Gloucestershire’s Saskia Davies pulled off her first ever international victory today at Cornbury House Horse Trials (6-10 September 2023), winning CCI2*-S section G on her own 18-year-old Singing Usk.

Saskia, who finished on her dressage score of 26.1, said: “This little horse has done so much for me. The [cross-country] course was definitely a challenge and a lot of riding such different terrain – up and down – comes down to timing and so there were a few moments where I had to kick on, but he was absolutely fantastic and answered every question.”

Sam Jennings was second on Monbeg Iguassu, whom she owns with Lucy Cunliffe and Diana Osmond. Phoebe Locke took third with Lara Chapple’s Slaneyside Cooley.

The Netherlands’ Nina de Haas had an excellent day at Cornbury House, winning CCI2*-S section H on Martin and Kerry Richards’ JVK Maguire on an impressive score of 23.8. She also finished third in CCI2*-S section I with David Scholfield’s Ballylaffin Juno.

Nina was dropping eight-year-old JVK Maguire down a level for a confidence-giving run, and said: “He’s quite cheeky, but he’s so talented and I am happy that I can show it off this time. I really hope that to get him back out at three-star and at four-star in the future – he definitely has the ability.”

She is based with her compatriot Andrew Heffernan – who is the Dutch national coach as well as a championship team member himself – at Somerford Park in Cheshire. Andrew joined David Evans this year in designing the cross-country courses at Cornbury.

Nina said: “It’s been really good having him here to walk the course with me and to help me warm up. Cornbury is such a beautiful event and has a lovely atmosphere as well.”

Kaitlyn Freeman was second for New Zealand on Joe and Alex Giannmore’s Zazu, and Tom McEwen was third on Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Quality Time.

Another New Zealander, Jesse Campbell, celebrated his win on Wendy and Johnnie Watherston’s Gracie De La Rose in CCI2*-S section I by heading straight to the golf course afterwards.

Jesse has the seven-year-old Jaguar Mail mare since she was four – and she hasn’t always been easy.

“Gracie has been a bit of a project,” he explained. “She was started quite late as a four-year-old and was quite big and strong. It has taken a bit of managing and persuading to get her on-side and I feel like we are starting to get there. She internalises things a lot which maybe comes across as confidence, but then she’s actually a bit nervous and overthinks things a little. We have put in the work, so it’s nice to reap those rewards.”

Jesse was quick to praise course-designer David Evans: “The track is great. We always bring a lot of horses to Cornbury as we know that David Evans puts a huge amount of work into the ground, and it’s a fun course to ride as well.”

Gemma Stevens was second with the Rex Syndicate’s Cooley Park Muze.

Tomorrow (Saturday, 9 September) is time for The Howden Way Young Horse Championships to take centre stage. The current world champion Yasmin Ingham is in the lead after dressage in the seven-year-old finals on Janette Chinn and the Sue Davies Fund’s Gypsie Du Loir with a score of 21.9.

Kitty King is in pole position in the six-year-old championship with 22.7 aboard Kantango, owned by Penelope Holley, Joanna Jones, Jane Boggis and Jane Tolley.

And Gemma Gurvidi heads the five-year-old section on her own Nistel O (26.1).

All of the cross-country from Cornbury House Horse Trials is being livestreamed for free via the event website and also on Horse & Country TV. On Saturday cross-country starts at 8.30am.

For more information, to buy tickets and to watch the livestream, visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

The sun shone on everybody at Cornbury House Horse Trials today, but brightest on Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett. The Gloucestershire-based rider not only won CCI3*-S section A on the Ace of Spades Syndicate’s Calahari, but also took two of the three British Eventing Open Intermediate classes (on Dacapo and Sportsfield Freelance) as well.

Laura is riding 10-year-old Calahari while Irish eventer Aoife Clark recovers from a broken arm, and the pair finished on their dressage score of 23.2.

“I’d love to keep him for longer,” admitted Laura. “He’s been quite tricky to try to find the buttons for – he’s quite a nervy type of horse and he was unsettled by having a new rider. But it felt like here we understood each other from the get-go in all three phases. He’s an amazing galloper; he’s very ‘blood’ and that’s taken a bit of getting used to. He’s a really fun horse.”

Calahari’s end-of-season goal is the CCI4*-L at Blenheim next week, and Cornbury has provided the perfect preparation.

“The cross-country course here is really good, and I thought the changes this year made it flow nicely. It’s a galloping, attacking track, which was exactly what I wanted.”

Laura is also full of praise for the superb hospitality her owners are receiving here at Cornbury House Horse Trials.

“My owners have commented on how incredible it has been for them, which I personally think it’s the most important part of our sport. They have been blown away by the hospitality. At the end of the day we cannot do our sport without owners, so for David Howden [event president and founder] to provide something like this hopefully will make every other event up their game. I hope this will trickle back to other events and other organisers will follow suit.”

Laura’s three victories so far give her a fighting chance of winning Cornbury’s coveted Leading Rider Award – a cheque for £2,500 and a magnificent silver trophy.

Second in CCI3*-S section A was Douglas Edward, riding his own and Amanda Edwards’ Email De Jarsay, with a score of 29.6. Samantha Brown and Spirit LSS took third on 26.3.

Two Wills won CCI3*-S section B: Will Rawlin on his own and Miranda Rawlin’s Ballycoog Breaker Boy, whose stable name is William. They finished on their dressage score of 26.7 in hot conditions.

It wasn’t Will’s intention to push on for victory, but as he set off around the undulating track he felt the 11-year-old needed some positive riding.

Will said: “He started off just a bit spooky and a bit sticky and I thought we need to go up a gear or two and get into that rhythm. He is so big that he just eats up the ground effortlessly – he just skipped around it like it was nothing, which is always a nice feeling. He has an effortless gallop and I don’t need to do much setting up for the fences, which is where you can save a few seconds.”

Will is also planning on heading to Blenheim CCI-L 4*.

Second was Rose Nesbitt, who added nothing to her dressage score of 27.6 on the family-owned EG Michealangelo.Georgie Campbell finished third on Global Quest, owned by Lance and Diana Morrish, with a score of 28.8.

The remaining Open Intermediate section went to New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park, while Pippa Taylor won the Intermediate class on Tequila Sunrise.

Cornbury House Horse Trials continues until Sunday (10 September) with The Howden Way National Young Horse Championships, under-21 classes at CCI3*-S, CCI*-S and a Pony Trial under The Howden Way banner, CCI2*-S sections and more national intermediate classes. All the cross-country is being livestreamed for free via the event website and on Horse & Country TV.

Tickets for Cornbury House Horse Trials, which features far more than “just” the international horse sport, can be bought online via the website or on the gate. “Field Food” celebrates a wide variety of delicious, locally-produced food and drink, including from the Cornbury estate, while at the weekend “Wildings” is a shaded, interactive area full of children’s activities.

Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials to buy tickets, watch the livestream and for more information.

An exciting new addition to The Howden Way programme is announced today. A bespoke, Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme, will join the existing areas of The Howden Way, designed to give expert tuition and training to riders that take on former racehorses.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme will be run by British Eventing and sit alongside the existing areas of The Howden Way; The Howden Regional Training Academy, The Howden Talent Academy, The Howden Young Horse Academy and The Howden Way Young Horse Leagues.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme, within The Howden Way structure, will be specifically designed to assist riders from the initial point of taking on a horse leaving racing and transitioning to a riding horse. The programme will both encourage and assist those taking on a former racehorse by giving them the security of knowing they will have a comprehensive care programme wrapped around them. The programme will encompass everything that riders will need to know from both caring for ex-racehorses in terms of their nutrition, routine and welfare needs through to their ridden retraining. It will sit alongside the existing resource and guidance provided by Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).

Coaching will be delivered by British Eventing Level 3 and above coaches who have gone through the Thoroughbred Aftercare standardisation programme and further supported with knowledge sharing from experts within their chosen field.
Further details about the Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme and how riders can sign up to the programme will follow.

The world number one, the current world and European champions, Olympic gold medallists, competitors from 19 different nations, and nearly 1,000 horses – the stage is set for an eventing bonanza at Cornbury House Horse Trials (6-10 September).

Famous names such as Zara Tindall, William Fox-Pitt, Ros Canter, Tim and Jonelle Price, Andrew Hoy, Tom McEwen, Andrew Nicholson, Piggy March and Laura Collett are bringing horses to Cornbury ranging from the stars of their stables to their most promising young talent. Alongside these top professionals will be the best of the next generation, competing in the weekend’s under-21 and Pony classes under the banner of The Howden Way.

The Oxfordshire event, founded by David Howden at his home, Cornbury Park, in 2020, has quickly become a smash hit with riders and owners, who appreciate the exceptional efforts David and his team go to to provide the best possible conditions, courses and facilities – and prize-money..

Tom McEwen, individual silver and team gold medallist from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the inaugural winner of Cornbury’s Leading Rider Award (£2,500 and a magnificent silver perpetual trophy), said: “Cornbury is a fantastic event and gets better and better each year. It’s a great place for young horses to gain experience of the atmosphere of a top-class event, with its spectacular main arena and educational but imposing cross-country courses. And owners love it – it’s a very special place and I’m very much looking forward to the week.”

This year Cornbury hosts the prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for the first time. A year on from David Howden’s instigation of training and talent pathway system The Howden Way in partnership with British Eventing, several members of The Howden Way’s Young Horse Academy are entered in the seven-year-old championship: Zorro B (Lucy Sugden), Carpo Vivendi (Jack Pinkney) and Harthill Samba (Charlotte Rowe).

Alongside the equestrian sport at Cornbury House Horse Trials, new for 2023 is ‘Field Food’ – a celebration of local food and drink, including produce from the Cornbury estate, a range of interactive children’s activities (Wildings) across the weekend, excellent hospitality in partnership with The Pelican, W11 and sister pub, The Bull in neighbouring Charlbury and finally some post-event entertainment following the competition to create a woodland festival feel.

Cornbury House Horse Trials is possibly the only event now in the UK to provide a totally free livestream of all the cross-country action from Thursday, 7 September to Sunday, 10 September. This will be shown on the event’s website, cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

To buy tickets, see timetables of each competition and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has been announced as Cornbury House Horse Trials’ official charity for 2023. 

Enriching lives through horses, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) benefits the lives of over 17,000 disabled children and adults across the UK. Activities including riding and carriage driving. The charity provides therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement, all of which is supported by 13,000 amazing volunteers and qualified coaches at nearly 500 RDA centres all over the UK.

The RDA will have a range of activities taking place across the site at Cornbury House Horse Trials this year, which runs from 6-10 September, and the partnership is designed as both a fundraising and awareness-boosting opportunity for the RDA.

Spectators can find a designated RDA stand on Saturday 9-Sunday 10 September, featuring the local New Yatt RDA group along with the RDA’s riding simulator, a mechanical horse fondly known as Charley. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the motion of riding a horse. Adults and children are welcome and donations encouraged. 

Additionally, across the weekend, there will be some furry faces from Cotswold RDA visiting, showcasing the unique RDA nationwide initiative, Tea with a Pony. Tea with a Pony is a non-riding session that provides emotional wellbeing with notable therapeutic benefits. Meet some RDA ponies and find out about the benefits of Tea with a Pony and how you can become involved.

David Howden, Founder and President of Cornbury House Horse Trials said: “This is a very important and worthwhile charity which is close to my heart given my love of horses. I am very aware of the positive impact of horse therapy and the work that this charity and their team of volunteers do each year. We look forward to working with the RDA and their team to create a meaningful partnership which raises worthwhile funds.”

Lisa Davies, Head of Communications and Insight added: “RDA are delighted and proud to be a charity partner of Cornbury House Horse Trials and we look forward to introducing RDA to visitors at this prestigious event. Weekend visitors will be able to meet real RDA therapy ponies, or support our life changing work and ride mechanical dressage horse Charley! Local RDA Groups, New Yatt and Cotswold RDA, will be on hand to answer questions about our work providing opportunity, inclusion and fun for disabled people through equestrian activities. It looks set to be a fantastic event and we can’t wait!”

Established by David Howden at his home in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, in 2020, this event has taken the equestrian world by storm in just three years – and there are many innovations for 2023.

For the first time, Cornbury House Horse Trials (CHHT) will host the highly prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-olds. These will run alongside the well-established international classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level.

In keeping with David Howden’s passion for helping and promoting young talent, there will also be a new Pony Trial at 1.05m level. This means that CHHT 2023 has three classes for under-21 riders: the Youth Performance CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S sections, and a Pony Trial, all supported by The Howden Way, the development and coaching pathways set up by David Howden in conjunction with British Eventing.

Once again, CHHT’s prize-money will be the highest in the UK at each level, with a total prize-fund for the open sections of the CCI3*-S and seven-year-old championships in excess of £7,000. The five- and six-year-old championships, open sections of the CCI2*-S and under-21 CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S will have a prize-fund of more than £3,000 per class.

The Leading Rider throughout the event will receive a perpetual trophy and a cheque for £2,500.

There will also be British Eventing national intermediate and open intermediate classes.

The cross-country course, designed by David Evans, will have a new look for 2023 with a re-sited start and finish area, and there will be a new track at 1.05m for the five-year-old championship class and the Pony Trial. Dutch international event rider Andrew Heffernan is assisting David Evans and course-builder Adrian Ditcham in the production of CHHT’s courses and is responsible for designing the CCI3*-S track..

For the first time, the 2023 Cornbury House Horse Trials will offer competitors the chance to stable on-site in the high-quality Woodhouse barn-style stabling available at premium events such as Burghley. Stabling should be booked when entries are made.

David Howden said: “We have an incredibly exciting week to look forward to. I am absolutely delighted that Cornbury House is hosting the hugely important Young Horse Championships, as well as a full range of opportunities for our best young riders. Since Cornbury House Horse Trials inception in 2020, I have made no secret of the fact that I am passionate about supporting the best British-based talent and that we are utterly committed to helping the stars of our sport – present and future – to reach their goals.

“We have made considerable investments in the site once again this year, which I hope will be appreciated by riders, owners, grooms and supporters, as well as visitors.

“And, possibly most excitingly, this year’s event will also have the feel of a woodland festival. ‘Field Food’ will showcase the best local produce and Wildwood kids’ activities will involve immersive woodland crafts for children to enjoy over the weekend. 

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Phil Winser and his brilliant team at The Pelican in Notting Hill and now The Bull in Charlbury to create a superb new feasting style hospitality experience.

“Regenerative farming has been a huge passion of mine for 20 years now and our focus is on producing the best flavoured meat from traditional breeds raised here at Cornbury on slow-growing grass, where biodiversity and soil health are key to achieving this.” 

“It has long been my vision to merge the traditional world of eventing with sustainably sourced food and drink and working together we believe the newly created ‘Pelican in the Field’ will be a fantastic addition to this year’s event.”

Cornbury House Horse Trials (6-10 September) is delighted to announce an exciting partnership with The Pelican, All Saints Road, W11 to launch a new hospitality experience at the international horse trials introducing, ‘The Pelican in the Field.’

Re-defining the traditional hospitality experience, guests can expect a fantastic feasting style menu, set in a relaxed space overlooking the main show-jumping arena. On arrival, guests will be greeted by an Oyster station followed by The Pelican’s signature open-fire cooking style, using neighbouring Cornbury Farm meat as well as an array of delicious salads using  locally grown produce, with a cheese table and dessert options for later in the afternoon. 

The Pelican, located in the heart of Notting Hill is renowned for its interactive style of cooking and has also recently opened a sister pub, The Bull which is located next to the Cornbury Estate in the local town of Charlbury. 

Commenting on the new partnership, David Howden, Founder and President of Cornbury House Horse Trials said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Phil Winser and his brilliant team at The Pelican and now The Bull to create an exciting new experience here at Cornbury this year. 

“Regenerative farming has been a huge passion of mine for 20 years now and our focus is on producing the best flavoured meat from traditional breeds raised here at Cornbury on slow-growing grass, where biodiversity and soil health are key to achieving this.” 

“It has long been my vision to merge the traditional world of eventing with sustainably sourced food and drink and working together we believe the newly created ‘Pelican in the Field’ will be a fantastic addition to this year’s event.”

Phil Winser at The Pelican added: “We are really excited about this partnership with Cornbury House Horse Trials and to introduce a new interactive hospitality experience. With thanks to David Howden and his team, we will be cooking on open fires and offering Cornbury Farm raised meat for the best possible flavour. ”

Cornbury House Horse Trials takes place across five days in September in the heart of the Cotswolds. With its visually stunning backdrops of Cornbury House and the Wychwood Forest, this year’s event promises a boutique experience for attendees, where the world of traditional eventing collides with a woodland festival atmosphere. 

Away from the equestrian action and new for 2023, a celebration of all things food and drink with the introduction of “Field Food” offering a showcase of delicious locally-produced artisan options for attendees to enjoy. This will include a range of offerings from local farms along with local beers, ales and cocktails to enjoy from the new on-site public bar, the aptly named “Wychwood Inn”.

Immersive woodland kids activities will be on offer over the weekend (9-10 September) along with some ‘apres’ style entertainment featuring live music after the competition has finished.  

Tickets for ‘The Pelican in the Field’ are available to purchase for £125pp and includes admission to the Horse Trials.

Introducing ‘Wildings’ at Cornbury House Horse Trials. An action-packed dedicated space for kids and families to get involved with a range of FREE interactive activities over Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September 2023. 

Taking inspiration from the nearby Wychwood Forest, the main centrepiece will be the Cornbury Wishing Tree, which is woven from willow by Willow Pool. Children will be learning about and making leaves to decorate it throughout the weekend based on the trees found in the forest along with items found on the woodland floor. 

As part of the Willow Pool programme of activities, children and parents will also be able to take part in their willow weaving workshops and for those wanting to get their hands dirty, we’ve got it covered with some clay animal making (washing facilities provided). 

Finally, don’t miss the Junk Trunk, one mighty colourful and sustainable craft workshop. Whether it’s creating your own fancy headwear, making jewellery, wands or flags, there is something to suit all ages and of course there will be a nod to Cornbury House Horse Trials with some horsey headwear!  

A dedicated team will be on hand to help with those imaginative creations and even better, all the activities are Free to enjoy. 

The full list of kids activities as follows: 

• Willow weaving
• Leaf making to decorate the Cornbury Wishing Tree
• Clay animal making 
• Junk Trunk craft workshop 

Please note the Wildwood Kids Zone will operate across the weekend of 9-10 September only. Kids 12 and Under are Free to attend Cornbury House Horse Trials which runs from 6-10 September. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk 

The Oxfordshire event, which takes place in the beautiful parkland surrounding Cornbury House outside Charlbury, is stepping up a gear – or two – this year. 

For the first time, Cornbury is hosting the highly prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses. This is in addition to The Howden Way National Youth Championships for under-21 riders, international FEI classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level along with the national intermediate competitions.

Since its inception in 2020, event founder David Howden has been determined to give horses and riders every possible chance to produce their best performances, and has invested significantly in the conditions and infrastructure at Cornbury to allow this. This year, a second main arena in the heart of the site has been created out of the undulating parkland, and the cross-country courses have been altered to provide an improved start and finish point.

Away from the equestrian action and new for 2023, a celebration of all things food and drink will be a key part of the event with the introduction of “Field Food” offering a showcase of delicious locally-produced artisan options for attendees to enjoy. This will include open Asados (Argentinian barbecue food), a range of offerings from local farms including Cornbury and Bruern, along with delicious homemade ice-cream from the cows down the road at The Dairy, Honeysuckle Farm. There will also be a selection of local ales to enjoy including the popular Hawkstone Lager from the our on site public bar, the aptly named ‘Wychwood Inn.’ 

On the Saturday and Sunday of the event (9-10 September), families with young children can enjoy immersive ‘Wildwood Crafts’ throughout the afternoon with children 12 and under attending for free. To round the event off, there will be ‘apres’ style evening entertainment once the equestrian action has finished for the day on Friday, 8 September and Saturday, 9 September with live music and much more. 

David Howden said: “I am very excited about the way in which we are developing Cornbury House Horse Trials. My passions for horses, promoting youth, Cornbury and the local area are being united to produce a wonderful celebration of all those elements and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. 

“We have been working hard to re-establish the horse trials and are now looking forward to taking it to the next level. I look  forward to welcoming everyone to our fourth year and creating a modern take on this equestrian tradition while giving our athletes, horses, owners and partners a fantastic time.”

With its visually stunning backdrops of Cornbury House and the Wychwood Forest, thrilling sport and high-class family-friendly entertainment, Cornbury House Horse Trials promises a wonderful afternoon for all. 

Tickets – Coming Soon

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce completed on a score of 26.5 to take Section A of the CCI3*-S at Cornbury House Horse Trials over the weekend. This is the second CCI3*-S title this season for the gelding owned by Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry.

Section B of the CCI3*-S went to Georgie Goss and Feloupe owned by Nicky Cooper, Suzanne Doggett and Lucy Fleming; they completed on a score of 32.8.

Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall owned by Jane Timmis took the top spot in CCI3*-S Section C with a total score of 30.9.

The CCI-S Y3* went to Millie Juleff with her own and Darren Juleff’s All We Need. They completed on their dressage score of 27.5

Charlotte Bull becomes National Junior Champion

The Howden Way National Junior Championships for under-18 riders, run at CCI2*-S level, also took place at Cornbury House Horse Trials.  The title went to Charlotte Bull and Jesse Campbell’s Amsterdam 21, who added just 0.8-time penalties to their dressage score to finish on a total of 29.1. Less than a mark behind them on a score of 30 was Livvy Dorman with Dyablo owned by Patricia Laws; and Holly Clarke took third with Alex Clarke’s Nico.

Full results

For full results from all the classes that took place at the 2022 Cornbury House Horse Trials, visit British Eventing  here.