Three British horses withdrawn at last minute from Badminton Horse Trials

Three British riders have had to make last-minute withdrawals from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this week (7-10 May).

First-timer Michael Jackson pulled out his parents-in-law’s Kangasong last night.

The rider fell off CCI2* ride Treloar at Ballindenisk last weekend (24-27 April) and injured his ankle. X-rays did not reveal any serious issues and he was told to rest it ahead of this week, but yesterday (Tuesday 5 May) he saw a sports injury consultant. Michael’s ankle was X-rayed again, which showed he has broken his tibia.

Nick Gauntlett has withdrawn Crown Talisman, who has a high temperature, but will still compete El Grado. Both horses belong to Madelaine and Neil Woodford and are recent imports from abroad — Crown Talisman was produced in America by Doug Payne, while El Grado was ridden by Natalie Davies in Australia.

And Paul Sims will not be riding Henry Harding’s Calador, saying on twitter he has “No injury, just not 100% in himself”. Paul will run Joe Chambers’ Glengarnock, with whom he was the only British debutant to finish last year’s competition.

The field now comprises 82 horses, who will be presented to the ground jury — Christian Landolt, Sue Baxter and David Lee — at 4.30pm today (Wednesday 6 May) at the first horse inspection.

Dressage starts tomorrow (Thursday 7 May) and continues on Friday (8 May), with Saturday (9 May) hosting the cross-country and the final showjumping phase taking place on Sunday.

The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships is underway now, with riders taking on the cross-country round Badminton Park.

Check back later for pictures of all the cross-country fences and a report of the first trot-up

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

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.