EquiRatings Eventing Podcast

In a special live edition of the Badminton Diaries from the Ramsbury Gin Pavilion, Nicole Brown is joined by Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson to break down what a 23.7 from Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo really means, and whether we could be watching history in the making.
Then two five-star winners join the stage. Gemma Stevens and Laura Collett talk nerves, routines, start box moments, and what really goes through your mind the night before Badminton cross-country. 
Highlights
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head into Saturday on a record 23.7
Nicole Brown, Diarmuid Byrne, and Sam Watson break down the numbers behind the week so far
Gemma Stevens and Laura Collett on nerves, routines, and what makes a true Badminton horse
Rider reactions to Eric Winter's cross-country track
Live crowd questions, plenty of laughs, and a few predictions before the biggest day of the week
Guests
Nicole Brown
Diarmuid Byrne
Sam Watson
Gemma Stevens
Laura Collett
This year's Badminton Diaries are brought to you by:
Fairfax Saddles Scientifically designed saddles, bridles, and girths, built to help horses move freely, comfortably, and at their best. Visit Fairfax Saddles
EcoVolts Built for life on the move, from walking cross-country tracks to covering every corner of the showground. ecovoltz.co.uk/— please use your existing partner link if you have a direct landing page.
Uvex Trusted by top riders worldwide for premium helmets and gloves, combining protection, comfort, and performance. Explore Uvex Equestrian
Zebra Products Supplying world-class equestrian brands, from performance tack to rider essentials, trusted across every discipline. Visit Zebra Products
U.S. Equestrian Open A new era of championship sport across jumping, dressage, and eventing in the United States. Website: usequestrianopen.org
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
👀 Want more insights, picks, and data-driven takes? Follow @equiratings_eventing for your ultimate Badminton companion.

Dressage is done at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, the leaderboard is set, and now all eyes turn to cross-country.
On Friday's Badminton Diaries, Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head into Saturday with the biggest dressage lead at Badminton in modern history, but behind them, it feels as open as ever.
We catch up with Austin O'Connor on bringing Sixmilewater back to Badminton, what it takes to build future five-star horses, and why Colorado Blue is still firmly part of the bigger picture. Then Vanessa from Fairfax Saddles takes us behind the scenes, sharing the science, detail, and precision that supports riders like Harry Meade, Tom Jackson, and Bubby Upton at the top of the sport.
Later, Sam Watson joins us on cross-country eve to talk mindset, preparation, and why all the homework is already done. Plus, lakeside chats with Ben Way, Matt Heath, and Rosie Meade as Badminton starts to buzz ahead of Saturday.
Later, Sam Watson joins us on cross-country eve to talk mindset, preparation, and why all the homework is already done. Plus, lakeside chats with Ben Way, Matt Heath, and Rosie Meade as Badminton starts to buzz ahead of Saturday. We also catch up with Tracy and Alan from EcoVoltz on why their bikes have become part of daily life for riders, grooms, and teams across the sport.
Highlights
Ros Canter leads on 23.7, the biggest Badminton dressage margin on record
Austin O'Connor on Sixmilewater, Colorado Blue, and building future five-star horses
Behind the scenes with Fairfax Saddles and the data driving top performance
Sam Watson on cross-country eve, pressure, preparation, and enjoying the moment
Ben Way and Matt Heath give their honest read on Eric Winter's track
Rosie Meade on the team behind getting multiple horses to five-star
Tracy and Alan from EcoVoltz on supporting the sport from the ground up
Guests
Austin O'Connor
Vanessa from Fairfax Saddles
Sam Watson
Ben Way
Matt Heath
Rosie Meade
Tracy and Alan from EcoVoltz
This year's Badminton Diaries are brought to you by:
Fairfax Saddles Scientifically designed saddles, bridles, and girths, built to help horses move freely, comfortably, and at their best. Visit Fairfax Saddles
EcoVolts Built for life on the move, from walking cross-country tracks to covering every corner of the showground. ecovoltz.co.uk/— please use your existing partner link if you have a direct landing page.
Uvex Trusted by top riders worldwide for premium helmets and gloves, combining protection, comfort, and performance. Explore Uvex Equestrian
Zebra Products Supplying world-class equestrian brands, from performance tack to rider essentials, trusted across every discipline. Visit Zebra Products
U.S. Equestrian Open A new era of championship sport across jumping, dressage, and eventing in the United States. Website: usequestrianopen.org
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
👀 Want more insights, picks, and data-driven takes? Follow @equiratings_eventing for your ultimate Badminton companion.

On Day 2 of the Tour Diaries, we catch up with riders and familiar faces around the park as the first centre lines are ridden. Tom Jackson talks pressure, preparation, and why Badminton still gives him goosebumps. Lucy Jackson joins us ringside with her take on the first day of dressage, the judging, and what Eric Winter's track could bring later in the week. Bubby Upton opens up on the emotional reality of returning for a fifth Badminton with Cola.
Away from the interviews, Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl set the early standard on 28.1, with Will Rawlin and Ballycoog Breaker Boy continuing their rise on 29.3. With just three combinations breaking the 30 mark on day one, and some of the biggest names in the sport still to come, the leaderboard is only just starting to take shape.
Highlights
Tom Jackson on pressure, preparation, and the magic of Badminton
Lucy Jackson breaks down the opening dressage, standout tests, and the leaderboard
Bubby Upton reflects on five Badmintons with Cola
Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl lead overnight on 28.1, with Will Rawlin closing fast
Plenty still to come, including Ros Canter, Sam Watson, and Tim Price on Friday
Guests
Tom Jackson
Lucy Jackson
Bubby Upton
This year's Badminton Diaries are brought to you by:
Fairfax Saddles Scientifically designed saddles, bridles, and girths, built to help horses move freely, comfortably, and at their best. Visit Fairfax Saddles
EcoVolts Built for life on the move, from walking cross-country tracks to covering every corner of the showground. ecovoltz.co.uk/— please use your existing partner link if you have a direct landing page.
Uvex Trusted by top riders worldwide for premium helmets and gloves, combining protection, comfort, and performance. Explore Uvex Equestrian
Zebra Products Supplying world-class equestrian brands, from performance tack to rider essentials, trusted across every discipline. Visit Zebra Products
U.S. Equestrian Open A new era of championship sport across jumping, dressage, and eventing in the United States. Website: usequestrianopen.org
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
👀 Want more insights, picks, and data-driven takes? Follow @equiratings_eventing for your ultimate Badminton companion.

Badminton is officially underway, and if day one is anything to go by, this week is going to deliver.
From the buzz of the first horse inspection, to honest post-trot-up debriefs in the car with Sam Watson, behind-the-scenes chats with riders, vets, and some of the sport's biggest names, this first edition of the Badminton Tour Diaries has a bit of everything.
There's a special catch-up with Cassie Sanger on her rise through the five-star ranks, insight into the cross-country from Piggy March and Tina Cook, plus a special live moment with defending champion Ros Canter, balancing life with three-and-a-half-month-old while preparing for another shot at history aboard Lordships Graffalo.
Add in Spike's take on the field, Sam's first impressions of Eric Winter's track, and the usual behind-the-scenes chaos of Badminton week, and we are officially up and running.
Highlights
Sam Watson's first reaction to the Badminton cross-country track
Ros Canter on motherhood, pressure, and Lordships Graffalo's title defence
Cassie Sanger on Kentucky, Burghley, and what comes next
Piggy March and Tina Cook break down the course
Spike the Vet's take on the favourites, dark horses, and the week ahead
Trot-up fashion, sponsor stories, and the authentic chaos of day one
Guests
Sam Watson
Cassie Sanger
Ros Canter
Piggy March
Tina Cook
Spike the Vet
This year's Badminton Diaries are brought to you by:
Fairfax Saddles Scientifically designed saddles, bridles, and girths, built to help horses move freely, comfortably, and at their best. Visit Fairfax Saddles
EcoVoltz Built for life on the move, from walking cross-country tracks to covering every corner of the showground. ecovoltz.co.uk/— please use your existing partner link if you have a direct landing page.
Uvex Trusted by top riders worldwide for premium helmets and gloves, combining protection, comfort, and performance. Explore Uvex Equestrian
Zebra Products Supplying world-class equestrian brands, from performance tack to rider essentials, trusted across every discipline. Visit Zebra Products
U.S. Equestrian Open A new era of championship sport across jumping, dressage, and eventing in the United States. Website: usequestrianopen.org
EquiRatings Eventing Podcast:
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
👀 Want more insights, picks, and data-driven takes? Follow @equiratings_eventing for your ultimate Badminton companion.

At Badminton, it's easy to focus on what happens inside the ropes. But some of the biggest stories this week are happening beyond the start box too.
In this special episode of the EquiRatings Eventing Podcast, Nicole and Sam catch up with Laura Collett and Will Rawlin on the Holland Cooper stand, talking Badminton nerves, five-star preparation, dressage expectations, and what it really feels like to arrive at one of the sport's biggest stages.
Plus, Jade Holland Cooper reflects on building a brand that started at Badminton with a tiny stand and has grown into a global luxury business, while staying deeply connected to the sport that helped shape it.
Highlights
Laura Collett on Bling's five-star journey, and why this year feels different
Will Rawlin on arriving at Badminton with real top-10 ambitions
Behind the scenes of Holland Cooper's growing presence at Badminton
Jade Holland Cooper on building a global brand from a two-metre stand
Why sport, style, and storytelling continue to collide at Badminton
Guests
Laura Collett
Will Rawlin
Jade Holland Cooper
Holland Cooper at Badminton
Find Holland Cooper all week at Stand 125, Worcester Way.
Shop online: https://www.hollandcooper.com