The Festival of British Eventing – Gatcombe Park GL6 9BG

Credit - Kit Houghton

School's out, summer is well and truly here. It's time to select a few events to take the children to in between combining, hoping to entertain them. Harvest is going well (touch wood) this year, seeming to be on track. So, we have decided to pop along to The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, home to no less than HRH The Princess Royal. Although you would think this is purely for horse lovers,  The Festival offers a lot more, it's a great family day out for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and the British countryside.
From August 4th through to August 6th –The Festvial becomes a haven for all thing country, with a mix of world class eventing, wonderful displays, shopping and fine crafts there really is something for young and old alike, including my burly farmer husband and my 3 and 2 year old children.

We are going to make a real day of this event, so up early (as usual) and on the road to beautiful Gloucestershire town of Stroud, the journey itself is pretty straight forward, so getting to this venue and parking will be a simple start. Over the weekend the schedule is jam packed, so we're going to plan what we would like to see before we go, I have to say looking at a small offering of what's going on in the main arena, we are in for a real treat. 

VALEGRO - Parade of The World's Best Ever Dressage Horse - 13:30 SUNDAY ONLY

ATKINSONS ACTION HORSES - Saturday & Sunday
Atkinson Action Horses have spent the past twenty years training horses and riders for Film & TV.  With recent credits from Poldark , Victoria, Peaky Blinders, The Living and the Dead & Hippopotamus – it is guaranteed this elite force has at some point invaded your TV screen!
 Tricks/stunts include: Roman Riding, Drags, Falls, Pick Ups, Flips, Horses Rearing and Laying Down.
SHETLAND PONY GRAND NATIONAL - Saturday & Sunday
PONY CLUB MOUNTED GAMES  - Saturday & Sunday
FUN DOG SHOW - Saturday & Sunday
You can bring your own dog along and enter on the day.

For a full itinerary of the arena displays and the eventing program please click here: Plan your day

be All this and I haven't even touched on the eventing program! I am so excited to see some of Britain's top riders go for the following Championship clases: The TopSpec Challenge for The Corinthian Cup, the British Amateur Championship, The Dodson & Horrell British Novice Championship, The Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship, The British Open Championship CIC3* incorporating the Event Rider Masters (ERM) and The Neptune Trophy for Advanced Horses.
It's going to be a spectacle to watch and the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

Credit - Kit Houghton

Credit - Kit Houghton

Shopping, did I mention shopping?? At  The Festival there is a whole shopping village, with trade stands opening at 9am, a whole days shopping would not be out of the question!  Having looked through the exhibitor list, all my country favourites, amazing crafts including jewellery will be there along with new exciting companies.

Credit - Lucy Hall

Credit - Lucy Hall

Credit - Lucy Hall

Ticket wise, I feel this is a really reasonably priced day out for the amount that is on offer and under 13's go FREE, you can buy day or weekend tickets. For ticket information and to book tickets click here. Buy tickets

If you are making this a day out or considering it, let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts and how you plan to spend your day or even weekend.
I'll be reporting on how our day out went after The Festival, I have to say I'm pretty excited about taking to family somewhere new.

Credit - Lucy Hall