Olympic eventer Caroline Powell is one of 11 Kiwi combinations starting at one of the greatest three day events in the world, the MARS Badminton Horse Trials in the UK where she will defend her hard-won 2024 crown aboard Greenacres Special Cavalier.

Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier take the Title for the 2024 MARS Badminton Horse Trials CCI5*. Gloucestershire. Great Britain. Sunday 12 May. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

She also has High Time entered in the CCI5* alongside world no.4 Tim Price with Vitali and Viscount Viktor, Jonelle Price aboard Grappa Nera, Samantha Lissington on Lord Seekonig, Jesse Campbell on Cooley Lafitte, Dan Jocelyn with Blackthorn Cruise, Joe Meyer and Harbin, Tayla Mason aboard Centennial, and Lauren Innes on Global Fision M.

In typical Caroline style, the two-time 5* winner said she was looking forward to a good week of sport and fun. “I am not feeling any more pressure than usual and hoping to do the best we can and come out the other side.” Twelve-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier were the New Zealand alternate for the Paris Olympic Games and placed fifth on debut at 5* at Pau. Thirteen-year-old High Time did his first 5* start at Pau and has been very consistent at 4*-L level for his rider.

Tim Price had his first Badminton start more than a decade ago. Last year he and 15-year-old Vitali were eighth but have also placed second at Burghley. Tim was New Zealand’s best performed at the Paris Games with his sixth place finish aboard Falco. He has three 5* wins to his credit with third his best effort at Badminton. This will be 11-year-old Viscount Viktor ‘s first Badminton start.

Jonelle Price and her 14-year-old mare Grappa Nera were sixth at Badminton last year and she’s looking forward the returning on the back of a stellar effort in 2024. “She is a very talented mare but not the most straight forward,” says Jonelle. “I live in hope that one day I will crack her and you just never know when that day might come so watch this space!”

Tokyo Olympian Jesse Campbell is entered with his 2024 Badminton and Burghley starter, 13-year-old Cooley Lafitte. Samantha Lissington is on debut at Badminton but has previously placed 11th at both Luhmuhlen and Pau and is entered with Lord Seekonig. Fellow Olympians Dan Jocelyn and Joe Meyer are in on Blackthorn Cruise and Harbin respectively while Lauren Innes lines up for her fourth consecutive Badminton start with her 15-year-old Global Fision M. Badminton debutant Tayla Mason and her home bred Centennial made the start list by the skin of her teeth after an agonising time on the wait list. They have previously had two 5* starts at Pau.

They’ll be facing the toughest of asks not only from the event, but also the star-studded entry list that includes three of Britain’s victorious Olympic team, 2022 world champ Yasmin Ingham (GBR), reigning European champion Ros Canter (GBR), world no.2 Tom McEwen (GBR), and six of the world’s top 10 ranked riders.

Fifteen nations are represented at the iconic event, one of just seven in the world at 5* level. It’s the 76th running of Badminton with £117,600 on offer for the winner.
The event starts on Wednesday afternoon (UK time) with the first horse inspection followed by two days of dressage, the Eric Winter-designed cross country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.

New Zealand has an impressive history with Badminton. As well as Caroline’s victory last year, Jonelle rode Classic Moet to victory in 2018, with previous winners including Andrew Nicholson and Nereo (2017), Jock Paget aboard Clifton Promise (2013), and Sir Mark Todd on NZB Land Vision (2011), Bertie Blunt (1996), Horton Point (1994) and Southern Comfort III (1980) are all etched on the winner’s trophy.

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TIMETABLE – NZ Athlete times to come after first horse inspection

THE HORSE DETAILS

Horse

Breeding

Owners

Blackthorn Cruise

by Vancouver out of Ms Cruize who is by Cruising

Panda Christie and Dan Jocelyn

Centennial

by Euro Sport Centavos out of Made you Look who is by Moonwalker

Sue Rutter and Sonya, Kyle and Tayla Mason

Cooley Lafitte

by Je T’aime Flamenco out of Graf Shenanigans who is by Scirocco Delle

Jay Jaffar

Global Fision M

by Flipper D’Elle HN out of Kantussa who is by Cantus

Innes Family Syndicate

Grappa Nera

by Karandasj out of Cetonette who is by Babalouba)

The Grape Syndicate and Jonelle Price

Greenacres Special Cavalier

by Cavalier Royale out of Greenacres Touch who is by Touchdown

Michelle and Chris Mann and Caroline Powell

Harbin

by Verglas out of Rainbow City who is by Rainbow Quest

Joe, Ruth, Gay and John Meyer and Theresa Foote

High Time

by Hemmingway out of Freckleton Mandolin

Ruth Armstrong, Serena Greenwell, Jo West and Caroline Powell

Lord Seekonig

by Lord Fauntleroy out of Seekoenigin who by Carpalo

Sharon Honiss, Annabelle and Robin Greville Williams, Brayden Lissington and Neil Robertson

Viscount Viktor

by Viscount 22 out of Noble Beauty who is by Nobre

Barbara Cooper, Glynn Norcutt, Ginny Rusher and Tim Price

Vitali

by Contender out of Noble Lady I who is by Heraldik

Alexander and Joe Giannamore and Tim Price

 

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ

7th May 2025