There have been three more Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals, for the event presented by Mars Equestrian, and the cut-off has been reached for accepting horses from the waiting list.
Harry Meade has withdrawn Charlotte Opperman’s Cavalier Crystal, who would have been the pathfinder, saying she has had a “minor setback”. Kirsty Chabert will now be first into the dressage arena and out on course with her father John Johnston and Carole Somers’ Classic IV. Harry will still start on Charlotte’s Away Cruising.
Izzy Taylor has withdrawn Sara and Tom Strong’s Artful Trinity, who was only accepted from the waiting list on Friday, and Georgie Spence has pulled out Halltown Harley, owned by Suzanne Doggett, Georgie’s mother Joanna and fiancé Toby Goss.
Georgie reported Halltown Harley has picked up an injury after his final prep run.
“I am absolutely heartbroken for his incredible and loyal owner Suzanne, for myself, for Harley and for all my team of staff, sponsors and supporters,“ said Georgie.
“It’s been a tough winter with only a select few people knowing that we nearly lost him due to a rare illness. Having nursed him through and adopted a new fitness plan to beat the odds and bring him back to five-star fitness makes this an even more heartbreaking decision to have had to make.”
These latest Badminton Horse Trials withdrawals mean three more pairs have been accepted from the waiting list: France’s Cyrielle Lefèvre with Charline Guerin’s Armanjo Serosah, Britain’s Tom Rowland on Robin Patrick’s Possible Mission, and Gloucestershire-based Canadian Michael Winter with his own and his wife Emma’s El Mundo.
The cut-off of 2pm on Sunday 1 May has now passed so no more horses will be accepted from the waiting list.
Horses down to 16th place on the list have made it into the event. Since the waiting list system was brought in in 2008, the number of horses accepted from the waiting list has varied between 14 and 43, so 16 is at the lower end of the number expected to get in, although it is one more than last time the event ran, in 2019.
You might also be interested in:
Top title contender withdrawn from Badminton, plus Oliver Townend narrows down his rides
Yasmin Ingham third after ‘dream come true’ Kentucky cross-country ride as other Brits have a mixed day
Further update on horses injured on Kentucky cross-country as one undergoes surgery
Two horses eliminated at Kentucky final trot-up as five are sent to holding box
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings
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.
