Great Britain’s Oliver Townend has been sanctioned by the Fédération Equestre International for his Sunday cross-country ride at the Badminton CCI5*-L (England) on Swallow Springs.

Townend received a recorded warning for “dangerous riding/series of dangerous jumps,” according to the FEI eventing sanctions list. Third out on cross-country riding Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Swallow Springs, the horse with whom Townend finished second at last year’s Badminton, the pair first triggered a frangible device at Fence 19B, the second of a pair of wide, MIM-clipped tables. Townend then took a long route at the Badminton Lake but still had to scramble over a large corner in the water at Fence 22, before being pulled up by the ground jury and eliminated at Fence 24, the Beaufort Brushbox, on the 30-fence track.

On his second ride of the day, Ballaghmor Class, the 2009 Badminton winner jumped clear with 21.2 time penalties cross-country and ultimately finished the event in second place.

Under the FEI’s sanction system, a recorded warning is different than a yellow card. Riders who receive three or more recorded warnings within any two-year period are automatically suspended for two months. Recorded warnings are given for infractions such as continuing on course after any form of elimination, pressing a tired horse, blood on a horse or neglecting to see a doctor after a rider fall or the veterinary delegate after retiring or being eliminated cross-country.

By comparison, riders who receive two or more yellow cards within a one-year period are automatically suspended for two months. Yellow-card violations include excessive use of the whip, other instances of horse abuse and pressing a tired horse.