Over 20,000 visitors expected to attend inaugural Scone International Horse Trials

Scotland’s newest equestrian event is set to take place this weekend, with more than 20,000 visitors expected to attend the inaugural Scone International Horse Trials.

Held at Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse from August 21 to 24, the four-day event will see competitions across dressage, cross-country and showjumping from a variety of classes.

Organisers have taken over the reins from Blair Castle, who ran a similar event last year.

Viscount William Stormont, from Scone Palace International Horse Trials said: “Blair wound up last year and the provost of Perthshire asked if we could take it on because it is such an important event for the economy and for the local equestrian community.

“We were the only ones who could hold it, so we thought yes why not. We do have a history of running equestrian events here.”

There are a broad range of riders taking part in the four day event, for some its their full time job while others have competed in the most recent Olympics.

Gold medal winner Laura Collett is competing with her Paris Olympics horse London 52 over the weekend and says the horse trials have a “real buzz” about them.

“I’m blown away by it to be honest,” Laura told STV News. “It’s got a real kind of buzz and international feel to it which is fantastic and amazing for a first year, you wouldn’t know it was their first year. It’s a beautiful setting and we’re very lucky to have these amazing facilities. Very happy horses and very happy riders.”

World-class riders from across Scotland and the rest of the UK, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia and wider Europe are set to take part, as well as rising stars in the Scottish Grassroots Championships.

Event rider Davina Johnston from Orkney said: “I started travelling on Friday night last week, so I was seven and a half hours on the boat from Kirkwall to Aberdeen. It’s a bit of a trek, but it’s worth it.”

The cross country course at the event has been created by Alec Lahore, who hails from Moray and will be designing the course for the LA Olympics.

With more than 20,000 expected across the weekend, local traders are hoping for a boost in sales amid a “difficult time” for businesses.

And with another two days to go in the competition, it’s still all to play for in the race to crown the first winner of the Scone International Horse Trials.