The History of Royal Windsor Horse Show
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is now in its 76th year having started in 1943 as a way of raising funds for the war effort. The show has run every year since and now includes international classes of show jumping, dressage, carriage driving and endurance racing.
The first show was called the “Windsor Horse and Dog Show”. However, dogs are not allowed to attend The Royal Windsor Horse Show due to a lurcher in 1943 that stole a piece of chicken from King George V’s plate. The committee were so embarrassed that dogs have been banned ever since.
Members of the Royal Family including the Queen have enjoyed the horse show every year that it has taken place. Members of the Royal Family have taken place in the show including HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in the Grand Prix Driving classes and the Queen’s homebred horses and ponies in the show classes.
The show includes four days of CSI5* Show Jumping with the Rolex Grand Prix on the Sunday. Al Shira’aa CDI4* Dressage with best riders from across the world taking part including Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. The FEI World CupTM Qualifier in Driving takes place in three stages. Firstly, the team drive a set of movements followed by the marathon stage and finally the team have a defined time to drive through closely spaced cones.
Royal Windsor Horse Show also hosts endurance classes around Windsor Great Park and Ascot Racecourse. The ride is 120km testing both the horse and rider’s skill and stamina. Showing classes at Royal Windsor have become a popular championship event with Hunter, Cob and Hack classes as well as Supreme Ridden and Mountain and Moorland championships.
Royal Windsor Horse Show is also a fantastic opportunity for shopping with thousands of stands including everything you need for horse and rider, country lifestyle and living, jewellery and fashion as well as a delicious food court and The Royal Windsor Holders Association Pavilion showcasing products and services supplied to the Royal Family.
For tickets and packages visit https://www.rwhs.co.uk/tickets-windsor-horse-show/