Introducing ‘Wildings’ at Cornbury House Horse Trials. An action-packed dedicated space for kids and families to get involved with a range of FREE interactive activities over Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September 2023. 

Taking inspiration from the nearby Wychwood Forest, the main centrepiece will be the Cornbury Wishing Tree, which is woven from willow by Willow Pool. Children will be learning about and making leaves to decorate it throughout the weekend based on the trees found in the forest along with items found on the woodland floor. 

As part of the Willow Pool programme of activities, children and parents will also be able to take part in their willow weaving workshops and for those wanting to get their hands dirty, we’ve got it covered with some clay animal making (washing facilities provided). 

Finally, don’t miss the Junk Trunk, one mighty colourful and sustainable craft workshop. Whether it’s creating your own fancy headwear, making jewellery, wands or flags, there is something to suit all ages and of course there will be a nod to Cornbury House Horse Trials with some horsey headwear!  

A dedicated team will be on hand to help with those imaginative creations and even better, all the activities are Free to enjoy. 

The full list of kids activities as follows: 

• Willow weaving
• Leaf making to decorate the Cornbury Wishing Tree
• Clay animal making 
• Junk Trunk craft workshop 

Please note the Wildwood Kids Zone will operate across the weekend of 9-10 September only. Kids 12 and Under are Free to attend Cornbury House Horse Trials which runs from 6-10 September. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk 

The Oxfordshire event, which takes place in the beautiful parkland surrounding Cornbury House outside Charlbury, is stepping up a gear – or two – this year. 

For the first time, Cornbury is hosting the highly prestigious British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses. This is in addition to The Howden Way National Youth Championships for under-21 riders, international FEI classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level along with the national intermediate competitions.

Since its inception in 2020, event founder David Howden has been determined to give horses and riders every possible chance to produce their best performances, and has invested significantly in the conditions and infrastructure at Cornbury to allow this. This year, a second main arena in the heart of the site has been created out of the undulating parkland, and the cross-country courses have been altered to provide an improved start and finish point.

Away from the equestrian action and new for 2023, a celebration of all things food and drink will be a key part of the event with the introduction of “Field Food” offering a showcase of delicious locally-produced artisan options for attendees to enjoy. This will include open Asados (Argentinian barbecue food), a range of offerings from local farms including Cornbury and Bruern, along with delicious homemade ice-cream from the cows down the road at The Dairy, Honeysuckle Farm. There will also be a selection of local ales to enjoy including the popular Hawkstone Lager from the our on site public bar, the aptly named ‘Wychwood Inn.’ 

On the Saturday and Sunday of the event (9-10 September), families with young children can enjoy immersive ‘Wildwood Crafts’ throughout the afternoon with children 12 and under attending for free. To round the event off, there will be ‘apres’ style evening entertainment once the equestrian action has finished for the day on Friday, 8 September and Saturday, 9 September with live music and much more. 

David Howden said: “I am very excited about the way in which we are developing Cornbury House Horse Trials. My passions for horses, promoting youth, Cornbury and the local area are being united to produce a wonderful celebration of all those elements and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. 

“We have been working hard to re-establish the horse trials and are now looking forward to taking it to the next level. I look  forward to welcoming everyone to our fourth year and creating a modern take on this equestrian tradition while giving our athletes, horses, owners and partners a fantastic time.”

With its visually stunning backdrops of Cornbury House and the Wychwood Forest, thrilling sport and high-class family-friendly entertainment, Cornbury House Horse Trials promises a wonderful afternoon for all. 

Tickets – Coming Soon

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce completed on a score of 26.5 to take Section A of the CCI3*-S at Cornbury House Horse Trials over the weekend. This is the second CCI3*-S title this season for the gelding owned by Alison Swinburn, John and Chloe Perry.

Section B of the CCI3*-S went to Georgie Goss and Feloupe owned by Nicky Cooper, Suzanne Doggett and Lucy Fleming; they completed on a score of 32.8.

Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall owned by Jane Timmis took the top spot in CCI3*-S Section C with a total score of 30.9.

The CCI-S Y3* went to Millie Juleff with her own and Darren Juleff’s All We Need. They completed on their dressage score of 27.5

Charlotte Bull becomes National Junior Champion

The Howden Way National Junior Championships for under-18 riders, run at CCI2*-S level, also took place at Cornbury House Horse Trials.  The title went to Charlotte Bull and Jesse Campbell’s Amsterdam 21, who added just 0.8-time penalties to their dressage score to finish on a total of 29.1. Less than a mark behind them on a score of 30 was Livvy Dorman with Dyablo owned by Patricia Laws; and Holly Clarke took third with Alex Clarke’s Nico.

Full results

For full results from all the classes that took place at the 2022 Cornbury House Horse Trials, visit British Eventing  here.

The sad passing of Her Majesty the Queen on the first day of Cornbury House Horse Trials 2022 cast a shadow over the weekend, but, given The Queen’s many connections to the equestrian world, it was decided the event should continue while showing respect and appreciation for a lady whose own love of horses chimed so well with that of everyone attending the event.

Congratulations to all the competitors who joined us at Cornbury this year – and thank you to them for their support during what is just our third event.

Our winners were:

CCI3*-S section A: Tom McEwen and Brookfield Benjamin Bounce, owned by Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry

CCI3*-S section B: Georgie Goss and Feloupe, owned by Nicky Cooper, Suzanne Doggett and Lucy Fleming

CCI3*-S section C: Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall, owned by Jane Timmis

Special prizes for the top three seven-year-olds in the CCI3*-S sections: 1st SBH Big Wall (ridden by Izzy Taylor and owned by SBH Big Wall); 2nd King’s Especiale (ridden by Caroline Martin and owned by Redfield King’s HX Group); 3rd Madford Law (ridden by Anna Johannson and owned by Clare Crocker and Anna Johannson)

CCI2*-S section G: Caroline Martin and Galwaybay Redfield HSH Connor, owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin and Luann McElduff

CCI2*-S section H: Bubby Upton and It’s Cooley Time, owned by Bubby Upton

CCI2*-S section I: Sarah Bullimore and Corimiro, owned by Brett Bullimore, Bruce Saint and Christopher and Susan Gillespie

CCI2*-S section J: Henrietta Ewell and I Ellie Jay Bumble, owned by Lucy Counsell

Special prizes for the top three six-year-olds in the CCI2*-S sections: 1st Corimiro (ridden by Sarah Bullimore and owned by Brett Bullimore, Bruce Saint and Christopher and Susan Gillespie); 2nd Galwaybay Redfield HSH Connor (ridden by Caroline Martin and owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin and Luann McElduff); 3rd Tenz (ridden by Will Rawlin and owned by Suzanne Houchin and Nigella Hall)

The Howden Way Junior National Championships: Charlotte Bull and Amsterdam 21, owned by Jesse Campbell

The Howden Way under-21 CCI3*-S: Millie Juleff and All We Need, owned by Millie and Darren Juleff

Intermediate winners: Padraig McCarthy and Pomp N Circumstance, owned by Sarah Gough; Heidi Coy and Clonshire On Trend, owned by David Ottewell; Michael Owen and Treworder, owned by Jane Buick

Open intermediate winners: Izzy Taylor and Monkeying Around, owned by Izzy Taylor and Mark Sartori; Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, owned by Deidre Johnston and Jo and James Lambert; Sarah Bullimore and Corouet, owned by Sarah and Brett Bullimore and The Kew Jumping Syndicate.

Novice winners: Piggy March and Le Rebelle-S, owned by Caroline March; Piggy March and Bhodi, owned by Jayne McGivern; Alicia Hawker and Hazy Dream, owned by Judy Raines.

Open novice winner: Max Warburton and United 36, owned by Michael Stenning.

Leading Rider at CHHT 2022: Tom McEwen