Competition

Competition Structure

Cornbury House Horse Trials hosts both international (FEI) classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level and national British Eventing classes at intermediate and open intermediate level.

We also hold The Howden Way Youth Championships at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level.

For the first time in 2023, we were thrilled to host the British Eventing Young Horse Championships for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses – the cream of the UK’s future equine stars.

The 2024 timetable will appear in due course.

Click here for more info

Owners Information

David Howden, president of Cornbury House Horse Trials, leads a team that brings a great knowledge of and passion for the equestrian sport and the highest standards, to add innovation, a focus on sustainability and a fun day out to the eventing calendar.

Cornbury Park Horse Trials ran from 1993-2001 and was one of the most prestigious and popular one-day events of its time – an important pre-Badminton and pre-Burghley trial, where all the eventing stars of that time competed.

Two decades later, the team behind Cornbury House Horse Trials invite you to take part in an unmissable equestrian event in its spectacular setting.

There will be a dedicated Owners Marquee open throughout the day which will show the live stream of the cross-country with light refreshments available.

Riders Information

We love this sport. And we believe that top-class sport should focus on providing the best possible conditions for its participants as well as holding it up to the light for everyone to see and enjoy. That’s why course-designer – and original Cornbury (and Olympic) course-builder – David Evans and Adrian Ditcham, also an Olympic course-builder, and their teams have worked tirelessly to provide outstanding conditions for horses and riders at Cornbury House Horse Trials.

These efforts have extremely well-received by riders, owners and supporters, and every year since our inception in 2020 we have strived to improve everything possible. For 2021 the specially created grass main arena was extended, plus three newly-sited levelled dressage arenas added in front of Cornbury House for the international classes at CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S level.

Further groundwork was done to the cross-country course in both 2021 and 2022, and was again a true test, running over undulating ground and through ancient woodland. Cornbury’s natural water sources and investment by the organisers mean that no effort was spared to produce perfect going.

Work was done to improve the going in the warm-up areas and for the national dressage arenas in 2022, and the layout of the event site was amended, with a new, large, horsebox parking area.

In 2023, a new, second tier to the impressive main arena was created with additional works done around the dressage arenas and warm-up areas. Finally, the start and the finish of the cross-country courses were resited and the layout of the tracks tweaked to create a new feel to this test.

The Leading Rider throughout the event will receive a prize of £2,500 and a magnificent perpetual trophy.

Stabling

There will be stabling on-site. Information on on-site and off-site stabling will be available nearer the time, and will be able to be booked after the ballot has been completed and entries confirmed.

Please note, we will be using Woodhouse stables (American barn style) and Cotswold Forage will be providing the shavings.