Several leading riders have shared their initial reactions to the 2026 Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course designed by Eric Winter. The track features 32 fences and an optimum time of 11 minutes 30 seconds.
Gemma Stevens described the layout as fair overall while noting the repeated challenge of the Vicarage Ditch. She said the designer had set excellent distances and avoided unnecessary tricks, but added that jumping the ditch five times felt mean given its inherent difficulty.
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Sarah Bullimore and her home-bred gelding Corimiro delivered a clear round inside the optimum time to take the lead at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country phase on 9 May 2026. Holly Richardson and Ballyneety Silver Service were the first pair to complete the course fault-free and inside the 11min 30sec target. Several top riders incurred penalties or suffered falls, reshaping the leaderboard.
The BE90 course at the 2026 LeMieux Badminton Horse Trials has been unveiled, with designer James Willis creating a 2,989-metre track featuring 21 numbered fences.
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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.
Two horses faced scrutiny during the opening trot-up for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on May 6 but both passed inspection after re-presentation. All 61 entries advanced to dressage as a result. The event marks the start of the five-star competition in Gloucestershire.
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Ros Canter has taken the lead in the dressage at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials on Lordships Graffalo. The defending champion scored 23.7 penalties, 4.4 ahead of second-placed Tiana Coudray. Cross-country action is scheduled to begin on Saturday morning.
Holly Jessett, a primary school teacher from Northamptonshire, took first place in the BE90 championship at the Badminton Horse Trials on 6 May. Riding her 13-year-old horse Lombard Lad, she finished ahead of 94 other starters after a clear round in showjumping. The result marked her first win in the class after a third-place finish in 2023.
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Three additional riders have withdrawn from the Mars Badminton Horse Trials ahead of the event scheduled for 6-10 May in Gloucestershire. The latest pullouts include two Irish competitors and a US rider. Competitors are beginning to arrive at the park for the competition.