H&H gives you the inside track on what to look out for at this year’s Royal International Horse Show, which runs from Tuesday, 27 July to Sunday, 1 August at Hickstead’s All England Jumping Course, West Sussex.
New president for RIHS
Look out for the new president of the Longines Royal International Horse Show, actor Martin Clunes. The star of Doc Martin and Men Behaving Badly has ridden since he was a child and keeps horses on his Dorset farm.
Record breaker?
Gary Parsonage will attempt to break a record in Thursday’s eventing grand prix. With his victory last year he equalled Pippa Funnell’s three wins and now he is gunning to become the first person to rack up four Hickstead eventing grand prix titles. You can follow the highs and lows of the eventing grand prix with H&H Live at www.horseandhound.co.uk/egplive
What a difference a year makes
The highlight of Friday’s schedule is the Meydan FEI Nations Cup. Last year’s headline in H&H read: “Team GB fights to get out of drop zone.” This time around, Great Britain is lying comfortably in the top half of the table, but there’s still plenty to play for in the penultimate leg — don’t miss it.
Put on your glad rags
Saturday is Ladies’ Day at Hickstead and visitors to the show are invited to “dress to impress”. The best-dressed lady wins a three-day break for two people to one of the De Vere Group’s luxury lodges on Loch Lomond — complete with spa treatment and access to the hotel’s five-star amenities.
Going for gold
Sunday’s King George V Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious classes on the international calendar. Peter Charles (Murka’s Pall Mall H) became the first British rider in 10 years to win the gold trophy in 2009. Can someone from the home side do it again this year? Cheer on your favourites in the international arena on Sunday afternoon.
Showing delight
The RIHS is one of the highlights in the showing calendar with competitors coming from around the country to do battle for the prestigious showing championships. Stay in touch with all the action action from Hickstead on Horseandhound.co.uk with our daily updates from around the showing rings.
Pay us a visit
The tradestands at Hickstead will keep you occupied for days, but don’t forget to visit Horse & Hound at stand 176 for a chance to win an Ifor Williams trailer, plus loads of other great prizes. And take out a subscription for a knockdown price.
Dressage stars line up
Dressage at Hickstead runs alongside Hickstead proper and kicks off earlier, on Monday, 26 July, with two days of Dressage Masters Championships. But the main event, the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5*, takes place over the weekend (31 July-1 August). See top riders Laura Bechtolsheimer, Carl Hester and Maria Eilberg battle it out — Edward Gal (Moorlands Totilas) and Adelinde Cornelissen (Jerich Parzival) are also expected to attend.
RIHS tickets
Prices on Wednesday are £7 (child), £10 (senior citizen), £14 (adult), £40 (family) plus £6 for car parking while Thursday-Sunday it costs £10 (child), £15 (senior citzen), £20 (adult), £55 (family) plus £6 per car. For more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk
This is an extract from the Royal International Horse Show 2010 preview, first published in Horse & Hound (22 July, ’10)
