Switzerland’s Nadja Minder isn’t only competing at her first Mars Badminton Horse Trials this week (6–10 May 2026), but she is also riding the oldest horse in this year’s field.

Her mount Toblerone (or Choccy, as he is known at home) is a 19-year-old veteran, and with two senior European Eventing Championships appearances under their belts, plus three five-star completions, he looks better than ever coming into this year’s Badminton.

“He feels better now than when I got him six years ago,” said Nadja, who is 26-years-old. ”He has become more supple through work and everything, and he’s just also an absolute athlete and machine.”

Nadja partly credited Choccy’s longevity in the sport to the fact he started eventing relatively late on in life, taking part in his first international event at the age of 11.

“As he started so late, he doesn’t have the mileage of other 19-year-old’s,” states Nadja. “He also doesn’t need that much preparation as he is super-professional and I just can go from show to show, and do what’s necessary.”

Help from one of eventing’s best

Nadja previously based herself at Piggy March’s Northamptonshire yard and Piggy is at Badminton to lend a helping hand this week.

“I arrived at Piggy’s place on Saturday to do the last polish, and she has helped me here over the past couple of days too,” explains Nadja. “We understand each other – we speak the same language when it comes to horses. Sometimes it can be a bit risky if you work with someone just for a big show, but with her, it works totally fine.”

Speaking of making her Badminton debut, Nadja says: “I said to my mum ages ago that I wanted to ride at Badminton one day, and then now to come here feels so unreal with my mum as my groom. We’ve been on this journey together, and it’s a childhood dream and I’m so grateful to her, to Choccy and to his owner, Nicole Basieux, for making it possible.”

Nadja was entered to run here with Choccy last year, but had to withdraw last-minute.

“We know how hard it is to get to one of these, so it feels special to finally do it this year,” says Nadja, who scored 30.3 in the first phase today, which leaves them in equal seventh at the lunchtime break on day tow of dressage.

“I’m very proud,” reflected Nadja. “He’s an absolute legend. He was quite lit up in the warm-up – more than usually – but he’s such a professional and he tries so hard and just knows his job. He’s a chocolate legend!”

Image by Tim Wilkinson

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