Scone Palace is proud to announce, in partnership with British Eventing, that it will host a new CCI4*-L horse trials event from August 2025 – the Scone Palace International Horse Trials.
Earlier this year it was confirmed that the 35th annual Blair Castle International Horse Trials, being held later this week, would be the final such event at the venue. Since that decision was announced, Scone Palace has engaged with the sport to bring a new major event to Perthshire.
The first Scone Palace International Horse Trials will be held next August in the historic and picturesque Parklands of Scone Palace and the adjacent Perth Racecourse, offering a unique and enhanced setting for this new world-class event. The establishment of this equestrian competition at this iconic location reinforces Perthshire’s status as a premier destination for international sporting events and ensures the continuation of top-tier eventing in the region.
Brian Stevenson, CEO of Scone Estates, expressed his enthusiasm for the new event, “We are absolutely delighted that Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse will establish and host the Scone Palace International Horse Trials. We are thrilled to bring a new and major event to Perthshire, highlighting the region as a premium destination for large-scale international events. The team and I look forward to working with British Eventing to deliver another world-class event.”
William, Viscount Stormont of Scone Palace, also noted, “Perth Racecourse and the Parkland at Scone Palace are a fantastic setting for this new international event. The Parkland has a long history of hosting eventing competitions, and we know that many Scottish equestrians have fond memories of eventing here. We are delighted to build on the legacy of Blair Castle and bring a new event to new generations for decades to come.
“Equally, we are pleased to introduce the facilities at Perth Racecourse to a new international event and to deploy the team to produce a best-in-class eventing surface. We must also acknowledge the Troughton family and everyone at Blair Castle for delivering 35 years of world-class eventing, and we wish them all the best for the final horse trials at Blair Castle.”
The Scone Palace International Horse Trials is anticipated to draw equestrian enthusiasts and competitors from around the world, further cementing Scone Palace’s reputation as a venue for exceptional international events. The partnership with Perth Racecourse will offer enhanced facilities and an unparalleled setting, ensuring the event’s continued success and growth in its new home.
Matthew Taylor, Director of Racing at Perth Racecourse, said, “We are delighted to be taking on the honour of running the new Scone Palace International Horse Trials at the Parkland at Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse. The team at Blair Atholl has done a wonderful job over the past 35 years of hosting such a coveted event in the equestrian calendar. We cannot wait for the opportunity to begin our own new chapter and deliver what we are confident will be Scotland’s leading equestrian event.
“The grounds teams between both the Scone Palace team and Perth Racecourse team have a vast amount of experience and machinery to provide a world class surface for next August.”
Scone Palace will also be the new home for the Scottish Grassroots Championship with further additional national and international classes being incorporated within the championships. Both British Eventing and Scone Palace are actively working on the schedule and further details will be released when available.
British Eventing CEO, Rosie Williams, said, “We are thrilled to announce that Scone Palace will establish a new and exciting fixture within the British Eventing calendar. We couldn’t have hoped for a better venue. The BE team and the team at Scone will be working tirelessly over the coming months to ensure everything is ready for next year’s event. It’s fitting that the final event at Blair will be a celebration of its many years of success. We now look forward to Scone carrying on this proud tradition.”
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