COMPETITORS and judges will soon be welcomed to the Royal Bath & West Show for three days of equestrian competitions and Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The event will return this year at the showground near Shepton Mallet between Thursday, June 2 and Saturday, June 4.
Its equestrian events will feature a Platinum Jubilee Grand Prix on the Saturday.
There will also be 21 qualifiers for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), with winners set to compete in the Grand Finals at the Birmingham NEC in October.
Jane Cooper, chair of the Royal Bath & West Society's horse committee, said: “It’s a major event in the equestrian calendar and it’s wonderful for the show to be returning with schedules that truly celebrate the horse.”
The most coveted in-house accolade will also return under a new name: The Price Family Supreme In-hand Championship.
Miss Cooper said: “Formerly the Cuddy, it celebrates the supreme light horse or pony shown in-hand, irrespective of breed or type - including the Queen’s beloved native Highland and Fell breeds.
“It’s widely considered to be the hardest HOYS championship to qualify for in the UK.”
Devon-based breeder and decorated show champion Morley Roberts will lead the judging panel.
He said: “It’s a constant delight seeing working breeds turned out and demonstrating their respective qualities and purpose, in-hand and in-harness.
“I’ll be looking for strong colour, conformation, and movement – every breed has its own way about it and I’ll want to see that with style and presence.”
He added: “I’m very particular about the cleanliness of the legs and harness.”
The event will also host the Longines Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), including Senior Showing & Dressage Ridden and In-hand, as well as Ridden Cobs, Ridden Hunters, and Riding Horses.
“Once again we have a wealth of qualifiers, nationals, and championships taking place at this year’s show,” says Miss Cooper.
“These include the supremes of the National Welsh, the North of England and the British Arabian Championships to the heights of the British Showjumping National Championships and the RIHS Queen Elizabeth II Cup qualifier.”
The cream of the crop will then go head-to-head on Saturday in the Platinum Jubilee Grand Prix.
Miss Cooper said: “The Grand Prix is a crowd pleaser whether the spectator is an enthusiast or not.
“It can make anyone hold their breath as horse and rider navigate the show’s biggest fences.”
It's the end of another busy week as we continue to build for the #RoyalBathAndWestShow! 🚜🎪🛠️👷♀️
— Royal Bath and West (@BathandWest) May 20, 2022
Marquees have been popping up, finger posts are up, the Showering Pavilion is being prepped for the arrival of Cattle and we have started to make our show signs!
13 days to go.... pic.twitter.com/MRltqqyL1b
Spectators can also witness the fast-paced agility of the scurry driving on both the Friday and Saturday.
This year the show’s equine section is all in one focussed area of the showground.
Other events will include an inter-hunt relay on Thursday and Pony Club games.
Deputy head of shows Jess Chiplen said: “We wanted the layout to enhance this aspect of the show and accommodate its popularity and place as a cornerstone of the event.
“It feels incredibly special to be one of the first big shows of the year and we truly are looking forward to opening our gates in just shy of 10 days’ time.”
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