46 horses come forward to the final showjumping phase of the 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. One horse was withdrawn after the cross-country and one was withdrawn from the holding box at this morning’s vet inspection.
First-timer Emily Gilruth withdrew Topwood Beau and Horse & Hound blogger Simon Grieve unfortunately did not make it past the trot-up.
The showjumping course at a maximum height of 1.30m consists of 13 fences and 16 jumping efforts over a length of 555m. The time to beat is 89 seconds and riders need to keep up a pace of 375m per minute.
Fence 1
Height: 1.22m front rail and 1.25m back rail
Width: 1.30m
Approached on the left rein, this oxer is located right next to the crowd which could cause some distraction early on in the course
Fence 2
Height: 1.28m
This upright is located at the end of a fairly tight 180-degree left-hand turn from fence one
Fence 3
Height: 1.26m front rail and 1.28m back rail
Width: 1.40m
There are seven non-jumping strides between fence two and this oxer which horses jump towards the crowd
Fence 4
Height: 1.26m front rail and 1.29m back rail
Width: 1.40m
This big oxer is approached on a right-handed turn going away from the collecting ring which may cause some horses to be a little backwards
Fence 5
Height: 1.29m
This upright rail is a forward five strides from fence four
Fence 6
Height: 1.27m front rail and 1.28m back rail
Width: 1.45m
This wide and very square oxer comes after a right-hand curve from fence five. Riders will also very much be thinking about the turn coming up to the next fence too
Fence 7ab
Height: 1.28m (first element) and 1.26m front rail and 1.28m back rail (second element)
Width: 1.40m (second element)
This double comes after quite a quick left-handed turn from fence six. It is an upright followed by two non-jumping strides to a wide oxer. There is a slight hummock in the ground on the second non-jumping stride in this double which could put horses off-balance
Fence 8
Height: 1.29m front rail and 1.30m back rail
Width: 1.45m
This fence is on a forward six stride related distance from the double. It is a maximum dimension oxer jumping towards the crowd
Fence 9
Height: 1.30m
This maximum height upright comes after a long left-handed turn from fence eight. It is situated slightly on an uphill slope
Fence 10abc
Height: 1.26m front rail and 1.28m back rail (first element), 1.28m (second element), 1.26m front rail and 1.29m back rail (third element)
Width: 1.35m (first element), 1.40m (final element)
This treble combination is approached on a related forward seven stride distance from fence nine. It is made up from an oxer, to an upright and finally a large oxer. Riders will be forced to attack this combination, which will prevent them from over-protecting the front end of their horses and therefore some errors may be forced. There is one non-jumping stride between the elements
Fence 11
Height: 1.28m
This very airy upright fence comes after a left-handed dog leg turn from the treble. It is jumped towards the crowd
Fence 12
Height: 1.28m
This Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing upright fence comes after a 180-degree right-handed turn from fence 11
Fence 13
Height: 1.28m front rail and 1.29m back rail
Width: 1.45m
The final fence is on an eight non-jumping stride right-hand curving related distance from fence 12. This square oxer is at maximum width and has a water tray underneath it. It is also located near to the collecting ring so horse and rider will need to concentrate fully right until the very end of the course