All Pairs Pass First Inspection at Badminton; 4 North Americans Move On

Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly pass the first horse inspection, and will do their dressage test on Friday. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It doesn’t, perhaps, make for particularly exciting viewing for spectators, but there’s nothing we like better than an uneventful trot-up. This afternoon’s first horse inspection at Badminton was one such affair: only one horse was held – Tom Crisp‘s Coolys Luxury – and subsequently accepted upon re-presentation.

Coolys Luxury adds the sole touch of drama to an uneventful trot-up, but is eventually accepted for Tom Crisp. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica at the trot-up. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

The assembled ground jury of Sue Baxter, Christoph Hess, and Katrin Eichinger Knieley saw 79 horse and rider combinations come forward from 12 nations, amid a welcome blaze of sunshine after a morning of downpours. They were assisted by holding box veterinarian Liam Kearns MVB MRCVS and longtime veterinary delegate Paul Farrington BVetMed MRCVS.

Giovanni Ugolotti and Cult Hero: best-dressed at the trot-up. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Despite any significant amount of hold-box action, the trot-up wasn’t entirely sedate: there were some seriously fresh horses, crowds aplenty and, um, some exceptionally vibrant trousers, courtesy of Harry Meade. Even so, it was Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti who won Hi-Ho Silver’s best dressed competition, alongside Louise Harwood.

Harry Meade, Away Cruising, and THOSE trousers. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tomorrow sees the competition begin in earnest, with the first day of dressage commencing at 9:10am BST/4:10am EST. Sam Ecroyd will perform the guinea pig test aboard new ride Kasseedorf. There are some very exciting combinations heading into the ring tomorrow, including Selena O’Hanlon and Lauren Kieffer.

Madeline Backus and PS Arianna look cool, calm, and composed at their first Badminton trot-up. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

THURSDAY DRESSAGE NOTABLE NAMES:

9:46am BST/4:46am EST: Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser

9:54am BST/4:54am EST: Andrew Nicholson and Nereo

10:02am BST/5:02am EST: Alex Bragg and Zagreb

10:10am BST/5:10am EST: Mark Todd and Leonidas II

10:34am BST/5:34am EST: Oliver Townend and Cooley SRS

2:16pm BST/9:16am EST: Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High

2:32pm BST/9:32am EST: Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW

2:48pm BST/9:48am EST: Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy

3:56pm BST/10:56am EST: Lauren Kieffer and Veronica

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High embrace the sudden sunshine. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’ll be coming at you in thick and fast (what a concerning thought!) from sun-up tomorrow, bringing you everything you could ever possibly need from a dressage day, and then some. Gird your loins, dear readers. It’s about to get serious.

Go eventing!