New irrigation system for Hartpury Horse Trials

A new irrigation system has been installed at Hartpury ahead of the Horse Trials in August (9-12 August).

The NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials will boost a fully irrigated horse trials track, if the ground conditions need it. This is the result of eight months of planning, consultation with the experts and well-qualified installation.

Janet Plant of Hartpury said: “Working with Peter Lord, Hartpury farm manager, who knows the terrain like the back of his hand, we sought expert advice from Phillip Herbert and David Carpenter, course builders and grounds men from Burghley Horse Trials. We then got an experienced working party together and forged ahead with theproject.

“We are thrilled with the result, this is something we have wanted to do for a number of years. We can now offer competitors the going they and their horses fully deserve, which is wonderful.”

Hartpury principal Malcolm Wharton, who retires this summer, added: “I am delighted that in my 20th and final year of hosting the Horse Trials at Hartpury, we have been able to undertake this work. Our heavy clay land is very difficult to prepare and this irrigation system will help us to produce high quality going”.

For more information: www.hartpury.ac.uk/eventing

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