Former racehorses who started their careers in the hands of some of the best-known trainers in Britain and Ireland are among the entries for the inaugural £50,000 Arena Racing Company (ARC) Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup at Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September) in Oxfordshire. 

They have now been retrained for the sport of eventing by the likes of William Fox-Pitt, Bubby Upton, Piggy March, Izzy Taylor and Oliver Townend, along with a host of passionate amateur riders. All 49 will be determined to capture the unprecedented first prize of £45,000.

This new class, designed to promote and showcase the suitability of ex-racehorses for eventing, is the brainchild of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, a prominent owner of both racehorses and event horses, as well as the stallion Golden Horn. It has the support of Arena Racing Company, and is hosted by David Howden, who shares Jayne’s love of both sports, at Cornbury House Horse Trials.

Jayne said: “To see such a full entry list fills me with joy. David and Fiona Howden have my eternal gratitude for providing one of the most beautiful event venues in the UK and doing all the hard work of bringing this class to reality as part of the fantastic Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme [TAP]  they created.”

Jayne has a horse competing in the ARC-sponsored Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup – Our Old Fella, who ran once on the Flat when trained by Mark Loughane, but a star in his second career with Piggy March, who will ride him at Cornbury. Jayne also has a connection with the Mike Jackson-ridden Bhodi; she owned the Dark Angel son, who ran 10 times on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute and then Kevin Frost, when he was in training and later sold him to current owner Emily Oppenheimer for eventing.

Piggy March said: “This is such a fantastic new class – a really exciting addition to the calendar with a very generous first prize. We are so grateful to David Howden, Jayne McGivern and ARC for this initiative, and for recognising and encouraging the undeniable talent former racehorses have for eventing. These horses have stamina, speed, ability and great temperaments and this should be a super class to watch at Cornbury.”

Bubby Upton is riding Enhanced, bred and owned by Jeff and Phoebe Hobby of Brightwalton Bloodstock. He ran for Hughie Morrison on the Flat before being retrained by Phoebe and her son Henry. The latter started the son of New Approach’s eventing career before handing the reins to Bubby Upton, who won with him on the pair’s most recent start at Frickley Park.

Among the favourites to win the £45,000 first prize will be local Oxfordshire rider Izzy Taylor, who has had excellent form at CCI3* level this season on Bayaanaat, also by New Approach. The nine-year-old ran on the Flat before switching to Oliver Sherwood to go hurdling, and started eventing with Izzy in 2022.

William Fox-Pitt, whose career highlights include a record six Burghley victories, has Hussard Brun, who ran in National Hunt bumpers for Richard Hobson, entered, while nine-times CCI5* winner Oliver Townend will be aboard former point-to-pointer Brookfield Carnivan.

One of the entries with the most success on the racetrack is Soupy Soups, who earned £90,702 during his racing career while in training with Neil Mulholland. The 14-year-old Stowaway gelding ran 40 times and has since gone on to thrive in his second career as an event horse with Francesca Bishop. 

Another to note is the Australian-bred Sparky Lad, who accumulated £29.015 over his 13 runs for trainer Chris Waller. This 10-year-old is now ridden by New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and has recorded notable results at advanced level. 

Travelling over from Ireland for Cornbury is Cold War, formerly in training with Henry De Bromhead. The nine-year-old by Declaration Of War is now ridden by Orlagh Halliday, and the duo won the Cornbury Thoroughbred Pathway class this year at The Clare Horse Trials in Co Armagh.

As well as superb equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities over the weekend of 13-14 September, all in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park. There’s no doubt that Cornbury House Horse Trials promises a fantastic day out for families, as well as riders, owners, guests and spectators.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of one of the most anticipated equestrian events in the country. Tickets start from just £10, and children 12 and under attend for FREE. Book your tickets today and join us for an unforgettable day for the whole family at Cornbury House Horse Trials.

All the cross-country action from Cornbury House Horse Trials will be shown live on Horse & Country TV’s streaming platform H&C+.

To buy tickets, see timetables of each class and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

An exceptional amount of very high-quality entries for Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September) means that nearly 1,000 horses will compete at the popular Oxfordshire event.

Among these are former world champion Zara Tindall, Olympic gold medallists Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Oliver Townend, international stars such as Tim Price (NZL), Austin O’Connor (IRL) and Alex Hua Tian (CHN), and leading British riders Harry Meade, Kitty King, Emily King and William Fox-Pitt.

Cornbury House Horse Trials was founded by David Howden and his family in 2020, and immediately became one of the highlights of the eventing season for riders, owners, grooms, sponsors and spectators. It offers outstanding levels of prize-money – including the much-coveted £2,500 Leading Rider trophy, the best possible conditions for riders and horses to perform at their best, and top-class hospitality.

The event is famous for its focus on young talent: it hosts the British Eventing Young Horse Championships, as well as Youth Championship classes for under-21 riders, all of which are supported by The Howden Way. Britain’s best five-, six- and seven-year-old horses go head to head in Cornbury’s unique atmosphere, giving them invaluable experience for future championships and CCI5*s, and Pony riders, Juniors and Young Riders make Cornbury House their ultimate end-of-season goal for the same reasons.

New for 2025 is the ARC Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup with its unparalleled £45,000 first prize. The brainchild of racehorse and event horse owner Jayne McGivern, more details on the entries for this new class will be made available shortly.

David Howden said: “It is so exciting that, once again, we have received so many entries of such a high quality and that Cornbury House Horse Trials is being so well supported by riders and owners. The success of this still-young event can be seen in that support, and also by the incredible portfolio of sponsors, many of whom have had no involvement with eventing before, who are keen to be part of this amazing extravaganza of sport, socialising, shopping, local food and drink and simple enjoyment of the beauty of the British countryside.

“I can’t wait to show everyone what we have in store for them at Cornbury House 2025 – see you all there!”

As well as superb equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities over the weekend of 13-14 September, all in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park. There’s no doubt that Cornbury House Horse Trials promises a fantastic day out for families, as well as riders, owners, guests and spectators.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of one of the most anticipated equestrian events in the country. Tickets start from just £10, and children 12 and under attend for FREE. Book your tickets today and join us for an unforgettable day for the whole family at Cornbury House Horse Trials.

All the cross-country action from Cornbury House Horse Trials will be shown live on Horse & Country TV’s streaming platform H&C+..

To buy tickets, see timetables of each class and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

The British Eventing Support Trust is inviting eventing fans and supporters to join them for a Welcome Party at this year’s Cornbury House Horse Trials. The welcome event will take place on Thursday 11th September at The Wychwood Inn, right in the heart of the action at Cornbury House Horse Trials, from 7:00pm.

Attendees can look forward to a special evening of entertainment with food, fun and fundraising all in aid of the charity’s work supporting British Eventing competing members wellbeing. For just £20, guests will receive a paella (with a vegetarian option available) and drink of their choice thanks to the Cornbury partners, including: a glass of Mirabeau Rosé, bottle of Hawkstone Lager, a Lost Explorer Margarita or an elderflower pressé.

The evening’s entertainment includes a live recording of The Eventing Weekly Podcast, hosted by Saffron Cresswell and featuring special guests, plus plenty of time to rub shoulders with well-known faces from the eventing community.

All the money raised from the evening will help the British Eventing Support Trust continue their crucial work, offering physical support, mental health support, expert guidance and in some cases financial support.

“This is the perfect way to start the weekend at Cornbury House Horse Trials, enjoying some delicious food, great company and the chance to help us raise funds that will make a real difference to event riders,” said British Eventing Support Trust chair of trustees Ian Stark. “We hope that lots of our supporters are able to join us to raise money and enjoy the atmosphere”.

David Howden, Founder and President of Cornbury House Horse Trials added: “We are delighted to be supporting this incredibly worthwhile charity for the second year. The work the BE Support Trust team do to support event riders wellbeing could not be more valuable, and we are really looking forward to kicking off Cornbury with an evening of entertainment and excellent food and drink thanks to our brilliant partners.”

Mitch and Brayden of The Eventing Weekly Podcast said: “BE Support Trust is a cause close to our hearts – our wives and many of our friends are eventers, and our podcast exists to celebrate and connect this amazing community. If sharing a few laughs and stories over a couple of beers helps raise funds and awareness, we’re all in.”

Tickets are available to purchase now, visit: https://ticketpass.org/event/ETZGUX/thursday-evening-welcome-party-at-cornbury-house-horse-trials.

Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September) and Jayne McGivern are delighted to announce that Arena Racing Company (ARC) will sponsor the new £50,000 Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup at the Oxfordshire event in a five-year deal. 

This new class, with its £45,000 first prize – a reward unprecedented in the sport at British Eventing Novice level – is a joint initiative between the Howden family’s Cornbury House Horse Trials and Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud. It is designed to encourage and promote second careers in eventing for racehorses who have come off the track and those thoroughbreds who didn’t make it to the racetrack.

Jayne McGivern, who stands Derby winner Golden Horn at Overbury Stud and who owns event horses with leading British rider Piggy March, said: “It is really heartwarming to see such a major player in the horseracing world leaning in to the issue of racehorse welfare so positively. I am so grateful to them for their belief and support for the concept. I have long tried to launch this class, and without the wonderful team at Cornbury House providing the most beautiful venue and ARC stepping in to sponsor, the next five years of showing the athletic brilliance of ex racehorses, ridden by the best riders, would not have been possible.”

Martin Cruddace, CEO of ARC, said: “David Howden, Jayne McGivern and the team at Cornbury House Horse Trials should be congratulated for their excellent work in establishing this new class, which we are delighted to support. Cornbury House Horse Trials takes place at the same time of one of our biggest fixtures, the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster, which will offer us an excellent opportunity to promote the achievements of those competing in the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup to the racing public, alongside the more general opportunities in eventing available to thoroughbred racehorses as a second career.”

David Howden, founder and president of Cornbury House Horse Trials, added: “It is wonderful to see one of racing’s major racecourse owners getting behind this class, which we are thrilled to be launching at Cornbury this year. A brilliant concept from Jayne McGivern now has committed longevity for the next five years and is exactly where we want to be going to promote the versatility of the thoroughbred and second careers after racing, which sits alongside our own Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP).” 

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup will run alongside the British Eventing Young Horse National Championships, supported by The Howden Way, Cornbury House Horse Trials’ immensely popular under-21 classes at Young Rider, Junior and Pony level, open CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S sections and national intermediate classes.

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup winner will take home a £45,000 first prize along with a George III silver perpetual trophy, and each year the successful owner will receive the silver-plated horse shoe of a Derby winner – the first of which, for 2025, will be that of Golden Horn, who took the world’s premier Classic race in 2015.

As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders alongside young up-and-coming talent, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is unique in its offering with a focus on local, sustainable food and drink from its neighbouring farms playing a huge part, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park. 

Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information about the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup, all of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ classes, the 2025 timetable and to buy tickets.

As Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September) approaches its sixth anniversary, the Oxfordshire event provided further proof of its position in the front ranks of the British equestrian scene with the official launch last Friday (4 July) of the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup.

This new class, with its £45,000 first prize – a reward unprecedented in the sport at British Eventing Novice level – is a joint initiative between the Howden family’s Cornbury House Horse Trials and Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud. It is designed to encourage and promote second careers in eventing of racehorses who have come off the track and those thoroughbreds who didn’t make it to the racecourse.

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup will run alongside the British Eventing Young Horse National Championships, supported by The Howden Way, Cornbury House Horse Trials’ immensely popular under-21 classes at Young Rider, Junior and Pony level, open CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S sections and national intermediate classes.

Jayne McGivern, who stands the brilliant Derby winner Golden Horn at Dash Grange Stud, said: “I have been trying to launch this class for more than four years, so words cannot describe how thankful and delighted I am that Cornbury House Horse Trials is as invested in creating value for ex-racehorses as I am. Thoroughbreds are especially suited to high-level eventing, being fast, athletic, intelligent and brave. I can’t wait for the best riders in the UK to showcase the skills of these fantastic horses to the world.”

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup winner will be awarded a George III silver perpetual trophy, and each year the successful owner will receive the silver-plated horse shoe of a Derby winner – the first of which, for 2025, will be that of Golden Horn, who took the world’s premier Classic race in 2015.

The special guest at Cornbury House on Friday was Bhodi – a former Flat racehorse who is now being aimed at the inaugural 2025 Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup. Bhodi, a Niarchos-bred son of Dark Angel out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, was owned by Jayne McGivern and ran 10 times on the Flat when trained by Sir Michael Stoute and then Kevin Frost. Top British event rider Piggy March took Bhodi on when he was four and retrained him for eventing, and the pair won a Novice class at Cornbury House Horse Trials in 2022. He was then bought by current owner Emily Oppenheimer, who evented him successfully for fun before passing on the ride to Gloucestershire-based professional rider Mike Jackson, who has moved the sweet-natured 10-year-old up to Intermediate level this season.

Piggy, who was delighted to meet up with her former charge at Cornbury House last week, said: “I had Bhodi straight out of training, and he took to eventing and to a new way of life like a duck to water. He is very intelligent; a clever horse who had seen the world before and was always a pleasure to work with. 

“I’ve had two racehorses for Jayne, who has been a great supporter of mine over the years, and both have been very successful as eventers. One is Bhodi, and the other is Our Old Fella, known as ‘Polo’, who went up to CCI3* level with me. Polo is a little bouncy ball of a fun, athletic chap who has now gone on to give [former Grand National and Gold Cup-winning jockey] Mick Fitzgerald’s son Oscar a real leg up in his career as an event rider. Oscar is the new junior national champion, and I’d like to think that Polo has given him a lot of fun and experience.”

She continued: “The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup is being held at Novice level, which is achievable for a lot of people, and it is so exciting to have the chance to aim at an incredible prize like this. It will be great to see more people appreciate the aptitude that thoroughbreds naturally have for eventing and make this class a real target. 

“The great thing about Jayne is that she is passionate about her racing, but she does everything for the love of horses and for the sport. The same is true of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ founder and president David Howden; they, and more and more people in racing are determined that their horses should have happy lives after their racing careers, whether that is in other equestrian sports, as pets or in retirement. Thoroughbreds love to run, they love to jump, they love to be busy and to have jobs, and eventing can be the perfect second careers for them.”

Mike Jackson added: “Bhodi is a joy to deal with and comes out every day with his ears pricked. Thoroughbreds are built for speed, which is obviously important for eventing, and they are very intelligent. For generations they have been bred to thrive in a variety of different circumstances and big atmospheres. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP), which David Howden launched last winter, and this amazing class at Cornbury are a  great way of opening a door to second careers for racehorses and helping and supporting them towards and through that.”

As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders alongside young up-and-coming talent, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is unique in its offering with a focus on local, sustainable food and drink from its neighbouring farms playing a huge part, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.

IMPORTANT – Before you enter Cornbury House Horse Trials Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup class you need to apply for a Ticket so that we can check that your horse is an eligible TB.  Please go to www.eventingcheck.co.uk to apply.

• The Cornbury Racehorses Eventing Challenge will be run at British Eventing Open Novice level but using an FEI CCI2*-S dressage test in a long arena and with the showjumping phase last and in reverse order. The aim for subsequent years will be to run the class at British Eventing Intermediate level.
• Horses must have achieved two Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) at novice or above in the current season (2025 and by the point of entry.)
• The class is open to all grades of horses.
• Riders will be restricted to two entries each, and horses do not need to have raced or to have been in training but must be registered with Weatherbys or the appropriate thoroughbred studbook of their country of origin.
• The schedule for the class is as follows with timings to be confirmed:
  • Thursday 11 – Dressage
  • Friday 12 – Cross-country
  • Saturday 13 – Showjumping
• Entries for all classes open on 11 August 2025. In the event that the class is oversubscribed, there will be a ballot.
• For any further enquiries, please email enquiries@cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk

British eventing has so far enjoyed an uninterrupted spring, blessed with good weather, and the human and equine heroes of last year’s Cornbury House International Horse Trials have blossomed.

The Howden Way Youth classes at Cornbury House are every under-21 rider’s end-of-season destination, and rising star Oscar Fitzgerald, 17, followed up his 2024 Cornbury House CCI2*-J victory on Super Cillious with a win in the CCI2*-S at Osberton recently.

“He was a superstar from start to finish,” said Oscar. “He jumped two really nice rounds. The ground was perfect, so he had a nice competitive run, which was brilliant. Hopefully we’ll now head to Belsay for the Junior Championships.”

Anna Price, 20, and Blakeney Surprise, winners of the 2024 CCI3*-YR at Cornbury House, has had a good beginning to the season with placings in the under-21 Open Intermediates at Barbury, Burnham Market and Thoresby, and the pair successfully completed their first Advanced class at Cirencester recently. 

The 2024 Cornbury House Pony Trial victors, Maisie Greening and Kilnaspic Lily, have made a strong start with victory at Epworth and Forgandenny and third place in the CCIP2*-S at Osberton behind Florence Drewitt and Alice Fraser.

The Howden Way Power Average Leagues for March and April have been published, and two of the 2024 Cornbury House winners top their respective age groups.

Barrington Boy, ridden by Izzy Taylor, won the British Eventing Young Horse Championships for six-year-olds at Cornbury House in 2024, and are going from strength to strength in 2025. Their seven-year-old Power Average is currently an outstanding 27.1. They recently took second place in the CCI2*-L at Ballindenisk in Ireland, and since then have also won the seven-year-old class at Tweseldown.

“Barrington Boy is a hugely exciting horse with a brilliant record — one that has been in the Barrington Sport Horses team since he was a foal, so is a great testament to them,” said Izzy.

Earl Dorado and Max Warburton – five-year-old champions at Cornbury House last year – top The Howden Way Power Averages for six-year-olds.

It’s not just the 2024 Cornbury House champions who have made excellent starts to 2025; those who made the top-10 in each class are looking good.

Mike Jackson and Oscar, eighth in the Cornbury House five-year-old final, won their first start of the season, the six-year-old novice class at Cirencester Park. They were both four- and five-year-old Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse champions, and are definitely ones to watch.

Poynstown Venture, third in last year’s five-year-old championships, made a winning debut at Oasby at the start of the season in a novice section with Imogen Murray.

And second to Barrington Boy and Izzy at Cornbury House in the national six-year-old championships were Bubby Upton and Sancerre De Tiji. The pair took the seven-year-old class at Kelsall Hill on their intermediate debut in April. Guinduno, third with Bubby at Cornbury House 2024, won his first two outings – at Poplar Park and Horseheath – this spring.

Kinda Corvette, on whom Dani Evans was seventh in the seven-year-old championships at Cornbury House, has been sold to reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham, and the pair took the CCI3*-S at Kelsall Hill recently.

Come and celebrate the very best the Cotswolds has to offer at Cornbury House Horse Trials, Oxfordshire (10-14 September) – tickets are now on sale and start at just £10.

At the heart of Cornbury House Horse Trials is world-class equestrianism, featuring Britain’s best-known event riders and horses and the rising stars of this thrilling sport on their paths to future glory, in a bewitchingly beautiful setting.

But the sport itself is just part of an exceptional day out. Visitors can enjoy:

• Exquisite hospitality – the Endless Lunch at Cornbury by Mirabeau was an outstanding success last year, and this feast of delicious food and wine overlooking the main arena returns at the incredible price of £75 per adult, including event entrance

• Browsing the hand-picked, curated selection of independent retailers that comprise the Cornbury Village

• Sampling exceptional, locally sourced food and drink at our “From the Farm” initiative, which will bring together some of the region’s finest producers, including Cornbury Farm, Bruern Farm and Honeydale Farm

• Free interactive children’s activities in the Wildings area on Saturday, 13 and Sunday, 14 September – and, even better, children 12 and under attend for FREE

Event founder and president David Howden and his family, who live in Cornbury House, are passionate about all forms of equestrian sport, and in particular eventing and racing. As a result, David and fellow event horse and racehorse owner Jayne McGivern have launched the Cornbury Thoroughbred Eventing Challenge, which will take place for the first time at Cornbury House Horse Trials 2025. This eventing class for former racehorses and thoroughbreds carries an unprecedented first prize of £45,000, and its climax will be a highlight on Saturday, 13 September. The day will be a “Celebration of the Thoroughbred”, with details of further plans and activities to be announced shortly.

This will be the third year that Cornbury House has held the prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships, sponsored by The Howden Way, for the country’s most promising five-, six- and seven-year-old horses. These run alongside open and under-21 CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S classes, a pony trial and British eventing national classes at open intermediate and intermediate level. The Leading Rider over the event will win £2,500 and a magnificent silver trophy.

David Howden said: “I can’t wait for this year’s Cornbury House Horse Trials. It’s going to be spectacular!

“It will be a fiesta of sport with British Olympians and international competitors vying for the title of Leading Rider while the next generation of eventers showcase their skills. It will be a feast of the senses with exceptional food and drink on the menu for all our visitors to savour.

“And it will be a festival of the thoroughbred. We’re going to show how these incredible athletes can have meaningful careers far beyond racing.

“Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Oxfordshire countryside, this year’s event will once again raise the bar and firmly put Cornbury House Horse Trials on the map.” 

 Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets..

Cornbury House Horse Trials’ supported charity for 2025 is the British Eventing Support Trust, and donations can be made at the point of ticket purchase.

The British Eventing Support Trust will be Cornbury House Horse Trials’ supported charity for the 2025 event, which runs from 10-14 September at Cornbury House, Oxfordshire.

Founded in 2021 with the aim of helping British Eventing competing members going through difficult times, the British Eventing (BE) Support Trust has grown into a recognised charity in the equestrian world and an organisation that event riders, no matter what level they compete at, can apply to for support. It is committed to helping them get back to what they love – riding and being around horses, as well as supporting the research, development and implementation of initiatives to maintain the safety and welfare of riders.

At the 2024 Cornbury House Horse Trials, the charity raised more than £17,000 via a special silent auction, which will take place again this year. Additionally, purchasers of tickets to the event can donate at the point of sale. The BEST buggy service, which takes visitors from the main event site to the dressage arenas in front of Cornbury House, returns for 2025, operated by the British Eventing Support Trust, and there will be an opportunity to donate to the charity as spectators are ferried around the Cornbury parkland .

“It is a great honour for the British Eventing Support Trust to have been selected as the charity partner for Cornbury House Horse Trials,” said Ian Stark, OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “This distinguished event exemplifies excellence within our sport, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness of and support for our work. The Trust plays a vital role in assisting British Eventing competing members during times of hardship, and this partnership will enable us to continue and expand that essential support.”

Jane Hunter-Walsh, the charity’s General Manager, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to be part of such a world-class celebration of eventing and are looking forward to working with the team at Cornbury for the second year running. It’s a brilliant event that’s always so well attended by competitors and spectators, which means it is the perfect place to raise awareness of our work. We’re busy planning some great fundraising events, so keep an eye on our social media for more information.”

Tickets for Cornbury House Horse Trials go on sale on Thursday, 1 May at 12 noon. Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets.

As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.

To buy tickets and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

The central philosophy of Cornbury House Horse Trials is to encourage young talent and give it the best possible conditions to flourish. It is very rewarding, therefore, to see so many of the top horses from last year’s British Eventing Young Horse Championships, sponsored by The Howden Way, making an impact in the early part of the season.

The 2024 five-year-old champion Earl Dorado, owned by Nicky and Robin Salmon and rider Max Warburton, won The Howden Way six-year-old class at Barbury (21-23 March). Max was also second on Karla Wheatcroft’s Monbeg Condor.

Max said: “I’m thrilled to have these two very nice six-year-olds in the class that is kindly supported by The Howden Way. The whole idea of the young horse classes is brilliant, as it allows us to highlight the nice six-year-olds that we’ve got.

“Earl Dorado will do a CCI2*-S at Kelsall Hill next and then aim for this year’s six-year-old championships Cornbury House, and hopefully the world young horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers.”

Barrington Boy, winner of The Howden Way British Eventing National Six-Year-Old Championships at Cornbury House last September for owner (and Cornbury sponsor through his Hawkestone drinks company) Johnny Hornby and rider Izzy Taylor, has had a brilliant start to 2025. He won his first three events – Poplar Park, Tweseldown and Barbury, and finished sixth at his first attempt at a CCI3*-S at Thoresby, all with double clear rounds.

Oxfordshire-based Izzy said: “He’s cool. He has no idea he’s a giant and he’s beautiful to ride. I don’t know how he’s so balanced and controlled – he has a beautiful brain, he’s light on his feet, careful and scopey.”

Izzy will be aiming to take the national seven-year-old title at Cornbury House in September on her way to a shot at Le Lion d’Angers in France.

Double Olympic gold medallist Tom McEwen scored in The Howden Way British Eventing National Seven-Year-Old Championship at Cornbury House in 2024 with Maestro, owned by Fred and Penny Barker. The pair were placed at both Tweseldown and Barbury recently, and are consolidating at CCI3* level this year.

And Kantango, winner of the six-year-old class at the inaugural running of The Howden British Eventing Young Horse Championships at Cornbury House in 2023 with European individual silver medallist Kitty King, is going from strength to strength. The now-eight-year-old old, owned by Jane Tolley, Kitty’s mother Jane Boggis, Joanna Jones and Penelope Holley, was runner-up in the seven-year-old championships at both Cornbury House Horse Trials and Le Lion d’Angers in 2024, and won the advanced intermediate class at Lincoln on 14 March.