Badminton XC Ground?

I know for the Grassroots the ground was very well lookes after, airated, watered, really good grass covering so I can only assume the 4* will be even better!
 
They are spending a fortune doing the course with watering and aerovating. I watched at least 2 tractors out on the course still working on it. I walked on the grass and then some of the aerovated bit and the bit they had done felt fabulous.
 
Shame we can't school round following the comp, nowhere to ride at the moment. Just the woods as the arena is no good as the water table is so low we can't get water to it, so we won't ride on it :(
 
having walked the 4* yesterday and having spoke to elizabeth power, the ground is v. fast but good in most places, but area's like the huntsmans close are still quite hard :o - it wil be interesting if anyone withdraws cos of it..
 
Walked round it yesterday and the ground was excellent, really springy and well prepared, couldn't see anywhere that it looked hard! Ground staff looked to have done a 5* job!
 
There's just been a post in NL saying Pippa has withdrawn Mirage D'elle too!!! Saying the course is too much for a young horse!!?!??!!??

Really??? Very interesting.

I was actually thinking yesterday that Pippa and Tina may have withdrawn because of the ground, and that another reason was given as not to upset anyone, but maybe I am wrong.

Of course they should withdraw if they feel its the right decision for their horse, I am not sure why they get so much stick for it.
 
As I just posted in Latest News, Phillip Hobbs said yesterday that he wouldn't run racehorses on the ground at Badminton. Which says a lot. But I've heard conflicting reports - wish they'd go and use a going stick on it like they do on racecourses! (Maybe they have and I just haven't heard, I'd be very interested in the reading if they have)
 
I can see it from both sides really, obviously if horse isn't right ie injuries/illness then 100% they should withdraw with no backlash but I do think it's a little unfair to withdraw at such short notice if it's just because the course isn't right for your horse, partly because we all now badminton is tough and also you do get a small preview of the course sometime before the event so can see a little of what the jumps are like. Like someone else said it's unfair to people on wait list.

The reason given for mirage d'elles withdrawel on badminton website was due to pippa being disappointed at not running redesigned so decided to save both for another day xx
 
Ground is v good well the bts I have walked are. Except as mentioned areas like quarry but hard to do much with them. They have been watering and areovating etc all week since I have been here and who who knows how much before. The lack of withdraws echoes the ground conditions in my mind. The Americans/Canadians have been heard to say they are seriously impressed with the going and it's fantastic to what they normally have in the states!!
 
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