The box office opened this week for one of Britain’s most enduring sporting events: the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2015 (May 7–10). Last year, the cross-country course was given a radical overhaul by Giuseppe della Chiesa, only the fourth course-designer in the event’s 66-year history and the first from overseas.

Not every competitor had the smoothest of rides over the Italian’s new fences—notable scalps included Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Sir Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson—but, to their credit, the riders didn’t complain about the upgraded test and voted Badminton the best horse trials of 2014 in the L’Année Hippique awards.

Advance ticket prices start at £12.50 plus car parking (01454 218375; www.badminton-horse.co.uk).