In just under one week, the much-anticipated, last-ever Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials will be opening its gates to welcome the world’s very best event riders for one last time, starting on August, 22nd.
Entries for the final ever event are looking to top 400 horse and rider combinations, including Olympic Gold Medal Winners from around the world.
Competitors, who come from 14 nations, include FEI World Number One and double Olympic Gold Medal winner Tom McEwen (GBR) and his Paris Olympic Gold Medal Winning teammate, World Number Two Ros Canter (GBR), senior team medallists and five-star winners Piggy March (GBR), Caroline Powell (NZL), Paris Olympic Team Bronze medallist Ryuzo Kitajima (JPN) and not forgetting Scotland’s very own multiple-medallist Ian Stark – also a past Blair cross-country designer – who has three Badminton wins to his name and the unequalled record of being the only rider to finish first and second at the 5* event the same year.
A further 300 combinations will run in the Inverness Paving Scottish Grassroots Championships and national classes.
Looking forward to sharing the final International Event at Blair Castle with long-time Title Sponsors Defender, the team at Blair are proud to have enjoyed such a close and long-running relationship with the most iconic and capable 4×4 manufacturer in the world.
Defender will be offering complimentary Landrover Driving Experiences on-site from 09:00 – 17:00 each day of the horse trials.
With a history stretching back almost 50 years and now in its 35th year of international competition, the departure of Blair Castle is set to leave a huge hole in the Eventing Calendar. There are few more glorious places to be in the summer than the Scottish Highlands, and Blair Castle has to be one of the most beautiful locations north of the border.
Add to the mix world-class equestrian sport, delicious food & drink, a fabulous shopping village and this year being its final fling, and the last ever Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials is one not to be missed.
You may also like
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
Discover more from Everything Horse Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.