The 2016 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton CCI**** is officially over—the riders returned home, the dressage ring taken down, the cross-country flags removed for another year, memories of a Rolex Grand Slam victory stored. 

But it’s still possible to relive the moments through just a few of the thousands of photos one lucky journalist (me) took on her first trip to the event. 

Check out some of my favorite images from five magical days in Great Britain. (All photos by Lisa Slade.)

I love seeing Sam at the jogs because you can tell just how smart he is behind those beautiful light eyes. 

Walking back to the car after the first jog, the sun was setting directly behind this tree in the Badminton parking lot. The weather this year was apparently a British anomaly, but it was basically perfect every day.

You’d think finishing fourth at Badminton, probably his 10,000th four-star or roundabouts, would be ho hum, just another day at the office for Mark Todd. But his expression after jumping a clear round on Leonidas II said otherwise.

Zara Tindall jumped through some beautiful light at fence 7AB on High Kingdom.

Alice Naber-Lozeman’s Harry Belafonte was hilarious to watch at the jogs. First he seemed alarmed at the crowds and then later excited he could show off for them with a trot worthy of the Grand Prix dressage ring.

The Badminton crowds are unreal in both size and enthusiasm. Here Allercombe Elle gallops in front of the iconic lake.

We wrote about amateur rider Hanne Wind Raamsgard after her dressage test on Vestervangs Arami, and on cross-country day she was still smiling!

Michael Jung looked like he lived 100 different emotions galloping around after his clear on Sunday—from fist-pumping joy to this quiet smile and look at the crowd. All the while, he was patting Sam too.

Standing at fence 8, a hanging log into water at the top of a hill, you could see the horses gallop up and lock onto it. Some of them took longer than others to “get it,” but I think Allercombe Elle  saw this fence and took her rider there from many, many strides away. It was one of those times you really get a sense for how much these horses understand and enjoy this job.

Before Michael Jung hoisted the Rolex Grand Slam trophy, he took a second to check it out.

Camilla Speirs’ Portersize Just A Jiff, a diminutive mare, is one of those horses who tackles every fence with zest, aided by her partnership with her rider. These two were very intense galloping away from fence 6.

Sometimes you need a fancy camera to shoot cross-country…other times you use your iPhone. Ben Hobday and Mulry’s Error galloped by me close enough to touch. (I didn’t touch.)

Bettina Hoy let Designer 10 grab a quick grass snack after his dressage test. The crowd really enjoyed that, and I’m sure the horse did too. 

No matter how many times I cover an event, I don’t think the thrill of hearing, “The first horse is on course” will ever go away. Oli Townend was first on course with Armada Saturday, and the crowd roared as he came galloping over the hill towards fence 4. (Plus check out the dapper gentleman behind him!)

Cancer survivor Ben Hobday was a huge fan favorite, as was his ride into 32nd place, Mulry’s Error. The half-Clydesdale (who is registered as an Irish Sport Horse) has his own Twitter account (with the bio “four-star eventer with the biggest feet in the business”) and an enormous fan following.