Good morrow ENers. I’m back with all of the dressage action from the second day at MARS Badminton. If you missed out yesterday, you’ll find a test-by-test analysis of all that went down on the first day of dressage right here.
Here’s how the leaderboard looked overnight after the first day of dressage:
1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Storming into the lead, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin totally delivered the goods and then some, putting down their best ever 5* dressage test to sit on a score of 22.4.
2️⃣ 🇬🇧 Slotting into second, Emily King and Valmy Biats produced a truly lovely test for a score of 27.3.
3️⃣ 🇬🇧 Shooting onto the 5* scene on their debut at the level, Tom Woodward and Low Moor Lucky had the time of their lives, launching themselves into the big leagues with a score of 27.9.
You’ll find the full leaderboard here and you can catch up with everything you need to know about all of the competitors in our new-look Form Guide – you’ll find it here.
We sure did get an overview of the quality that makes up the MARS Badminton field this year as the first half of the combinations strutted their stuff between the white boards. But there’s still so much to come. I can’t pick them all out – there’s so many – but a couple of notable examples include 2023 champs Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who’ll put their mark on the competition at 9:28am local time / 4:28am EST / 10:28am CEST; Oliver Townend will be back with his second ride, 2024 Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent at 3:28pm local time / 10:28am EST / 4:28pm CEST, and don’t even think about going anywhere until after Tim Price wraps things up for the dressage phase at 4:17pm local time / 11:17am EST / 5:17pm CEST with Vitali – he broke the Burghley record in 2023 when he went sub-20 with space to spare and posted a score of 18.7. Eyes on ENers, all the way to the end of play when we’ll know who’ll head out onto tomorrow’s cross country in pole position.
Before we turn our focus to the dressage ring, a further ‘refresher’ of the no. 1 rule of following EN’s classic live blog – refresh, refresh, refresh and all will be revealed.
If you’re catching up with this later and are the type to like things in order, scroll ⬇️ and read ⬆️. If going backwards is more your jam, have at it.
As you know, here at EN we go over and above to bring our fellow eventing geeks every single scrap of info, fun, crazy, weird and wild that 5* events throw up, relinquishing sleep and sanity for the sake of our awesome sport. You’ll find all of our blood, sweat, tears and hilarity right here. And that’s not all because you can never have too much eventing, right? Head on over on our Instagram channel @goeventing for even more frolics.
Settle in for the second day, and go eventing!
MARS Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]
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EN’s coverage of MARS Badminton is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.
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4:28am
🇬🇧 Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
✨ Multiple 5* winning combo!
World No. 5 Ros Canter took the Badminton title in 2023 with ‘Walter’ and then the pair won Burghley last season. She says Walter’s the perfect eventer – he enjoys all three phases and is equally talented in all of them. To borrow from Shakespeare, ‘Consistency, thou art a jewel’ 💎 – will it be the jewel in Walter’s Badminton crown once more? 👑
OK, here we go. Will we have a new leader? Watch this space…
‘Walter’ is in the ring.
They halt square and set the tone for their test with two 8s and an 8.5.
They set off into a springy and expressive trot – 9 for the collected. Lots of 8s and 8.5s. This horse is so supple – 8s across the board for the extended and the transition. Beautiful work on show. This is smooth, easy, seamless.
The halt at C gets a 9 from the judge at C and 7.5 from the two others. The reinback is a little rushed and scores drop to 7s. Walter is super relaxed in the walk. He swings his bum and uses his whole body and scores two 8s for the extended. Pirouettes? No worry for Walter. Two 8s for the first and two more for the second.
We get to see a little more of his expressive trot WE HAVE A 10 for the half pass!
And now Walter shows more of his quality in the canter with scores trending in the 8s. But oh, the first change is 4s – he double tapped his feet on the ground. He makes up for it with the two on the serpentine, but the fourth one scores 4s. They are expensive mistakes. The two they missed are marked double.
Where will they land? So many 8s, some 9s, a 10. But not error free… Collectives are 8s and an 8.5… Into second…
Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo score 25.3.
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4:21am
🇩🇪 Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH
Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
They make a very clean entrance up the center line but the halt isn’t quite what Christoph would have wanted and has a mixed bag of scores – 5.5, 7.5. 5 for that. No matter, we move on. They get going into the trot work and things improve immediately. The horse is flowing and settled and there are lots of scores in the 7s with an 8 or two.
The halt at C is excellent and scores two 8s and a 7.5 and the reinback is dead straight for an 8 and two 7s. There’s a little something something bubbling away in the walk work and the steps are a little bouncy rather than elongated and relaxed – 5s across the board for the extended. That tension remains for the pirouettes. The horse is again much happier once he gets into trot.
They get into canter and Christoph pushes in the extended showing this horse’s scope and power. He brings him back very smoothly and the canter marks on the whole are very good. The changes are clearly established and clean and Christoph navigates them purposefully.
They come round and halt on the center line but not before pulling in another 8 for the half circle back to the line. A big pat for D’Accord, who, incidentally, has the same sire as JL Dublin, the current leader. Overall there was a lot to like in this test, with some expensive walk work. The halt and reinback were real highlights.
Christoph Wahler and D’Accord FRH score 32.4.
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4:14am
🇮🇪 Ian Cassells and Master Point
Ian Cassells and Master Point. Photo by Hannah Cole Photography.
This pair make a smart entrance as they come into the ring. The first halt is very solid, great start for them for two 7.5s and a 7. They create a lovely picture as they trot round, it’s positive and harmonious and the horse is very much on his rider’s side. Lots of 7s and some 8s coming in at this stage.
‘Duke’ is very soft and willing and is trying really hard. He really does work nicely for his rider. He sure knows his job, he went to go straight into the reinback at C but Ian reminded him to halt for a bit first. They set off into a very relaxed walk, it’s swinging and flowing and actually very impressive. They navigate their way quietly round the pirouettes and scores 7s on the whole for the first. There’s a little resistance in the second and the scores aren’t quite as good.
The get a smooth transition into canter and again, it’s all very quiet and easy looking. Scores are back up in the 7s with some 8s now. This is a very smart test so far. The horse looks rideable and very confident in his work. The changes are clearly solid although he kicks the board on the final change as he swung his quarters out. The horse stayed calm and collected though.
They halt at the end and Master Point has a bite of Badminton grass as he ambles out of the ring. A very relaxed horse who was confident and happy in his work throughout. A very nice start to their competition with a 5* PB for Ian.
Ian Cassells and Master Point score 30.7.
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4:07am
🇬🇧 Emma Thomas and Icarus
Emma Thomas and Icarus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Icarus is really shining in the sunshine, he’s beautifully turned out. He decides to take a bathroom break as he comes into the ring. He was really lit up just at the last moment before they entered. That’s a tough start. The halt is not really a halt and he picks his head right up. Emma asks him forward but he goes back. She sits tight and gets him on side to set off in trot.
He’s griding his teeth as he trots round the ring but Emma seems to have settled him the best she can. He’s fussing round with the contact and is quite active in his head. Emma’s riding tactfully and gently encouraging him. The halt at C is much better than the first and they really do see the immobility. Emma came into it very quietly and rides the reinback in the same way, tactfully and quietly and very sensitively.
The walk is obviously going to be tricky with this horse. Emma’s really having to hold the horse together. There’s quite a bit of jiggy jogging but it honestly could be galloping by the looks of things so Emma’ll be taking what she can. They manage the pirouettes very well all things considered.
They set off into a quiet canter and Icarus does seem a little more settled now the walk’s over with. It’s so clear that this horse is going to be fabulous galloping cross country and he’s so ready for it to be Saturday right now.
Emma really is doing a great job of convincing Icarus to play ball. She manages to get the changes which shows that the horse is trying hard for her and is trying to listen. They come round to halt and Emma visibly gives a massive sigh of relief with a huge puff of her teeth. Phew. Superb job that woman.
Emma Thomas and Icarus score 46.8.
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4am
🇬🇧 Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley
Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley. Photo by Iain B Images.
Well the sun’s shining on Badminton as we get underway for the second day 🌞
Wills and ‘Felix’ begin their competition as they canter straight up the center line to halt square for an 8 from the judge at B. They set off into a balanced and rhythmical trot and there’s another 8 from the B judge, they’re obviously liking what they see. The horse is working quietly and consistently and the scores coming in for the early part of their test are trending in the 7s and 7.5s with a smattering of 8s.
The halt at C isn’t as good as the first one, Felix doesn’t really show the immobility there and the scores drop. The reinback is sound though. They set off into walk and the gelding stays nice and relaxed despite obviously being incredibly fit. There’s two 6s and a 7.5 for the extended.
The pirouettes are very good and score 7s, the second one earning an 8 from the judge at H. They get going into a smooth canter which has many of the same qualities as the trot – it’s fluid and rhythmical and effortless. Another 8 for the extended from the judge at B.
This all looks so easy. Felix really is confident in his work. Unfortunately the first change on the serpentine doesn’t come up – a mixed bag of scores there, 2. 6.5, 4. The other changes are much better though and are clearly established and expressive.
They come round and halt at the end of what’s been a sweet test. Quiet and accurate and very pleasing to watch. A good start to their Badminton.
Wills Oakden and A Class Cooley score 34.4.
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MARS Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]
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EN’s coverage of MARS Badminton is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.
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