Kokova Magazine

Hickstead are delighted to be the long-standing host of the Longines Royal International Horse Show (RIHS), Tuesday 30th July - Sunday 4th August 2013 with Her Majesty The Queen as the Patron of this Official Horse Show of The British Horse Society.

Having celebrated its centenary in 2007, the RIHS is now the venerable age of 106, and one of the oldest horse shows in the world.

As one of the biggest outdoor shows in the country, the Longines Royal International Horse Show uniquely sees the elite of many equestrian disciplines compete side by side: it has everything from the thrills and spills of international showjumping to the elegance and glamour of champion showing horses and ponies, to the exhilarating buzz of the country's best eventers flying across country.

For showing riders, this is exclusively a championship show, and is the culmination of many months of qualifications throughout the winter, with a host of prestigious classes for every breed of British horse and pony.

The show also stages the peak of winter national showjumping qualifiers as the home to the British Showjumping Winter Finals.

As one of only eight global hosts to the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Series, the show is also the British public's only chance to see their national showjumping team compete on home ground.

Visit www.hickstead.co.uk for more information and to book tickets now.

New Ladies' Day Enclosure at Hickstead

On the Saturday of the Longines Royal International Horse Show (3rd August) the most stylish ladies at Hickstead are invited to watch the action from an exclusive new ringside enclosure with a private bar and special hospitality discount.

Not only that, those who dress to impress will also have the chance to win a host of great prizes, including a luxury two-night stay at a spa hotel in West Sussex.

Now in its fifth year, Hickstead Ladies' Day is held on the penultimate day of the Longines Royal International Horse Show (30th July - 4th August). The day is held in support of Variety, the Children's Charity, and it has become established as one of the highlights of the Sussex social calendar.

This year, our celebrity judge will be selecting the winners of the 'Best Dressed Filly' and 'Most Stylish Stallion' prizes.

Elegant dresses or stylish suits, teamed with hats or fascinators, are very much the order of the day for the ladies, and Hickstead's team will be roaming the showground seeking out the best dressed ladies. Ten finalists will be invited into the International Arena, and all of our glamorous ladies will be presented with a beautiful bouquet from florists Kiki & Cole.

The Best Dressed Filly will then be selected by our celebrity judge, with the overall winner receiving a pampering two-night stay with breakfast for them and a guest at the Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa in West Sussex.

The winner will be treated to a delicious dinner on the first night (up to the value of £100, all drinks chargeable) and quintessentially British afternoon tea for two on the second day. They'll stay in a five-star luxury bedroom and will be treated to one 25-minute spa treatment per person.

The first runner-up wins a luxurious overnight stay at Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa, with dinner for two and two one-hour spa treatments; while the second runner-up wins an eight-course dining experience for two people at the Michelin starred Pass Restaurant at the South Lodge Hotel.

This year, men also have the chance to dress to impress with a bottle of champagne being presented to the 'Most Stylish Stallion'.

The Ladies' Day Enclosure offers unparalleled views of the action in the International Arena, with tickets for the enclosure costing £35 per person. Guests will also benefit from a special Ladies' Day hospitality discount and priority booking for the adjacent Ringside Restaurant, where a sumptuous buffet lunch costs an additional £36.50 per guest.

The International Arena will once again be the scene of top class showjumping, with the Templant Events Queen Elizabeth II Cup forming the feature of Saturday’s action, alongside plenty of showing, scurry driving and carriage driving.

Visitors should also make time to visit the huge Charles Owen Shopping Village, which is home to hundreds of tradestands selling everything from tack, clothing, footwear, gifts and accessories.

To book tickets for the Longines Royal International Horse Show, go to www.hickstead.co.uk or call 01273 834315.