Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International – a great family day out

There is a sense of anticipation building at Sussex Farm as the finishing touches are being put to the cross country courses, show jumps are moving in to place, and marquees are appearing above the main arena. Next weekend is the 2019 Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International horse trials, and with bumper entries and a world class field, spectators can expect three fantastic days of sport.
Almost 850 horses will have the opportunity to tackle cross country designer Alec Lochore and builder Mark Watler’s challenging and educational courses, ranging from BE100 level (where the jumps are a maximum one meter high) to Four Star. The courses will again run anti-clockwise, a change introduced last year.
Aside from being able to see top athletes such as World Number One Oliver Townend, multi-medal winners William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell, past World and European Champion Zara Tindall and all of last autumn’s World Championship Gold Medal winning team – although individual World Champion Ros Canter will have her feet firmly on the ground due to her pregnancy – there is plenty more to see and do.
New for this year is the Ferretworld Roadshow, with two displays on both Saturday and Sunday, plus the opportunity to interact with the ferrets and have a go at the Ferret Fun Run – billed as ‘the ultimate showdown of human versus ferret! Fen Falconry returns with a variety of birds of prey, plus there will be bungee trampolines, bouncy castles, a climbing wall and Razz & Pearl’s circus workshops, ‘have-a-go’ dog agility hosted by our charity Riding for the Disabled, and over 40 shops.
Bring the family for a great day out – world class sport, great shopping, childrens entertainment and a breath of Norfolk sea air…