Tim Price leads New Zealand’s charge at Badminton

Tim Price rides Vitali during the Eventing Dressage at the Tokyo Olympics.
Photo: Libby Law

World equestrian number one Tim Price will be among eight New Zealand combinations competing at the Badminton Horse Trials in England.

It will be Price’s ninth visit to Badminton this weekend chasing a title that has so far eluded him with his best finish third in 2017.

Price will compete aboard his German-bred gelding Vitali, who was his mount at the Tokyo Olympic Games and which he rode to third place at Burghley last year.

He will also line up on Coup de Coeur Dudevin which won the five star Maryland event in 2022.

“My two (horses) are feeling good.The ground is probably going to be a bit soft, so there will be that factor, and then this added hill loop that (cross country designer) Eric Winter has found will add another stamina element to the test,” said Price.

“I think my two guys are at the right stage of their careers – they have plenty of stamina about them. It’s not their first time around a 5 star course so I am hoping I am bringing two very well-prepared horses for the job. That’s what it is all about – healthy horses that are well prepared.”

Price has won 5 star crowns at Burghley, Pau, Maryland and twice at Luhmuhlen.

Tim Price competing on Ringwood Sky Boy at the 2018 Burghley Horse Trials.
Photo: Libby Law Photography/ESNZ

Also compete at at Badminton are Olympians Carolyn Powell aboard Greenacres Special Cavalier, and Dan Jocelyn with Blackthorn Cruise and Cooley One to Many.

Muzi Pottinger will compete aboard her New Zealand thoroughbred Just Kidding, with Hollie Swain and Solo also on the card, as is Lauren Innes aboard Global Fision M.

Missing from the start list is 2022 Badminton champ London 52 who was withdrawn by rider Laura Collett after an injury interrupted their preparation for the event.

Ten nations will be represented at this year’s event.

New Zealand has a solid history at Badminton, with seven previous winning combinations – Sir Mark Todd with NZB Land Vision (2011), Bertie Blunt (1996), Horton Point (1994) and Southern Comfort III (1980), Jonelle Price aboard Classic Moet (2018), Andrew Nicholson on Nereo (2017) and Jock Paget with Clifton Promise (2013).

-RNZ