Royal International Horse Show 2023
Hundreds of showjumping and showing competitors will head to Hickstead for the Longines Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) on 25-30 July 2023, as the show hosts the Longines King George V Gold Cup, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain, which is the only opportunity to see the British team compete on home turf.
Accompanying the top-class showjumping, the best equine examples of their breeds and types have qualified at shows around the country in order to compete at the RIHS. They will be doing battle to be crowned champion in their classes, with the best horses and ponies going forward to the prestigious Royal International supreme horse and Royal International supreme pony championships on Sunday.
Horse & Hound’s team of expert equestrian journalists will be keeping you up to date with all the news in the run up to the show and throughout the six days of top-class action.
Latest Royal International Horse Show news
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‘I only meant to defer uni for a year’: the show producer who nearly took a very different path
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New major championship final for Irish draughts to be held in 2024
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‘Fabulous opportunity’ as major deal secures future of Britain's Nations Cup
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‘He was an utter legend’: farewell to much-loved Welsh pony who dominated in every sphere
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From bowtop journeys to HOYS: one talented coloured mare’s unusual path to the top
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‘Riding wasn’t for her, but she loves horses’: bright future for young girl who shows miniatures
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Royal International amateur champion loses title after ‘genuine mistake’ on eligibility
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We must all unite to fight the battle against equine obesity
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Simon Reynolds: ‘Young talent were deserving winners at Hickstead’
Royal International Horse Show dates
The Royal International Horse Show will be taking place from 25 to 30 July 2023 at the famous All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, Sussex.
Where is the Royal International Horse Show held?
The Royal International Horse Show has been held at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in West Sussex since 1992. The famous equestrian venue is also home to the Hickstead Derby meeting in June.
The Hickstead showground is located just off the A23, 15 miles south of Gatwick Airport, and 8 miles north of Brighton.
Royal International Horse Show timetable
Hickstead has multiple rings running throughout the show, but to give you a flavour of what visitors can look forward to, here are some of the highlights taking place in the international arena:
Wednesday 26 July
• The British Showjumping Winter Finals
• The Pure Bred Ridden Arabian Championship
• The Supreme Show Hunter Pony Championship
• The Ponies (UK) Young Riders M&M Championship
Thursday 27 July
• The Hickstead Amateur Championship
• The Royal International Trophy
• The Royal International Vase
• The BSPS Heritage M&M Supreme Ridden
• The Supreme Hunter Championship
• The Eventers’ Challenge
Friday 28 July
• The International Stakes
• The Supreme Riding Horse Championship
• The Supreme Working Hunter Championship
• The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup of Great Britain
Saturday 29 July: Ladies Day
• The Royal International Salver
• The Supreme Miniature Horse Championship
• The Supreme Hack Championship
• The Small Hunter Championship
• Double Harness Scurry Championship
• The Queen Elizabeth II Cup
• The Royal International Speed Classic
Sunday 30 July
• The Royal International CSI2* Grand Prix
• The Supreme Cob Championship
• The Supreme Show Pony Championship
• The Supreme Ridden Horse Championship
• The Supreme Ridden Pony Championship
• The Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup
Royal International Horse Show history
The first International Horse Show was held at London’s Olympia on 7 June 1907 – making it the oldest horse show in Britain. At this stage the event was without its royal title.
After returning to the social calendar following the two World Wars, in 1947 the show moved out of central London to White City and it was organised by the newly formed British Horse Society.
The show received its Royal prefix in 1957 while at its White City home. It was briefly relocated to the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium for a couple of years in the late 60s, before briefly returning to the White City and then moving to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, where it remained until 1991.
The show moved to Hickstead under Douglas Bunn’s supervision in 1992, where it has been ever since. The show was cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but went ahead in 2021 with only national classes.