NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials

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Last year’s CIC3* winner William Fox-Pitt riding Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero

Eventing excitement grows as Hartpury counts down to Horse Trials 10th – 14th August 2016.

Cross country course preparation has begun as some of the top international eventers get set to head to Hartpury Horse Trials.

The NAF Five Star Hartpury International Horse Trials, which runs from August 10th to 14th will once again feature the stars of eventing from all over the world. Now into its 13th year, Hartpury will play host to household names from the world of eventing as they compete in the Recover CCI1*, Magic CCI2* and Superflex CIC3*.

Harry Meade, Laura Collett, Izzy Taylor, Paul Tapner, Andrew Nicholson and Andrew Hoy are just some of the names entered in the CIC3*. With such top quality competitors across all the classes, spectators can be sure to experience the very best of the sport.

The highlight of the show will no doubt be the cross country on Saturday, August 13th. This year sees Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials course designer Eric Winter return to Hartpury to add his touch to what is set to be another challenging course.

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Hartpury graduate Astier Nicolas on Carole Broad’s Molakai competing at last year’s horse trials.

Winter, who has designed courses for a host of top European Championships, has also been passed the mantel of designing the cross country course for next year’s Badminton Horse Trials, the pinnacle of the world’s 3-Day-Event calendar, so we can be sure to see some exciting and challenging action on the day, especially with the calibre of entries.

Course builder Andrew Hunter and his team are well underway in the course preparation whilst the Hartpury team are keeping the ground in tip top condition, despite the recent warm weather. With the dry forecast set to stay the team are expecting to use in excess of 1.5 million litres of water to keep the footing in the best condition possible!

Farm manager, Peter Lord, is overseeing the cross country course preparation and said: “As ever there is a dedicated team to prepare the course for 2016. It is of the utmost importance to us here at Hartpury to ensure the ground is as good as it can be to ensure the highest level of competition is possible across all three courses.”

Wednesday 10th August will see the Horse Trials action getting underway with the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse, a chance for eventing fans to see horse stars of the future. The dressage and show jumping will take place in Hartpury’s international arenas which offer tiered seating for the perfect view.

Admission is free from Wednesday 10th August to Friday 12th August and only £10 per person on the Saturday and Sunday, with under-16s free throughout the event.  There is also free car parking on site.

For all the latest news and to book tickets online, visit www.hartpuryhorsetrials.co.uk or call 01452 702126. To stay up to date with all the action and results, don’t forget to follow Hartpury Horse Trials on Facebook and Twitter.