Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW at Badminton 2017. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Yesterday marked two milestones in Britain — the eventing season officially began, with competitions at Tweseldown and Oasby, and — thrillingly — the official countdown to Badminton commenced. Eight cheeky weeks to go, people! Cue much speculation about the entry list, obsession over course designer Eric Winter’s sophomore effort, and, best of all, a serious amount of behind-the-scenes insight over the next two months, as EN delves into what goes into putting on the world’s biggest three-day event.
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The staging of this veritable masterclass in eventing excellence is managed because of the tireless dedication of its organisers, whose forward thinking has allowed the event to evolve over the decades. Each year, the event gets bigger, better, more prestigious, and embraces more and more sporting and safety technology. Want proof of this evolution? Check out this 1988 documentary showcasing the history of the event — it’s a whole different world from the mod-cons we enjoy today, like, um, tack that doesn’t disintegrate mid-course.
Keep your eye on EN for your backstage pass as we count down to the 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials — who are you hoping to see leave the start box this year? Can’t wait two whole months? Check out Badminton’s YouTube page, where you can revisit all the action in full from 2017.
