Photo: ©ROLEX/KIT HOUGHTON
We’ve only just recovered from Badminton, but are already gearing up for another great week of equestrian sport at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Top 10 ten showjumpers
Now in it’s 75th year the show features five-star showjumping, four-star dressage and driving, and two-star endurance.
Six of the world’s top 10 ten showjumpers will be taking to the Castle Arena, including world number one Kent Farrington, who is hoping to return from injury to defend his title in the Rolex Grand Prix.
This year there is a whopping €300,000 up for grabs, so it’s going to be a thrilling class – and you can watch highlights right here on Horse & Country.
There will also be all your favourite British riders to get behind, including Olympic gold medalists Scott Brash and Ben Maher, father and son John and Robert Whitaker, William Funnell and Britain’s leading lady rider Laura Renwick.
Dressage divas
Dressage fans won’t be disappointed either, as both Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin are competing. Carl has dominated dressage at Royal Windsor in recent years and he won both the Freestyle and Grand Prix with Barolo in 2017.
This year Carl will be riding Hawtins Delicato, who recently made his National Grand Prix debut – but he faces stiff competition from his dressage ‘wife’.
Charlotte will be riding Mount St John Freestyle, who has been dubbed ‘Mrs Valegro’.
Highlights on H&C
Both horses are hopefuls for the FEI World Equestrian Games later this year, and Windsor is an excellent platform to showcase their abilities in front of international judges.
Other names to look out for include Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite who are fresh from the World Cup Finals, four-time British Olympian Richard Davison and Bubblingh, who won the Grand Prix and Freestyle in Roosendaal at the end of last year, and Gareth Hughes with Don Carissimo.
Horse & Country are showing highlights of the Grand Prix and the Freestyle, so you can watch all your favourites in action.
‘Best shows in the world’
Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “The calibre of entries at this year’s show is second to none, demonstrating the ever-increasing international prestige of the event and cementing its status amongst the best shows in the world.
“We’re honoured to welcome some of the world’s finest horses and riders and are looking forward to watching the world-class action unfold.”
You can watch all the action on Horse & Country as we are showing highlights of the following classes:
Royal Windsor 2018: GP Freestyle Saturday 19 May at 7pm
Royal Windsor 2018: Bahrain King’s Cup Saturday 19 May at 8pm
Royal Windsor 2018: Rolex GP Sunday 20 May 7pm
Royal Windsor 2018: Bahrain Pearl Stakes on Tuesday 22 May 8pm
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