Although British event rider Sam Ecroyd has had countless successes through the years and has regularly competed at four-star level, the 2026 Mars Badminton Horse Trials marks his first time competing at this iconic event. He won medals at pony, junior and young rider level at European Championships and he had two horses entered for Badminton in 2021. In April 2021 Sam suffered a rotational fall two fences from home in the novice class at Kelsall Hill. He was knocked out and had a bleed on his brain, plus 57 breaks throughout his skull and face and was airlifted to Aintree University Hospital. Following his dressage test at Badminton today (7 May), where he scored 36.9 with the 11-year-old, 18hh, Boleybawn Lecrae (Patrick) to sit in 20th, Sam shared how that accident affected him. It changed the way I rode significantly. I wasnt carefree before, but it changed the method in how I rode and trained at home, said Sam. It changed a lot. It changed my perspective. It was an unbelievably humbling experience. When youre sat there in a hospital bed and you cant move and you cant do anything, you dont take all the stuff you can do easily for granted anymore. So that moment was probably a revolutionary moment for me in my career. Sam explained that by the time he left hospital, he didnt have any top horses remaining in his yard he had five- and six-year-olds. I had Patrick and it has taken me seven years to get back to this level, so its a big moment to be here and everybody goes through injury in this sport its part and parcel of it but Im very lucky to be here and to be able to keep doing it. How Sams accident changed the way he rodePrior to his accident, Sam spent time training with one of the worlds greatest event riders, Michael Jung, in Germany. Ive always have a real mantra of making sure I travel across country; giving the horse the freedom and length of neck, and letting the horse be as much in front of me as I can, ensuring they are drawing me to the fence, explained Sam. Thats something that Michael instilled in me getting the horses neck away from you and the danger away from you and prepping behind it. I used to be really good at that, but without quite enough balance on the way into the fence and I let my natural eye let me keep moving to a fence, almost in a racing style, but now I make sure theres a balance and a prep for every single jump I change the horses balance and make sure they know a fence is coming. That meant that it took me quite a long time to get quick again across country I had a lot of time faults for two or three years, because I used to rely on that sort of flowing rhythm in order to go around. But its amazing how then you adapt your system. A dream come trueSpeaking of riding at his first Badminton, Sam says he remembers the first time he set it as an aim to compete here. I was in Oliver Townends house when I was about 12 years old my mum and dad are friends with his mum and dad, and I held the Badminton trophy, and since then my goal was to ride here one day, said Sam. For my whole career, each morning Ive woken up, sometimes at 2am to drive to compete in a BE100 class with some young horses, just to get to this moment, so Im just so pleased to be here. Sam has attended Badminton many times before as Emily Kings boyfriend, but he is very relieved to be competing this time. It feels so much better to be riding. Oh my god, watching its just the absolute worst, I hate it! he laughs. A lot to look forward toReflecting on his first phase performance with Patrick, who is owned by Stewart and Vicki Irlam, and who Sam broke in after he was purchased at the Monart Sale in Ireland, he said they have been working very hard on their dressage. Its not our strongest phase, but theres a lot of light at the end of the tunnel for him. Weve been working the very best we can.Hes only 11, and its never been his strongest discipline. He finds the test difficult and he can get a little bit excited, and now hes got to the stage where were at five-star, at least I dont have to teach him any new things, so we can start trying to get the stuff we already know a bit better. Sam said that hes had a walk around this years Badminton cross-country track and that it looks really good. I think its been very well built and that its really fair its pretty massive, but this is Badminton, so thats what you have to expect. Sam and Patrick do have some five-star form they finished 17th in the five-star at Pau, France, last October with a clear round inside the time across country. Hes a cross country machine, said Sam. So of all the horses to be here for the first time on, hes the one Id choose. Hes a special horse. Image by Tim WilkinsonRelated contentI was hypnotised: Simon Grieve combats confidence wobble to return to Badminton after six year absence We call her Nana nothings a drama! Emotional US rider takes overnight Badminton lead on sweet mare Change in warm-up plan pays off for New Zealands Jesse CampbellTop riders battle with nerves, too! How one Burghley rider overcame a confidence lossHow to watch BadmintonMare, 16, makes Badminton debut after recovering from tendon injuryThe post First-time Badminton rider, who broke 57 bones in a fall, reflects on his time training with Michael Jung and how his accident has changed the way he rides appeared first on Your Horse.