The jumps on the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials cross country course look scary enough on TV, but you can’t fully appreciate the obstacles these riders have to tackle until you’ve been up close and personal with them. Our image gallery below will help you go some way towards that. Sadly, we won't see Pippa Funnell and Mirage D'Elle. Pippa has withdrawn the horse because she feels the course is too bigger ask for an inexperienced horse. Mary King has also withdrawn Apache Sauce, but her reason is unknown at time of publishing. 

The course walk

H&C walked the course and created a gallery for you to browse - the pictures still don’t do this course justice, though!

The first three fences are all straightforward and a kind way to start the course so riders can get their horses’ blood up for the questions to come.

Problems in the Village

The Lancer Village at four and five isn’t likely to cause any problems with a choice of two routes, neither of which is significantly faster. However, the undulating ground will test the horses’ balance and footing.

Remaining unchanged from 2009, the Cancer Research UK Hillside at six a and b is one to watch. The chunky roll-top has a big drop on landing and needs to be ridden strongly. If riders choose the direct route they risk an easy run-out at the skinny second element.

Show Jumping to Galloping

At fences seven and eight, the HSBC FEI Classics Corral uprights appear as a complicated show jumping style combination, but riders aren’t too worried about coming across problems here as long as they can control the canter after the long gallop from six . It’s followed by a huge hedge at nine which will be taken at a gallop, opening up the horses and giving them an easy one before the questions really begin.

Shogun Hollow at 10 has many different line options, but the hollow between 10b and 10c complicates matters and balance will be tested. Outlander Bank is the same as ever with the step and bounce, which some riders may underestimate.

Fence 12 is the IMSM Ditch and Trees which will ride nicely if ridden spot on. The enormous spread opens up the horses who then have to collect right up for the narrow log. Pictures don’t show how tempting it is to run out to the left and this combination will weed out the less experienced partnerships.

HSBC Hexagon Hedge and Colt Pond are very similar to last year, but both claimed their fair share of victims. As did HS1 Farmyard at 15, which riders underestimated in 2010. This year they will all be prepared for the short back rails, which are so inviting for a run out.

The Lake

16 and 17 pose no particular problems, and the Mitsubishi Pick Ups shouldn’t either. The Lake complex, always a popular spectator spot, really tests turning skills and we’re likely to see a few riders changing their plans to take the long route after the first element.

The Wadworth Barrels should ride smoothly, practically a gift before the technical Irish Sport Horse Studbook Huntsmans Close. The elements come up fast, but if ridden correctly the direct route, ending with a bounce on a very acute angle, will jump very well.

At this point in the course, horses and riders will be tiring both physically and mentally so Huntsmans Close to HorseQuest Quarry will really sort out the fit horses from the rest. The main issue at the Quarry lies in the steep slope up to 27, but if the horses still have plenty of running left, Mark Todd told us yesterday that he thinks they’ll “ping” nicely out of it.

On the way home

Then it’s really just a run to home, but riders can’t completely relax as Rolex Turn has been known to take its victims in the past. It’s not over until horse and rider are safely across the finish line.

Which fence do you think is the scariest? Where will riders encounter the most problems? Take a look through our photos and tell us what you think about the course. Don't forget we'll be providing a full commentary of the cross country test on Twitter - follow us @HorseAndCountry.