Hartpury Horse Trials

Don your jodhpurs and get ready as the 2011 Hartpury Horse Trials gallops its way into Gloucestershire.

The annual Hartpury Horse Trials has built up a strong reputation over the years and 2011 is likely to be no exception, with equestrian fans from all over the UK flocking to Gloucestershire for the four day event.

Some of the world’s top competitors, including World Champion Zara Phillips, Olympic Team bronze medallists William Fox-Pitt, and Badminton winners Oliver Townend and Pippa Funnell, regularly compete in the major CIC*** competition.

For those not in the know, ‘eventing’ or ‘horse trials’ are the equivalent of an equestrian triathlon – testing horses and their riders to their very limits over three phases including dressage, cross country and show jumping.

The dressage phase involves a number of movements, each called a ‘test’, aimed at developing harmony in the physique and ability of the horse, making it calm, supple, loose and flexible. Each test is rigorously critiqued by a panel of judges, scoring a range of different horse and rider movements out of ten.

The cross country phase sees riders prove the speed, endurance and jumping ability of their horses – in what is one of the most exciting parts of the trials.

Jumping is the final phase, testing whether horses are still supple, energetic and obedient after the previous day’s tiring events.

The Hartpury Horse Trials daily timetable for visitors is as follow:

Thursday 11 August 2011

From 8am – Dressage CCI** in the International Arena 1
From 8.30am – Dressage CCI* in the International Arena 2

Friday 12 August 2011

From 8am – Dressage CCI* in the International Arena 2
From 8am – Dressage CIC*** International Arena 1
From 8.30am – Dressage CIC*** in the Hartpury Arena

Saturday 13 August 2011

From 8am – Dressage CIC*** in the Hartpury Arena
From 8am – Dressage CIC*** in the International Arena 1
From 9.30am – Cross Country CCI*
From 2.30pm – Cross Country CCI**
From 2.30pm – Show Jumping CIC*** in the Hartpury Arena
From 2.30pm – Show Jumping CIC*** in the International Arena 1

Sunday 14 August 2011

From 10am – Show Jumping CCI* in the International Arena
From 10.30am – Cross Country CIC***
From 1.30pm – Prize Giving CCI* in the International Arena
From 2.30pm – Show Jumping CCI**
From 4.30pm – Prize Giving CCI**
From 5pm – Prize Giving CIC***