Aussie Sam Griffiths and Happy Times 4th at Badminton 2011 Photo: Samantha Clark
John Lechner (aka Eventing Safety John or ESJ) is an Australian FEI Technical Delegate, blogger and eventing fan with a passion for travel. Put these together and what do you get? A great trip to England including the 2012 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials As an eventer, I dreamt of riding at Badminton Horse Trials; that dream, I admit, rates up there with winning the lottery in its level of probability. But now, as a fat retired eventer who never competed above Captain Mark Phillips' Smurf level (adult lower level rider), I still love my sport. I am lucky enough to travel both as a Technical Delegate (TD) and as a reporter to some of the world’s best events. Badminton, along with Burghley and Rolex Kentucky, are the World Class of Eventing. There is NOTHING quite like sitting in the member’s tent alongside the main arena or walking the huge cross country course. The Vicarage V fence needs to be seen to be believed and you can feel the tension in the air as a combination tackles the daunting Huntsman's Close. The ONLY way to experience Badminton is to be there.
Mark Todd on the hallowed turf Photo: Samantha Clark
When I went to Badminton in 2005 with my wife Kim and our eldest son we stayed in a dingy B&B over an hour from the Badminton Estate (without the traffic adding to the travel time). We braved the traffic each morning and night with a 14 month old child and worked hard to achieve our Badminton experience. Thankfully today that isn't necessary as I have found the solution in my local feed store. Jane Ryan, a Hunter Valley local, runs Travel and Tour Hunters http://www.travelandtourhunters.com.au/ and has been specializing in small group tours for over 15 years, with experience right around the globe. Jane's daughter Mia is a horse nut and loves her eventing. The two have put their passions together and we now have the Badminton experience of a lifetime. The tour flies out of Sydney but thanks to a 'Land Only' price too, you can join the tour from anywhere in the world. Jane has used her considerable experience to dream up all of the factors for the trip such as transfers everywhere, including daily to Badminton, and really nice accommodation (check out the Close Hotel http://www.theclose-hotel.com/index.htm for the Badminton part of the trip). The hotel is OMG, most evening meals and all breakfasts are covered. All you need to do is enjoy the trip. This Badminton tour is for a maximum of 16 people and is specifically tailored so kids can enjoy it too, so both the big and little horse nuts can enjoy the trip. For those parents going because their little person wants to go to Badminton, you will be amongst like-minded parents too. It starts with on first full day in London with a tour of the Royal Mews (the private stables of the Royal Household in London). The rest of the day is escorted sightseeing in London including the Tower of London. On the next day you have the option of riding in Hyde Park, heading off on your own for some sightseeing or shopping or even taking a wander around the Olympic venues including Greenwich Park - the home of the equestrian sports during the Olympic Games. Then the Badminton adventure begins as the tour leaves London via Windsor Castle (one of my favourite places in the UK) to Tetbury, your base for the four days of Badminton.
Shop till you drop Photo: Samantha Clark
Each day you will have transport to and from Badminton covered so you don’t need to worry about how much Pimm’s you drink as the bus has a driver. For those who can’t face two days of dressage or are daunted by the hundreds of trade stands at the Horse Trials, you can explore at your leisure the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon or Bath which are in easy reach of the hotel. Finally, after the magic of Badminton (maybe seeing another Aussie win; my money is on Chris 'Burto' Burton) you will leave Tetbury and head for the New Forest, perhaps via the yard of a top eventing rider and have a couple of days to relax and explore the countryside. This includes another opportunity to go riding; you can even do it on a bike if you don't want to ride a horse. Then you head home or carry on with your holiday elsewhere if you like at the end of the tour. To me this sounds awesome and almost perfect as all of the details have been taken care of and you will have access to great local tour guides on the ground as well as having Jane and possibly even me??? Yes, ESJ may come along for the ride too. Don't forget that, being an Olympic year, there will be plenty of last minute jostling for a spot on the teams, a top 10 Badminton placing would almost guarantee a fit combination a spot on a team. There are only 16 spots on this tour and some have sold already. Badminton is just over 3 months away, so don't delay if you are interested. Personally, the only thing I would like to add to this trip is to start at Rolex Kentucky, maybe we can convince Jane to do that next year, fingers crossed, I can already smell the Bourbon and Bluegrass. So if you want to join the trip or find out more, check it out here; http://www.travelandtourhunters.com.au/badminton_horse_trials_2012.html You can meet the group in London as there is a special price excluding airfares for that. You never know, I may see you there. Yours in eventing ESJ
