Bicton Arena Horse Trials in Devon hosts its first horse trials of the season with Badminton Horse Trials specifically in mind. The three days of competition provide a brilliant pre-Badminton run for both the five-star rider and Science Supplements Cup competitor.

The Advanced Intermediate class gives the unique opportunity for those competing at Badminton to ride their dressage test on their Martin Collins surface in the Western Counties arena and to run their horses over a more technical cross country track.

Advanced Intermediate (Friday 17th April):

• Dressage test AI119 (2010) in the surfaced Western Counties Arena
• Show jumping on grass in Bicton Arena’s TopSpec Main Arena
• The cross country course is set to be slightly more technical than the Intermediate/Open Intermediate
• £1,000 to the winner of the class
• Enhanced prize money down the line

“We always look forward to welcoming back our elite riders who choose to compete their star horses at our venue. Bicton is known for its excellent ground conditions and we know that the Advanced Intermediate class will give your horse the prep run it needs,” commented Bicton Arena Manager and Course Designer, Helen West.

BE100 Plus (Sunday 19 April):

• Dressage test BE100 Championship Test 109 (2018) on grass
• Show jumping on a surface with a maximum height of 1.10m (slightly higher than normal BE100 which is 1.05m)
• The cross country course will be at BE100 dimensions (max height 1.00m) with a near maximum course distance to help competitors prepare for the longer course that they will experience at the Science Supplements Cup

“The BE100 Plus is a fantastic class if you want to give your horse the opportunity to experience more of an atmosphere in a 20m x 60m arena. It is the only event where you will be able to ride the BE100 Championship test to practice for the Science Supplements Cup at Badminton. The show jumping phase is also atmospheric as it takes place in the amphitheatre-style Everys arena on an all-weather surface, whilst the cross country is designed at near maximum distance, providing a great preparation for the Championships. We really want riders who are competing in the BE100 Championship at Badminton to have a good run before the event in May,” said Helen.

Entries are open for the event on 9 March so make sure you have included this in your event plans for an early season run. Find out more about Bicton Arena Horse Trials.