The Challenge Badminton Horse Trials TrophyTo the winning owners:Michele & Archie Saul for Lordships GraffaloMars Equestrian Yeti Cool BoxTo the winning rider: Rosalind CanterMars Equestrian and Spillers prize1,000 to the Groom of winner: Sarah CharnleyReplica of the TrophyTo the top three riders and the winning owner: Michele & Archie Saul, Rosalind Canter, Tim Price and Harry MeadeMark Holliday Memorial TrophyGroom of winner: Sarah CharnleyButler Challenge BowlWith replica ~ for the highest placed British rider: Rosalind CanterWorshipful Company of Saddlers1,000 saddlery voucher ~ Rider with the best score who is under 25 on 1/1/27 and who has not previously won a Company prize in the calendar year: Tom Bird riding Cowling Hot GossipSilver Jubilee PlateTo the most successful rider, the horse to be owned by the rider alone, or in conjunction with immediate family: Sam Watson for Ballyneety RocketmanLaurence Rook TrophyBest British rider not previously completed Badminton: Holly Richardson riding Ballyneety Silver ServiceGlentrool TrophyHorse & Rider who have made greatest improvement on their dressage placing: Tayla Mason and Centennial, up from 40th to 6thFrank Weldon Memorial TrophyRider of the youngest British owned and ridden horse in top 12: Tom Jackson for United 36Cotswold Life TrophyTo the best British rider who is not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack Badge and whose permanent address is in the county of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Somerset: Aaron Miller who finished 11th on Friendship VDLThe William Miflin Memorial TrophyTo the rider of the horse with no cross-country jumping penalties and closest to optimum time: Sarah Bullimore with Corimiro who finished one second inside the timeSport Horse Breeding of Great BritainOwner of best horse sired by a SHB(GB) Graded Stallion or Premium Stallion, provided it is in the top 12: Michele & Archie Saul for Lordships GraffaloFarriers PrizePlaque to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse: Jim Bendon for Tom Bird, Helen Kerry and Fran Birds Cowling Hot Gossip.Stud Voucher500 ~ Owner of the highest placed British owned mare: Stephen & Dinah Posford and Jules Carter for Annaghmore ValonerDavid Beaufort Memorial TrophyTo the person who has contributed to the running of the Horse Trials over many years: Caroline Bromley Gardener who has done the cross-country fence illustrations at Badminton since 1968Embryo Transfer or OPU sessionTo the highest placed British bred or domiciled mare, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine: Annaghmore ValonerBreeder of the winnerLordships Stud/Pennie WallaceArmada Dishes~ Sarah Ennis, Georgie Goss, Harry Meade, Tom Rowland, Joseph Murphy

Well three weeks have passed since Ros Canter and Walter achieved their momentous victory. All of us that were lucky enough to be there that day, witnessed something very special. For those that are not aware, we had a Stevenson Brothers rocking horse on stand-by to present to Ros, should she win for the third time and I am so glad this came to fruition. The real Lordships Graffalo is now in production! Also, well done to all others that achieved a good result.The week got off to a great start with the LeMieux Grassroots Championships. The excitement and enthusiasm of all the competitors and their supporters rubs off on everyone and makes a wonderful curtain raiser for the week.Although the International event saw one of the smaller fields of recent years, it was high class field and no less of an exciting competition. We all observed some great horsemanship as the horses and athletes navigated Eric Winters cross-country course.As always, the weather plays such an important role. The forecast was not brilliant beforehand which made the good weather that arrived seem all the better. Mind you, for anyone at the Event on the Sunday, extra layers were definitely needed! All the work, put into the ground by the great team involved, paid off and then the bit of rain we had the weekend before gave us a helping hand.The Park is now clear the last of the Danco (who provide the majority of the tentage) lorries rolled out on Friday afternoon and now it is the turn of the RHS to prepare for their Flower Show at Badminton, which takes place from 8th to 12th July this will be a very good reason for a return to Badminton in July www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-badminton-flower-showEvery year we learn another lesson to keep trying to improve so the summer will be spent looking at suggestions, comments, etc. and seeing which we can implement for 2027. Although, it needs always to be remembered that the event takes place on a green field site and not all suggestions are incorporable!It goes without saying, how grateful we are in particular to MARS Equestrian but also all the other sponsors for their continued support, alongside all the contractors, tradestand, officials and volunteers without whom the event would be impossible to stage. Last but not lease a big thank you to all of you who supported the event in whatever way, either by attending, joining us via CMH TV or just following us via various channels.How lucky we were this year in so many ways. Heres to 2027 5th 9th May. I will be back with my blog in October!

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo re-wrote eventing history and smashed records with an extraordinarily smooth third MARS Badminton Horse Trials victory, the first combination to achieve this accolade in the events 77-year history.In the final, tense moments of the competition, Ros was left with a luxurious 10.2 penalty lead in the show jumping arena to clinch the richest prize in eventing, 125,000.She used up just two of those penalties in excess time in an admirably composed, harmonious performance, the 14-year-old Lordships Graffalo (Walter) giving each fence plenty of air for the coolest of clear rounds, his ears pricked intelligently throughout.Harry Meade and the mare Annaghmore Valoner, the cross-country runners-up, had given Ros a little more breathing space with a fence down which dropped them to third place.New Zealander Tim Price, whose previous best Badminton result was a third place in 2017, rose to the runner-up spot with an outstanding clear show jumping round on Falco, a horse owned by a previous Badminton runner-up from 1979, Sue Benson.Falco is a fantastic little horse, all head and heart, said Tim. If hes enjoying it and his confidence is there, he gives me everything.Tom Jackson jumped clear for just 0.4 of a time penalty with the 10-year-old United 36 for fourth place, his best Badminton result, Katie Magee scored a career best with fifth place on Treworra and another Kiwi, Tayla Mason, was sixth on Centennial with a clean jumping round.An international top 10 was completed by French riders Gaspard Maksud (Zaragoza, seventh) and Benjamin Bassie (Filao de Perle, ninth), with Felix Vogg eighth for Switzerland on Cartania and Sarah Bullimore in 10th on the exciting prospect Corimiro, who dropped seven places to 10th with two rails down.Its hard to put into words how I feel right now, but when it sinks in it will be incredible, said Ros in the aftermath of her historic win.I hope this result makes Walter the greatest in the world. And for all the young people out there, you really can learn to be good under pressure. If you have the dream, it is possible.Harry Meade, whose own achievements in the sport are remarkable, generously summed up: It is difficult enough to get a horse to the startline, and to get it to the startline and deliver in the style Ros has done is something every horseman would recognise. Her technical ability and coolness under pressure will stand the test of time and that is her great legacy.Final results on www.badminton-horse.co.ukAbout the winner:Ros Canter, 40, and the 14-year-old bay gelding Lordships Graffalo, by Grafenstolz out of Cornish Queen (bred by Pennie Wallace and the Lordships Stud and owned by Michele and Archie Saul) have contested Badminton four times, finishing second in 2022 and first in 2023, 2025 and 2026. They have also won two Burghleys, in 2024 and 2025, plus the double European gold in 2023 and an Olympic team gold medal in 2024.Ros, 40, came up through the eventing ranks via producing young horses for Judy Bradwell. In 2017, she made her British team debut, riding Allstar B, to win European team gold and the following year they won double gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA. They were also travelling reserves for the 2021 Olympics.Ros, who has also won two five-stars with Izilot DHI, lives on the family farm near Louth, Lincolnshire, and is married to Chris McAleese; they have two daughters, Ziggy, six, and Seneh, born in January.Most Badminton wins:6 Lucinda Green4 Capt Mark Phillips, Sir Mark Todd3 Sheila Willcox, Ginny Eliot, Ian Stark, Pippa Funnell, Ros CanterDual winning horses:Kilbarry (1955-56), High and Mighty (1957-58), Great Ovation (1971-72), Sir Wattie (1986, 1988), Supreme Rock (2002, 2003)Triple winning horses:Lordships Graffalo (2022, 2024, 2025)

The Challenge Badminton Horse Trials Trophy ~ to the winning owners: Michele & Archie Saul for Lordships GraffaloMars Equestrian Yeti Cool Box ~ to the winning rider: Rosalind CanterMars Equestrian and Spillers prize ~ 1,000 to the Groom of winner: Sarah CharnleyReplica of the Trophy ~ to the top three riders and the winning owner: Michele & Archie Saul, Rosalind Canter, Tim Price and Harry MeadeMark Holliday Memorial Trophy ~ Groom of winner: Sarah CharnleyButler Challenge Bowl, with replica ~ for the highest placed British rider: Rosalind CanterWorshipful Company of Saddlers 1,000 saddlery voucher ~ Rider with the best score who is under 25 on 1/1/27 and who has not previously won a Company prize in the calendar year: Tom Bird riding Cowling Hot GossipSilver Jubilee Plate ~ to the most successful rider, the horse to be owned by the rider alone, or in conjunction with immediate family: Sam Watson for Ballyneety RocketmanLaurence Rook Trophy ~ best British rider not previously completed Badminton: Holly Richardson riding Ballyneety Silver ServiceGlentrool Trophy ~ Horse & Rider who have made greatest improvement on their dressage placing: Tayla Mason and Centennial, up from 40th to 6thFrank Weldon Memorial Trophy ~ Rider of the youngest British owned and ridden horse in top 12: Tom Jackson for United 36Cotswold Life Trophy ~ To the best British rider who is not entitled to wear the adult Union Jack Badge and whose permanent address is in the county of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Somerset: Aaron Miller who finished 11th on Friendship VDLThe William Miflin Memorial Trophy ~ To the rider of the horse with no cross-country jumping penalties and closest to optimum time: Sarah Bullimore with Corimiro who finished one second inside the timeSport Horse Breeding of Great Britain ~ Owner of best horse sired by a SHB(GB) Graded Stallion or Premium Stallion, provided it is in the top 12: Michele & Archie Saul for Lordships GraffaloFarriers Prize ~ plaque to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse: Jim Brendon for Tom Bird, Helen Kerry and Fran Birds Cowling Hot Gossip.Stud Voucher 500 ~ owner of the highest placed British owned mare: Stephen & Dinah Posford and Jules Carter for Annaghmore ValonerDavid Beaufort Memorial Trophy ~ to the person who has contributed to the running of the Horse Trials over many years: Caroline Bromley Gardener who has done the cross-country fence illustrations at Badminton since 1968Embryo Transfer or OPU session ~ to the highest placed British bred or domiciled mare, courtesy of Tomlinson Equine: Annaghmore ValonerBreeder of the winner ~ Lordships Stud/Pennie WallaceArmada Dishes ~ Sarah Ennis, Georgie Goss, Harry Meade, Tom Rowland, Joseph Murphy, Michael Owen

Eric Winter, who has been designing the cross-country course at MARS Badminton Horse Trials since 2017, declared himself to be delighted ecstatic, even at how well his track rode.I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the good horses made it look by 12.30pm I was on the phone to my wife, saying that there was a 75% strike rate of clear rounds at that stage [the final tally was 34 clears representing 58%], he said. The riders said it was readable and I think it flowed well.He was pleased with how well the frangible pins worked crucial to safety nowadays (its the way we have to go in the sport) in particular the ones used for the first time on the houses at the LeMieux Village (fence 18ab).Among the rides that particularly impressed him was that of Holly Richardson on her first ride, Ballyneety Silver Service, who rose 33 places after dressage to 23rd after cross-country with the first round inside the optimum time. She was really impressive and showed more experienced riders that the time could be achieved.Eric also singled out Sarah Bullimores performance on her home-bred 10-year-old, Corimiro I thought wow, she looked as if she was just out for a hack and only last year the horse was in the 8/9yo class at Blenheim and, of course, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. What can you say about them? Ros looks as if she has all the time in the world. I hope they win; Graffalo is the horse of his generation, the ultimate athlete with proper eventing breeding that goes back 40 or 50 years.The life of an international designer is hectic. On Monday morning, Eric is catching a 6am flight to Sweden, where he is working on the Young Rider and Junior European Championships course at Segersjo, and then he will be off to France for Chaumont en Vexin.

Harry Meade may not have pulled off his ambition to complete Badminton with three horses he would have been the first rider to do so since Lorna Clark in 1970 but he will be collecting a third Armada Dish (awarded for five completions).The year of 1970 was also when his father Richard won his first Badminton (on The Poacher) his stellar career also included three Armada Dishes.When I grew up, I would help my father lay the table, and he would put two Armada Dishes at one end and one at the other, Harry recalls. He always wanted four to make it symmetrical so when I collected my first one, in 2009, I gave it to him.Harry first competed at Badminton 20 years ago in 2006, finishing 21st and winning the best under-25 prize on Midnight Dazzler. When he received his first Armada Dish in 2009, aged 25, he was the youngest rider to do so.When I fell with Cavalier Crystal [third ride at Badminton this year], it was my 18th ride around the cross-country here, but I can say I have had 17 great ones and that is how the sport grounds you. I have been to every Badminton since I was born and it does mean a lot to me, because its my local event.

Click on a fence to see an image of the fence

The final horse inspection at MARS Badminton Horse Trials 2026 has taken place. There had been two overnight withdrawals, Kylie Roddys SRS Kan Do (40th) and Will Rawlins Ballycoog Breaker Boy (7th).The hold box vet was kept on his toes as Grantstown Jackson (Sarah Ennis, 19th) and Chiko (Alex Hua Tian, 34th) were not accepted by the ground jury after re-presenting. Cancaras Girl gave Tiana Coudray a worried few minutes when sent to the hold, but she was subsequently accepted to continue her competition. Finally, Dreamliner (Tom Rowland, 18th) was withdrawn from the hold.Forty combinations will go forward to todays showjumping phase, with the morning session starting at 11.30am, and the top 25 jumping this afternoon.

Ros Canter is on the brink of making eventing history as the first rider to win MARS Badminton Horse Trials three times on the same horse.She and the magnificent Lordships Graffalo put up a supremely impressive cross-country performance, adding no penalties to their leading dressage score of 23.7. This gives them one show jumping fence in hand for victory tomorrow.My cross-country round wouldnt have looked so perfect if I hadnt been on Walter, Ros admitted, a reference to only returning to the saddle during February after giving birth to her second daughter, Seneh, in January. She was quick to pay tribute to her team at home, and to her amazing mother, Heather.I feel incredibly grateful to have a horse like Walter when I am not at my fittest. He is always light in his gallop and that allows me to be one of the fastest in the world.The challenge this week has been more mental, and a matter of working out timings around feeding the baby and having time to myself, as I usually do at a major competition.The crowds were amazing and I could hear them shouting Go Walter! What a lucky person I am to have a horse like that.Ros heads a British one-two-three. World number one Harry Meade rose nine places to the runner-up spot on the second of his three rides, Annaghmor Valoner, and Sarah Bullimore leapt 16 places to third on her home-bred 10-year-old, Corimiro.In addition, Britains Katie Magee, last years best first-timer, is lying fourth on Treworra; Irelands Lucy Latta is fifth on RCA Patron Saint; and New Zealander Tim Price, the world number two, is sixth on Falco, despite battling with a injury to his clavicle.Switzerlands Nadja Minder, riding the 19-year-old Toblerone, was the only first-timer to get around and she is now in 14th place.After a thrilling and successful days sport, there were 45 completions from the 59 cross-country starters, with 34 clear rounds and seven inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 30 seconds.Harry Meade, who has now clocked up 17 cross-country rounds at Badminton, is also lying 22nd on his cross-country pathfinder Et Hop Du Matz, but he tipped off his third ride, Cavalier Crystal, when she trod on herself at fence 22, having been up on the clock.Ive had quite a busy day, he admitted. Annaghmor Valoner is a lovely mare. She has historically lacked self-belief and, because of that, I have always had a soft spot for her.Harry paid tribute to Sarah Bullimores achievement in producing a home-bred horse to Badminton level. Corimiro is a phenomenal horse, she said. He is the horse I get up for in the morning and the reason I am still competing. Every phase is a pleasure. He just wants to do the job.The final horse inspection takes place at 8.30am tomorrow, with the lower placed horses jumping at 11.45am and the top 20 at 2.45pm for what promises to be a thrilling finale.Ros Canter explained she and her family were planning to enjoy their evening. What will be will be tomorrow, she said. You have to remember that I am only human and Walter is only a horse.Follow the competition on Badminton TV and Radio Badminton. The cross-country highlights and top 10 riders show jumping will be shown on BBC 2 at 1.45pm tomorrow.

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