The World is Coming to Hartpury!

It has been twenty-one years since a Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Championships has been held in Great Britain; it is therefore with an enormous sense of pride and responsibility that Hartpury College will be hosting the first ever World Para Dressage Championships under the governance of the FEI from the 18th – 22nd July. Entries have been received from one hundred and forty-two competitors spanning thirty three nations, making this the largest World Championships for Para Dressage the world has seen and the most prestigious event ever held at the Gloucestershire venue.

All of the top para riders will be making their way to Hartpury, including Athens Paralympic Gold Medallists’ Lee Pearson and Debbie Criddle (Great Britain), Irene Slaettengren (Sweden), and Ann Cathrin Lubbe (Norway). A very warm welcome is also extended to riders from China, Singapore and the Virgin Islands who are competing in the Championships for the first time ever.

Three days of outstanding equestrian sport is guaranteed, with riders competing to become World Champions and looking to earn their qualifying place in next year’s Paralympic Games to be held in Hong Kong. An International able-bodied dressage (CDI3*), culminating in two gala evening’s on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 July, to include a Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, will add to the spectacular occasion.

The Championships will open and close in true style, with the Bristol based Circo Media providing a circus dimension to the opening ceremony parade, echoing the theme used to open the World Championships for Disabled Riders held at Hartpury in 1994. Highlights of the closing ceremony will include the illustrious Mini Marvels® Team and a fast moving performance by the world famous Metropolitan Police Activity Ride, who will demonstrate the inch perfect timing, total commitment, professionalism and complete trust that is required as horses literally jump through fire!

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, President of the FEI, will be awarding Sunday’s medals and officially closing the Championships. As a long-time athlete in equestrian sport, Princess Haya is the first Arab woman to compete at Olympic, World and Continental championship level and is a committed supporter of Equestrian Paralympic Sport.

Speaking about the Championships, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein said:

“These are exciting times for the discipline of Para-Equestrian as a whole and I am sure that these Championships will be another huge stepping stone in the growth of the discipline. Both the discipline and the athletes richly deserve greater recognition and I feel sure that the Championships will provide an excellent platform for further understanding of the discipline across the world.”

Hartpury College has pledged to deliver an inspiring and successful Championships, and has invested in excess of £4.5 million to prepare a world class venue. In less than 12 months the College has built an impressive International Arena which, once the Championships are over, will provide a fantastic legacy for students and future Hartpury competitors to benefit from and enjoy. The Hartpury Arena includes a 70m x 40m competition surface, a covered warm-up area, a 150 seat panoramic restaurant and bar, seating for 600 spectators and hospitality boxes.

The Championships have been awarded a £200,000 National Lottery funding grant from UK Sports’ World Class Events Programme. Additional support has been offered from British Dressage and 29 generous companies who have kindly offered to ‘Support a Nation’.

UK Sport’s International Director, John Scott, said:

“UK Sport is delighted to support this World Championship, which will also act as the main qualification tournament for the Beijing Paralympic Games. Britain won team gold, in addition to four individual gold medals at the Athens Paralympic Games and we believe that hosting a World Championships on home soil will provide a fantastic opportunity for British riders to continue this success.”