Willa Newton and Caja 20 - 2016 CIC3* 8/9 YO winners at Blenheim Palace
Watch or buy our cross country or Arena Eventing videos at Blenheim Palace 2016 here
Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials will take place a week later than usual in 2017 (13-17 September), and will be held over five days instead of four.
Event Director Mandy Hervieu explains: “The date change is due to the fact that for many years three of the bigger international horse trials (Blair Castle, Burghley and Blenheim Palace) have been on consecutive weekends, which puts pressure on many of the events’ stakeholders, in addition to there being a very busy event programme at Blenheim Palace itself in the weeks before.
“It was therefore decided that falling back a week would allow exhibitors to restock their stands and visitors, volunteers, owners and competitors to recharge their batteries and enjoy this great ‘end of year party’ just that little bit more.”
The change to five days results from visitor, competitor and volunteer feedback from last year when Blenheim was asked to run the final of the Event Rider Masters series in addition to the long-established CCI3* and ever-popular CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses.
It made for an exceptionally tightly packed programme for competitors, visitors and Blenheim’s wonderful team of volunteers.
In 2017, CCI3* dressage will therefore take place on Wednesday and Thursday. See schedule below for full details.
Mandy Hervieu said: “Saturday will be a feast of cross-country, with both the CCI3* and the Event Rider Masters cross-country phases taking place. We are also planning some very exciting course changes and new fences, which will really freshen up Blenheim’s track.”
The box office opens for ticket sales on December 27th with an offer of 50% savings off Wednesday tickets, and early bird discounts for all bookings made in January.
Summary of Timetable: Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials 13th-17th September 2017
Wednesday 13th September
CCI3* dressage
Thursday 14th September
CCI3* and CIC3* 8/9yo dressage
Friday 15th September
CIC3* 8/9yo dressage and show jumping
Event Rider Masters CIC3* dressage
Saturday 16th September
CCI3* cross-country
Event Rider Masters CIC3* show jumping and cross-country
Sunday 17th September
CCI3* show jumping
CIC3* 8/9yo cross-country
