Following a hugely successful 2026 edition, the organising team at the Defender Bramham International Horse Trials can announce the iconic Yorkshire venue has been awarded a 2027 Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Eventing Nations Cup qualifier. The series takes on added prestige next year as a team qualification route for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
One of five legs across Europe, the FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition will run alongside the established Defender CCI4*-S competition, 10 – 13 June and should attract teams from around the globe to secure valuable points towards a place at prestigious final at Boekelo (NED) October 2027. There, and subject to FEI confirmation, the highest ranked nation not already qualified will secure a final coveted place at Los Angeles in 2028.
Introduced in 2012, the series is the ideal chance to introduce up-and-coming talented combinations to a team environment alongside more established horses and riders. Teams of three of four riders go head-to-head over the three phases of dressage, jumping and cross country with the best three scores to count. Each of the team riders also competes as an individual to contest for top honours in the Defender CCI4*-S section, won this year by Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medallists Tom McEwen and JL Dublin.
Defender Bramham Horse Trials Event Director Nicholas Pritchard said; “We were delighted to receive the news from the FEI that we’d been selected to host a qualifier. Bramham is renowned for being a discovery ground for horse and rider combinations with star potential and the Nations Cup will add further impact to those credentials. Add to that being part of a route to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games makes it incredibly exciting. France, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Sweden and Italy are all regular visitors, and the Bramham team hopes to see more flags making the trip to Bramham in 2027.
“To be chosen by the FEI is testament to the incredible group we have at Bramham who deliver a world-class event – from the home team who do the organisation, infrastructure and our showpiece cross country courses to our army of volunteers and loyal sponsors and partners, everyone plays a huge part,” he continued.
The Defender Bramham International Horse Trials will take place from 10–13 June 2027 and early bird tickets go on sale 1 December 2027. Visit the website www.bramham-horse.co.uk for all the news, lowdown and ticket information. Follow us on, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok as we count the days until the 2027 Defender Bramham International Horse Trials.
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Bramham Media Contact:
Winnie Murphy, Press Officer – winsome22@live.co.uk or 07967 186556.