H&H eventing columnist and one of the world’s top course designers Mark Phillips analyses the Badminton cross-country course and the TV commentary
In the old days, Frank Weldon built Badminton so that when the Brits reached the championship later in the year, the course would seem easy. With my selector hat on, I was disappointed with this year’s course!
This was not a bigger and more difficult version of what the squad will face at the World Championships in Aachen and was therefore of little value to selectors.
Over time, course-designer Eric Winter has developed the Mars Badminton Horse Trials track with more terrain and changes of direction, which has made the time more challenging.
This year’s course was undoubtedly of five-star dimensions which, combined with 13 combinations, made the time even more difficult.
When the time is tight, people make stupid mistakes, especially when they feel the course is relatively straightforward.
Therefore, the fact that many of the combinations were of three- and four-star technical difficulty didn’t matter, as it was all about the clock and the riders making sure they jumped every fence without losing concentration.
Eric should be commended for producing a different type of track and will be pleased with his statistics. He will not be worried about the British selectors!
A different picture at Kentucky
Three weeks ago, at Kentucky five-star, the course was more traditional and therefore produced numerous flag penalties because of the proliferation of angles and skinnies. There were a number of controversial decisions by the ground jury, some of which had significant financial consequences in prize money won and lost.
I’m sure we will see the wording of the flag penalty rule amended before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, as officials and riders must have a clear understanding of how the rule is interpreted before the Games. The Brits won gold despite Ros Canter’s flag in Paris – we don’t want to be forced into a situation where we rely on such luck again in Los Angeles.
On a more positive note, I congratulate the television team on their Badminton commentary. They did an excellent job in emphasising how much the riders care about their horse’s welfare. I came away on cross-country evening moved by how the competitors demonstrated their love for their horses. I’d always known it, but the commentary and Clare Balding’s interviews brought it home.
Five-star lives on
When Badminton entries were down, naysayers were quick to herald the end of the five-star era in the current world of 10-minute championships.
These people should have looked out of the window last weekend as Badminton, bathed in spring sunshine, attracted crowds the like of which I’ve not seen before. Even the grassroots classes swelled the car park in what felt like an unprecedented fashion.
The crowds were rewarded with the privilege of watching one of the all-time great combinations, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. They were in a league of their own in the dressage and produced a foot-perfect cross-country round. Their ability to slow down without pulling and ride forward at will to add and take out strides is unprecedented – and this just months after Ros’s second baby.
Not since the London Olympics with my daughter Zara have I been able to follow the progress of a combination around the course by listening to the cheers of the crowd.
This has to be the mark of superstar status.
At the end of the day, the story was Walter’s record-breaking three wins and now we can only wish him and Ros well for the World Championships.
Many will not know that Tim Price had his collarbone plated the Monday before Kentucky and then another operation the Monday before Badminton to put in bigger screws! How Tim rode through the pain barrier I will never know. His consolation for being second is that he was second to Lordships Graffalo which, on a normal day, would be a win.
Well done, too, to Harry Meade, who continues his impressive list of five-star finishes to stay in contention for championship honours.
But at the end of the day, everyone will remember Badminton 2026 for Ros Canter and the majestic Lordships Graffalo.
● What’s your favourite Lordships Graffalo memory? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine
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Badminton prizes: more accolades for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo plus best mare, best local rider and more
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