Blenheim Horse Trials new organisers reveal their plans

The new organisers of Blenheim Horse Trials hope to reinstate the grassroots eventers’ challenge and bring their expertise in running other outdoor events to the fixture.

Stable Events Ltd – a company comprising many of the team who ran the last game fair at Blenheim in 2014, and which now runs three other game fairs in England, Scotland and Wales – will take over as the Oxfordshire event’s new organisers for the 2023 fixture (14–17 September). They replace The Jockey Club, which ran the event in 2021 and 2022.

“I was delighted at the opportunity to work alongside Blenheim Palace and British Eventing to breathe new life in to the trials. I will be supported by Stable Events’ senior management team who have over 250 years’ event experience and are true experts in their field,” said Mrs Midgley, adding that Stable Events has had a keen eye on Blenheim Horse Trials for a number of years and saw the potential of the event prior to its term with The Jockey Club.

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Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.

Will the grassroots eventers’ challenge return to Blenheim? New organisers reveal their plans

Blenheim Horse Trials new organisers’ plans: grassroots and more

Mrs Midgley said the Blenheim Horse Trials new organisers are keen to bring back a grassroots element to the horse trials, potentially in the form of the eventers’ challenge, which used to run alongside the event.

“Riding Club, Pony Club and the grassroots are a valuable audience to this event and valuable to the future of the sport. So it’s a way of giving back a bit,” she said.

She would like to look at offering lakeside parking again, to bring the event a “festival feel”.

“We could have an equestrian art pavilion at Blenheim Horse Trials – there’s lots of links and we can intertwine things that we can draw from our other events. These additions will enhance the event, while ensuring top-class equestrian sport is at its core,” she said.

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