Revamp to Cross country courses at Nunney International

Course designer Helen West will implement significant changes at Nunney International Horse Trials this year.

The redesign is aimed at creating a terrific viewing spectacle, while consolidating the existing courses to give horses and riders a confidence giving test of their cross country skills.
A key difference is that the start and finish will be relocated, thus avoiding a long gallop between the last two fences.

Helen explained: “It will be much more spectator and rider friendly with the penultimate fence at the last road crossing with a short gallop to the last fence. This means there will be a much shorter walk from the lorry park and road crossing down to the start. It also means I will be able to control the speed of the horses at the finish which will help ensure good, accurate jumping right to the line.
“To make up for the shortened course, I plan to take all the courses out into the extra field which has only previously been used in the international classes.”

A new water complex will be located next to the existing Dew Pond giving a variety of jumping options and hedges will be lowered by the main viewing area in the centre of the course enabling spectators to see more of the action.

Helen said: “All these changes are to create a much more user friendly course both for riders and spectators. They are relatively simple tweaks that I think will make a huge difference to both the spectator experience and how the courses ride.”