Highclere Castle, 25-27 August 2001

The Festival of the Horse 2001 and International Horse Trials at Highclere Castle, near Newbury, Berkshire WILL GO AHEAD this year in its usual slot – the August Bank Holiday weekend – once again under the leadership of Director, Janet Benney.

Now in its third year, The Festival of The Horse 2001 will run from Saturday 25 August to Monday 27 August incorporating:

• Saturday 25/Sunday 26 August: Affiliated Show Jumping and Carriage Driving (with the Marathon section on the Sunday)
• Sunday 26/Monday 27 August - advanced intermediate and intermediate Horse Trials

Bank Holiday Monday will be the feature day playing host to the Horse Trials cross country stage and a range of demonstrations and other activities including: dressage-to-music, side saddle Concours d’Elegance, horse whisperer (Gary Witheford) and novelty events including terrier and ferret racing.

The Craft Fair which traditionally runs concurrently with the Festival of the Horse moves to an alternative weekend; which means that this year, The Festival of the Horse layout will be more rider and spectator-friendly with the horse trials and other feature events running right alongside each other in three dedicated arenas – all in the shadow of The Castle. The start and the finish of the horse trials cross country course will be moved much closer to the main arenas and the horse trials lorry park will be located centrally between the show jumping and dressage arenas.

Explains Janet Benney: “My dream has always been to bring together all the equine disciplines over one long weekend in the magnificent setting of Highclere Castle and its parkland. Each year we get closer to that dream. And now, with the craft fair gone, we have at last got the layout we have always wanted.”

The Castle, grounds and gardens will all be open over the weekend with admission offered on a complimentary basis to anyone attending the Festival. Gates open from 9am daily. Tickets will be £5 on Saturday and Sunday and £10 on Monday.

These prices include: free parking and free admission for accompanied children. No advance booking is required. Group hospitality packages also available. Highclere Castle is located just South of Newbury, off the A34 Bypass. For further details call: 07836-213338.