Be a winner at Hickstead
Visitors to the Horse & Hound stand at Hickstead can win a £1,000 saddle, plus Musto clothing
Visitors to the Hickstead Derby meeting can win a Frank Baines Reflex close contact saddle worth £1,000 just by calling in at the Horse & Hound stand, no 67.
Musto clothing worth £500 can also be won, along with special discountsfor anyone taking out a subscription to Horse & Hound during the show.
With an action-packed weekend in store, Hickstead’s Derby meeting (22-25 August) is guaranteed to thrill spectators, whether you’re a show jumping, showing or dressageenthusiast.
Who’s favourite for the Hickstead Derby?
Peter Charles and Corrada will be back to defend the title they won last year in such great style. Peter will have done his homework and nobody is better at producing horses for the big occasion.
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Tim Stockdale is another who will be well prepared. Wiston Bridget jumped one of four clears two years ago and this combination should be ignored.
Anyone who wants to study how to ride a Derby course should watch Billy Twomey. Third last year, he must be one of the favourites again.
With the benefit of Peter Charles’s guidance, Nicky Boulter, runner-up in 2001, will come to Hickstead fully focused. Her horse Magna Carter goes well in this arena, although she can get strong.
Peder Fredricson – runner-up in the Eventing Grand Prix – was third in Falsterbo’s Derby and is likely to prove a solid bet, while Norman Dello Joio, the 2001 King’s Cup winner, will be looking to make his journey from the States worthwhile.
But the dark horse could well turn out to be John Whitaker. Nobody has better form round this track and, without the pressure of preparing for the World Championships, John will have the pick of his string.
Other Hickstead highlights
Although the main focus will be on the Derby, Hickstead’s programme includes top class action from all levels of show jumping, dressage and showing.
Young show jumping horses are particularly well catered for, with International Arena championships for four-, five- and six-year-olds. Young riders take centre stage on Thursday, while the 138cm and 148cm championships are on Friday and Saturday respectively.
All levels also have opportunities to tackle smaller versions of the international arena’s famous permanent obstacles in ring two throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Dressage at Hickstead includes an international Nations Cup and young riders competition, as well as the Shearwater Five-Year-Old and Six-Year-Old finals, which take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Read our indepth dressage preview.
On the showing front HOYS tickets are on offer for hunters, riding horses, hacks and cobs, and there is a huge entry of mountain and moorland ponies. This show is also a favourite with the driving fraternity, as the schedule includes Hackney classes, the costers’ turnouts and Sunday’s British DrivingDerby.
Make sure you are in the stands before 2.25pm on Sunday, because there will be a chance to give every member of the British teams for the World Equestrian Games a great send-off.
Check out the Hickstead timetable
| Check out Horse & Hound’s in depth Hickstead preview in the 15 August issue, or click here to subscribe and enjoy Horse & Hound delivered to your door every week. |
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