H&H blogger Alex Hua Tian is among 19 young riders confirmed for Express Eventing at The Royal Festival of the Horse (9-11 July) this summer.
The competition will be held on Sunday 11 July at Stonleigh Park, Warwickshire.
The selected riders include Sam Watson, who had a top 15 finish in the 2010 Badminton Horse Trials, Phoebe Buckley, who was part of the winning team at the Young Riders Championships in 2005 and successfully completed Badminton this year on Little Tiger — and China’s Alex Hua Tian, who received the HSBC “Rising Star” Award in 2009.
All riders will take part in a dressage to music round, cross-country and showjumping in the one-seat-sees-all version of three day eventing.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with Express Eventing,” said Sam Watson.
“It’s exciting to be at the forefront of establishing this new equestrian spectator sport and I can really see the appeal. Riders get to complete all three disciplines in one day and the audience gets to see all the action up close and personal.”
Express Evening, which was first run in November 2008 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, is this year only open to invited young riders.
This was due to a date clash with Barbury Castle Horse Trials — so organisers decided to have a “youth academy” style event to give young riders a chance.
Oliver Townend, who won £100,000 at the inaugural Express Eventing event, said: “I’m delighted that these young riders are being given the chance to take part in this most exciting challenge.
“Not only does it provide unique and valuable experience for them but it gives the crowd a ring-side view of three Olympic disciplines all in one day in one arena.”
Confimed riders:
Aaron Miller
Alex Hua Tian
Alex Postolowsky
Angus Smales
Arthur Duffort
Ben Hobday
Camilla Speirs
Charlotte Agnew
Christoffer Forsberg
Duarte Seabra
Flora Harris
Gemma Tattersall
Georgie Spence
Ginny Howe
Lauren Shannon
Phoebe Buckley
Samuel Watson
Sienna Myson-Davies
Tamsin Hutchins
For more information visit: www.festivalofthehorse.co.uk
