Equestrian sports showcase the magnificent bond between a rider and their horse, and the category covers a diverse range of disciplines. Dressage, eventing, and jumping are very popular forms of the sport, and they are part of the current equestrian events at the Olympic Games. Many equestrian competitions take place in the grounds of beautiful stately homes or stunning parks and serve up a festival atmosphere with an array of extra entertainment suitable for all ages; it’s the perfect day out for friends and family alike!
One of the first and one of the biggest events in the calendar is the Royal Windsor Horse Show (12-15 May) and this year – the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – it’s even more special! Competitions in dressage, showjumping, carriage driving, endurance riding, and much more take place in the grounds of Windsor Castle. General Entry tickets to the showground start from GBP £18 while General Entry with access to reserved seating in the arena starts from £35.
The iconic 4-day Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (15-18 September) is organised by horse racing giant, The Jockey Club, and offers the perfect autumn day out against the spectacular backdrop of Blenheim Palace itself, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Horse and rider compete against other competitors across the 3 disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and showjumping. Hospitality packages are already available and general admission tickets will go on sale soon.
The Horse Trials at Blenheim are the perfect example of modern eventing. A horse and rider compete against other competitors across the 3 disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and showjumping. The competition may be run with all 3 events on one day or a 3-day event, which is more commonly now run over 4 days. Here’s a quick explanation of the disciplines:
- Dressage – the horse and rider perform from memory a series of predetermined movements to music. It is judged by one or more judges looking for balance, rhythm, agility, and most importantly, the cooperation between the horse and rider
- Cross-country – consists of 12-20 fences (lower levels) or 30-40 (higher levels) in a long outdoor circuit. The fences are solidly built natural objects (logs, stone walls, etc.) as well as various obstacles (streams, ditches, etc.), and combinations. The rider must cross the finish line within a certain time frame (optimum time). Crossing the finish line after this time means penalties for each second over. If a horse refuses an obstacle, penalties are added
- Showjumping – tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, including agility, obedience, fitness, and athleticism. In a ring, 12-20 fences are set up. Fences consist of elements that can be knocked down, unlike cross-country obstacles. This phase is timed, with penalties being given for every second over the required time. Time is added on for each obstacle knocked down, creating more penalties
The highest level of eventing competition is 5-Star with the Kentucky 3-Day Event (28 April-1 May), the Badminton Horse Trials (4-8 May), and the Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September) making up the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing; some of the most prestigious events in the calendar.
Along with these 3 events, there are only 4 other 5-Star competitions in the world. There’s the Luhmühlen Horse Trials (16-19 June) with tickets starting from EUR €13, the Maryland 5 Star (13-16 October), the Australian International 3-Day Event (October), and the 5 Étoiles de Pau (26-30 October) with tickets from €14.40.
Looking to see the best of the best compete at a carnival of equestrian? Look no further than the FEI World Championships (6-14 August) with competitions in jumping, dressage, para-dressage, and vaulting for horses and riders from across the world. They are organised by the sport's global governing body, Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), and this year the MCH Messecenter Herning in Denmark is the proud host. Tickets – starting from just DKK kr. 230 (GBP £26.05) – can be purchased in many different combinations, allowing you to see a range of events.