Badminton Horse Trials 2008

81 riders from six Nations set out on the long road to glory over the 4 days of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trails but few would have had any inkling how treacherous that road would be.

This was a great Badminton; the standard of dressage was widely regarded as the best ever and you could throw a blanket over the first dozen riders after the first phase with 2006 winners Andrew Hoy (Aus) and the now 17 yr old Moon fleet leading the Way.

The dramas though were yet to come over Hugh Thomas's 6374 metre cross country course. After the problems in 2007 with the ground a great deal of work had been done during the year to ensure the best possible going and the competitors could not have been more complimentary. However, one by one great riders were "found out" with problems spread all around the course. One fancied combinations after another were caught out by the technical questions asked and by the relentlessly demanding nature of the course but not the reigning European champion Nicolas Touzaint. He showed why he is a champion as he repelled all comers both across country and in the thrilling showjumping finale. Approx 100 mins