The schedule of classes to be held at this year’s GB PRE National Championships Show is now available.

Held at Hartpury Arena at the Hartpury Equestrian College in Gloucestershire, the UK National Breed show for purebred Spanish horses will run from Thursday 27th July until Sunday 30th July 2017.

A huge, international venue with several indoor and outdoor arenas, stabling for in excess of 150 horses and accommodation on the adjacent campus, it’s an ideal host for our annual show which attracts PRE enthusiasts, breeders, handlers and riders of all levels, from across Europe.

Of course with qualifiers for the SICAB International Championships, there are some classes that are exclusively for pure-bred PREs, but we also welcome part-bred PREs and Portuguese Lusitanos, and have number of classes for each, as well as fun events such as agility, jumping and parade. The COPA classes are open to all breeds and are a part qualifier for SICAB.

We’ll have more information available over the coming weeks and will update the show page accordingly with any updated class entry details and requirements.

We will also let you know when we open for entries, so be sure to check back. In the meantime, please have a look at our 2017 class schedule for an overview of the classes and approximate running timeline here…

We are pleased to announce that entries are now open for our GBPRE April 2017 Showing Clinic (Ridden and In-hand).

This clinic has been organised for you, as a one-off chance for specialist preparation ahead of the Spanish showing season. Our ridden classes are being taken by Grand Prix rider, National Supreme Ridden Champion title holder and Reserve International Functionality Champion title holder – among many more! – Hannah Doggett (pictured above), who will be sharing with you her expert advice on your horses’ strengths, weaknesses, how to improve, and all – important ring craft techniques to help you secure maximum scores this season and ensure that your entry fees do not go to waste! The lessons will be shared with up to 1 other rider, so this is a great chance to acclimatise your horse to a show ring situation without too much ‘buzz’ and atmosphere.

For our in-hand classes, we have multi-award winning combination Oriol Matas and Stephanie Hurstfield, whose talents in the show ring have won countless titles for mares, geldings, stallions and youngstock at the highest level, as well as numerous ‘Best Handler’ awards. Their eye for detail and precision will give you the best start to your in-hand showing season, and you will be trained in how to show ‘Spanish – style’, requirements for the classes you plan on entering, the strengths of your horse, the weaknesses and also how to improve them – as well as help with how to groom and present your horse to give the best impression. The lessons will be shared with up to 1 other horse/handler, so this is a great chance to acclimatise your horse to a show ring situation without too much ‘buzz’ and atmosphere.

Every rider will leave with an action plan for their horse(s) for training, advice for improvement of body condition and show presentation, essential information if you are to make the most of the season ahead!

Clinic details;

29th April 2017 – The Priory Equestrian, Frensham, Surrey 

30th April 2017 – Hunters Gate Equestrian, Middlewich, Cheshire

£50 per horse, per lesson for GBPRE members.

£65 per horse, per lesson for NON – GBPRE members.

Spectators; GBPRE members free (please wear your GBPRE members’ badge!), non-members £10 per person.

Entries via email to media @ gbpre.co.uk, BACS payment details for GBPRE will be sent upon request.

Entries via post to Gemma Bowles, 35 Balmoral Way, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 2HE , cheques made payable to GBPRE.

Please state whether your horse is a mare, stallion or gelding on your entry, and what session your horse(s) are entering (e.g. ridden, in-hand or both).

Entries close 31st March 2017. Late entries, if space allows, will be £10 additional charge per lesson. Lessons will have up to 2 horses per 45 minute session, to help simulate showing environment.

Ridden lessons in the mornings, in-hand in the afternoon. Times will be available the weekend before the clinic.

Spaces are strictly limited and spaces will not be secured until payment has cleared, no deposits will be taken. Refunds will only be given if the event is cancelled, no refunds will be given for withdrawal after 31st March 2017. Withdrawals made before this date will be less £20 administration fee.

BD NEWS

Success for Brits at Spanish Dressage World Finals

Two British riders returned from Seville, Spain, last week after competing in the dressage finals at SICAB; the Spanish horse world championships (15 – 20 November 2016).

Charlotte Crocker-Westlake, with her own PRE stallion Gaspar de Valle, and Alice Hurley, with Karen Bourdon’s Deseado CCV (pictured), travelled to the south of Spain to take part in the PSG and Inter I final against some of the top dressage riders in the country. The two riders had represented GB at the Masters du Cheval Iberique European final in Italy just weeks earlier.

Charlotte and Gasper de Valle were the first of the two British combinations to compete in the Prix St Georges on Thursday 17 November where they produced a score of 61.5%. “Gaspar was amazing”, said Charlotte. “He was so grown up about the atmosphere in such a massive arena”. Alice followed suit aboard Karen Bourdon’s talented showing and dressage winner Deseado CCV. Having ridden the black stallion since a three-year-old, Alice and ‘Des’ achieved a positive score of 66.4% in their first attempt at the world finals. “Our first test went fairly smoothly”, said Alice. “It was a solid test with no major hiccups – just slightly underpowered”.

Saturday 19 November saw the combinations return for the Inter I test; a class which was also being contested by seasoned international and Spanish team riders. Charlotte and Gaspar de Valle improved on their first score with a follow up of 61.8% which gave the pair a final placing of 12th. “A few costly mistakes let us down”, said Charlotte, “but the experience has left us excited about the future. Roll on SICAB 2017”.

Alice and Deseado CCV – a combination who achieved the title of Dressage Ireland reserve Inter I champion earlier this year – produced a score of 62.6% for a satisfying 8th place overall. “We did our first Inter I in Spring this year. It’s both the first time I have ridden at this level and the first time I have trained a horse to this level. This was our first time on the international stage at this level with five international judges”, said Alice. “Warm up for the Inter I was phenomenal but sadly we just boiled over in the intense atmosphere after the first halt. Some moments of excellence were spoiled by fresh mistakes. However we only lost one place overall finishing on a fabulous 8th place at the PRE small tour World Championships!”

The future certainly holds excitement for the two British combinations with SICAB 2017 being a major aim as well as further national and international dressage competitions on the horizon.

Report by Yasmin Jaouane

We are delighted to announce that The Countess of Carnarvon has accepted our invitation to stand as our Ambassador.

A long-time horse and PRE enthusiast, Lady Carnarvon of Highclere Castle (perhaps better known as the fictional Downton Abbey) couldn’t be better suited for the role, with her own PRE mare named Lara, and Frankie, an Hispano-Arab gelding.

Lara and Frankie are comfortably housed alongside a number of other horses in a range of beautiful Victorian stabling that lies adjacent to the distinctive castle, that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has watched the popular ITV series.

Lady Carnarvon first started riding as a child, and her passion for horses has remained a constant throughout her life and a relaxing escape from her hectic work schedule. With hundreds of acres of wood and parkland on the doorstep, there’s little excuse needed to tack up and take off for a few hours.

Highclere Castle Estate itself, also has an enduring association with horses, Highclere Stud was  founded over a century ago, now run by Lord Carnarvon’s sister but Lord Carnarvon  also enjoys riding and breeding with broodmares grazing in the Park near Lady Carnarvon’s Andalusians.

Highclere Castle sits in the centre of 1,000 acres of Capability Brown Parkland around which the farm and woodlands extend for a further 4000 or 5000 acres. It is all farmed in hand with a clear focus on sustainability and excellent farming practices. Lord and Lady  Carnarvon have further  developed a high-quality Horsefeeds Business (Highclere Castle Horsefeeds) supplying oats and haylage specifically for the equestrian market.