Laura Collett with Grand Manoeuvre during the first Horse Inspection at The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton House in the Village of Badminton in South Gloucestershire in the UK on the 3rd May 2017
2016 Olympic team gold and individual silver medallist Astier Nicolas was the first of those to be held with his Rio horse Piaf De B’Neville.
The Frenchman and his 14-year-old horse, owned by Ben & Partners, was accepted upon reinspection in front of the ground jury consisting of Martin Plewa, Anne-Mette Binder and Christina Klingsor.
The second and final horse to be held at the first horse inspection was popular British combination Laura Collett and Grand Manoeuvre.
Badminton final scores
This is the third consecutive Badminton for the pair, who were 22nd last year. The 13-year-old chestnut, owned by David and Diana Chappell was accepted when represented.
Laura Collett and Grand Manoeuvre
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
All remaining 81 horse and rider combinations were accepted by the ground jury on their first inspection.
Badminton’s best dressed competition
Hiho Silver sponsored the best dressed male and female rider competition at the first horse inspection, which was hotly contested.
Nine riders were left disappointed after failing to
The ever-trendy Australian eventer Paul Tapnerwon the best dressed male section with Bonza King Of Rogues. He wore a tweed jacket coupled with a waistcoat and a yellow shirt with a horse pattern, plus a bow tie. He finished off his look with some red and cream brogues.
Read the full Badminton preview in Horse & Hound magazine, out now and don’t miss our 25-page Badminton report, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 11 May), including expert opinion from Oliver Townend, Mark Todd and Peter Storr
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
