Sunday, 04 May 2025
It’s nearly here – one of the biggest and best weeks in the sport of eventing! The 76th running of the MARS Badminton Horse Trials is just around the corner, taking place in the glorious surroundings of the Duke of Beaufort’s estate in Gloucestershire from 7–11 May. To get you in the mood for what promises to be another top-quality edition of the event, we’ve gathered everything you need to know – whether you’re there in person or following along at home.
This year’s competition promises to be another showcase for eventing excellence. There are plenty of World Class Programme combinations in the mix, including 2023 winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo and their Paris 2024 teammates, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Fresh from his third- and fourth-placings in the CCI5* at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, Harry Meade will bring forward two rides from his enviable string in the form of Cavalier Crystal and Superstition. Another rider to watch will be Oliver Townend, who’s entered with Kentucky CCI5* winner Cooley Rosalent and the great Ballaghmor Class, who’ll be looking for his fifth win at the level. Reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham also makes her long-awaited Badminton debut with Rehy DJ.
They’ll be joined by the likes of Bubby Upton and Cola, Emily King and Valmy Biats, Max Warburton and Deerpairc Revelry, Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier, and Laura Collett and Bling. Plus, Badminton debutants Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky will be sharing their Badminton journey via our British Equestrian social media accounts!
The full list of entries can be found online. Individual start times will be available following the first horse inspection.
First horse inspection: Wednesday 7 May
Fashion might be at the forefront of the first horse inspection, but horse welfare is the utmost priority. Riders will present their horses to the ground jury of Xavier le Sauce (FRA), Nick Burton (GBR) and Robert Stevenson (USA) outside of Badminton House, who will watch them trot up to ensure they’re fit to compete. Visitors also have the option of spectating and cheering for their favourite combinations when they’re accepted.
Dressage: Thursday 8 – Friday 9 May
Combinations take it in turns to ride a set dressage test, with each movement scored out of 10 by the three judges and an additional collective mark given for the harmony of horse and rider. The combined marks for the test are averaged to give a final percentage, which is then converted into penalties – for example, a 70% test would score 30.00 penalties. The fewer penalties earned, the higher a combination’s placing after the first phase.
Cross-country: Saturday 10 May
Running in the same order as for dressage, combinations head out into Badminton’s parkland to tackle a course of 32 solid fences and combinations – including, ditches, water, gates and brushes. Penalties added to their dressage score for jumping faults and seconds over the optimum time to create a two-phase total. You can find out more about this year’s cross-country track, including an interactive map, on the Badminton Horse Trials website.
Showjumping and prize-giving: Sunday 11 May
Following a second horse inspection and riding in reverse order of merit, combinations navigate a course of between 11 and 13 showjumps in the main arena. The aim is to jump clear inside the optimum time – penalties are earned for poles down or additional seconds over the time allowed. The winners are the rider and horse with the lowest combined score at the end of this phase.
The full lists of results and start times for each phase are available on the Badminton website. You can also find them on the all-new Badminton 2.0 app, which you can download via the App Store.
We'll also share updates on our World Class Programme athletes on our social media throughout the competition.
Tickets for Badminton Horse Trials are only available in advance through the online box office – there will be no sales on the gate. Tickets can be bought up until midnight one day prior to your chosen day of competition. There are daily ticket options, or you can spoil yourself with a season pass, which covers all four days of competition, plus the Voltaire Design Grassroots Championship and first horse inspection on Wednesday 7 May. If you’re planning to attend the showjumping phase on Sunday, you’ll need to purchase separate grandstand seats to watch in the main arena. All cars entering the event will require a car parking pass.
More visitor information is available in the online information guide (link below) or via the Badminton Horse Trials website.
Badminton online information guide
Yes! Here’s where you can find them…
Alternatively, why not stop by one of our member bodies’ trade stands…
The entire event is being streamed live on Badminton TV, hosted by ClipMyHorse.TV. If you don’t already have a ClipMyHorse.TV membership or an active Badminton TV subscription, you can purchase a Badminton TV Season Pass for £21.99, which provides a year’s access to all of the Badminton content, including the livestream of the 2025 event. You’ll also get access to lots of additional content, including highlights from previous years, exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport and the chance to relive every moment of last year’s competition.
There will be a two-hour highlights programme on BBC2 at 13:45 on Sunday 11 May, which will also cover the top 10 showjumping rounds in real time. The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website shortly after the broadcast, then repeated on the Red Button at 20:25 on Sunday night.
Radio Badminton is available online throughout the event or on 87.7FM from Wednesday afternoon and will include full coverage from 8:30am each morning until Sunday afternoon, including technical insight and post-round interviews with riders. If you’re on site, you can purchase an earpiece when you buy your tickets online or from sellers around the showground.
We’ll be posting regular competition updates on our social media channels, with a focus on our World Class Programme athletes.
British Eventing will also be posting updates on their Facebook and Instagram channels, and on their website.