Badminton Horse Trials is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in the world and is a highlight of the international eventing calendar. This year’s event, held from April 24-28 in the grounds of the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire, England, will be the 67th annual running of the event. With riders from all over the world vying for the top spot, who is currently winning Badminton Horse Trials?
The Eventing Format
For those unfamiliar with the eventing format, it consists of three phases. The first phase is dressage, which tests the horse and rider’s skill and control through a series of predetermined movements. The second phase is the cross-country, which tests the horse’s courage and athleticism over fences, water and other challenging terrain. The third and final phase is the show jumping, which tests the horse and rider’s accuracy and control over a course of fences. The best overall combination of scores from the three phases determines the winner.
The Current Leader
At the time of writing, the current leader of Badminton Horse Trials is the British rider, Oliver Townend riding Ballaghmor Class. Townend and Ballaghmor Class, who scored a total of 26.4 in dressage, have had a tremendous start to the competition. Townend’s cross-country ride on Sunday was superb, with the pair completing the course in just 4 minutes and 36 seconds, 4 seconds under the optimum time. They are currently sitting in the top spot with a total score of 34.4, leading the field by a significant margin.
The Contenders
While Townend and Ballaghmor Class are currently in the lead, they are by no means the only riders in contention. The German rider, Ingrid Klimke is hot on their heels with a score of 36.5 riding SAP Hale Bob OLD. Klimke also had a strong cross-country ride, completing the course in just 4 minutes and 43 seconds.
Fellow British rider, Piggy French riding Vanir Kamira is also in the running, with a score of 40.7. French is well-known for her strong show jumping performances, making her a real contender for the top spot.
Another strong contender is the Japanese rider, Yoshiaki Oiwa riding Dio D’Aubry. Oiwa and Dio D’Aubry had a great dressage performance, scoring a total of 29.3. They also had a strong cross-country ride, finishing the course in 4 minutes and 47 seconds.
The Final Day
The final day of the competition promises to be exciting, as the top contenders battle for the top spot. With Townend and Ballaghmor Class in the lead, it will be interesting to see if they can hold onto their lead or if one of the other contenders can overtake them.
Conclusion
The 67th Badminton Horse Trials is shaping up to be one of the most competitive events in recent years. At the time of writing, the British rider, Oliver Townend riding Ballaghmor Class is currently in the lead, but with a number of other contenders hot on their heels, the final day of competition is sure to be thrilling.