Riders will find a thriving selection of horse shows in Wiltshire, with some fantastic horse show venues located in this part of the country. Equine events in Wiltshire attract some of the country’s best riders, as well as grass roots competitors. Whatever your ability or discipline, there’ll be a show or competition for you.
Horse show venues in Wiltshire
If you’re looking to enter some events near you in Wiltshire then why not see what Buryhill Competition Centre has to offer?
Barbury International Horse Trials is held in July on the Barbury Castle estate, across 200 acres of beautiful rolling downland near Marlborough. The cross-country course was designed by Captain Mark Philips and built by the renowned Willis brothers, and the CIC3*** event draws huge international names. There’s also a two-star and novice course, giving a range of riders the chance to participate in this exciting event.
West Wilts Equestrian Centre, in Holt, Wiltshire, is one of Wiltshire’s premier equestrian centres. It has a 72×30.5 sand and clopf fibre indoor arena with a heated viewing platform and sponsors’ room, and two large outdoor arenas, and offers a full programme of competitions to grass roots riders in the south west. Affiliated and unaffiliated dressage and showjumping, BE events, combined training, hunter trials and unaffiliated ODEs are among the events it regularly hosts, as well as training and clinics.
Run by Victor Sidford, Lucinda Stokes and Kerrie Farmer, Downlands Equestrian, in Warminster, claims to have ‘one of the finest cross-country courses in the south of England.’ The centrepiece of the course is its massive water complex, but there’s also a wide range of fences starting at 2ft though to 3’9” with a mixture of banks, steps, ditches, corners, skinnies and some very sensible basic fences to gain both rider and horse’s confidence.
Downlands sponsors William Fox-Pitt, who says: “Downlands is able to offer precisely what I look for in a schooling ground – the cross-country fences are designed to give confidence to horses and the clever progression of small to larger fences are ideal. The water complex is outstanding. The all-weather landings and take-offs mean that I can safely work the horses in almost all conditions. The addition of the early spring course has meant that my youngsters are able to get good schooling early in the season, even the more experienced enjoyed a “pop” in preparation for the season. The outdoor arena has proved a bonus too as I often choose to showjump as well as cross-country school my horses during my visits. Lucinda, Kerrie and Victor’s enthusiasm and vision for the future is great and I am delighted to have such good quality facilities to do much of my groundwork and training.”
Other facilities at the centre include a 39×28 indoor school and huge 60×35 outdoor school with full set of showjumps. Downlands offers events including showjumping and dressage as well as one-day events.
Do you have a show centre in Wiltshire that you would like to be included on this page? Contact us at equo.events@timeinc.com