A runaway leader, a stunning debut and riders’ course reactions: all you need to know from day one at Badminton Horse Trials

The opening day of the Mars Badminton Horse Trials dressage at Britain’s first five-star of the year promised much and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Forty riders entered the iconic Badminton arena, with almost 30 penalties covering the whole field at the end of the day as just six scored sub-30 from the judges.

Here’s a round-up of all the stories from the day’s events.

• There was drama before the day even began, when the defending champion pulled out.

Why did Caroline Powell withdraw her champ at the last minute?

• Tom McEwen produces a stunning performance to lead overnight – but he did make one major error.

Read about JL Dublin’s superb test, and why there’s more to come

• A debutant turned heads when he bolted up on to the podium, riding the joint-oldest horse.

Find out more about 24-year-old and his “Mr Cool” horse

• Oliver Townend had an early start in the Badminton Horse Trials dressage on his first ride Ballaghmor Class.

How did the great grey fare on his fifth attempt at Badminton?

• Gemma Stevens slotted into sixth with Chilli Knight.

Why riding “every blade of grass” paid dividends 

• Kylie Roddy also sits in the top 10 with SRS Kan Do.

Find out how a winter fitness overhaul for horse and rider is paying dividends

• Bubby Upton produced another solid test with Cola to lie up with the leaders.

Read how Bubby has recovered from major surgery since last season

• H&H has done a recce of the Badminton CCI5* course.

Check out our reporter’s pictures of every fence

• Riders have also done their initial cross-country course walk.

What are competitors’ first impressions of Eric Winter’s track?

• Reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham is tackling her first Badminton.

Meet Rehy DJ’s groom Alison Bell

• Another British rider made their Badminton debut

Find out about the three Jacks at their first Badminton

• Alex Hua Tian has returned to Badminton after a nine-year wait

Read about the horse who “deserves a crack” after being saved for championships

• An amateur rider who juggles a city council job with his top-flight eventing career made his Badminton debut.

What are his thoughts on the track for his “pony-like” mare?

• An Australian rider is juggling her eventing career in two hemispheres.

Find out how Samantha Cesnik keeps her mare fit from the other side of the world.

And we round up the LeMieux grassroots championships.

Read how an NHS physio topped the BE90

Meet the freelance coach who headed the BE100 with a gift horse

• Make sure you come back and join us on Friday to keep up to date with all the action.

Check out 5 things not to miss on the second day of dressage

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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