Races come in many variations and types but the underlying idea in all of them is the same: to match two or more horses against each other to determine the fastest one. This may seem exciting enough on its own, but over time people added more variety. Nowadays you will find races that are different in distance, type of obstacles the horses and riders have to overcome, and even the type of track surface they have to compete on.  While equestrian sport isn’t limited to racing, it remains a popular pastime in many countries. In Great Britain, horse racing plays...

It would be very interesting to know who first came up with the idea to not just have two horses compete with each other in speed, but also turn this into a spectacle for an audience. Unfortunately, history didn’t preserve any names in regards to horse racing.  What we do know for a fact is that from very ancient times it was a popular sport and pastime for many. Evidence shows that horse races were conducted in Babylon, Egypt, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and many other old civilizations. We even know that the ancient Olympic Games included both riding and...

This weekend, Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club hosted the UK’s top carriage drivers at the 2024 National Carriage Driving Championships. The event saw a mix of veterans and fresh talents vying for the title in various classes. Below, we provide a clear overview of the winners and their scores across each class. Full Results: All The Winners of the Event Class Winner Dressage Cones Marathon Total Score Advanced Horse Ian Bertram 53.33 Advanced Horse Pair John Ripley 46.85 7.95 126.63 181.43 Advanced Pony Louise Kaiholm 49.00 3 106.24 158.24 Advanced Pony Pair Phoebe Matthews 60.48 6 111.67 178.15 Horse Four-in-Hand  Daniel Naprous 51.89 3.54 132.71 188.14 Novice Horse Arthur Sheane 50.53 0 93.53 144.06 Novice Pony Sophie Hunt 46.27 0 88.01 134.28 Open Horse Rachel Moast 51.57 5.18 122.30 179.05 Open Horse Pair Luis Mira 50.81 31.09 138.30 220.20 Open Pony Lucy Scott 51.70 3 100.41 155.11 Open Pony Pair Anna Grayston 45.24 6 110.00 161.24 Pony Four-in-Hand Peter Young 67.17 6.11 118.83 192.11 Pony Tandems David Taylor 55.28 32.8 201.31 289.39 Small Equine Charlie Parker-King 60.53 0 83.42 143.95 VIP Arthur Sheane VIP 48.53 3 97.63 149.16 VSE Sally RL Edwards 49.07 0 59.44 108.51   For those interested in...

As the summer season 2024 in equestrian sports approaches its finishing line, the first two weeks of September saw a number of trials, championships, and tournaments that largely define the essence of British equestrian sports.  LeMieux National Dressage Championships is a crowning event for the horses and human athletes specializing in this sport. That is why every September, the arenas of Somerford Park bring together professionals from all over the country to showcase their skills, while the audience is treated to magnificent performances. Art of Dressage at a Glance As a sport, dressage is recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and...