Herd of cobs join Badminton line-up
A herd of cobs will be joining the line-up at this year’s Badminton Horse Trials (4-8 May).
The life-like sculptures will be joining competitors at the 2016 event as part of World Horse Welfare’s Invisible Horse Trail.
Miniature fibreglass horses, created by designer and sculptor Judy Boyt, will be painted by well-known artists and personalities, before going on display in an interactive trail for visitors.
Judy created the iconic Badminton Horse Trials silver trophy in 1992 and has undertaken commissions for royal families and collections around the world.
Badminton final scores
“It is an honour to be asked to sculpt the horse for the Invisible Horse Trail and it is a great opportunity for me to be able to contribute something back to the animal that has featured so much in my life,” said Judy.
World Horse Welfare’s horse, May, (pictured, top) who is kept at the charity’s Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset, was selected as Judy’s inspiration.
Judy created a clay maquette which will be used to create a mould for the individual horses, each standing at 7hh.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“I was delighted to meet the amazing character, May, my hairy, chunky cob-type model and at the same time see first-hand the care and diligent work carried out by all the staff at World Horse Welfare,” she added.
“This experience has opened my eyes to the plight of too many neglected horses and ponies.”
World Horse Welfare is Badminton’s charity of the year.
This year the charity is working to highlight the world’s invisible horses who often suffer in silence.
Related articles:
- Feeling creative? Entries open to design Badminton cross-country fence
- Badminton-bound event horse given dramatic pink makeover
- What makes 2015 Badminton winner Chilli Morning so good?
“Not only will the Invisible Horse Trail add another element to the already electric Badminton Horse Trials event, but it’s also a unique way to tell the stories of World Horse Welfare horses and ponies through the skills of talented artists and designers,” said World Horse Welfare’s Emma Williams.
“Seeing our adoption horse May immortalised in her stunning clay maquette was a really special moment and we can’t wait to see the trail horses in action once our artists have worked their magic.”
If you are interested in sponsoring a horse on the trail please contact Lucie Stangl at World Horse Welfare: luciestangl@worldhorsewelfare.org
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
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.