It takes place in May each year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in South Gloucestershire, England.

[3] In 1989, the current director and course-designer Hugh Thomas, who rode in the 1976 Montreal Olympics,[4] took over from Francis Weldon, a former winner,[5] who is credited with bringing the event to the pinnacle it is at today.

The cross-country day at Badminton attracts crowds of up to a quarter of a million and is the second largest in the world for money made (after the Indianapolis 500).

If a rider receives a second Yellow Warning Card within a year, they are suspended from competing in FEI sanctioned competitions for two months.

[16] Yellow Warning Cards issued at Badminton Horse Trials include:[17] Eventing is considered one of the most dangerous of equestrian sports.

[19] An example of dangerous course conditions at Badminton happened in 2007 when after a long period without rain, the ground was considered to be too hard, resulting in 22 withdrawals.