The Mars Badminton Horse Trials has received 80 entries for its event scheduled for 6-10 May, marking no waiting list for the first time since 2023. This follows the cancellation of Mars Maryland 5 Star and comes amid discussions on the five-star level of eventing. H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome assesses whether the lower numbers signal concern.
Entries for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials stand at 80 horses, including double entries from rider David Doel, who plans to compete on two of three listed mounts, and five possible entries from Harry Meade, limited to a maximum of three. Accounting for these, the potential lineup is 77 horses, expected to reduce to around 60-65 starters after withdrawals, according to analysis by H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome. The announcement arrives after Mars Maryland 5 Star was cancelled this year, fueling talks about the future of five-star eventing. Historical context shows no waiting list is not unprecedented: 2023 had 83 entries and 64 starters; 2024 had 90 entries, a waiting list of three, and 68 starters; 2025 saw 102 entries, a waiting list of 16 (all accepted), and 81 starters. Changes in rider categorisation since 2023 have tightened five-star qualifications, contributing to smaller fields. Riders increasingly prioritize parallel pathways: championships, with surface-based dressage and showjumping and shorter cross-country, versus the demanding British five-stars like Badminton and Defender Burghley. This year features a World Championships, influencing selections for nations including the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, where entries dropped from 16 starters last year to 14 this time, though US numbers rose while New Zealand's fell. Continental Europeans also thinned out, with Belgium going from four to two entries and Germany from four to one. Roome notes only four British first-timers, averaging 37 years old, reflecting a widening gap from under-age levels to five-star due to level adjustments in youth championships. While numbers are on the smaller side, Roome argues against panic, citing no downward trend and spectator-optimal starter counts of 70-75.
