Horse Hound – 14 May 2026

Summary

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, the horse known as Walter, stand on the cover of Horse & Hound 14 May 2026 (Volume CXLII Issue 19) as Badminton Heroes, "In a league of their own," photographed by Nico Morgan. They made history with a third Mars Badminton Horse Trials title.

They are the first pairing to complete a hat-trick in the event's 77-year history, having won in 2023 and 2025, and Canter had given birth to her second daughter, Seneh, about three months earlier. They finished on 25.7, more than two showjumps clear of Tim Price and Falco on 33.9, with Harry Meade third on 35.1.

Sir Ben Wallace gives the interview at p18 on rural life and trail-hunting, and the news lead at p5 reports the 2026 Aachen World Championships organisers releasing an AI-generated promo video that drew almost universal criticism across 200-plus comments, with Tilly Berendt saying "I think AI will dismantle us as an industry."

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Content Guide

▸ Badminton

p.40 · Ros Canter delivers a historic win
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, owned by Michele and Archie Saul, took their third Mars Badminton title, the first hat-trick in the event's 77-year history after wins in 2023 and 2025. Canter gave birth to her second daughter Seneh about three months before, and they finished on 25.7 after adding two showjumping time faults to their dressage score, more than two showjumps clear. Canter said: "It's hard to put into words how I feel right now, but when it sinks in it will be incredible," and "I hope this makes Walter the greatest in the world." Watch the showjumping round and see where the two time faults came from.

p.50 · Dressage — Six different nations fill the top six
Six different nations filled the top six after dressage, the widest spread the championship has seen. National spread says more about the sport's depth than any single result. Compare the six marks before you judge your own test.

p.56 · Cross-country — All change on the leaderboard
The cross-country report covers the changes on the leaderboard, with Ros and Walter among only seven combinations to jump clear inside the time. Clear inside the time is the only stat that matters on that day. Walk the course next year and pick where the time was won.

p.66 · Showjumping — Tim Price makes a move
Tim Price moved up in the showjumping to finish second on Falco with 33.9. A single round reshaped the podium. Watch Price's round and note where Canter's two faults came.

p.70 · Grassroots champion
The grassroots champion gets their own page, balancing the five-star coverage. Grassroots is where the sport's next Badminton riders come from. Enter one grassroots class this season.

▸ News

p.5 · Concerns about AI promotion of our sport
The 2026 Aachen World Championships organisers released an AI-generated promo video in which a horse dreams of performing, jumping, pulling a carriage, backflipping and being ridden by a dancing pony. Almost all of the 200-plus comments were negative, and equestrian journalist Tilly Berendt called it offensive from several angles and said: "I think AI will dismantle us as an industry." Concerns include AI data centres producing electronic waste and consuming power and water, land taken and degraded, and hay prices already driven up by climate change. Watch the video before you promote anything AI-generated.

p.9 · Vigilance urged after significant increases in equine influenza cases
The news pages urge vigilance after significant increases in equine flu cases, the health story of the spring. Flu spreads faster than most yards prepare for. Check your vaccination dates before the next show season.

▸ People and Opinion

p.18 · H&H interview — Sir Ben Wallace
Hunting editor Catherine Austen interviews former cabinet minister Sir Ben Wallace on supporting rural life and defending ways of life including trail-hunting. Politicians who speak for the countryside are rare in these pages. Read the interview before the trail-hunting consultation closes.

p.24 · All in a day's work — Author Jojo Moyes
Jojo Moyes writes on what she has learned from horses and how she passes it to the next generation. Writers outside the sport notice things regulars miss. Give one horse book to a child who rides.

p.14 · Eventing — Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips writes the eventing opinion column for a Badminton issue. His voice carries more weight than most in a five-star week. Take one training point from him into your own schooling.

▸ Features and Regulars

p.26 · Airborne irritants — Minimise the risk
The vet clinic cover story covers airborne irritants and how to minimise the risk. Airborne dust and spores cause the summer cough most owners ignore. Soak one hay net tonight and watch the difference.

p.32 · Best comebacks — Stories that are the stuff of fairy tales
Best comebacks collects the returns that read like fairy tales, the issue's second cover story. Comebacks are the stories riders actually retell. Name one horse you know that came back from worse.

p.88 · Hunting — Dorset and Somerset Bassets end-of-season day
The Dorset and Somerset Bassets end their season with a day report. Basset packs get less coverage than foxhounds. Visit one basset pack's end-of-season day next spring.

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Editor's Take

The Badminton hat-trick is the reason Horse & Hound 14 May 2026 exists: first in 77 years, a third title for Ros Canter and Walter, a final 25.7 more than two showjumps clear of Tim Price, and a rider who gave birth three months earlier. The AI video story is the most important news page, because 200-plus near-universal negative comments and Tilly Berendt's "AI will dismantle us" is a fight the whole sport is about to have. Weakest is the showing and reports section, where BSPS Winter Championships, Radfords and Chepstow run as short lists, and Stuart Hollings's column is brief. Buy this for the Badminton record; it is the issue you will keep.

Strengths
• Badminton gives 77 years, 25.7 and a hat-trick
• Canter quotes are specific and quotable
• AI story gives 200-plus comments and a named journalist
• Jojo Moyes and Ben Wallace widen the issue

Weaknesses
• Showing and reports run short
• Hollings column is brief for the section

Verdict: Essential — the Badminton hat-trick record and the AI debate.