There are 21 first timers making it to the start line this year, the first into the arena being Senne Vervaecke riding Google Van Alsingen, a member of a strong Belgium contingent.
Senne, from Lennik just outside Brussels, completed Pau last season, and the pair has represented Belgium at both the 2022 World Championships and the 2023 European Championships, and he comes from a family steeped in eventing – both his father Kris and sister Silke have also represented their country.
“I was very pleased with my horse, she gave me a great feeling,” he said. “For the first half of the test she was amazing but she then got a little scared of a camera at one end of the arena, before behaving well again. I’m looking forward to riding the cross-country on Saturday.”
Next up were Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, representing Germany. Jérôme is based at the famous equestrian facility at Warendorf where he is trained by former German team rider Peter Thomsen. He has represented his country across the levels – winning Young Rider team gold in 2017.
Black Ice is bred for the job. Sired by the showjumper Vechta he is out of a mare by Touchdown, the sire of former Badminton winner Paulank Brockagh.
“He’s normally quite good at dressage, but maybe I did a bit too much before the test so it wasn’t quite what we wanted. After walking the cross-country we’ve gone a bit quiet, definitely less jokes – the horses will need to be brave all the way round.”
Japan’s sole representative is Ryuzo Kitajima who was part of the ground-breaking Japanese team in Paris where they won the country’s first eventing Olympic medal, bronze. Ryuzo and his Badminton entry Feroza Nieumoed already have a Burghley double clear and a 15th place at Pau under their belts.
“I’m very pleased, he can be a bit spooky and that camera at A was very close, but today wasn’t bad.”
Amateur rider Seppe Vilain is a civil engineering graduate, and he works full time as a functional consultant. With Badminton entry Kawa de la Cour Z he has already completed his first five-star, Luhmuhlen. Kawa was initially produced and competed by Seppe’s father who still owns him.
“I played it a bit safe I think, but he remained very calm and focussed. I’m very pleased.”
Local rider Tom Woodward (pictured) is the youngest competitor this year. He is partnering the 18-year-old Low Moor Lucky, and this is the first five star for them both. Lucky wasn’t backed until he was nine years old and Tom described him as ‘pretty feral’. The pair stormed in to the lead early on Thursday afternoon, and finished day one in third place.
“That was pretty surreal, but I did quietly expect him to do that – I just didn’t tell anyone.” he said after his test. “I’ve always believed he’s a great horse, which puts a lot of pressure on me. We’ve learnt our trade together.”
Jack Mantel had a longer drive to Badminton; he is based near Belsay in Northumberland where he runs a production and sales yard. Jack Daniels was originally aquired for Jack’s partner to field master with the Tynedale Hunt.
“I’m glad that’s over,” he joked. “It’s our first time at this level, but I will give it a shot on Saturday.”
Arne Bergendahl, a German amateur rider who works for the city council of Wesel, comes from an equestrian background; his father Helmut competed at four-star in the1980s and now runs a successful breeding programme.
His ride, Luthien NRW, was bred by Helmut and the pair has completed Luhmuhlen five-star. They posted a score of 36.2.
Rather surprisingly the current World Champion Yasmin Ingham was making her debut at Badminton with Rehy DJ. They lie in fourth place at the end of day one.
“He is not the most naturally moving horse and going in behind Tom [McEwen] wasn’t ideal! But I am delighted with him; he’s on good form and we’ve had a good start.”
Lizzie Baugh said of her ride B Exclusive, “It has been a huge dream to come here and so special to be here [for the first time] with a horse we bred and my sister backed. I have been riding him for 11 years, since I was 16 and at school.”
Samantha Cesnik made her five-star debut at Pau last autumn, riding her Badminton entry Graftango. She and her partner split their time between England and Australia – she trains from her Australian base near Melbourne. She describes Graftango, by Grafenstolz, as a strong willed mare who loves to go cross country.
Raphael Losano brought Thursday’s action to a close. It is the Brazilian’s first five-star, although they represented their country at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His ride, Withington, scored a solid 34.0 for his test.