The Shetland Pony Grand National

In the unlikely event that you’ve never seen or heard of this before, it is exactly what it sounds like it is – Shetland Ponies racing over miniature Grand National style fences! Always great fun to see!

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Horse Endurance

CEI2* Endurance is taking place on the Friday of the Show. Competitors ride a 160km, 120km or 80km set course around beautiful countryside taking in parts of Windsor Great Park and Ascot. It is a test of skill and stamina for both horse and rider.

Meet of the Hounds

Sunday sees the Meet of Hounds – a chance to see these historic dogs at their finest. Dating back as far as 2500 years ago, the modern bloodlines can be traced as far back as 1830. Here we get the chance to see a parade of some of the finest examples in Britain today.

The highlights of the Royal Windsor Horse Show

• With such a variety of equestrian activities, there’s something for every horse lover to enjoy at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
• Around 250 shopping stands, both equestrian and non-equestrian, so plenty to see and do for non-horsey friends and family!
• The Food Festival! Need we say more?!
• The Royal Warrant Holders shopping marquee.
• A chance to enjoy the private grounds of Royal Windsor Castle.
• Rubbing shoulders with Royalty/big names of the sport and trying to pretend like you’re ultra cool about it – probably failing. Before you ask – no you cannot ask the King for a selfie! 😉

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The lows of the Royal Windsor Horse Show

• Prepare yourselves… Dogs are not allowed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – what? An equine event with no dog? Not even hounds? Sorry folks, but Fido MUST stay at home!
• The parking is fairly limited and you need to pay £8-£10 to park your car (Parking for blue badge holders is £4). If the car park is full you need to find your own local parking via this link. All the car parks are at least a 5-10 minute walk from the showground.
• The showground gets incredibly busy, particularly on the weekend days, prepare to feel somewhat like a sardine in a tin at times
• Expect to spend some time parked on local roads as you creep your way into the showground plan for it to take AGES to get in and find somewhere to park.

NB: A good sneaky alternative (but don’t tell everyone!) is using the incredibly close train stations – many a visitor to the Royal Windsor Horse Show has been known to park up a few stops away, leave the car there an hop on a train the last few stops, which will leave you less than a 5 minute walk from the showground!

What is the best day to go to the Royal Windsor Horse Show?

There really is so much to see and do at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – too much to detail here, so the best thing to do is to head over to the Royal Windsor Horse Show website and take a look at their calendar here.

How much are tickets to the Royal Windsor Horse Show and where can I buy them?

Ticket prices alter depending on which day you wish to go, with Thursday being the cheapest options with tickets from £16/£31 + admin fees. There are options to book seating, access to hospitality enclosures, or even to just visit for the evening show events (from 4pm). To give you an idea, entry costs:

Thursday – £16-£58 plus admin fees

Friday – £21.60-£68 plus admin fees

Saturday – £25.60-£79 plus admin fees

Sunday – £25.60-£79 plus admin fees (no evening only option)

General admission includes:

• Access to Royal Windsor Showground which includes all five arenas as well as the Windsor Shopping which hosts more than 200 shops.
• Limited unreserved grandstand or bench seating at all five arenas.
• Access to the Showground from half an hour before the start of the first class to the end of the final class.

General Admission with reserved seating includes:

• A reserved seat in the Castle Arena grandstand in a central location
• Access to the Showground and all five arenas
• Access to Windsor Shopping
• General Entry Ticket includes access for the daytime and evening performances.
• Reserved seating available for the daytime and / or evening performances.

Windsor Enclosure Daytime Entry

• Reserved seat in The Queen’s Stand at the Castle Arena until 5pm
• Access to the Windsor Enclosure
• Lawn with views onto the arena
• Bar and deli
• Access to the Showground, all five arenas and Windsor Shopping

You can select and buy your ticket to the Royal Windsor Horse Show here.

Are you grooming or competing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show?!

If you’re a rider or a competition groom at Royal Windsor this year let us know! Send us your pictures and stories and we’ll add them to our Royal Windsor Horse Show 2025 gallery!

This show certainly deserves a place in the “day trip” calendar. The one time a year that we avid horse folk are welcomed into the Queen’s back garden with open arms to enjoy an array of equine disciplines rarely seen in one place. (Also, where else will you be watching a showing class, turn to your left and notice the person stood just a few yards up, equally enraptured, is the Queen herself?! She is well known to go out and about, taking in the atmosphere and watching some top class horses, all with very little fuss or ceremony!)

Whatever your interest, you are sure to find it here, and will also probably go home full of enthusiasm to teach that horse of yours some skill at arms, or possibly turn the yard Shetland into a Grand National contender! With multiple rings showcasing the best the horse world has to offer, more shopping than you can shake a worried looking Visa card at and so many wonderful food options that a Slimming World membership may look like a good birthday present, it really is one to enjoy every moment of! After all, you’re certainly going to burn some calories when you get home & start practising your mounted games!

Get a taste of the Royal Windsor Horse Show! #RWHS