Badminton's backstage heroes

Running Badminton requires the time, energy and skill of thousands of people every year. Catherine Austen speaks to a few of the key players about their roles and favourite memories

- Catherine Austen

MARGARET HOPKINS, STABLE MANAGER

MARGARET’S role as stud groom at Badminton encapsulates anything equestrian that happens on the estate, which means she is stable manager during the event.

“We have 110 stables spread over various yards, and as soon as hunting finishes all the boxes are cleaned out, pressure-washed and disinfected, and any maintenance done,” says Margaret, who has been at Badminton since 2009. “The competitors start arriving from Monday. We supply straw and shavings – if riders want anything else, they can order it through me and we will try to supply anything within reason.”

Margaret does the stabling plan, and tries to accommodate everyone’s wishes.

“The Club Yard is the furthest away, and therefore the quietest. The main yard, where the stable manager’s office is located, is very busy,” she says.

“The stables are the hub of everything and I enjoy the interaction with the competitors and grooms. The horses come in all shapes and sizes, and every year I learn something new.”

She and her team do their best to ensure that everything runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible – but not everything always goes to plan.

“I remember one year a Spanish rider had a stallion who was very good at letting himself out, despite us using all sorts of different clips to keep his door bolted,” she says. “We found him in the indoor school, admiring himself in the mirrors – and visibly excited by how handsome he looked!”