Stars on show at Hartpury Festival

It's just a matter of hours before the 2019 running of the Hartpury Festival of Dressage. The show hails the start of a summer of equestrian sport at Hartpury, followed just weeks later by the Showjumping Spectacular and NAF International Horse Trials.

The show will once again attract dressage superstars from around the world to compete in over 40 dressage and para-dressage including CDI3*, CEPDI3* and Premier League classes from 3-7 July. 

With competition for squad places for both the senior and para teams reaching fever pitch, the action promises to be as epic! Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Hayley Watson Greaves, Richard Davison, Lara Butler and Laura Tomlison all feature alongside some of Britain's best International riders.

In the Para International, Sir Lee Pearson, Julie Payne, Suzanna Hext, Erin Orford, Amanda Shirtcliffe, Izzy Palmer, Nicky Greenhill, Nicola Naylor, Charlotte Cundall and Sophie Wells lead the British charge. 

As well as the CDI3* with Big and Small Tour classes, there's the finale of the Premier League and the Shearwater Insurance Young Horse Championship semi-finals for four, five and six year olds - making for five of the busiest - and best - in the dressage calendar! 

A strong contingent of Hartpury students and graduates is also expected to take part once again, with Sarah Rao, Jessica Hickey, Tesla Whittaker, Lucy Pincus, Olivia Oakley and Hope Hayward already confirming their attendance.

This year, Saturday’s popular gala evening will be headlined by international dressage rider and former Dressage Personality of the Year, Anna Ross-Davies, who made her British team debut in Saumur back in 2007. The demonstration will form part of an entertaining evening that also includes the Grand Prix Freestyle and Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St. George Final.

The festival continues to grow year on year, regularly attracting Olympic and European champions. In 2016, the event was used as Team GBR’s preparation for the Rio Olympic Games and the 2019 running takes place just a year from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“Hartpury delivered a spectacular show for Great Britain team members to practice their Rio preparations in 2016. The footing is perfect, the stabling is fantastic, and the organisation and friendly atmosphere continue to make it one of the premier events in the country” says Carl Hester MBE, Olympic Champion.

Want to attend this year’s festival?

Entry to the festival on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 July is free for spectators. Entry on Friday 5, Saturday 6 (daytime) and Sunday 7 July costs £6 per person. Tickets for the Saturday Gala Evening cost £17 including admission to the festival for the entire day. A combined ticket is available for Friday – Sunday at a cost of £15. Tickets can be purchased here.

For those not able to attend this year’s festival, a livestream will broadcast the action from both arenas and live Twitter commentary will provide instant results and rider reaction on all five days. Don’t miss a brand-new daily podcast rounding up the day’s action and providing another chance to listen to rider interviews and views throughout the competition.

Sponsors of this year’s event include NAF, Baileys Horse Feeds, Hazlewoods, Freeflex, Kempley Catering, JS Teamwear, Sporting Hares, Classic Dressage and Equikro.

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