The morning session of showjumping at the 2026 Mars Badminton Horse Trials is complete and the track, which is designed by Kelvin Bywater, has proved influential. There have been four jumping clears, with just one combination jumping clear inside the time allowed of 82 seconds. Germanys Arne Bergendahl and Luthien NRW (pictured top) are the only ones to have achieved that feat so far. Shes an amazing jumper and I have competed her in pure 1.40m level showjumping classes, said Arne. This is her second five-star clear round showjumping, so I was quite confident. This years showjumping track has become a talking point, with many riders saying that it is big, square and technical. New Zealands Jonelle Price jumped clear with Chillis Midnight Star, but added .4 of a time-fault to their overnight score of 44.3. Until the past couple of years, Badminton would have been one of the softer five-star showjumping tracks, said Jonelle. But its obviously on grass and you have the terrain to deal with in the arena its not flat at all. He [Kelvin] has been very clever with the use of terrain. The fences are very square and upright and the distances ride short when youre going downhill. Irelands Austin OConnor, who picked up 12 jumping faults, plus 2.4 time-faults in the final phase with Sixmilewater, said it is one of the biggest tracks hes seen at Badminton. Its as big a Badminton showjumping track as Ive ever seen, said Austin. Its quite technical and the distances vary from a little bit open to a little bit closed its a true five-star jumping track. David Doel jumped both of his rides, Ferro Point and Midnight Rollercoaster, in this mornings session. They both picked up eight jumping faults. The course is massive and technical, said David. Theres a lot of twists and turns, which takes it out of the horses a little bit with all the rollbacks too. They arent just 90 degree turns theyre 180 and 270 degree turns and youve got to keep the canter going all the time, which can be tricky on the final day. The USAs Cosby Green put in a beautiful round of jumping with the 18-year-old Jos Ufo De Quidam to jump clear, picking up .4 of a time fault. When I walked the track, I was pretty intimidated, so I was a little bit extra nervous, said Cosby. The oxers were square and I really had to focus on the rising and falling ground, but I thought it was a fantastic test. The afternoon session of showjumping gets underway at 2.45pm where the top 20 will jump in reverse order. Image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentFrom newborn nights to Badminton heights: Ros Canter gives all the credit to Walter for their cross-country clear A huge leaderboard shuffle and some incredible action: a full run down of the top 10 following Badminton Horse Trials cross-countryHome-bred who nearly died as a foal speeds to top end of the leaderboard I pumped milk to flatten me out and away I go: Ros Canter sails into the lead at BadmintonHome-bred who nearly died as a foal speeds to top end of the leaderboardHow to watch BadmintonWhen the red mist comes, she just bolts: Laura Collett on her complex mare, BlingThe post As big a Badminton showjumping as Ive ever seen: riders reflect on highly influential final phase track appeared first on Your Horse.