Organisers of Royal Windsor Horse Show are promising that the first major outdoor equestrian event of the season will be bigger and better than ever this year with the return of international show jumping and the addition of an extra day’s competition. The five-day show will open to competitors on Wednesday (7 May) and to the public from Thursday (8 May) to Sunday (11 May). Tickets are now on sale.
As ever, Royal Windsor promises to be a feast of both equestrian and family entertainment offering a packed timetable both in and out of the arena. Set exclusively within the glorious private grounds of Windsor Castle; this is a unique opportunity to visit an area normally hidden from public view.
The International show jumping is a part of the build up to the FEI European Show Jumping and Dressage Championships, which will take place here in 2009. Meanwhile, the extra day of competition on Wednesday 7th May will feature a host of prestigious national show jumping classes in the Castle Arena, including the Horse & Hound Foxhunter, Tri-Zone Senior Newcomers and culminating in the Walwyn Novice Jumping Championship.
In a further new development, organisers are launching a separate spectacular evening event, The Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo, which will be held in the shadow of the floodlit Windsor Castle offering guests an additional facet to their visit to Royal Windsor on the evenings of 8th, 9th and 10th May.
Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “We are thrilled to be increasing our offering at Royal Windsor with the return of international show jumping as well as bringing to the audience the excitement of the evening Windsor Castle Military Tattoo.
“In addition to enjoying the expanded programme of top level showing, show jumping and fantastic displays, we have also invested in the infrastructure of the show with increased seating around the main arenas to accommodate bigger crowds at peak times.”
In another exciting new development Royal Windsor will play host to a series of practical demonstrations of horsemanship by the British Horse Society. Designed to inspire as well as entertain, the BHS programme will change daily throughout the show and include the spectacle of the Riding Clubs Dressage to Music and BHS Quadrille. On Thursday, one of the highlights will be a show jumping masterclass by Yogi Breisner, British Eventing National Coach and World Class Performance Manager.
Organisers have announced a return for the exciting Six Bar show jumping class which has been well received over the past two years. This edge-of-seat class will be the feature event in a packed daytime Saturday of entertainment in the Castle Arena where other highlights include seeing some of the world’s leading show jumpers in action alongside traditional favourites such as the thrills and spills of the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games, the Shetland Pony Grand National and the crowd pleasing ridden Mountain and Moorland championship.
The Land Rover International Carriage Driving competition runs over four days and takes place in its own arena, just a short walk from the main Castle Arena. However the marathon phase on Saturday 10th May takes place throughout Home Park Private and offers high-octane excitement and great spectator sport with its driving action around obstacles and through water.
Local food producers
Foodies and shoppers will be spoilt for choice with the popular Royal Windsor Food and Drink Festival staging a return and featuring some of the very best local food and drink producers around. The shopping area is sure to prove a big draw with some 200 hand-picked stall holders offering a glittering array.
