Badminton Horse Trials has announced Mars equestrian, the home of feeding brand Spillers, as its new presenting sponsor for next year’s event (4-8 May).
The 2022 fixture will be the first one in three years after the 2020 and 2021 competitions were both cancelled owing to the Coronavirus pandemic and the difficulties associated with running the event behind closed doors.
The 2019 event was also the last to run with long-term title sponsor Mitsubishi Motors after 28 years of sponsorship.
“I am delighted that Mars Equestrian will be a presenting sponsor at Badminton 2022 and we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year,” said The Duke of Beaufort, who hosts the CCI5* horse trials at his estate in Gloucestershire.
Mars Equestrian by Mars, Incorporated is the link between the equestrian community and the company’s iconic brands, including Spillers, Pedigree, Royal Canin and the Mars bar.
“Mars Equestrian is thrilled to become the presenting partner of Badminton Horse Trials,” said William Clements, vice president of global sponsorship and sports marketing for Mars Incorporated. “Through this partnership we hope to honour the equestrian legacy of Mars and engage spectators with our iconic brands as we work to achieve our vision of a better world for horses, pets and their owners.
“Mars, Incorporated is a family-owned business that has been creating products and services that people and their four-legged family members love for over 100 years. Horses are deeply rooted in Mars’ history dating back to the 1930’s.”
The horse trials is one of two annual CCI5*L competitions in Britain, and makes up one third of the Rolex Grand Slam in conjunction with Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and Land Rover Kentucky Horse Trials in the USA. Kentucky also runs under Mars Equestrian sponsorship.
Tickets for the horse trials go on sale in January.
Main image: 2019 winners Piggy French and Vanir Kamira. Credit: Kit Houghton/Badminton
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