Books

Six years before the birth of author and intrepid eventer, Julian Seaman, the first ever Badminton event was held. In 1949, the Duke of Beaufort made his grounds available for a competition that would train British riders for international competitions such as the Olympics, and entrants came from the military. Since then, it has grown into an international event, with men and women competing equally and up to a quarter of a million spectators.

Julian Seaman first went to Badminton as an autograph-hunting fan in the sixties. He later decided to become a competitor. In his first year, his horse became lame. In the second year, he completed the dressage in a rainstorm in a coat made in his tailoring class at college. Third time he fell. Indeed, he fell off several times and achieved immortality as part of the introductory clip in BBC’s Grandstand.

In this fascinating book, Julian takes us on a gallop through the development of the Badminton Horse Trials, including changes to the courses and fences, riders, runners, winners and losers, and of course the remarkable characters including Frank Weldon, famous course designer and director, and Colonel ‘Babe’ Mosely. And we share with Julia his own personal enjoyment of the splendour and history of the event – watching Mark Phillips win four times and Lucinda Prior-Palmer win six times and both Princess Anne and daughter Zara riding the classic course.

A beguiling book and a fitting tribute to these historic horse trials, Badminton Revisited is as educational as it is entertaining.

Hardback.