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Badminton favourite alters build-up plans owing to small setback

Pippa Roome Pippa Roome

    • Laura Collett has had to alter her plans in the build-up to defending her Badminton Horse Trials title at the event presented by Mars Equestrian (4–8 May) because London 52 suffered an overreach at the start of last week. This meant he could not run at Barefroot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials on Sunday (16 April) as planned, but Laura still won the flagship class at the event, the CCI4*-S, on her other Badminton entry, Dacapo.

    “He didn’t fancy a trip to Norfolk and thought he’d let his friend do the business this weekend,” joked Laura.

    London 52 (Dan), who belongs to his rider, Karen Bartlett and Keith Scott, will now run at Kelsall Hill next Saturday (22 April) as his final preparation for the five-star. In the meantime he has been working on the water treadmill at Ivy Lodge Farm to maintain fitness.

    The 14-year-old has so far had one complete run this year, finishing third in an open intermediate at Lincoln with a 25.7 dressage, one showjump down and 5.6 time-faults across country. He scored a 24.3 in the Grantham Cup CCI4*-S at Thoresby, but was one of many horses who were then withdrawn due to the wet conditions.

    Dan is a double five-star winner, having triumphed at Pau Horse Trials in 2020 and Badminton last year. He was also part of the British team that won the gold at the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo, where he finished ninth individually. He sat second after dressage at last year’s World Championships in Pratoni, but had a run-out at The Slide fence across country, which put paid to his medal chances.

    How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

    If you are interested in watching Badminton Horse Trials live from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, then you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later.

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    Pippa Roome
    Pippa Roome

    H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
    Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
    Pippa Roome

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