For the first time in over 15 years, Badminton will host a Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifying round on Thursday 3rd May 2012 – the same day as The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships.  The location will be the huge area used during the International Event as the Collecting Ring to the Main Arena.

This competition was originally devised by former Burghley Director, Bill Henson.  it has two divisions, one each for 4 year olds and 5 year olds.  Each horse performs a short dressage test, a round of 7 – 8 show jumps, is examined in hand for conformation and type and then the top 10 come forward for final judging.

Dependent on the number of entries, the winners go forward to the Final at Burghley in the autumn.

The Schedule for  this class is posted on the website see: Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Series. Entries open on 20th March 2012.

Badminton has managed to engage 4 top class judges: Mary Low (nee Gordon Watson), former champion event rider; Roland Fernyhough, Olympic show jumping rider; Lady (Sue) Clark, mother of international rider Polly Stockton and for many years in charge of the Junior Regional programme for British Eventing; and the Hon. Hopper Cavendish, top show judge, former Senior Selector and a leading Steward on the racecourse.

Over the years many prizewinners have gone on to eventing success and this new venture at Badminton is sure to interest anyone who enjoys looking at young, potential competition horses or studying their breeding.