Badminton 2025

[j1ffy]

It was 100,000 the year it sold out after the Covid cancellations in 2022 and that was limited because of Covid restrictions…so imagine it was a lot more this weekend and sold out. So probably more like 200,000 that someone quoted

A quick google brought up this (surprisingly informative!) BBC article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93g4dz38jgo

I missed the SJ as I was out competing yesterday, I enjoyed watching the second half of the XC on Saturday though. I wish Tom McEwan had taken a breath and calmed himself down in the first half of the course, he was very lucky not to repeat the mistake he made with Toledo a couple of years ago. The photos of his error at the (not)coffin are :O - it was scary enough watching it live!!

Some great rounds and great riding though, and I'm so pleased for Ros and Walter

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

A quick google brought up this (surprisingly informative!) BBC article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93g4dz38jgo

I missed the SJ as I was out competing yesterday, I enjoyed watching the second half of the XC on Saturday though. I wish Tom McEwan had taken a breath and calmed himself down in the first half of the course, he was very lucky not to repeat the mistake he made with Toledo a couple of years ago. The photos of his error at the (not)coffin are :O - it was scary enough watching it live!!

Some great rounds and great riding though, and I'm so pleased for Ros and Walter

I was thinking exactly the same thing about Dubs and praying he wasn’t going to have a Toledo moment. Maybe he wouldn’t have finished so tired if he’d been a bit steadier early on. Fair play to him though, he jumped a great SJ round, one of a small number of clears. Huge respect to the SJ course builder btw

 

[Aperchristmas]

Delighted for Ros, a thoroughly deserved win and it was wonderful to watch such a classy round in person.

A few more thoughts from the day:
Harry Meade showed us the classiest of rounds and also gave the crowd the biggest scare in his second. Still not sure how they both stayed upright and finished!
Austin O'Connor was a delight to watch too - such a brave horse & rider, Ireland are so lucky to have them.

I was surprised at how pronounced the gap was between those really at the top (e.g. Harry, Ros, Oli etc) and those who are good, but not quite at their level. Lots of work to do from some. Admittedly in some cases it was clear that the top top horses have a little extra scope that helps them get out of trouble more often, but there were also many rider errors leading to poles.

Obviously I myself would ride like a complete idiot in these circumstances - they must all be so tired!

 

[LEC]

I honestly can't believe Georgie Goss's Feloupe passed. He was hobbling at the first inspection and was clearly lame after being represented. Sh*t from everyone involved there.

He was discussed but he looked like that at the start and doesn't move well so he hadn't changed from start to end.

 

[LEC]

I was told 160k people on xc day

 

[lizziebell]

I honestly can't believe Georgie Goss's Feloupe passed. He was hobbling at the first inspection and was clearly lame after being represented. Sh*t from everyone involved there.

Funny you should say that. I don’t think he looked well balanced in the dressage, but as I didn’t hear any of the commentators mention it, I thought it was just me and my wonky eye !

 

[Orangehorse]

Delighted for Ros, a thoroughly deserved win and it was wonderful to watch such a classy round in person.

A few more thoughts from the day:
Harry Meade showed us the classiest of rounds and also gave the crowd the biggest scare in his second. Still not sure how they both stayed upright and finished!
Austin O'Connor was a delight to watch too - such a brave horse & rider, Ireland are so lucky to have them.

I was surprised at how pronounced the gap was between those really at the top (e.g. Harry, Ros, Oli etc) and those who are good, but not quite at their level. Lots of work to do from some. Admittedly in some cases it was clear that the top top horses have a little extra scope that helps them get out of trouble more often, but there were also many rider errors leading to poles.

Obviously I myself would ride like a complete idiot in these circumstances - they must all be so tired!

Walking around the Cross Country Course we only saw one rider fault and that was a refusal at the Sunken Road, although we could hear a bit what was going on. So I was surprised when I saw the score board to see so many hadn't got round.

As they say, you don't know if you have got a Badminton horse until you have finished the course. It always amazes me that there are these huge fences and the horses just saunter up to them and jump them! But that is what makes them a 5* horse.

The course obviously took more riding and we were watching the experts who made it look (fairly) easy.

As for show jumping, people generally don't like show jumping as much as cross country, but I think it is harder to be an expert show jumper than an expert cross country rider, and of course in eventing you are riding a horse that is a bit tired from the day before. But when the result comes down to 1 mark between first and second, it is pressure time.

 

[Taffy1]

I was away for the weekend (grrr!) so now playing catchup. Does anyone know why Pippa wasn't competing this year? In her pre x country commentary with Nicola Wilson, they were talking about the nerves you experience on x country day and the way she was talking seemed very much in the past tense but I haven't seen anything to indicate that she's retiring??

 

[lannerch]

Telly view must be deceiving, or maybe most of them were shopping!

I wouldn’t go on XC day for love nor money anyway! It’s one of the dressage days for me to walk the XC, then back home to watch the XC on the telly.

We had a lovely day , as we were camping we got there early , pitched at the front near the water with a classy picnic champagne etc .

The weather played ball, the business was all behind us and we had a top day.

The other trick is to bring an iPad with you and as long as you get reception on your phone you stream clip my horse at the same time .

Walked the whole cc Friday so we could relate to the jumps .

 

[Northern Hare]

We had a lovely day , as we were camping we got there early , pitched at the front near the water with a classy picnic champagne etc .

The weather played ball, the business was all behind us and we had a top day.

The other trick is to bring an iPad with you and as long as you get reception on your phone you stream clip my horse at the same time .

Walked the whole cc Friday so we could relate to the jumps .

Can I ask please, did you camp on site - or were you at a nearby site? I'm really hoping to take our motorhome next year, this year would have been perfect with the amazing weather!

 

[lannerch]

Can I ask please, did you camp on site - or were you at a nearby site? I'm really hoping to take our motorhome next year, this year would have been perfect with the amazing weather!

We were on site in a campervan , the camp site facilities are not great , portaloos with no sinks , the showers ok , we had to pinch shower water for hot water to wash up .
But a lovely walk to badminton so well worth it .

 

[mini-eventer]

We were on site in a campervan , the camp site facilities are not great , portaloos with no sinks , the showers ok , we had to pinch shower water for hot water to wash up .
But a lovely walk to badminton so well worth it .

I love it when we went, however no proper handwashing facilities for people staying in tents is poor. Burghley have temporary toilets with sinks on their camp site

 

[Supertrooper]

I was away for the weekend (grrr!) so now playing catchup. Does anyone know why Pippa wasn't competing this year? In her pre x country commentary with Nicola Wilson, they were talking about the nerves you experience on x country day and the way she was talking seemed very much in the past tense but I haven't seen anything to indicate that she's retiring??

I think she might have retired, Maverick has gone to Piggy March and when I looked the other day on BE she’d not competed this year

She’s got a podcast now, and I guess with the billy stud she’s busy enough, alongside lots of other roles.

 

[Taffy1]

I think she might have retired, Maverick has gone to Piggy March and when I looked the other day on BE she’d not competed this year

She’s got a podcast now, and I guess with the billy stud she’s busy enough, alongside lots of other roles.

Ah ok, well I guess it makes sense - I knew that she was winding her eventing string down and potentially switching to more showjumping. Sad to see her retire though - what a legend!

 

[Dino7]

I was away for the weekend (grrr!) so now playing catchup. Does anyone know why Pippa wasn't competing this year? In her pre x country commentary with Nicola Wilson, they were talking about the nerves you experience on x country day and the way she was talking seemed very much in the past tense but I haven't seen anything to indicate that she's retiring??

Her top horse (MCS Maverick) has gone to Piggy. There's been no official comms but I don't think she was enjoying competing at the top level any more.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Ah ok, well I guess it makes sense - I knew that she was winding her eventing string down and potentially switching to more showjumping. Sad to see her retire though - what a legend!

I’ve been wondering if she’s retired too. She hasn’t evented at all this year. Perhaps she just wanted to go quietly without a fuss. Such a legend and I loved watching her ride

 

[IrishMilo]

She said a few months ago she's naturally winding down with age/as she's busy with her podcasts/books/Billy horses but when asked if she's going to still keep up at with top level competition she said Never say never.

 

[lannerch]

I love it when we went, however no proper handwashing facilities for people staying in tents is poor. Burghley have temporary toilets with sinks on their camp site

Yup I’ve camped at Burghley too , much better facilities , some showers at badminton had sinks in so managed to wash my hands in them and clean my teeth etc, but no bins so people started leaving cotton pads etc around the sinks .

Badminton could have certainly done better portaloos in a campsite you pay decent money for is just not good enough .

 

[Eventinggeek]

Walking around the Cross Country Course we only saw one rider fault and that was a refusal at the Sunken Road, although we could hear a bit what was going on. So I was surprised when I saw the score board to see so many hadn't got round.

As they say, you don't know if you have got a Badminton horse until you have finished the course. It always amazes me that there are these huge fences and the horses just saunter up to them and jump them! But that is what makes them a 5* horse.

The course obviously took more riding and we were watching the experts who made it look (fairly) easy.

As for show jumping, people generally don't like show jumping as much as cross country, but I think it is harder to be an expert show jumper than an expert cross country rider, and of course in eventing you are riding a horse that is a bit tired from the day before. But when the result comes down to 1 mark between first and second, it is pressure time.

We walked the whole course but somehow didn't witness any of those, apart from Bling's refusal on the big screen in the main arena!

 

[LEC]

The same old thing has come up about atrophy in horses. I really want to see some science behind it as it's all personal opinion and I just think the people commenting don't deal with endurance athletes. I am not saying it's right or wrong but I want more proper discussion and not just conjecture. I know dealing with my own horse that she was super fit but I hope I kept the topline. I did a lot more endurance and stamina work and it definitely changes the shape compared to sharp sprints up hills which I made the mistake of just doing for Bicton.
I also think we have this element in female endurance athletes as Eilish McColgan has had some real stick for her shape. Which sprinters just wouldn't get.

 

[Nocturnal]

We could do with some proper research on it. Some of the badminton horses did look atrophied along the top line, but they’re obviously performing at the very top of the sport. So is it actually atrophy, and if so, what is the effect?

 

[AandK]

Yes I have seen a few posts on this on FB and am really not sure they are right or wrong if that makes any sense! It does seem to be very emotive and IMO, not helped by all the pictures being of horses in motion, and then the comparison 'normal' pictures being of fat and/or unfit horses who are stood still. Not a valid comparison I think, as well as all of the 'atrophied' horses having a massive wither which, I think, can distort things somewhat. I'm not saying that all the horses at Badminton had no topline issues but then they are all at peak fitness. And what is normal? So many different body shapes to look at, just like humans, genetics must play a part as well as the training/saddle fit etc.

ETA, I'm sure if I took several pictures of my horse I could get one making him look amazing and another of him looking v bad. Angle and lighting can make a massive difference to the end result.

 

[ester]

I think it’s really interesting as they’re clearly performing, I also wonder how it relates with the previous discussions about 5* shoulder conformation being pretty extreme.

 

[LEC]

I also accept we should never say, yeah but, they are performing as clearly horses do perform with funky conformation like our favourite 5* sjer with lordosis very well done can adapt. We also see horses cope all day long with mild level lameness depending on their job and what being asked. It's complicated is probably the answer and nobody is going to invest in finding out more because it would take big dollar. What I would really like is 10 5* horses are evaluated every fortnight for saddle fit, physio (muscle tone/size) and vet (gait analysis maybe?) from being out in the field from there autumn holiday for 2 months to 5* fitness. With the type of work evaluated. One thing is that the endurance work increases steadily closer to an event with galloping every 4 days. At the start of the season in March they won't be peaking but fit enough for what they need to do. Anyway it would fascinate me. Harry Meade weighs all his and has a diary so he would be a really good starting point.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Gemma Stevens has put a lovely post on Facebook about Chilli Knight being not quite right when he got home and how disappointed she was after the showjumping

 

[GreyDot]

I also accept we should never say, yeah but, they are performing as clearly horses do perform with funky conformation like our favourite 5* sjer with lordosis very well done can adapt. We also see horses cope all day long with mild level lameness depending on their job and what being asked. It's complicated is probably the answer and nobody is going to invest in finding out more because it would take big dollar. What I would really like is 10 5* horses are evaluated every fortnight for saddle fit, physio (muscle tone/size) and vet (gait analysis maybe?) from being out in the field from there autumn holiday for 2 months to 5* fitness. With the type of work evaluated. One thing is that the endurance work increases steadily closer to an event with galloping every 4 days. At the start of the season in March they won't be peaking but fit enough for what they need to do. Anyway it would fascinate me. Harry Meade weighs all his and has a diary so he would be a really good starting point.

Yes, that would be an interesting study. They are at peak fitness, but the wither/shoulder/muscle attrition only seems to be shown in certain event horses and not similarly trained racers or endurance horses (unless I am mistaken). i also wonder if the event horses which show such evident conformation/muscling issues are in some way similar in breeding lines?

 

[ester]

There's definitely been questionable trot up photos of endurance horses too.

 

[Cloball]

Yes, that would be an interesting study. They are at peak fitness, but the wither/shoulder/muscle attrition only seems to be shown in certain event horses and not similarly trained racers or endurance horses (unless I am mistaken). i also wonder if the event horses which show such evident conformation/muscling issues are in some way similar in breeding lines?

There was a comparison with Tevis cup horses but conformational Arabs are quite different. The lighting in the images was also different. The shine on the bays really can distort the image. What's also interesting is it isn't every horse. There must be lots of factors at play breeding, different fitness programs, conformation, saddle etc.

We can have a hypothesis that this is a bad thing but that hypothesis really needs to be tested. Too much of equine science isn't real science imho.

 

[LEC]

Also Arabs don't need the wither like the eventers as they don't need scope to jump. They tend to be flatter wither profile and in their backs. So slightly different in shape. It all fascinates me as that's how we become better horse people, looking learning, comparing and trying to do better.

 

[stangs]

The thing with the atrophy argument - and I still believe that, if actual academic articles on scoring atrophy require palpations to be done, amateurs on the internet can't be diagonising atrophy through a few photos of horses with very low body fat - is that, if these horses had atrophy, their physios would surely feel it and comment? And I can't imagine the top level of the sport being told the horse has atrophy and not doing anything to change it when muscle atrophy would mean poorer performance.

I also wonder how it relates with the previous discussions about 5* shoulder conformation being pretty extreme.

Can't remember the specifics but Deb Bennett talks about differences in the shapes of horses necks and how, some types of neck curve mean you get a more pronounced dip after the wither that doesn't fill in fully even with muscle.