<![CDATA[ Latest from Horse & Hound in Cross-country-fences ]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/tag/cross-country-fences Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:10:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ ‘Priceless was perfection; he didn’t deviate an inch right or left’: how Ginny Elliot’s legendary eventer mastered the trickiest tracks in the world ]]> It’s easy to hark back to the cross-country courses of yesteryear, and pit the traditional “rider-frighteners” versus today’s technical questions, but the reality is far more nuanced. Ginny Elliot, who won 10 gold medals as well as five Burghleys and three Badmintons in the 1980s, refutes the idea that accuracy is more important today.

“When Frank Weldon took over building Badminton [1966–1988] it was all about bravery and accuracy – accuracy was super important,” she says.

“Now, yes, they have to be very accurate too because of the skinnies – which are difficult – and various other challenging questions, but it’s a different sort of accuracy.

“Angles were the main question for us; we had to be pinpoint accurate on our line or we’d land in a ditch. There was such a wide space to get it wrong because the rail was 20ft wide from right to left, to another rail 20ft wide – your angle and accuracy had to be absolutely correct, you couldn’t deviate six inches.”

Ginny gives the example of the angles at Badminton’s Tom Smith’s Walls – now no longer jumped – and the “S-fence”, built of timber.

“You were running downhill,” she says. “There was one stride between each rail, so you had to find your way through on the right striding.”

Burghley’s infamous Brandy Glass in 1983 – so called because from aerial view it was shaped like its name – was another.

“It was angled post-and-rail to angled post-and-rail to a corner, super-difficult, and dear Priceless was perfection; he didn’t deviate an inch right or left,” says Ginny.

She’d been told by chef d’equipe Malcolm Wallace not to attempt the influential direct route if she was on time.

“I think I was the only one who jumped it straight – because my watch wasn’t working, so I had to!”

The onus was on riders of that era to decide their own line and stick to it.

“You had to choose something like a piece of bark on the timber, and a tree in the distance to line up, especially if there were three fences in a row or open corners on a bending line.

“We jumped very natural fences that sat well in the countryside, utilising the natural resources. In my memory, we didn’t have protective rails on ditches like at the Vicarage Vee nowadays, so if you were near the end of the day, the ditch was considerably bigger.

“We rarely had fillers or flower pots; the fences were less dressed,” she adds. “I remember at Badminton a massive parallel on an angle over an open ditch. So you had to make sure you’re on exactly the right line or you land in the ditch.”

“We had to be pinpoint accurate on our line or we’d land in a ditch”

ginny elliot

“Frank Weldon was a genius course-designer. We often sat in our lorries the night before cross-country agreeing that there were two or three unjumpable fences – how wrong we were. Frank had certainly managed to frighten the riders, but the fences jumped well.”

The challenge was to solve the course-designer’s puzzle.

“One fence I couldn’t work out in my head was at Gawler World Championships in 1984,” she says. “It was a rail, one stride, rail drop into water and then bounce over another rail. I watched it for a while, and it wasn’t working out. Even Charisma fell there.

“A very few managed the bounce, but it was ugly to watch. My question was, having dropped a long way down landing in the water, physically how could the horse get his weight back on his hind feet to take off immediately over the rail?

“So I worked out that if I could get Priceless to take two strides in the one stride, he’d drop in short and then could fit in one stride to the rail instead of a bounce. I just prayed and he did it. It didn’t sit well in my tummy but I was reasonably confident he could do it.

“Priceless had a remarkable brain and sense of quick decisions, a genius.”

They won double gold.

The Gawler fence would be outlawed today – the track produced 26 fallers from 43 runners.

newspaper clipping of Ginny Elliot and Ian Stark in water jump at Gawler World Championships

Ginny Elliot assesses the influential water jump at the Gawler World Championships, which featured a bounce in the water (Image credit: Future)

And sometimes, the fences were rightly deemed unjumpable.

“At the Denmark Euros [Horsens, 1981] there was an upright on top of a bank like the Hickstead Derby bank, so horses would have landed right at the bottom,” Ginny remembers. “I walked the course with Richard Meade and I was just a child with nappies on!

“Richard looked at my face when we finished the course and said, ‘don’t worry, they will have to change two of those fences’. They removed them after the chef d’equipes’ meeting and thank goodness, because I was number one to go!”

Bouncing and bucking through bullfinches

Bullfinches were quite a feature in the ’80s. They still pop up today, but they’re arguably less frequent – and certainly less taxing. Ginny remembers a bounce of bullfinches at Burghley, where Night Cap cleverly scrambled in a stride.

“A bounce of bullfinches didn’t make any sense in my head and he must have been suspicious – but he was very clever and luckily I managed to stay on board. I hated that fence.”

Priceless managed to negotiate a huge bullfinch with a massive ditch in front on a steep downhill approach, bucking after Ginny tapped him on the shoulder to tell him to pay attention to the enormous obstacle ahead.

“Bucking was not what I needed when I felt we should be going 80mph! The crowds watching must have thought this very amusing,” she says. “Priceless, renowned for his cheeky behaviour, managed to stop bucking just in time and jumped it really well – goodness knows how.”

Another natural feature, banks, were also more prevalent, with iconic fences such as Luckington Lane and the Normandy Bank now no longer in use. These were a useful method of slowing horses down to make the optimum time sufficiently tough, but from a designer’s perspective, steps and staircases use up too many of the permitted number of jumping efforts.

Ginny Elliot and Priceless at Trout Hatchery, Burghley 1985

“Priceless had a remarkable brain – a genius”: pictured at the Trout Hatchery at the European Championships 1985, held at Burghley, where he and Ginny won double gold (Image credit: Future/TI Archive)

Mastering the cross-country test

Despite – or perhaps because of – all these taxing fences, Ginny was a consummate cross-country rider, her smooth style belying the difficulty of the tracks. Two of her top horses – Priceless and Master Craftsman – never had a cross-country jumping fault, through their careers of multiple five-stars and championships.

“I was told early on in my career that a horse already knows he is a horse – the art of horsemanship lies solely with the rider,” says Ginny.

“I’ve always asked what the designer is asking from the rider, in terms of how to present their horse in the best way to negotiate a particular fence,” she explains. “Gear-changing is nearly the most important, and the smoother this happens, the less time you use.

“All horses are different and have their Achilles’ heels. As a rider, it’s our responsibility to do the gear changes, the rhythm and accuracy. And if you did all that you should have a high chance of jumping the fence happily.

“You can’t afford to take money out of the bank, so you don’t want a hairy moment at fence four,” she adds. “I would be very cross with myself if my horse hit a fence in front. I had another job to do on Sunday, so my horses had to finish in the best possible shape.”

And with Ginny’s extraordinary tally of medals and trophies, she certainly fulfilled her mission.

“A horse already knows he is a horse – the art of horsemanship lies solely with the rider”

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//equestrian-sports/eventing/ginny-elliot-cross-country MHAw9ic9z4DFoigRjDhDWU Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:10:00 +0000 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:18:08 +0000 false false true

It’s easy to hark back to the cross-country courses of yesteryear, and pit the traditional “rider-frighteners” versus today’s technical questions, but the reality is far more nuanced. Ginny Elliot, who won 10 gold medals as well as five Burghleys and three Badmintons in the 1980s, refutes the idea that accuracy is more important today.

“When Frank Weldon took over building Badminton [1966–1988] it was all about bravery and accuracy – accuracy was super important,” she says.

“Now, yes, they have to be very accurate too because of the skinnies – which are difficult – and various other challenging questions, but it’s a different sort of accuracy.

“Angles were the main question for us; we had to be pinpoint accurate on our line or we’d land in a ditch. There was such a wide space to get it wrong because the rail was 20ft wide from right to left, to another rail 20ft wide – your angle and accuracy had to be absolutely correct, you couldn’t deviate six inches.”

Ginny gives the example of the angles at Badminton’s Tom Smith’s Walls – now no longer jumped – and the “S-fence”, built of timber.

“You were running downhill,” she says. “There was one stride between each rail, so you had to find your way through on the right striding.”

Burghley’s infamous Brandy Glass in 1983 – so called because from aerial view it was shaped like its name – was another.

“It was angled post-and-rail to angled post-and-rail to a corner, super-difficult, and dear Priceless was perfection; he didn’t deviate an inch right or left,” says Ginny.

She’d been told by chef d’equipe Malcolm Wallace not to attempt the influential direct route if she was on time.

“I think I was the only one who jumped it straight – because my watch wasn’t working, so I had to!”

The onus was on riders of that era to decide their own line and stick to it.

“You had to choose something like a piece of bark on the timber, and a tree in the distance to line up, especially if there were three fences in a row or open corners on a bending line.

“We jumped very natural fences that sat well in the countryside, utilising the natural resources. In my memory, we didn’t have protective rails on ditches like at the Vicarage Vee nowadays, so if you were near the end of the day, the ditch was considerably bigger.

“We rarely had fillers or flower pots; the fences were less dressed,” she adds. “I remember at Badminton a massive parallel on an angle over an open ditch. So you had to make sure you’re on exactly the right line or you land in the ditch.”

“We had to be pinpoint accurate on our line or we’d land in a ditch”

ginny elliot

“Frank Weldon was a genius course-designer. We often sat in our lorries the night before cross-country agreeing that there were two or three unjumpable fences – how wrong we were. Frank had certainly managed to frighten the riders, but the fences jumped well.”

The challenge was to solve the course-designer’s puzzle.

“One fence I couldn’t work out in my head was at Gawler World Championships in 1984,” she says. “It was a rail, one stride, rail drop into water and then bounce over another rail. I watched it for a while, and it wasn’t working out. Even Charisma fell there.

“A very few managed the bounce, but it was ugly to watch. My question was, having dropped a long way down landing in the water, physically how could the horse get his weight back on his hind feet to take off immediately over the rail?

“So I worked out that if I could get Priceless to take two strides in the one stride, he’d drop in short and then could fit in one stride to the rail instead of a bounce. I just prayed and he did it. It didn’t sit well in my tummy but I was reasonably confident he could do it.

“Priceless had a remarkable brain and sense of quick decisions, a genius.”

They won double gold.

The Gawler fence would be outlawed today – the track produced 26 fallers from 43 runners.

newspaper clipping of Ginny Elliot and Ian Stark in water jump at Gawler World Championships

Ginny Elliot assesses the influential water jump at the Gawler World Championships, which featured a bounce in the water (Image credit: Future)

And sometimes, the fences were rightly deemed unjumpable.

“At the Denmark Euros [Horsens, 1981] there was an upright on top of a bank like the Hickstead Derby bank, so horses would have landed right at the bottom,” Ginny remembers. “I walked the course with Richard Meade and I was just a child with nappies on!

“Richard looked at my face when we finished the course and said, ‘don’t worry, they will have to change two of those fences’. They removed them after the chef d’equipes’ meeting and thank goodness, because I was number one to go!”

Bouncing and bucking through bullfinches

Bullfinches were quite a feature in the ’80s. They still pop up today, but they’re arguably less frequent – and certainly less taxing. Ginny remembers a bounce of bullfinches at Burghley, where Night Cap cleverly scrambled in a stride.

“A bounce of bullfinches didn’t make any sense in my head and he must have been suspicious – but he was very clever and luckily I managed to stay on board. I hated that fence.”

Priceless managed to negotiate a huge bullfinch with a massive ditch in front on a steep downhill approach, bucking after Ginny tapped him on the shoulder to tell him to pay attention to the enormous obstacle ahead.

“Bucking was not what I needed when I felt we should be going 80mph! The crowds watching must have thought this very amusing,” she says. “Priceless, renowned for his cheeky behaviour, managed to stop bucking just in time and jumped it really well – goodness knows how.”

Another natural feature, banks, were also more prevalent, with iconic fences such as Luckington Lane and the Normandy Bank now no longer in use. These were a useful method of slowing horses down to make the optimum time sufficiently tough, but from a designer’s perspective, steps and staircases use up too many of the permitted number of jumping efforts.

Ginny Elliot and Priceless at Trout Hatchery, Burghley 1985

“Priceless had a remarkable brain – a genius”: pictured at the Trout Hatchery at the European Championships 1985, held at Burghley, where he and Ginny won double gold (Image credit: Future/TI Archive)

Mastering the cross-country test

Despite – or perhaps because of – all these taxing fences, Ginny was a consummate cross-country rider, her smooth style belying the difficulty of the tracks. Two of her top horses – Priceless and Master Craftsman – never had a cross-country jumping fault, through their careers of multiple five-stars and championships.

“I was told early on in my career that a horse already knows he is a horse – the art of horsemanship lies solely with the rider,” says Ginny.

“I’ve always asked what the designer is asking from the rider, in terms of how to present their horse in the best way to negotiate a particular fence,” she explains. “Gear-changing is nearly the most important, and the smoother this happens, the less time you use.

“All horses are different and have their Achilles’ heels. As a rider, it’s our responsibility to do the gear changes, the rhythm and accuracy. And if you did all that you should have a high chance of jumping the fence happily.

“You can’t afford to take money out of the bank, so you don’t want a hairy moment at fence four,” she adds. “I would be very cross with myself if my horse hit a fence in front. I had another job to do on Sunday, so my horses had to finish in the best possible shape.”

And with Ginny’s extraordinary tally of medals and trophies, she certainly fulfilled her mission.

“A horse already knows he is a horse – the art of horsemanship lies solely with the rider”

]]> <![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.

image00022-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00021-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00020-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

image00019-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00001-1-scaled.jpeg

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)

image00003-1-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00016-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00017-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00018-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00015-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

image00014-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00012-scaled.jpeg

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.

image00013-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00011-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00010-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00001-2-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

Alternative 16c 

image00002-2-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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 

image00001-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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)

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]]> 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.

image00022-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00021-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00020-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

image00019-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00001-1-scaled.jpeg

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)

image00003-1-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00016-scaled.jpeg

(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.

image00017-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00018-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00015-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

image00014-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00012-scaled.jpeg

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.

image00013-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00011-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00010-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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.

image00001-2-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

Alternative 16c 

image00002-2-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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 

image00001-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

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(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

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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[ 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 

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 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6772-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6773-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative at 9a and b 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6775-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6774-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10: Open Oxer 

image_50451713-scaled.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11abc: Voltaire Rollercoaster 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6777-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6778-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12: Silverhand Escape 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6779-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13ab: Water Edge Challenge 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6780-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6781-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Water Edge Point 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6783-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 14 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6784-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15abcd: James Hallam Insurance Brokers Water Complex 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6785-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6786-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6787-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6789-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6788-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6793-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6794-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6797-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6796-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6801-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 19c 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6802-scaled.jpeg

(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)

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials: Blenheim Horse Trials new organisers reveal their plans. Ros Canter is pictured in front of the palace in 2021

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Blenheim Horse Trials tickets Blenheim H/T 15.09.18 Felicity Collins on Just Amazing III

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up Gubby Leech and Direct Ballytarsna Ducarel

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

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 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6772-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6773-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative at 9a and b 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6775-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6774-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10: Open Oxer 

image_50451713-scaled.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11abc: Voltaire Rollercoaster 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6777-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6778-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12: Silverhand Escape 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6779-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13ab: Water Edge Challenge 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6780-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6781-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14: Water Edge Point 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6783-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 14 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6784-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15abcd: James Hallam Insurance Brokers Water Complex 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6785-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6786-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6787-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6789-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6788-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6793-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6794-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6797-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6796-scaled.jpeg

(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)

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6801-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 19c 

blenheim_horse_trials_fences_2024_IMG_6802-scaled.jpeg

(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)

You may also be interested in:

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials: Blenheim Horse Trials new organisers reveal their plans. Ros Canter is pictured in front of the palace in 2021

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch Blenheim Horse Trials live in 2024

Blenheim Horse Trials tickets Blenheim H/T 15.09.18 Felicity Collins on Just Amazing III

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Get your 2024 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials tickets now and save 20%

Blenheim Horse Trials trot-up Gubby Leech and Direct Ballytarsna Ducarel

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

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

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[ ‘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

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/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

(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

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.

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

]]> 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

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20ABC. INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road

Fence 20a

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20b

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20c

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Alternative 20A and C – every combination must jump up the step

Alternative 20

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 20c

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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

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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

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26ABCD Lightsource bp Mound

IMG_3547-scaled-e1715196052826.jpeg

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IMG_3548-scaled-e1715196087333.jpeg

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IMG_3549-scaled-e1715196130529.jpeg

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IMG_3550-scaled-e1715196155597.jpeg

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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

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IMG_3553-scaled-e1715196264540.jpeg

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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

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28ABC. Worcester Avenue Brushes

IMG_3557-scaled-e1715196373139.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3558-scaled-e1715196395596.jpeg

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IMG_3559-scaled-e1715196415722.jpeg

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29. Sound Gates

IMG_3562-scaled-e1715196458140.jpeg

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Alternative 29

IMG_3563-scaled-e1715196518176.jpeg

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30ABC. Savills Keeper’s Curve

IMG_3564-scaled-e1715196534511.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_3565-scaled-e1715196562629.jpeg

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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

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3. The Tortworth Brush Mound

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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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

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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6AB. Bloomfields Brush Boxes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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7ABCD. Voltaire Designs Huntsman’s Close

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Alternative 7ABC

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Watch Nicola Wilson assess this combination

8. Pedigree Kennel

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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9. Lightsource bp Log

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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10ABCD. MARS Badminton Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Alternative route for 10ABCD – everyone must jump the corner in The Lake

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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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

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13. KBIS Broken Bridge

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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14. BEF Fund Triple Bar

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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15ABC. LeMieux Eyelash Brushes

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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IMG_3519-scaled-e1715195218993.jpg

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15c

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Alternative 15ABC

IMG_3518-scaled-e1715195288515.jpeg

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Alternative 15b

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Alternative 15c

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Nicola Wilson shares her thoughts on fence 15

16. Countryside Brush Oxer

16

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17AB & 18. Mars Sustainability Bay – direct route jumping the left-hand rail or the alternative route is to jump the right-hand rail

17a

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17b

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18

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View looking back from the final element of fences 17 and 18

Rear view of fence 18

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Alternative 17B

Alternative 17b

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19. Somerset Open Ditch

19

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Side view of 19

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20ABC. INEOS Grenadier Sunken Road

Fence 20a

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20b

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20c

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Alternative 20A and C – every combination must jump up the step

Alternative 20

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Alternative 20c

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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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IMG_3550-scaled-e1715196155597.jpeg

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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

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IMG_3553-scaled-e1715196264540.jpeg

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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

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29. Sound Gates

IMG_3562-scaled-e1715196458140.jpeg

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Alternative 29

IMG_3563-scaled-e1715196518176.jpeg

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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

]]> <![CDATA[ Hold on tight! Take a virtual walk around the 2023 Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course ]]> The Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course looks set to be a true challenge for this year’s competitors.

The CCI5* Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course features 29 fences over four miles (6,370m) 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 11 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 the course on Saturday 2 September.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course pictures

Fence 1: Defender Starter

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

fence2

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Fence 3: Pol Roger Table

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 4ab: LeMieux Arena Rails (green railings will be removed)

fence4a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5abcd: Defender Valley 

fence5a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below:

Alternative 5a:

fence5aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5c:

fence5c

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Another alternative 5c:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Alternative 5d:

fence5d

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Fence 6: Triple Bar

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7abcd: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit – the direct route here is to jump off the Leaf Pit drop, followed by a few strides to part c, which is a large hedge, followed by one of two angled brushes

fence7ab

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Riders can opt to jump either of the following fence 7d options – the one on the right will take only marginally less time than the left-hand option

fence7d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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View looking back up at the Leaf Pit

fence7ab(2)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7b:

fence7b

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Fence 8: Defender Valley

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9ab: Herbert’s Hollow – the direct route here is to jump both triple brushes in the picture below, which has more terrain to deal with than the slower route

fence9a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 9b:

IMG_7732-scaled-e1693413202352.jpg

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Fence 10abc: Defender Trout Hatchery

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence10c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below:

Alternative 10b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 10c:

fence10cc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11ab: Defender Trout Hatchery

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence11bb

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 11b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12: Waterloo Rails

fence12

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Volatire Design Brush

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14abc: Joules at the Maltings

fence14a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence14c

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Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below: 

Alternative 14a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 14c:

fence14cc

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15abc: Rolex – the direct route here is to jump one angled brush over a ditch to a triple brush. The longer route includes more jumping efforts and turns

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence15c

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Alternative 15a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15b:

fence15b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15c:

IMG_7753-scaled-e1693413738778.jpg

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Fence 16: Parasol Table

fence16

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Fence 17ab: Irish Horse Board Bank

Riders can choose to jump the log at part b either from right to left or left to right.

fence17a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence17b

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IMG_7761-scaled-e1693414041344.jpg

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Fence 18: Cottesmore Leap

fence18(2)

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fence18

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Fence 18 alternative:

fence18(3)

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Fence 19ab: Fairfax & Favor at Keepers

fence19a

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fence19b

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Fence 20abc: Defender at the Dairy Mound – the direct route here involves jumping the over below at the top of a mound, followed by a right-hand line to a narrow arrowhead, black down the mound on a left-hand curve to another narrow arrowhead

fence20a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence20a(2)

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fence20b

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fence20c

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Alternative 20b (there is also an alternative to fence 22a):

fence20bb

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Alternative 20c:

fence20cc

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Fence 21: Pardubice

fence21

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Fence 22: Rolex Grand Slam at Capability’s Cutting

fence22

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Alternative fence 22:

fence22(2)

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Fence 23: Agria Lifetime Equine Slate Mine

fence23

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Alternative fence 23:

fence23(2)

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Fence 24: Boodles Raindance

fence24

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Fence 25ab: Boodles Raindance

fence25a

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fence25b

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Fence 26: Lion Bridge

fence26

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Fence 27: Lion Bridge – the direct route is to jump the fish. Those not wanting to jump the fish can run through the water, straight under the bridge and out the water the other side of the bridge to a house, which is on dry land (pictured two photos below)

fence27

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 27:

fence27(2)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Horatio’s Garden

fence28

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Defender Finale

fence29

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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 trot-up: Christopher Whittle and Skip Mill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

One horse eliminated at the first Burghley Horse Trials trot-up

Top-10 contender out of Burghley, as Harry Meade and Oliver Townend finalise their rides

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

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’

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-2023-835602 dPoSwRHhcqSnNa3BD1TXDb Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:31:06 +0000 false false false

The Defender Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course looks set to be a true challenge for this year’s competitors.

The CCI5* Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course features 29 fences over four miles (6,370m) 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 11 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 the course on Saturday 2 September.

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course pictures

Fence 1: Defender Starter

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

fence2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Pol Roger Table

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4ab: LeMieux Arena Rails (green railings will be removed)

fence4a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5abcd: Defender Valley 

fence5a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below:

Alternative 5a:

fence5aa

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5c:

fence5c

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Another alternative 5c:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 5d:

fence5d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6: Triple Bar

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7abcd: Holland Cooper Leaf Pit – the direct route here is to jump off the Leaf Pit drop, followed by a few strides to part c, which is a large hedge, followed by one of two angled brushes

fence7ab

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Riders can opt to jump either of the following fence 7d options – the one on the right will take only marginally less time than the left-hand option

fence7d

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

View looking back up at the Leaf Pit

fence7ab(2)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 7b:

fence7b

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: Defender Valley

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9ab: Herbert’s Hollow – the direct route here is to jump both triple brushes in the picture below, which has more terrain to deal with than the slower route

fence9a

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 9b:

IMG_7732-scaled-e1693413202352.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10abc: Defender Trout Hatchery

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence10c

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Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below:

Alternative 10b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 10c:

fence10cc

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Fence 11ab: Defender Trout Hatchery

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence11bb

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Alternative 11b:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 12: Waterloo Rails

fence12

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Fence 13: Volatire Design Brush

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

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Fence 14abc: Joules at the Maltings

fence14a

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Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence14c

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Watch Kitty King explain the direct route for this fence exclusively for Horse & Hound in the video below: 

Alternative 14a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 14c:

fence14cc

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Fence 15abc: Rolex – the direct route here is to jump one angled brush over a ditch to a triple brush. The longer route includes more jumping efforts and turns

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

fence15c

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Alternative 15a:

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 15b:

fence15b

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Alternative 15c:

IMG_7753-scaled-e1693413738778.jpg

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Fence 16: Parasol Table

fence16

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Fence 17ab: Irish Horse Board Bank

Riders can choose to jump the log at part b either from right to left or left to right.

fence17a

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fence17b

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Fence 18: Cottesmore Leap

fence18(2)

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fence18

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Fence 18 alternative:

fence18(3)

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Fence 19ab: Fairfax & Favor at Keepers

fence19a

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fence19b

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Fence 20abc: Defender at the Dairy Mound – the direct route here involves jumping the over below at the top of a mound, followed by a right-hand line to a narrow arrowhead, black down the mound on a left-hand curve to another narrow arrowhead

fence20a

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fence20a(2)

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fence20b

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fence20c

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Alternative 20b (there is also an alternative to fence 22a):

fence20bb

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Alternative 20c:

fence20cc

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Fence 21: Pardubice

fence21

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Fence 22: Rolex Grand Slam at Capability’s Cutting

fence22

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Alternative fence 22:

fence22(2)

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Fence 23: Agria Lifetime Equine Slate Mine

fence23

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Alternative fence 23:

fence23(2)

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Fence 24: Boodles Raindance

fence24

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Fence 25ab: Boodles Raindance

fence25a

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fence25b

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Fence 26: Lion Bridge

fence26

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Fence 27: Lion Bridge – the direct route is to jump the fish. Those not wanting to jump the fish can run through the water, straight under the bridge and out the water the other side of the bridge to a house, which is on dry land (pictured two photos below)

fence27

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative 27:

fence27(2)

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Fence 28: Horatio’s Garden

fence28

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Fence 29: Defender Finale

fence29

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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 trot-up: Christopher Whittle and Skip Mill

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

One horse eliminated at the first Burghley Horse Trials trot-up

Top-10 contender out of Burghley, as Harry Meade and Oliver Townend finalise their rides

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

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’

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[ Would you jump these? Check out every fence on European Eventing Championships cross-country course ]]> The European Eventing Championships cross-country course for this week’s competition in Haras du Pin, France, has been designed by Pierre Le Goupil. Pierre will also be designing the cross-country course at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

There are 29 numbered fences and the optimum time is 10min 14sec.

European Eventing Championships cross-country course: photos of every fence

The start box

IMG_7005

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Fence one: Le “Good luck” du Fond Eperon

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence two: La Cour Colbert du Haras National du Pin

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence three: L’étal du marché Terres D’Argentan

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence four: Le renard d’Ustica

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence five: Le retour du renard

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Fence six: Le château fort – Région Normandie

IMG_7011

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Fence seven ABC direct route: La falaise et le gué des Ducs de Normandie

IMG_7012-scaled.jpeg

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IMG_7013

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IMG_7015

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Fence seven BC alternative route:

IMG_7017

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IMG_7016

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Fence eight: Le grosse haie Steri 7

IMG_7018

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Fence nine: Le trackenen Ouest France

IMG_7019

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Fence 10AB: Le tremplin et la pointe des chênes Forestier

IMG_7020

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IMG_7021

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Fence 11: La stère Logicom

IMG_7022

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Fence 12AB: L’enclos du berger De Sutter

IMG_7023

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IMG_7024

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Fence 12B alternative route:

IMG_7025

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Fence 13: Le nid Grand Prix Magazine

IMG_7026

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Fence 14: L’oxer de haie des Afficheurs De L’Orne – riders can jump either of these (they are identical, but the one on the right is situated off a tighter right-hand bend)

IMG_7027

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Fence 15: Le Hameau des Producteurs Normands

IMG_7028

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Fence 16: Les huttes de pêcheurs FFE – the fence on the right will be surrounded by more water, the alternative fence 16 on the left will be on a slight lip just out of the water

IMG_7029

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Fence 17AB: Le tronc de l’étang du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

IMG_7030

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IMG_7031

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Fence 18 direct route: L’étang du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

IMG_7032

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Fence 18 alternative route:

IMG_7033

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Fence 19: Le charriot de géants Tendance Ouest

IMG_7034

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Fence 20AB: Le bivouac du Domaine Cécile Tremblay

IMG_7035

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IMG_7037

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Fence 20B alternative:

IMG_7036

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Fence 21: Le cerisier Cheval Magazine

IMG_7038

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Fence 22ABC: Le coffin Fischer – riders can opt to jump either the left- or right-hand side part C

IMG_7039

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IMG_7042

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Fence 22A alternative:

IMG_7040-scaled.jpeg

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Fence 23: L’abri des prés Ville D’Argentan

IMG_7045-scaled-e1691580191293.jpg

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Fence 24: Le saut des nations de la Fédération Équestre Internationale – this is approached through water and then up a mound

IMG_7047

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The view from the top of the mound at fence 24:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence 25ABC: Le gué des nations FEI – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side part B

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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IMG_7052

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Fence 26BC alternatives:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence 26: Le tronc sous les marronniers Antarès

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence 27AB: Le lavoir du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence 27ABC alternatives:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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European Eventing Championships cross-country course

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Fence 28: Les terrasses Devoucoux – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side fence

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Le jardin de Martine

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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/XHH-brandsite 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:

How to watch the European Eventing Championships: Laura Collett and London 52 will be in action

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch the European Eventing Championships 2023

European Eventing Championships British riders: Tom McEwen and JL Dublin

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Medal counts, stable names and quirks – what you need to know about the British squad for the Eventing Europeans

Haras du Pin is the host of the European Eventing Championships 2023 where teams will compete for medals

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Who will be representing their country in European Eventing Championship teams?

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/european-eventing-championships-cross-country-course-2023-833476 623y2TyawKrHP8whsgoFFG Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:37:10 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:49:29 +0000 false false true

The European Eventing Championships cross-country course for this week’s competition in Haras du Pin, France, has been designed by Pierre Le Goupil. Pierre will also be designing the cross-country course at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

There are 29 numbered fences and the optimum time is 10min 14sec.

European Eventing Championships cross-country course: photos of every fence

The start box

IMG_7005

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence one: Le “Good luck” du Fond Eperon

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence two: La Cour Colbert du Haras National du Pin

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence three: L’étal du marché Terres D’Argentan

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence four: Le renard d’Ustica

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence five: Le retour du renard

image2-scaled-e1691578659938.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence six: Le château fort – Région Normandie

IMG_7011

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence seven ABC direct route: La falaise et le gué des Ducs de Normandie

IMG_7012-scaled.jpeg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7013

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7015

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Fence seven BC alternative route:

IMG_7017

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7016

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Fence eight: Le grosse haie Steri 7

IMG_7018

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence nine: Le trackenen Ouest France

IMG_7019

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10AB: Le tremplin et la pointe des chênes Forestier

IMG_7020

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7021

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Fence 11: La stère Logicom

IMG_7022

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Fence 12AB: L’enclos du berger De Sutter

IMG_7023

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IMG_7024

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Fence 12B alternative route:

IMG_7025

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Fence 13: Le nid Grand Prix Magazine

IMG_7026

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Fence 14: L’oxer de haie des Afficheurs De L’Orne – riders can jump either of these (they are identical, but the one on the right is situated off a tighter right-hand bend)

IMG_7027

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15: Le Hameau des Producteurs Normands

IMG_7028

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Fence 16: Les huttes de pêcheurs FFE – the fence on the right will be surrounded by more water, the alternative fence 16 on the left will be on a slight lip just out of the water

IMG_7029

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17AB: Le tronc de l’étang du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

IMG_7030

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IMG_7031

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Fence 18 direct route: L’étang du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

IMG_7032

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Fence 18 alternative route:

IMG_7033

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Fence 19: Le charriot de géants Tendance Ouest

IMG_7034

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Fence 20AB: Le bivouac du Domaine Cécile Tremblay

IMG_7035

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7037

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Fence 20B alternative:

IMG_7036

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Fence 21: Le cerisier Cheval Magazine

IMG_7038

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Fence 22ABC: Le coffin Fischer – riders can opt to jump either the left- or right-hand side part C

IMG_7039

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7042

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IMG_7043

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IMG_7044

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Fence 22A alternative:

IMG_7040-scaled.jpeg

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Fence 23: L’abri des prés Ville D’Argentan

IMG_7045-scaled-e1691580191293.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24: Le saut des nations de la Fédération Équestre Internationale – this is approached through water and then up a mound

IMG_7047

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The view from the top of the mound at fence 24:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 25ABC: Le gué des nations FEI – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side part B

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

IMG_7052

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 26BC alternatives:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 26: Le tronc sous les marronniers Antarès

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27AB: Le lavoir du Conseil Departemental De L’Orne

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27ABC alternatives:

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Les terrasses Devoucoux – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side fence

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Le jardin de Martine

European Eventing Championships cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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/XHH-brandsite 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:

How to watch the European Eventing Championships: Laura Collett and London 52 will be in action

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

How to watch the European Eventing Championships 2023

European Eventing Championships British riders: Tom McEwen and JL Dublin

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Medal counts, stable names and quirks – what you need to know about the British squad for the Eventing Europeans

Haras du Pin is the host of the European Eventing Championships 2023 where teams will compete for medals

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Who will be representing their country in European Eventing Championship teams?

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[ 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

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Badminton final scores

3. Tortworth Hotel Brush

3 copy

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4 ABCD Savills Staircase

4a

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4b

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4d

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4 copy

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Alternative 4D

00

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5AB Countryside Alliance Stick Pile

5x

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Alternative 5AB

5a

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5d

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6AB Joules Coronation Corral

6

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6b

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7. Air Ambulances UK Bullfinch

7

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1

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8ABC Lightsource BP Hollow

8a

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3

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4

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9. Izusu 4 bar 4

9

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10AB Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

10a

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10

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xb

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11. Rolex T Bar

11

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12AB Holland Cooper Owl Hole

12a

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Alternative 12B

xxb

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13ABCD KBIS Brush Boxes

13a

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xxxb

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cd

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Alternative 13BC

bc

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14. Footbridge

14

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15AB Lightsource BP Pond direct route A

IMG_5230

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15AB Lightsource BP Pond alternative route A

15a

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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

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xxxxxb

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IMG_5234

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16. Pedigree Dog Kennel

16

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17AB LeMieux Mound

17a

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xxxxxxb

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Alternative 17B

xxxxxxxb

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18, 19AB Mars M Tables

18

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19a

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zb

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20. World Horse Welfare Jetty

20

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21ABC, 22. Badminton Lake direct route on the left of the corner, alternative on the right of the corner

21ab

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Direct 21C

zc

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??

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Alternative 21BC

zbc

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Direct 22

2222

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Alternative 22

22

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23. Project Pony Splash

image0

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24. Beaufort Brush Box

24

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25AB Voltaire Design Huntsmans Close – first possible route

25a

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zzb

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Second possible route at 25AB – this one will be slightly faster

25aa

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zbb

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26. Jubilee Clump Brush

26

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27AB HorseQuest Quarry – direct route

27a

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???

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zzzzb

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Fence 27AB alternative route

27aa

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zzzzzb

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28AB Brewers Drays

28

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yb

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29. Rolex Pheasant Log

29

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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

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2. Bloomfields Horseboxes Keepers Table

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country

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Badminton final scores

3. Tortworth Hotel Brush

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4 ABCD Savills Staircase

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4b

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4d

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Alternative 4D

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5AB Countryside Alliance Stick Pile

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Alternative 5AB

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6AB Joules Coronation Corral

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7. Air Ambulances UK Bullfinch

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8ABC Lightsource BP Hollow

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9. Izusu 4 bar 4

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10AB Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay

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11. Rolex T Bar

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12AB Holland Cooper Owl Hole

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Alternative 12B

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13ABCD KBIS Brush Boxes

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Alternative 13BC

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14. Footbridge

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15AB Lightsource BP Pond direct route A

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15AB Lightsource BP Pond alternative route A

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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:

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16. Pedigree Dog Kennel

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17AB LeMieux Mound

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Alternative 17B

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18, 19AB Mars M Tables

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20. World Horse Welfare Jetty

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21ABC, 22. Badminton Lake direct route on the left of the corner, alternative on the right of the corner

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Direct 21C

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Alternative 21BC

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Direct 22

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Alternative 22

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23. Project Pony Splash

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24. Beaufort Brush Box

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25AB Voltaire Design Huntsmans Close – first possible route

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Second possible route at 25AB – this one will be slightly faster

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26. Jubilee Clump Brush

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27AB HorseQuest Quarry – direct route

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Fence 27AB alternative route

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28AB Brewers Drays

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29. Rolex Pheasant Log

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30. Coronation Finale

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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[ Take a leap of faith: check out the 2022 Pau five-star cross-country course ]]> Les Étoiles de Pau CCI5* kicks off tomorrow (27 October) and marks the final five-star competition of the eventing season. We’ve taken a look around this year’s Pau Horse Trials cross-country course to see what is in store for horses and riders on Saturday 29 October. Designed by Pierre Michelet, this year’s track features 45 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,800m.

The trot-up gets underway at 10am (9am BST) tomorrow morning, with the dressage starting at 2.30pm (1.30pm BST) tomorrow afternoon.

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course: fence by fence

Start box

Pau Horse Trials cross-country

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Fence one: Maison de Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques

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Fence two: Bullfinch

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Fence three: Chariot de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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Fence four AB: Kiosque & pointe de la Ville de Pau

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Fence five: Mur de pierre

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Fence six AB: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: tortue & cygne. Here, riders jump the hedge on the water and then have to jump the two swan fences on a very acute angle.

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Fence seven: Cygne

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Fence eight: Barrière d’attelage L’Eperon

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Fence nine AB: Oxer des charmilles & pointe Euralis

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Fence 10AB: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: triple brush & haie – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side angled brush at the top of the bank after coming out of the water

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Fence 11: Oxer de haie Audevard

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Fence 12AB: Haie & brush Locexpo

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Alternative 12B – a very time consuming alternative route.

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Fence 13: Haie des courses

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Fence 14AB: Stères

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Fence 15: Table des courses

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Fence 16: Trakehnen

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Fence 17: Haie de laurier de L’Hippodrome de Pau

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Fence 18AB: Bile de bois & pointe France 3 Noa

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Fence 19ABC: Bullfinch & haies. Here riders go up the bank and jump a decent roll top brush fence before going down the bank and then jumping two very acutely angles brush fences on a committed distance. The long route is very time consuming, but it save riders from having to tackle the angled brushes in quick succession.

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Fence 19B alternative

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Fence 20: Le Palois de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 21AB: Gué Clear Channel: tronc suspendu & pointe

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Fence 22: Delta – the alternative for this fence is slightly less narrow and has less of a drop behind it. The long route will take around four or five seconds longer than the direct route.

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Alternative 22

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Fence 23AB: Gué Forestier: tronc & haie

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Fence 24AB: Troncs de l’Ours – Forestier

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Fence 25: Table de pique-nique Pau Events

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Fence 26: Palette de peintre

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Fence 27ABCD: Maison & triple brushes de Crédit Agricole Pyrénées-Gascogne. The alternative route is incredibly time consuming, but it means that riders don’t have to jump the triple brush directly after the house. They do, however, still have to jump the final D element triple brush, even if they opt for the long route.

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Alternative 27B

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Alternative 27C

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Fence 28: Table tonneaux de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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Fence 29AB: Maisons de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 30: Bullfinch des 5 Étoiles

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You might also be interested in:

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Quality cross-country at Pau Horse Trials in 2024

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

Tom McEwen and Pippa Funnell among 31 Brits entered for Pau five-star

Sarah BULLIMORE of Great Britain riding CONPIERRE at Pau Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fancy a trip to Pau five-star? Grab your tickets and plan your visit

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-807479 d5d89LnqebXLanawM7NwWX Wed, 26 Oct 2022 17:36:44 +0000 false false false

Les Étoiles de Pau CCI5* kicks off tomorrow (27 October) and marks the final five-star competition of the eventing season. We’ve taken a look around this year’s Pau Horse Trials cross-country course to see what is in store for horses and riders on Saturday 29 October. Designed by Pierre Michelet, this year’s track features 45 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,800m.

The trot-up gets underway at 10am (9am BST) tomorrow morning, with the dressage starting at 2.30pm (1.30pm BST) tomorrow afternoon.

Pau Horse Trials cross-country course: fence by fence

Start box

Pau Horse Trials cross-country

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Fence one: Maison de Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques

PAU 1

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Fence two: Bullfinch

PAU 3

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Fence three: Chariot de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

PAU 4

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Fence four AB: Kiosque & pointe de la Ville de Pau

PAU 5

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PAU 6

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PAU 7

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Fence five: Mur de pierre

PAU 8

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Fence six AB: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: tortue & cygne. Here, riders jump the hedge on the water and then have to jump the two swan fences on a very acute angle.

PAU 9

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PAU 10

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Fence seven: Cygne

PAU 13

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Fence eight: Barrière d’attelage L’Eperon

PAU 11

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Fence nine AB: Oxer des charmilles & pointe Euralis

PAU 12

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PAU 14

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Fence 10AB: Gué Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: triple brush & haie – riders can jump either the left- or right-hand side angled brush at the top of the bank after coming out of the water

PAU 15

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PAU 16

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PAU 17

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Fence 11: Oxer de haie Audevard

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Fence 12AB: Haie & brush Locexpo

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Alternative 12B – a very time consuming alternative route.

PAU 22

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Fence 13: Haie des courses

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Fence 14AB: Stères

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PAU 25

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Fence 15: Table des courses

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Fence 16: Trakehnen

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Fence 17: Haie de laurier de L’Hippodrome de Pau

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Fence 18AB: Bile de bois & pointe France 3 Noa

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PAU 30

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PAU 31

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Fence 19ABC: Bullfinch & haies. Here riders go up the bank and jump a decent roll top brush fence before going down the bank and then jumping two very acutely angles brush fences on a committed distance. The long route is very time consuming, but it save riders from having to tackle the angled brushes in quick succession.

PAU 32

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PAU 34

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Fence 19B alternative

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Fence 20: Le Palois de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 21AB: Gué Clear Channel: tronc suspendu & pointe

PAU 39

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PAU 40

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Fence 22: Delta – the alternative for this fence is slightly less narrow and has less of a drop behind it. The long route will take around four or five seconds longer than the direct route.

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Alternative 22

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Fence 23AB: Gué Forestier: tronc & haie

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Fence 24AB: Troncs de l’Ours – Forestier

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Fence 25: Table de pique-nique Pau Events

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Fence 26: Palette de peintre

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Fence 27ABCD: Maison & triple brushes de Crédit Agricole Pyrénées-Gascogne. The alternative route is incredibly time consuming, but it means that riders don’t have to jump the triple brush directly after the house. They do, however, still have to jump the final D element triple brush, even if they opt for the long route.

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Alternative 27B

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Alternative 27C

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Fence 28: Table tonneaux de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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Fence 29AB: Maisons de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées

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Fence 30: Bullfinch des 5 Étoiles

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You might also be interested in:

Tom McEwen riding Brookfield Quality cross-country at Pau Horse Trials in 2024

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Watch Pau Horse Trials 2025 live from wherever you are

Tom McEwen and Pippa Funnell among 31 Brits entered for Pau five-star

Sarah BULLIMORE of Great Britain riding CONPIERRE at Pau Horse Trials

(Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fancy a trip to Pau five-star? Grab your tickets and plan your visit

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[ 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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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

(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

]]> 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

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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

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20: Cottesmore Leap

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20 alternative: Cottesmore Leap

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21: Pardubice

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fences 23: Burghley Barn

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24: Rolex Grand Slam

Burghley Horse Trials cross-country course

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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[ 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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Fence four BC alternative route

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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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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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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)

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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: 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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Fence four BC alternative route

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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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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)

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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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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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

]]> <![CDATA[ MIMclip inventor: ‘I want to help a sport that I love’ *H&H Plus* ]]> Mats Björnetun on his trajectory from hot rods to cross-country safety devices

Under the MIMsafe brand, my company is the industry leader within the field of crash-tested dog cages, gates and universal cargo nets. We also produce MIMclips, the frangible devices which allow cross-country fences to “collapse” safely to help prevent falls. These became mandatory on 1 January 2021 on all fences to which they can be fitted at all FEI events.

Originally I was a farmer. I wasn’t interested in studying at school, but I was interested in motorcycles and hot rods, and was involved in drag-racing. Engineering and building things fascinated me.

In 1986, I started MIM Construction AB in my barn in Frändefors in Sweden, with a partner. Our aim was to solve automotive functional design problems for neighbours – and our goal was just to survive.

Four years later we were invited to Germany to visit Volkswagen, who have been clients ever since, alongside the likes of Audi and Porsche. That was so far ahead of the goals I had set that, since then, I have only had fun. If there are two different projects in view, I have always chosen the one that looks more fun.

My wife has had horses since she was young, and was interested in eventing. I had a farm, so in the mid-1990s, I said, “I can try to build a small cross-country course here.” We had some novice competitions here in 1994 and 1995, and after that I became the organiser of an event at a larger estate nearby, Baldersnäs, and from 1998 to 2002 we ran World Cup events there. I didn’t know much about horses, but I liked the world of eventing and its people.

I “retired” from organising in 2005, but somehow I ended up as event director of Malmö in 2008. That’s where I met Andy Griffiths, who was the technical delegate, and that was the beginning of MIMclips.

I saw from the beginning that we were not doing enough about safety in eventing. Because of the amount of crash-testing my company had done, I understood how to handle and absorb energy and about speed and direction; I knew we had to do more.

Through Andy, we were invited to a meeting in 2010 with lots of high-profile people from eventing, such as Mark Phillips, Mike Etherington-Smith, Hugh Thomas and David O’Connor.

Beforehand, MIMsafe had created its own crash machine, and I employed a crash expert from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. So when it came to that first meeting, we had so much knowledge that we scared everyone! That wasn’t our intention – we just wanted to show that we had a starting point.

Fully implementing something new always takes 10 years. So where we are now – that approved frangible devices must be fitted to all fences that can be constructed with them at all FEI events – is where I wanted to be in 2010. MIMsafe makes a financial loss on the MIMclip, but that is unimportant to me. I want to help a sport that I love.

The key element of the MIMclip is the hinge. When a horse hits the rail or the gate, or whatever, the energy created by the horse goes into the fence and accelerates it out of the horse’s way.

The laws of gravity mean that a free-falling object accelerates as it falls; if you drop something on your feet it hurts, but the first centimetre of the drop doesn’t hurt because it falls very slowly. The hinge on a MIMclip allows the rail to which it is fixed to fall down in a controlled arc, and stops the horse’s fall trajectory.

Eventing people are used to seeing the red MIMclip attached to fences such as oxers and gates, but we now have a yellow MIMclip, which is used for fences designed to be jumped at an angle, such as corners, and for tables.

It is triggered at 70% of the force that it takes for the red clip, and that comes with its problems. Spectators love to climb on fences while walking the course before or after the competition. How do organisers then ensure the frangible devices have not been inadvertently weakened? To solve this, we’re producing a silver clip to replace the MIMclip temporarily when the course is not being used.

We can never make cross-country 100% safe. It’s an exciting sport that involves solid fences being jumped at speed; competitors have a choice – to ride or not to ride, and they must take responsibility for themselves.

You can also read this feature in the 13 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

You might also be interested in…

Lynn Symansky and Donner at Burghley 2017.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Hopes are high for new British five-star to replace Burghley Horse Trials

“People might be asked to put their hands in their pockets; the message is: sit tight, and if it comes

Burghley-HT-XC-2018-294_230493852_256006301-TI-ARCHIVE.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Why Burghley cancelled, plus another Nations Cup leg lost *H&H Plus*

18-26-d336-Julia-Krajewski-GER-Samourai-du-Thot-sf- 2018-08-03- 12:02:07h- Reportage-Warendorf-DOKR-Deutschland,

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Olympic eventer Julia Krajewski: ‘I thought about giving up, but being around horses is just what I love to do’ *H&H Plus*

3 AUG 1984: LUCINDA GREEN OF GREAT BRITAIN ON REGAL REALM DURING THE TEAM JUMPING COMPETITION AT THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS. GREAT BRITAIN WON THE SILVER.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Regal Realm: from Australian stock horse to Badminton winner and world champion

]]> https://www.horseandhound.co.uk//plus/features-plus/mimclip-inventor-i-want-to-help-a-sport-that-i-love-hh-plus-745740 7nekyCytdDtuL5hSG5812t Sun, 16 May 2021 08:00:11 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:47:49 +0000 false false false

Mats Björnetun on his trajectory from hot rods to cross-country safety devices

Under the MIMsafe brand, my company is the industry leader within the field of crash-tested dog cages, gates and universal cargo nets. We also produce MIMclips, the frangible devices which allow cross-country fences to “collapse” safely to help prevent falls. These became mandatory on 1 January 2021 on all fences to which they can be fitted at all FEI events.

Originally I was a farmer. I wasn’t interested in studying at school, but I was interested in motorcycles and hot rods, and was involved in drag-racing. Engineering and building things fascinated me.

In 1986, I started MIM Construction AB in my barn in Frändefors in Sweden, with a partner. Our aim was to solve automotive functional design problems for neighbours – and our goal was just to survive.

Four years later we were invited to Germany to visit Volkswagen, who have been clients ever since, alongside the likes of Audi and Porsche. That was so far ahead of the goals I had set that, since then, I have only had fun. If there are two different projects in view, I have always chosen the one that looks more fun.

My wife has had horses since she was young, and was interested in eventing. I had a farm, so in the mid-1990s, I said, “I can try to build a small cross-country course here.” We had some novice competitions here in 1994 and 1995, and after that I became the organiser of an event at a larger estate nearby, Baldersnäs, and from 1998 to 2002 we ran World Cup events there. I didn’t know much about horses, but I liked the world of eventing and its people.

I “retired” from organising in 2005, but somehow I ended up as event director of Malmö in 2008. That’s where I met Andy Griffiths, who was the technical delegate, and that was the beginning of MIMclips.

I saw from the beginning that we were not doing enough about safety in eventing. Because of the amount of crash-testing my company had done, I understood how to handle and absorb energy and about speed and direction; I knew we had to do more.

Through Andy, we were invited to a meeting in 2010 with lots of high-profile people from eventing, such as Mark Phillips, Mike Etherington-Smith, Hugh Thomas and David O’Connor.

Beforehand, MIMsafe had created its own crash machine, and I employed a crash expert from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. So when it came to that first meeting, we had so much knowledge that we scared everyone! That wasn’t our intention – we just wanted to show that we had a starting point.

Fully implementing something new always takes 10 years. So where we are now – that approved frangible devices must be fitted to all fences that can be constructed with them at all FEI events – is where I wanted to be in 2010. MIMsafe makes a financial loss on the MIMclip, but that is unimportant to me. I want to help a sport that I love.

The key element of the MIMclip is the hinge. When a horse hits the rail or the gate, or whatever, the energy created by the horse goes into the fence and accelerates it out of the horse’s way.

The laws of gravity mean that a free-falling object accelerates as it falls; if you drop something on your feet it hurts, but the first centimetre of the drop doesn’t hurt because it falls very slowly. The hinge on a MIMclip allows the rail to which it is fixed to fall down in a controlled arc, and stops the horse’s fall trajectory.

Eventing people are used to seeing the red MIMclip attached to fences such as oxers and gates, but we now have a yellow MIMclip, which is used for fences designed to be jumped at an angle, such as corners, and for tables.

It is triggered at 70% of the force that it takes for the red clip, and that comes with its problems. Spectators love to climb on fences while walking the course before or after the competition. How do organisers then ensure the frangible devices have not been inadvertently weakened? To solve this, we’re producing a silver clip to replace the MIMclip temporarily when the course is not being used.

We can never make cross-country 100% safe. It’s an exciting sport that involves solid fences being jumped at speed; competitors have a choice – to ride or not to ride, and they must take responsibility for themselves.

You can also read this feature in the 13 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

You might also be interested in…

Lynn Symansky and Donner at Burghley 2017.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Hopes are high for new British five-star to replace Burghley Horse Trials

“People might be asked to put their hands in their pockets; the message is: sit tight, and if it comes

Burghley-HT-XC-2018-294_230493852_256006301-TI-ARCHIVE.jpg

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Why Burghley cancelled, plus another Nations Cup leg lost *H&H Plus*

18-26-d336-Julia-Krajewski-GER-Samourai-du-Thot-sf- 2018-08-03- 12:02:07h- Reportage-Warendorf-DOKR-Deutschland,

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Olympic eventer Julia Krajewski: ‘I thought about giving up, but being around horses is just what I love to do’ *H&H Plus*

3 AUG 1984: LUCINDA GREEN OF GREAT BRITAIN ON REGAL REALM DURING THE TEAM JUMPING COMPETITION AT THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS. GREAT BRITAIN WON THE SILVER.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Regal Realm: from Australian stock horse to Badminton winner and world champion

]]> <![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

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/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[ 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[ Caroline Moore: How to train your horse to jump an angled skinny fence ]]> Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, we learn how to teach a horse how to jump this technical cross-country question

Developing the horse and rider’s eye to stay straight across an angled skinny is a crucial part of the training when moving up through the grades. This is how Caroline trains this particular skill in an arena before moving onto grass.

Aims of the exercise

  • Develop confidence to jump across an angle
  • Take-off and land in the corresponding spot
  • To advance the horse’s eyesight to pick up a line

Start with two narrow fences on a straight line on a 24 yard distance (approximately 22 metres). Your horse should jump through these very squarely and straight with confidence.

Once you have achieved this, you can start putting a small amount of angle on the second skinny fence. The horse will probably hardly notice it to start with, but it’s important for you to maintain your focal point. Keep riding straight, all the while giving the horse confidence.

Then you can add some more angle onto the second skinny fence to make it more of a significant question. On the last couple of strides before take-off, the horse might question what you are asking him to do. As a rider you have to work very hard to make sure the horse stays straight.

If you are working with a younger horse, always go back to the building blocks of their education by using poles on the ground for example, to help hold them in to the narrow fences. This will help them to gain confidence and to learn to stay straight.

Developing this exercise further, I have built a skinny fence to a corner. It is important that you give a horse a good stride pattern to a corner in a combination to start with to give them confidence. I have then tested horse and rider more with this combination by placing another skinny after the corner as a third element. This way horse and rider always have something to focus on. It’s important that the rider keeps their eyes looking through the flags.

Another exercise I use a lot, is a flatwork one. It is all about focal point. I place two narrow poles on the ground on a related distance. This is all about developing a rider’s inside and outside aids so the horse sits between the leg and rein. Using shoulder-in or travers between the two poles is important because it makes the rider really look where they are going. Make sure that you don’t take your eye or body off the line. Straighten your horse up coming out over the second pole and you will find your horse will learn to go where your eyes go.

Continued below…

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

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

Points to be aware of:

  • Being reactive
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining rider balance
  • Making sure the horse doesn’t fall onto his shoulder in-between fences
  • Always praise and reward your horse

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/caroline-moore-train-horse-jump-angled-skinny-655583 rPMMewkXuZR7JUqLqTPrmZ Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:00:51 +0000 false false false

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, we learn how to teach a horse how to jump this technical cross-country question

Developing the horse and rider’s eye to stay straight across an angled skinny is a crucial part of the training when moving up through the grades. This is how Caroline trains this particular skill in an arena before moving onto grass.

Aims of the exercise

  • Develop confidence to jump across an angle
  • Take-off and land in the corresponding spot
  • To advance the horse’s eyesight to pick up a line

Start with two narrow fences on a straight line on a 24 yard distance (approximately 22 metres). Your horse should jump through these very squarely and straight with confidence.

Once you have achieved this, you can start putting a small amount of angle on the second skinny fence. The horse will probably hardly notice it to start with, but it’s important for you to maintain your focal point. Keep riding straight, all the while giving the horse confidence.

Then you can add some more angle onto the second skinny fence to make it more of a significant question. On the last couple of strides before take-off, the horse might question what you are asking him to do. As a rider you have to work very hard to make sure the horse stays straight.

If you are working with a younger horse, always go back to the building blocks of their education by using poles on the ground for example, to help hold them in to the narrow fences. This will help them to gain confidence and to learn to stay straight.

Developing this exercise further, I have built a skinny fence to a corner. It is important that you give a horse a good stride pattern to a corner in a combination to start with to give them confidence. I have then tested horse and rider more with this combination by placing another skinny after the corner as a third element. This way horse and rider always have something to focus on. It’s important that the rider keeps their eyes looking through the flags.

Another exercise I use a lot, is a flatwork one. It is all about focal point. I place two narrow poles on the ground on a related distance. This is all about developing a rider’s inside and outside aids so the horse sits between the leg and rein. Using shoulder-in or travers between the two poles is important because it makes the rider really look where they are going. Make sure that you don’t take your eye or body off the line. Straighten your horse up coming out over the second pole and you will find your horse will learn to go where your eyes go.

Continued below…

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Future)

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

Points to be aware of:

  • Being reactive
  • Rider sighting the next fence
  • Maintaining rider balance
  • Making sure the horse doesn’t fall onto his shoulder in-between fences
  • Always praise and reward your horse

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[ 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[ #VolunteersWeek: 10 things you learn the first time you are a BE fence judge ]]> Although British Eventing (BE) competitions remain abandoned due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 1-7 June marks Volunteers Week, and without volunteers, BE events simply could not run. In 2018 Jane Hutchison had her first ever BE cross-country fence judging experience at Hopetoun Horse Trials, near Edinburgh. Here she explains a few of the things she learnt from her day as a volunteer...

1. There is nothing to fear at the briefing. The other jump judges are people like you who are interested and happy to be there. The gaggles of terrifyingly strident Pony Club DC types I had feared were in short supply. And setting the food theme for the day, the bacon rolls were excellent.

2. Technical advisors (TA) and stewards take the event, its smooth running and safety extremely seriously. But they are friendly and approachable. There were plenty of laughs at the briefing.

3. The person you are paired up with in order to fence judge will teach you loads. They want to help you to understand everything that is going on, enjoy yourself and most importantly, come back and do it again. I was lucky enough to be paired up with Ali MacRae, who is one half of Ali and Pat MacRae (pictured top at an earlier event) ; legends of BE volunteering in Scotland. Not only do they have 30 years’ experience, but in recognition of all their efforts north of the border, they fence judged at Badminton this year.

4. The stopwatch is a piece of cake. This was probably the element of jump judging about which I was most anxious, but Ali explained it perfectly and I did the timings for our jump happily all day from the first horse onwards.

5. And talking of cake — OMG, the cakes! As a jump judge you are very well looked-after. Twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, the cake team came round offering tea, coffee and a basket brimming with irresistible brownies, cupcakes, traybakes and flapjacks.

6. Time flies. A horse and rider appear every two minutes for most of the day. Some come on a perfect stride, some don’t, some are a bit spooky, some are definitely going to make the time, one came up to the double log pile I was at in trot in the BE90. If you like looking at horses jumping, it’s riveting. And the stopwatch, whistle, radio and score sheets keep you busy.

7. You do not feel remotely isolated. It is definitely a team effort and feels like it, which I was relieved to discover. Everyone has a radio and most of the fence judges are reporting back to control every horse’s performance. If fence judges want to discuss anything that had happened at their jump, no sooner have they radioed in the request, than the TA’s Toyota is on its way.

8. Fence judges are encouraged to provide details for the commentator on the radio. You soon get an idea of who will be giving just the facts — “number 34 clear at fence 12” — and who will share their impression of every combination. The radio chatter adds greatly to the interest and enjoyment of the day. We only had to be reminded once not to talk over each other.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

pony club horse and pony care competition

(Image credit: Jim Crichton)

5 ways to have fun without your own horse

Keen to get involved with volunteering in the equestrian world? Take a look at these ideas of where to get

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Jim Crichton)

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

9. Spectators and course walkers move when you blow the whistle. Of course they are supposed to heed your shrill warning to get out of the way when a horse is approaching, but learning from experience that they actually do was another source of relief.

10. It is fun. You spend the day in a beautiful place that you might not normally have access to, with like-minded people being useful and involved. Event horses are gorgeous animals to spend the day looking at and if you have ever considered volunteering, I recommend that you do.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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/british-eventing-fence-judging-658890 vinYoprvok2aSXttBnhupv Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:24:21 +0000 false false false

Although British Eventing (BE) competitions remain abandoned due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 1-7 June marks Volunteers Week, and without volunteers, BE events simply could not run. In 2018 Jane Hutchison had her first ever BE cross-country fence judging experience at Hopetoun Horse Trials, near Edinburgh. Here she explains a few of the things she learnt from her day as a volunteer...

1. There is nothing to fear at the briefing. The other jump judges are people like you who are interested and happy to be there. The gaggles of terrifyingly strident Pony Club DC types I had feared were in short supply. And setting the food theme for the day, the bacon rolls were excellent.

2. Technical advisors (TA) and stewards take the event, its smooth running and safety extremely seriously. But they are friendly and approachable. There were plenty of laughs at the briefing.

3. The person you are paired up with in order to fence judge will teach you loads. They want to help you to understand everything that is going on, enjoy yourself and most importantly, come back and do it again. I was lucky enough to be paired up with Ali MacRae, who is one half of Ali and Pat MacRae (pictured top at an earlier event) ; legends of BE volunteering in Scotland. Not only do they have 30 years’ experience, but in recognition of all their efforts north of the border, they fence judged at Badminton this year.

4. The stopwatch is a piece of cake. This was probably the element of jump judging about which I was most anxious, but Ali explained it perfectly and I did the timings for our jump happily all day from the first horse onwards.

5. And talking of cake — OMG, the cakes! As a jump judge you are very well looked-after. Twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, the cake team came round offering tea, coffee and a basket brimming with irresistible brownies, cupcakes, traybakes and flapjacks.

6. Time flies. A horse and rider appear every two minutes for most of the day. Some come on a perfect stride, some don’t, some are a bit spooky, some are definitely going to make the time, one came up to the double log pile I was at in trot in the BE90. If you like looking at horses jumping, it’s riveting. And the stopwatch, whistle, radio and score sheets keep you busy.

7. You do not feel remotely isolated. It is definitely a team effort and feels like it, which I was relieved to discover. Everyone has a radio and most of the fence judges are reporting back to control every horse’s performance. If fence judges want to discuss anything that had happened at their jump, no sooner have they radioed in the request, than the TA’s Toyota is on its way.

8. Fence judges are encouraged to provide details for the commentator on the radio. You soon get an idea of who will be giving just the facts — “number 34 clear at fence 12” — and who will share their impression of every combination. The radio chatter adds greatly to the interest and enjoyment of the day. We only had to be reminded once not to talk over each other.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

pony club horse and pony care competition

(Image credit: Jim Crichton)

5 ways to have fun without your own horse

Keen to get involved with volunteering in the equestrian world? Take a look at these ideas of where to get

generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

(Image credit: Jim Crichton)

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

9. Spectators and course walkers move when you blow the whistle. Of course they are supposed to heed your shrill warning to get out of the way when a horse is approaching, but learning from experience that they actually do was another source of relief.

10. It is fun. You spend the day in a beautiful place that you might not normally have access to, with like-minded people being useful and involved. Event horses are gorgeous animals to spend the day looking at and if you have ever considered volunteering, I recommend that you do.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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[ Take a virtual walk of the five-star Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course ]]> Now in his third year as the Longines CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith has set out a technical and challenging track for this year’s competitors (13—16 June 2019).

The course is run over 6,398m and has an optimum time of 11min 14sec. There are 30 numbered fences and 45 jumping efforts.

Mike said: “The course is a mix of big, bold, stand-alone fences, angled fences, corners, drops, and skinnies and will hopefully provide a suitable all-round test, physically and mentally, of horse and athlete.”

With the first combination due on-course tomorrow morning (15 June) at 9.15am (BST), let’s take a look around the track…

Fence one: Aufrakt der Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude

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Fence two: Rathaus

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Fence three: Fledermaushotel

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Fence four: Trakehner

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Fence five AB: Charles Owen Royal Works

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Fence six ABC: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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Alternative six C

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Fence seven: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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Fence eight AB: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Alternative 8B

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Fence nine: Holzstoß

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Fence 10: Hof Sudermühlens Jagdszene

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Fence 11 ABC: Heiners Wellenbahn

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Fences 12 and 13: Horseware Jump

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Fence 14 ABC: LVM Am Waldrand

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Fence 15: Hof Sudermühlens Jagdszene

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fences 16, 17 and 18 AB: Meßmer Teich

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Alternative 17

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Alternative 18B

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Fence 19: Tisch

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Fence 20 AB: Manzke Kombination

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Fence 21 ABC: Longines Kombination

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Fence 22: Gärtnerei Wredes Rennbahnsprung

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Fence 23: Luhmühlens EM Brücke

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Fence 24 AB: Auf dem Trainingsplatz

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Fence 25, 26 and 27 AB: Longines Wasser

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Fence 28: Voltaire Vogelnest

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Fence 29 AB: Cottages

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Fence 30: Longines Final Jump

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Don’t miss the full report from Luhmühlen in the 20 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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-2019-689592 iqAs2Sf2z9SQFrybuhHLN1 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:01:05 +0000 false false false

Now in his third year as the Longines CCI5* Luhmühlen Horse Trials cross-country course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith has set out a technical and challenging track for this year’s competitors (13—16 June 2019).

The course is run over 6,398m and has an optimum time of 11min 14sec. There are 30 numbered fences and 45 jumping efforts.

Mike said: “The course is a mix of big, bold, stand-alone fences, angled fences, corners, drops, and skinnies and will hopefully provide a suitable all-round test, physically and mentally, of horse and athlete.”

With the first combination due on-course tomorrow morning (15 June) at 9.15am (BST), let’s take a look around the track…

Fence one: Aufrakt der Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude

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Fence two: Rathaus

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Fence three: Fledermaushotel

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Fence four: Trakehner

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Fence five AB: Charles Owen Royal Works

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Fence six ABC: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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Alternative six C

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Fence seven: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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Fence eight AB: Luhmühlens Wasserspiele

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Alternative 8B

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Fence nine: Holzstoß

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Fence 10: Hof Sudermühlens Jagdszene

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Fence 11 ABC: Heiners Wellenbahn

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Fences 12 and 13: Horseware Jump

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Fence 14 ABC: LVM Am Waldrand

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Fence 15: Hof Sudermühlens Jagdszene

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Fences 16, 17 and 18 AB: Meßmer Teich

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Alternative 17

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Alternative 18B

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Fence 19: Tisch

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Fence 20 AB: Manzke Kombination

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Fence 21 ABC: Longines Kombination

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Fence 22: Gärtnerei Wredes Rennbahnsprung

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Fence 23: Luhmühlens EM Brücke

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Fence 24 AB: Auf dem Trainingsplatz

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Fence 25, 26 and 27 AB: Longines Wasser

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Fence 28: Voltaire Vogelnest

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Fence 29 AB: Cottages

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Fence 30: Longines Final Jump

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Don’t miss the full report from Luhmühlen in the 20 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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[ Hard going: how to cross-country school effectively without running on hard ground ]]> Here’s some helpful pointers from five-star international event rider, Kate Honey (pictured), about how you can make the most of a cross-country schooling session in an arena

With the recent lack of rain, creating cross-country questions in an arena can be a great solution for practising on good going. To get the most out of your session, remember to work with the arena you have and at the level your horse is comfortable at. I will try to always have someone on the ground to help me, so we can build up obstacles as required.

1. Incorporate gear changes into your warm-up

This is a really easy thing to practice in an arena and something you always need out on a cross-country course. Use the long side to open up your canter and then bring the canter back before the corner, so you are in balance when you turn.

2. Use a more forward rhythm

When warming up over fences, replicate a cross-country warm-up where you would be jumping out of a more forward rhythm.

3. Build up confidence

Depending on the level of your horse, remember to always introduce questions in a straightforward way so they are not over-faced. For example, if practising a skinny obstacle, you can start with poles on either side to make the question more obvious and then take these guide rails away or make the fence narrower as and when you are ready.

4. Create cross-country questions

For example, a rail-ditch-rail combination can be created by using two uprights and a water tray in the middle. This is also a good time to practice your ‘coffin’ canter. If this is a new question for your horse, remember you can start with one element and then add in more.

5. Be creative

You can create brush fences with garden cuttings and use barrels to make different obstacles.

6. Link obstacles together

A good way to finish off the session is to link the different fences together. Remembering to come off both reins and practising effective turns. This is also a good time to use your different cross-country canters. For example, you could you could create a coffin canter and then take the brush fence on a more forward rhythm.

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…

Indoor eventer trial

Date: 27 April

Venue: Forest Edge Arena, Swaffham

Details: “This competition has classes from clear round and 50cm to 1m.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 27 April

Venue: Brechin Castle Showground, Scotland

Details: “Brechin Castle Equestrian Centre Ltd is hosting its first one day event with classes ranging from 45cm to 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 6 May

Venue: Taunton District Riding Club, Pontispool

Details: “This event is open to everyone with classes ranging between 70 and 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 19 May

Venue: Tenantry Farm, Fordingbridge

Details: “This event is open to everyone and features 80, 90 and 100cm classes.”

Enter now

H&H Festival of Eventing: unaffiliated three-day event

Date: 25-27 May

Venue: Keysoe, Bedfordshire

Details: “This competition is an absolute must for anyone keen on eventing. There are classes to suit all, from 70cm up to 1m with some fabulous prizes on offer.”

Enter now

Arena eventing

Date: 9 June

Venue: Bramham International Horse Trials, Wetherby

Details: “This competition on the Sunday afternoon of this international horse trials has two classes; 90cm and 1m.”

Enter now

Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings

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-cross-country-school-in-arena-661037 eWUqyMj3FAXLYKoBanuZ5R Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:24:33 +0000 false false false

Here’s some helpful pointers from five-star international event rider, Kate Honey (pictured), about how you can make the most of a cross-country schooling session in an arena

With the recent lack of rain, creating cross-country questions in an arena can be a great solution for practising on good going. To get the most out of your session, remember to work with the arena you have and at the level your horse is comfortable at. I will try to always have someone on the ground to help me, so we can build up obstacles as required.

1. Incorporate gear changes into your warm-up

This is a really easy thing to practice in an arena and something you always need out on a cross-country course. Use the long side to open up your canter and then bring the canter back before the corner, so you are in balance when you turn.

2. Use a more forward rhythm

When warming up over fences, replicate a cross-country warm-up where you would be jumping out of a more forward rhythm.

3. Build up confidence

Depending on the level of your horse, remember to always introduce questions in a straightforward way so they are not over-faced. For example, if practising a skinny obstacle, you can start with poles on either side to make the question more obvious and then take these guide rails away or make the fence narrower as and when you are ready.

4. Create cross-country questions

For example, a rail-ditch-rail combination can be created by using two uprights and a water tray in the middle. This is also a good time to practice your ‘coffin’ canter. If this is a new question for your horse, remember you can start with one element and then add in more.

5. Be creative

You can create brush fences with garden cuttings and use barrels to make different obstacles.

6. Link obstacles together

A good way to finish off the session is to link the different fences together. Remembering to come off both reins and practising effective turns. This is also a good time to use your different cross-country canters. For example, you could you could create a coffin canter and then take the brush fence on a more forward rhythm.

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…

Indoor eventer trial

Date: 27 April

Venue: Forest Edge Arena, Swaffham

Details: “This competition has classes from clear round and 50cm to 1m.”

Enter now

One-day event

Date: 27 April

Venue: Brechin Castle Showground, Scotland

Details: “Brechin Castle Equestrian Centre Ltd is hosting its first one day event with classes ranging from 45cm to 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 6 May

Venue: Taunton District Riding Club, Pontispool

Details: “This event is open to everyone with classes ranging between 70 and 90cm.”

Enter now

Unaffiliated one-day event

Date: 19 May

Venue: Tenantry Farm, Fordingbridge

Details: “This event is open to everyone and features 80, 90 and 100cm classes.”

Enter now

H&H Festival of Eventing: unaffiliated three-day event

Date: 25-27 May

Venue: Keysoe, Bedfordshire

Details: “This competition is an absolute must for anyone keen on eventing. There are classes to suit all, from 70cm up to 1m with some fabulous prizes on offer.”

Enter now

Arena eventing

Date: 9 June

Venue: Bramham International Horse Trials, Wetherby

Details: “This competition on the Sunday afternoon of this international horse trials has two classes; 90cm and 1m.”

Enter now

Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings

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 more I walk it, the stronger it seems’: take a look at this year’s CCI4* Pau cross-country track ]]> Later today (27 October), the cross-country phase gets underway at Les étoiles de Pau CCI***. Designed by Pierre Michelet, this year’s course features 45 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,320m, making the optimum time 11min 6sec.

Ros Canter, who currently sits in second aboard Zenshera said: “It’s a proper four-star test, with questions from start to finish. The first water comes up very quickly, particularly as you approach the first element around a blind bend — horses then need to look ahead in order to take on the step out to angled brush. Horses and riders need to be on it the whole way round.”

New Zealand rider Tim Price said: “I think the track is less intense than it was here last year, but the questions still come thick and fast, with the first two waters coming up early on the course and this section is also particularly twisty. You need a nice rhythm here to make the time.”

Phillip Dutton, agreed saying: “You need your horse to be thinking forward and listening for this course.”

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy explained: “The more I walk it, the stronger it seems. The first water will be influential and the twists and turns cause trouble here. The horse really needs to be taking you and as riders we will have to work with the feeling they give us. The fact that this course is mostly flat, I think is tougher on the horses — there is nowhere to let them have a breather running downhill. I think the time will be difficult to get and I hope it rides better than it walks.”

First-time Pau competitor Will Furlong pointed out that there are “lots of angles and corners horses could run past.”

“There’s not one particular fence that I think will catch people out — it’s very cleverly built with questions spread throughout the course. The organisers have done a fantastic job on the ground, watering and aerovating it. I think the first water will prove influential given how early it comes up.”

Let’s take a look around what riders will be facing from 1.30pm this afternoon (12.30pm BST)…

Fence 1

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Fence 2

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Fence 3

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Fence 4

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Fence 5AB

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Fence 6

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Fence 7AB and 8

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Fence 9

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Fence 10

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Fence 11

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Fence 12

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Fence 13

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Fence 14

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Fence 15

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Fence 16AB

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Fence 17

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Fence 18

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Fence 19

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Fence 20

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Fence 21

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Fence 22

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Fence 23

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Fence 24AB and 25

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Fence 26

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Fence 27

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Fence 28

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Fence 29

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Fence 30

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Fence 31AB

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Fence 32

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Fence 33

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Fence 34AB and 35

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Fence 36

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Fence 37AB

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Fence 38

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Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and reports from Pau via horseandhound.co.uk, and don’t miss the full report in next week’s magazine (1 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-cross-country-course-2018-669136 nXD6rNtCkD6xaa4JjpBW4A Sat, 27 Oct 2018 07:25:51 +0000 false false false

Later today (27 October), the cross-country phase gets underway at Les étoiles de Pau CCI***. Designed by Pierre Michelet, this year’s course features 45 jumping efforts over a distance of 6,320m, making the optimum time 11min 6sec.

Ros Canter, who currently sits in second aboard Zenshera said: “It’s a proper four-star test, with questions from start to finish. The first water comes up very quickly, particularly as you approach the first element around a blind bend — horses then need to look ahead in order to take on the step out to angled brush. Horses and riders need to be on it the whole way round.”

New Zealand rider Tim Price said: “I think the track is less intense than it was here last year, but the questions still come thick and fast, with the first two waters coming up early on the course and this section is also particularly twisty. You need a nice rhythm here to make the time.”

Phillip Dutton, agreed saying: “You need your horse to be thinking forward and listening for this course.”

Ireland’s Joseph Murphy explained: “The more I walk it, the stronger it seems. The first water will be influential and the twists and turns cause trouble here. The horse really needs to be taking you and as riders we will have to work with the feeling they give us. The fact that this course is mostly flat, I think is tougher on the horses — there is nowhere to let them have a breather running downhill. I think the time will be difficult to get and I hope it rides better than it walks.”

First-time Pau competitor Will Furlong pointed out that there are “lots of angles and corners horses could run past.”

“There’s not one particular fence that I think will catch people out — it’s very cleverly built with questions spread throughout the course. The organisers have done a fantastic job on the ground, watering and aerovating it. I think the first water will prove influential given how early it comes up.”

Let’s take a look around what riders will be facing from 1.30pm this afternoon (12.30pm BST)…

Fence 1

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Fence 2

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Fence 3

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Fence 4

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Fence 5AB

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Fence 6

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Fence 7AB and 8

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Fence 9

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Fence 10

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Fence 11

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Fence 12

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Fence 13

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Fence 14

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Fence 15

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Fence 16AB

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Fence 17

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Fence 18

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Fence 19

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Fence 20

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Fence 21

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Fence 22

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Fence 23

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Fence 24AB and 25

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Fence 26

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Fence 27

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Fence 28

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Fence 29

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Fence 30

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Fence 31AB

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Fence 32

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Fence 33

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Fence 34AB and 35

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Fence 36

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Fence 37AB

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Fence 38

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Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and reports from Pau via horseandhound.co.uk, and don’t miss the full report in next week’s magazine (1 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[ Is this the most beautiful cross-country course in the world? 14 photos to take your breath away ]]> Last week (18-21 October), some of the world’s best six- and seven-year-old event horses went head-to-head at the FEI World Breeding Federation Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Lion d’Angers, France.

Britain’s Kitty King took the six-year-old title with Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fontaine, while Piggy French was second with Tom March’s Emerald Jonny. The USA’s Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine finished third.

Ingrid Klimke headed the seven-year-old Championship with the mare Asha P, while British contender Tom Jackson was runner-up with Milly Simmie, Patricia Davenport and Sarah Webb’s Capels Hollow Drift.

The cross-country courses, designed by Pierre Michelet, for the two classes are renowned for being works of art, and this year was no exception. Here, we take a look at some of the most eye-catching fences combinations tackled…

Fence 2 in both classes: Le jardin de la ville du Lion d’Angers

Fence 2 (6/7yo) Le jardin de la ville du Lion d'Angers

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 4 (seven-year-olds): Les escargots [meaning snails] de l’Isle Briand

Fence 4 (7yo) Les escargots de l'Isle Briand

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Le violon du Credit Mutuel, which was jumped in both classes

Fence 5 (6/7yo) Le violon du Credit Mutuel

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 10 (six-year-olds) and fence 12 (seven-year-olds): La ferme extraordinaire de l’Anjou

Fence 10 (6yo) 12 (7yo) La ferme extraordinaire de l'Anjou

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Decoration at the above fence

Decoration at Fence 10 (6yo) 12 (7yo) La ferme extraordinaire de

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 16 (six-year-olds) and 18 (seven-year-olds): Le félin Devoucoux

Fence 16 (6yo) 18 (7yo) Le félin Devoucoux

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Not in the course: an immaculate schooling fence

Immaculate schooling fence!

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 19 (six-year-olds) and 22 (seven-year-olds): L’échiquier de l’Atoll

Fence 19 (6yo) 22 (7yo) L'échiquier de l'Atoll

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 17 (six-year-olds) and 19/20 (seven-year-olds): La mine Equithème

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(Image credit: Martha Terry)

An incredible sculptured obstacle at fence six

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(Image credit: Martha Terry)

The owl hole, which was not jumped through this year

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(Image credit: Martha Terry)

A maize-themed open ditch early in the course

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(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence one makes an impression…

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(Image credit: Martha Terry)

…As does the final fence: Le coeur Mécénat chirugie cardia

Final fence 20 (6yo) 23 (7yo) Le coeur Mécénat chirugie cardia

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Read the full report from Le Lion d’Angers in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 25 October

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/le-lion-dangers-cross-country-2018-668692 pfZvYw699eKxHrBMJReL35 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 11:24:37 +0000 false false false

Last week (18-21 October), some of the world’s best six- and seven-year-old event horses went head-to-head at the FEI World Breeding Federation Eventing Championships for Young Horses in Lion d’Angers, France.

Britain’s Kitty King took the six-year-old title with Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fontaine, while Piggy French was second with Tom March’s Emerald Jonny. The USA’s Elisabeth Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Moonshine finished third.

Ingrid Klimke headed the seven-year-old Championship with the mare Asha P, while British contender Tom Jackson was runner-up with Milly Simmie, Patricia Davenport and Sarah Webb’s Capels Hollow Drift.

The cross-country courses, designed by Pierre Michelet, for the two classes are renowned for being works of art, and this year was no exception. Here, we take a look at some of the most eye-catching fences combinations tackled…

Fence 2 in both classes: Le jardin de la ville du Lion d’Angers

Fence 2 (6/7yo) Le jardin de la ville du Lion d'Angers

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 4 (seven-year-olds): Les escargots [meaning snails] de l’Isle Briand

Fence 4 (7yo) Les escargots de l'Isle Briand

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Le violon du Credit Mutuel, which was jumped in both classes

Fence 5 (6/7yo) Le violon du Credit Mutuel

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 10 (six-year-olds) and fence 12 (seven-year-olds): La ferme extraordinaire de l’Anjou

Fence 10 (6yo) 12 (7yo) La ferme extraordinaire de l'Anjou

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Decoration at the above fence

Decoration at Fence 10 (6yo) 12 (7yo) La ferme extraordinaire de

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 16 (six-year-olds) and 18 (seven-year-olds): Le félin Devoucoux

Fence 16 (6yo) 18 (7yo) Le félin Devoucoux

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Not in the course: an immaculate schooling fence

Immaculate schooling fence!

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 19 (six-year-olds) and 22 (seven-year-olds): L’échiquier de l’Atoll

Fence 19 (6yo) 22 (7yo) L'échiquier de l'Atoll

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence 17 (six-year-olds) and 19/20 (seven-year-olds): La mine Equithème

IMG_7626

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

An incredible sculptured obstacle at fence six

IMG_7635

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

The owl hole, which was not jumped through this year

IMG_7661

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

A maize-themed open ditch early in the course

IMG_7643

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Fence one makes an impression…

IMG_7682

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

…As does the final fence: Le coeur Mécénat chirugie cardia

Final fence 20 (6yo) 23 (7yo) Le coeur Mécénat chirugie cardia

(Image credit: Martha Terry)

Read the full report from Le Lion d’Angers in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 25 October

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[ Get your brave pants on: walk Blenheim’s CCI3* cross-country course ]]> Today (15 September), the cross-country phase of the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* class gets underway.

This marks the second year that David Evans has designed both the CCI3* and eight- and nine-year-old CIC3* tracks at Blenheim.

David says: “I have increased the height and technicality of the CCI3* a little in 2018. Both tracks, when ridden well, should give horses and riders a great feeling and they should finish full of confidence and having furthered their education.”

Let’s take a look around…

Fence 1: Voltaire Design Saddle Rack

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 2: Horse & Country Roll Back

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 3: Tivoli ‘I Love It!’

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 4abc: Theraplate Vortex Wave

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 4bc

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 5: Moorgate Finance Flyer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 6ab: Ariat Dew Pond

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 7: Blenheim Palace Oxer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 8ab: SsangYong Dragons

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 9: SsangYoung Musso Launch

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 10: SsangYong Rhino’s Revenge

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 11ab: Rough Piece Brushes and the Cotswold Life Oxer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 12: Rowen Barbary Shields

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 13abc: Shoulder brush double and brush arrowhead

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 13c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 14: SsangYong Musso Crossing

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 15ab: British Horse Society ‘On The Move’

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 15b:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 16: Dogs for Good

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 17abc: Suregrow Forest Glade

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 17b:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 17c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 18: Horsebox Seller Challenge

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 19abc: Ariat Wooded Hollow

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 20: Kubota Log

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 21abc: Saffrey Champness Tax Question

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 22ab: Biffa Arch Complex

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 23: Clarendon Crossing

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 24ab: Abingdon & Witney College corner

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 25: Platinum Plus Home To Bed

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Keep up-to-date with all the latest reports from Blenheim via horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out on 20 September

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-cci3-cross-country-course-2018-664705 ofuGHTFC3kP5DXJKFqFqHC Sat, 15 Sep 2018 07:24:30 +0000 false false false

Today (15 September), the cross-country phase of the SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI3* class gets underway.

This marks the second year that David Evans has designed both the CCI3* and eight- and nine-year-old CIC3* tracks at Blenheim.

David says: “I have increased the height and technicality of the CCI3* a little in 2018. Both tracks, when ridden well, should give horses and riders a great feeling and they should finish full of confidence and having furthered their education.”

Let’s take a look around…

Fence 1: Voltaire Design Saddle Rack

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 2: Horse & Country Roll Back

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 3: Tivoli ‘I Love It!’

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 4abc: Theraplate Vortex Wave

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 4bc

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 5: Moorgate Finance Flyer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 6ab: Ariat Dew Pond

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 7: Blenheim Palace Oxer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 8ab: SsangYong Dragons

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 9: SsangYoung Musso Launch

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 10: SsangYong Rhino’s Revenge

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 11ab: Rough Piece Brushes and the Cotswold Life Oxer

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 12: Rowen Barbary Shields

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 13abc: Shoulder brush double and brush arrowhead

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 13c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 14: SsangYong Musso Crossing

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 15ab: British Horse Society ‘On The Move’

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 15b:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 16: Dogs for Good

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 17abc: Suregrow Forest Glade

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 17b:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative 17c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 18: Horsebox Seller Challenge

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 19abc: Ariat Wooded Hollow

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 20: Kubota Log

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 21abc: Saffrey Champness Tax Question

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Alternative c:

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 22ab: Biffa Arch Complex

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 23: Clarendon Crossing

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 24ab: Abingdon & Witney College corner

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Fence 25: Platinum Plus Home To Bed

Blenheim Fences 2018

Blenheim Fences 2018 (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

Keep up-to-date with all the latest reports from Blenheim via horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out on 20 September

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[ Which of these would you like to jump? Take a walk around the 2018 Burghley cross-country course ]]> This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (29 August-2 September) cross-country course, designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, looks like it will be as challenging as ever for competitors.

We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 1 September.

Fence 1: Olympic Horse Shoe

Burghley-2018-fence1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Flower Bed

Burghley-2018-fence2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Picnic Table

Burghley-2018-fence3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4a, b, c: Land Rover 70th Anniversary

Burghley-2018-fence4A-arena

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence4BC-arena

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5a, b, c: Discovery Valley — alternative route is to jump the first log to the ditch and then the narrow log on the left

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence5A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence5BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6: Rolex Grand Slam Rails

Burghley-2018-fence6

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7a, b, c and 8: Leaf Pit

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-7AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Straight c and fence 8 directly ahead, with alternative c to the right and alternative fence 8 coming back towards the camera far left

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fences 7a and b

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-fence7A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-Fence7B-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9a, b, c, d: Discovery Valley

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence9A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 9b and c is to jump the ditch and then the far left oxer. The direct route is to jump just the right-hand oxer

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence9BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10: Gurkha Kukri

Burghley-2018-fence10

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11a, b, c and 12a, b: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence11A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct triple brush on the left, alternative on the right

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-Fence11B

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence11C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence12AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative log into the water with longer route brush out on the left

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-Fence11C-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Captain’s Log:

Burghley-2018-Fence13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14a, b, c, d: Joules at the Maltings direct route

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14D

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route — these two houses, followed by an oxer and then parallel rails

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14Calt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14Dalt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 15a, b, c, d: Rolex Combination

Burghley-2018-fence15A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15D

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route — oxer followed by the ditch, rail and then corner

Burghley-2018-fence15A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15BC-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16: Pardubice

Burghley-2018-fence16

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17a, b: Land Rover at the Lake

Burghley-2018-fence17A-white-gates

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence17B-white-gates

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: Winners’ Avenue

Burghley-2018-fence18-winners-ave

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19: Cottesmore Leap

Burghley-2018-fence19

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20a, b: Keeper’s Brushes

Burghley-2018-fence20A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route

Burghley-2018-fence20A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21a, b, c and 22: Clarence Court direct route

Burghley-2018-fence21A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence21BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route

Burghley-2018-fence21A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence21B-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Fence21C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence22-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 23: Capability’s Cutting

Burghley-2018-fence23

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24: Collyweston Slate Mine

Burghley-2018-fence24

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fences 25 and 26: Anniversary Splash

Burghley-2018-fence25

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence26

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27: Lion Bridge

Burghley-2018-fence27

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Parasols

Burghley-2018-fence28

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Lambert’s Sofa

Burghley-2018-fence29

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 30: Land Rover Finale

Burghley-2018-fence30

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (issue dated Thursday 23 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 6 September).

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-cross-country-2018-663128 u6JgqXUfomd9UqubKUuWNF Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:41:28 +0000 false false false

This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (29 August-2 September) cross-country course, designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, looks like it will be as challenging as ever for competitors.

We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 1 September.

Fence 1: Olympic Horse Shoe

Burghley-2018-fence1

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Flower Bed

Burghley-2018-fence2

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Picnic Table

Burghley-2018-fence3

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4a, b, c: Land Rover 70th Anniversary

Burghley-2018-fence4A-arena

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence4BC-arena

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5a, b, c: Discovery Valley — alternative route is to jump the first log to the ditch and then the narrow log on the left

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence5A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence5BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6: Rolex Grand Slam Rails

Burghley-2018-fence6

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7a, b, c and 8: Leaf Pit

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-7AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Straight c and fence 8 directly ahead, with alternative c to the right and alternative fence 8 coming back towards the camera far left

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fences 7a and b

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-fence7A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Leaf-Pitt-Fence7B-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9a, b, c, d: Discovery Valley

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence9A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative fence 9b and c is to jump the ditch and then the far left oxer. The direct route is to jump just the right-hand oxer

Burghley-2018-Discovery-Valley-fence9BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 10: Gurkha Kukri

Burghley-2018-fence10

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 11a, b, c and 12a, b: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence11A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Direct triple brush on the left, alternative on the right

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-Fence11B

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence11C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-fence12AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative log into the water with longer route brush out on the left

Burghley-2018-Trout-Hatchery-Fence11C-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 13: Captain’s Log:

Burghley-2018-Fence13

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 14a, b, c, d: Joules at the Maltings direct route

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14AB

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14D

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route — these two houses, followed by an oxer and then parallel rails

Burghley-2018-Maltings-fence14alt

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Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14Calt

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Burghley-2018-Maltings-Fence14Dalt

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Fence 15a, b, c, d: Rolex Combination

Burghley-2018-fence15A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15D

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route — oxer followed by the ditch, rail and then corner

Burghley-2018-fence15A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence15BC-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 16: Pardubice

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 17a, b: Land Rover at the Lake

Burghley-2018-fence17A-white-gates

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence17B-white-gates

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 18: Winners’ Avenue

Burghley-2018-fence18-winners-ave

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 19: Cottesmore Leap

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 20a, b: Keeper’s Brushes

Burghley-2018-fence20A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route

Burghley-2018-fence20A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 21a, b, c and 22: Clarence Court direct route

Burghley-2018-fence21A

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence21BC

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence22

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Alternative route

Burghley-2018-fence21A-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence21B-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-Fence21C

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence22-alt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 23: Capability’s Cutting

Burghley-2018-fence23

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 24: Collyweston Slate Mine

Burghley-2018-fence24

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fences 25 and 26: Anniversary Splash

Burghley-2018-fence25

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Burghley-2018-fence26

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 27: Lion Bridge

Burghley-2018-fence27

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 28: Parasols

Burghley-2018-fence28

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 29: Lambert’s Sofa

Burghley-2018-fence29

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 30: Land Rover Finale

Burghley-2018-fence30

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (issue dated Thursday 23 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 6 September).

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 time is now’: calls to make frangible cross-country fences compulsory ]]> “The time is now” for mandatory use of frangible devices in cross-country fences, according to the United States Eventing Association (USEA).

In a statement released yesterday (18 October), the association called on the FEI to make a rule that frangibles must be used on certain fences.

“The time has come to take a stronger stance on the usage of frangible technology in the sport of eventing,” said a USEA spokesman.

“We as the leaders of the sport have the moral obligation to say that the time for use of all currently available safety technology is now.

“With that in mind, the USEA cross-country safety sub-committee strongly recommends that the FEI mandates rather than strongly recommends that all open rail fences, gates, oxers and oxer corners must be built using reverse frangible technology. The time is now.”

mim clip

MIM Clip (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A spokesman for the FEI told H&H that the global use of frangible technology is one of its “goals in risk management”, and it is working with national federations around the world on the implementation of this technology.

“Frangible technology is being used extensively in many countries, and there are around 3,500 of these devices currently in use globally at international level, not including those used at national events,” she said.

“Eventing takes place at international level in around 40 countries worldwide with many more hosting national level events and not all of these countries have the immediate resources and knowledge to support the correct implementation of frangible technology.

“It is the FEI’s role to provide the necessary educational and logistical support to national federations to enable them to source approved devices, ensure their correct use and ultimately decide when the time is right to make their use compulsory so that frangible technology is used effectively worldwide.

“It is important to note that frangible devices are one element in a wide spectrum of risk management initiatives and, while they are clearly an important component, they will not in themselves eliminate all risk from the sport.”

A large-scale international cross-country safety study is currently being conducted on behalf of USEA and it is hoped the findings will help inform safer fence designs.

The research project started in 2016 and is expected to continue until next summer.

“The study is focused on developing computer simulations of horse-fence contact that will enable us to understand design requirements for new deformable and frangible devices,” said Dr Suzanne Weaver Smith, who is carrying out the research with a team at the University of Kentucky.

“The simulations will enable designers to develop new devices with information on what direction, how far, and how fast [the devices] must operate.

Continued below…

Ros-Canter.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European champion goes back to her roots at Pony Club competition

The gold medal-winner took a youngster to her

744570.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How do you know when you’ve worked your horse too hard?

Make sure you can recognise the signs of

“One of the challenges in the past has been not having this information. To accomplish this requires bringing together many different prior studies with new data.

“Having better information for device designers, course-designers, course-builders and others will enable the best design and use of frangible and deformable solutions.

“It’s a large effort, but we have made excellent progress and are on track to achieve our goals.”

For a full exploration of frangibles, their use and future technology, don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out today (19 October)

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/united-states-eventing-association-calls-for-compulsory-frangible-fences-cross-country-safety-635300 sTXb2o6HKm792upeUjSuZo Thu, 19 Oct 2017 17:13:10 +0000 false false false

“The time is now” for mandatory use of frangible devices in cross-country fences, according to the United States Eventing Association (USEA).

In a statement released yesterday (18 October), the association called on the FEI to make a rule that frangibles must be used on certain fences.

“The time has come to take a stronger stance on the usage of frangible technology in the sport of eventing,” said a USEA spokesman.

“We as the leaders of the sport have the moral obligation to say that the time for use of all currently available safety technology is now.

“With that in mind, the USEA cross-country safety sub-committee strongly recommends that the FEI mandates rather than strongly recommends that all open rail fences, gates, oxers and oxer corners must be built using reverse frangible technology. The time is now.”

mim clip

MIM Clip (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A spokesman for the FEI told H&H that the global use of frangible technology is one of its “goals in risk management”, and it is working with national federations around the world on the implementation of this technology.

“Frangible technology is being used extensively in many countries, and there are around 3,500 of these devices currently in use globally at international level, not including those used at national events,” she said.

“Eventing takes place at international level in around 40 countries worldwide with many more hosting national level events and not all of these countries have the immediate resources and knowledge to support the correct implementation of frangible technology.

“It is the FEI’s role to provide the necessary educational and logistical support to national federations to enable them to source approved devices, ensure their correct use and ultimately decide when the time is right to make their use compulsory so that frangible technology is used effectively worldwide.

“It is important to note that frangible devices are one element in a wide spectrum of risk management initiatives and, while they are clearly an important component, they will not in themselves eliminate all risk from the sport.”

A large-scale international cross-country safety study is currently being conducted on behalf of USEA and it is hoped the findings will help inform safer fence designs.

The research project started in 2016 and is expected to continue until next summer.

“The study is focused on developing computer simulations of horse-fence contact that will enable us to understand design requirements for new deformable and frangible devices,” said Dr Suzanne Weaver Smith, who is carrying out the research with a team at the University of Kentucky.

“The simulations will enable designers to develop new devices with information on what direction, how far, and how fast [the devices] must operate.

Continued below…

Ros-Canter.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European champion goes back to her roots at Pony Club competition

The gold medal-winner took a youngster to her

744570.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

How do you know when you’ve worked your horse too hard?

Make sure you can recognise the signs of

“One of the challenges in the past has been not having this information. To accomplish this requires bringing together many different prior studies with new data.

“Having better information for device designers, course-designers, course-builders and others will enable the best design and use of frangible and deformable solutions.

“It’s a large effort, but we have made excellent progress and are on track to achieve our goals.”

For a full exploration of frangibles, their use and future technology, don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out today (19 October)

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 effort after effort’: top riders share their thoughts on the 2017 Burghley cross-country course ]]>

Find out what some of the world's top event riders, such as Tina Cook, Andrew Nicholson and Harry Meade make of this year's Burghley cross-country course

The cross-country course at this year’s 2017 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials looks set to be as challenging as ever.

The track, designed by Captain Mark Phillips since 2005, is 6400mm in length and has an optimum time of 11min 14sec.

Tina Cook said: “As always, it is a dimensionally big course. I like the fact that there are still a lot of combination fences with alternatives where you can choose depending on how your horse is travelling and how they are coping with the crowd. The ground is perfect and I would hope the horses will travel really well on it.”

Andrew Nicholson was in agreement saying: “It’s typical Burghley — big, difficult but very jumpable. It’s effort after effort all the way round and horses will need to be really fit.”

Willa Newton said: “It’s very well presented and there are difficult combinations — the Dairy Farm and the Trout Hatchery are very tough, and I think the new loop incorporating Storm Doris will make horses very tired going all the way up to the Cottesmore Leap from there.”

Harry Meade said: “The terrain plays a big part at Burghley — the first three minutes are virtually uphill the whole way. There are lots of places that could cause problems and it will require a great deal of concentration.”

Sarah Bullimore said: “Winners’ Avenue was quite a pull last year, so with the extra distance from the bottom of the hill at Storm Doris, it will be tough early on.”

Continued below…

This is the third year that the course has run clockwise. Two riders made the optimum time in 2015, while none made it last year, so this could prove influential.

Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale today, Thursday 31 August), including a Burghley pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, course map and more.

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//videos/horse-sport-videos/effort-effort-top-riders-share-thoughts-2017-burghley-cross-country-course tX3Hjun5oDouYuK111G81g Thu, 31 Aug 2017 16:50:06 +0000 false false false

Find out what some of the world's top event riders, such as Tina Cook, Andrew Nicholson and Harry Meade make of this year's Burghley cross-country course

The cross-country course at this year’s 2017 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials looks set to be as challenging as ever.

The track, designed by Captain Mark Phillips since 2005, is 6400mm in length and has an optimum time of 11min 14sec.

Tina Cook said: “As always, it is a dimensionally big course. I like the fact that there are still a lot of combination fences with alternatives where you can choose depending on how your horse is travelling and how they are coping with the crowd. The ground is perfect and I would hope the horses will travel really well on it.”

Andrew Nicholson was in agreement saying: “It’s typical Burghley — big, difficult but very jumpable. It’s effort after effort all the way round and horses will need to be really fit.”

Willa Newton said: “It’s very well presented and there are difficult combinations — the Dairy Farm and the Trout Hatchery are very tough, and I think the new loop incorporating Storm Doris will make horses very tired going all the way up to the Cottesmore Leap from there.”

Harry Meade said: “The terrain plays a big part at Burghley — the first three minutes are virtually uphill the whole way. There are lots of places that could cause problems and it will require a great deal of concentration.”

Sarah Bullimore said: “Winners’ Avenue was quite a pull last year, so with the extra distance from the bottom of the hill at Storm Doris, it will be tough early on.”

Continued below…

This is the third year that the course has run clockwise. Two riders made the optimum time in 2015, while none made it last year, so this could prove influential.

Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale today, Thursday 31 August), including a Burghley pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, course map and more.

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? Walk the 2017 Burghley cross-country course ]]> This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (31 August-3 September) cross-country course, designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, looks like it will be as challenging as ever for competitors.

We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 3 September.

Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

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Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

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Fence 3: Fairfax Saddles Table

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Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

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View over 4a

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Fence 4b (jumped coming towards the camera)

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Fence 5ab: Anniversary Splash

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Fence 5b

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Fence 6abc: Lakeside Corners — riders have the option of a step up bounce (first picture below) to a corner on the right, or just the corner on the left. There is a third alternative 6c (the longest route), which is a brush hedge

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Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

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Fence 7 side view

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Fence 8: Capability’s Cutting

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Fence 9, 10, 11ab: Storm Doris — the fastest route is to jump the right-hand arm of the log to the corner on the right. The slightly longer route is to jump the left-hand corner of the first log, to the left-handed arm and then over a narrow fence at part c

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Fence 10 and 11ab side view

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Fence 12: Winners’ Avenue

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Fence 13: Cottesmore Leap

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Fence 14: Arched Roll Top

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Fence 15ab: Keeper’s Brushes — riders have the option to jump either two brush boxes on the left, or two triple brushes on the right

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Fence 16ab, 17: Land Rover Dairy Farm

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Alternatives to fast route above:

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Fence 18abc, 19: Rolex Combination

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Alternative routes:

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Fence 20abc: Joules At The Maltings — there isn’t much difference in time wastage at either of the fence 20a options

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Alternative 20b

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Fence 20c:

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Alternative 20c:

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Fence 21: Captain’s Log

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Fence 22, 23abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery:

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Long route for fence 22, 23abcd

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Fence 24ab: Herberts’ Hollow

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Alternative 24ab, which can be ridden on a line to avoid the undulations of the hollow

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Fence 25: Irish Horse Gateway

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Fence 26abc, 27: Discovery Valley

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View from 26abc to 27

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Alternative 26a and b

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Alternative 26c

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Alternative 27

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Fence 28: Rolex Grand Slam Rails

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Fence 29ab, 30: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

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View from 29a

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Alternative 29a

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Alternative 29b

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Alternative 30

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Fence 31ab: Discovery Valley

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Fence 32abc: Arena Homecoming

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Fence 33: Picnic Table

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Fence 34: Land Rover Finale

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Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 25 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 8 September).

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-cross-country-course-2017-630617 hyXfdkg1bxdzJNhTT3dFM4 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 17:04:11 +0000 false false false

This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (31 August-3 September) cross-country course, designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, looks like it will be as challenging as ever for competitors.

We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 3 September.

Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

image00003

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 3: Fairfax Saddles Table

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

View over 4a

image00007

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 4b (jumped coming towards the camera)

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Fence 5ab: Anniversary Splash

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 5b

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 6abc: Lakeside Corners — riders have the option of a step up bounce (first picture below) to a corner on the right, or just the corner on the left. There is a third alternative 6c (the longest route), which is a brush hedge

image00011

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 7 side view

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 8: Capability’s Cutting

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 9, 10, 11ab: Storm Doris — the fastest route is to jump the right-hand arm of the log to the corner on the right. The slightly longer route is to jump the left-hand corner of the first log, to the left-handed arm and then over a narrow fence at part c

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 10 and 11ab side view

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Fence 12: Winners’ Avenue

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Fence 13: Cottesmore Leap

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Fence 14: Arched Roll Top

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Fence 15ab: Keeper’s Brushes — riders have the option to jump either two brush boxes on the left, or two triple brushes on the right

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 16ab, 17: Land Rover Dairy Farm

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Alternatives to fast route above:

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 18abc, 19: Rolex Combination

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Alternative routes:

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 20abc: Joules At The Maltings — there isn’t much difference in time wastage at either of the fence 20a options

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Alternative 20b

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Fence 20c:

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Alternative 20c:

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Fence 21: Captain’s Log

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Fence 22, 23abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery:

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Long route for fence 22, 23abcd

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Fence 24ab: Herberts’ Hollow

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Alternative 24ab, which can be ridden on a line to avoid the undulations of the hollow

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Fence 25: Irish Horse Gateway

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Fence 26abc, 27: Discovery Valley

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View from 26abc to 27

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Alternative 26a and b

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Alternative 26c

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Alternative 27

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Fence 28: Rolex Grand Slam Rails

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Fence 29ab, 30: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

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View from 29a

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Alternative 29a

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Alternative 29b

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Alternative 30

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Fence 31ab: Discovery Valley

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00023-1.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00024

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 32abc: Arena Homecoming

image00025-1.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00026-1.jpg

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

image00027

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 33: Picnic Table

image00005

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Fence 34: Land Rover Finale

image00002

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 25 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 8 September).

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[ Got your eye on the BE100 Mitsubishi Cup next year? Take a look at the 2017 cross-country course ]]>

    • The BE100 Mitsubishi Motors Cup cross-country course at Badminton was 3,100m in length in 2017. The optimum time was six-minutes and 37 seconds, with horses riders required to travel at 475m/min, which 26 combinations from 66 finishers achieved, with many clocking up too-fast time-faults. Thirty-six competitors managed a clear cross-country jumping round.

    Take a look around the course and find out which fences caught combinations out…

    One refusal

    One refusal

    Five refusals

    One refusal

    11 refusals

    One refusal

    11 refusals

    19 refusals

    Two refusals

    11 refusals

    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/got-eye-be100-mitsubishi-cup-next-year-take-look-2017-cross-country-course-620270 iVRAdNJR3h7Xs6AhNYvy6t Thu, 11 May 2017 08:25:17 +0000 false false false

    The BE100 Mitsubishi Motors Cup cross-country course at Badminton was 3,100m in length in 2017. The optimum time was six-minutes and 37 seconds, with horses riders required to travel at 475m/min, which 26 combinations from 66 finishers achieved, with many clocking up too-fast time-faults. Thirty-six competitors managed a clear cross-country jumping round.

    Take a look around the course and find out which fences caught combinations out…

    One refusal

    One refusal

    Five refusals

    One refusal

    11 refusals

    One refusal

    11 refusals

    19 refusals

    Two refusals

    11 refusals

    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 have a go at the BE90 Mitsubishi Motors Cup next year? Here’s what the 2017 cross-country looked like ]]>

    • The BE90 Mitsubishi Motors Cup cross-country course at Badminton was 3,100m in length in 2017. The optimum time was six-minutes and 59 seconds, with horses riders required to travel at 450m/min, which 39 combinations from 95 finishers achieved, with many clocking up too-fast time-faults. Sixty-four competitors managed a clear cross-country jumping round.

    Take a look around the course and find out which fences caught combinations out…

    One refusal

    Two refusals

    One fall

    Two refusals and one fall

    One refusal

    18 refusals and one fall

    Three refusals

    Five refusals

    11 refusals

    One refusal

    One refusal

    12 refusals

    Five refusals

    One refusal

    Seven refusals

    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/want-go-be90-mitsubishi-motors-cup-next-year-heres-2017-cross-country-looked-like-620220 aVxu8TfXe1q81e8mHMPZJv Wed, 10 May 2017 12:47:56 +0000 false false false

    The BE90 Mitsubishi Motors Cup cross-country course at Badminton was 3,100m in length in 2017. The optimum time was six-minutes and 59 seconds, with horses riders required to travel at 450m/min, which 39 combinations from 95 finishers achieved, with many clocking up too-fast time-faults. Sixty-four competitors managed a clear cross-country jumping round.

    Take a look around the course and find out which fences caught combinations out…

    One refusal

    Two refusals

    One fall

    Two refusals and one fall

    One refusal

    18 refusals and one fall

    Three refusals

    Five refusals

    11 refusals

    One refusal

    One refusal

    12 refusals

    Five refusals

    One refusal

    Seven refusals

    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 biggest Badminton I’ve ever seen’: riders’ first reaction to the cross-country course ]]>

    Find out what some of the world's top event riders, such as Oliver Townend, Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd make of this year's Badminton cross-country course

    This year’s new-look Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course means that this event is not going to be a dressage competition, riders unanimously agreed today.

    The track has a new designer for 2017 in Eric Winter, who has really made his mark on the 6600m track with an optimum time of 11min 35sec.

    Oliver Townend said: “I think the course designer has done a fantastic job — he’s been unbelievably brave for his first attempt. It’s the biggest Badminton I’ve ever seen and I think it will be a very, very tough test.”

    Mark Todd was in agreement saying: “It’s big, strong, technical and it’s going to take quite a bit of riding.”

    Tina Cook describes it as a “proper Badminton track”.

    Badminton final scores

    “I think Eric Winter has been very imaginative and very bold. There’s a lot of very, very big fences dimensionally and it will be very challenging for the horses. There’s very few let up fences so if there’s any point where they lose their confidence, it will be quite difficult to get that back again. I think some of the new four-star riders will get a big shock at how big the step up is from the national one-day events to Badminton.”

    Andrew Nicholson said: “You’re going to have to be very alert all of the way round. It will be mentally tiring for horses.”

    Australian rider rider Andrew Hoy said: “The brush fences are very big, standing at 1.40-1.45m and you’ve got to be very committed.”

    Meanwhile Louise Harwood said “it’s big right from fence three.”

    “I think Eric has taken the course back to a rather old fashioned one and there’s a lot of tight turns to fences from where the crowd is roped off.”

    Continued below…

    Piaf-de-BNeville_Badminton_PN17_26819.jpg

    (Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)

    Find out how the action has unfolded so

    Eric, who competed at Badminton in 1991, has also designed the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, the Asian Games, two European pony championships, a European junior and a European young rider Championship.

    Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale today, Thursday 4 May), including a 16-page Badminton pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, judge’s analysis, course map and more.

    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//videos/horse-sport-videos/biggest-badminton-ive-ever-seen-riders-first-reaction-cross-country-course tqQv66Ndva6iyutUGAWK7o Thu, 04 May 2017 15:48:12 +0000 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:40:03 +0000 false false false

    Find out what some of the world's top event riders, such as Oliver Townend, Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd make of this year's Badminton cross-country course

    This year’s new-look Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course means that this event is not going to be a dressage competition, riders unanimously agreed today.

    The track has a new designer for 2017 in Eric Winter, who has really made his mark on the 6600m track with an optimum time of 11min 35sec.

    Oliver Townend said: “I think the course designer has done a fantastic job — he’s been unbelievably brave for his first attempt. It’s the biggest Badminton I’ve ever seen and I think it will be a very, very tough test.”

    Mark Todd was in agreement saying: “It’s big, strong, technical and it’s going to take quite a bit of riding.”

    Tina Cook describes it as a “proper Badminton track”.

    Badminton final scores

    “I think Eric Winter has been very imaginative and very bold. There’s a lot of very, very big fences dimensionally and it will be very challenging for the horses. There’s very few let up fences so if there’s any point where they lose their confidence, it will be quite difficult to get that back again. I think some of the new four-star riders will get a big shock at how big the step up is from the national one-day events to Badminton.”

    Andrew Nicholson said: “You’re going to have to be very alert all of the way round. It will be mentally tiring for horses.”

    Australian rider rider Andrew Hoy said: “The brush fences are very big, standing at 1.40-1.45m and you’ve got to be very committed.”

    Meanwhile Louise Harwood said “it’s big right from fence three.”

    “I think Eric has taken the course back to a rather old fashioned one and there’s a lot of tight turns to fences from where the crowd is roped off.”

    Continued below…

    Piaf-de-BNeville_Badminton_PN17_26819.jpg

    (Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)

    Find out how the action has unfolded so

    Eric, who competed at Badminton in 1991, has also designed the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, the Asian Games, two European pony championships, a European junior and a European young rider Championship.

    Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale today, Thursday 4 May), including a 16-page Badminton pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, judge’s analysis, course map and more.

    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? Walk the 2017 Badminton cross-country course ]]> As cross-country day at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials fast approaches, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on Saturday 6 May.

    Newly designed by Eric Winter in his first year in the role, will the cross-country course prove influential in 2017?

    Fence 1: ASX Starter

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 2: Rolex Rolltop

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 3: Keepers Question

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton final scores

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 4: Mike Weavers Haywain

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 5a, b, c and d: Savills Staircase

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    View from 5a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    5d fast route on the right, slow route on the left

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    View from landing side of 5c back up to 5a, b and c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 6: Countryside Birch — fast route is to jump the left-hand side as a corner

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 7: L200s

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 8a, b and c: The Lake

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    8b and c — two routes out of The Lake

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 9: Offset Oxer

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 10a, b and c: Shogun Hollow

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    10a long route

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 10b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 10c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fences 11 and 12: KBIS Bridge

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 11 is to jump the ditch to the right on its own

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 12

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 13a and b: Outlander Bank

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative to 13b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 14: Rolex Grand Slam Trakehner

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 15a, b and c: Hildon Water Pond

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 15b is the log on the far right

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 15c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 16: Sheep Feeder

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 17a and b: Mirage Pond

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    17b is the angled hedge on the right-hand side

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 18: Devoucoux Oxer

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 19a and b: PHEV Corral

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Riders have three options on part B — the fastest is to jump either of the rails flagged on an accute angle on either side of the two people in the picture, or to go around the corral and jump the rail to the far left coming back towards the bank

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Slow route fence 19b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 20: Event Mobility Dining Table

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 21a, b and c: Joules Corners

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 22: Wadworth Lakeside — riders jump the bullfinch in the centre of the fence

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    The Wadworth Lakeside, fence 22 at Badminton 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 23a and b: Irish Horse Gateway Huntsmans Close

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 23a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 23b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 24ab: World Horse Welfare Gates

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 25a and b and 26: HorseQuest Quarry

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 25b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 26

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fences 27 and 28: FEI Classics Hedges

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 29: Rolex Trunk (fencing will be removed)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Carving on the back of fence 29

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 30: Mitsubishi Final Mount

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Don’t miss the second part of H&H’s Badminton preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 4 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-cross-country-course-2017-619284 tahDvL5871nCTSzXxr4AvG Wed, 03 May 2017 18:39:27 +0000 false false false

    As cross-country day at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials fast approaches, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on Saturday 6 May.

    Newly designed by Eric Winter in his first year in the role, will the cross-country course prove influential in 2017?

    Fence 1: ASX Starter

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 2: Rolex Rolltop

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 3: Keepers Question

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton final scores

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 4: Mike Weavers Haywain

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 5a, b, c and d: Savills Staircase

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    View from 5a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    5d fast route on the right, slow route on the left

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    View from landing side of 5c back up to 5a, b and c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 6: Countryside Birch — fast route is to jump the left-hand side as a corner

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 7: L200s

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 8a, b and c: The Lake

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    8b and c — two routes out of The Lake

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 8c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 9: Offset Oxer

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 10a, b and c: Shogun Hollow

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    10a long route

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 10b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 10c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fences 11 and 12: KBIS Bridge

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 11 is to jump the ditch to the right on its own

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 12

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 13a and b: Outlander Bank

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative to 13b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 14: Rolex Grand Slam Trakehner

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 15a, b and c: Hildon Water Pond

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative fence 15b is the log on the far right

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Alternative 15c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 16: Sheep Feeder

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 17a and b: Mirage Pond

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    17b is the angled hedge on the right-hand side

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 18: Devoucoux Oxer

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 19a and b: PHEV Corral

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Riders have three options on part B — the fastest is to jump either of the rails flagged on an accute angle on either side of the two people in the picture, or to go around the corral and jump the rail to the far left coming back towards the bank

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Slow route fence 19b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 20: Event Mobility Dining Table

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 21a, b and c: Joules Corners

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route c

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 22: Wadworth Lakeside — riders jump the bullfinch in the centre of the fence

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    The Wadworth Lakeside, fence 22 at Badminton 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 23a and b: Irish Horse Gateway Huntsmans Close

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 23a

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 23b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 24ab: World Horse Welfare Gates

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 25a and b and 26: HorseQuest Quarry

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 25b

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Long route 26

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fences 27 and 28: FEI Classics Hedges

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 29: Rolex Trunk (fencing will be removed)

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Carving on the back of fence 29

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Fence 30: Mitsubishi Final Mount

    Badminton Fences 2017

    (Image credit: Gemma Redrup)

    Don’t miss the second part of H&H’s Badminton preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 4 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[ Horse injured in dramatic fall after cross-country fence tipped over on impact ]]> A teenage rider narrowly escaped serious injury when a cross-country fence at an Australian Pony Club Victoria event tipped over when hit by his horse.

    Eddie Quine was competing at the event organised by the Stratford branch of Australian Pony Club Victoria on 2 April when the accident happened.

    The 17-year-old was leading the grade two (90cm) class after the dressage when his horse Heff hit the seventh fence on the cross-county with his knees.

    The house-style fence tipped up, causing the horse to fall and land partly inside the upturned obstacle. The gelding seriously injured his mouth and jaw, requiring treatment at a nearby veterinary hospital.

    What a full on couple of days, We had a horse trails on the weekend and we had this nasty fall at jump 7 on cross…Posted by Eddie Quine on Tuesday, April 4, 2017

    “He clipped the jump and the jump followed, causing his front feet to get stuck under the jump which made him fall nose-first into the ground,” explained Eddie, who has been riding the 16.2hh thoroughbred for seven months.

    “If the jump hadn’t moved, he would have been able to correct himself.”

    As there was no veterinary cover on site, Heff had to be taken to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.

    Eddie told H&H his ride was recovering “very well” from his injury, which saw his gums grazed back almost to the bone.

    “He’s eating and acting himself again,” added Eddie. “He was lucky he didn’t lose any teeth or break any bones.”

    Having built up his confidence with Heff — progressing from grade four (65cm) events to jumping 1m10 courses in a few months — Eddie says he is now “scared” about going cross-country.

    “I never thought it would happen to me,” he said.

    Continued below…

    968688.jpg

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Warning about unfixed fences at cross-country competitions

    Unfixed portable fences are still being included in

    rotational fall

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Fence type: not a major factor in rotational falls

    A far-reaching audit into eventing commissioned by the

    Ensure your horse is ready to compete with this eventing fitness plan

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Cross-country falls down 66% after risk rating system introduced

    The data analytics company EquiRatings partnered with Eventing

    In a statement, Pony Club Victoria said it had “conducted a review of the processes and procedures” used by the Stratford Pony Club horse trials organising committee and found they “adhered to the rules, process and procedure” for conducting an event of this size.

    “Pony Club Victoria has determined that the obstacle was a solid box-type fence constructed on a pine frame with marine cladding . The fence was pegged at the front and internally,” the statement said. “The weather was fine, a warm, partially cloudy day with good visibility. The jump was early in the course at number seven on a flat, well-grassed section of the course.”

    They statement added that both horse and rider had regained their feet unassisted and that first aid officers were on the scene immediately to attend to the rider, who was uninjured.

    “Pony Club Victoria will continue to review its rules and procedures to ensure compliance with best practice and to support clubs and club officials with the running of events,” the statement concluded.

    A spokesman for Equestrian Australia (EA) said it could not comment on the incident, as the Pony Club is a separate entity and outside of its jurisdiction.

    EA is heavily focused on improving horse and rider safety, following two event rider fatalities in 2016, and recently employed a national safety officer.

    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/horse-injured-dramatic-fall-cross-country-fence-tipped-impact-617669 uSB5QjsMtnXTomYAo7141P Sat, 15 Apr 2017 10:06:04 +0000 false false false

    A teenage rider narrowly escaped serious injury when a cross-country fence at an Australian Pony Club Victoria event tipped over when hit by his horse.

    Eddie Quine was competing at the event organised by the Stratford branch of Australian Pony Club Victoria on 2 April when the accident happened.

    The 17-year-old was leading the grade two (90cm) class after the dressage when his horse Heff hit the seventh fence on the cross-county with his knees.

    The house-style fence tipped up, causing the horse to fall and land partly inside the upturned obstacle. The gelding seriously injured his mouth and jaw, requiring treatment at a nearby veterinary hospital.

    What a full on couple of days, We had a horse trails on the weekend and we had this nasty fall at jump 7 on cross…Posted by Eddie Quine on Tuesday, April 4, 2017

    “He clipped the jump and the jump followed, causing his front feet to get stuck under the jump which made him fall nose-first into the ground,” explained Eddie, who has been riding the 16.2hh thoroughbred for seven months.

    “If the jump hadn’t moved, he would have been able to correct himself.”

    As there was no veterinary cover on site, Heff had to be taken to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.

    Eddie told H&H his ride was recovering “very well” from his injury, which saw his gums grazed back almost to the bone.

    “He’s eating and acting himself again,” added Eddie. “He was lucky he didn’t lose any teeth or break any bones.”

    Having built up his confidence with Heff — progressing from grade four (65cm) events to jumping 1m10 courses in a few months — Eddie says he is now “scared” about going cross-country.

    “I never thought it would happen to me,” he said.

    Continued below…

    968688.jpg

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Warning about unfixed fences at cross-country competitions

    Unfixed portable fences are still being included in

    rotational fall

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Fence type: not a major factor in rotational falls

    A far-reaching audit into eventing commissioned by the

    Ensure your horse is ready to compete with this eventing fitness plan

    (Image credit: J&S Photography)

    Cross-country falls down 66% after risk rating system introduced

    The data analytics company EquiRatings partnered with Eventing

    In a statement, Pony Club Victoria said it had “conducted a review of the processes and procedures” used by the Stratford Pony Club horse trials organising committee and found they “adhered to the rules, process and procedure” for conducting an event of this size.

    “Pony Club Victoria has determined that the obstacle was a solid box-type fence constructed on a pine frame with marine cladding . The fence was pegged at the front and internally,” the statement said. “The weather was fine, a warm, partially cloudy day with good visibility. The jump was early in the course at number seven on a flat, well-grassed section of the course.”

    They statement added that both horse and rider had regained their feet unassisted and that first aid officers were on the scene immediately to attend to the rider, who was uninjured.

    “Pony Club Victoria will continue to review its rules and procedures to ensure compliance with best practice and to support clubs and club officials with the running of events,” the statement concluded.

    A spokesman for Equestrian Australia (EA) said it could not comment on the incident, as the Pony Club is a separate entity and outside of its jurisdiction.

    EA is heavily focused on improving horse and rider safety, following two event rider fatalities in 2016, and recently employed a national safety officer.

    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[ Walk the 2016 Burghley cross-country course ]]> This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September) promises to be as challenging as ever for competitors.

    Designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, the provisional total length of the course is 6,400m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 15 secs.

    We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 3 September.

    Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

    Burghley 2016 fence 1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    Burghley 2016 fence 2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 3: Garden Table

    Burghley 2016 fence 3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    Burghley 2016 fence 4

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View over 4a

    Burghley 2016 view over fence 4a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4b (jumped coming towards the camera)

    Burghley 2016 fence 4b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5abc: Anniversary Splash

    Burghley 2016 fence 5a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5b

    Burghley 2016 fence 4b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5c

    Burghley 2016 fence 5c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 6abc: Lakeside Hedges — riders have the option of a step up bounce on the right to another hedge on one stride, or a double of angled hedges on one stride (billed as the faster route) on the left

    Burghley 2016 fence 6ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 5bc

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

    Burghley 2016 fence 7

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: side view

    Burghley 2016 fence 7 side view

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 8 and 9: Capability’s Cutting

    Burghley 2016 fence 7

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 8

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 9

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 10: Rolex Grand Slam Vault

    Burghley 2016 fence 10

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 11: Winners’ Avenue Wood Pile

    Burghley 2016 fence 11

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 12 and 13: Cottesmore Leap

    Burghley 2016 fence 12

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Side view of 12 with 13 in the background

    Burghley 2016 fence 12/13

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 12

    Burghley 2016 fence 12 alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13 (alternative coming towards camera)

    Burghley 2016 fence 13

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    Burghley 2016 fence 14

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 14a to 14b (on the right) on the fast route

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 14b to 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14b to c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14a

    Burghley 2016 fence 14a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14b (on the left)

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14c alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination — direct 15ab with c in the background

    Burghley 2016 fence 15ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 15b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 15ab

    Burghley 2016 fence 15ab alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    There are two alternative fence 15c corners

    Burghley 2016 fence 15c alt1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 15c_alt2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 16: Maltings Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 16

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 17ab: Malting’s Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 17b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 17a

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from alternative 17a to 17b

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a to b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 18: Malting’s Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 18

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Side view of fence 18

    Burghley 2016 fence 18 side

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    Burghley 2016 fence 19

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery (fast route)

    Burghley 2016 fence 20 fast

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 Fence 20a view to next

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21bc to d

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21d

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery (long route)

    Burghley 2016 fence 20a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    21b alternative is the step up around where the Land Rover banner is sited

    Burghley 2016 fence 21b alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21c alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21d alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 22: Herbert’s Hollow

    Burghley 2016 fence 22

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative fence 22

    Burghley 2016 fence 22 alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    Burghley 2016 fence 23

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 24abc: Discovery Valley

    Burghley 2016 fence 23a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 24b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image_00062

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 24c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 25: Cross Rails

    Burghley 2016 fence 26

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 26ab: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a 2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a 3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 26b

    Burghley 2016 fence 26b alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 27ab: Discovery Valley

    Burghley 2016 fence 27a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 27b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 28 and 29: Return From Rio

    Burghley 2016 fence 28a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 29

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 30: Picnic Table

    Burghley 2016 fence 30

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    Burghley 2016 fence 31

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Burghley with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a

    full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 25 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 8 September).

    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/walk-2016-burghley-cross-country-course-592947 5WptXtBdJBRTBafCQejzBm Wed, 31 Aug 2016 22:15:35 +0000 false false false

    This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September) promises to be as challenging as ever for competitors.

    Designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, the provisional total length of the course is 6,400m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 15 secs.

    We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 3 September.

    Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

    Burghley 2016 fence 1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    Burghley 2016 fence 2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 3: Garden Table

    Burghley 2016 fence 3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    Burghley 2016 fence 4

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View over 4a

    Burghley 2016 view over fence 4a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4b (jumped coming towards the camera)

    Burghley 2016 fence 4b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5abc: Anniversary Splash

    Burghley 2016 fence 5a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5b

    Burghley 2016 fence 4b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5c

    Burghley 2016 fence 5c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 6abc: Lakeside Hedges — riders have the option of a step up bounce on the right to another hedge on one stride, or a double of angled hedges on one stride (billed as the faster route) on the left

    Burghley 2016 fence 6ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 5bc

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

    Burghley 2016 fence 7

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: side view

    Burghley 2016 fence 7 side view

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 8 and 9: Capability’s Cutting

    Burghley 2016 fence 7

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 8

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 9

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 10: Rolex Grand Slam Vault

    Burghley 2016 fence 10

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 11: Winners’ Avenue Wood Pile

    Burghley 2016 fence 11

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 12 and 13: Cottesmore Leap

    Burghley 2016 fence 12

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Side view of 12 with 13 in the background

    Burghley 2016 fence 12/13

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 12

    Burghley 2016 fence 12 alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13 (alternative coming towards camera)

    Burghley 2016 fence 13

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    Burghley 2016 fence 14

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 14a to 14b (on the right) on the fast route

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 14b to 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14b to c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14a

    Burghley 2016 fence 14a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14b (on the left)

    Burghley 2016 fence 14_2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14c

    Burghley 2016 fence 14c alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination — direct 15ab with c in the background

    Burghley 2016 fence 15ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 15b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 15ab

    Burghley 2016 fence 15ab alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    There are two alternative fence 15c corners

    Burghley 2016 fence 15c alt1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 15c_alt2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 16: Maltings Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 16

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 17ab: Malting’s Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 17b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 17a

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from alternative 17a to 17b

    Burghley 2016 fence 17a to b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 18: Malting’s Village Green

    Burghley 2016 fence 18

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Side view of fence 18

    Burghley 2016 fence 18 side

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    Burghley 2016 fence 19

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery (fast route)

    Burghley 2016 fence 20 fast

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 Fence 20a view to next

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21bc to d

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21d

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery (long route)

    Burghley 2016 fence 20a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    21b alternative is the step up around where the Land Rover banner is sited

    Burghley 2016 fence 21b alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21c alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 21d alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 22: Herbert’s Hollow

    Burghley 2016 fence 22

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative fence 22

    Burghley 2016 fence 22 alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    Burghley 2016 fence 23

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 24abc: Discovery Valley

    Burghley 2016 fence 23a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 24b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image_00062

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 24c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 25: Cross Rails

    Burghley 2016 fence 26

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 26ab: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a 2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26a 3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 26b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 26b

    Burghley 2016 fence 26b alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 27ab: Discovery Valley

    Burghley 2016 fence 27a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 27b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 28 and 29: Return From Rio

    Burghley 2016 fence 28a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Burghley 2016 fence 29

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 30: Picnic Table

    Burghley 2016 fence 30

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    Burghley 2016 fence 31

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Burghley with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a

    full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 25 August), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 8 September).

    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[ 3, 2, 1, GO! Explore the 2016 Burghley cross-country course exclusively with free runners ]]>

    The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is just around the corner (1-4 September). The cross-country course preview is live. And then there’s this.

    The formidable Burghley track is one not to be taken lightly by horses and riders in just a little over two weeks’ time. It provisionally measures 6400m in length with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 15 seconds which riders must keep up a pace of 570mpm to achieve.

    So see what happens when these extraordinary free runners, Mason O’Connor and Shameem Abbas, took to this year’s cross-country course, using nothing but their own two feet. Shameem is a British Gymnastics coach and Mason is one of his students. They are both based in Hayes in west London.

    Here’s what they faced out on course:

    Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    Fence 3: Garden Table

    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    Fence 5abc: Anniversary Splash

    Fence 6abc: Lakeside Hedges

    Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

    Fence 8 and 9: Capability’s Cutting

    Fence 10: Rolex Grand Slam Vault

    Fence 11: Winners’ Avenue Wood Pile

    Fence 12 and 13: Cottesmore Leap

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination

    Fence 16, 17ab and 18: Maltings Village Green

    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

    Fence 22: Herbert’s Hollow

    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    Fence 24abc: Discovery Valley

    Fence 25: Cross Rails

    Fence 26ab: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

    Fence 27ab: Discovery Valley

    Fences 28 and 29: Return From Rio

    Fence 30: Picnic Table

    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    All of the Burghley action kicks off with the first trot-up on Wednesday 31 August which H&H will be covering live and then all the way through the two days of dressage on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 September. Then of course it’s cross-country day on the Saturday before we find out who will take home the first prize of £63,000 on the final day which concludes with the showjumping on Sunday 4 September.

    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//videos/horse-sport-videos/3-2-1-go-explore-2016-burghley-cross-country-course-exclusively-free-runners vDrT5EJEXcgwedZtBiT9ZF Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:32:57 +0000 false false false

    The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is just around the corner (1-4 September). The cross-country course preview is live. And then there’s this.

    The formidable Burghley track is one not to be taken lightly by horses and riders in just a little over two weeks’ time. It provisionally measures 6400m in length with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 15 seconds which riders must keep up a pace of 570mpm to achieve.

    So see what happens when these extraordinary free runners, Mason O’Connor and Shameem Abbas, took to this year’s cross-country course, using nothing but their own two feet. Shameem is a British Gymnastics coach and Mason is one of his students. They are both based in Hayes in west London.

    Here’s what they faced out on course:

    Fence 1: Olympic Legacy

    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    Fence 3: Garden Table

    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    Fence 5abc: Anniversary Splash

    Fence 6abc: Lakeside Hedges

    Fence 7: Collyweston Slate Mine

    Fence 8 and 9: Capability’s Cutting

    Fence 10: Rolex Grand Slam Vault

    Fence 11: Winners’ Avenue Wood Pile

    Fence 12 and 13: Cottesmore Leap

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination

    Fence 16, 17ab and 18: Maltings Village Green

    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    Fence 20 and 21abcd: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

    Fence 22: Herbert’s Hollow

    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    Fence 24abc: Discovery Valley

    Fence 25: Cross Rails

    Fence 26ab: FEI Classics Leaf Pit

    Fence 27ab: Discovery Valley

    Fences 28 and 29: Return From Rio

    Fence 30: Picnic Table

    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    All of the Burghley action kicks off with the first trot-up on Wednesday 31 August which H&H will be covering live and then all the way through the two days of dressage on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 September. Then of course it’s cross-country day on the Saturday before we find out who will take home the first prize of £63,000 on the final day which concludes with the showjumping on Sunday 4 September.

    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[ 3 tips to successfully negotiate steps on a cross-country course ]]> Training your horse to jump up and down steps should come at a time when you feel your horse is accomplished enough in his education thus far to face such a question on a cross-country course. Here are some things you should consider before tackling steps.

    1. Start small

    First and foremost walk your horse up and then down small steps until they aren’t backing off or rushing. You are looking for them to maintain their walk rhythm despite the step or drop. Approach straight so you are on line and your horse can prepare. Be ready to react if your young or inexperienced horse takes a giant leap up or down the steps or when jumping a drop fence — this is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t jump down too high a step to start with as you run the risk of your horse losing trust.

    2. Position

    Don’t let your legs swing back. Your horse will stretch his neck forward and down so that he can use it to balance with going down a step. Even with long reins, the rider should maintain a light contact with the horse’s mouth. In no circumstances should the reins be too short. For the less experienced rider, it is always better to use a neck strap or hold the mane than to pull the horse in the mouth. Sit up if you are going down a step and think a little towards a jumping position if you are going up a step.

    3. Canter

    The key to jumping steps in an upwards direction is the quality of the canter. Collect your horse’s stride so he’s like a bouncing ball, with power, balance and energy — the canter needs to be strong so that he can bounce up the steps. Don’t confuse an energetic canter with a fast canter — really sit him back on his hocks. Keep a bouncy rhythm throughout the obstacle and try to avoid building up speed.

    You may also be interested in:

    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

    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

    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

    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/3-tips-successfully-negotiate-steps-cross-country-course-543285 aoucYZ3PsMT36HacoFDWD2 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 12:25:28 +0000 false false false

    Training your horse to jump up and down steps should come at a time when you feel your horse is accomplished enough in his education thus far to face such a question on a cross-country course. Here are some things you should consider before tackling steps.

    1. Start small

    First and foremost walk your horse up and then down small steps until they aren’t backing off or rushing. You are looking for them to maintain their walk rhythm despite the step or drop. Approach straight so you are on line and your horse can prepare. Be ready to react if your young or inexperienced horse takes a giant leap up or down the steps or when jumping a drop fence — this is one of the reasons why you shouldn’t jump down too high a step to start with as you run the risk of your horse losing trust.

    2. Position

    Don’t let your legs swing back. Your horse will stretch his neck forward and down so that he can use it to balance with going down a step. Even with long reins, the rider should maintain a light contact with the horse’s mouth. In no circumstances should the reins be too short. For the less experienced rider, it is always better to use a neck strap or hold the mane than to pull the horse in the mouth. Sit up if you are going down a step and think a little towards a jumping position if you are going up a step.

    3. Canter

    The key to jumping steps in an upwards direction is the quality of the canter. Collect your horse’s stride so he’s like a bouncing ball, with power, balance and energy — the canter needs to be strong so that he can bounce up the steps. Don’t confuse an energetic canter with a fast canter — really sit him back on his hocks. Keep a bouncy rhythm throughout the obstacle and try to avoid building up speed.

    You may also be interested in:

    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

    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

    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

    generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

    (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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

    ]]>     <![CDATA[ Which cross-country fences caught riders out at Houghton’s Nations Cup CIC3*? ]]> The Houghton Hall International Horse Trials held in Norfolk last weekend (26-29 May) drew some of the world’s leading event riders.

    The CICO3* Nations Cup section was the feature class. Nicola Wilson claimed individual spoils, taking first and third place riding One Two Many and Annie Clover respectively. Frenchman Matthieu Vanlandeghem was second riding Trouble Fete Ene HN.

    The course caused problems at a number of different fences. In total 72% of cross-country starters completed the cross-country course with no jumping penalties.

    15% of cross-country starters finished inside the optimum time while 88% of starters completed the course.

    Here are pictures of the fences riders faced on the cross-country. The course was 3880m in length with an optimum time of 6 minutes 49 seconds. Find out which fences caught most riders out with our fence-by-fence analysis.

    Start box

    image4[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 1: EHOA Brush Roll0 faulters

    image3[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 2: Morgan Evans Equestrian Hay Rack0 faulters

    image2[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 3: Events & Tents Veg Stand0 faulters

    image1[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4a: EQ Life Podium0 faulters

    image5[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4b: EQ Life Medal0 refusals

    image4[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5abc: Spillers Quarry Logs

    image3[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image1[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 6: Horsezone.co.uk Laptop0 faulters

    image5[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: APMS Dray0 faulters

    image4[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 8ab: Newmarket Equine Hospital Corners3 refusals resulting in one retirement

    image3[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 9: Ben Burgess Flower Box0 faulters

    image1[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 10abcd: Askham Bryan College Water and Treasure ChestsOne rider fall and 17 refusals resulting in one elimination

    image5[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Landing side of 10a

    Landing side of 10a (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image1[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image5[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 11ab: Suzuki ATV Running Track Hedges0 faulters

    image4[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 12: Devoucoux GateOne frangible pin broken

    image1[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13ab and 14: Smith & Williamson Meridian Line and Sundials2 horse falls and 2 refusals

    image5[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image3[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 15: Hatters Events Picnic Table0 faulters

    image1[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 16ab: Shadwell Estate Company Rails1 horse fall

    image5

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image3[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 17: William Mason Fine Wines Kent Seat0 faulters

    image2[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 18: Shearwater Insurance Open DitchOne unseated rider

    image1[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 19ab: Howes Percival Brush Arrowheads4 refusals resulting in one retirement and one elimination

    image3[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20: Bedmax Saw Bench1 elimination

    image1[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 21ab: Barefoot Estates Houses0 faulters

    image3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 22: Walking with the Wounded Olympic Diamond0 faulters

    image1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Read the full Houghton Hall International Horse Trials report in Horse & Hound magazine (2 June 2016).

    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/cross-country-fences-caught-riders-houghtons-nations-cup-cic3-541629 fFCS4FnDzf5CuGeR7CnW7G Mon, 30 May 2016 13:55:15 +0000 false false false

    The Houghton Hall International Horse Trials held in Norfolk last weekend (26-29 May) drew some of the world’s leading event riders.

    The CICO3* Nations Cup section was the feature class. Nicola Wilson claimed individual spoils, taking first and third place riding One Two Many and Annie Clover respectively. Frenchman Matthieu Vanlandeghem was second riding Trouble Fete Ene HN.

    The course caused problems at a number of different fences. In total 72% of cross-country starters completed the cross-country course with no jumping penalties.

    15% of cross-country starters finished inside the optimum time while 88% of starters completed the course.

    Here are pictures of the fences riders faced on the cross-country. The course was 3880m in length with an optimum time of 6 minutes 49 seconds. Find out which fences caught most riders out with our fence-by-fence analysis.

    Start box

    image4[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 1: EHOA Brush Roll0 faulters

    image3[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 2: Morgan Evans Equestrian Hay Rack0 faulters

    image2[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 3: Events & Tents Veg Stand0 faulters

    image1[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4a: EQ Life Podium0 faulters

    image5[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4b: EQ Life Medal0 refusals

    image4[7]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5abc: Spillers Quarry Logs

    image3[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image1[8]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 6: Horsezone.co.uk Laptop0 faulters

    image5[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 7: APMS Dray0 faulters

    image4[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 8ab: Newmarket Equine Hospital Corners3 refusals resulting in one retirement

    image3[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 9: Ben Burgess Flower Box0 faulters

    image1[6]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 10abcd: Askham Bryan College Water and Treasure ChestsOne rider fall and 17 refusals resulting in one elimination

    image5[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Landing side of 10a

    Landing side of 10a (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image1[5]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image5[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 11ab: Suzuki ATV Running Track Hedges0 faulters

    image4[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 12: Devoucoux GateOne frangible pin broken

    image1[4]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13ab and 14: Smith & Williamson Meridian Line and Sundials2 horse falls and 2 refusals

    image5[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image3[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 15: Hatters Events Picnic Table0 faulters

    image1[3]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 16ab: Shadwell Estate Company Rails1 horse fall

    image5

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image3[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 17: William Mason Fine Wines Kent Seat0 faulters

    image2[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 18: Shearwater Insurance Open DitchOne unseated rider

    image1[2]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image4

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 19ab: Howes Percival Brush Arrowheads4 refusals resulting in one retirement and one elimination

    image3[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 20: Bedmax Saw Bench1 elimination

    image1[1]

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 21ab: Barefoot Estates Houses0 faulters

    image3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    image2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 22: Walking with the Wounded Olympic Diamond0 faulters

    image1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Read the full Houghton Hall International Horse Trials report in Horse & Hound magazine (2 June 2016).

    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[ 4 things you need to remember when cross-country water jump training ]]> Whether your horse is young or spooky with water there are several things you should bear in mind when practising water jumps.

    Before you start, think about what the particular water jump you are training with looks like. Is the water murky? How deep is it? Horses can’t see where the ground is in a water jump so they have to learn to trust you implicitly in order to successfully negotiate such obstacles.

    1. Slow and straight

    Start in walk on a very straight approach where it is very clear to the horse that you want them to go into the water. Keep your reins wide so that you can channel your horse in a straight line into and through the water and your body sitting up so that you are in a secure position. Be ready to react to your horse’s behaviour with the water. If they are thinking backwards, keep your leg on to encourage them forwards, without hassling them too much — you need to give your horse time to read the question. Equally if your horse is trying to rush into the water without really thinking what they are doing or where they are putting their legs, try to steady them to a walk. You want their time with water to be a good experience so that you can build trust and reliability.

    2. Start small

    To begin with walk into the water via a ramp as opposed to a step. It’s not fair to expect a horse to understand a drop and water in these early stages. Once in the water walk around in circles if possible to get the horse used to the feeling of moving around in it. Then walk out of the water again. Immediately turn around and walk back in again and repeat this process until your horse is happy, confident and not rushing or backing off from the task in hand. Remember to give your horse plenty of praise when they do as you ask. Once your horse is established at walking through water, introduce trot and canter under the same principles as walk.

    3. Be patient

    If your horse is taking a little longer than you would like to understand going into water, be patient. Try not to make a big issue out of it so that your horse doesn’t link water with being panicked and rushed. Don’t let your horse spook and turn away from the water — keep them in a straight line, with your leg on. The penny should eventually drop!

    4. Introducing obstacles

    Once your horse is happily going in and out of the water via a ramp, you can introduce a small step. Be warned your horse is likely to react to this new question, and you should therefore be ready for them to back off and/or launch into the water. Start by walking up a small step. Once your horse is happily doing this without rushing or launching you can go down the same step. As your horse grows in confidence you can introduce other steps and jumps in and around water.

    You might also like:

    Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

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

    Horse jumping water tray in an arena

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Teach your horse to jump water trays with tips from top showjumpers

    generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    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/4-things-need-remember-cross-country-water-jump-training-541291 erXibib2oPEbsjSeYrRQpH Mon, 23 May 2016 16:25:59 +0000 false false false

    Whether your horse is young or spooky with water there are several things you should bear in mind when practising water jumps.

    Before you start, think about what the particular water jump you are training with looks like. Is the water murky? How deep is it? Horses can’t see where the ground is in a water jump so they have to learn to trust you implicitly in order to successfully negotiate such obstacles.

    1. Slow and straight

    Start in walk on a very straight approach where it is very clear to the horse that you want them to go into the water. Keep your reins wide so that you can channel your horse in a straight line into and through the water and your body sitting up so that you are in a secure position. Be ready to react to your horse’s behaviour with the water. If they are thinking backwards, keep your leg on to encourage them forwards, without hassling them too much — you need to give your horse time to read the question. Equally if your horse is trying to rush into the water without really thinking what they are doing or where they are putting their legs, try to steady them to a walk. You want their time with water to be a good experience so that you can build trust and reliability.

    2. Start small

    To begin with walk into the water via a ramp as opposed to a step. It’s not fair to expect a horse to understand a drop and water in these early stages. Once in the water walk around in circles if possible to get the horse used to the feeling of moving around in it. Then walk out of the water again. Immediately turn around and walk back in again and repeat this process until your horse is happy, confident and not rushing or backing off from the task in hand. Remember to give your horse plenty of praise when they do as you ask. Once your horse is established at walking through water, introduce trot and canter under the same principles as walk.

    3. Be patient

    If your horse is taking a little longer than you would like to understand going into water, be patient. Try not to make a big issue out of it so that your horse doesn’t link water with being panicked and rushed. Don’t let your horse spook and turn away from the water — keep them in a straight line, with your leg on. The penny should eventually drop!

    4. Introducing obstacles

    Once your horse is happily going in and out of the water via a ramp, you can introduce a small step. Be warned your horse is likely to react to this new question, and you should therefore be ready for them to back off and/or launch into the water. Start by walking up a small step. Once your horse is happily doing this without rushing or launching you can go down the same step. As your horse grows in confidence you can introduce other steps and jumps in and around water.

    You might also like:

    Horse rider cross-country schooling at a course for hire

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

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

    Horse jumping water tray in an arena

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Teach your horse to jump water trays with tips from top showjumpers

    generic-subs-images-NEW.jpg

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    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[ The key ingredients you need to jump a corner successfully ]]> Corners require accurate riding and can be daunting for both horse and rider. There are several ingredients that make up a good jump over a corner. Here we list the things you need to check off before you take off.

    Speed and control

    Firstly make sure you don’t approach the corner too fast. Keep it controlled and show the corner some respect as they are often upright, unforgiving fences. The canter needs to be active and have quality without being fast.

    Continued below…

    Looking to hone your skills with some schooling? How about these?

    Find your line

    Focus on the centre of the back of the corner right in the middle of the flags. It’s very important that you don’t try to jump the widest part of the corner as this can make the fence almost impossible as you move up the levels. So when training in the early stages, train yourself and your horse to jump near to the flag on the narrowest part of the corner. This means that your horse will be used to jumping the tricky narrow part when faced with a corner fence at competition. Whichever line you pick, stay on it and don’t allow your horse to drift. Keep your shoulders square onto the fence (and the horse’s too.).

    Balance

    Ensure your horse is between your leg and hand. Think of creating a funnel between your two reins to channel your horse on exactly the line you want to jump the corner on.

    Continued below…

    Want to put your schooling to the test? How about these competitions?

    Start small

    Once horses learn to run out it’s very hard to stop them from doing it in the future. Even genuine horses will run out if they can’t see their way through. So in order to build up confidence and to help minimise the chances of your horse learning to run out, start training over small corners. You can easily build your own corner to train over at home, using plastic blocks or small barrels with poles. You can use a guide pole at the side of the fence to help keep your horse on his line if you find him struggling with the question. Don’t build it too wide to begin with – you can open it up later when you gain confidence and know your line.

    For more events and clinics visit Equo, Horse & Hound‘s online entry system

    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-jump-a-corner-successfully-535851 fARSHh6nBwX5pBZbGeVzzW Mon, 16 May 2016 17:55:33 +0000 false false false

    Corners require accurate riding and can be daunting for both horse and rider. There are several ingredients that make up a good jump over a corner. Here we list the things you need to check off before you take off.

    Speed and control

    Firstly make sure you don’t approach the corner too fast. Keep it controlled and show the corner some respect as they are often upright, unforgiving fences. The canter needs to be active and have quality without being fast.

    Continued below…

    Looking to hone your skills with some schooling? How about these?

    Find your line

    Focus on the centre of the back of the corner right in the middle of the flags. It’s very important that you don’t try to jump the widest part of the corner as this can make the fence almost impossible as you move up the levels. So when training in the early stages, train yourself and your horse to jump near to the flag on the narrowest part of the corner. This means that your horse will be used to jumping the tricky narrow part when faced with a corner fence at competition. Whichever line you pick, stay on it and don’t allow your horse to drift. Keep your shoulders square onto the fence (and the horse’s too.).

    Balance

    Ensure your horse is between your leg and hand. Think of creating a funnel between your two reins to channel your horse on exactly the line you want to jump the corner on.

    Continued below…

    Want to put your schooling to the test? How about these competitions?

    Start small

    Once horses learn to run out it’s very hard to stop them from doing it in the future. Even genuine horses will run out if they can’t see their way through. So in order to build up confidence and to help minimise the chances of your horse learning to run out, start training over small corners. You can easily build your own corner to train over at home, using plastic blocks or small barrels with poles. You can use a guide pole at the side of the fence to help keep your horse on his line if you find him struggling with the question. Don’t build it too wide to begin with – you can open it up later when you gain confidence and know your line.

    For more events and clinics visit Equo, Horse & Hound‘s online entry system

    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[ Walk the 2016 Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course ]]> As cross-country day at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials fast approaches, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on Saturday 7 May.

    Designed by Guiseppe Della Chiesa for the third consecutive year, will the cross-country course prove influential in 2016?

    Fence 1: ASX Starter

    image_00002

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fences 2 and 3: Park Piece Hedges

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    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

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    Badminton final scores

    Fences 4 and 5abc: HorseQuest Quarry

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    View up to fence 5bc

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    Alternative fence 5a

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    Alternative fence 5b

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    Alternative fence 5c

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    Fence 6: Oxer Chicane

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    Fence 7ab: Irish Horse Gateway — Huntsmans Close

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    Fence 7a side view

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    Fence 7a alternative

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    Fence 7b

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    Fence 7b alternative

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    Fence 8: Wadworth Lower Lake

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    Fence 8 side view

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    Fence 9ab: Jack Wills Garden

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    Fence 10: Fallen Tree

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    Fence 11, 12ab: Swindon Designer Outlet

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    Fence 13: FEI Classics Stick Pile

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    Fence 14 and 15: Mirage Pond

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    Left-handed fence 15

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    Right-handed fence 15

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    Fence 16: PHEV Oxer

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    Fence 17, 18 and 19: Gatehouse New Pond

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    Fence 18 side view

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    Fence 19 side view

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    Alternative 18 (jump fence 17 backwards)

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    Alternative 19

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    Fence 20: Rolex Grand Slam Hedge

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    Fence 21ab: KBIS Vicarage Vee

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    Side view of 21 ab

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    Alternative 21a

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    Alternative 21b

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    Fence 22ab: Outlander Bank

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    Alternative fence 22a

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    Alternative fence 22b

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    Fence 23ab: Shogun Hollow

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    Fence 23b alternative

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    Fence 24ab: World Horse Welfare Gates

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    Fence 25: Silver Anniversary L200s

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    Fence 26abc: The Lake

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    Landing side of fence 26a

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    Fence 26bc alternative

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    Fence 27 and 28: Alexanders Silver Birch

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    Fence 29: Countryside Tree

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    Fence 30abc: Savills Escalator

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    Fence 31: Devoucoux Keepers Brush

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    Fence 32ab: Rolex Crossing

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    Carvings on the back of fence 32

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    Fence 33: Mitsubishi Finale

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    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Badminton with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss the second part of H&H’s Badminton preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 5 May 2016).

    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/walk-2016-badminton-horse-trials-cross-country-course-534225 59RdAY7pNkc8GXQyQzfaar Wed, 04 May 2016 20:53:53 +0000 false false false

    As cross-country day at this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials fast approaches, we take a look at what lies ahead for riders on Saturday 7 May.

    Designed by Guiseppe Della Chiesa for the third consecutive year, will the cross-country course prove influential in 2016?

    Fence 1: ASX Starter

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    Fences 2 and 3: Park Piece Hedges

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    Badminton final scores

    Fences 4 and 5abc: HorseQuest Quarry

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    View up to fence 5bc

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    Alternative fence 5a

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    Alternative fence 5b

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    Alternative fence 5c

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    Fence 6: Oxer Chicane

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    Fence 7ab: Irish Horse Gateway — Huntsmans Close

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    Fence 7a side view

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    Fence 7a alternative

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    Fence 7b

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    Fence 7b alternative

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    Fence 8: Wadworth Lower Lake

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    Fence 8 side view

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    Fence 9ab: Jack Wills Garden

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    Fence 10: Fallen Tree

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    Fence 11, 12ab: Swindon Designer Outlet

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    Fence 13: FEI Classics Stick Pile

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    Fence 14 and 15: Mirage Pond

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    Left-handed fence 15

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    Right-handed fence 15

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    Fence 16: PHEV Oxer

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    Fence 17, 18 and 19: Gatehouse New Pond

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    Fence 18 side view

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    Fence 19 side view

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    Alternative 18 (jump fence 17 backwards)

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    Alternative 19

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    Fence 20: Rolex Grand Slam Hedge

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    Fence 21ab: KBIS Vicarage Vee

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    Side view of 21 ab

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    Alternative 21a

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    Alternative 21b

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    Fence 22ab: Outlander Bank

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    Alternative fence 22a

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    Alternative fence 22b

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    Fence 23ab: Shogun Hollow

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    Fence 23b alternative

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    Fence 24ab: World Horse Welfare Gates

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    Fence 25: Silver Anniversary L200s

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    Fence 26abc: The Lake

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    Landing side of fence 26a

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    Fence 26bc alternative

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    Fence 27 and 28: Alexanders Silver Birch

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    Fence 29: Countryside Tree

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    Fence 30abc: Savills Escalator

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    Fence 31: Devoucoux Keepers Brush

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    Fence 32ab: Rolex Crossing

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    Carvings on the back of fence 32

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    Fence 33: Mitsubishi Finale

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    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Badminton with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss the second part of H&H’s Badminton preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 5 May 2016).

    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[ 6 top tips for tackling a ditch across country ]]> Ditches can be the problem area for many horses on a cross-country course. Here we try to break down how to train your horse to jump a ditch without any ifs or buts.

    1. Slow it down

    Whether your horse has never encountered a ditch or is a seasoned eventer, it is always a good idea to approach a ditch in you schooling session in walk. This gives your horse time to read the question and to think about where he is putting his feet. If you canter straight to a ditch they are likely to balloon it and not think about what they are actually doing. This can prove detrimental further down the line when there might be a fence following the ditch and you find yourself on a bad line or stride as a result of a bad jump at the ditch.

    So approach the schooling ditch steadily but with your leg ready to support the horse if he tries to stop or avoid it. If your horse wants to have a good look at the ditch that is fine but don’t let him turn around. Always keep him facing towards the ditch and be soft with your rein. If he goes to rush, try to slow it down. Aim to get your horse walking calmly across the ditch every time.

    2. Ride straight

    In these early stages ride the ditch on a straight line to avoid any confusion. Horses find it difficult to judge where to put their feet when you ride a ditch on an angle. You increase the chances of your horse dropping a leg into the ditch if you ride it on an angle. Although this is not a big problem and they will learn from their mistake, if you have a green or inexperienced horse, it is best to keep things simple at this stage.

    Continued below…

    Looking to hone your skills with some schooling? How about these?

    3. Don’t panic

    If your horse decides he doesn’t like the look of the ditch don’t panic. It is important to keep things calm. Keep things simple and ask the question in the clearest way possible. If your horse won’t go over the ditch, keep him facing towards it and reassure him with your leg. Speed is not the answer here.

    4. Repetition

    Repetition is key. Walk across the ditch turn around and do it again and again until your horse is happy and confident and is maintaining the same walk pace throughout the exercise.

    Continued below…

    Want to put your schooling to the test? How about these competitions?

    5. Moving on up

    Then you can move onto the next step, whether that be trotting across the ditch or introducing different elements such as a rail before or after the ditch.

    For more events and clinics visit Equo, Horse & Hound‘s online entry system

    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/x-top-tips-tackling-ditch-across-country-534028 hfdkHKYsVmDd2LD1JRULDT Mon, 02 May 2016 16:25:20 +0000 false false false

    Ditches can be the problem area for many horses on a cross-country course. Here we try to break down how to train your horse to jump a ditch without any ifs or buts.

    1. Slow it down

    Whether your horse has never encountered a ditch or is a seasoned eventer, it is always a good idea to approach a ditch in you schooling session in walk. This gives your horse time to read the question and to think about where he is putting his feet. If you canter straight to a ditch they are likely to balloon it and not think about what they are actually doing. This can prove detrimental further down the line when there might be a fence following the ditch and you find yourself on a bad line or stride as a result of a bad jump at the ditch.

    So approach the schooling ditch steadily but with your leg ready to support the horse if he tries to stop or avoid it. If your horse wants to have a good look at the ditch that is fine but don’t let him turn around. Always keep him facing towards the ditch and be soft with your rein. If he goes to rush, try to slow it down. Aim to get your horse walking calmly across the ditch every time.

    2. Ride straight

    In these early stages ride the ditch on a straight line to avoid any confusion. Horses find it difficult to judge where to put their feet when you ride a ditch on an angle. You increase the chances of your horse dropping a leg into the ditch if you ride it on an angle. Although this is not a big problem and they will learn from their mistake, if you have a green or inexperienced horse, it is best to keep things simple at this stage.

    Continued below…

    Looking to hone your skills with some schooling? How about these?

    3. Don’t panic

    If your horse decides he doesn’t like the look of the ditch don’t panic. It is important to keep things calm. Keep things simple and ask the question in the clearest way possible. If your horse won’t go over the ditch, keep him facing towards it and reassure him with your leg. Speed is not the answer here.

    4. Repetition

    Repetition is key. Walk across the ditch turn around and do it again and again until your horse is happy and confident and is maintaining the same walk pace throughout the exercise.

    Continued below…

    Want to put your schooling to the test? How about these competitions?

    5. Moving on up

    Then you can move onto the next step, whether that be trotting across the ditch or introducing different elements such as a rail before or after the ditch.

    For more events and clinics visit Equo, Horse & Hound‘s online entry system

    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[ Ian Stark walks the toughest fences at Badminton Horse Trials 2016 ]]>

    The triple Badminton winner assesses the biggest challenges facing riders next week

    Ian Stark, who has won the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials three times and is now a respected course-designer, walked this year’s cross-country track for H&H last week. In this video, he explains how riders should tackle three of the most difficult fences.

    Read Ian’s thoughts on the whole course in H&H this week (issue dated Thursday, 28 April).

    Ian says:

    Fences 10, 11 and 12ab: Fallen Tree and Swindon Designer Outlet Mound

    What I like here is that the designer, Giuseppe della Chiesa, is making the riders think. They have choices — get it wrong and it would be all too easy to pick up 20 penalties for a run-out at the last element.

    The approach appears rather friendly and could encourage complacency, but it’s important to be organised well in advance and have a planned route, though always with a back-up plan should any element go wrong.

    Badminton final scores

    The first two elements should ride well, then the log at the top of the mound has to be jumped cleanly in order to get to the final element on three strides.

    I think that we will see a lot of emergency changes of plans here as the riders cope with their horses’ reactions!

    Fences 17, 18 and 19: Gatehouse New Pond

    This pond has now had time to settle and is a very attractive addition to the course. But this is no time for the riders to be admiring the view.

    There’s the same rail in as last year, but the jockeys can chose to jump in straight and bend to the second element, an open oxer, or risk angling the right-hand side of the rail to get straighter to the oxer. It may be worth remembering that trying to angle a vertical rail into water can create some early duckings.

    Survive the way in, then riders are confronted with an open oxer in the middle of the water, which is unusual and will require a forward approach so get your “brave pants” on for this one. The oxer has MIM clips, the frangible device new to Britain this year, so I hope we don’t have too many picking up those dreaded 11 penalties here for breaking the clip.

    It’s not over once competitors have cleared the oxer as six strides out of the water there’s an open corner that looks to me to be on the upper side of 90°. The alternatives might be required by some here.

    Fences 25 and 26abc: Silver Anniversary L200s and The Lake

    It’s no coincidence that the Mitsubishi L200s are fence 25 — I’m sure it took some calculations by the designer to make this happen on the 25th anniversary of Mitsubishi’s sponsorship.

    The L200s create a big jump leading towards The Lake. Then there’s another sharp left turn to a big brush with a downhill approach. I don’t think this will cause too much trouble, but some will need a bit of a Pony Club kick.

    There’s lots of room to rebalance in the water before the jump out, which looks like another brush but is concealing the large step up. If horses don’t read this step properly then the distance to the bullfinch may ride rather long.

    It’s not the most difficult combination I’ve seen here, but never underestimate the effect of the huge crowd that gathers awaiting the inevitable ducking. I hope they’re not disappointed!

    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//videos/horse-sport-videos/ian-stark-walks-toughest-fences-badminton-horse-trials-course m39t3Mk5Fhj3UJjeuJ2E2k Wed, 27 Apr 2016 16:25:45 +0000 false false false

    The triple Badminton winner assesses the biggest challenges facing riders next week

    Ian Stark, who has won the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials three times and is now a respected course-designer, walked this year’s cross-country track for H&H last week. In this video, he explains how riders should tackle three of the most difficult fences.

    Read Ian’s thoughts on the whole course in H&H this week (issue dated Thursday, 28 April).

    Ian says:

    Fences 10, 11 and 12ab: Fallen Tree and Swindon Designer Outlet Mound

    What I like here is that the designer, Giuseppe della Chiesa, is making the riders think. They have choices — get it wrong and it would be all too easy to pick up 20 penalties for a run-out at the last element.

    The approach appears rather friendly and could encourage complacency, but it’s important to be organised well in advance and have a planned route, though always with a back-up plan should any element go wrong.

    Badminton final scores

    The first two elements should ride well, then the log at the top of the mound has to be jumped cleanly in order to get to the final element on three strides.

    I think that we will see a lot of emergency changes of plans here as the riders cope with their horses’ reactions!

    Fences 17, 18 and 19: Gatehouse New Pond

    This pond has now had time to settle and is a very attractive addition to the course. But this is no time for the riders to be admiring the view.

    There’s the same rail in as last year, but the jockeys can chose to jump in straight and bend to the second element, an open oxer, or risk angling the right-hand side of the rail to get straighter to the oxer. It may be worth remembering that trying to angle a vertical rail into water can create some early duckings.

    Survive the way in, then riders are confronted with an open oxer in the middle of the water, which is unusual and will require a forward approach so get your “brave pants” on for this one. The oxer has MIM clips, the frangible device new to Britain this year, so I hope we don’t have too many picking up those dreaded 11 penalties here for breaking the clip.

    It’s not over once competitors have cleared the oxer as six strides out of the water there’s an open corner that looks to me to be on the upper side of 90°. The alternatives might be required by some here.

    Fences 25 and 26abc: Silver Anniversary L200s and The Lake

    It’s no coincidence that the Mitsubishi L200s are fence 25 — I’m sure it took some calculations by the designer to make this happen on the 25th anniversary of Mitsubishi’s sponsorship.

    The L200s create a big jump leading towards The Lake. Then there’s another sharp left turn to a big brush with a downhill approach. I don’t think this will cause too much trouble, but some will need a bit of a Pony Club kick.

    There’s lots of room to rebalance in the water before the jump out, which looks like another brush but is concealing the large step up. If horses don’t read this step properly then the distance to the bullfinch may ride rather long.

    It’s not the most difficult combination I’ve seen here, but never underestimate the effect of the huge crowd that gathers awaiting the inevitable ducking. I hope they’re not disappointed!

    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[ Keyhole fences… are they too dangerous? H&H investigates *H&H VIP* ]]> Could eventing’s picturesque keyhole fences become a relic of the past, as riders, trainers and course-designers debate their value — and risk?

    William Fox-Pitt’s serious horse fall at the famous Hibou de Lion at the young horse World Championships two months ago has brought this spectacular type of fence into the spotlight. And back in 1997, Irish rider Samuel Moore was killed in a fall at a keyhole at Blenheim.

    But it’s not just about this little hole, through which horses burst so impressively; riders are questioning whether some horses — however brave and well trained — simply never jump safely over a fence with something overhead.

    The fence at which Andrew Nicholson suffered neck fractures earlier this year had a banner above; two years ago Harry Meade broke both his arms at another roofed fence. Harry has had just two falls in the past six seasons, both at roofed fences, which he says were “definitely the cause”.

    “Fences with roofs have a unique characteristic that can make some horses react differently, totally irrespective of how brave or careful they are, and how well you have presented them,” he told H&H. “The majority don’t mind them, but some horses will duck whatever happens.”

    Pushing the guidelines

    The Hibou, a table within an owl hole (pictured, above) in the seven-year-old class designed by Pierre Michelet at Le Lion, jumped poorly all day this year.

    Although it caused only a handful of refusals, there were two horse falls, and several horses left legs.

    The winner, Laura Collett, had a refusal on her first horse, and said the fence’s position “made it more influential than normal”.

    “It blended in with the trees, and the steep slope on the landing side made horses more cautious,” she said.

    Janou Bleekman, the other rider beside William whose horse fell, agreed that the siting of the fence made it difficult to read.

    “It was coming down a hill — so tricky on a tired horse at the end of a course — and was camouflaged,” she said. “It was also a wide fence, like diving through a thick tunnel. As it was all brown, maybe horses thought the fence was brush, not solid.”

    In fact, this flouts FEI guidelines on “hole fences”, which state that “any surface that can be touched by the horse must always be soft”. British Eventing suggests “at least 25cm brush above the solid part of a keyhole fence”.

    The fact that this fence was wide, too, is noteworthy. Guidelines suggest “no more than 50% of the maximum width for the class should be used at keyholes”, and this table was within limits. However, renowned course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith, who is undertaking a review of all course- designing guidelines, is against any spread at all on keyhole fences.

    “All course-designers are aware of the guidelines as they stand,” he told H&H.

    “We have to take into account the sun, the spread — if any, ideally none in my opinion — the minimum size of the hole, the solid part of the fence, which must be low, the general siting, and how, when and if they are used.”

    The Le Lion team told H&H that the “Hibou is an iconic fence that has had a good history”.

    “The fence has been used since 1998, meaning some 1,700 horses have jumped it, and Jean-Michel Foucher [Le Lion director] cannot remember any other serious fall,” said 2015 technical delegate Andrew Fell.

    “It is moved around and has previously been jumped in this location. The ground jury walked the course and foresaw no problems, and no rider reps made any comments. At this stage Jean-Michel and Pierre Michelet have made no decisions about its future.”

    Ducking and diving

    Keyholes have been scrutinised due to William’s injury, but six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green told H&H that injuries to three top riders at fences with something overhead had “centred” her thoughts.

    “I think it’s time they went,” she said. “What bothers me is that it isn’t a training issue — some horses duck, some don’t. It’s as if some horses can’t see them properly, so I don’t feel they are a fair test of trust. It goes against their flight initiative and the way they see.”

    Vet Andy Matthews said a horse’s near 360° vision affects the way they tackle these fences.

    “Horses are an evolved prey species, highly tuned to ambush predators, who have no enthusiasm at all for entering ‘the lair of the cave bear’,” he said.

    American trainer Cathy Wieschhoff, who has ridden at Burghley, said she does not feel they are “an appropriate question”.

    “Skinnies and corners test accuracy, but jumping blind with a roof overhead and the sides closing in? I’m not sure where you’d find that question in the military adaptation of the sport,” she said.

    Harry added that while you can ride other fences with extra positivity, how a horse tackles roofed fences is out of your control.

    And whereas most fences can be practised in a manner of guises with forgiving poles, a keyhole is impractical and expensive.

    So what does the future hold? Mike would not be drawn on exactly which fences he’s analysing, but hinted that “some of the guidelines could become rules”.

    Keyholes make a stunning photo, but potentially one that won’t be adorning programmes forever.

    Jumping through fire

    If a police horse, often with less athletic ability than an eventer, can jump through a blazing hoop, why do we see problems with eventers and key holes?

    Craig Richards, sergeant of the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police, detailed a training schedule that would not be feasible for an eventer required to assess a new fence at speed. Police horses practise repeatedly over exactly the same fence, often with a lead.

    “We start over narrow blue boxes that the hoops sit on, then add wings, so it’s very gradual,” he says. “Once you introduce the hoops, they’ve jumped those blue boxes many times, and we’ll always give a lead to less confident horses. I’d certainly never jump a horse through one who had never done it before.”

    Should they stay or go?

    Harry Meade: “I’m reluctant to say anything should be banned, but these fences shouldn’t be overused or gimmicky.”

    Laura Collett: “I don’t think keyholes need to be reviewed but where they are placed needs to be thought about from the horses’ point of view.”

    Clarissa Bleekman: “It’s a hard balance: the easier you make a course, the faster riders go. You can’t keep making fences safer forever.”

    Lucinda Green: “I have concerns about fences with any kind of roof.”

    Cathy Wieschhoff: “Claustrophobia is a factor with keyholes and I don’t think that’s an appropriate question.”

    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/keyhole-fences-cross-country-debate-520851 96GGmZH3VQP6PmmJdFawPA Mon, 21 Dec 2015 10:55:10 +0000 false false false

    Could eventing’s picturesque keyhole fences become a relic of the past, as riders, trainers and course-designers debate their value — and risk?

    William Fox-Pitt’s serious horse fall at the famous Hibou de Lion at the young horse World Championships two months ago has brought this spectacular type of fence into the spotlight. And back in 1997, Irish rider Samuel Moore was killed in a fall at a keyhole at Blenheim.

    But it’s not just about this little hole, through which horses burst so impressively; riders are questioning whether some horses — however brave and well trained — simply never jump safely over a fence with something overhead.

    The fence at which Andrew Nicholson suffered neck fractures earlier this year had a banner above; two years ago Harry Meade broke both his arms at another roofed fence. Harry has had just two falls in the past six seasons, both at roofed fences, which he says were “definitely the cause”.

    “Fences with roofs have a unique characteristic that can make some horses react differently, totally irrespective of how brave or careful they are, and how well you have presented them,” he told H&H. “The majority don’t mind them, but some horses will duck whatever happens.”

    Pushing the guidelines

    The Hibou, a table within an owl hole (pictured, above) in the seven-year-old class designed by Pierre Michelet at Le Lion, jumped poorly all day this year.

    Although it caused only a handful of refusals, there were two horse falls, and several horses left legs.

    The winner, Laura Collett, had a refusal on her first horse, and said the fence’s position “made it more influential than normal”.

    “It blended in with the trees, and the steep slope on the landing side made horses more cautious,” she said.

    Janou Bleekman, the other rider beside William whose horse fell, agreed that the siting of the fence made it difficult to read.

    “It was coming down a hill — so tricky on a tired horse at the end of a course — and was camouflaged,” she said. “It was also a wide fence, like diving through a thick tunnel. As it was all brown, maybe horses thought the fence was brush, not solid.”

    In fact, this flouts FEI guidelines on “hole fences”, which state that “any surface that can be touched by the horse must always be soft”. British Eventing suggests “at least 25cm brush above the solid part of a keyhole fence”.

    The fact that this fence was wide, too, is noteworthy. Guidelines suggest “no more than 50% of the maximum width for the class should be used at keyholes”, and this table was within limits. However, renowned course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith, who is undertaking a review of all course- designing guidelines, is against any spread at all on keyhole fences.

    “All course-designers are aware of the guidelines as they stand,” he told H&H.

    “We have to take into account the sun, the spread — if any, ideally none in my opinion — the minimum size of the hole, the solid part of the fence, which must be low, the general siting, and how, when and if they are used.”

    The Le Lion team told H&H that the “Hibou is an iconic fence that has had a good history”.

    “The fence has been used since 1998, meaning some 1,700 horses have jumped it, and Jean-Michel Foucher [Le Lion director] cannot remember any other serious fall,” said 2015 technical delegate Andrew Fell.

    “It is moved around and has previously been jumped in this location. The ground jury walked the course and foresaw no problems, and no rider reps made any comments. At this stage Jean-Michel and Pierre Michelet have made no decisions about its future.”

    Ducking and diving

    Keyholes have been scrutinised due to William’s injury, but six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green told H&H that injuries to three top riders at fences with something overhead had “centred” her thoughts.

    “I think it’s time they went,” she said. “What bothers me is that it isn’t a training issue — some horses duck, some don’t. It’s as if some horses can’t see them properly, so I don’t feel they are a fair test of trust. It goes against their flight initiative and the way they see.”

    Vet Andy Matthews said a horse’s near 360° vision affects the way they tackle these fences.

    “Horses are an evolved prey species, highly tuned to ambush predators, who have no enthusiasm at all for entering ‘the lair of the cave bear’,” he said.

    American trainer Cathy Wieschhoff, who has ridden at Burghley, said she does not feel they are “an appropriate question”.

    “Skinnies and corners test accuracy, but jumping blind with a roof overhead and the sides closing in? I’m not sure where you’d find that question in the military adaptation of the sport,” she said.

    Harry added that while you can ride other fences with extra positivity, how a horse tackles roofed fences is out of your control.

    And whereas most fences can be practised in a manner of guises with forgiving poles, a keyhole is impractical and expensive.

    So what does the future hold? Mike would not be drawn on exactly which fences he’s analysing, but hinted that “some of the guidelines could become rules”.

    Keyholes make a stunning photo, but potentially one that won’t be adorning programmes forever.

    Jumping through fire

    If a police horse, often with less athletic ability than an eventer, can jump through a blazing hoop, why do we see problems with eventers and key holes?

    Craig Richards, sergeant of the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police, detailed a training schedule that would not be feasible for an eventer required to assess a new fence at speed. Police horses practise repeatedly over exactly the same fence, often with a lead.

    “We start over narrow blue boxes that the hoops sit on, then add wings, so it’s very gradual,” he says. “Once you introduce the hoops, they’ve jumped those blue boxes many times, and we’ll always give a lead to less confident horses. I’d certainly never jump a horse through one who had never done it before.”

    Should they stay or go?

    Harry Meade: “I’m reluctant to say anything should be banned, but these fences shouldn’t be overused or gimmicky.”

    Laura Collett: “I don’t think keyholes need to be reviewed but where they are placed needs to be thought about from the horses’ point of view.”

    Clarissa Bleekman: “It’s a hard balance: the easier you make a course, the faster riders go. You can’t keep making fences safer forever.”

    Lucinda Green: “I have concerns about fences with any kind of roof.”

    Cathy Wieschhoff: “Claustrophobia is a factor with keyholes and I don’t think that’s an appropriate question.”

    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[ Yogi Breisner: How to jump a sunken road on a cross-country course ]]>

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride sunken road fences while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    It’s a good idea when introducing sunken roads, if you can, walk down a sloped side of the combination so that the horse can have a look at where he is going to be jumping in and out of, before actually involving a step in. After he has had a look at the bottom of the road, jump out by going up one side of the combination.

    Then, if possible, jump down just one side, so the horse gets used to jumping into the sunken road without worrying about the other elements.

    Once the horse is happy with jumping the steps in and out of the sunken road together, then move on to start jumping through all of the elements involved with the combination, such as rails before and after.

    If possible, start with the latter part of the line. i.e jump just the sunken road plus the rail out first.

    Once you have mastered all of the elements, this is where being able to put the horse into the correct gears comes into play.

    Jumping the first rail requires the horse to have time to see what he has to do. But don’t come so steadily that the horse hesitates and stops.

    To avoid this, get the horse back to a short, bouncy canter with plenty of power in the pace a few strides away from the fence. The rider needs to sit up and keep the leg on and forward.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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//videos/horse-training-videos/how-to-jump-a-sunken-road-cross-country aAQW9W1uBGHCYgMcgustgM Thu, 10 Sep 2015 10:55:05 +0000 false false false

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride sunken road fences while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    It’s a good idea when introducing sunken roads, if you can, walk down a sloped side of the combination so that the horse can have a look at where he is going to be jumping in and out of, before actually involving a step in. After he has had a look at the bottom of the road, jump out by going up one side of the combination.

    Then, if possible, jump down just one side, so the horse gets used to jumping into the sunken road without worrying about the other elements.

    Once the horse is happy with jumping the steps in and out of the sunken road together, then move on to start jumping through all of the elements involved with the combination, such as rails before and after.

    If possible, start with the latter part of the line. i.e jump just the sunken road plus the rail out first.

    Once you have mastered all of the elements, this is where being able to put the horse into the correct gears comes into play.

    Jumping the first rail requires the horse to have time to see what he has to do. But don’t come so steadily that the horse hesitates and stops.

    To avoid this, get the horse back to a short, bouncy canter with plenty of power in the pace a few strides away from the fence. The rider needs to sit up and keep the leg on and forward.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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[ Yogi Breisner: How to jump ditch combinations on a cross-country course ]]>

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride ditch combinations while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    Once you have introduced your horse to a ditch on its own, you can then begin to tackle a combination, such as a rail, ditch, rail.

    You need to start out in a gentle way by jumping the ditch on its own at an angle. Follow this up by jumping the ditch and the rail out.

    The biggest problem with these types of fences is that as the horse approaches the first rail, his eye is suddenly caught by the ditch. It is difficult for him to concentrate on both jumping the rail and worrying about the ditch.

    Upon the approach, you will need to get the horse back into a short, bouncy canter stride, with plenty of energy in the stride, giving him time to see what is there, time to figure out what to do about it and then time to go and do it.

    Be careful not to approach with too little pace as the horse is likely to stop as he is looking too much at the ditch.

    The rider must keep their lower leg forward, sit up and get used to having the feel of having two thirds of the horse in front of them before the jump. This will help to react quickly to push the horse forward if they start backing off.

    As soon as the horse lands over the first element, it is important that the rider is in balance, in case the horse spooks at the ditch.

    To begin with, it’s nice to tackle a combination situated on flat ground, but eventually you will need to introduce a combination where the ditch is in a hollow from the first and second rails mostly if you are looking to ride at two-star level.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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//videos/horse-training-videos/how-to-jump-ditch-combinations-cross-country 2DcoVGvJN9UKrTJJ9QB3qX Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:55:22 +0000 false false false

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride ditch combinations while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    Once you have introduced your horse to a ditch on its own, you can then begin to tackle a combination, such as a rail, ditch, rail.

    You need to start out in a gentle way by jumping the ditch on its own at an angle. Follow this up by jumping the ditch and the rail out.

    The biggest problem with these types of fences is that as the horse approaches the first rail, his eye is suddenly caught by the ditch. It is difficult for him to concentrate on both jumping the rail and worrying about the ditch.

    Upon the approach, you will need to get the horse back into a short, bouncy canter stride, with plenty of energy in the stride, giving him time to see what is there, time to figure out what to do about it and then time to go and do it.

    Be careful not to approach with too little pace as the horse is likely to stop as he is looking too much at the ditch.

    The rider must keep their lower leg forward, sit up and get used to having the feel of having two thirds of the horse in front of them before the jump. This will help to react quickly to push the horse forward if they start backing off.

    As soon as the horse lands over the first element, it is important that the rider is in balance, in case the horse spooks at the ditch.

    To begin with, it’s nice to tackle a combination situated on flat ground, but eventually you will need to introduce a combination where the ditch is in a hollow from the first and second rails mostly if you are looking to ride at two-star level.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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[ Yogi Breisner: How to ride ditches ]]>

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride ditches while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    Ditches are a natural obstacle that are difficult to practice in an arena. Water trays are a helpful tool if you are in an arena, though, to get the horses used to something that looks like a hole in the ground.

    Much like jumping water, horses have a natural adversity to jumping ditches as they don’t know what could be in them.

    Ditches must be introduced in a slow way. Often people make the mistake of galloping to them flat out, meaning horses jump it without even looking at it. This means that as they progress up the grades, when the ditch gets bigger, the horse will suddenly realise it is there and scare itself. You would then have to go right back to the beginning and teach them from scratch.

    Start with a small ditch at a slow pace – ideally trot but perhaps even walk. This gives them time to look into the ditch and get used to playing with his feet in front of it, before popping over it.

    Build this up by jumping lots of different types of ditches, getting bigger as you go along, until your horse has no problem with them at all.

    If you are jumping a big, open ditch, you need to ride forward to it, but gently set up and balance before you get there. You want the strongest push on the last stride before jumping a hefty ditch. Apply this approach if you are also jumping a trakehner or fence with a ditch in front of it.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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//videos/horse-training-videos/how-to-ride-ditches-cross-country tXu12tRFUxnD8rN8pJJ2yL Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:25:35 +0000 false false false

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride ditches while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    Ditches are a natural obstacle that are difficult to practice in an arena. Water trays are a helpful tool if you are in an arena, though, to get the horses used to something that looks like a hole in the ground.

    Much like jumping water, horses have a natural adversity to jumping ditches as they don’t know what could be in them.

    Ditches must be introduced in a slow way. Often people make the mistake of galloping to them flat out, meaning horses jump it without even looking at it. This means that as they progress up the grades, when the ditch gets bigger, the horse will suddenly realise it is there and scare itself. You would then have to go right back to the beginning and teach them from scratch.

    Start with a small ditch at a slow pace – ideally trot but perhaps even walk. This gives them time to look into the ditch and get used to playing with his feet in front of it, before popping over it.

    Build this up by jumping lots of different types of ditches, getting bigger as you go along, until your horse has no problem with them at all.

    If you are jumping a big, open ditch, you need to ride forward to it, but gently set up and balance before you get there. You want the strongest push on the last stride before jumping a hefty ditch. Apply this approach if you are also jumping a trakehner or fence with a ditch in front of it.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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[ Yogi Breisner: How to tackle water when riding cross-country ]]>

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride a water jump while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    The water jump often attracts a lot of spectators for both the spectacle and the possibility of seeing a rider get wet!

    The cross-country course designer often puts a lot of different kind of fences in connection with the water jump.

    From an education point of view, it is a type of fence that you need to spend a great deal of time on with your horse.

    Horses by nature can be a little reluctant to go into water as they don’t know how deep it is or whether there are crocodiles lurking in there! Therefore it the rider’s job to build their confidence by repeatedly and gently taking them into and out of the water at a walk. This will help them get used to the splash and confidence in the knowledge that there are no big holes for the to suddenly disappear into.

    Once the horse has got the confidence to walk around in the water, you can then begin to introduce jumping.

    You need to ride a water fence in the same kind of way you would a sunken road, rails to ditches and drops so that you can give your horse time to see what they have to do.

    It is important to remember not to ride so fast into the water that the drag makes the horse stumble.

    Approach in a short, controlled canter with plenty of energy in the stride to keep it punchy without going too fast.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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//videos/horse-training-videos/how-to-ride-water-fences-cross-country u8CvKfUAxEJeYoQifMgrnD Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:55:59 +0000 false false false

    The British eventing squad’s chef d’equipe, Yogi Breisner talks us through how to ride a water jump while going cross-country, with the help of four-star event rider, Laura Collett.

    The water jump often attracts a lot of spectators for both the spectacle and the possibility of seeing a rider get wet!

    The cross-country course designer often puts a lot of different kind of fences in connection with the water jump.

    From an education point of view, it is a type of fence that you need to spend a great deal of time on with your horse.

    Horses by nature can be a little reluctant to go into water as they don’t know how deep it is or whether there are crocodiles lurking in there! Therefore it the rider’s job to build their confidence by repeatedly and gently taking them into and out of the water at a walk. This will help them get used to the splash and confidence in the knowledge that there are no big holes for the to suddenly disappear into.

    Once the horse has got the confidence to walk around in the water, you can then begin to introduce jumping.

    You need to ride a water fence in the same kind of way you would a sunken road, rails to ditches and drops so that you can give your horse time to see what they have to do.

    It is important to remember not to ride so fast into the water that the drag makes the horse stumble.

    Approach in a short, controlled canter with plenty of energy in the stride to keep it punchy without going too fast.

    Look out for more expert advice on cross-country riding from Yogi Breisner, brought to you in association with NAF, on the Horse & Hound website during the next few weeks.

    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[ Top riders give their thoughts on the Burghley cross-country course *VIDEO* ]]>

    With cross-country day (5 September) looming for the top eventing combinations competing at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, many are turning their focus towards the challenging course ahead.

    Horse & Hound talks to some riders following their dressage tests at this world-famous event to find out what they think of the new-look cross-country course, designed by Mark Phillips.

    The reversal in direction of the cross-country course means that combinations face a completely new and totally different challenge to the one they have become accustomed to over the years at Burghley.

    BURGH-CW-F1.jpg

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Walk the cross-country course at Burghley *PICTURES*

    We take a look at what the cross-country course has in store for horses and riders this year

    Burghley Horse Trials live coverage

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Watch Burghley 2015 cross-country course preview *VIDEO*

    Watch the official course preview video for the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

    This year the iconic Cottesmore Leap comes as riders approach the four-minute mark after the long uphill pull from the Anniversary Splash. There is then very little let-up for the horses all the way to the finish line, making it an intense course and one that riders have described it as “huge” and “one of the biggest four-stars we have seen for a very long time.”

    Oliver Townend, here with a whopping three rides (Dromgurrihy Blue, Armada and Samuel Thomas II) said that he had “never seen a course quite like it,” while Louise Harwood described it as “tough all the way — there’s hardly a let up fence.” Pippa Funnell said that it is “one of the most dimensionally big tracks” she has seen for a very long time, if not ever.

    The provisional total length of the course is 6,370m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 10 secs.

    You can keep up to date with all of the action at Burghley live as it happens courtesy of H&H Live while videos of each rider will be available on demand shortly after they perform on Burghley.tv.

    Full report from Burghley in next week’s H&H, out Thursday, 10 September — 17 pages of photos and analysis, including columns from Ruth Edge, Lucy Wiegersma and Mark Phillips.

    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/what-riders-think-of-burghley-cross-country-course-2015-508723 mkM7wQQ4zzusS7WVK8wfYp Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:16:32 +0000 false false false

    With cross-country day (5 September) looming for the top eventing combinations competing at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, many are turning their focus towards the challenging course ahead.

    Horse & Hound talks to some riders following their dressage tests at this world-famous event to find out what they think of the new-look cross-country course, designed by Mark Phillips.

    The reversal in direction of the cross-country course means that combinations face a completely new and totally different challenge to the one they have become accustomed to over the years at Burghley.

    BURGH-CW-F1.jpg

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Walk the cross-country course at Burghley *PICTURES*

    We take a look at what the cross-country course has in store for horses and riders this year

    Burghley Horse Trials live coverage

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Watch Burghley 2015 cross-country course preview *VIDEO*

    Watch the official course preview video for the 2015 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

    This year the iconic Cottesmore Leap comes as riders approach the four-minute mark after the long uphill pull from the Anniversary Splash. There is then very little let-up for the horses all the way to the finish line, making it an intense course and one that riders have described it as “huge” and “one of the biggest four-stars we have seen for a very long time.”

    Oliver Townend, here with a whopping three rides (Dromgurrihy Blue, Armada and Samuel Thomas II) said that he had “never seen a course quite like it,” while Louise Harwood described it as “tough all the way — there’s hardly a let up fence.” Pippa Funnell said that it is “one of the most dimensionally big tracks” she has seen for a very long time, if not ever.

    The provisional total length of the course is 6,370m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 10 secs.

    You can keep up to date with all of the action at Burghley live as it happens courtesy of H&H Live while videos of each rider will be available on demand shortly after they perform on Burghley.tv.

    Full report from Burghley in next week’s H&H, out Thursday, 10 September — 17 pages of photos and analysis, including columns from Ruth Edge, Lucy Wiegersma and Mark Phillips.

    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[ Walk the cross-country course at Burghley *PICTURES* ]]> This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September) promises to be as challenging as ever for competitors.

    Designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, this year’s course runs in the opposite direction to usual.

    We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 5 September.

    The provisional total length of the course is 6,370m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 10 secs.

    Fence 1: Olympic Horseshoe

    BURGH CW F1

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    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    BURGH CW F2

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    Fence 3: Picnic Table

    BURGH CW F3

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    BURGH CW F3v

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    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    BURGH CW F4

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    View over 4a

    BURGH CW F4v

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    Fence 4b

    BURGH CW F4vv

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    Fence 5ab: Anniversary Splash “In”

    BURGH CW F5a

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    Fence 5b

    BURGH CW F5b

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    Fence 6ab, 7: Anniversary Splash “Out” — riders have the option of a step up bounce on the right, bounce of hedges on the left

    BURGH CW F6ab

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    Alternative to fence 7 — only possible to jump if riders stop at the direct fence 7

    BURGH CW F7

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    Fence 8: Slate Mine

    BURGH CW F8

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    Fence 8: side view

    BURGH CW F8v

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    Fence 9, 10: Capability’s Cutting — riders have the option of jumping either the left or right-handed option direct.

    Left:

    BURGH CW F9

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    View over right-handed fence 9 to right-handed fence 10

    BURGH CW F9 wide

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    BURGH CW F10

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    Alternative fence 10

    BURGH CW F10alt

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    Fence 11: Rolex Grand Slam Viaduct

    BURGH CW F11

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    Fence 12: Winners’ Avenue

    BURGH CW F12

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    Side view of fence 12

    BURGH CW F12v

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    Fence 13ab: Cottesmore Leap

    BURGH CW F13a

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    Side view of 13a with 13b in the background

    BURGH CW F13av

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    Alternative 13a

    BURGH CW F13a alt

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    Fence 13b with alternative 13b in background

    BURGH CW F13b

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    Course photos continue below.

    If you like this, you might also like…

    Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW at Burghley 2015. Picture by Peter Nixon

    (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

    Visiting Burghley Horse Trials? 10 top tips

    Horsey or not, Burghley Horse Trials has got something for everyone. Here's our 10 top tips for getting the most

    autothumb-44450844510011.jpg

    (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

    Walk the 2015 Burghley cross-country course with Blyth Tait

    Double Burghley winner Blyth Tait takes a look at three of the key fences on Mark Phillips' 2015 cross-country course

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    BURGH CW F14a

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    BURGH CW F14bc

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    View of 14bc landing

    BURGH CW F14bcv

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    Alternative 14b

    BURGH CW F14b

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    Alternative 14c

    BURGH CW F14c

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    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination — direct 15a with b in the background

    BURGH CW F15AB

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    Alternative 15a — ditch bounce to rail

    BURGH CW F15lr

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    Alternative 15c

    BURGH CW F15c

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    Fence 16: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F16

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    Fence 17ab: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F17a

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    View from 17a to 17b

    BURGH CW F17AB

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    Fence 18: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F18

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    Side view of fence 18

    BURGH CW F18v

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    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    BURGH CW F19

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    Fence 20abcd, 21: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

    BURGH CW F20A

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    View from 20a to 20b

    BURGH CW F20v

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    Fence 20b with view to fence 20 c and d

    BURGH CW F20b

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    View from fence 20d to 21

    BURGH CW F20cv

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    Alternative fence 20d

    BURGH CW F20d

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    Fence 21 with alternative in background

    BURGH CW F21

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    Fence 22ab: Herbert’s Hollow

    BURGH CW F22a

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    View from fence 22a to b

    BURGH CW F22ab

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    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    BURGH CW F23

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    Fence 24ab: Discovery Valley

    BURGH CW F24ab

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    View from fence 24a to b

    BURGH CW F24abv

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    Alternative fence 24a

    BURGH CW F24a alt

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    Fence 25: Elephant Trap

    BURGH CW F25

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    Fence 26ab, 27: Leaf Pit

    BURGH CW F26a

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    View from fence 26a to b to 27

    BURGH CW F26abc

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    Fence 27

    BURGH CW F27

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    Fence 28: Discovery Valley

    BURGH CW F28

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    Fence 29abc: Up and Under

    BURGH CW F29a

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    Fence 29b

    BURGH CW F29b

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    Fence 29c

    BURGH CW F29c

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    Fence 30: Flower Frame

    BURGH CW F30

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    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    BURGH CW F31

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    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Burghley with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 27 August 2015), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 10 September 2015).

    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/walk-the-cross-country-course-at-burghley-pictures-508152 nqPLDrm1swQhggnxW2SPDu Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:52:10 +0000 false false false

    This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (3-6 September) promises to be as challenging as ever for competitors.

    Designed by Captain Mark Phillips and built by Philip Herbert and his team, this year’s course runs in the opposite direction to usual.

    We take a look at what the course has in store for the horses and riders who will tackle it on Saturday 5 September.

    The provisional total length of the course is 6,370m with a provisional optimum time of 11 minutes 10 secs.

    Fence 1: Olympic Horseshoe

    BURGH CW F1

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 2: Lambert’s Sofa

    BURGH CW F2

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 3: Picnic Table

    BURGH CW F3

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    BURGH CW F3v

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4ab: Lion Bridge

    BURGH CW F4

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View over 4a

    BURGH CW F4v

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 4b

    BURGH CW F4vv

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 5ab: Anniversary Splash “In”

    BURGH CW F5a

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    Fence 5b

    BURGH CW F5b

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    Fence 6ab, 7: Anniversary Splash “Out” — riders have the option of a step up bounce on the right, bounce of hedges on the left

    BURGH CW F6ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative to fence 7 — only possible to jump if riders stop at the direct fence 7

    BURGH CW F7

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    Fence 8: Slate Mine

    BURGH CW F8

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    Fence 8: side view

    BURGH CW F8v

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 9, 10: Capability’s Cutting — riders have the option of jumping either the left or right-handed option direct.

    Left:

    BURGH CW F9

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View over right-handed fence 9 to right-handed fence 10

    BURGH CW F9 wide

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    BURGH CW F10

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    Alternative fence 10

    BURGH CW F10alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 11: Rolex Grand Slam Viaduct

    BURGH CW F11

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    Fence 12: Winners’ Avenue

    BURGH CW F12

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    Side view of fence 12

    BURGH CW F12v

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13ab: Cottesmore Leap

    BURGH CW F13a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Side view of 13a with 13b in the background

    BURGH CW F13av

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    Alternative 13a

    BURGH CW F13a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 13b with alternative 13b in background

    BURGH CW F13b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Course photos continue below.

    If you like this, you might also like…

    Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW at Burghley 2015. Picture by Peter Nixon

    (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

    Visiting Burghley Horse Trials? 10 top tips

    Horsey or not, Burghley Horse Trials has got something for everyone. Here's our 10 top tips for getting the most

    autothumb-44450844510011.jpg

    (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

    Walk the 2015 Burghley cross-country course with Blyth Tait

    Double Burghley winner Blyth Tait takes a look at three of the key fences on Mark Phillips' 2015 cross-country course

    Fence 14abc: Land Rover Dairy Farm

    BURGH CW F14a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    BURGH CW F14bc

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    View of 14bc landing

    BURGH CW F14bcv

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14b

    BURGH CW F14b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 14c

    BURGH CW F14c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 15abc: Rolex Combination — direct 15a with b in the background

    BURGH CW F15AB

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 15a — ditch bounce to rail

    BURGH CW F15lr

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative 15c

    BURGH CW F15c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 16: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F16

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    Fence 17ab: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F17a

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    View from 17a to 17b

    BURGH CW F17AB

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    Fence 18: Malting’s 360

    BURGH CW F18

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    Side view of fence 18

    BURGH CW F18v

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    Fence 19: Captain’s Log

    BURGH CW F19

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    Fence 20abcd, 21: Land Rover Trout Hatchery

    BURGH CW F20A

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    View from 20a to 20b

    BURGH CW F20v

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    Fence 20b with view to fence 20 c and d

    BURGH CW F20b

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    View from fence 20d to 21

    BURGH CW F20cv

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    Alternative fence 20d

    BURGH CW F20d

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    Fence 21 with alternative in background

    BURGH CW F21

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    Fence 22ab: Herbert’s Hollow

    BURGH CW F22a

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    View from fence 22a to b

    BURGH CW F22ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 23: Thomson’s Wall

    BURGH CW F23

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    Fence 24ab: Discovery Valley

    BURGH CW F24ab

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 24a to b

    BURGH CW F24abv

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Alternative fence 24a

    BURGH CW F24a alt

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 25: Elephant Trap

    BURGH CW F25

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    Fence 26ab, 27: Leaf Pit

    BURGH CW F26a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    View from fence 26a to b to 27

    BURGH CW F26abc

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 27

    BURGH CW F27

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 28: Discovery Valley

    BURGH CW F28

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 29abc: Up and Under

    BURGH CW F29a

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 29b

    BURGH CW F29b

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 29c

    BURGH CW F29c

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 30: Flower Frame

    BURGH CW F30

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    Fence 31: Land Rover Finale

    BURGH CW F31

    (Image credit: creditUnknown)

    You can keep up-to-date with all the action from Burghley with H&H Live every day this week on horseandhound.co.uk.

    Don’t miss H&H’s Burghley preview, including a full form guide and a scorecard to fill in for every rider, on sale now (Thursday 27 August 2015), and you can read the full report in next week’s magazine (Thursday 10 September 2015).

    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

    ]]>