Badminton Horse Trials 2026 entry list

Twelve nations will be represented at the 2026 MARS Badminton Horse Trials with Australia, Great Britain, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Switzerland and USA riders all taking part in the first British CCI5* of the year (6th-10th May).

Australian and New Zealand entries

Belgian-based Australian combination Olivia Barton and Hollyander HG will be having their first start at an overseas CCI5* after finishing second at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival in 2024. She will be taking on Olympic medallists, World and European Champions, five-star winners and 15 of the world’s top 20 ranked riders, who head a star-studded entry list, competing for the world’s richest eventing prize of £125,000.

Seven New Zealand combinations will be taking part headed by World Number Four Tim Price, has four 5* 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?

They are joined by 2024 Badminton winners, Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier and Caroline is also riding High Time, who finished in the top 10 at Burghley last year. Tayla Mason riding Centennial, Hollie Field riding Solo and Jesse Campbell riding Cooley Lafitte will also line-up for New Zealand.

Strong British line-up

The current World Number 5 Ros Canter will return with Lordships Graffalo; this pair has already galloped into the record books as the only combination to win two CCI5* Badminton and two Burghley titles - a third victory here together would seal their place in sporting history as the first to win three Badminton titles.

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 they have already thrown the gauntlet down with a very good early prep run at Lincolnshire Horse Trials.

Harry Meade, whose brilliant cross-country riding has propelled him to the World Number 1 spot, has five horses to choose from (Annaghmore Valoner, Cavalier Crystal, Et Hop Du Matz, Grafennacht and Superstition) and surely his best chance yet of a first five-star win.

The 2022 winner, dual Olympic gold medallist and European Champion 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.

British rider Sam Ecroyd is one of the first-timers this year, who says that “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.”

Six combinations are entered from the USA including Boyd Martin, the World Number 2 and leading American rider, who returns with Miks Master C.

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. Another Maryland 5* winner, Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and his talented mare Cartania will also be returning in 2026, hoping for another hair-cut!

Badminton Horse Trials 2026 List of Riders and Horses