The Eventing Spring Carnival, without a doubt, is one of the most exciting eventing fixtures that each year helps start the British Eventing season. Preceding 5* MARS Badminton Horse Trials, this go-to event helps riders get a good start to the season on a selection of their best rides.
This year the event will take place over the weekend, Friday 31st March, until Sunday 2nd April on the usual grounds of Thoresby Park.
Each year, spectators get to enjoy seeing a host of their favourite horse and rider combinations, so without further ado, we take a look at who you can expect to see at this elite equestrian event.
With the world’s elite now settling into the stables at the Nottinghamshire based event, here’s a run down of who you can expect to see during this year’s Eventing Spring Carnival.
World number 1, Tim Price (NZL) brings forward his Maryland, USA, CCI5* winning ride, Coup De Coeur Dudevin in the feature 4* class, along with Vitali for the Advanced. World number 2 and other half of the Price ‘power couple’, Jonelle Price (NZL) has 4 rides entered across the weekend, Mcclaren, with whom she picked up Team Bronze at the Pratoni World Championship last year.
It will be World Champion’s galore at Thoresby, with the 2022 World Champion, Yasmin Ingham (GBR) set to compete with her championship partner, Banzai Du Loir. Former World Champion, and world number 3, Ros Canter (GBR) will have all eyes on Lordships Graffalo who utilised the Thoresby CCI4* in 2022 to prepare for Badminton, where they finished 2nd on their CCI5* debut. Former World and European Champion, Zara Tindall MBE, will also be in attendance with Class Affair and Classicals Euro Star.
Oliver Townend MBE (GBR), currently ranked 4th in the world, is no stranger to international success, with no less than seventy-five international victories under his belt. The Olympic Team Gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 brings forward 2 of his nominated Badminton entrants – As Is and Tregilder, for the Grantham Cup.
Follow Olympic Team Gold winners, Laura Collett MBE and Tom McEwen MBE also feature. Laura Collett finished 3rd at Thoresby Park last year before going on to lift the coveted Badminton trophy. Meanwhile Tom McEwan, who also won an individual silver medal at Tokyo 2020, brings forward JL Dublin in their key preparatory run before the Spring CCI5* in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as fan favourite Toledo De Kerser, and CHF Cooliser who both head to Badminton.
Tom McEwen MBE commented on his appearance at The Eventing Spring Carnival:
The Eventing Spring Carnival, at Thoresby, is still a relatively new addition to our calendar, taking over from Belton which has always been used as great prep run for Badminton, or Kentucky. For us it’s a great location for Deirdre Johnston, James and Jo Lambert, JL Dublin’s Yorkshire based owners. It’s a great show with plenty of atmosphere, and it’s a real mecca of the best horses preparing for their halfway season goal.
It’s a place to go and put yourself against the best of the best that are going out for Burghley and Badminton titles and see where you are in stance. Not every horse will be running fast but you get a feel of where you are in the field.”
Eventing enthusiasts who’d like the chance to meet their heroes will relish the addition of the Equitex Rider Zone, which will play host to several meet-and-greets with riders and brand ambassadors within the expansive trade and food village. The most notable meet and greet opportunity being Sunday 2nd April, with Instagram and YouTube sensation Harlow Luna White.
The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park takes place from 31 March – 2 April, and with something on the agenda for all the family, it’s a can’t-miss entry for the diary. To book advanced tickets, and save on the gate price, visit the Bede Events 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.