Blenheim Horse Trials 2007

Blenheim Palace certainly provides an awe-inspiring back drop to the dressage and show jumping phases of this international equestrian event which takes place each year on the 'South Lawn' - by kind invitation of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough.

Wendy and I were once again exhibiting our range of gold and silver jewellery in the shopping marquees set up alongside the main eventing ring. The weather was perfect and a good crowd attended the event particularly over the weekend when, like Burghley, the cross country proved to be a very popular attraction.

The Blenheim Horse Trials started in 1990 and has become one of the most prestigious sporting events on the international calendar. Most people regard the sport of 'horse trials' - or 'eventing' as it is correctly termed- as the ultimate challenge in horsemanship because both horse and rider are required to fulfill three distinct phases within the same competition: dressage, cross country and show jumping. The dressage is judged subjectively with the horse and rider performing a series of movements and changes of pace. It requires a huge amount of preparation and the rider must maximise the horse's strong paces and disguise its weaknesses. The showjumping and cross country events are judged objectively as there is a clear winner. It is of course the cross country 'phase' for which the sport is best known and most riders regard this as the ultimate achievement within the competition.

Eventing has been part of the Olympic movement since 1912 and it originated in Continental Europe by cavalry officers as an entertaining and useful way to train chargers. The sport took off in Britain largely due to the late Duke of Beaufort who, in 1949, created the Badminton Horse Trials (an important event we also attend earlier in the year).

This sport is unusual in that 'professionals' and 'amateurs' compete against each other at all levels. It is not unknown for a one horse rider with a full time job to compete and beat an Olympic rider with a string of international horses!

This year's worthy winner was Great Britain's Chris King on 'The Secret Weapon', with Kristina Cook taking second place on 'Miner's Frolic' and New Zealand rider, Andrew Nicholson, taking third place on 'Armada'.