No horse? No problem
Not owning a horse doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the action. There are lots of crowd pleasing events that’ll give you the horsey fix you’re craving. Here are our top six
1Your Horse Live, Warwickshire
If you love horses and shopping (and who doesn’t?), then get yourself along to the UK’s biggest equestrian shopping show – Your Horse Live (November 11-12). Celebrity riders and trainers, along with their gorgeous horses, are all under one roof with a raft of demonstrations, training and advice zones. There’ll also be more than 350 trade stands selling everything you could ever need. Tickets are on sale now.
2Olympia Horse Show, London
This one’s a Christmas Party like no other. Held just before the festive period, it’s a very special event visited by riders and spectators from around the world. From show jumping and dressage to the Shetland Pony Grand National and dog agility – it has it all. www.olympiahorseshow.com 3 Hickstead Derby Meeting Held over five days in June, this is one of the most famous show jumping events in the world. Its flagship class – the British Jumping Derby – is so difficult that it makes heroes of those who dare to enter, with a 10ft 6inch bank that makes our eyes water just looking at it. The course has barely changed in the five decades since the class was first born and creates drama every year. The Derby takes place on the Sunday afternoon, but on the other days you can see riders in action at all levels of show jumping. And, of course, there’s shopping and Pimms to enjoy. www.hickstead.co.uk
4+5Burghley and Badminton
The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials are the only four star events in the country. There’s much shopping and picnicking to be had, but the main attraction is cross-country day, which is a an opportunity for visitors to get up close to the action. Careful organisation allows spectators as close as you can get – and the thrill of seeing horse and rider in harmony over the imposing solid fences is something else. The dressage days offer fans the chance to watch tests from an undercover grandstand, and the show jumping on the final day creates such an intense atmosphere it’s surprising the riders can concentrate at all. www.burghley-horse.co.uk www.badminton-horse.co.uk
6 Horse of the Year Show
The NEC in Birmingham is home to the Horse of the Year Show, which takes place in October. International show jumping and the showing championships attract the crowds, but there are lots of other things to enjoy, too, including mounted games, dressage and scurry driving. www.hoys.co.uk