10 Biggest Horse Shows & Equestrian Events in the World

It’s a thrilling experience to attend a horse show, whether you’re participating or just watching. Should fortune favour you, you could get the opportunity to see some of the world’s largest horse exhibitions and equestrian competitions.

Prestigious horse events featuring various breeds and disciplines may be found in America and across the globe. To compete against the best of the best, some of the most accomplished riders and horses arrive. These events draw competitors and viewers from all over the world, ranging from eventing to show jumping and everything in between.

The largest horse shows in the world are listed below.

1. United States: Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event
   

Three-Day Land Rover Kentucky Event

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is one of the most prominent eventing exhibitions, drawing riders from all over the globe. The renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky is the venue for this premier sport.

Thousands of fans go each year to see some of the best horses and riders in the world. Horses and riders are put to the test in show jumping, dressage, and cross-country during the competition. Every year, the exhibition takes place on the last weekend of April.

The tournament is at the highest level in the sport, five stars. A large number of the contestants from this programme go on to participate in the Olympics.

2. The British Badminton Horse Trials

The English Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucester

One of the world’s most prestigious eventing contests, the Badminton Horse Trials are hosted at the stunning Badminton House in South Gloucestershire, England. The Trials is a five-star tournament that has been held for over 70 years and is designed to assess the world’s greatest eventers.

Every year, in April or May, the Trials are held. Usually, an astounding 200,000 people show out to witness the greatest of the greatest. In the UK, it is the paid athletic event with the greatest attendance.

Events for dressage, show jumping, and cross country take place across the stunning estate. Leading eventers come together from all around the globe, and many of the competitors go on to participate in the Olympics.

3. The American horse show, Devon

The Devon Horse Show is located in Pennsylvania, USA.

Every June since 1896, Devon, Pennsylvania has hosted the Devon Horse Show. It is America’s largest and oldest outdoor multi-breed horse exhibition.

A rural fair is also conducted in conjunction with the horse show. Donations to the performance have now exceeded $15 million, all in support of the Bryn Mawr Hospital. Saddlebred, Hackney, Roadster, hunter/jumper, equitation and open pleasure classes (Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat, Pleasure Driving) are among the classes that attract Morgans and Friesians.

The breathtaking fairgrounds serve as the venue for competitions involving elite riders from throughout the nation. Each year, thousands of people attend the event and take use of the fair’s activities.

4. Canada’s Calgary Stampede

The largest horse exhibition in the world, the Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede, dubbed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” welcomes more than a million people each year. It includes a chuckwagon race, parade, and rodeo among its numerous festivities.

Every July, the city of Calgary, Alberta, hosts the Calgary Stampede. It’s one of the biggest rodeo competitions in the world, including bronco riding, steer wrestling, roping, barrel racing, and bareback riding. There is an incredible $2 million in prize money in the rodeo alone throughout the course of the ten days of competition.

Leaders in the community assist the hundreds of volunteers who organise the stampede. Not only is it one of Canada’s biggest horse competitions, but it’s also one of the biggest festivals.

The fifth is the Royal Horse Show (UK)

Toronto’s Royal Horse Exhibition

Olympians and elite riders from across the world compete in the Royal Horse Show, which is a component of the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair. Every November, the Royal is hosted in Toronto, Ontario, for ten days.

The pinnacle of show jumping is included at the prestigious horse event. There are other classes for roadster, hackney, Thoroughbreds, Welsh Ponies/Cobs, draught horses, equitation, hunters, and carriage driving. 300,000 people attend the widest range of horse competitions and breeds in Canada each year.

Every year, almost a thousand horses compete for awards worth about $1 million. There is a sizable agricultural festival with cattle, crops, and cuisine in addition to the horse show.

6. The United States’ AQHA World Championship Show

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is home to the AQHA World Championship Show.

Every November, for 20 days, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma hosts the AQHA World Championship Show. This esteemed exhibition has around 5,000 Quarter horses competing from different nations.

English and western riding are offered in a wide range of classes, making this the biggest single-breed world championship. Reining, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, jumping, in-hand, ranch, and much more are all included in the three weeks of competition. There’s a sizable trade exhibition and educational programmes in addition to the show.

The top Quarter horses in the world compete in front of thousands of spectators. Many world champion titles for amateur and open exhibitors are available at this premium exhibition.

The Seventh Royal Windsor Horse Show (UK)

Outside Windsor Castle in England, the United Kingdom hosts the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

The biggest outdoor premier show in the UK is the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place at the stunning Windsor Castle. Since its inception in 1943 to aid in the funding of World War II, the programme has become more and more well-liked.

The sole international competition for dressage, endurance, carriage driving, show jumping, and showing in the United Kingdom is the Royal Windsor. The International Show Jumping is the show’s high point out of all the competitions. Every June, the exhibition showcases some of the top horses and riders.

Competitors from across the globe gather for this esteemed event. Every year, thousands of people watch; the Queen herself makes an appearance.

8. United Kingdom’s London International Horse Show

Olympia’s London International Horse Show

The London International Horse Show is one of the biggest horse exhibitions in the UK, including a broad range of disciplines. Known by another name, Olympia, it takes place every December the week before Christmas.

The show includes dressage, exhibiting, driving, mounted sports, and even dog agility, while show jumping is the major draw. It is the only event in the UK to have the driving, show jumping, and dressage FEI World Cup qualifiers. The Shetland Grand National, the British Show Pony Society final, and the thrilling puissance competition are all held during the London International Show.

Each year, thousands of people come to see this amazing exhibition of horse competitions. Several Olympians and world-class equestrians go from all around to participate in this international competition.

9. CHIO Aachen, Germany hosts the World Equestrian Festival

CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival

The World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, the world’s biggest and most popular equestrian event, takes place in the picturesque German city of Aachen. It’s often regarded as the “Wimbledon of equestrian sport.”

The event features the top divisions of competitors in driving, dressage, vaulting, and show jumping. The annual Aachen Grand Prix, the jumping competition, takes place on the last day of the show and is the festival’s main attraction. World-class horses and riders, including Olympians, travel to participate in this prestigious event.

An amazing 350,000 people attend the event, which is held in September, to witness the best of the best compete over 10 days. The Aachen Symphony Orchestra performs live music during the “Horse & Symphony” presentation, one of the festival’s many other activities.

10. The French Paris Horse Show

The Horse Show in Paris

The Paris Horse Show, which takes place in the centre of Paris, showcases stunning horses and riders from a range of disciplines. For ten days, about 2,000 horses congregate for competition, sales, breeders, equine ethology and health, and performing arts.

Show jumping, dressage, vaulting, western, harness, and eventing are all part of the competition. The World Arabian Horse Championship and the Longines Masters de Paris international horse jumping are also held during the event. Other joyous occasions include the Night of the Horse and the Salon du Cheval Parade.

Every year, the performance, which takes place in late November or early December, draws around 150,000 viewers. Visitors may see demonstrations and even take a horse for a ride in the Western style.