Double Badminton winner and retired eventing star William Fox-Pitt has walked the cross-country course for the 2026 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, sharing insights on its key fences in the Horse & Hound magazine issue dated 30 April 2026. The event is scheduled for 6-10 May 2026.
The Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course unveiling is a highlight of the eventing calendar. William Fox-Pitt, a 14-time five-star winner including Badminton victories in 2004 on Tamarillo and 2015 on Chilli Morning, previewed the 2026 track designed by Eric Winter. His full analysis of all 32 numbered fences, complete with pictures of him at notable obstacles, appears in Horse & Hound. 'There’s plenty to think about on this year’s Badminton course. It’s a nice course, certainly an inviting course, but it’s not totally forgiving. It has an edge to it and I think competitors will have to dig deep,' Fox-Pitt said. Riders face demanding combinations requiring bravery and precision. Early challenges include the HorseQuest Quarry (4ab) with an upright wall followed by a left-handed turn over another wall, and double gates (5ab) taken on one stride. Water arrives early at the Beaufort Owl Hole (8), followed by the Mars Lake (9ab/10ab) featuring a direct route over a brush-topped fish into water and then skinny brushes. 'It’s a big jump in and competitors will need a bit of bravery there, and then be organised and turn to the skinny in the water – it could be hard to get straight,' Fox-Pitt noted, warning of time pressure and run-out risks. Photogenic highlights like the British Eventing Broken Bridge (13) precede the testing KBIS Slalom (14ab-15), imposing Joules T Bar Log (17), and late Rathbones Curve brushes (28ab). The Spillers Sustainability Bay water (20abcd) includes a tricky corner route, while terrain challenges the Ineos Sunken Road (21ab). After the Luckington Lane Corners (23 & 24), the iconic Holland Cooper Vicarage Vee (25ab) demands power: 'Land over the Luckington Lane Corners, get organised, and don’t panic!' Fox-Pitt advised for the direct ditch-and-rail between oaks. The Mayston Equestrian Hollow (26abc) follows with a big drop to arrowhead brushes: 'It’s a jolly big drop and horses might be a bit surprised by that at the last minute,' he said, stressing adaptation to maintain the line. Coverage includes Badminton TV powered by ClipMyHorse.TV (£22.99) and live results on the Badminton app.
