Badminton Horse Trials is one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, regularly attracting the world’s best riders and horses. The event is a high-level three-day event, requiring both horse and rider to demonstrate skill, accuracy and speed across a series of challenging courses and tests. So, who is leading this year’s Badminton Horse Trials?
Overview of the Badminton Horse Trials
The Badminton Horse Trials is held annually in the spring and is managed by the Duke of Beaufort’s, who also owns the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire. The competition consists of three phases: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Riders are expected to show a high level of skill and accuracy in each phase, as well as demonstrating good horsemanship. The winner is the rider with the lowest overall score after all three phases.
The Dressage Phase
The dressage phase is the first part of the competition and requires riders to demonstrate their ability to control their horse in a series of predetermined movements. The movements must be performed in a precise order and the rider is then marked on their accuracy and skill in performing the movements. This phase is often considered to be the most challenging for riders, as it requires a great deal of skill and accuracy to achieve a high score.
The Cross-Country Phase
The cross-country phase is the second part of the competition and is the most physically demanding of the three phases. Riders must navigate their horse around a course of jumps and obstacles, often at a fast pace. This phase is designed to test the horse’s agility and endurance, as well as the rider’s ability to accurately guide the horse around the course.
The Show Jumping Phase
The show jumping phase is the final part of the competition and requires riders to guide their horse around a course of jumps. Riders must demonstrate accuracy and control in their approach to each jump, and must also be mindful of the time limit for the course. The aim of the show jumping phase is to demonstrate the horse’s accuracy and agility, as well as the rider’s ability to control the horse.
Current Leaderboard
The current leaderboard for the 2021 Badminton Horse Trials is as follows:
1. William Fox-Pitt – Great Britain
2. Gemma Tattersall – Great Britain
3. Michael Jung – Germany
4. Tim Price – New Zealand
5. Sam Griffiths – Australia
6. Piggy French – Great Britain
7. Andrew Nicholson – New Zealand
8. Oliver Townend – Great Britain
9. Ben Hobday – Great Britain
10. Ingrid Klimke – Germany
William Fox-Pitt currently holds the lead, having scored a total of 26.4 in the dressage phase. He is closely followed by Gemma Tattersall and Michael Jung, who are currently tied for second place with a score of 26.7.
William Fox-Pitt
William Fox-Pitt is a British eventer who has competed in the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, and Badminton Horse Trials multiple times. He has won Badminton Horse Trials four times, in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2015, making him one of the most successful riders of all time. He currently holds the lead in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, having scored a total of 26.4 in the dressage phase.
Gemma Tattersall
Gemma Tattersall is a British eventer who is currently tied for second place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. She has represented Great Britain multiple times in the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, and the European Championships. She was also the highest-placed British rider in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Michael Jung
Michael Jung is a German eventer who is currently tied for second place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, and the European Championships, winning gold medals in the individual and team events at the 2012 London Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers of all time, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Tim Price
Tim Price is a New Zealand eventer who is currently in fourth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Sam Griffiths
Sam Griffiths is an Australian eventer who is currently in fifth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Piggy French
Piggy French is a British eventer who is currently in sixth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. She has represented her country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. She is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Andrew Nicholson
Andrew Nicholson is a New Zealand eventer who is currently in seventh place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Oliver Townend
Oliver Townend is a British eventer who is currently in eighth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Ben Hobday
Ben Hobday is a British eventer who is currently in ninth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. He has represented his country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Ingrid Klimke
Ingrid Klimke is a German eventer who is currently in tenth place in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials. She has represented her country in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games multiple times, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. She is widely regarded as one of the best eventers in the world, and is considered to be a serious contender for the win this year.
Conclusion
The 2021 Badminton Horse Trials is currently being led by William Fox-Pitt, with Gemma Tattersall and Michael Jung in close second and third place respectively. However, with a range of experienced riders in the competition, the leaderboard could change at any moment. The competition is sure to be exciting, and it will be interesting to see who will come out on top in this year’s Badminton Horse Trials.