Two withdrawals at Badminton leave field of 79 to tackle the cross-country phase

There have been two withdrawals post-dressage at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, leaving a field of 79 to head out of the startbox today (Saturday, 10 May). These are Jesse Campbell’s ride Cooley Lafitte and Aaron Millar with Friendship VDL.

Jesse had a disappointing test on Cooley Lafitte (Henry) on the first day of dressage, leaving them in 77th place on 44.7.

Jesse confirmed to H&H this morning that he is rerouting to Luhmühlen, also posting on Instagram: “Henry is a seriously exciting horse – he’s shown he has all the ingredients of a proper five-star campaigner, especially with the way he jumped at both Badminton and Burghley last year. I truly believe in his quality and can’t wait to see what he can do next.

“That said, I absolutely love competing at Badminton and it’s always a real disappointment not to be riding at what I genuinely believe is the best event of the year. But this is all part of the bigger picture with Henry, and we’re looking ahead to Luhmühlen with real focus and excitement.”

Cooley Lafitte, a 13-year-old owned by Jay Jaffar, finished 15th at Badminton last year.

Another Badminton Horse Trials withdrawal on cross-country morning

Aaron scored 35.9 to sit in 49th spot on Friendship VDL, who is owned by Heidi Bates and Hilary Prewecki. The pair were contesting their first Badminton together having finished 25th at Burghley last year.

They scored a better dressage mark here than at Burghley but Aaron said after his test that he was “disappointed in myself”.

“Normally he’s quite a tense horse and he actually went in there quite relaxed, so I could probably have been braver, and ridden him more through and forwards,” he said.

The only other withdrawal at Badminton Horse Trials since Thursday morning was the defending champion Greenacres Special Cavalier, who was scratched in the final hour before she was due to do her dressage.

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