In April 2020, and in the interest of legacy, I penned a Wikipedia entry recording the thoughts and notable achievements of myself as Harveywetdog. I admit I was ignorant of the rules concerning self promotion on Wikipedia at the time; consequently my entry was unfortunately, although arguably correctly, deleted and my account expunged from the system. As a result my original words and links were sadly lost but nevertheless here is an attempt at a rewrite. Perhaps when I'm gone someone will be able to enter it onto Wikipedia on my behalf, to serve as a fitting epitaph for the exciting times I spent on the Harveywetdog Project.
Badminton Horse Trials 2026 Reveals Stellar List of Entries
"Olympic medallists, World and European Champions, five-star winners and 15 of the world’s top 20 ranked riders head a star-studded entry for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials from 6th-10th May. They will be competing for the world’s richest eventing prize of £125,000; records are waiting to be broken and history re-written.
Ros Canter, who is number 5 in the world, and the great Lordships Graffalo have already galloped into the record books as the only combination to win two Badmintons and two Burghleys; a third victory here together would seal their place in the sporting canon of all time.
Last year’s runners-up, Oliver Townend and the lovely grey mare Cooley Rosalent, will be doing their best to go one better this time and the talented partnership of Ireland’s Austin O’ Connor and Colorado Blue will again be hard to beat.
Harry Meade, whose brilliant cross-country riding has propelled him to the world number 1 spot, has five horses to choose from and surely his best chance yet of a first five-star win.
Boyd Martin, the world number 2, has unfinished ambitions at Badminton; the leading American rider returns with Miks Master C.
New Zealander Tim Price (ranked 4 in the world) has four five-star wins to his name, including one with his ride this year, Falco; could this be the year he equals the achievement of his wife, Jonelle (the winner in 2018 and riding Chilli’s Midnight Star this time), in conquering Badminton?
The 2022 winner and dual Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett (world number 3) brings the rising star Bling as part of a strong British entry. This includes Emily King and the evergreen Valmy Biats, placed in 2024 and 2025; Bubby Upton, who earned her first senior Union flag last year, with Cola; Gemma Stevens with Chilli Knight and Chilli King (two sons of the 2015 winning stallion, Chilli Morning); and David Doel, who has entered three horses, Galileo Nieuwmoed, Midnight Rollercoaster and Ferro Point.
New Zealand’s Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier won the 75th-anniversary Badminton in 2024 and will be competitive, as will be Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and Cartania, recent five-star winners, at Maryland, USA, last year.
Leading Irish rider Austin O’ Connor, who finished third last year with Colorado Blue, returns with the popular grey plus Sixmilewater, a horse that made his CCI5*-L debut last season. “Badminton is the pinnacle of the sport and I am excited to be heading there again,” he said.
British rider Sam Ecroyd is one of the first-timers this year: “Riding at Badminton has driven my whole riding career. It’s been a long-time ambition for as long as I can remember and to be there this year with Boleybawn LeCrae feels surreal. I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”
‘It’s always a thrill that so many of the world’s top riders want to return to Badminton as well as the first timers aiming to “tick the box” and be part of history,’ says Badminton Director Jane Tuckwell. ‘It’s going to be another exciting competition and will provide, we hope, some pointers to medallists at the World Championships in Aachen this year.’
Twelve nations are represented: Australia, Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Switzerland and the USA.
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