Is there a USA version of the Badminton Grassroots event in the UK? BN/N height (ish), popular, big event. Looking for a good goal that isn’t the Kentucky 5* as that is well out of range!
Badminton Grassroots is a Championship. Eligible riders compete at normal BE90 and BE100 classes (the main body of British Eventing by the participation numbers) at Events across the nation and then qualified riders progress to Regional Finals held up and down the country in the summer/fall before Badminton. The top combinations then have their championship at Badminton in the spring. It is inclusive: at those levels a good horse or pony of any shape, size or breed can do very well. If anyone is thinking of attending Badminton 5* then include an extra day or two and watch the Grassroots first. It has a wonderful and special atmosphere as almost everyone involved is probably fulfilling lifetime dreams.
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I’d encourage you to consider a long format event at your level of choice. There are several all across the country. They are awesome!
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Planning to do so this year. Where is the Grassroots XC held?
@Baybear The charm of the Grassroots Championship is that the courses run beside the 5* one in the Park, often using similar designs of questions but at a much lower level and it is a much, much shorter walk! There are even fences placed deliberately to produce the best photo opportunities for the competitors, in front of the house, beside the lake. Many of these smaller obstacles are cleared away before the Big Event so they don’t show in images taken on the Saturday. The Grassroots Championships run on the Wednesday, finishing before the first trot-up for the 5* in the late afternoon. All the trade stands are open for business, so the Championship is great for the traders, and I have noticed that the crowd is growing year on year because it is fun. Nothing is as big as the Saturday xc crowd. I stay at home, these days, and watch it on Badminton TV.
Whoops, looks like this thread is pretty old and poster’s original question didn’t get answered.
Since Badminton Grassroots is a Championship event that you have to qualify for, the equivalent would most likely be the US American Eventing Championships. Qualifications can be found on the USEA’s website. The show rotates venues, in 2025 it is at Galway Downs in Temecula, California. For 2026-2028 the AECs will return to Kentucky Horse Park. This is the largest event that includes all recognized levels of competition and it a big yearly goal for a lot of competitors!
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