Tickets are now on sale for Scotland’s brand-new feast of equestrian sport: Scone Palace International Horse Trials (21-24 August).
Perthshire’s Scone Palace International Horse Trials is poised to be a very worthy successor to Blair Castle International Horse Trials, which held its final event in 2024, and will be the most significant addition to the equestrian calendar for many years. Scone Palace is an established and historic venue in the heart of Scotland, with excellent access and amenities.
Set in the beautiful park and grounds of Scone Palace on the banks of the River Tay and utilising the permanent structures and facilities of Perth Racecourse, Scone Palace International Horse Trials will host international eventing classes from CCI4*-L to CCI1*, which are bound to feature many of the top event horses and riders in the country.
As well as the stars of the sport, Scone Palace will give grassroots riders the opportunity to compete alongside their heroes in the thrilling atmosphere of a major event. There will be British Eventing national classes at BE100 and BE90 level – including the prestigious Scottish Grassroots Championships.
Scone Palace will also hold a multitude of showing classes for hunters, cobs, Highland Ponies, Clydesdales, native ponies and retrained racehorses, among others, with British Showjumping classes, Pony Club mounted games, arena eventing competitions and BHS Scotland Style Jumping.
There will be superb shopping with a carefully curated selection of local and national retailers, excellent food and drink options and hospitality packages.
Tickets for all days of Scone Palace International Horse Trials, including Membership and camping, go on sale today (Wednesday, 19 February) for those with Priority Access, and on general release on Friday, 21 February). All ticket prices include parking.
William, Viscount Stormont, owner of Scone Estates, said: “The team have put in a huge amount of work in a very short period of time to get this event up and running, and at an exceptional standard. I am extremely proud to be hosting an event of this scale and calibre at Scone, and excited by the prospect of attending it in this, its first year. In particular I would like to highlight the goodwill we have received from the equestrian community. It has filled us with confidence as we set out on this journey to create one of the UK’s finest sporting events. We are not getting ahead of ourselves; there is a long way to go yet, but we have the makings of a superb event!”
Event Director Alec Lochore said: “Eventing has a 50-year history at Scone Palace; horse trials have happened here in the 1960s, 1990s, the ‘noughties’, and now in 2025. This beautiful venue offers a range of varied topography and great natural features, and we will be utilising some of the elements that were part of the eventing tracks of the past here. The main arena, with the River Tay in the foreground and Scone Palace as the backdrop, will be stunning.
“One of the great opportunities we have here is working with Perth Racecourse, and its staff’s knowledge and experience in producing good footing for the horses. There is a large and diverse range of machinery and irrigation options, all of which will be used appropriately with the intention of achieving the best possible ground.
“The racecourse’s structures are a huge advantage; as just one example, we will be able to accommodate a significant number of horses in permanent stabling.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the sport at a prestigious and historic venue and we are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors to experience Scottish hospitality.”
For more information, including a full timetable, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sconehorsetrials.com.
