Britain’s best shows
Scotland
The Scottish Horse Show
Royal Highland Showground, Edinburgh, 8 July
WHAT’S ON: competitors from all over the UK come to compete in nearly 100 classes from working hunter to first ridden, with many HOYS qualifiers to boot.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: this show is a qualifier for the two-day Caledonian Showing Championships, held in October.
Royal Highland
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, 18-21 June
WHAT’S ON: a large number of showing classes including Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers as well as top British Showjumping (BS) classes offering generous cash prizes.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: its famous blue sashes but also the superb social scene and shopping.
BS Cabin EC Sunshine Tour
The Cabin Equestrian Centre, Aberdeenshire, 14-19 July
WHAT’S ON: five days of jumping including Scottish Champions Tour qualifiers, Scottish branch north-east championship, National Team qualifier alongside Graham Heath and Scope qualifiers.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: the great variety of classes and qualifiers that attract the crème de la crème of British showjumping.
BD Cabin EC Summer regionals and Area Festivals
The Cabin Equestrian Centre, Aberdeenshire, 31 July-2 August
WHAT’S ON: this Scottish festival of dressage boasts both British Dressage (BD) summer regionals and Area Festival classes.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: a celebration of dressage at one of Scotland’s largest equestrian centres in the north-east.
Coral Scottish Grand National Festival
Ayr Racecourse, Ayr, 17-18 April
WHAT’S ON: the biggest and richest jump meeting in Scotland, featuring 15 exciting races.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: don’t miss Ladies’ Day on the Friday, while the pinnacle of jump racing in Scotland, the Coral Scottish Grand National, is held on the Saturday.
Edinburgh Riding of the Marches
Edinburgh, 13 September
WHAT’S ON: taking its roots from the historical Common Ridings of Scotland, 300 horses traverse the ancient Royal Mile in a re-enactment of the return of the Captain of the Trained Band to Edinburgh with the tragic news of defeat at the Battle of Flodden, 1513.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: a morning of high-energy gallops through some of Edinburgh’s stunning countryside followed by a parade through the city with crowds in excess of 20,000.
Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair
Blair Castle, Perthshire, 27-30 August
WHAT’S ON: Scotland’s premier equestrian event features international classes including CCI2*-L, CCI3*- L, CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S.
WHAT WE LOVE MOST: alongside top-class eventing, the country fair showcases all sorts of countryside pursuits, set in one of Scotland’s best-known Highland estates.
North
