If you love horses – make sure you come along to The Heathfield Show

The Heathfield Show has built up a brilliant reputation over the past few decades as a first- class venue attracting top class exhibitors and serious competitors

There are 90 horse classes over the day with almost 600 entries each year. Classes start early in the morning with six dedicated equine rings showing horses and ponies both in hand and ridden, from miniatures to heavy horse, from carriage driving to side saddle. Visitors can watch a full program of competitions throughout the day.

There is a huge element of competition on the day across different disciplines.In some of the classes such as the Ridden Cobbs you will see horses and riders who have qualified for The Royal International Horse Show 2019. In the Ridden Hunters class entrants will be competing to win a place at the International Horse Show 2019. Places are also up for grabs at the Sunshine Tour Championships at Hickstead in September.

There are classes for thoroughbred and retired racehorses, a mounted fancy dress competition for children between four and 16 years old and a side saddle contest. The heavy horses always put on a magnificent display while at the other end of the scale, the British minatures are equally stunning – standing a maximum of  92 cms to be eligible to compete.

A new addition to the equestrian element of the show is the Inter-Hunt Relay (11.30m ring 2)

• Each team to comprise of three members
• All horses, runners and riders to have hunted regularly during 2018/19 season
• Full hunting attire to be worn
• The winning team will be the team completing in shortest time
• 20 seconds will be added to the completed time for each knock down
• Jumps will be approximately 1m

Teams will be required to proceed through start flags (time will be taken as the first horse crosses the line).

The first team member can proceed around the course, once the course has been completed the first team member will then hand their whip to the second team member, who will complete the course, and hand the whip to the third member.

Once the third member completes the course the time will be taken when the last horse crosses the line. The course will include some or all of the following: solid and knock down rails, hedges, footbridge. The chase fence must be jumped the correct way. All other jumps can be jumped either way.