Royal Windsor Horse Show, returns to the private grounds of Windsor Castle from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 5 May with a spectacular, action-packed schedule. The Show, which this year takes place over the May bank holiday weekend, provides entertainment for all the family.
Here we take a look at 10 moments you won’t want to miss at the upcoming event.
1. Scintillating Show Jumping – CSI5* Show Jumping action commences with the Pearl Stakes on Friday 3 May and concludes on Sunday 5 May with the €500k Rolex Grand Prix, providing a magnificent three days of international Show Jumping in one of the most exclusive showgrounds in the World. Great Britian’s Ben Maher heads up the impressive line-up, which will see eight of the top 10 ranked riders in the World competing in the stunning Castle Arena. Maher, who is currently ranked World No.2, is a past winner of the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix and will be hoping to impress selectors ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games.
2. Superb Showing – Often regarded as the start of the Showing season, Royal Windsor has received over 1700 entries – including 26 from His Majesty the King – across 130 classes, which span sections for everything from Shetlands to Shires. Showing, which has a rich and long tradition at the Show, sees the best-bred and best-presented horses and ponies judged against each other for looks, performance, and suitability to perform their chosen role.
3. Delightful Dressage – The Defender CDI4* Dressage kicks off the Show with the Grand Prix taking place on Wednesday 1 May, and the Freestyle to Music on Thursday 2 May. In total 13 combinations will contest these prestigious classes, which bring this amazing sport home to the Private Grounds of Windsor Castle. The British contingent is led by Gareth Hughes, who was part of the gold medal winning team at the FEI European Championships last summer.
4. Dramatic Driving – Entries for the Horse Four-In-Hand (CAIO4*) are headed up by World No. 1, Boyd Exell. Already a 12-time winner at Royal Windsor, Exell will face stiff competition from the experienced field which includes the Dutch driver, Ijsbrand Chardon. Home favourite Daniel Naprous is sure to be warmly backed by the Windsor crowds across all three phases of the event.
5. The Hubs – Inaugural for 2024, the five new Hubs are areas of special interest featuring live entertainment from names such as Alan Titchmarsh, Debbie Wiseman and Su Pollard, as well as Windsor Castle Gardens Manager Adam Scott, artist Sherree Valentines-Daines and many more. The Hubs will provide spectators with extra points of interest to enjoy during their day and cover Art, Gardening, Performance, Children’s, and Sustainability.
6. Outstanding Shopping – Heirloom leatherwork, countryside-inspired clothing and Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s favourite handbags are just some of the designs set to be available to buy in the Shopping Village of Royal Windsor. The Show will host over 170 trade stands showcasing the very latest in equestrian equipment, interior pieces, and countryside fashion.
7. Adrenaline-Filled Acts and Displays – Royal Windsor is known for its spectacular range of acts and displays, and this year will not disappoint. Heading the line-up is the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan, whose performance inspired by the Koroghlu Opera is sure to impress the crowds. Alongside this exceptional display, showgoers can also expect impressive performances from the Defender Shetland Pony Grand National, DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games, and the fan-favourite Musical Drive of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery as well as the thrilling Double Harness Scurry.
8. Polo Comes to Windsor – On Saturday 4 May visitors to the Show will enjoy a fantastic new spectacle to round off the day. From 19:00 – 20:00, Arena Polo will take centre stage at the Show with the two teams fielded by long-time Royal Windsor Horse Show supporters, Guards Polo Club, and the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan.
9. Royal Windsor Horse Show Mobile App – The Show App will be free to download from the App Store and Google Play. Spectators will be able to find the fully up-to-date timetable for all five Arenas as well as each of the Show’s Hubs. The ‘favourite’ feature will allow ticketholders to curate their own programme of events to visit during their time at the Show, with pop-up alerts ensuring they never miss a moment of action. The App will also contain a ticket wallet, class start lists, results, showground maps and exclusive shopping offers, along with much more.
10. Exhilarating Endurance – Taking place in the beautiful Windsor Great Park, Endurance is a true spectacle of horsemanship as horse and rider combinations travel distances of up to 160km. In total three Endurance rides of different lengths, supported by The Kingdom of Bahrain, will take place across the varying terrain of the Park.
To find out more about Royal Windsor Horse Show, or to book tickets, visit the RWHS website.
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.