The first ever horse trials at Cornbury - known as Cornbury Park Horse Trials - took place in 1993 and was an annual event until 2000. It was a very popular preparation event, first for Badminton Horse Trials, and then when it moved dates from spring to late summer, for Burghley Horse Trials - the UK’s two CCI5 (top level) eventing competitions. But it had been lost from the equestrian calendar for some time before David Howden and his family moved to Cornbury in December 2017. David explained: 'When we came to Cornbury, an old friend, Luis Munoz-Rojas Entrecanales, who breeds horses in Spain, sent me a wonderful video clip of Cornbury Park Horse Trials, and said, ‘David, now you are at Cornbury, you’ve got to do the decent thing…’ I had no idea there had been a horse trials at Cornbury. Luis had been my business partner for many years, and Richard Clapham, whose family has been deeply involved in eventing for many years, runs one of our subsidiary companies. Those things, combined with my sister and my children’s passion for horses and eventing, meant that an idea was sparked, and Cornbury House Horse Trials came into being against all the odds, really, in the Covid year of 2020.'
Mike Etherington-Smith, one of the most famous and experienced cross-country course-designers in the world, was responsible for the cross-country track in the 1990s at Cornbury Park Horse Trials, said: 'Cornbury has glorious unspoilt parkland that isn’t open to the public. All the riders came – it was like a ‘Who’s Who’ of eventing with a great atmosphere, and it’s a pleasure to see it return.' Mike has featured on the commentary team at Cornbury’s new incarnation. David Evans, who built the fences themselves when Mike was the course-designer, has now taken over from his old mentor as Cornbury House Horse Trials’ cross-country designer. David, who lives in Oxfordshire, was the course-builder at the 2008 and 2021 Olympics, and works at many of the world’s top events.
Cornbury now hosts the very prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses, and in 2023 Wiltshire-based Kitty King won the six-year-old championship on Kantango.
Kitty’s childhood ambition was to ride in the advanced class at Cornbury Park Horse Trials. The event stopped before she got the chance, but she has happy memories of doing junior classes there.
'I did my first ever Pony Club open class at Cornbury, which ran over the novice track, I won the JRN there and remember watching my cousin Holly Griffiths do the young rider advanced trial,' she says. 'It was quite an eye-opener – the course seemed massive and it felt really special being able to compete there. It had a real ‘three-day’ feel and the courses were challenging and well-presented. It has been so fantastic to have the ‘new version’ of Cornbury, which has set a new standard in what it offers, I think. My owners all absolutely love it - they are looked after so well - and it has a really special feel and atmosphere to it.'
Kitty, who won individual silver and team gold for Britain at the senior European Championships last year and who has hopes of an Olympic team place this summer, also praises Cornbury for innovations such as the £2,500 Leading Rider prize. 'Our sport is not an easy one for professional athletes to make a proper living from, and Cornbury’s generosity with its prize-money and its Leading Rider prize are much appreciated,' she says.
This year celebrates the fifth renewal of the five-day international event that is Cornbury House Horse Trials. It is the ideal setting to watch some of the finest young horses and riders in the country competing in dressage, cross-country and showjumping. Each discipline tests different skills of horse and rider, making for a varied and engaging spectator experience. The cross-country course is known for its challenging fences and beautiful design and draws significant attention.
The event attracts elite riders and horses from around the world and features various levels of international and national competition, allowing spectators to witness both up and coming talent and seasoned professionals.
Away from the world-class sport, this unique event is not just for horse enthusiasts but also food lovers and families of all ages, with various attractions such as stalls showcasing locally-produced food, carefully curated shopping areas and entertainment for children, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere.
Cornbury House Horse Trials prides itself on offering a celebration of local food and drink with a new ‘From the Farm’ offering, as the estate brings together the best of its neighbours with Cornbury Farm, Bruern Farm and Honeydale Farm all featuring the best of their produce to offer visitors. The event is particularly excited about its ongoing partnership with The Bull in Charlbury, which will be delivering the food offering in the VIP hospitality marquee across the week. Last year the team from The Bull produced pure ‘food theatre’, which also featured Cornbury Longhorn Beef.
Cornbury House is proud to be partnering with Pol Roger, who celebrate their 175th anniversary this year, along with Clarence Court, Mirabeau, Pragnell, Volare Aviation and Fortnum & Mason to help execute this special event. The charity this year will be the British Eventing Support Trust, which supports the physical and mental health of British Eventing members and associates.
Cornbury Horse Trials takes place from 11–15 September. Tickets are now on sale and start at just £5. Parking is free and included with your ticket price and children 12 and under get in for free with a paying adult.
For further information on the event and to book tickets, please visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk
