Royal Windsor Horse Show: Final Preparations Underway

Source: News Release

Final Preparations Underway

Under the watchful eye of Windsor Castle, final preparations are being made to the big screens in the main arena at Windsor Horse Show.

This quintessentially English event opens on Wednesday, when weather forecasters are predicting that the sun is going to come out at the start of a run of beautiful May weather.

There's plenty to look forward to, including Nick Skelton's outstanding horse, Big Star, making a return to competition, the chance to see Blue Peter Presenters having a go and special ticketing opportunities and evening performances. Read on below to find out more ...

Big Star potential comeback at Windsor

We're very excited to announce that Nick Skelton is looking to bring his London 2012 team gold medal winning horse, Big Star, to Windsor to make his return to competition after injury.

The 11-year-old has been out of action since sustaining an injury last August as he was preparing for the Spruce Meadows Masters. He was halfway through an incredible campaign last year, notching up a hat trick of big wins; the CSIO Rome Grand Prix in May; CHIO Aachen Grand Prix in June; and the FEI Nations Cup in Dublin in August.

Nick said: “Big Star had a suspensory injury in August last year, I took him to Florida for the winter to recuperate and he jumped some small classes. I’m hopefully trying to get him ready for the World Equestrian Games. That would be his aim. Before that I’d like to get him to the Hamburg Global Champions Tour at the end of May so bringing Big Star to Windsor would be a good preparation for him but I will only do so if he is 100% fit. I’m looking forward to getting back in action with him, the last nine months have been a bit quiet to say the least!”

Blue Peter presenters have a go at Carriage Driving on Saturday 17th

Come and watch Blue Peter presenters Radzi Chinyanganya and Lindsey Russell take part at Windsor on Saturday 17th.

Radzi (26) and Lindsey (23) are the two newest members of the Blue Peter presenting team and the pair have already got themselves a reputation for being fiercely competitive with the challenges they’ve been set on the show. They've been invited to compete against each other on the famous Carriage Driving Marathon course used for the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix.

Former Carriage Driving World Gold medallist Wilf Bowman Ripley and his GB teammate, Dan Naprous who is also a horse stunt rider and film star are the instructors charged with knocking Radzi and Lindsey into shape for the challenge.

Radzi and Lindsey will take to the track at approximately 16:30hrs straight after the Marathon phase of the Carriage Driving competition on Saturday 17 May. We're expecting lots of action, a few bumps and a great deal of entertainment.

Tickets, Free Entry on Wednesday and Special Evening Events

Windsor has a lot more to offer this year as it becomes a Concours Hippique Internationale (CHI) including in its programme International Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance comeptitions.

If you've never been to Windsor before and feel like dipping your toe in the water, why not come along on 'Windsor Wedneday' - 14th May - when Organisers are offering free entry to all.

And if you haven't got a whole day to spare, there are evening 'performances' on Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May when competitions and displays in the main arena will continue until 10pm.

To purchase tickets and for more information visit the Show website at www.rwhs.co.uk

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