‘A stressful day – and I wasn’t even competing’: Harry Meade withdraws two out of three Badminton rides
Harry Meade has withdrawn two of his three horses at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials before cross-country day, on a difficult afternoon for his team yesterday (10 May).
The horse who was third at Burghley Horse Trials, Cavalier Crystal, completed the dressage phase on Thursday, finishing equal 44th, but Harry felt the mare was lacklustre.
He wrote on social medial: “Cavalier Crystal was really good in her test yesterday, although slightly lacking her usual exuberant movement; she seemed quiet in herself and my gut was that something was amiss. We ran some routine blood tests and are not totally happy with the results. After her podium finish at Burghley last year we felt the track here would really suit her but I’m not happy to ask her to start across country if she’s not 100%.
“We’ll keep monitoring her and hopefully she’ll be back to her usual self quickly.”
Badminton Horse Trials: Harry Meade withdrawn on Red Kite
His final ride Red Kite was due to perform his dressage test late on Friday afternoon, but was withdrawn beforehand.
“Red Kite came out of his stable to warm up for his test this afternoon and wasn’t sound,” Harry said. “He’s been seen by the farrier and currently has a poultice on his foot.
“At the same time a family member at the event collapsed and was taken to hospital. Thankfully all seems OK on initial checks, but it’s been one of the most stressful day’s competing I can remember and I haven’t even competed today.”
However, Harry does still have the grey five-star stalwart Away Cruising in the competition, who is due to set out on cross-country at 1.46pm today.
David Doel was another high-profile withdrawal on the eve of cross-country. He pulled his ride Galileo Nieuwmoed, runner-up at Burghley, out, while Pippa Funnell has also withdrawn one of her two rides.
How to watch Badminton Horse Trials
If you are interested in watching the live action from Badminton Horse Trials from the comfort of your home, wherever you are in the world, you will need to subscribe to Badminton TV. To sign up, visit watch.badminton-horse.tv – click the “Sign Up” link in the top right corner of your screen, then follow the instructions. An annual subscription to Badminton TV costs £19.99 via the website and gives you 365 days of access to all of the content in the Badminton TV library, the ability to watch the action live, and the option to replay all of this year’s action later. Find out more…
Enjoy the best of Badminton with Horse & Hound
To ensure you keep up to date with all the breaking news, behind the scenes insight, and the best of the action throughout Badminton Horse Trials with no limits on how much you can read, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website from as little as £1 a week. Sign up now. And don’t miss our bumper 22-page magazine report on Badminton, including in-depth analysis and exclusive comments from top names, in the issue of Horse & Hound dated 16 May.
You may also be interested in…
A wardrobe malfunction, a comeback and an escort named Albert: all the action from Badminton day two
One of Pippa Funnell’s rides among latest Badminton withdrawals, plus a horse from dressage top 15 pulled out
Badminton top-10 contender tells Horse & Hound why he’s withdrawn after dressage
What time will Ros Canter, William Fox-Pitt and other crowd favourites go cross-country at Badminton?
Subscribe to Horse & Hound this spring for great savings