Badminton 2014 course revealed

With a new course designer, the course for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is said to mark a return in style to the event’s illustrious past.

New design

Giuseppe Della Chiesa, a leading course designer and former international rider, has taken over the role of designing the world’s most famous four-star cross-country course from Badminton’s director, Hugh Thomas.

Horse & Country were taken on an exclusive tour of this year’s course, which includes many traditional types of fences and the usual substantial rider-frighteners. The new designer has added a number of new jumps and utilised some different parts of the park.

After last year’s event, when 23 riders made the allowed time, this year’s course sees fewer long route choices – with those available taking a considerably longer time than usual. The course is 11min 30sec long, with 30 fences and 45 jumping efforts.

Course

1)ASX Starter

2) Tree Trunk

3)John Whitaker Keepers Brush

4) Little Badminton Double Rails

5) The Savills Escalator

6and 7) the Team GBR Silver Birch

8) The Rolex Grand Slam Triple Bar

9) The Lake

10) KBIS Garden Table

11 and 12) Shogun Hollow

13) Outlander Bank

14) Gatehouse New Pond

15) PHEV Vicarage Vee

16) Mirage Pond

17) FEI Classics Stick Pile

18) Swindon Designer Outlet Mound

19)Wadworth Barrels

20) World Horse Welfare Garden Gates

21) L200 Trailer

22 and 23) ISH Studbook Huntsmans Close

24, 25 and 26) Horsequest Quarry

27 and 28) Countryside Hedges

29) Rolex Presentation Boxes (29)

30) Mitsubishi Finish

Horse & Country TV will be showing extensive highlights from the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – for programme times, click here.