Tom Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard at Bramham. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
From June 5-8 all roads lead to Yorkshire for the 51st Defender Bramham International Horse Trials and this year’s event is shaping up to be a cracker. The spring sunshine has the iconic park looking stunning, the equestrian entries are flooding in and the final planning is underway so secure your tickets and plan your 2025 Bramham journey.
The showpiece in Bramham’s timetable are the eventing competitions with the Defender CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S which for 2025 includes a dedicated aware for the best under 25 rider. It’s FEI European Championships year and this time, Britain plays host to event at the Agria Blenheim Palace Horse Trials over 18 – 21 September – go well at Bramham and horse and rider combinations from all over Europe could put their names in the frame for selection. The entry roster stands at 140 currently with a star-studded 15 nations represented. Britain’s Olympic team gold medalist Tom McEwen, reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham and last year’s 50th anniversary champion Harry Meade are just a few of the names entered at present.
Bramham is synonymous with delivering stunning cross-country courses adored by riders and spectators alike. This year is the debut for new designer Andrew Heffernan as he takes over the legacy left by Ian Stark. Working closely with course builder and master of the chainsaw David Evans, Andrew is looking to make his mark with a test befitting of the Bramham tradition but with his own stamp.
Eventing may be at the heart of Bramham but there’s a host of other equestrian competitions too. There’s youngstock and hunter showing classes, a Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifier and British Showjumping classes including a Horse of the Year Show qualifier, a six bar, accumulator and the show’s curtain call, the Wetherby Skips Grand Prix. The Saracens Horse Feeds Arena Eventing classes at 100cm, 90cm and new for this year, 80 cm are a huge favorite on Sunday while local Pony Club teams will be in action all weekend with show jumping and mounted games – many a top rider started their journey to the top in The Pony Club so you may see future medalists in action.
Kirkbourne Spaniels join in the action once again for working dog demos in the Defender arena and the team is also going to be holding dog scurry competitions adjacent to the agility arena throughout the event – something for the canine visitors to enjoy as well as their owners.
Everyone loves a spot of shopping and eating and Bramham’s 160 outlet village has something for every taste – culinary and otherwise. Our title sponsors Defender will be in the heart of the village as well as our 2025 charity partners, Equine Pathways UK, locally based in Leeds.
The team offers equine assisted therapy to improve the lives of children and adults with mental and physical disability. Make sure you drop by their stand to learn more about their crucial work, which makes a real difference. On Friday and Saturday, two of their super star ponies will be in attendance to meet and greet you. They’ll be operating a bad drop so if you can park any shopping while you enjoy your day for a small donation. You can also support their raffle or purchase something from their range of merchandise.
Interested in joining us? Save time and money by booking your Bramham tickets in advance – but hurry, prices will rise on 02 June. Admission tickets start at £18 for over 17s and there’s further savings on weekend and season passes. You’ll also need a car park ticket for your vehicle so don’t forget that – there’s a day, weekend and season option. Upgrade yourself to VIP status with Membership tickets which give you access to the arenaside Members’ pavilion with CCTV, coffee shop, bar and snacks – numbers are limited so it’s worth booking ahead with your entry tickets.
For those who like to be at the heart of the action, we also offer a campsite facility for any type of accommodation with shower and toilet facilities – you can book for a season pass or weekend – but hurry, bookings are limited, and the weekend package is nearly sold out!
Event Director Nicholas Pritchard commented; “We’ve had a fantastic spring on the Bramham Estate with the Park looking truly radiant and green. We’ve welcomed Andrew [Heffernan] and David [Evans]for a few visits and the estate staff are working hard to provide the very best for all our visitors. Andrew brings a new perspective, and I think everyone’s going to love his vision.
“The team and I are in final countdown mode with plans well advanced for what we hope will be another memorable chapter in Bramham’s history. The Lane Fox family and Bramham team are looking forward to welcoming competitors, their connections, our army of officials and volunteers, our sponsors and of course our visitors.”
Visit the website www.bramham-horse.co.uk for all the news, lowdown and ticket information. Follow us on, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as we countdown to the 2025 Defender Bramham Horse Trials!
