Take a sneak peek at Tina Cook walking some of the Badminton five-star cross-country fences

The Mars Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course for next week’s event has finally been unveiled and we’re all buzzing to see what Eric Winter has devised for this year’s challenge.

Horse & Hound sent multi-medallist and experienced Badminton competitor Tina Cook along to check out the track and you can read all her thoughts in the magazine out now (dated 1 May). Meanwhile, check out the pictures below for a sneak peek at the course…

Early pictures of Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course 2025

Please note that the fences were not fully dressed during this early preview walk.

Fence 3: Tortworth Court Brush

Tina shows the line at this brush fence on a mound (which had yet to be trimmed to size when H&H visited).

Fence 5: Countryside Alliance Parallel

Tina and Eric eye up the option of angling this big silver birch spread fence.

Fences 6 and 7: Agria Corners

Two big corners, with a “roof” on each – this is one of the first serious challenges on the Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course this year.

Fences 9 and 10abc: Mars Lake

The direct route comprises two big rolltops into the water and then two arrowhead brushes in the water and on the way out.

Fence 12ab: Ineos Grenadier Sunken Road

Upright rails either side of a hollow – riders will need to set up well here to minimise the risk of penalties for breaking frangible devices.

Fence 15abcd: KBIS Chasm

Two sets of narrow logs, with a ditch in the middle.

Fence 16: Lime Tree Tables

Riders can choose which of these two tables to jump.

Fences 17 and 18: Holland Cooper Corners

The first of these big corners is set in the imposing Vicarage Ditch.

Fence 19abc: Lemieux Eyelash Brushes

The ditch questions come thick and fast in this section of the course.

Fence 21ab: Mayston Equestrian Sunken Road

Competitors can pick which of the four arrowheads to jump as the second element.

Fence 22: Wiltshire Brewers Brush

A nice big straightforward brush – which will also give great pictures.

Fence 23ab: Project Pony Brush Buckets

Riders can go inside or outside the pagoda to the second of these brush buckets.

Fence  26ab: Equidry Huntsman’s Close

Riders will be pleased to put these challenging corners behind them on the way home.

Badminton Horse Trials cross-country course pictures by Nico Morgan Media. 

How to watch Badminton Horse Trials

If you want to watch the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. This year, Badminton TV has teamed up with ClipMyHorse.TV, but you do not need a full ClipMyHorse.TV subscription to watch Badminton – you can just subscribe to Badminton TV for £21.99. Go to clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/badminton to subscribe or to activate your account as an existing Badminton TV subscriber. If you are already a ClipMyHorse.TV premium member, Badminton TV is included in your subscription. As part of Badminton TV, you can enjoy the documentary programme Legends and Legacy, a fly-on-the-wall insight into the 2024 event and preview of 2025.

Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound

To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 15 May.

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