Originally from San Diego, Jenni discovered eventing thanks to the Bedford Hunt Pony Club in Virginia. After working in both newspapers and magazines, she joined the EN team in 2012. She travels extensively covering the U.S. Eventing Team and has reported at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen and Pau. As for her favorite event, it’s a toss-up between Aachen and Boekelo. When she isn’t on the road, she’s busy competing her heart horse, Imperial Striker, better known as Derry.
Vittoria and Borough Pennyz had the best round of the day, in my humble opinion.
I was glued to the Badminton grandstands for most of the day to bring you 29 videos of today’s show jumping rounds, including the North American pairs and the crowd favorites. While you should definitely watch the top three rides from Jock Paget, Michael Jung and Andrew Nicholson, be sure to watch Vittoria Panizzon’s incredible trip on Borough Pennyz. This fantastic mare completely stole the show today at Badminton with her scopey jumping style, and she and Vittoria clearly have a lovely partnership. Vittoria and Borough Pennyz had the best show jumping round of the day, in my humble opinion. I’m still uploading videos from today’s exciting Badminton show jumping conclusion, so keep checking back to this post. Note: Some of the lovely spectators sitting around me were very excited about the rounds, so I apologize for any offensive words you might hear in the videos. Go eventing.
It was a conclusion no one expected at Badminton. Michael Jung and Sam jumped a beautiful show jumping round with just one fence to go, and Radio Badminton had already declared him the winner. But then the last rail fell in a shocking moment, making Jock Paget and Clifton Promise the winners of this year’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials by 0.3 penalties in their debut at this event. Jock and Clifton Promise had never jumped a clear show jumping round at a three-day event until today, according to Badminton Radio (Note: they jumped clean at WEG 2010), and they picked an incredible time to step up to the plate, blocking the reigning Olympic, World, and European Champion Michael Jung from claiming a victory that seemed in the bag.
To make the story line even more exciting, this is Jock’s first CCI4* win, and he becomes the newest rider to win Badminton on a first attempt, the most recent being Mark Todd in 1980. Jock and Clifton Promise quietly stalked the leaders all weekend, sitting in fourth place after dressage and moving up to second place after cross country on the merits of a double clear trip. And he went double clear again today in the show jumping to clinch the win on a day when double clear trips were hard to come by. We saw 14 double clears out of 63 show jumping rounds on a day where every rail mattered, with just one pole down pushing riders far down the leader board.
William Fox-Pitt, who came into show jumping in third place, also dropped a rail with Parklane Hawk, pushing him into fifth place overall. Andrew Nicholson, on the other hand — William’s Grand Slam rival for the weekend — jumped a beautiful clear round with Nereo to finish in third place. The entire crowd rode that round with Andrew, and the atmosphere grew more and more tense with each fence. Sandra Auffarth also jumped a stunning clear round with Opgun Louvo, which moved her up to fourth place overall. She has a lovely partnership with this horse and rode superbly. That rounds out the top five in an order we certainly didn’t expect to see.
The first jump on course ended up being the bogey fence. Situated right in front of the VIP tent where hoards of people were seated, it became very distracting for the horses and caught out many riders, including Tiana Coudray. Tiana and Finn seemed rattled after that and dropped another rail later in the course to fall to 17th place. William smartly trotted by the first fence to show Parklane Hawk the crowd before starting his round, although he ultimately pulled a rail at the third element of the triple combination. The final fence on course also fell multiple times, with Michael and Sam being the most notorious pair to pull it.
Clark Montgomery and Universe and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master claimed two of those 14 double-clear show jumping rounds, which moved them up to 27th and 12th place, respectively. Today was not Colleen Rutledge’s best show jumping day, as she and Luke had a number of rails down. But I still say to hell with the rails, as Colleen still accomplished her goal of completing five of the world’s six CCI4* events — something no one else in history has accomplished on the same horse. I hope Colleen and all of our North American pairs are proud of their performances here on a big international stage this weekend. And now we need to find a way to ship Colleen and Luke to Australia for Adelaide!
The riders are receiving their awards now, and Jock Paget, Michael Jung and Andrew Nicholson will attend the press conference immediately after to talk about their rides. I’ll be bringing you a full report on that after it concludes, as well as much more analysis from Badminton. We’ll make sure you get the photo hookup shortly. What an incredible finish to Badminton! Go eventing.
Michael Jung and Sam are the pair to beat today at Badminton.
Sixty-three horses move on after the final horse inspection — including all the U.S. and Canadian pairs — at Badminton and will show jump today starting at 11 a.m. local time. Seventy horses completed the cross country, and four withdrew before the inspection: Mark Todd and Ravenstar, Ludwig Svennerstal and Alexander, Mattia Luciani and Parko 4, and Lauren Shannon and Zero Flight. Andreas Dibowski and Butts Leon were the only pair to be spun. Five pairs were held and passed upon reinspection: Jock Paget and Clifton Promise, Caroline Powell and Boston Two Tip, Sebastian Mateu and Born Again, Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz, and Jim Newsam and Magennis.
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise.
It’s another beautiful day here at Badminton, with sunny skies and temperatures expected to rise to seasonal highs today. While we definitely saw some tired horses at the jog, I’m happy to report that the vast majority of horses looked to have recovered beautifully after tackling the cross country yesterday. Jock Paget and Clifton Promise — who are currently in second place — gave everyone a bit of a scare when they were held as the third pair to jog. Thankfully, the horse passed on reinspection. The large crowd that turned out to watch the jog was also surprised when favorites Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz — who are sitting in 16th place overnight — were held, but they also passed upon reinspection to loud applause.
William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk
All of the North American pairs looked fantastic in the trot up, with Ringwood Magister feeling particularly good. Just like at the initial horse inspection on Thursday, Finn played the whole way up the jog lane as Tiana tried to stop him from cantering. He also pranced the whole way back down, with the crowd giving him an appreciative cheer. Clark Montgomery and Universe (41st), Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz (51st), and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (22nd) will all show jump in the morning group, while Tiana and Finn — who are sitting in 10th place overnight — will show jump in the final group to go at 1:30 p.m. local time. Check back for more jog photos, and stay tuned for much more from Badminton!
When I asked friends for advice on venturing to England — something I’ve never done before until this weekend — they essentially told me to pack every warm and waterproof piece of clothing I own. Well, considering how sunburned I am right now, I’d say I packed the wrong wardrobe entirely. No matter — I’ll be bathing in sunscreen tomorrow before the trot up at 8:30 a.m. local time to bring you a full report on the pairs we’ll see in show jumping tomorrow.
In the meantime, I’ve finally managed to get the video of the press conference following cross country to upload. Unfortunately, the audio is a bit hard to hear — as people were boozing on the other side of the press tent — so feel free to follow along with the following very accurately transcribed subtitles:
Peter (the wonderful press conference facilitator): “Michael — you’re essentially here this weekend to dash the Grand Slam dreams of Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt, yes?”
Michael: “Most people don’t know this, but Sam is a unicorn, and we actually fly slightly above the ground on the cross-country course, which really saves him from tiring around tough tracks like Badminton.”
Peter: “So you’re saying the horse can become completely airborne?”
Michael: “Yes, it’s a new type of sport horse we’re breeding in Germany specifically for eventing. It’s really come in handy on four-star tracks like this one.”
Reporter: “Michael, were there any surprises for you on course or places where you thought Sam’s magical unicorn dust would prevent him from getting around?”
Michael: “No, Sam actually has an endless supply of unicorn dust.”
Reporter: “Were you surprised that you didn’t take a swim at The Lake?”
Michael: “Could you please repeat the question?”
Reporter: “How did Sam manage to scramble through the brushes at The Lake?”
Miichael: “Like I said before, Sam’s unicorn dust gives him the ability to leap tall brushes in a single bound. I just sprinkle on extra when needed.”
Peter: “Now to Jock Paget. How did Clifton Promise cope with the heat wave that seemed to hit South Gloucestershire at approximately 3 p.m. local time?”
Jock: “The Kiwi horses are too focused on the job at hand to worry about things like ‘heat’ and ‘sunshine’ in England, so he went quite well.”
Peter: “What parts of the course rode trickier than you expected?”
Jock: “I thought The Lake was quite tricky, as we saw with Michael Jung’s horse. It’s a good thing they had that unicorn dust to get them around safely.”
Reporter: “Mark Todd more or less described the course as a glorified three-star. Can you comment on that in a way that won’t insult the designer, organizers and everyone involved with the event?”
Jock: “I’d prefer not to answer that question?”
William and Michael: “You REALLY shouldn’t answer this.”
Peter: “To repeat the question, Mark Todd said he thought it was more of a three-star course. Please don’t answer this question.”
Jock: “The footing was really good, and Michael dropped a bit of unicorn dust in the morning with Leopin FST, so that really helped the rest of us.”
Peter: “Now to William Fox-Pitt. Remember how you had a runout with Oslo? How did that change your ride with Parklane Hawk in the afternoon?”
William: “Well, I’m trying to win $350,000 this weekend, so I figured I should try not to have a runout with Parklane Hawk. We kicked on and I made it home double clear despite the fact that I smashed my finger into smithereens at Rolex last weekend.”
Peter: “It’s a good thing you had that first trip with Oslo so you didn’t make the same mistakes with the second horse.”
William: “Yes, I do believe you’re right.”
Reporter: “Did you mean to take the longer route when you screwed up on course with Parklane Hawk?”
William: “Yes, that was 100-percent intentional on my part.”
Peter: “The obvious question for William is how he feels about the two men sitting to his right trying to ruin his chances to take home $350,000.”
William: “I feel great about it. Who needs $350,000 anyways? May the best man win, and I hope Michael’s unicorn dust carries him to the victory tomorrow.”
This is what sitting in 10th place after Badminton XC feels like.
Michael Jung and Sam survived a scary moment at The Lake to come home 13 seconds inside the time on cross-country day to maintain their lead going into show jumping tomorrow at Badminton. When you watch the video from the press conference — which I’ll have uploaded later today — you’ll notice that I start laughing quite uncontrollably when someone asked Michael Jung if he expected to make it through at The Lake. Michael paused with a smirk as if trying to think of a way to tactfully say, “Of course I expected to make it; that’s what I DO.” After seeing Michael ride in person this weekend and chatting with him a bit this morning, I think it’s very clear that he and Sam are nowhere near done taking international eventing by storm. And barring an anomaly in show jumping tomorrow, Michael will add a Badminton victory to his long list of accolades.
We saw an incredible 23 double-clear cross country trips today, as the footing was perfect and the course quite flat in comparison to other four-star tracks, making for easy going. Just eight pairs were eliminated — with five of those being falls — and five retired on course, giving this year’s Badminton cross country an 85 percent completion rate. Mary King, who was sitting in 15th place after cross country with Kings Temptress, was eliminated at the Farmyard when she missed the flag and unfortunately did not check with the fence judge and carried on with her ride. Bettina Hoy and Lanfranco TSF, who were sitting in 18th after dressage, had a very scary fall at the Huntsman’s Close and were also eliminated. There were no major injuries to horses or riders, making this a very safe day of cross country.
The real story of the day as far as I’m concerned is how brilliantly our North American riders performed here on a very tough track. All four of our pairs — Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz, Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister, Clark Montgomery and Universe, and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master — jumped clear around Badminton. This is a huge achievement, and I’ll take it as a good omen that U.S. eventing is heading in the right direction. Tiana and Finn go into the show jumping tomorrow in 10th place after coming home with just two time penalties, and she looked absolutely elated when I chatted with her in the mix zone after her trip home. As she said in the interview — which you can watch below — Finn has truly matured and is coming into his own, making him a very exciting horse for the future.
I keep asking Colleen Rutledge what it means to her to be making history this weekend, and she keeps telling me that it’s not official yet. But after she jumped clean around Badminton with Luke — coming home with just four time penalties to move up 26 places — I’d say we might as well start celebrating already. When Colleen and Luke complete the show jumping tomorrow — and they will! — they will be the first pair in history to complete five of the world’s six CCI4* events as a team. Jimmy Wofford is here supporting and coaching Colleen this weekend, and I got a bit choked up when he gave her a giant hug in the mix zone after her ride. I know how much this weekend and this horse mean to Colleen, and I am so so SO happy for her. Be sure to watch the great interview she gave me after her ride below.
Clark Montgomery and Universe also had a fantastic trip, coming home with 6.4 time penalties to complete the horse’s first four-star cross-country course. Aside from a rocky moment at Savills’ Staircase — where Clark quickly and smartly rerouted to the option — this was a lovely ride. I saw Clark and Buzzy at the Keeper’s Brush coming toward home, and the horse absolutely launched himself over it. Clark said in my interview with him after his ride — which you can see below — that he was very pleased with the horse’s performance, and he jumped very well around the course. Canadian Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master also had a good day, coming home with just .8 time penalties to be the fastest of our North American pairs. As John said in his open thread, Rebecca and Rupert might have secured a spot on the Canadian WEG team after their performance today.
I kept hearing different crowd estimates all day, with some saying as many as 200,000 people attended Badminton today to watch the horses and riders go on a truly beautiful day in England. We go into tomorrow’s show jumping with Grand Slam contenders William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk sitting in third place and Andrew Nicholson and Nereo sitting in fourth place. Michael Jung did admit during the press conference that he was a bit worried about how Sam would jump in the Badminton stadium tomorrow, as the horses started and came home in the same ring on cross country today. It’s likely we will see a lot of riders struggle with horses that are very up and energized by the atmosphere, and it will take very skilled riding to leave all the rails in the cups tomorrow. Stay tuned for a full press conference report and much more from Badminton.
Last but not least, I have to send a very special shout out to photographer extraordinaire Nico Morgan, who graciously came over to me as I was typing up this report for you and asked if I wanted photos of our North American riders. Considering I was running around all day trying to get rider interviews and videos, I wasn’t able to take great photos, so I’m so very grateful to Nico for his very kind offer. Be sure to like Nico’s Facebook page as thanks for providing EN with these beautiful photos with the stunning backdrop of the Badminton house. Go Nico.
Michael Jung and Leopin FST had one stop on course at Savills' Staircase.
We’re approaching the halfway mark here on cross-country day at Badminton, and I’m popping in to bring you a quick update and some videos of the course. So far, the course has ridden very well, with 10 riders coming home double clear thus far. I imagine we’ll see that number grow much higher throughout the day, as the going is very good and the footing is fantastic. Much to everyone’s surprise, Michael Jung has not been one of those double clear rides thus far, as he was caught out at Savills’ Staircase with Leopin FST as one of the first rides of the morning. I caught him for an interview after the ride, which you can see below. We now know that Ze Terminator isn’t invincible, but you can bet he won’t make the same mistake twice with his ride on La Biosthetique Sam FBW this afternoon.
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier gallop away from The Lake.
Savill’s Staircase, which is fence 22 of 30 on course, also caught out Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Skyport. The other tricky fence on course thus far is right before Savill’s Staircase at fence 21, the HSBC Market Square, which has caught out both Kristina Cook and De Novo News and William Fox-Pitt and Oslo. Ben Hobday has taken the only tumble of the day thus far when he parted ways with Gun A Be Good at the Farmyard. There have been three retirements on course, with Izzy Taylor and KBIS Briarlands Matilda retiring at the Footbridge, Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois retiring at fence nine, and Emily Galbraith and Timing retiring at the Huntsman’s Close. Lucy Jackson and Willy Do withdrew before cross country. It’s about to get very exciting with Clark Montgomery set to kick things off for the Americans at 2:48 local time. I’ll be bringing you post-ride interviews with Clark, Colleen Rutledge, Tiana Coudray and Rebecca Howard. Stay tuned!
Visionaire had the fabulous idea of compiling all the videos I’ve taken at Badminton thus far into one post to make them easy to find. I miraculously managed to capture video footage of the top 15 rides, and I’ve received comments from all over the world from people thanking me for taking these videos, which is quite humbling. Thank YOU, dear readers, for following along with my coverage from Badminton. Since I’ve been primarily bringing you footage of the dressage tests, I haven’t been able to be in the mixer area to catch riders for post-ride interviews. But expect that to change tomorrow, as John has given me the go ahead to more or less run wild over the cross-country course. This means two things: 1. Expect video interviews with all our North American pairs and 2. I’ll be shamelessly stalking Michael Jung. Please let me know in the comments if there’s any rider you’d like to hear from, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your requests! Cross country kicks off at noon local time. Go eventing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfxuAmw_QA0 Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW — 1st place
To give you an idea of just how much the Badminton leaderboard changed after Day 2 of dressage, Day 1 leaders Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani are now sitting in ninth place. Over the last two days, we saw four dressage tests in the 30s and 24 rides in the 40s — that’s one-third of the pairs scoring at least a 49.3. The numbers speak for themselves; the quality of the competition here is second to none, and it almost feels like an Olympics redux considering the lineup. As many expected, Michael Jung and Sam lead after the conclusion of dressage, and we got a sneak peak into why Michael is truly Ze Terminator in his press conference interview.
How to be Ze Terminator in three easy steps, as explained by Michael Jung:
1. Recognize that nerves are healthy
Many fans of the sport assume that riders like Michael have an iron will that stops nervous energy in its tracks. But Michael was very open in the press conference about the fact that he does get nervous, and that helps him to be sharper on bigger tracks like Badminton. Remember that the next time you feel the need to puke while walking your cross-country course.
2. Take pride in little victories
Considering Michael and Sam’s track record, you would think he expects nothing less than total perfection in his dressage tests. But Michael quite candidly said the best part of every dressage test is when he comes in for the salute and his horse actually stops. Considering how many tests we saw this weekend that were muddled by sloppy halts, I like Michael’s reasoning here.
3. Crush your opponent’s dreams
I can’t say I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s tough to imagine that we might not have a Grand Slam winner this weekend should Michael play spoiler. But when asked about that in the press conference, Michael wasn’t exactly sympathetic. It’s simple: He’s here to win. If he does, he’ll become just the second rider to do so on a first attempt at Badminton since Mark Todd in 1980.
Looking at the current leaderboard by nationality, there are three Germans in the top 10: Michael Jung and Sam, Dirk Schrade and King Artus, and Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo; two Kiwis: Jock Paget and Clifton Promise and Andrew Nicholson and Nereo; two Aussies: Chris Burton and Holstein Park Leilani and Sam Griffths and Happy Times; two Brits: William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk and Pippa Funnell and Redesigned; one Italian: Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo; and one! American!: Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. Tomorrow’s course is a monster, and things will undoubtedly change drastically by the time the last horse gallops home. I’ll be there to bring you all the action, as well as post-XC analysis from the North American contingent. Go eventing.
Jimmy Wofford, Colleen Rutledge and Helen Laffitte at fence 3, the HorseQuest Quarry.
Finally — it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the Badminton cross-country course preview. It’s very interesting walking the course just a week after Rolex. While both events are CCI4*s, this course is entirely different in its conception. At Rolex, most of the jumps were bunched toward the middle of the course, with the end of the course containing long gallops between fewer fences. At Badminton, it’s the total opposite. The beginning of the course has big galloping fences and minimal questions, and then all of a sudden the questions start coming one after the other, with the end of the course packed with some really intense fences. Standing at the bottom of Savills’ Staircase is truly terrifying, and that’s just one of the monster questions on course.
I have to give a special shoutout to Mark, who has volunteered at Badminton for the last decade to drive journalists and photographers around the course to take preview photos, saving them precious minutes in their busy days. He was a lovely guide for me around the course. And yes, I did not technically walk the entire course. After Rolex — which I set out to powerwalk and pulled muscles I didn’t even know I had — I took the easy route. But I DID run into Colleen Rutledge, Jimmy Wofford and super groom Helen Laffitte at fence 3, the HorseQuest Quarry, where Colleen was kind to give me an interview about her dressage test this morning with Shiraz. Cross all your fingers and toes for a safe and successful cross-country trip for Colleen and Luke as they look to make history by completing five of the world’s six CCI4* events as a team.
I'd smile like that too if I were the best in the world.
As the current and history’s only reigning European, Olympic and World champions, Michael Jung and Sam have nothing left to prove, but they’ve set out to add one more title to their many accolades at Badminton here this weekend. So far they’re on track, as Michael and Sam scored a 36 in the last group of the day to win the dressage heading into cross country tomorrow. As we’ve come to expect from this pair, the test was nearly flawless, with the only rare mistake coming when Sam stepped forward out of the halt and only took four steps in the rein back. I’m almost ashamed to type that considering how nitpicky it sounds. Let’s be honest — Michael and Sam have raised the bar so high that they are now in a league of their own. I have Michael’s interview from the press conference still to upload for you, but let’s just say this man has ice running in his veins and is going to be a rock star tomorrow.
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise are in fourth on a 39.7.
The last group of the afternoon contained the rides we’ve been waiting to see all weekend, and the pairs did not disappoint. Jock Paget and Clifton Promise rose to the occasion, scoring 39.7 to move into fourth place overnight. Aside from a slight bobble in the extended walk, this was an incredibly good test from the pair who placed 10th individually at the London Olympics. William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk are sitting just behind Jock in fifth place on a 40. This was not the usual fluid test we see from William, as there were moments throughout where he seemed to lose his rhythm, and I have to wonder if the pressure of the Grand Slam has finally gotten to him. Of course, he’s still sitting in an excellent position going into cross country. And speaking of the Grand Slam, Andrew Nicholson and Nereo are hot on William’s heels, sitting in sixth place on a 40.2. Andrew and Nereo also had some uncharacteristic bobbles in their test, as you’ll see on the video.
William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk are sitting in fifth place on a 40.
Mary King and Kings Temptress had a tense test that we usually don’t see from them, scoring a 45.5 to sit in 15th place. Dirk Schrade mentioned in the press conference that he thought the atmosphere was quite hard on he horses for the late afternoon riders, as the stands were packed and noisy, and the chilly wind didn’t help matters either. Poor Tina Cook also fell victim to the atmosphere, as she didn’t hear the bell with Miners Frolic and consequently entered the ring late, picking up an error right off the bat. She struggled to recover after that, as the horse never came to a full halt to start the test and seemed tense. They are sitting in 29th place on a 50.2. Pippa Funnell and Redesigned were the last to ride today, giving us a lovely finale to sit tied for seventh place on a 47.3. Of course, I have videos of all of the top-10 rides and will be uploading them and posting them here as the internet cooperates. Stay tuned for the press conference report and my end-of-dressage analysis AND … drumroll … the course walk photos!
Dirk Schrade and King Artus moved into second at Badminton.
Dirk Schrade and King Artus were the second pair of the day to crack the 30s, scoring a 39.2 to move into second place as we head into the final group of riders to go at Badminton. The crowd began stirring from the very beginning of this test when one of the judges awarded Dirk a 10 for his halt, and the test continued to look lovely from there. King Artus is a very fluid mover and really a pleasure to watch, and Dirk definitely earned this score. But the real story of the afternoon for us Americans is Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister scoring a 43.3 to tie for equal fifth with Sam Griffiths and Happy Times. Tiana told me yesterday in our interview that Finn is incredibly fit and it was going to be a challenge to keep him settled today. But Tiana nailed it, and Finn turned on the pizzazz to really wow the crowd. Tiana looked absolutely thrilled after the test and hugged and patted Finn repeatedly as they left the arena. The video of their test is uploading slowly, but I will post it as soon as it’s ready.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister are now tied for fifth place.
We also saw a lovely test from Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas in the third group of the day; they scored a 44.2 to sit just behind Tiana in seventh place. Ingrid had some bad luck picking up the wrong lead at the canter strike off following the rein back, and the horse also swapped leads during the counter canter. Had Ingrid not had those mistakes, she likely would have come very close to cracking the 30s, so I imagine she’s very frustrated with those bobbles. But it was still a really lovely test. Zara Phillips and High Kingdom sit just behind Ingrid in eighth place on a 44.3. Aside from one bobble in the canter serpentine, this was a really lovely test for this pair. As is becoming the theme for my day, I have video of both Ingrid and Zara’s tests and will bring those to you once they upload. I think the sheer number of journalists and photographers working in the press tent has completely overwhelmed the system, making uploading difficult.
Zara Phillips and High Kingdom are sitting in eighth place.
The top placings are incredibly close going into the final group of riders; it’s going to be a fantastic finale. We’ve only had two riders crack the 30s so far, but it’s safe to say that will drastically change now. We have Mary King and Kings Temptress leading off the final group at 3:30 p.m. local time, with Kristina Cook and Miners Frolic, Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW, William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk, and Andrew Nicholson and Nereo still to come. I’m thrilled that my steward friend has promised me excellent seating for the conclusion of dressage here at Badminton, so get excited for the crazy amount of videos I’m going to bring you. I walked the course over the lunch break and caught Colleen Rutledge walking the course with Jimmy Wofford, so I’ll also be bringing you an interview with her in which she breaks down her dressage test from this morning. Go eventing.
This will be a very quick update — as I leave on a guided coursewalk in exactly 11 minutes during the lunch break — but in exchange for the brevity I bring you videos of all three of our North American pairs to ride so far — Clark Montgomery and Universe, Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz and, just now, Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. Rupert has looked fantastic all spring and looked stunning today, scoring a 51.3 to tie for 20th place. Rebecca and Riddle Master are the highest-scoring North American pair thus far. This test was oh so close to being really fantastic, as Rupert was a bit tense from the beginning and desperately wanted to canter coming out of the salute to begin the trot work. But Rebecca held him together beautifully and should be very proud of this test.
Today has been survival of the fittest to bring you these videos and photos. While the ring stewards let me quietly sit wherever I wanted yesterday, today they are cracking down on seating. Thus far, I have been moved to a different seat five times; it seems no one knows where the journalists are allowed to sit today. I have to give a shoutout to a very kind steward — who will remain unnamed lest he suffer the wrath of other officials I encountered today — who heard my American accent and offered to let me move into the reserved seating to take photos and videos of our North American riders. Thank you, sir, for your kindness. Go eventing.
Note: Rebecca’s test still hasn’t finished uploading — the Badminton wifi has not been good to me thus far — so I will update this post with the video just as soon as I return from the coursewalk. And, most importantly, I’ll be back with course walk photos! Stay tuned for a full preview of the Badminton cross-country course this afternoon.
Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve have taken the lead at Badminton.
Stefano Brecciaroli is the first rider to crack the 30s in dressage here at Badminton, scoring 36.8 with Apollo VD Wendi Kurt Hoeve to move into first place. This horse placed second in the dressage at the London Olympics and certainly didn’t disappoint today, with Stefano had some of the best geometry we’ve seen yet. The judges have been incredibly picky about accuracy, and Stefano is one of a handful of riders so far who hasn’t been crushed on the 10-meter circles. Apollo is also a really stunning mover, and the judges definitely rewarded their trot work nicely. In addition to a new leader, we also have another new pair in the top three this morning, with London individual bronze medalists Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo scoring 41.3 to move into second. Sandra had an unfortunate bobble when the horse bumped into the rope that serves as the arena gate, spooking himself and breaking his concentration. The test suffered a bit after that, with Opgun Louvo never coming to a steady halt before the reinback. But this was still a very lovely performance from Sandra.
Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo move into second place.
We also saw the first of the Americans to go here at Badminton this morning, with Clark Montgomery and Universe riding fifth in the order. Universe was a bit up and never quite settled for Clark, who has been getting beautiful work from him this spring. But this was still a lovely showing for Buzzy, who looked brilliant and was moving very well today. Clark and Universe scored a 54.3 to sit in 27th place. Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz also rode in the first group this morning, and I thought Luke looked very relaxed and responsive. Colleen and Luke had some really lovely moments, and I think Colleen should be pleased with this performance. Luke was snorting softly throughout the test, as if to say, “Can we go cross country yet?” They’ll be in fine form tomorrow. Colleen and Luke scored 63.2 to sit in 43rd. Also, big props to Colleen for wearing a helmet. Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master ride in the second group before the lunch break, and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister will go after the lunch break.
Clark Montgomery and Universe
We also saw a really lovely test from Bettina Hoy and Lanfranco TSF in the morning group. Aside from a slight bobble in the walk transition when the horse came to a full halt, this was a very steady, accurate test. Bettina and Lanfranco scored 46.3 to move into eighth place. Our good luck with the weather has unfortunately run out, with rain falling on and off this morning and heavy winds making the horses quite spooky. The weather forecast predicts that this storm will blow over, so hopefully we will have better conditions for the afternoon. I’m heading back out to shoot video of Rebecca and Rupert’s test and will upload that quickly before the lunch break. I apologize in advance for bringing you a shorter lunchtime update than usual, as I’m going on a tour of the cross-country course during the lunch break that leaves promptly at noon local time. Videos are a bit slow to upload, so I will add in the footage of Clark and Colleen’s tests once I get back for the lunch break.
Tiana Coudray was kind enough to take time out of her very busy day to chat with me about her expectations for dressage tomorrow at Badminton with Ringwood Magister and how she feels about the rest of the weekend. Finn looked very keen in the jog on Thursday and has reportedly been quite a handful here on the grounds as well. Tiana rode him quite a bit today to help him settle and will jump him tomorrow before her test to encourage him to get out that extra energy. The good news is Finn is extremely fit and is in excellent form for the cross country on Sunday. Watch the interview to hear Tiana’s thoughts on the course, as well as her spring preparation strategy for Badminton. Tiana rides her dressage test at 2:44 p.m. local time tomorrow. Go Finn!
Australia’s Christopher Burton, who is sitting in first place on Holstein Park Leilani after Day 1 of dressage at Badminton, said in the post-dressage press conference that he didn’t expect to be in such a position today, as the mare is really more of a cross-country horse. She’s 17 now, and he said he’s always thought of her as a Badminton horse, so he’s thrilled to be here with her this weekend. Watch the video for all of Burto’s comments from the press conference. Sam Griffiths, who is sitting in second place on Happy Times, said the horse is quite an experienced competitor now and is in very good form for a top performance this weekend at Badminton. But this weekend isn’t just a dressage show, and, as Sam said, Badminton is a course where you can’t take anything for granted. Sam said the footing is very good on course and may help riders come closer to making time than in past years, as time can be notoriously tough to make here at Badminton.
Andrew Nicholson, who is sitting in third place with Avebury, said the horse is a very cool competitor under pressure and in a big atmosphere like Badminton, so he was pleased with how composed the horse stayed throughout the test. Unfortunately, the test had a few bobbles — which Andrew mostly blamed on himself — and when asked whether he thought his test on Nereo would score better, he answered a quick and firm “yes.” Of course, the major story line this weekend is the Grand Slam showdown between Andrew and William Fox-Pitt, but Andrew said he’s pushed the quest for $350,000 out of his mind. The way he put it, he’s just here this weekend to win Badminton; the win just happens to come with a hell of a prize attached.
We have a very exciting lineup tomorrow, and there’s a good chance these leaders won’t be anywhere near the top by the time dressage concludes here at Badminton. We’ll also see all of the North American riders tomorrow, with Clark Montgomery and Universe leading off for the U.S. at 9:32 a.m. local time. While we certainly saw some lovely performances today, all eyes will be on Day 2 of dressage to truly give us an idea of who will be victorious come Monday afternoon. Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW, William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk, and Andrew Nicholson and Nereo all go in the last group tomorrow, so it’s going to be a very long day of holding our breath and waiting to see if one of these pairs will take the lead going into cross country on Sunday. Tune in tomorrow for much more from Badminton. Go eventing.
Aoife Clark and and Master Crusoe are tied for fourth place on a 45.8.
Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe gave a lovely finale to Day 1 at the Badminton Horse Trials, performing a rhythmic, consistent test for a 45.8 to tie William Fox-Pitt and Oslo for fourth place. This pair placed seventh individually at London — performing one of just a handful of double-clear show jumping rounds — and are a real threat to finish right up there with the leaders at the conclusion of the competition. I thought their trot work was especially good, and Aiofe received wonderful support from the crowd upon finishing her test. We also saw crowd favorites Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz in the final group of the day, who scored 48.2 to tie for 11th place with Jock Paget and Clifton Lush. The judges have been very stingy with flying changes today — we’ve seen a lot of 4s — but Nicola nailed them and was rewarded for her efforts. This horse commonly leads off for Great Britain in major team championships, so you can expect to see a thrilling performance from Nicola and Opposition Buzz on Sunday.
Andreas Dibowski and Butts Leon are sitting in 13th place on a 48.3.
Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois led off the fourth and final group of riders for the day, putting in a very solid, correct test to move into 10th place on a 47.8. Kai was one of the riders to suffer a 4 from the judges on one of his flying changes, but overall the test was very good. Andreas Dibowski and Butts Leon — Thailand’s Nina Ligon’s mount for the London Olympics — also had a lovely performance to sit in 13th place on a 48.3. Andreas has placed second twice at Badminton, includingonce with this horse, and should be very competitive on the cross country. Butts Leon gave the crowd a bit of a scare when he pulled a Black Stallion-esque rear leaving the stadium as Joseph Murphy was entering to perform his test, but Andreas stayed on, thankfully. Louisa Milne Home bought King Eider as a 4-year-old and has produced him all the way through the levels. While they’ve completed Burghley twice, this is their first attempt at Badminton, and they looked in fine form today. Louisa and King Eider are sitting tied for 17th place on a 53.8.
Louisa Milne Home and King Eider are tied for 17th place on a 53.8.
At the end of Day 1, 37% of the dressage tests cracked the 40s, with no riders yet venturing into the 30s. But with some of the world’s best still to come tomorrow — La Biosthetique Sam FBW, Nereo and Pawklane Hawk to name a few — it’s safe to say we’re going to see some very good scores. The top 10 so far is comprised of three Brits: William Fox-Pitt and Oslo tied for fourth, with Mary King and Imperial Cavalier and Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porloe both tied for seventh; two Australians: Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani and Sam Griffiths and Happy Times sitting in first and second, respectively; two for Germany: Michael Jung and Leopin FST in sixth and Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois in 10th; one for New Zealand: Andrew Nicholson and Avebury; one for Ireland: Aoife Clark; and one for Italy: Vittoria Panizzon. Stay tuned for a report from the press conference.
Christopher Burton and and Holstein Park Leilani have taken the lead at Badminton on a 43.
We’re getting closer and closer to cracking the 30s here on Day 1 of dressage at Badminton, as Christopher Burton and Holstein Park Leilani have just taken the lead on a 43. It’s turning out to be a bang up day for Australia, as Sam Griffiths and Happy Times are currently sitting in second place on a 43.4. Burto and Leilani’s test looked very accurate, relaxed and correct. It always interests me to see how riders handle the first halt and salute, and Chris really took his time there, perhaps using some mental tenacity to visualize a stellar test. Whatever his strategy, it worked, and he’s sitting in a very good position for the rest of the weekend. Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz put in a lovely test for Italy, and particularly had some lovely moments in the trot work. They struggled a bit in the changes and lost some marks in the canter work overall, but this is a very talented pair with a bright future ahead. They are sitting tied for sixth place on a 47.3.
Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz are tied for sixth place on a 47.3.
Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porloe scored the same marks, 47.3, to also sit tied for sixth place. The horse spooked at the judge’s box while circling the arena, but Lucy settled him well and got some really nice work out of him. I thought they had one of the best canter departs of the day — bested perhaps only by EN’s own Charlotte Agnew and Out of Africa Two — and she really went for it in the extended canter. She lost marks in the flying changes, but should be very pleased with this test. Lucy has completed Badminton six times and is no stranger to this course; look for her to have a good showing on Sunday. Ludwig Svennerstal — who stole the show yesterday in the jog while wearing a full tuxedo and bow tie — is competing in his first Badminton and had some really lovely moments with Alexander in his test. Ludwig and Alexander are sitting tied for 13th on a 54.2.
Lucy Wiegersma and Simon Porloe are tied for sixth on a 47.3.
Ben Hobday and Gun A B Good put in a really lovely, obedient test for 53.8, which puts them in 12th place — another great showing for one of the local riders. Sarah Bullimore gets a shoutout for the coolest quarter mark I’ve seen thus far — her initials in a monogram style. Her test with My Last One was very nice, aside from some naughty moments in the changes when the horse bucked a bit. Sarah and My Last One are sitting in 18th on a 58.8. Local favorite Beanie Stergis and Lebowski received the loudest cheer of the day thus far. Beanie’s family is heavily involved in Badminton and the local eventing scene, and it’s lovely to see the hometown crowd here cheering on the Brits. Beanie had a break to the canter during the first extended trot, but she had a lovely extended walk with Lebowski. This pair is sitting tied for 19th on a 59.7.
Local favorites Beanie Sturgis and Lebowski.
It’s fun to see so many up-and-coming British riders contesting Badminton, many for the first-time. Badminton is to these British riders what Rolex is to our U.S. riders — a lifelong goal you work very hard toward. Well done to all the Brits — and riders from other nationalities — who are contesting their first four-star this weekend. And while I’m giving kudos, the volunteers working in the dressage stadium run a very tight ship, making sure that all spectators are seated during the tests, or holding them back until a break between rides. Kai Ruder and Leprince Des Bois kick off our fourth and final group of rides at 3:30 local time. We still have Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz to go, as well as Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe.
Sam Griffiths and Happy Times took the lead on a 43.3 before the lunch break.
Sam Griffiths and Happy Times slipped into the lead on a 43.3 before the lunch break with a very fluid, relaxed test. Sam has had very good showings here at Badminton in previous years, and he didn’t disappoint today with this horse. Aside from a few bobbles in the middle of the test, I’d say this is definitely one of the most correct tests we’ve seen so far today. Sam and Happy Times sit just ahead of Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, who also put in a lovely test in the second group to move into second place on a 45. There appeared to be a few miscommunications between Andrew and Avebury during the test, particularly when the horse picked up the correct lead out of the reinback but then stopped. Andrew recovered nicely and sits in a good position with his second ride Nereo still to come tomorrow.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury are sitting in second place on a 45.
Francis Whittington and Sir Percival led off in the second group and are currently sitting tied for 10th place on a 59.7. The test was a bit tense throughout, although I thought the changes redeemed it. Mark Todd went second after the break and unfortunately really struggled in his test with Major Milestone. The horse never really settled and seemed to want to jump out of his skin in the canter work. Mark and Major Milestone are sitting in 16th place on a 67.8. We saw some lovely work from Ruth Edge — who also rides straight dressage — and Nick of Thyme; she gets a shoutout for giving the horse a comforting pat right before M during the free walk. Aside from a stumble in the last change, this was a very nice test, and Ruth and Nick of Thyme are sitting in seventh place on a 48.7.
Harry Meade and Wild Lone are tied for 13th on a 63.3.
Harry Meade struggled a bit with Wild Lone, who definitely seemed affected by the atmosphere. The horse cruised through the first and second halt, although he had a really lovely final halt. All things considered, I’d say Harry held him together quite well; they are sitting on a 63.3. Sarah Stretton and Skip On, our last riders before the lunch break, put in a solid test to tie for 10th place on a 59.7. To give you an idea of just how good the quality of dressage here is thus far, 44 percent of the rides thus far have cracked the 40s, and I imagine we’ll only see that percentage continue to climb considering the riders still to come. Marco Biasia and Tatchou will lead off after the lunch break at 1:40 p.m. local time, and we’ll be seeing EN blogger Charlotte Agnew conclude the third group of the day with Out of Africa Two.
William Fox-Pitt and Oslo are leading on a 45.8 at Badminton after the first group.
William Fox-Pitt and Oslo are leading on a 45.8 after a lovely test to start things off on Day 1 of dressage here at Badminton Horse Trials. The horse looked very good and very relaxed, and it was a typical test from William where he squeezes every point he can out of each movement. He just moves into first ahead of Michael Jung and Leopin FST, who put in an equally stunning test for a 46.5. Mary King and her Olympic partner Imperial Cavalier are just behind Michael in third on a 47.3. Things went about the way I expected they would in the first group, with William, Michael and Mary leading the way. The quality of the dressage here at Badminton is very exciting, as we’re already getting scores in the mid-40s with the best horses still yet to come.
Michael Jung and Leopin FST are in second place.
Jock Paget and Clifton Lush are sitting in fourth place on a 48.2 and looked really fantastic in Jock’s debut here at Badminton. The test was very accurate, and I thought the changes in particular were flawless. Oliver Townend and Armada are sitting in fifth place on a 51.7. This pair started things off for us this morning, and aside from picking up the wrong lead out of the rein back, I thought this was a very lovely test. Kristina Cook and De Novo News are in sixth place on a 55.5. I really loved the looks of this horse in the jog yesterday, and I thought he looked quite good today. The horse trotted out of the rein back and also broke coming to the final halt, but this was a nice test for this pair. Caroline Powell and Boston Two Tip are in seventh place on a 59.7, and Lucy Jackson and Willy Do are in eighth place on a 63.3.
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier are in third place after the first group.
Francis Whittington and Sir Percival are starting things off in the second group before the lunch break. I’m having trouble getting my video of William Fox-Pitt and Oslo’s leading test to upload, but I’ll be sure to post that during the lunch break (Update: Video added below). In the meantime, enjoy Michael Jung and Leopin FST’s test below. I also have video of Mary King and Imperial Cavalier’s lovely test that I’ll bring you later today. Stay tuned for much more in the second group, including Mark Todd and Milestone and Andrew Nicholson and Avebury.
All 84 horses that presented at the first horse inspection this afternoon were accepted here at the Badminton Horse Trials. Only Italian Marco Biasia’s Tatchou was sent to the holding box and later accepted upon reinspection. The weather for the jog turned out to be just lovely, with temperatures in the 60s and plenty of sun shining. I don’t have an exact count on the crowd, but I’d wager that there were more than 500 people watching the first horse inspection. This is truly an all-star field, and I really looked hard for a horse that stood above the rest. But there are so many that look fantastic — not to mention that have plenty of experience and top placings in four-stars — that I can really say it’s anyone’s game at this point.
William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk
Even though my pick to win Rolex — William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning — didn’t pan out, I’m going to throw a hail mary and make another pick for Badminton. After watching the jog and taking past results into account, I’m picking Andrew Nicholson and Aveburyto take the win and seal the deal on the Rolex Grand Slam. Andrew Nicholson’s Nereo — his team bronze medal partner in London — also looked lovely and even drew applause from the crowd, so we of course can’t rule him out. William Fox-Pitt’s Oslo and Parklane Hawk also looked in fine form, and I didn’t notice William’s broken finger wrapped in any way, nor did he seem to be favoring it. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about Michael Jung. Of course, La Biosthetique Sam FBW is the horse to beat, but I also thought Michael’s second mount Leopin FST looked incredible. Then again, Michael could probably take a carousel horse around and make it look good.
Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW
For the North American contingent, Universe trotted up beautifully for Clark Montgomery and looks in fantastic form. Shiraz also looked brilliant for Colleen Rutledge, and trotted down the jog lane without fanfare. Canadian Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master looked great in the jog, with Rupert sporting a maple leaf clipped into his hindquarters. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister put on a bit of a show as one of the last to trot up when Finn pranced down the jog lane and caught the attention of the crowd. I could really say lovely things about each of the horses that jogged today, but I’m going to let the pictures do the talking instead. All four of the North American horses ride dressage on Saturday, but I’ll be looking to catch up with them for interviews tomorrow.
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister
As far as others to watch, both of Mary King’s horses — her London team silver-medal winning parter Imperial Cavalier and Kings Temptress — looked very fresh and ready to go. Jock Paget’s mounts Clifton Lush and Clifton Promise also looked fantastic. While more people will be watching Kristina Cook and Miners Frolic, I thought her second horse De Novo News really looked stunning. Lucy Jackson’s Willy Do dragged her down the jog lane, looking very keen. And I have to give a shoutout to Ludwig Svennerstal of Sweden, who stole the show by jogging up with Alexander in a full tuxedo complete with bow tie. All the dressage action kicks off tomorrow morning at 9:40 a.m. local time with the test ride, and Oliver Townend and Armada ride their test at 10 a.m.
I had the same great view for the conclusion of Rolex as I did for dressage — a spot right by the in-gate as riders went into the stadium hoping for a clear trip and exited with mixed results. It’s an emotional roller coaster being that close to the riders and experiencing the highs and lows right along with them. I felt like I was riding co-pilot on the victory gallops with Lynn Symansky and Donner and Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice as they delivered beautiful clear rounds, and I felt the crushing disappointment right along with Buck Davidson when things didn’t go his way with his beloved Ballynoecastle RM. That’s eventing for you — the highest mountains and the lowest valleys all packed into a few minutes. I hope these photos help you relive those final moments of the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Go eventing.
Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe
Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe
Can last year’s Rolex winners do it again? Photo by Jenni Autry.
2013: Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo
Austin O’Connor and Ringwood Mississippi
Austin O’Connor and Ringwood Mississippi
Beth Perkins and Sal Dali
Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM
Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Buck Davidson and Ballynoecastle RM
Buck Davidson and Mar De Amor
Buck Davidson and Mar De Amor
Buck Davidson and Park Trader
Buck Davidson and Park Trader
Daniel Clasing and Houston
Daniel Clasing and Houston
Emily Renfroe and Walk The Line
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice
James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake
James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake. Photo by Jenni Autry.
James Alliston and Parker
Jan Byyny and Syd Kent
Jan Byyny and Syd Kent
Jan Byyny and Syd Kent
Jonelle Richards and The Deputy. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
Jonelle Richards and The Deputy
Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan
Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan
Katie Ruppel and Sir Donovan
Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition
Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star
Last year’s champions Kristi Nunnink and R-Star (photo by Jenni Autry)
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Rolex (photo by Jenni Autry)
Lynn Symansky and Donner.
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Lynn Symansky and Donner
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Michelline Jordan and Irish Diamonds
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Yes, I did stop in the middle of traffic to take this picture for you.
Greetings from Badminton! The first horse inspection begins in about 45 minutes in front of the beautiful Badminton house, and I’ll be bringing you a full report and photos from all the action at the jog. But first, I caught up with Colleen Rutledge for a quick interview before she went to change into her “monkey suit” — as she called it — for the trot up with Shiraz.
Colleen is looking to make history here at Badminton this weekend as the only rider to complete five of the world’s six CCI4* events on the same horse. She seemed incredibly composed and in good spirits — definitely ready to tackle one of the world’s toughest events.
In other news, I’m thrilled to be at Badminton and so looking forward to bringing you all the action here on EN this weekend. Today was my first foray into driving in the UK, and I’m pleased to report that only a few roundabouts were harmed in the process. It’s incredible to be here at an event where SO many people are in attendance for a jog.
There are countless spectators enjoying Pimm’s at the many outdoor seating areas and shopping the trade fair stands everywhere I turn, not to mention watching the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships.
The word on the street is that this is higher attendance than usual, as evidenced by the media center running out of meal tickets before this road weary EN reporter could grab a sandwich. It’s safe to say that we’re seeing an uptick in spectators and media alike because of the significance of this weekend — the first time in history two riders will be facing off for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.
I just received the order for the first horse inspection, and Andrew Nicholson has chosen Nereo and Avebury as his two mounts to contest the Grand Slam, while William Fox-Pitt has picked Oslo and Parklane Hawk.
It’s also worth noting that the weather is brilliant here at Badminton, mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid-60s. The rain cloud that followed me at The Fork and Rolex looks to be gone for good. Stay tuned for much more from Badminton, and don’t forget to read my preview for a full scoop on all the great story lines I’ll be following this weekend.
The jog begins at 4:30 p.m. local time with Oliver Townend and Armada leading the way. I’m off to try to catch Clark Montgomery for an interview before the jog, and I’ll also be looking to catch up with Tiana Coudray afterward. Go Badminton.
Andrew Nicholson will look to clinch the Rolex Grand Slam this weekend with a win at Badminton after his victory at Rolex, but he'll have to get by William Fox-Pitt first.
I really couldn’t make up a better story line for Badminton if I tried. For starters, Andrew Nicholson won Rolex on four-star rookie Quimbo this past weekend, setting himself up for a crack at the Rolex Grand Slam. William Fox-Pitt is also going for the Grand Slam after being granted a one-year grace period when England saw record rainfall last year, leading to Badminton’s cancellation. But wait, there’s more! As if it weren’t already exciting enough to have two of the world’s best riders facing off in a battle to the death bitter end, current Olympic, World, and European champion Michael Jung will be making his first appearance at Badminton with his unicorn top mount La Biosthetique Sam FBW. This is the stuff Disney movies are made of, people, and I’ll be there to bring you every gritty moment. I thought a full preview on all 123 horses and riders currently entered and on the wait list would be too soul crushing for me to write and you to read, so I decided to give you a brief look at why this year’s Badminton will be one hell of a show.
Grand Slam thank you ma’am Showdown
I know it’s a bit confusing as to how Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt are both eligible to win the Rolex Grand Slam this weekend. Here’s the deal: William Fox-Pitt won both Burghley in 2011 and Rolex in 2012 with Parklane Hawk, which set him up to go for the Grand Slam at Badminton in 2012. But due to heavy rains turning England into a swamp for much of the spring, Badminton was canceled, and Rolex graciously allowed William’s Grand Slam bid to stretch to this year’s Badminton. Remember that the Rolex Grand Slam is a $350,000 cash prize awarded to a rider who wins Rolex, Badminton, and Burghley in any consecutive order. Pippa Funnell was the first rider in history to win the Grand Slam in 2003, and she’ll remain the only rider in history to win it under the long format. And speaking of history in the making, this is likely the first and only time we will ever see two riders going head to head for eventing’s richest prize.
Andrew’s Grand Slam bid is progressing along a more traditional timeline, as he won Burghley last year with Avebury and Rolex this past weekend with Quimbo. Riders are only allowed to compete at Badminton with two horses, and Andrew hasn’t yet chosen which two of his three entered mounts he’ll ride. He’ll be choosing two from Nereo, his 2012 London Olympics team bronze medal partner who also placed fourth individually; 2012 Burghley winner Avebury; and Mr. Cruise Control, who finished seventh at Pau last year. Slim pickings, eh? Likewise, William has four incredible mounts from which to pick two: Cool Mountain, winner of Rolex in 2010; Parklane Hawk, winner of Rolex in 2012 and Burghley in 2011; Oslo, winner of Pau in 2011; and Lionheart, his team silver medal partner from the London Olympics. Good luck choosing two from those nags, Willy.
Michael Jung: The Terminator
William Fox-Pitt joked in the press conference at Rolex that all this Grand Slam hoopla is pointless, as Michael Jung will likely swoop in with Sam and win Badminton anyway. While William’s comments were in jest, we have to consider the very likely possibility that Michael will play spoiler. He comes in to Badminton as the reigning Olympic, World, and European champion with Sam, a horse that only seems to get better with age like a fine wine. Look for Michael to lay down a killer dressage test and head into cross country on Sunday way ahead of the field. To make the Michael story line even more interesting, this is his first appearance at Badminton. If Michael wins, he’ll be just the second rider in history to do so in a Badminton debut, the only other rider being Mark Todd, who won with Southern Comfort in 1980 as a relative unknown at the time. Trivia tidbit: Andrew Nicholson groomed for Toddy at that event.
London Olympics Reunion Tour
This is the first major event since London in which we’ll be seeing the top-placing Olympic horses back in action, not to mention the reunion tour of the London Olympic teams. The entire gold-medal winning German team, silver-medal winning British team, and bronze-medal winning New Zealand team sans one rider — Peter Thomsen of Germany — will be out competing at Badminton. As for the most memorable horses from the Olympics, here’s who you’ll be watching on FEI TV this weekend: Michael Jung and Sam, individual gold; Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo, individual bronze; Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, fourth place; Mary King and Imperial Cavalier, fifth place; Kristina Cook and Miners Frolic, sixth place; Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe, seventh place; Zara Phillips and High Kingdom, eighth place; Jock Paget and Clifton Promise, 10th place … need I say more?
Colleen Rutledge’s CCI4* Quest
Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz are one of three American pairs competing at Badminton this weekend. If she finishes this weekend, Colleen will be the first rider in history to complete five of the world’s six CCI4* events on the same horse. Colleen and Luke have impressively already tackled Rolex and Burghley in 2011 and Luhmuhlen and Pau in 2012 — completing each event without a cross-country jump penalty. While dressage is not Luke’s idea of a good time, he is a freak across the country, which shows in their placings at the CCI4*s they’ve contested. Colleen and Luke finished 12th at Rolex in 2011 — their first CCI4* — and moved all the way up for 73rd to 37th at Burghley that same year thanks to a fabulous cross-country trip. Best of luck to Colleen as she looks to make history.
North American Pride
In addition to Colleen Rutledge, we’ll be seeing Americans Clark Montgomery and Universe and Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister compete at Badminton, as well as Canadian Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. This is Clark’s first CCI4* since setting up his UK base with Jess in Wiltshire, England, and Buzz has had an excellent spring prep for his first four-star, most recently finishing seventh in the CIC3* at Belton Park. This will be Tiana and Finn’s first major outing since the Olympics last year; they most recently finished 30th in the Belton Park CIC3*. Rebecca and Rupert will also be making their first big appearance since the Olympics. They most recently finished sixth at the Fontainebleau CIC3*. I’ll be checking in with our North American contingent as soon as I arrive on the Badminton grounds Thursday morning.
Buckle Up, Eventing Nation
So, all of that is to say that this is going to be one hell of a weekend, and you are not going to want to miss one minute of the action. Visionaire will be bringing you a post shortly about how to watch all the action live on FEI TV. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Badminton website, full schedule, and entry list. And be sure to check in to EN all weekend for live coverage, photos, and interviews from Badminton. Go eventing.
Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz. Photo courtesy of 
Clark Montgomery and Universe. Photo courtesy of 
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise. Photo courtesy of 
