Event: United Kingdom

Badminton Horse Trials

When:	May 2008 (annual)
Where:	Badminton House
Costs:	Thu & Fri £9-£10; Sat £18-£20; Sun £7-£8

Billed as "the world's greatest three-day event", Badminton Horse Trials is one of the more testing competitions in the equestrian calendar. The famous cross-country course is long, gruelling, but always well-built and most competitors get round, if they don't fall in the water!

The first two days are for dressage, while the Saturday is the busiest, as the strong field must navigate their way around the testing cross-country course, over 32 fences of timber, walls and water obstacles which are almost always taller than the spectators and wide enough to walk through with ease! The last day is given over to a show-jumping contest for the top 20 competitors and then the prize-giving.

The event offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the glorious parkland of the Duke of Beaufort's Gloucestershire home, best experienced by walking the cross-country course as the horses go round.

In addition to the spectacle of the horse trials itself, there are also countless stalls selling a wide range of country clothing, saddlery and horse-beautification materials. The Barbour brigade is out in force!