FH&C have so much to tell our readers. Being there at the event and in 'The Main Arena' itself for the final Show Jumping was an honour and we wish to thank Julian Seaman for arranging this and being so very helpful to the FH&C Team.

Keep logging in and over the next couple of days we shall be bringing you photos and comments and news as told to us at Badminton 2010.........

Badminton 2010 - Its wet, in fact very wet! It's cold - average 6 degrees! And the funny thing is, none of this matters. As long as all the horses finish the event safely, then the weather will not dampen the spirits of the riders, the owners, the organisers and the crowds.

So follow our updates as we add snippets of our chats and bring you the chat and the ambience from the event itself.

France has two riders competing, both nervous and keen. Its an amazing place to be and a real camerarderie exists between all the countries. 

The Vet's Inspection was a sight to see. Proving to be ever more popular with each passing year, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were at the Paris Fashion Week. The dress code is high on the priority list for the riders. The serious side of this being that the emphasis is on the soundness of the horses and the ground jury's opinion that they are fit and well and able to undertake the four start Badminton Event ahead of them. 

So with beautiful outfits fit for the catwalk, taking huge leaps alongside, fit lean athletic horses the Thursday passed with all the horses passing the vet Inspection.

Tense moments passed while the ground jury held Alex Hua Tian and his horse Magenta. Alex physically shrunk with anxiousness while he awaited their decision. Suddenly after much deliberation they gave him the 'thumbs up' and he leapt ten feet in the air with a jump of joy.

Mark Todd possibly received the loudest applause and cheer. the crowds are certainly pleased to see this consumate professional back at Badminton.

After the Dressage which gradually diminished into a water bath for the horses and riders, we managed to chat with some of the competitiors. Sheltering under the hospitality tents around the arena it was interesting to talk with them and hear first hand what they were thinking.

Talking with 24 year old Benjamin Massie, one of our French competitiors who is riding HASTON D'ELPEGERE, a horse he took on after the Olympics, he told us how he was so excited to be here at his first Badminton but he was also very nervous. This had shown in his test but he finished with a credible mark for his first ride here. He is very much looking forward to his XC round and eager for the show jumping as this is his horses strongest discipline. Bonne Route on Sundat Benjamin.

Oliver Townend popped over, looking very pale and tired but demonstrating affable cheerfullness. he said he regretted very much being at Badminton with no job to do. He explained how his horses are being kept fit by his fellow riders, which he very much appreciates and he aims to be back in the saddle very soon. He is putting a brave face on a very frustrating time.

Francis Whitington has earned our admiration totally. On 16th April he was discharged from hospital recovering from almost fatal meningitis. He was told it would be at least 6-8 weeks before he should even ride again. Not only is he back in the saddle but he is here at Badminton. Its the stuff that fairytales are made of. Revealing bare emotions Francis told us how he feels. "Itsas if I am being guided here and that for some reson I am supposed to be here. On the journey up it was quite strange in that all the traffic lights were green. Every one was waving me on" he explained. "It seemed like a message. I am hoping not just to compete but to actually be well placed."  He looked very pale in the trot up and quite weak but after his Dressage test the colour had returned and he looked elated. he laughingly told us that his sister and family had been keeping his horses fit, which he owes them a huge debt of gratitude for. We applaud his energy and determination and sincerely wish such a charming and brave rider Bonne Route for the rest of the competition.

When Kristina Cook finished her test, which left her in thrid position overall, she was delighted. in true Tina style though she analysed every part of her test and took note on where to improve for the future. She told us that Minors Frolic is still relatively inexperienced and young and although he did so well at the Olympics he still has time to develop and mature and achieve more. Tina feels that by 2012 he will be at his peak performance and is very happy with his career. Judging by the work that she puts in they will be a force to be reckoned with. She is looking forw

Alex left the arena on Maggie as he affectionately calls his mare magenta. "She was as usual very obedient but she is habitually a lazy mare. I had to work very hard to keep the impulsion with her. The XC will suit her as she has an amazing long gallop stride and is an accurate jumper being very easy to ride to a fence. Jeans my other horse, by contrast is much more difficult across country and you really have to ride every jump hard with him. " Very different horses. Alex is totally thrilled to be at his first Badminton." I was worried when held at the vets inspection and so pleased when we were cleared" he said. "I adore the stables here, they are absolutely posh" he laughed.

Jeanette Brakewell stopped briefly with us while wringing out her sodden gloves. Being one of the last three in the arena when the heavens opened, she was soaked through and freezing. We shall catch up with her later, we were more worried she would catch hyperthermia so sent her to dry off and get warm. Still smiling off she went.

And then Andrew Nicholson came back after riding in the heaviest downpour of the day. It was slippery and almost impossible for him to keep a seat in the saddle. Avebury coped wonderfully and kept his cool when many would have given up. Andrew told us that he felt the cross country this year was the best he had seen for quite some years and he very much rated it. It has been built with simple lines of approach, it is well balanced and allows forward looking and flowing combinations. he did not consider The Colt Pond to be a problem as many are saying. he feels that an experienced horse, yes will see the water at the last minute. Although if they have a good rapport with their rider they will trust and be committed and follow this through. perhaps the issue would be with the getting out rather than the jumping in. Andrew is a true professional and a talented and good humoured rider. he was soaked to the skin and still stopped and chatted with us for some time in the most good natured manner.

And so we are just off to catch Pascal Leroy our other French Rider and the Cross Country preparations are well under way..........