Posted: 14th June 2019 | Back to news feed
Hartpury’s fabulous Festival of Dressage launches a summer of equestrian sport with five days of world-class competition. With just four weeks to go, preparations are well underway for the 2019 running of the 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.
Gary Partridge
The show will once again attract dressage superstars from around the world to compete in over 40 dressage and para-dressage classes from 3-7 July. 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 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 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.
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, Hazlewoods, Freeflex (Shadow Horse), Kempley Catering, JS Teamwear, Sporting Hares, Classic Dressage and Equikro.
Stay up to date with all the latest news by following the Hartpury Festival of Dressage on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The Equestrian Index newsfeed is compiled from articles submitted by advertising members and expresses the opinions of those members. Watsons Directories Ltd shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies or mis-statements therein.