Defending champion withdrawn from Badminton in final hour before test

There has been a high-profile withdrawal at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, as the defending champion, Greenacres Special Cavalier (Cav), has been taken off the startlist less than an hour before she was due to enter the dressage arena.

The mare’s rider Caroline Powell posted on Instagram: “We’re devastated to have to withdraw Cav ahead of dressage today. Following her final piece of work before the start of the competition, she’s not feeling quite right and having discussed this with her owners, we’ve taken the difficult decision to save her for another day.

“Naturally we were so excited to be defending our title, but Cav’s welfare is our first priority and we are enormously grateful to everyone who has helped and supported us on our journey to Badminton.”

Hopes were high for Caroline and Chris and Michelle Mann’s 12-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier, who won on her final run three weeks ago, the CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk. The pair were due to start their defence of the title at 9.07am, the second rider into the arena.

Caroline still has her second ride, High Time, making his Badminton debut. They start at 4.03pm on Friday, 9 May.

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