In April 2020, and in the interest of legacy, I penned a Wikipedia entry recording the thoughts and notable achievements of myself as Harveywetdog. I admit I was ignorant of the rules concerning self promotion on Wikipedia at the time; consequently my entry was unfortunately, although arguably correctly, deleted and my account expunged from the system. As a result my original words and links were sadly lost but nevertheless here is an attempt at a rewrite. Perhaps when I'm gone someone will be able to enter it onto Wikipedia on my behalf, to serve as a fitting epitaph for the exciting times I spent on the Harveywetdog Project.
While ‘football fever’ is set to grip the nation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a small corner of Yorkshire will be bringing ‘equestrian euphoria’ to the masses at the Defender Bramham International Horse Trials, 11 – 14 June. April showers and sunshine have the iconic park looking beautiful and ready to provide the perfect backdrop for four days of world class eventing, top equestrian action and the ultimate spectator experience. So…footy or horses, which will you choose?
The jewels in Bramham’s crown are the Defender CCI4*-L and CCI4*-S competitions and entries from some of the world's best are coming in. There are currently over 150 entries from ten nations on the stellar roster with many of the combinations hoping to catch the eye ahead of this summer’s FEI Eventing World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
Britain’s Olympic team gold medalist Tom McEwen, world number one Harry Meade and current European champion Laura Collett fly the home side flag alongside names like Zara Phillips, Piggy March, Kitty King and Gemma Stevens.
All our 2025 champions make a return – two are hoping to defend their titles including current Defender CCI4*-L champions Bubby Upton and Its Cooley Time and British U25 title holders Tom Woodward with Low Moor Lucky. It’ll be a new name on the Defender CCI4*-S trophy as last year’s victors Yasmin Ingham – who’ll be hoping to defend her World Champion crown in August – and Gypsie du Loir step up to the long section.
The Bramham Organising Team has declared 2026 a year of reform with a number of positive changes in the offing. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the park where course designer Andrew Heffernan started with a clean sheet of paper with the routes looking very different with several new fences introduced. Andrew, working with master builder David Evans and team, has worked hard over the winter to produce a track with equine welfare at the fore but also delivers a test which Bramham is synonymous with. The countdown until the final tracks are revealed is underway but expect something truly special.
The heartbeat of the event – the Defender and Top Spec arenas and tradestand village – have also undergone some changes. The Pol Roger Members’ Enclosure has moved around the main arena and to ensure a judge’s eye view on the dressage days, the arena itself has rotated too. The facilities for members have also been part of the change and this year’s offering promises to be the best ever. New premium catering options from the Harrogate Food and Drink Company, luxury amenities and a welcoming feel will take visitor’s Bramham experience to the next level – so why not treat yourself?
While horses take center stage at Bramham, the shopping and culinary treats come a close second. The 150 outlets in the tradestand village have something for everyone. The Country Living Pavillion, a firm favourite with visitors, has moved location and is now arena side and will be bigger and better than ever. Title sponsors Defender will of course be there to showcase their impressive fleet and remember that anyone with a Land Rover key fob will be able to visit the Land Rover Owners’ Lawn for a welcome coffee break.
Make sure you pay a visit to our 2026 charity, Cystic Fibrosis Care who’ll be onsite to showcase their tremendous work to support children and adults living with this debilitating, life shortening disease. They’ll also be offering a bag drop where you can park your purchases while you walk the course, take refreshments or head off to buy more!
Time spent outdoors is never wasted and one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a garden. So, it’s with huge excitement that we welcome the Askham Byran Floral and Plant Marquee for this year. The college’s horticulture department will be there with a vast selection of flowers, seasonal, perennial and house plants for sale. Plus, the staff and students will be hosting a range of talks, expert advice sessions and ‘Have a go’ activities.
A further new addition this year will be the Chatham Chat Zone. Over the weekend the equestrian ‘hostess with the mostest’ Nicole Browne will be hosting insightful sessions with an array of great guests. If you’re visiting, make sure to check out the Bramham App to find out who’s on and when on Saturday and Sunday.
Eventing may be the sporting spotlight at 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 80cm are a huge favourite on Sunday while local Pony Club teams will be in action all weekend with show jumping and mounted games – always a crowd favourite with plenty of spectator encouragement!
Have you bought your passes yet? Save time and money by booking your Bramham tickets in advance – but hurry, advance prices end on 07 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 Pol Roger Members’ Enclosure tickets – you can do it on the day but these are likely to sell out so we advise buying ahead.
For those who like to be at the heart of the action, we also offer a glamping courtesy of The Glamping Group or 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’re approaching the busiest time in the build up to the event and the site is really coming to life, to see our vision and changes for this year in action is truly exciting. Everything is coming together nicely thanks to our incredible team on the ground and the wider support of our sponsors, contractors and volunteers.
A quick glance down the entry lists really lifted the excitement levels with some of the world’s best heading to Yorkshire – and we’re delighted to be playing a part in their eventing journey – whether that’s a place on their national team or simply moving to the next level. Andrew’s course looks a cracker, and we can’t wait to open the gates to everyone to share all the Bramham traditions alongside our new look.”
Visit the website www.bramham-horse.co.uk for all the news, lowdown and ticket information. Follow us on, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok as we count the days until the 2026 Defender Bramham International Horse Trials.
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