20 Most Important Equestrian Tournaments

Equestrian sports showcase the beauty, agility, and partnership between horse and rider.

Featuring a diverse range of disciplines, these prestigious events attract enthusiasts worldwide.

Here’s an introduction to some of the most prominent equestrian competitions.

Most Important Equestrian Tournaments:

Olympic Games Equestrian Events
World Equestrian Games
Badminton Horse Trials
Burghley Horse Trials
Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
Kentucky Derby
Breeders’ Cup
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The Grand National
The Melbourne Cup
The Preakness Stakes
The Belmont Stakes
Royal Ascot
The Cheltenham Festival
The Dubai World Cup
The Epsom Derby
Spruce Meadows Masters
The Velka Pardubicka
The Hambletonian
The Irish Derby

#1 Olympic Games Equestrian Events

📍 Location: Varies globally
📅 Established: 1900
🔄 Held: Every 4 years
👥 Teams: National teams

Olympic Games Equestrian Events are the pinnacle of international equestrian competition, featuring dressage, show jumping, and eventing. First held in 1900, equestrian sports joined the Olympic program.

Historical moments, like the 1952 Helsinki Games introducing women’s equestrian events, marked the evolution of the sport. Powerhouses like Germany, the United States, and Great Britain consistently perform well.

#2 World Equestrian Games

📍 Location: Varies globally
📅 Established: 1990
🔄 Held: Every 4 years
👥 Teams: National teams

The World Equestrian Games, governed by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), gathers the world’s most exceptional equestrian athletes.

Held every four years and showcasing eight disciplines, these Games are the ultimate celebration of equestrian sports. While medals are distributed across various nations, top performers often come from Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, and France.

#3 Badminton Horse Trials

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1949
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Individual riders

The Badminton Horse Trials ranks among the top three-day eventing competitions. Organized by the British Horse Society, this prestigious event includes dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

With an impressive history of challenging courses producing legendary moments, the Trials attract top international competitors. Lucinda Green holds the record for six Badminton wins, while Britain remains one of the event’s most dominant forces.

#4 Burghley Horse Trials

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1961
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Individual riders

The Burghley Horse Trials is another renowned three-day event, featuring cutting-edge dressage tests, exhilarating cross-country runs, and nail-biting show jumping. Established by the sixth Marquess of Exeter, Burghley represents one of equestrian sport’s most prestigious events.

William Fox-Pitt holds the most Burghley victories, while Great Britain, New Zealand, and the United States are leading nations in the competition.

#5 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1978
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Individual riders

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, held at the Kentucky Horse Park, is one of the world’s most challenging and prestigious three-day events.

Comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, this competition has showcased numerous legendary equestrian moments. Michael Jung of Germany holds the record for back-to-back wins, while the United States and Great Britain consistently field strong competitors.

#6 Kentucky Derby

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1875
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Kentucky Derby, dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” is a renowned horse race held at Churchill Downs. With a rich history and substantial purse, this race serves as the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

Multiple horses have made history, such as Secretariat setting the unbeaten record in 1973. The United States boasts the most dominant thoroughbred racing industry.

#7 Breeders’ Cup

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1984
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Breeders’ Cup, held at various North American racetracks, is a prestigious championship event featuring a series of races to crown the best thoroughbred horses. Spanning two days and attracting an international audience, it offers millions in prize money.

Memorable moments including Zenyatta’s historic win in 2009 and American Pharoah’s 2015 victory en route to a Triple Crown and Grand Slam have made the Breeders’ Cup a sporting marvel.

#8 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

📍 Location: France
📅 Established: 1920
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is one of the world’s most prestigious horse races, held at the ParisLongchamp Racecourse. Known as the “Arc,” this race attracts the best middle-distance thoroughbreds.

Frankie Dettori set records riding 6 winners, while France remains the most successful nation. Memorable moments include Enable’s back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018.

#9 The Grand National

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1839
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Grand National, held at Aintree Racecourse, is an iconic steeplechase race known for its demanding course and thrilling drama. With a rich history and global appeal, this race features 40 runners tackling formidable obstacles.

The legendary Red Rum made history with three Grand National wins, while Britain and Ireland consistently field prominent contenders.

#10 The Melbourne Cup

📍 Location: Australia
📅 Established: 1861
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Melbourne Cup, dubbed “The Race That Stops a Nation,” is Australia’s most prestigious horse race, held at the Flemington Racecourse.

With a tradition dating back over 150 years, the race has generated some unforgettable triumphs, like Phar Lap’s 1930 victory. The Australian thoroughbred racing industry has produced a host of top-class contenders, with Makybe Diva claiming a record three wins.

#11 The Preakness Stakes

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1873
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Preakness Stakes, held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, is the second leg of the prestigious American Triple Crown. Historically significant and featuring an illustrious list of past winners, it plays a pivotal role in shaping a champion’s legacy.

Top trainers, like Bob Baffert, and top jockeys, like Eddie Arcaro, have made their names at the Preakness, with American-bred horses generally dominating the winners’ circle.

#12 The Belmont Stakes

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1867
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Belmont Stakes, based in Elmont, New York, serves as the final and most demanding leg of the Triple Crown. Known as the “Test of the Champion,” this race challenges the stamina and tenacity of elite thoroughbreds.

The 1973 victory of Secretariat, by a record 31 lengths, remains an iconic moment in Belmont Stakes history, while American horses frequently dominate the winners’ podium.

#13 Royal Ascot

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1711
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

Royal Ascot, held at Ascot Racecourse, is a prestigious week-long racing event with a royal patronage and a rich heritage. Founded by Queen Anne, this British showcase features top-quality flat racing alongside a mix of high fashion and tradition.

The event captures the essence of British racing culture, with notable moments including Yeats’ historic four-time Gold Cup victory and legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien’s numerous wins.

#14 The Cheltenham Festival

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1902
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Cheltenham Festival, taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse, represents the pinnacle of National Hunt racing. Featuring a variety of hurdling and steeplechase races, including the renowned Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Festival captures the essence of jump racing.

With a strong tradition and a wealth of upsets and unbeaten records, like Arkle’s three Gold Cup victories, Cheltenham remains a cornerstone of the sport’s narrative, predominantly showcasing British and Irish thoroughbreds.

#15 The Dubai World Cup

📍 Location: United Arab Emirates
📅 Established: 1996
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Dubai World Cup, hosted at Meydan Racecourse, is the world’s richest horse race with a massive purse. Established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event showcases international racing talent.

Memorable moments include Cigar’s inaugural race victory in 1996 and Arrogate’s stunning performance in 2017. Top trainers and jockeys from regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia frequently compete in this prestigious event.

#16 The Epsom Derby

📍 Location: England
📅 Established: 1780
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Epsom Derby, or simply the Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race held at the iconic Epsom Downs Racecourse. Steeped in history and prestige, the race is for three-year-old colts and fillies, with the winner often regarded as the best middle-distance horse of its generation.

Legendary trainer Sir Henry Cecil claimed numerous victories, while British and Irish-bred horses often dominate the race.

#17 Spruce Meadows Masters

📍 Location: Canada
📅 Established: 1976
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Individual riders

The Spruce Meadows Masters, held in Calgary, Alberta, is one of the world’s most revered show jumping competitions. Founded by the Southern family, the event offers an intense five-day schedule attracting top international riders.

Notable victories include British rider Nick Skelton and his legendary mount Big Star in 2013. Competitors from European nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands routinely excel at the event.

#18 The Velka Pardubicka

📍 Location: Czech Republic
📅 Established: 1874
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arabian racehorses

The Velka Pardubicka is a historic and challenging steeplechase race held in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Known for its demanding course featuring intimidating obstacles, the race attracts brave and skilled jockeys from around the world.

Josef Vá?a is renowned for his record 8 victories on 7 different horses, while Czech breeders and trainers have historically enjoyed great success in the race.

#19 The Hambletonian

📍 Location: United States
📅 Established: 1926
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Standardbred trotters

The Hambletonian, held at The Meadowlands Racetrack, is the most prestigious harness racing event for trotters in North America. As the first leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters, the race is steeped in tradition and legacy.

Iconic horses like Greyhound and trainer/driver Stanley Dancer have etched their names in Hambletonian history, while American-bred horses have historically been dominant.

#20 The Irish Derby

📍 Location: Ireland
📅 Established: 1866
🔄 Held: Annually
👥 Teams: Thoroughbred racehorses

The Irish Derby, held at the Curragh Racecourse, is a prestigious Group 1 flat horse race for three-year-old thoroughbreds. Considered the most significant event on the Irish racing calendar, top horses compete for the coveted title.

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott claimed a record nine victories, while Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has dominated in recent years. The event is known for showcasing talent from the region’s renowned breeding industry.

FAQ

What is the most important equestrian tournament?

The Olympic Games Equestrian Events are the pinnacle of international equestrian competition, renowned for dressage, show jumping, and eventing disciplines.