Image for article: Ben Way – Previews Badminton 2023 - Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian & Badminton Radio commentator

Ben Way – Previews Badminton 2023 - Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian & Badminton Radio commentator

25 April 2023
Butler Sherborn logomark

Keep up to date with the latest properties, rural business insights, market commentary and events:

Join mailing list

The Badminton Horse Trials (presented by Mars Equestrian), is just around the corner and will this year be starting on Thursday 4th May.

Due to the clash with the Coronation, there will be a slightly different timetable  with the dressage days running on the Friday and Saturday, cross country on the Sunday, and the show jumping on the Monday.

This year’s entries look strong, with the equine line up being a really good mix of established campaigners and younger horses stepping up to the level. The one thing that did jump out at me, when looking at this year’s entries, is that there are very few Badminton first timers and mostly riders with plenty of 5* experience. This may be due to the difficult spring we have had, with many events being cancelled, a knock on from ‘the COVID years’ or the qualification changes, introduced to make sure that combinations have got the experience needed to move up to  5* level.

As ever, in the lead up to the event there have been a number of withdrawals, the most notable of which has been Laura Collet’s defending champion, London 52, who has been withdrawn due to an overreach injury. Unusually, for Badminton there are no combinations sitting on the waitlist, so it will be interesting to see how many horses we see at the Trot up on the Thursday.

Over the weekend, they have released the official preview of this year’s course. The course designer, Eric Winter, has certainly shaken things up, adding some new combinations and a new loop in at the farthest part of the course, to make the most of the topography in the park.

From what I have seen, the double of upright gates early on in the course could catch out horses that are running a bit keen, and the new Rolex T bar looks a proper old fashioned rider frightener. There is also a very open triple bar jumping into the lake,  the top rail of which is fitted with a ‘MIM Clip’ safely device, which if triggered causes an automatic 11 penalties.  These clips are designed for horse and rider safety, but are somewhat controversial amongst riders when 11 penalties can be extremely costly. Huntsman’s Close comes towards the end of this year’s course, and a pair of very open corners look as though they could well catch out horses who are starting to get tired in the closing stages of the track.

Badminton is a notoriously tricky event to try and predict a winner, with margins for error being minute.  However, if I had to put my money on one combination, it would most likely be Ros Canter on her up and coming star, Lordships Graffalo, who has already proven himself at this level. That said, there will be established combinations, such as Oliver Townend on Swallow Springs and Tom McEwen on Toledo de Kerser, who will be looking to give Ros a run for her money.

Badminton 2023 looks set to be a hugely exiting competition at the most famous 5* event in the world, which conveniently for us sits within the beautiful Cotswolds.

For any Equestrian property advice do contact Ben Way on 01451 830731 or ben@butlersherborn.co.uk.

Many transactions take place off the open market, and Ben is delighted to assist.

News & Comment
Read Article
Broughton Hall

SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move

Currently, in the UK, on average one in three house sales fall through. This is often due to surprises during a conveyance, and buyer fatigue at the length the process can take. There are simple steps Sellers and Buyers can take in advance to help ensure the process is as smooth as possible. The key approach is to reduce as many ‘sales irritants’ as you can and to be well prepared in advance. Unexpected matters will inevitably arise, but with plenty of preparation these will be easier to resolve.

SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move
Read Article
Bonfire night

Things that Go Bang in the Night – Halloween & Guy Fawkes in the Cotswolds!

The Cotswolds offer endless activities for all ages in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations the following weekend, from scary attractions, and pumpkin carving to big bangs, bonfires and fireworks!

Things that Go Bang in the Night – Halloween & Guy Fawkes in the Cotswolds!
Read Article
Pumpkin

Cotswold Residential Market - Stow-on-the-Wold – Helen Whitfield

The residential market around Stow-on-the-Wold has been incredibly active during this current period of political uncertainty, and there have been some notable sales. Many properties are still selling privately under competitive bidding. That being said, the headline guide price needs to be realistic, and the best results are still on the turnkey properties.

Cotswold Residential Market - Stow-on-the-Wold – Helen Whitfield
Read Article
Ben Way

Ben Way, Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian - Rounds Up the Eventing Season 2024 with Badminton Qualification

As we head into October, the 2024 eventing season is drawing to a close, with the last couple of events left to go for some of the younger horses. Many of the older horses have already started their winter holidays, where they get an eight week break out in the fields.

Ben Way, Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian - Rounds Up the Eventing Season 2024 with Badminton Qualification
A laptop on a desk with houseplants an coffee
Instant Digital Valuation

Wondering what your property is worth?

Get an estimated valuation for you property using our free digital valuation tool.

CAAV logo
The London Office logo
The Property Ombudsmen logo
Rics logo
Team Way Eventing logo
Rightmove logo