleness
  • Learn to hold a curving line

I use two sets of three poles on a curving line for this exercise — square poles and also raised, round poles.

Using this exercise has a really good effect on a horse’s hind legs in the canter.

The rider will have to work hard, using their inside leg to help keep the horse in an upright way of going, while making sure the horse stays very symmetrical and straight in his balance.

As the horse opens himself a little bit over the poles, you have to land and shorten the canter up a little bit again, ready for the next set of poles, so that the horse is always in balance.

In another exercise to help teach a horse about turning to a new direction in relation to jumping, you will need:

  • Cavaletti or similar
  • 3.2m distance between the two obstacles
  • A minimum of 20m for the change of direction

Firstly, allow the horse time to work out the exercise and what he will need to do with his feet. The event horse has always got to look and think about his feet and how to use them.

When turning to the new direction, use the inside leg and rein to support the horse and to show them where they are going, to encourage a change of canter lead.

Points to be aware of:

  • Be reactive
  • Rider must sight the next fence
  • A loss of rider balance
  • The horse falling onto its shoulder between fences
  • Praise and reward

More expert training advice from Caroline:

Screen-Shot-2018-08-03-at-14.52.08-e1533304366953.png

(Image credit: Future)

Slick and sharp: the building block cross-country exercise that will aid your success

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how you can use

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Proposed US eventing rule change would bring sport more in line with Britain ]]> The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is considering adopting a new rule aimed at reducing risk, which is similar to one already in place in British Eventing competitions.

During the USEA virtual annual meeting and convention this week (8-11 December) changes to the rulebook were discussed including the rule on faults in the showjumping phase.

It has been proposed that anyone who knocks down five rails in showjumping must retire from the competition. This will apply in both short and long format competitions.

Malcolm Hook, chair of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) eventing rules working group and member of the USEA competitions, calendar and rules committee, said the proposal stemmed from discussions last year with the USEA cross-country safety sub-committee.

“We talked about it and checked with EquiRatings to see if there is any statistical evidence that knocking down rails in showjumping is indicative of the possibility of an increased likelihood of falls in cross-country and it turns out that yes, there is a relationship,” he said.

A USEA spokesman said the rule is being presented to reduce risk in eventing.

“The reasoning has been that in reviewing the incidents of poor riding at competitions the USEA cross-country safety subcommittee views it as important to highlight that poor showjumping performance should result in retirement,” he said.

Article continued below…

Liz Halliday-Smith United States Eventing Association rider of the year

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Girls on top in US eventing for first time in nearly 40 years

Originally from California, the rider has split her time between East Sussex and the USA for the past 20 years,

World Equestrian Center Ocala

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

New world-class show centre in dispute with national federation

The federation said it had “no choice” but to withdraw its competition licences from the facility

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(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

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“This should be equally applied regardless of whether showjumping or cross-country occurs first in the schedule of competition. British Eventing (BE) instituted this rule for similar reasons and it would be an additional measure to lessen risk in the sport.”

The BE rule states that compulsory retirement will occur for those who incur 24 penalties (via knockdowns or refusals) in showjumping. This is enforced at the end of the round, unless the competitor retires or is eliminated.

USEA rule changes will be discussed by the USEA board of governors in December. They will then be voted on by the USEF board in June 2021, and if approved will come into effect on 1 December 2021.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/proposed-usea-rule-change-to-reduce-risk-732670 eS2A4XFpJdWvPvGNXDeA9e Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:03:57 +0000 false false false

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is considering adopting a new rule aimed at reducing risk, which is similar to one already in place in British Eventing competitions.

During the USEA virtual annual meeting and convention this week (8-11 December) changes to the rulebook were discussed including the rule on faults in the showjumping phase.

It has been proposed that anyone who knocks down five rails in showjumping must retire from the competition. This will apply in both short and long format competitions.

Malcolm Hook, chair of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) eventing rules working group and member of the USEA competitions, calendar and rules committee, said the proposal stemmed from discussions last year with the USEA cross-country safety sub-committee.

“We talked about it and checked with EquiRatings to see if there is any statistical evidence that knocking down rails in showjumping is indicative of the possibility of an increased likelihood of falls in cross-country and it turns out that yes, there is a relationship,” he said.

A USEA spokesman said the rule is being presented to reduce risk in eventing.

“The reasoning has been that in reviewing the incidents of poor riding at competitions the USEA cross-country safety subcommittee views it as important to highlight that poor showjumping performance should result in retirement,” he said.

Article continued below…

Liz Halliday-Smith United States Eventing Association rider of the year

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Girls on top in US eventing for first time in nearly 40 years

Originally from California, the rider has split her time between East Sussex and the USA for the past 20 years,

World Equestrian Center Ocala

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

New world-class show centre in dispute with national federation

The federation said it had “no choice” but to withdraw its competition licences from the facility

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“This should be equally applied regardless of whether showjumping or cross-country occurs first in the schedule of competition. British Eventing (BE) instituted this rule for similar reasons and it would be an additional measure to lessen risk in the sport.”

The BE rule states that compulsory retirement will occur for those who incur 24 penalties (via knockdowns or refusals) in showjumping. This is enforced at the end of the round, unless the competitor retires or is eliminated.

USEA rule changes will be discussed by the USEA board of governors in December. They will then be voted on by the USEF board in June 2021, and if approved will come into effect on 1 December 2021.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Tailcoats at the ready – an ‘achievable new goal’ for British Eventing members ]]> A new series for adults competing at British Eventing (BE) novice level will be held at five venues across the UK next year.

The novice masters, developed by the BE rider working group representing riders at novice level and above, in conjunction with the Eventing Riders Association of Great Britain, will run at novice intermediate level and aims to give members an “achievable new goal”, with consistent performance being rewarded.

“As well as riding a bespoke dressage test designed especially for this class, in an international 20m x 60m arena with two dressage judges, competitors can choose to ride their test in a tailcoat, adding to the special feel of this occasion,” said a BE spokesman.

The series will take place at Glamis Castle, Angus, in May, Catton Park, Derbyshire, in June, Barbury, Wiltshire, in July, Little Downham (2), Cambridgeshire, in August and Allerton Park, North Yorkshire, in September.

The spokesman added that the classes will create a new regional goal for riders, with the well-established venues selected with a broad geographic spread in mind.

BE chief executive Jude Matthews said the series is a “fantastic” addition to the BE calendar and an “exciting new opportunity”.

“We believe it is important that members at every level should have an achievable goal to aim for and the novice masters will provide a valuable new aim for those riders,” she said.

“The rider working group has really championed this new concept and we have worked closely together to shape this into a product that fits their objectives. Their feedback highlighted a desire for a new series specifically aimed at adult riders competing at novice, which we hope will provide many with a new competition opportunity.”

Ms Matthews added that data analysis company EquiRatings had provided BE with useful insight around eligibility and it was clear from the statistics there is a demand for the new series.

Article continued below…

COLTSTOWN-GLIDER_Badminton_PN19_8674_419766241_762571161.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

New festivals and series on the cards for grassroots eventers *H&H Plus*

Blenheim Palace Horse Trials

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The Jockey Club to organise key British Eventing fixture

Jockey club regional managing director Ian Renton said it was “truly a great honour” to be awarded the five-year contract

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“We look forward to welcoming riders to the novice masters next year,” she said.

Combinations will qualify for the series by achieving two double clears at any novice, CCI2*-S, or CCI2*-L within the qualifying period (2020 season and up to the ballot date of the novice masters class in 2021) – or by finishing once in the top 25% of dressage starters in each section

There is no restriction on the grade of horse but combinations must be eligible to compete at intermediate novice level. The top 150 BE riders of the previous two calendar years, those who have competed at five-star in the past 10 years, and anyone who has finished in the top 25% of a four-star in the past five years are ineligible.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/british-eventing-novice-master-series-732195 aCEXPkP6rZCDMJs2miDMzi Mon, 07 Dec 2020 17:37:17 +0000 false false false

A new series for adults competing at British Eventing (BE) novice level will be held at five venues across the UK next year.

The novice masters, developed by the BE rider working group representing riders at novice level and above, in conjunction with the Eventing Riders Association of Great Britain, will run at novice intermediate level and aims to give members an “achievable new goal”, with consistent performance being rewarded.

“As well as riding a bespoke dressage test designed especially for this class, in an international 20m x 60m arena with two dressage judges, competitors can choose to ride their test in a tailcoat, adding to the special feel of this occasion,” said a BE spokesman.

The series will take place at Glamis Castle, Angus, in May, Catton Park, Derbyshire, in June, Barbury, Wiltshire, in July, Little Downham (2), Cambridgeshire, in August and Allerton Park, North Yorkshire, in September.

The spokesman added that the classes will create a new regional goal for riders, with the well-established venues selected with a broad geographic spread in mind.

BE chief executive Jude Matthews said the series is a “fantastic” addition to the BE calendar and an “exciting new opportunity”.

“We believe it is important that members at every level should have an achievable goal to aim for and the novice masters will provide a valuable new aim for those riders,” she said.

“The rider working group has really championed this new concept and we have worked closely together to shape this into a product that fits their objectives. Their feedback highlighted a desire for a new series specifically aimed at adult riders competing at novice, which we hope will provide many with a new competition opportunity.”

Ms Matthews added that data analysis company EquiRatings had provided BE with useful insight around eligibility and it was clear from the statistics there is a demand for the new series.

Article continued below…

COLTSTOWN-GLIDER_Badminton_PN19_8674_419766241_762571161.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

New festivals and series on the cards for grassroots eventers *H&H Plus*

Blenheim Palace Horse Trials

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The Jockey Club to organise key British Eventing fixture

Jockey club regional managing director Ian Renton said it was “truly a great honour” to be awarded the five-year contract

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“We look forward to welcoming riders to the novice masters next year,” she said.

Combinations will qualify for the series by achieving two double clears at any novice, CCI2*-S, or CCI2*-L within the qualifying period (2020 season and up to the ballot date of the novice masters class in 2021) – or by finishing once in the top 25% of dressage starters in each section

There is no restriction on the grade of horse but combinations must be eligible to compete at intermediate novice level. The top 150 BE riders of the previous two calendar years, those who have competed at five-star in the past 10 years, and anyone who has finished in the top 25% of a four-star in the past five years are ineligible.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘Ride’ around the Pau five-star cross-country track with a top 10 finisher ]]> Last week (23-26 October), we were treated to the sole five-star of 2020 at Pau. Some of the world’s top riders and horses did battle, including having to navigate course designer Pierre Michelet’s testing cross-country course. The track was over a distance of 6,340m, featuring 31 numbered fences and with an optimum time of 11min 8sec.

To give us a proper feel of how the course rode, here is a video of young British talent Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden tackling their first five-star track. They went on to finish clear inside the time across country to move up from eighth after dressage to fifth. They unfortunately lowered two rails on the final day in the showjumping and incurred 1.2 time-faults to finish in eventual 10th, which is still a huge achievement nonetheless.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

After her round, Mollie told H&H: “It doesn’t feel like it’s sunk in how well he went. When I finished I thought it wasn’t the prettiest round I’ve ever ridden. He is so genuine and that’s where our partnership really counts. When I heard them say I had finished bang on the optimum time, I was expecting to burst into tears and have strong emotions, but I think I was in complete disbelief — it was a very strange feeling.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Laura Collett celebrates her first five-star victory at Pau 2020, riding London 52. Pau Horse Trials 2020 final results: Laura Collett celebrates victory on London 52

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Laura Collett claims her first five-star win at Pau: ‘I never actually believed it would come off’ *H&H Plus*

Laura Collett claims her first win at five-star, after a long road to prove herself capable of victory at the

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Mollie continued: “I didn’t have time to watch anybody go before me as I was 11th to go, but I’ve been training with Robin Dumas leading up to this event and he had given us such a good tune up. I sent him videos of the course for him to offer me advice and training with him has given me a lot of confidence in the run-up to my first five-star.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/pau-cross-country-video-2020-728674 9MBotjqRFRfmzQs7r95PeB Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:24:46 +0000 false false false

Last week (23-26 October), we were treated to the sole five-star of 2020 at Pau. Some of the world’s top riders and horses did battle, including having to navigate course designer Pierre Michelet’s testing cross-country course. The track was over a distance of 6,340m, featuring 31 numbered fences and with an optimum time of 11min 8sec.

To give us a proper feel of how the course rode, here is a video of young British talent Mollie Summerland and Charly Van Ter Heiden tackling their first five-star track. They went on to finish clear inside the time across country to move up from eighth after dressage to fifth. They unfortunately lowered two rails on the final day in the showjumping and incurred 1.2 time-faults to finish in eventual 10th, which is still a huge achievement nonetheless.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

After her round, Mollie told H&H: “It doesn’t feel like it’s sunk in how well he went. When I finished I thought it wasn’t the prettiest round I’ve ever ridden. He is so genuine and that’s where our partnership really counts. When I heard them say I had finished bang on the optimum time, I was expecting to burst into tears and have strong emotions, but I think I was in complete disbelief — it was a very strange feeling.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Laura Collett celebrates her first five-star victory at Pau 2020, riding London 52. Pau Horse Trials 2020 final results: Laura Collett celebrates victory on London 52

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Laura Collett claims her first five-star win at Pau: ‘I never actually believed it would come off’ *H&H Plus*

Laura Collett claims her first win at five-star, after a long road to prove herself capable of victory at the

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Mollie continued: “I didn’t have time to watch anybody go before me as I was 11th to go, but I’ve been training with Robin Dumas leading up to this event and he had given us such a good tune up. I sent him videos of the course for him to offer me advice and training with him has given me a lot of confidence in the run-up to my first five-star.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ Strap yourselves in and ‘ride’ the winning cross-country round at Burghley ]]> Have you always dreamt of riding round the iconic five-star cross-country course at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials? Well, now you can thanks to this incredible video, on the day when we should have been at the great event on cross-country day, if it hadn’t been for its cancellation owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

This great footage by SAP Sports was taken from a hat camera attached to 2018’s winning Burghley combination, Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy.

The pair were drawn as number 96, so they were later to go on cross-country day (1 September). This also means that on the video you can see the hoofprints of the competitors that went before him, giving a great idea of where Tim saved time on the 11min11sec course over the 6374m track.

The optimum speed Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy were required to travel at in order to reach the optimum time was 570m/m (or 21.25mph), with the course incorporating 30 fences and 52 jumping efforts.

On this video, you can really get a sense of the speed, distance and terrain horses must travel over at Burghley. And not only that, but also the volume of the crowd and how quickly some of the fences come up.

Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy started on course in second place after the dressage phase. Tim and ‘Ozzie’ were behind first-placed Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody, but the latter pair fell at the seemingly innocuous Gurkha Kukri at fence 10.

This left the door wide open for fellow New Zealander Tim, and he made the most of it, motoring round with Ozzie to finish just one second over the optimum time.

Continues below…

Burghley Horse Trials 2018 results Tim Price

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Price wins his first British four-star title at Burghley: ‘It’s beyond my wildest dreams’

New Zealand rider Tim Price showjumped clear to take the Burghley Horse Trials 2018 title

Burghley cross country 2018

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Which of these would you like to jump? Take a walk around the 2018 Burghley cross-country course

Take a look at what the cross-country course has in store for horses and riders this year

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Only four combinations actually made the optimum time — Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class), Andrew Nicholson (Swallow Springs), Elizabeth Power (Soladun) and Tina Cook (Star Witness).

Tim and Ozzie went on to showjump clear on the final day of competition, to win with over four faults in hand over second-placed Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/time-price-ringwood-sky-boy-burghley-cross-country-video-663925 6a4ybjbcTv1Y3sc19GmUyG Sat, 05 Sep 2020 11:24:47 +0000 false false false

Have you always dreamt of riding round the iconic five-star cross-country course at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials? Well, now you can thanks to this incredible video, on the day when we should have been at the great event on cross-country day, if it hadn’t been for its cancellation owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

This great footage by SAP Sports was taken from a hat camera attached to 2018’s winning Burghley combination, Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy.

The pair were drawn as number 96, so they were later to go on cross-country day (1 September). This also means that on the video you can see the hoofprints of the competitors that went before him, giving a great idea of where Tim saved time on the 11min11sec course over the 6374m track.

The optimum speed Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy were required to travel at in order to reach the optimum time was 570m/m (or 21.25mph), with the course incorporating 30 fences and 52 jumping efforts.

On this video, you can really get a sense of the speed, distance and terrain horses must travel over at Burghley. And not only that, but also the volume of the crowd and how quickly some of the fences come up.

Tim and Ringwood Sky Boy started on course in second place after the dressage phase. Tim and ‘Ozzie’ were behind first-placed Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody, but the latter pair fell at the seemingly innocuous Gurkha Kukri at fence 10.

This left the door wide open for fellow New Zealander Tim, and he made the most of it, motoring round with Ozzie to finish just one second over the optimum time.

Continues below…

Burghley Horse Trials 2018 results Tim Price

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim Price wins his first British four-star title at Burghley: ‘It’s beyond my wildest dreams’

New Zealand rider Tim Price showjumped clear to take the Burghley Horse Trials 2018 title

Burghley cross country 2018

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Which of these would you like to jump? Take a walk around the 2018 Burghley cross-country course

Take a look at what the cross-country course has in store for horses and riders this year

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Only four combinations actually made the optimum time — Oliver Townend (Ballaghmor Class), Andrew Nicholson (Swallow Springs), Elizabeth Power (Soladun) and Tina Cook (Star Witness).

Tim and Ozzie went on to showjump clear on the final day of competition, to win with over four faults in hand over second-placed Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ How to nail the cross-country optimum time: 6 tips from the top ]]> Ahead of the start of the season this weekend, if you are going eventing, you will need to ride across country at a certain speed in order to achieve the optimum time. But how do you do it? How can you ensure you and your horse are travelling neither too slow nor too fast?

Here’s some helpful pointers from New Zealand international event rider, Jesse Campbell (pictured), who has several four- and five-star completions to his name:

1. Keep a good rhythm, being smooth on your approaches and riding tight lines is the foundation of achieving the time cross-country.

2. Walking your course effectively is key. Make sure you know where the more intense areas are, so you know whether you need to look to make up time elsewhere on the course.

3. Always know the optimum speed (metres per minute, mpm) of the level of competition you are doing — this will tell you the speed you should be aiming for.

4. Where you can, make sure you wheel the course and take note of where your minute markers are.

5. Wearing a stopwatch can be a helpful tool, but you need to know the rhythm you need to be in first. With our working pupils we practice wearing a watch at home and getting an idea of the pace they need to be at over a set distance.

6. Having good feel and interfering with your horse as little as possible fundamentally allows for the correct balance and rhythm when tackling a cross-country course. If you can achieve this within the correct pace, these are all the key ingredients for getting within the optimum time.

Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these eventing competitions available to enter where you can put this advice into practice…

One-day event

Date: 22 March

Venue: Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, Cam

Details: “This event starts at 20-30cm and goes up to a maximum height of 85cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated and NSEA one-day event

Date: 5 April

Venue: Moreton Equestrian Centre, Dorchester

Details: “This competition has classes from 60cm to 80cm.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 12 April

Venue: Foresterseat Cross Country, Perth

Details: “This event has classes ranging from 50cm to 1.10m with qualifiers for the Connemara Eventing series too.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 10 May

Venue: Forgadenny, Perth

Details: “This open Pony Club event has classes from 80-85cm to 1.10-1.15m.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 14 June

Venue: Gloucester Lodge Farm, Blyth

Details: “This open event features classes ranging from 60cm up to 90cm with a hunter trial too.”

Enter now

Mini one-day event

Date: 28 June

Venue: Rein and Shine Equestrian Centre, Wiltshire

Details: “This event has classes ranging between 60cm up to 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 2 August

Venue: Urchinwood Manor Riding and Event Centre, Bristol

Details: “This event features classes from 50cm to 90cm.”

Enter now

Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/how-to-get-the-optimum-time-cross-country-664126 nzmeeY4sFiPxuK174R6jRk Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:24:09 +0000 false false false

Ahead of the start of the season this weekend, if you are going eventing, you will need to ride across country at a certain speed in order to achieve the optimum time. But how do you do it? How can you ensure you and your horse are travelling neither too slow nor too fast?

Here’s some helpful pointers from New Zealand international event rider, Jesse Campbell (pictured), who has several four- and five-star completions to his name:

1. Keep a good rhythm, being smooth on your approaches and riding tight lines is the foundation of achieving the time cross-country.

2. Walking your course effectively is key. Make sure you know where the more intense areas are, so you know whether you need to look to make up time elsewhere on the course.

3. Always know the optimum speed (metres per minute, mpm) of the level of competition you are doing — this will tell you the speed you should be aiming for.

4. Where you can, make sure you wheel the course and take note of where your minute markers are.

5. Wearing a stopwatch can be a helpful tool, but you need to know the rhythm you need to be in first. With our working pupils we practice wearing a watch at home and getting an idea of the pace they need to be at over a set distance.

6. Having good feel and interfering with your horse as little as possible fundamentally allows for the correct balance and rhythm when tackling a cross-country course. If you can achieve this within the correct pace, these are all the key ingredients for getting within the optimum time.

Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these eventing competitions available to enter where you can put this advice into practice…

One-day event

Date: 22 March

Venue: Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, Cam

Details: “This event starts at 20-30cm and goes up to a maximum height of 85cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated and NSEA one-day event

Date: 5 April

Venue: Moreton Equestrian Centre, Dorchester

Details: “This competition has classes from 60cm to 80cm.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 12 April

Venue: Foresterseat Cross Country, Perth

Details: “This event has classes ranging from 50cm to 1.10m with qualifiers for the Connemara Eventing series too.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 10 May

Venue: Forgadenny, Perth

Details: “This open Pony Club event has classes from 80-85cm to 1.10-1.15m.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 14 June

Venue: Gloucester Lodge Farm, Blyth

Details: “This open event features classes ranging from 60cm up to 90cm with a hunter trial too.”

Enter now

Mini one-day event

Date: 28 June

Venue: Rein and Shine Equestrian Centre, Wiltshire

Details: “This event has classes ranging between 60cm up to 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 2 August

Venue: Urchinwood Manor Riding and Event Centre, Bristol

Details: “This event features classes from 50cm to 90cm.”

Enter now

Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ ‘I’ve been very lucky’: rider speaks out on air jackets after freak cross-country fall ]]> A rider whose horse rolled on her when they fell while cross-country schooling has spoken of the importance of wearing an air jacket.

Madeleine Hubel, from York, was taking part at a training camp over 90cm fences on Saturday (28 September) when her 16hh Irish mare Holly caught her back legs over a jump.

“I jumped a drop down into water and was really pleased with Holly and then the last thing I remember is taking off at a jump coming out of the water,” Madeleine told H&H.

“I was told by my friend, Charlotte, Holly jumped really boldly and ended up straddling the fence. I nose-dived to the ground and Holly followed, landed behind me then rolled on my legs and pelvis.”

Madeleine said the next thing she remembers is the noise of the Midlands Air Ambulance landing.

“I was vaguely aware of where I was but Charlotte said I wasn’t making much sense. My instructor, Niki de Macedo, looked after me until the paramedics arrived and I was taken to the hospital,” she said.

“I had a CT scan and X-rays to check my pelvis but the doctors eliminated any serious injuries quite quickly. I had a gravel rash down my cheek, a burst lip and I broke both my wrists.”

Madeleine had surgery to insert pins in her wrists on Sunday.

“I can’t ride for six weeks and feel a bit useless having two arms out of action. Holly is kept at Charlotte’s yard so she is going to look after her. Thankfully Holly was absolutely fine after the fall and will have a holiday while I can’t ride. She’s a tough cookie and she’s such an easy horse, you can pick her up and put her down,” she said.

“I will miss riding but it’s one of those things. I’m looking forward to getting back on and hope to go cross-country schooling in spring. At the moment I don’t have any nerves about getting back on because I know it was a freak accident wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

Article continued below…

Jo-Dunn-and-Chuck.jpeg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Rider who suffered severe injuries in rotational fall raises funds for air ambulance

‘The doctors had said they weren’t sure I would walk again, let alone run‘

Jenny-Gaskell.jpg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Eventer who abandoned warm-up to save spectator’s life goes on to jump double clear

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Madeleine said the doctors believed the air jacket prevented Madeleine suffering any further injuries and she has urged others to consider wearing one.

“The combination of my air jacket, body-protector and hat really helped and I’ve been very lucky. Niki thinks it saved my life. If I hadn’t had the air jacket things would have been a lot worse,” she said.

“Air jackets provide an additional safety level and what’s a few hundred of pounds for safety? Some riders competing at lower levels think they might not need one but it doesn’t matter if you’re jumping 50cm or a metre – you’re still putting yourself in danger – you hope not, but there are still risks.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//news/ive-lucky-rider-speaks-air-jackets-freak-cross-country-fall-697636 4PAZyKgo5cxwZ1taPaQqNr Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:06:31 +0000 false false false

A rider whose horse rolled on her when they fell while cross-country schooling has spoken of the importance of wearing an air jacket.

Madeleine Hubel, from York, was taking part at a training camp over 90cm fences on Saturday (28 September) when her 16hh Irish mare Holly caught her back legs over a jump.

“I jumped a drop down into water and was really pleased with Holly and then the last thing I remember is taking off at a jump coming out of the water,” Madeleine told H&H.

“I was told by my friend, Charlotte, Holly jumped really boldly and ended up straddling the fence. I nose-dived to the ground and Holly followed, landed behind me then rolled on my legs and pelvis.”

Madeleine said the next thing she remembers is the noise of the Midlands Air Ambulance landing.

“I was vaguely aware of where I was but Charlotte said I wasn’t making much sense. My instructor, Niki de Macedo, looked after me until the paramedics arrived and I was taken to the hospital,” she said.

“I had a CT scan and X-rays to check my pelvis but the doctors eliminated any serious injuries quite quickly. I had a gravel rash down my cheek, a burst lip and I broke both my wrists.”

Madeleine had surgery to insert pins in her wrists on Sunday.

“I can’t ride for six weeks and feel a bit useless having two arms out of action. Holly is kept at Charlotte’s yard so she is going to look after her. Thankfully Holly was absolutely fine after the fall and will have a holiday while I can’t ride. She’s a tough cookie and she’s such an easy horse, you can pick her up and put her down,” she said.

“I will miss riding but it’s one of those things. I’m looking forward to getting back on and hope to go cross-country schooling in spring. At the moment I don’t have any nerves about getting back on because I know it was a freak accident wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

Article continued below…

Jo-Dunn-and-Chuck.jpeg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Rider who suffered severe injuries in rotational fall raises funds for air ambulance

‘The doctors had said they weren’t sure I would walk again, let alone run‘

Jenny-Gaskell.jpg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Eventer who abandoned warm-up to save spectator’s life goes on to jump double clear

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: JOANNA PRESTWICH)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Madeleine said the doctors believed the air jacket prevented Madeleine suffering any further injuries and she has urged others to consider wearing one.

“The combination of my air jacket, body-protector and hat really helped and I’ve been very lucky. Niki thinks it saved my life. If I hadn’t had the air jacket things would have been a lot worse,” she said.

“Air jackets provide an additional safety level and what’s a few hundred of pounds for safety? Some riders competing at lower levels think they might not need one but it doesn’t matter if you’re jumping 50cm or a metre – you’re still putting yourself in danger – you hope not, but there are still risks.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> <![CDATA[ #SundaySchool: Padraig McCarthy — how to make your spooky horse bolder across country ]]> Event rider Padraig McCarthy explains how repetition and praise helps to build up confidence in a green horse

Former showjumper Padraig McCarthy switched to eventing, and competed in his first CIC* (now CCI2*-S) in late 2013. Since then he has represented Ireland at the 2015 European Championships at Blair Castle and was selected to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and also won double silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Originally from Tipperary, Padraig is now based in Devon with his wife Lucy.

Padraig says:

Some horses are very brave, natural cross-country animals right from the outset, but a lot need a little more help and work to develop their confidence. In particular, very careful horses can be wary and spooky when they’re first introduced to natural obstacles, but the right groundwork can help them develop into cross-country machines as they mature.

Training the stars

  • Simon Porloe was probably the spookiest horse I’ve ever ridden. He was a prime example of a horse who needs his blood up in order to get from A to B in a straight line. He did lots of following other horses as a youngster, with my wife Lucy, but it was more about getting his adrenalin pumping than overcoming any great nervousness or anxiety.
  • A season’s hunting with the Taunton Vale was the making of Lucy’s top five-star horse Shaabrak. He wasn’t spooky about fences as a youngster, but a bit fussy about mud and where he would put his feet.

Tackling the issue

1. I tend to introduce our young horses to natural obstacles as soon as they’re ready to start jumping when they’re being broken in. That way, the horses just accept cross-country fences as part of everyday life.

We keep it simple to start, using small logs and roll-tops, which have the added advantage of a good profile to teach the horse to make the right shape over the fence.

2. Repetition is paramount in the development of a young horse. When a horse negotiates an obstacle for the first time, it can be with an enormous leap or a bit of a scramble.

Don’t just breathe a sigh of relief that you’ve got to the other side in one piece — it’s so important to go back and jump that same fence several times until the horse is just popping it confidently and without fuss.

It’s also a good idea to go back over the previous day’s established lessons and try to add one or two new ones to the horse’s repertoire.

3. Water and ditches are the most typical bogey fences for young horses and we almost always have an older lead horse on hand when we first tackle those subjects. With a young horse I like to see what sort of reaction they have to the new question and give them the opportunity to go on their own first. But, if they hesitate for more than 20 or 30 seconds, I’ll bring in the other horse to give them a lead.

Again, repetition and patience is essential. Use the lead horse until the young horse is confident, and then ask him to try it again on his own. Praise is also massively important in developing the horse’s confidence across country.

4. I find the best way to get a horse more forward-thinking is to jump a course following another horse, or preferably a group of other horses, rather like a team chase scenario.

Often the stop-start nature of cross-country schooling doesn’t lend itself to getting horses thinking forward, as they’re always jumping a fence and pulling up. Actually travelling from A to B gives a new sense of purpose to the job and makes much more sense to the horse.

Following a little gang will usually get the adrenalin up of even the most cold-blooded horse, and once they realise cross-country is fun they will often not look back.

Continued below…

bounce grid exercise

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

#SundaySchool: Imogen Murray on the bounce grid exercise

Improving horse rideability Ben Way riding GALLEY LIGHT, during the Cross Country of The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials near Stamford in Lincolnshire, UK, on 5th September 2015

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

#SundaySchool: Ben Way on improving a horse’s focus and rideability

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Consider this…

  • Repetition and praise is the key to producing a proficient and confident cross-country horse.
  • Make use of a horse’s natural herd instinct and get a lead or go hunting. Hunting is one of the best schooling grounds for producing forward-thinking, brave cross-country horses.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//features/sundayschool-padraig-mccarthy-make-spooky-horse-bolder-across-country-696584 aoqbXqMyiWgf6Dc1bT3HnF Sun, 22 Sep 2019 15:24:06 +0000 false false false

Event rider Padraig McCarthy explains how repetition and praise helps to build up confidence in a green horse

Former showjumper Padraig McCarthy switched to eventing, and competed in his first CIC* (now CCI2*-S) in late 2013. Since then he has represented Ireland at the 2015 European Championships at Blair Castle and was selected to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and also won double silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Originally from Tipperary, Padraig is now based in Devon with his wife Lucy.

Padraig says:

Some horses are very brave, natural cross-country animals right from the outset, but a lot need a little more help and work to develop their confidence. In particular, very careful horses can be wary and spooky when they’re first introduced to natural obstacles, but the right groundwork can help them develop into cross-country machines as they mature.

Training the stars

  • Simon Porloe was probably the spookiest horse I’ve ever ridden. He was a prime example of a horse who needs his blood up in order to get from A to B in a straight line. He did lots of following other horses as a youngster, with my wife Lucy, but it was more about getting his adrenalin pumping than overcoming any great nervousness or anxiety.
  • A season’s hunting with the Taunton Vale was the making of Lucy’s top five-star horse Shaabrak. He wasn’t spooky about fences as a youngster, but a bit fussy about mud and where he would put his feet.

Tackling the issue

1. I tend to introduce our young horses to natural obstacles as soon as they’re ready to start jumping when they’re being broken in. That way, the horses just accept cross-country fences as part of everyday life.

We keep it simple to start, using small logs and roll-tops, which have the added advantage of a good profile to teach the horse to make the right shape over the fence.

2. Repetition is paramount in the development of a young horse. When a horse negotiates an obstacle for the first time, it can be with an enormous leap or a bit of a scramble.

Don’t just breathe a sigh of relief that you’ve got to the other side in one piece — it’s so important to go back and jump that same fence several times until the horse is just popping it confidently and without fuss.

It’s also a good idea to go back over the previous day’s established lessons and try to add one or two new ones to the horse’s repertoire.

3. Water and ditches are the most typical bogey fences for young horses and we almost always have an older lead horse on hand when we first tackle those subjects. With a young horse I like to see what sort of reaction they have to the new question and give them the opportunity to go on their own first. But, if they hesitate for more than 20 or 30 seconds, I’ll bring in the other horse to give them a lead.

Again, repetition and patience is essential. Use the lead horse until the young horse is confident, and then ask him to try it again on his own. Praise is also massively important in developing the horse’s confidence across country.

4. I find the best way to get a horse more forward-thinking is to jump a course following another horse, or preferably a group of other horses, rather like a team chase scenario.

Often the stop-start nature of cross-country schooling doesn’t lend itself to getting horses thinking forward, as they’re always jumping a fence and pulling up. Actually travelling from A to B gives a new sense of purpose to the job and makes much more sense to the horse.

Following a little gang will usually get the adrenalin up of even the most cold-blooded horse, and once they realise cross-country is fun they will often not look back.

Continued below…

bounce grid exercise

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

#SundaySchool: Imogen Murray on the bounce grid exercise

Improving horse rideability Ben Way riding GALLEY LIGHT, during the Cross Country of The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials near Stamford in Lincolnshire, UK, on 5th September 2015

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

#SundaySchool: Ben Way on improving a horse’s focus and rideability

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Tim Wilkinson)

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Consider this…

  • Repetition and praise is the key to producing a proficient and confident cross-country horse.
  • Make use of a horse’s natural herd instinct and get a lead or go hunting. Hunting is one of the best schooling grounds for producing forward-thinking, brave cross-country horses.

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