The great thing about the spring is that two of the premier events in my sport are held on consecutive weekends. Rolex: in Lexington, KY, the last weekend of April; and, Badminton Horse Trials: the first weekend of May, is very historically and traditionally held on the grounds of Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England. Both are 4-star three-day events, although the cross-country course at both events have been called "5-star" challenges (if there was such a thing) in recent years. They certainly represent the pinnacle of my sport, along with Burghley (also in England) and Adelaide (in Australia) and are the spectator highlights of the eventing year...similar to The Masters, the US Open, the British Open, etc. in golf, or Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open, the US Open, etc. in tennis. Today is the first day of dressage at Badminton, and our American eventing goddess, Kim Severson, and her Athen's Olympic silver-medal horse, Winsome Adante, are contesting Badminton for the first time ever this year. I'd love to see Kim and Dan have a great go of it and represent American eventing with the talent, style, and grace that she typically does so well.
(Photography by Tim Nicholls)
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