Britain’s spring five-star may let riders start Badminton on three horses

Badminton three horses: Harry Meade, pictured at Badminton 2018, is one of the few riders who could potentially enter three horses — Harry Meade and Away Cruising at Badminton 2018.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Riders may be able to pilot three horses at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials this spring (8-12 May), for the first time in years.

In the past, a few competitors have ridden three horses at the spring five-star, including in the days of long format – quite a feat with roads and tracks and steeplechase to be tackled before the cross-country. Australia’s Bill Roycroft was the first person to complete on three horses, in 1965, when he covered 47 miles on speed and endurance day. But in recent years, riders have been limited to starting on two horses.

“Badminton 2023 was the first year that we did not have a waiting list. Therefore this year we are happy for athletes to enter three horses, to concur with other international events,” said a Badminton spokesman, confirming the order in which entries are accepted and how this affects third horses: “A third horse will only be accepted if it can be accommodated within the number of entries accepted. Those athletes on a waiting list will take priority and accepted prior to a rider with a third horse.”

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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.

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Until this year, riders have been limited to starting on two horses under the waiting list system. The new rule stipulates that third horses will only be accepted once everyone on the waiting list has been offered a chance to run. Third horses will then be accepted in order of FEI points.

This new system offers the potential opportunity for the select few riders with a string of five-star campaigners to compete a third horse and for the event to have a larger field (up to a maximum of 85), but without denying anyone the chance to ride at Badminton.

As usual, riders can enter more than three horses for Badminton, a system known as double entering, so riders are effectively reserving a certain number of places at the event but will decide which horses to run nearer the time of the event.

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