We’re not quite half-way through 2025 and here we hurdle into our third CCI5* event of the season! MARS Badminton is the first of two British 5* events with a ton of history bolstering them into the stratosphere of eventing legend.
Before it became hallowed ground for eventing legends, Badminton was just a sleepy English estate — if, naturally, your idea of “sleepy” includes dukes, civil wars, and multimillion-pound home renovations (adjusted for inflation, of course).
The estate has been in the Somerset family since 1608 and eventually became the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort. The 1st Duke spent 30 years and a small fortune rebuilding Badminton House in the late 1600s, essentially DIY-ing a palace before Pinterest made it cool. Later dukes continued the upgrades, and the house you see today — with its striking Palladian façade and twin cupolas — stands as a testament to centuries of architectural obsession and family pride.
Fast-forward a few generations, and the Beauforts added something a bit more adrenaline-fueled to the landscape: the Badminton Horse Trials. First held in 1949 to prepare British riders for international competition, the event has grown into one of just seven 5* events in the world—and a rite of passage for the sport’s best.
Badminton remains a private family home, now under the care of the 12th Duke of Beaufort, Harry Somerset. His father, David, served as President of the Horse Trials and even finished second here in 1959, proving that around these parts, horse sport isn’t just a tradition. It’s in the blood.
So when you’re walking the iconic cross country course or watching dressage unfold in front of Badminton House, you’re not just witnessing world-class sport. You’re stepping into history.
Emily King and Valmy Biats jump in front of the iconic Badminton House. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Without further ado, bookmark this Ultimate Guide for all of the latest coverage of Badminton here on EN, as well as helpful info and links for you to reference throughout the weekend. We’ll update this post each evening with our latest coverage articles and stories from our team on site, Tilly Berendt and Catherine Austen, supported by Cheg Darlington running our popular live blogs for each phase of competition.
Still need tickets for this weekend? See what’s available here.
MARS Badminton Horse Trials: [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]
EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.
The Players
Tim Price and VITALI during the Cross Country phase, Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 11 May 2024
A total of 83 horses and riders are entered in the 2025 MARS Badminton Horse Trials. We’ll add a link to our Form Guide as soon as it’s been published, but in the meantime you can view the whole list here.
The festivities will be supervised this weekend by the Ground Jury made up of Paris Olympic judge Xavier le Sauce (FRA), serving as President of the Ground Jury, Nick Burton (GBR) and Robert Stevenson (USA). Andrew Temkin (USA) is this weekend’s Technical Delegate, assisted by Mathias Otto-Erley (GER). Cross country is designed by Eric Winter (GBR), and show jumping is designed by Phillip Kelvin Bywater (GBR).
For the dressage, riders will complete FEI CCI5* Test C, which can be viewed here. You can also take a look at the guided cross country course preview here on CrossCountryApp, or take a dive into Tilly Berendt’s preview here.
How to Watch
Boyd Martin and TSETSERLEG TSF during the Cross Country phase, Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 11 May 2024
Badminton pulls out all the stops with their live coverage, and this year their Badminton TV stream will be hosted by ClipMyHorse.TV. You have two options to watch: you can purchase a subscription to Badminton TV only for £21.99 or about $30 USD, or you can sign up for or use your existing ClipMyHorse.TV premium membership to view Badminton and all other events available on the platform. You can view your options, as well as the live stream schedule here. This live stream is your one-stop shop no matter where you are in the world.
For those who prefer audio, you can also tune in for free to Radio Badminton here.
Social Media Channels and Hashtags
Alexander Bragg and Quindiva. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
You can follow along with the official Badminton social media pages below:
You can also follow along with our adventures on the ground over on our social pages:
Instagram | Instagram Broadcast Channel | Facebook
Hashtags to Follow: #marsbadmintonhorsetrials2025 | #BadmintonHorseTrials
What’s Happening On Site?
Alexandra Knowles and MORSWOOD during the Dressage phase, Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire UK 10 May 2024
Great question! There’s always a ton to do on site at Badminton, including demonstrations, Masterclasses, and of course plenty of shopping.
Shopping | Site Plan | Food and Drink | Event Timetable with Special Events
EN’s Coverage
Lucy Latta and RCA Patron Saint. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
PRE-COMPETITION STORIES
