The 2021 Badminton Horse Trials has been cancelled and will no longer be held from 5-9 May as planned. It had been hoped that the event would go ahead behind closed doors, but the current situation with the pandemic means this will not be possible.
The 2020 event was also cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic. This brings the total number of times Badminton has been cancelled to seven, owing to bad weather in 1966, 1975, 1987 and 2012, foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Weather also forced Badminton to run as a one-day competition in 1963.
The current title holder is Piggy French, who was crowned the 2019 winner riding Vanir Kamira, ahead of Oliver Townend, who had led going into the final phase on Ballaghmor Class. Third was Chris Burton riding Cooley Lands, the only combination to finish on their dressage score.
Held in the grounds of Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the cross-country course for the event will be designed by Eric Winter once again. It will be the first event held under the directorship of Jane Tuckwell, following Hugh Thomas’ decision to retire after 31 years at the helm. Jane has worked at Badminton in various roles for over 40 years.
One of just seven five-star events in the world, the Gloucestershire event is arguably the most prestigious. The list of winners is a true who’s who in the sport of eventing and we can’t wait to see who will add their name to the roll of honour next time.
The first event was held at Badminton in 1949 when the 10th Duke of Beaufort decided to host an event to help British riders train for future international events.
Georgie Spence recalls her experiences in the build-up to her first Badminton and how ‘that naive streak of lean back and kick sometimes does just get you round’
Riders who had qualified for the event due to be held at Badminton this year have been offered two options
British Eventing is considering “all possibilities” to fill the holes left in the international fixtures calendar, following the cancellation of four internationals in two weeks
Badminton Horse Trials 2021 has been cancelled – the event was expected to go ahead behind closed doors, but this is no longer possible
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It's the event that everyone wants to win, but who is already on the Badminton Horse Trials winners list? H&H looks back through the archives
“Her pledge to ensure the success of USEF’s teams and programs has left a lasting impression not only on the disciplines she has been so deeply tied to throughout her career, but also on those she has mentored and worked with over the years”
H&H's eventing editor blogs about the decision to relocate the Badminton Horse Trials main arena for next year's 'behind closed doors' running
“I am thrilled the event is able to go in these most difficult of times and I cannot wait to get there in May”
Find out all you need to know about getting Badminton Horse Trials tickets
Kilbarry’s story marks the start of Britain’s success in three-day eventing. Julian Seaman tracks the history of the horse and his pilot, Col Frank Weldon
“For sure it will be a very different Badminton”
The runner-up of Badminton Horse Trials 2018 suffered an accident cross-country schooling in Australia
The ebullient former media director of Badminton is eclectically talented, with a “naughty air of indiscretion”. Martha Terry meets him
The team is aiming to cycle from Badminton to Burghley — Covid-19 guidance permitting — to raise money for the air ambulance
After the announcement of her retirement earlier this week, we look back at super-mare Paulank Brockagh’s successful career under Sam Griffiths
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lucinda Green set a record that no one has yet come close to equalling when she won Badminton six times on six different horses. She talks to Kate Green about why each victory was so special
