Badminton Horse Trials, presented by Mars Equestrian, has attracted a top-class field of entries which is headed by Great Britain’s reigning Olympic, World and European champions and includes 14 of the top 20 riders in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings.
The Olympic team gold medallists will be competing against each other at 5-star level for the first time since the trio won Gold in Tokyo last year: Tom McEwen rides his individual silver medallist Toledo de Kerser, world number one Oliver Townend has Ballaghmor Class and Laura Collett rides London 52. Oliver has also entered dual Kentucky winner Cooley Master Class and exciting new ride Swallow Springs, previously the mount of Andrew Nicholson.
The reigning World champion, Ros Canter and her wonderful veteran Allstar B will be returning to Badminton and the European champion, Nicola Wilson, makes her debut on the spectacular JL Dublin, a prolific winner at 4-star level.
The last winner of Badminton, in 2019, was Piggy March riding the gallant mare Vanir Kamira and the partnership is heading back to defend their title. Piggy also has Brookfield Inocent, her European team gold and individual silver medallist. Other leading British combinations include European bronze medallists Sarah Bullimore and Corouet, Pippa Funnell and her 2019 Burghley winner, MGH Grafton Street, Mollie Summerland and Charly van Ter Heiden, winners of Luhmuhlen last year, plus Kitty King (Vendredi Biats), Kristina Cook (Billy the Red), William Fox-Pitt (Little Fire and Oratorio) and Zara Tindall (Class Affair).
The Badminton prize fund is the largest at 5-star level this year, with £100,000 to the winner. A strong international field, with 13 nations represented, is headed by New Zealand’s Jonelle and Tim Price, who are ranked second and third in the world. Jonelle is entered with her 2018 winner Classic Moet and Grovine de Reve and Tim has the hugely experienced Ringwood Sky Boy and Xavier Faer.
The American contingent includes Phillip Dutton and Lauren Nicholson; French representatives include Maxime Livio and Thomas Carlile, making his long-awaited Badminton debut; world silver medallist Padraig McCarthy and Cathal Daniels are among those from Ireland and Bill Levett and Sammi Birch fly the Australian flag.
“It really is a superb entry and should be a fascinating competition,” said Badminton Director Jane Tuckwell. “We are hugely looking forward to welcoming so many top riders back to Badminton as well as some exciting new faces.”
