Badminton 2024 thread

[LEC]

Fair point - I think this statement probably applies more to David Doel/Galileo Neumoed - and CHD did have that 20p at euros too...

God I wouldn't want to be a selector!!!

David's dressage isn't good enough as needs to score 28 or below with a strong guarantee of that taking into account the Olympics marks harsh so usually 3 marks below their normal average which would start DD on something like a 36 which is way off the pace. Julia finished on 26 and Tom McE finished on 29.3 with Hoy Boy in 3rd on 29.6.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

What a wonderful badminton! I loved that XC and SJ were so influential. Took it back to the good old days when finishing on a dressage score never happened. So clever of Eric de Winter to design a course that punished the riders but not the horses, although there were a few tired horses that should have been pulled up.I also thought having a direct option that very few took was a brilliant idea. Most people usually go direct at this level but that log coming out of the pond was a huge challenge that only a few were up to. Did those going direct all get over it?
SJ was such an exciting watch, again brilliant design.
Double clears should be a rarity otherwise it’s just a dressage competition.
Well done Caroline, Lucy and Alex
Terrific stuff

 

[Kadastorm]

I’ve just seen an update on Helen Martins Andreas, who pulled up lame after the last. He has torn a tendon in his foreleg. She said he will not return to top flight Eventing as he is 18 years old but may do some dressage. He will stay at hers for his retirement.

 

[alexomahony]

I just watched the BBC coverage, so I've just really enjoyed reading through this thread to ctch all the bits it didn't show. I'm interested to know why the top riders didn't bring out their top rides (London 52, Gruffalo etc). I realise they're Olympic prospects but I'd have thought Badminton would have been a good prep run for them, and would make the Olympic course feel easy in comparison...

I then just presumed it's something to do with qualification, and that the horses can't be 'over-qualified' for the Olympics to ensure a fair playing field - doesn't make sense to me, but thought that may have been the reason. But then there was lots of mention in the commentary that there were still riders looking to be selected and their performance at Badders would wiegh heavily on that.. which made me question that reaosning.

Has anyone got any ides on why our top riders left their top horses at home? I may have missed something but just curious.

I wonder if it's a fitness thing... the horses can't prep for Badminton Fitness, then again for July/August for the Olympics... would love to hear peoples thought who know their stuff about this level of the sport : )

 

[Kadastorm]

Laura C is doing the 4* route as her prep for the Olympics as that is around the same level. It’s what she did to be selected last time and worked for her and London has been running well.
I’m unsure about Ros. But Tom Mcewen went to Kentucky, as did Yasmin Ingham and Ollie T.
I think they know Badminton would be a tough test on a good day, but with sticky ground due to the amount of rain we had over winter, I guess they thought it wasn’t worth it.

 

[teapot]

I just watched the BBC coverage, so I've just really enjoyed reading through this thread to ctch all the bits it didn't show. I'm interested to know why the top riders didn't bring out their top rides (London 52, Gruffalo etc). I realise they're Olympic prospects but I'd have thought Badminton would have been a good prep run for them, and would make the Olympic course feel easy in comparison...

I then just presumed it's something to do with qualification, and that the horses can't be 'over-qualified' for the Olympics to ensure a fair playing field - doesn't make sense to me, but thought that may have been the reason. But then there was lots of mention in the commentary that there were still riders looking to be selected and their performance at Badders would wiegh heavily on that.. which made me question that reaosning.

Has anyone got any ides on why our top riders left their top horses at home? I may have missed something but just curious.

I wonder if it's a fitness thing... the horses can't prep for Badminton Fitness, then again for July/August for the Olympics... would love to hear peoples thought who know their stuff about this level of the sport : )

It’s a risk versus reward decision. A horse like Lordships Gruffalo doesn’t need to prove himself nor run the risk of being injured over a 5* course. He’s entered for Chatsworth instead (yes it could happen anywhere but an easier pop around a 4* is preferable to a knackering 5*). Team GB chef d’equipe I’m sure will be guiding them.

Whereas Badminton showed that for Tom J’s horse, fitness and/or tiredness may be an issue (though his dressage wasn’t as good as it should have been either which makes me wonder whether something else was amiss).

If the Olympics were still the pinnacle of the sport things would be different I feel, but they’re now not. Who remembers Pip F having to anchor Primmore’s Pride at Athens because the course was such a let down?

 

[Annagain]

I've just caught up having been busy all weekend and managed to avoid finding out the result until I watched on iPlayer. What a rollercoaster of a Badminton!
Caroline Powell was a truly deserving winner, holding it together for the SJ in a way that barely anyone else did.
It's mad that Lucy Latta can look back on finishing her first ever Badminton with a hint of regret at coming second!
I was impressed with Emily King - both her riding and her interview after the XC felt very mature compared to previous years.
It's bittersweet seeing WFP retiring. Winning would have been an incredible way to go out but after everything he went through to see him finish on his own terms is great. It was so lovely to see Pippa be there for him at the end, I just wish Tina could have got down there from the commentary box too but I'm sure she got to celebrate with him later on. Pippa's the only one from my childhood left now - and possibly Caroline Powell as well, I loved Lenamore when I was younger.

 

[Nicnac]

Just getting myself back to normal after walking what seemed like 100 miles over 5 days at Badminton. Was a different one to last year for so many reasons! The Clash of the Titans fizzled out to a Sunday afternoon cricket score for Tim and William but what a fantastic top 10 and even better top 3 with Lucy and Alex on identical scores. The SJ arena clapped Tim politely and then it went a bit silent as everyone was desperately trying to work out who came after Caroline and in what order - including Radio Badminton.

Some sensible retirements XC and no nasties - mostly thanks to the safety features on fences whether MIM or frangible. Gemma's flag is still questionable imo but she's seen it and accepts it was right decision. Tom McEwan's horse who cast himself on Wednesday is now sound as a pound at home. He wouldn't have passed the trot up though. I saw Oli there on Friday too - looking very incognito.

The ground after XC on the track was really good in that it hadn't cut up even at Huntsman's but it had no spring whatsoever. Not as energy sapping as last year but still tiring. The SJ track was so much harder than previous years - a pro told me it was comparable to a GP SJ track. I also think the dsg judges were harsh as it's an Olympic year so no crazy scores. The scores were very narrow in that they didn't use many marks and a poorer movement was scored 6.5 as was a better one. Their 8+ paddles were definitely stuck down somewhere!

So who is our money on for Team GB? Ros, Laura, Oli?

 

[paisley]

It’s a risk versus reward decision. A horse like Lordships Gruffalo doesn’t need to prove himself nor run the risk of being injured over a 5* course. He’s entered for Chatsworth instead (yes it could happen anywhere but an easier pop around a 4* is preferable to a knackering 5*). Team GB chef d’equipe I’m sure will be guiding them.

Whereas Badminton showed that for Tom J’s horse, fitness and/or tiredness may be an issue (though his dressage wasn’t as good as it should have been either which makes me wonder whether something else was amiss).

If the Olympics were still the pinnacle of the sport things would be different I feel, but they’re now not. Who remembers Pip F having to anchor Primmore’s Pride at Athens because the course was such a let down?

Very, very vividly remember Athens- mostly the relief when at least the bronze medal was secured to mitigate the glum atmosphere in the yard for when they got back

 

[Honey08]

I remember our British horses struggling a little at London too because it was a fairly easy, but twisty, course. I remember Mary’s horse being a handful and perhaps Nicola’s too.

Chatsworth is always a strange event imo. Some of the lower parkland is lovely, and the bottom water seems a good tough fence, but some of the slopes further up aren’t great and can be sticky. It’s not an event i particularly like, despite it not being too far from me.

 

[ihatework]

I just watched the BBC coverage, so I've just really enjoyed reading through this thread to ctch all the bits it didn't show. I'm interested to know why the top riders didn't bring out their top rides (London 52, Gruffalo etc). I realise they're Olympic prospects but I'd have thought Badminton would have been a good prep run for them, and would make the Olympic course feel easy in comparison...

I then just presumed it's something to do with qualification, and that the horses can't be 'over-qualified' for the Olympics to ensure a fair playing field - doesn't make sense to me, but thought that may have been the reason. But then there was lots of mention in the commentary that there were still riders looking to be selected and their performance at Badders would wiegh heavily on that.. which made me question that reaosning.

Has anyone got any ides on why our top riders left their top horses at home? I may have missed something but just curious.

I wonder if it's a fitness thing... the horses can't prep for Badminton Fitness, then again for July/August for the Olympics... would love to hear peoples thought who know their stuff about this level of the sport : )

It would have been an awful idea to run those horses at badminton. They are all proven horses that don’t need to run 5* to secure their place.
It would put massive mileage on them so close to Paris.
There is a not insignificant risk of injury- either major or just minor enough to rule them out.
The top contender horses will be on a training path to peak end of July and that includes when they gallop/run and where.

 

[KEK]

Just getting myself back to normal after walking what seemed like 100 miles over 5 days at Badminton. Was a different one to last year for so many reasons! The Clash of the Titans fizzled out to a Sunday afternoon cricket score for Tim and William but what a fantastic top 10 and even better top 3 with Lucy and Alex on identical scores. The SJ arena clapped Tim politely and then it went a bit silent as everyone was desperately trying to work out who came after Caroline and in what order - including Radio Badminton.

Some sensible retirements XC and no nasties - mostly thanks to the safety features on fences whether MIM or frangible. Gemma's flag is still questionable imo but she's seen it and accepts it was right decision. Tom McEwan's horse who cast himself on Wednesday is now sound as a pound at home. He wouldn't have passed the trot up though. I saw Oli there on Friday too - looking very incognito.

The ground after XC on the track was really good in that it hadn't cut up even at Huntsman's but it had no spring whatsoever. Not as energy sapping as last year but still tiring. The SJ track was so much harder than previous years - a pro told me it was comparable to a GP SJ track. I also think the dsg judges were harsh as it's an Olympic year so no crazy scores. The scores were very narrow in that they didn't use many marks and a poorer movement was scored 6.5 as was a better one. Their 8+ paddles were definitely stuck down somewhere!

So who is our money on for Team GB? Ros, Laura, Oli?

Would have been amazing to be there. I don't reckon Oli- Rosalent has had very variable dressage and it was highish at Kentucky and she's pretty young. And BC has ?over SJ with 2 rounds especially.. Froggy has good reliable dressage, and SJ and the XC will be easier. But he hasn't had any amazing results either lately and I guess that might stand against him.. ?

 

[Michen]

It would have been an awful idea to run those horses at badminton. They are all proven horses that don’t need to run 5* to secure their place.
It would put massive mileage on them so close to Paris.
There is a not insignificant risk of injury- either major or just minor enough to rule them out.
The top contender horses will be on a training path to peak end of July and that includes when they gallop/run and where.

Is BC not considered a contender then as he was entered? I suppose Oli had two options

 

[LEC]

Is BC not considered a contender then as he was entered? I suppose Oli had two options

No as his sjing isn’t good enough - he had 4 down at world champs which lost GB a medal. He also hasn’t jumped clear on final day for a long time.

 

[ihatework]

No as his sjing isn’t good enough - he had 4 down at world champs which lost GB a medal. He also hasn’t jumped clear on final day for a long time.

He was also thinking Rolex grand slam!

 

[Gamebird]

Anyone looking for an (ex) Badminton horse? Sam Watson's SAP Talisman is up for grabs, 'ideal first 4* prospect'...!

 

[KEK]

Anyone looking for an (ex) Badminton horse? Sam Watson's SAP Talisman is up for grabs, 'ideal first 4* prospect'...!

Really ?! Wow that's surprising. Just read the FB post. Wonder what he has to be going on with instead at top level..

 

[Nicnac]

Anyone looking for an (ex) Badminton horse? Sam Watson's SAP Talisman is up for grabs, 'ideal first 4* prospect'...!

If only I had the talent, time, money, ability and youth although Podge isn't grey and I do like a grey.

 

[sportsmansB]

Really ?! Wow that's surprising. Just read the FB post. Wonder what he has to be going on with instead at top level..

He has Ballyneety Rocketman I think who overall would be a better three phase contender (think he's only 10/11 so still learning the ropes) - Podge was an excellent XC horse but not competitive in the other 2 phases at the very top team / 5* level

 

[Honey08]

Chatsworth is cancelling. They’ve just announced it.