Tradition in equestrian sport has no stouter stronghold than Great Britain, but change is in the air this year, when the new "short format" for three-day eventing will be run at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (CCI****) for the first time. Without the warm-up phases of steeplechase and roads and tracks, will Badminton's stairs and lake and table be too much for the finely-tuned equine--and human--athletes? Questions and concerns hang in the soft spring air of the rarified English countryside.
Come with us behind the scenes as the final preparations are completed for this year's event, to be held May 4-7, 2006.
