Riding high as popular Badminton approaches

This highlight of every horseriding fan's calendar has something for all, writes Ro Collingborn

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HERE is no way I can describe the frisson of excitement and expectation that grips equestrian households across the length and breadth of Britain, and even some across the world, with the approach of the annual Mars Badminton Five Star Event. Badminton has something for everyone, as parents of pony-mad teenagers will know as they happily leave their offspring to spend their day following their equine idols, while their parents peruse the hundreds of trade stands that cater for every taste.

Badminton's core is its Five Star event, run over four days, complemented by a preliminary day on the Wednesday for up-and-coming younger horses and riders. The event itself starts with a trot up on the Wednesday evening where it's become tradition to dress smartly, even flamboyantly, as you lead up your horse, while the horse itself receives close veterinary attention, to ensure it is up to the rigours before it. The event starts with the dressage competition which runs over Thursday and Friday, while the main action, most popular with the public, is the challenging cross country on the Saturday.

As well as the veterinary inspection on the Wednesday night, all horses competing are supervised constantly by vets throughout the four days, with a final trot up on the Sunday morning before the show jumping. The show jumping is nail-biting, with prize money of £117,600 to the overall winner of the three phases. With prize money like this, Badminton is a serious competition, and even one pole down in the show jumping can mean a loss of placing.

My aunt came every year up from Cardiff, attending the special church service before the show jumping, to wander the stalls, cheque book in hand, and she was not alone in this. There would be a considerable amount of the public with more interest in the shopping on offer than the horses! Badminton caters for all.