Horse Shows and Equestrian Events 2022
- 23 February 2022
The equestrian world is looking forward to a packed 2022 calendar. Major events are taking place across the UK and there’s much to look forward to for both horse riders and spectators alike.
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Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March and promises some incredible head-to-head battles between the best National Hunt horses in the world. This year’s competitors will include the 2021 Champion Hurdle winner, Honeysuckle, who looks set to face previous winners Epatante and Buveur D’Air.
The big British hopes are Jonbon and Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which looks set to be an exciting contest. There will be 28 races in total, culminating in the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. Around 65,000 spectators are expected to pack into the event.
Grand National
The world-famous Grand National meeting will take place from 7th to 9th April at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. As one of the biggest horse racing events on the planet; 150,000 spectators are expected to attend in person and a further 600 million people will be watching on TV, in more than 140 countries all over the world.
With a prize fund of £1 million, the Grand National is the most valuable jump race in Europe. It will begin at 5.15pm on 9th April.
Badminton Horse Trials
Badminton Horse Trials take place from 4th to 8th May in the grounds of Badminton House in Gloucestershire. The event is returning in 2022 after a two-year break.
A five-day event, Badminton Horse Trials is one of only six annual international Concours Complet Five Star events, as graded by the Fédération Équestre Internationale. As one of the most exciting, toughest equestrian events in the world, it is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the global horse trials calendar.
Royal Windsor Horse Show Horse
The Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place from 12th to 15th May and is a showcase for dressage, showjumping, showing and driving horses. It is the largest outdoor horse show in the UK, taking place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
There will be international competitions in three different equestrian disciplines. It includes one of the most important driving events in the UK, the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, when competitors drive at great speed around eight obstacles. The many showing classes herald the start of the showing season.
Royal Ascot
One of the UK’s premier flat racing events, Royal Ascot takes place from 14th to 18th June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. Revered all over the world, Royal Ascot attracts the finest horses in the racing world. It is also famous for the elegance of the race-goers, who wear classic fashions and amazing millinery creations.
The five-day event begins with the arrival of the Royal Procession at 2 pm. Activities such as communal singing around Ascot Bandstand are as enjoyable as the racing! There are also a number of fine dining restaurants and private boxes to enjoy the races in luxurious privacy.
Royal International Horse Show
The Royal International Horse Show takes place at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, from 26th to 31st July. This five-star fixture includes some of the most famous events in the equestrian world including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain and the King George V Gold Cup.
There are also hundreds of showing championships during the six-day show. The best of the entrants will compete in the Supreme Pony Championships and the British Horse Society Supreme Horse events on the final Sunday.
Burghley Horse Trials
One of the UK’s premier three-day events, the Burghley Horse Trials takes place from 1st to 4th September at the beautiful surroundings of Burghley House, near Stamford, Lincolnshire. Three-day eventing tests the all-round abilities of the horses and riders, including show jumping, dressage and cross country.
There is also a sensational shopping village, with luxury items for people, horses and dogs! The prize money has increased this year to more than £3,000 for each championship and £1,250 for each age-group champion.
National Driving Championships
The British Carriage Driving National Championships will be held from 22nd to 25th September at Cricklands, Monmouthshire. There are many different classes for the cream of drivers, horses and ponies including pony pairs, pony tandems, horse tandems, pony four-in-hand, novices, intermediate and advanced events, and many more.
For young people aged between 12 and 21; there are also dressage tests and special events.
King George VI Steeple Chase
The traditional 2022 Boxing Day meet takes place at Kempton Park Racecourse. It is the mid-season race that attracts the biggest names in terms of horses, jockeys and trainers. This historic race was first run in 1937.
Desert Orchid won the race an amazing four times before retiring after the 1991 meet. He visited Kempton Park racecourse every Christmas to delight the fans until his death in 2006. Today, the race is part of the Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown, offering a £1 million bonus to any horse that wins the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, Betfair Chase and Magners Gold Cup.
Horse care and safety
Keeping the horses comfortable and safe while travelling to shows and staying overnight away from home is of the utmost importance – rubber stable matting is a proven way of protecting the health and comfort of your horse or pony.
Providing insulation and a comfortable layer on the stable and horsebox floor; animal transporter ramp mats also help reduce the risks of a slip, as horses and ponies walk up an inclined ramp to the horsebox.
