Badminton Sponsored Ride

[alligator]

Hi,

Just found a link to this on internet but there seems to be very little information about it. Has anyone done this and is it worth doing?

We are based in Cheshire so will be a good 3 hour drive to get there so want to make sure it's worth it first!

Will probably be my only chance to realise my dream of riding at Badminton too !!

 

[minerva]

Yes it is worth it - but only if you get there early, so a very early start for you!! after about 12 there seem to be literally hundreds of riders everywhere - i have never been to a ride anywhere near as busy.

lots of nice jumps and well organized and a great long gallop up the avenue

 

[alligator]

Fab, thanks for that. Early start is no problem, it says first horse can go at 10am, so we would need to leave at about 6am so not too bad!

Thanks, will send off an entry - am excited now !!!

 

[minerva]

you will love it, going through the lake is worth it alone!!!

i just close my eyes and pretend to be Lucinda Green!!

 

[alligator]

Do you actually go in the lake or are you winding me up??!

What is the dress code? Is it posh stuff, normal stuff or XC gear or what?

 

[minerva]

you do go through the lake, just the edge and then you can jump up the boarded banks - i just go casual but i have seen all sorts, including a group all in blinged out western, including a gun and jewelled spurs!!! i would wear a body protector but then i am a wuss! you get a great photo at the end of the last jump, with a banner on saying Badminton 2008, it was cancelled last year due to F&M, so they could have changed it a bit but it will be ACE

 

[Lou_bert]

you get 2 ride through the lake! couple of years ago i jumped in off the ledges ... was amazing

u can wear anything you wish, no set dress code.

definately worth it!

 

[alligator]

Brill thanks - will go in our XC gear, be the only way I'll get a photo jumping a fence at Badminton!!

Can you keep jumping the last fence again and again until you get a picture looking like a pro?!!

Think I'll leave the bling western gear and the gun behind on this occasion!!

 

[merlinsquest]

Sounds fabby..... wish i was closer

 

[Bosworth]

Having been a few times as we used to live only 20 mins from it - I would not bother driving from Cheshire to go to it. I found it over hyped, the best bit is the first mile- after that I found the jumps were poor, and the majority of the ride was on the roads and track section - so very little canter work - lots of trot. I actually much much much prefer the Bibury pleasure ride. It was really expensive and absolutely crowded, hundreds of riders - lots who had no idea how to behave in company - charging past at speed, far too close to others.

If you do end up going - go early - as early as possible, the crowds appear about 12, the ground will be seriously churned up if it rains

 

[Happy2Hack]

It is a lovely ride - very busy though! Unfortunatly it has gotten quite expensive so I don't bother going anymore.
I found a couple of pics lurking on my computer just to give you an idea of what it's like!

This was taken 10 years ago

in the rain!! This is the last fence coming out of Huntsmans Close!!

This was taken 9 years ago

again in the rain (hence why it's dark!) It's the lake!

(Please excuse my rubbish riding!)

 

[skewby]

Have to agree with Bosworth OP - it's good, but it's not one of the best. I am local to Badminton so I go, but other in our area such as the Bibury and the Miserden fun rides are far and away better than the Badminton one. It is mentally crowded and Bosworth is right - the gallop up the avenue is brilliant, but other than that it's pretty unremarkable. But s'up to you, of course!

 

[alligator]

Thanks, we'll definitely go early, will request to be in first bunch to go - the idea of riding on the hallowed Badminton turf has too great pull for me not to go !!