Shane Rose on Shanghai Joe, Albury International Horse Trials 2015.

©  Albury International Horse Trials

By Equestrian Life

The 2017 Badminton Horse Trials are just around the corner (3-7 May)! This year, five Australian riders are entered — four who are UK based, and one who is based here.

Shane Rose (AUS based)

Shane Rose will be competing in his first Badminton Horse Trials aboard his seasoned three/four-star campaigner Shanghai Joe — the horse with whom he won the Melbourne CCI3* in 2014.

The 11-year-old Australian thoroughbred started at Burghley last year, but was eliminated after a fall on the cross-country. Shane is one of Australia’s leading event riders and was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. We can’t wait to see how he handles Badminton!

Chris Burton (UK based)

Also part of the bronze medal winning team at the Rio Olympic Games, UK based eventer Chris Burton has two horses entered at Badminton: TS Jamaimo and Graf Liberty.

An 18-year-old Australian thoroughbred, TS Jamaimo partnered with Chris to win the 2013 Adelaide 3DE as a catch ride, before winning the British Open at Gatcombe in 2015 and placing third at Burghley Horse Trials the same year.

Graf Liberty, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse, has won a number of CCI1* and CCI2* events — and also placed fourth in the CCI4* at Luhmuhlen in 2015.

Christopher Burton and TS Jamaimo at the Adelaide CCI4*.

© Jenelle Christopher

Sam Griffiths (UK based)

Sam has been based in the UK for more than 20 years and was the highest placed member of the bronze medal winning Rio Olympic eventing team.

At Badminton, he is set to ride Rio partner Paulank Brockagh, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare. The formidable pair won Badminton in 2014 — can they do it again?

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh at the Rio Olympic Games.

© Arnd Bronkhorst

Andrew Hoy (UK based)

A seven-time Olympian for Australia, Andrew Hoy won Badminton back in 2006 with his horse Moonfleet.

This year, he saddles up two rides: Rutherglen and The Blue Frontier. Rutherglen, a 14-year-old German-bred Hanoverian, was Andrew’s mount at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Andrew took over the ride on The Blue Frontier, a grey Irish Sport Horse, in 2014 and finished fourth in the Tattersalls CCI3* in 2016.

Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen.

© Franz Venhaus

Paul Tapner (UK based)

Paul Tapner has competed at Badminton 11 times — this year will be his fifth consecutive start. He won the event in 2010 with Inonothing.

This year he is set to ride the grey Irish Sport Horse Bonza King of Rogues. Paul took the ride on the horse in 2013 and it will be the horse’s first four-star event.

Paul Tapner, pictured here with his 2010 Badminton winner Inonothing.

© Jo Schneider
 

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