Badminton horse trials course map 2012

The Estates came back to the main branch of the family in and in the middle s rebuilding of the old house started. The 1st Duke of Beaufort retrieved the family fortunes which had suffered badly in the civil wars and made Badminton his home.

The house today therefore dates from 17th and 18th centuries. The 3rd Duke — remodelled the house again. Architect James Gibbs made some major changes to the East and West wings which are now as he left them and then William Kent completed the North front, giving it its Palladian appearance, adding height and emphasis with the unusual pediment and two cupolas.

Filmed walk-throughs, drone flyovers, photos, audio, intelligent direct and alternative routes and statistics. Use it anywhere on course; no internet required. One of old fashioned questions but with lots of things for the riders to do!

The ASX Starter is highly decorated to stand out for the horses and help to focus them on the job inhand. A big table with a ditch towards. Approaching up a steep little bank, riders can choose to jump either left or right handed over one of these very upright gates. Their positioning and profile make this quite a tricky little fence and means competitors will need to be on their game early in this course.

Element a is an imposing 1. A birch table set in trees challenges riders to select their approach line. Taking it on the inside at an angle will help the riders to flow along the course track, saving vital seconds.

Others will choose to go wide around the trees for a more direct approach and take a twistier route. Riders have a choice here of whether to take the direct route over a single daunting 1.

After riding through the pergoda riders negotiate a ditch into the hollow before choosing their line to an open offset log to the left or right. Old school Badminton at its best, this big question is made more difficult by being on a slightly downhill run, meaning riders will really have to hold their line to take the direct route. A new challenge at the Outlander bank sees it jumped cross ways for the first time.

Combinations step up across the narrow profile of the bank and down to a narrow brush with a drop on landing. Rewarding sympathetic riding, adjustability and clever footwork, there is a slower alternative for those who need a bit more time. The first element here might only be 70cm high but with a 1. A beautiful big run and jump fence to give the horses a boost after the water and muster confidence before the very big question to come.

Horses must come back from the gallop to focus on this tricky combination of a right angle corner over an old fashioned ditch to a second big right angle corner. Giuseppe rode in many races in Italy, then became an event rider, competing internationally, and still goes show jumping whenever he can. Tree Trunk A small check that the horse is listening to the aids and a good opportunity to seek some attention from the horse not yet concentrating.

Traditional cross country fence there to be taken in the stride and an opportunity to check on the forwardness of the horse and indeed the rider …! Little Badminton Double Rails After some undulating ground comes the first of a number of slightly more airy fences; this open parallel is the last opportunity to check everything is warmed up and working properly before the first real questions on the course. The first real test on course that, if jumped well, can really boost the confidence of riders and horses.

The relative airy look of this fence should not be too uncommon after having practiced on fence 4 and the intention is to give another opportunity to tune up the jump before the next questions to come. Birch is a lovely material that will come up again on the course and normally jumps well specially when in shaded areas.

The traditional lake complex is presented this year with an inviting if also rather imposing jump into water on a slightly curved line to a boat in water and finally a jetty out. The fence into water is preceded by a straightforward oxer that, although not strictly related, might have an influence on the following test.

As always the atmosphere around the lake with the huge crowds will be a test on its own especially for the combinations here for the first time. For this reason a similar alternative question is provided on a slightly more straightforward longer route. The Lake The traditional lake complex is presented this year with an inviting if also rather imposing jump into water on a slightly curved line to a boat in water and finally a jetty out.

The traditional giants table is now part of the new garden complex where combinations will return on their way back to Huntsmans Close. The table on a slight turn coming out of the garden is meant to be a fence to restore confidence after the lake combination although this is still a spread with maximum dimensions.

An Owl Hole as a bounce over an Irish step was quite innovative, but jumped very well last year so it is used again just adding a little directional brush to always keep everybody on their toes …. Gatehouse New Pond Why have a new designer if not to find some new ground!

This beautiful pond was too attractive not to force a slight diversion on the traditional route to visit this amazing different view of Badminton House and add the interest of an additional new water complex. A very traditional Birch rail into water with different grades of difficulty depending on the approach will lead to an option on exit between a birch open corner on the left and a unusual stile upright to the right.

Great opportunity for the public to walk to this amazing new viewpoint. The Vicarage V is back!