Sixty-one horses were presented at the first horse inspection for this year’s MARS Badminton Horse Trials, trotting up in front of the Ground Jury, Christina Klingspor (President, SWE), Amanda Miller (USA) and Angela Tucker (GBR) alongside the veterinary panel.

All the grooms had done their charges proud, with every horse immaculately turned out, many of the riders also having gone the extra mile in an attempt to win the HiHo Silver awards for best-dressed man and woman. The winners were Simon Grieve and Emily King, with a special prize going to Gaspar Maksud.

Trouser suits were popular among the ladies, Bubby Upton sporting a bright red example, as were long floaty dresses. Scotsman Wills Oakden risked an unexpected gust of wind when wearing a kilt and all its accountrements. Also sporting a bit of fur was Emma Thomas in a stunning long green heavily trimmed coat. Frenchman Gaspar Maksud made his usual fashion statement, this time a red beret, red shoes, white trousers and a red, white and blue top.

Although two horses were sent to the holding box (Alex Bragg’s Quindiva and Wouter de Cleene’s Quintera), all 61 have been passed to go forwards to the dressage phase, which starts tomorrow at 10am.

All the action can be followed on Badminton TV and Badminton Radio.