Well folks, Mars Badminton is well underway now: we are on to Day 2 of dressage – in fact we will be almost done with dressage by the time those of you in the States get round to reading this…onwards to the exciting part! As I write, the Stars and Stripes make up two thirds of the podium, with Boyd Martin in second and Tiana Coudray in third, while Bubby Upton sits in first place on a score of 27.3. 5*’s also throw up the odd fairytale ending, and wouldn’t that be one for the record books, if Bubby lead from the off, having been unable to walk just a few months ago? What.A.Girl.
Another young superstar – who also happens to be from the US – sits in 9th place overnight. That’s right, Cosby Green, who has been based with Tim and Jonelle Price since last year, has got her first Badminton off to a flying start, although with half the field still to perform their test, that may well change but still, 33.7 is a decent score to be setting out of the start box on.
With hot favourites Ros Canter and Izilot DHI still to go, as well as dressage supremos Tim Price and Vitali, that leaderboard could be looking very different by Friday evening, but as we all know, this ain’t no dressage competition, and by Saturday evening, it could be looking very different again!
There are just two American riders left to strut their stuff between the white boards, and you can find their times below:
Grace Taylor and Game Changer – Friday – 5:48am ET / 11:48am CEST.
Allie Knowles and Morswood – Friday – 6:40am ET / 12:40pm CEST.
One thing that is for sure: you’re going to want to keep it locked and loaded on EN this weekend, to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Once again, Cheg Darlington is taking one for the team and bringing you all of the action, all weekend, with her live updates. If you want to catch up on yesterday’s dressage action, then jump on over here, and if you want to double task and watch it all as it happens, whilst reading Cheg’s excellent updates, then make sure to subscribe to Badminton TV.
Don’t forget to familiarise yourself with the cross country ahead of Saturday either: Tilly has provided us with a thorough preview, as always, complete with a little insight from the designer himself, Eric Winter.
Other than that, all that remains is for us all to hope with all our might that the sun continues to shine at Badminton, and to do what we do best….Go Eventing!
MARS Badminton Horse Trials [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Tickets] [Radio Badminton] [Livestream] [Cross Country Course] [Form Guide] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Galway Downs Spring H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Majestic Oaks Ocala H.T. (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Unionville May H.T. (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Queeny Park H.T. (St. Louis, MO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
River Glen Spring H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Tryon International Three Day Event (Mill Spring, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Winona Horse Trials (Hanoverton, OH) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
UK International Events
MARS Badminton Horse Trials (Gloucestershire, UK) [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Tickets] [Radio Badminton] [Livestream] [Cross Country Course] [EN’s Coverage]
European International Events
International Marbach Eventing (GER) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Live Stream]
Friday News and Reading
MARS Badminton Horse Trials isn’t the only event piquing my interest this week. Yes, that’s right, I can openly admit to feeling a little flutter of excitement on Monday too – though not as much as I did for Badminton, I can assure you – as the annual Met Gala got underway in New York. The theme this year, was ‘The Garden of Time,’ and while some of the attendees nailed that brief, some, as always, missed it altogether. One young lady competing here at Badminton certainly wouldn’t have looked out of place on that red carpet though: Helen Bates’ trot up outfit had a distinctly floral theme, and I am here for it. Someone get that girl a best dressed prize, asap.
Speaking of Helen, she is one of several Badminton first timers competing this weekend, and she is getting allllll of the publicity. The eagle eyed amongst you will see that she took over Eventing Nation’s Instagram story (@goeventing) yesterday, and she was also the first guest on the new season of the wonderful Eventing Weekly. Guaranteed to make you chuckle, this podcast is always worth a listen, and Helen is her usual brilliant self. Good luck this weekend, Helen!
Helen also made the headlines over at Horse & Hound (in case you hadn’t realised, I am a BIG fan of Helen Bates), in one of their many first timer pieces. Head on over to Horse and Hound to find several others, including India Wishart and Max Warburton. A chance to get to know some of the lesser known names on the entry list this week.
It will be of no surprise that I am going to offer you yet another podcast recommendation – and that it is of course, the Eventing Podcast from EquiRatings. But they are bringing alllll of the Badminton content this week – they even rival that which we provide. Well almost. But seriously guys, there’s a banging preview show, and daily ‘diary’ shows – check out Wednesday and Thursday’s here! They always pull in great guests, from owners, to grooms to riders, as well as behind the scenes insights. Honestly, you need to subscribe, even just for this week.
While you’re subscribing to podcasts, you might want to check out the offering from Horse and Hound this week. They have a long running podcast which is always excellent, but this week they, like the Eventing Podcast, will be bringing you daily shows, again with added insight and analysis. Honestly, it will make you feel like you’re at Badminton too! I mean, maybe you are, in which case it will just help you relive it all again…
If added analysis is your thing, or if indeed, you are just an absolute Eventing nerd, which let’s face it, we all are, hence why we are here, then don’t miss the EquiRatings form guide. Packed full of stats and evidence based predictions, if nothing else, the guide will provide you with a tonne of facts to wow your Eventing pals with. Unless of course, they have already read it, in which case they will be a little less impressed.
If you are one of the lucky ones to actually be at Badminton this week, then make sure you keep your eyes peeled for a very special visitor. Her Majesty The Queen is to grace the hallowed Badminton turf with her presence on Sunday, to present the trophy to the eventual winner, as part of the 75th Anniversary Celebrations. Never mind the cross country, you best get practicing those curtseys guys…
Final thing from me before I dive headlong back into Badminton. Just in case you worry that us Eventers are all a bit too strange, and that perhaps you should start to pursue another, more sensible hobby, then check this out. A little dated it may be (remember when a 5* was actually a 4*), it’s still all the verification you need to crack on, keep kicking, and Go Eventing!
Sponsor Corner
The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Eventing Championships was a great time for everyone involved. Which team was your pick to win? Don’t forget to tag @stableviewaiken in your social media posts!
Weekend Watching
Back when Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class were still in the running to win the Rolex Grand Slam this weekend, I stumbled across this video, of the legendary Pippa Funnell, inaugural winner of that much coveted prize, the Triple Crown of Eventing. Still one of only two ever winners, Pippa’s winning of the prize culminated at Burghely, not Badminton, but all the chat about Oliver’s chances had me reminiscing over that epic day. Now that Oliver has withdrawn, there will be no Grandslam won, or indeed lost, this weekend, but still, it’s worth reliving Pippa’s own win, if nothing else than in homage to the great lady herself, who has two horses in the lineup this week. What a phenomenal sportswoman she is. Go Pippa!
