Both Australian horses are through the first horse inspection at the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials.
Finduss PFB (by Saffier out of Belle Miranda, by Sarantos) was presented by rider Sammi Birch, and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding is now set for his third start at the prestigious event. Finduss PFB is owned by Parkfield Breeding.
Samantha Cesnik’s 14-year-old mare Graftango (by Birkhof’s Grafenstolz TSF out of SWS Contemplation, by Contango 11) also passed the trot up. Sammi and Graftango are Badminton first-timers and will be having their second CCI5*L start after debuting at Pau last year. Graftango is owned by Sam in conjunction with Jacqueline Cesnik and Andrea Redgewell.
Both Australians are in action on day one of the dressage (Thursday, 8 May – times below).
Not all horses accepted
Three horses did not pass the first horse inspection, including an individual medal winner from the Paris Olympics.
Viens Du Mont (Luc Château) and Spano De Nazca (Georgia Bartlett) were both sent to the holding box and were not accepted on re-inspection.
Ben Hobday’s Shadow Man – who partnered Australian Chris Burton to a silver medal in Paris last year – was also sent to the holding box and then withdrawn.
82 of the 85 horses presented for the trot up will now progress to the dressage phase.
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Australian dressage times (Thursday 8 May):
18. Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB: 10.44am local time (7.44pm AEST)
48. Samantha Cesnik and Graftango: 4.06pm (1.06am AEST Friday)
