Blair Castle International Horse Trials

Equestrian

Blair Castle International Horse Trials

The Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials return to Blair Castle celebrating its 30th anniversary as a FEI International Event.  Taking place from 22nd to 25th August against the stunning backdrop of the Highlands tickets are on sale.

Scotland’s leading equestrian event promises to be extra special in 2019.  30 years have passed since Blair Castle hosted the first three-day event to be held in Scotland and it’s now firmly established as a highlight of the summer sporting calendar.

The 2019 horse trials will feature both the well-established four international eventing classes and the Scottish Grassroots Eventing Festival, which made its debut at Blair last summer.  (New to eventing?  See below for a guide.)

Five coveted titles will be contested, from Scottish 90cm and 100cm Champions to Scottish Novice, Intermediate and Open Champions.  Additionally Blair will host a raft of showing classes including Highland Pony and Hunter Showing classes, the NPS Scotland Showing Finals, Pony Club mounted games and British Showjumping.  This is the daily timetable in full.

Ones to watch: Ben Hobday and Shadow Man II are at Blair to contest the top level class – the CCI4* three-day event- having earlier this month claimed the British Open Championship title.  In the short format Four-Star William Fox-Pitt brings Yes I Can and Atlantic Vital Spark fresh from contesting the Tokyo Olympics Test Event.

Piggy French has both Carnival March and Highdown March running in the Three-Star and with her recent success rate – not to mention Blair win last year – she will be hard to bet against for a top, possibly winning, result.  Guaranteed a very warm welcome will be local rider Wills Oakden.  Perthshire-based Wills has represented Great Britain on a number of occasions and his Blair Castle record is good.  With four horses to compete this year he will have plenty of support from the team at Voltaire Design, sponsor both to Wills and to the Horse Trials.

Alongside the riders and horses there’s plenty more to entertain all members of the family at Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials.  The popular Country Fair and children’s entertainment is sure to draw the crowds.  And Blair is renowned for its shopping with over 220 trade stands, including those in the large food hall, offering something for all tastes and budgets, from fine art to fudge, jewellery to gin.

Gates open daily at circa 8am with the action from  through until 5pm.

Tickets in advance (at a discount) are available via the ‘Get Tickets’ link.  General admission tickets start from £12.

Admission on the day is available.  These are the on the gate daily ticket and parking prices.

What is Eventing?  Eventing is a test of all-round ability for horse and rider, often likened to an ‘equine triathlon’. It’s a supreme test of the partnership between the two consisting of dressage, show jumping and cross country stages.  A guide to the sport can be viewed via the Blair Castle International Horse Trials website.

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