Yas is entered with her long-term campaigner Rehy DJ, who she partnered at the 2018 young rider Europeans and has since finished on the podium at two CCI5*s. The pair were third at Luhmühlen in 2023 and 2024, and finished 10th at Pau five-star last autumn.
Yas said that “couldn’t be more excited to be preparing Piglet for our joint Badminton debut”. The 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund, has 34 international double clears to his name.
Other British riders set to take on Badminton (8 to 11 May) for the first time this spring include Katie Magee aboard Trewora (13th at Pau CCI5* 2024), and Jack Mantel, who will ride Jack Daniels. The latter pair finished third at Blair CCI4*-L in 2024 and were also 18th in the long-format four-star at Bramham earlier in the summer.
Storm Straker and Fever Pitch, winners of the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk in April 2024 and who went on to finish 21st at Pau CCI5* with a sub-30 dressage and clear cross-country jumping round, are also among the British debutants.
Badminton final scores
The 2025 Badminton entries also feature an exciting clutch of international partnerships set to have their first tilt at the Gloucestershire CCI5*.
British-based New Zealand rider Samantha Lissington is set to make her Badminton debut with two horses. She is entered with Lord Seekonig, with whom she finished 11th at Luhmühlen last year, and Ricker Ridge Sooty, whose CV includes 12th place at Pau 2023.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Germany is sending three Badminton rookies in their four-strong contingent. Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice had a happy trip to Britain last autumn, finishing third at Blenheim CCI4*-L. They were seventh individually at the 2023 Europeans and finished 10th at their home five-star, Luhmühlen, in 2023.
They are joined by a pair of experienced greys – the mare Luthien NRW, ridden by Arne Bergendahl, and Timmo, with Nicolai Aldinger.
Austria’s Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line, 15th at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and sixth at Pau 2024, are among these – as is Switzerland’s Nadja Minder and Toblerone, who impressed on their Burghley debut last year (20th). Like Yas, these two are both partnerships who have come up the levels from young riders to CCI5*.
Ryuzo Kitijama and Feroza Nieuwmoed for Japan are a well-established combination and will be first-timers to watch, following their 15th place at Burghley 2024.
Ireland’s Jennifer Kuehnle and Sammy Davis Junior target their first Badminton after two solid CCI5* performances at Lumühlen and Pau last year. Their compatriots Daragh Byrne and Kilcannon Ramiro, the 2022 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L winners, are also on the list
Australia’s Samantha Cesnik and Graftango made their five-star and European competition debut at Pau 2024, and now head to Badminton.
Portugal’s Manuel Grave (Carat De Bremoy) and three Belgian combinations – Wouter De Cleene (Quintera), Senne Vervaecke (Google Van Alsingen) and Seppe Vilain (Kawa De La Cour Z) – are also among the first-timers.
If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.
Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound
To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.
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
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
