At Thornton Lodge Equestrian we hold a series of competitions throughout the year covering all disciplines, cross country, show jumping and dressage. Please follow the links in the paragraphs below to find detailed information on each event and to print off an entry form.
In spring we start the season with our first hunter trial towards the end of April. This is a very popular event with entries starting to arrive as soon as the date is published on the website. With a huge range of classes available, including the new nanny and novice, there is something to suit everyone from the minimus rider on the smaller 1'6" fences to the serious competitor tackling the challenging open course.
Please click here for full details of the Spring Hunter Trial.
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A second hunter trial is held at the end of October to round off the competition season and has an obvious Halloween theme to coincide with the date! Prizes are awarded for the best costume in each class and the fences have a suitably ghoulish appearance with many a witch’s hat and black cat being scattered around the course. Again always popular early entries are recommended leaving plenty of time to decide whether to come in costume or to stick with the more conventional cross country outfit!
Please click here for full details of the Halloween Hunter Trial.
At Thornton Lodge we take full advantage of our UK Chasers status to hold qualifier events for the UK Chasers National Challenge. Last year we hosted the final and we will do so again this year when we anticipate riders from all over the country will arrive here in September to compete for the title of National Champion.
The qualifier takes place earlier in the season, usually May or June and like the final, is a multi disciplined event where horse and rider must complete both a timed cross country course and a series of show jumps one after the other.
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You do not have to be a member of UK Chasers to enter, although there is a price reduction if you are and like the hunter trials there is a wide variety of classes from minimus to open.
Please click here for more details.
Held on Friday evenings during April, May and June the UK Riders series of dressage and show jumping competitions lead to a major national final held annually in the Midlands. At Thornton Lodge we firmly place the emphasis on enjoyable competition in a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere and these Friday night events are the perfect place to bring a young horse or for the rider to take the first tentative steps back into the competition scene. Attracting a huge variety of ages and abilities along with horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes no one ever feels left out and many people have arrived full of nerves and worry only to leave with a huge smile and a rosette! A clear round competition is held to get the evening underway and the show jumping starts with a 65cm course working up to a 95cm one, while the dressage has a prelim and a novice test. You may enter as many classes as you like but we ask you to book the dressage in advance although the show jumping can be booked on the night.
Please click here for full details of our UK Riders events.