As the dust (well mud!) settles after 2023’s Badminton Horse Trials, I’m reflecting on what a journey it has been! From the moment the riders and horses arrived, with the wet spring and pretty unfavourable forecast, it was clear that this was going to be a tough one.

Through mud, sweat, tears (literally!) and an incredible amount of determination, all the riders and horses pushed themselves to the limit. It was truly, survival of the fittest, and even some of the toughest and most experienced riders and horses didn’t made it to the final day.

The rain was pretty relentless the day before xc, turning the already challenging course into a quagmire. The mud was holding, sapping the horses energy and making every fence a Herculean effort. The sun on Sunday I suppose was a slight reprieve but it also added to the challenge by drying the ground to a sticky state.

But despite the punishing conditions, the riders soldiered on, determined to prove their mettle in one of the toughest Badminton’s. It was a true ‘survival of the fittest’

 Ros Canter emerging as the clear winner was so well deserved …  triumphing over the rest of the field by an astonishing margin. Her skill, grit, and unshakeable determination shone through every step of the way, and it was clear that she and Lordships Gruffulo (Walter) were in a league of their own, Ros, cementing her place as one of the greatest riders of her generation.

But Ros was not the only rider to emerge from last weekend with their heads held high. Dan Jocelyn who rode my horse, Blackthorn Cruise and also Cooley One too Many, was the only other rider along with Ros, who managed to complete on both their horses. I may be bias but I think this is a huge achievement in itself and I feel very proud of them.

As we bid farewell to this year's Badminton Horse Trials, Let’s celebrate the combinations who emerged from the chaos, and let’s honor the incredible bonds between these guys that we were lucky enough to witness throughout this unforgettable week. There was certainly a palpable sense of relief and admiration among the competitors, owners, grooms and spectators alike.

I for one, think I’ve aged about 20 years with all the worry, tears of relief and god knows what else, last weekend. And I know I’m not alone!

It’s clear that this year will go down in history as a proper Badminton.

It’s been a true test of courage, resilience, and skill, and the riders had to adapt their riding to deal with the conditions. 

But isn’t that what xc riding is about? A true test of stamina,  grit and determination. I do think perhaps a lot of riders need to take a another look at how fit they have actually got their horses though. I don’t think some riders really know what a truly fit horse is. Perhaps If more riders treated these three Day events a bit more like when we had Roads & tracks and the steeplechase phases, the horses might be much better off for it.

What a lovely demonstration that even in the face of adversity, the spirit and magical bond these riders have with their horses knows no bounds and those 30 combinations who completed, need to give themselves a huge pat on the back( and neck!) for their great performance. 

Well done to all! 

A few pics from the weekend...