The Mars Badminton Horse Trials has announced that it will be increasing its prize money for the 2026 event. 

This year’s winner will take home £125,000 – the largest first prize in the sport of eventing – while the overall prize fund for the top 20 finishers will be £451,000.

“This is fantastic news,” said defending champion Ros Canter.

“Badminton is the horse trials that everyone in the world has heard of and is the one we all desperately want to win. I can’t wait to come back and try again.”

The five-star competition will take place at the Gloucestershire estate from Wednesday 6 – Sunday 10 May.

Another high calibre event ahead

“We are delighted to have been able to raise the prize money levels for what promises to be another excellent and thrilling competition,” said Badminton director Jane Tuckwell.

“Last year was of such a high standard so we are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back for what promises to be another great weekend of sport. Perhaps we will even see the future world champion in action!”

Grassroots competition also benefits

There has also been a boost to prize money for the LeMieux Grassroots Championships which take place at Badminton on Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 May. Both the 90 and 100 sections will see an increased prize pot.

This year’s chosen charity for the event is Ebony Horse Club, a transformative equestrian centre in Brixton, London which improves the lives of disadvantaged young people in the city.

The box office for the Mars Badminton Horse Trials is now open and early bird ticket prices are available. 

Image © Tim Wilkinson/Your Horse.

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