Eglinton Horse Trials, Barskimming

Scotland's longest running horse trials: Ran from 1959-2020 all under the same organiser Heather Galbraith. over the ears all levels of competition from BE90- Advanced were run although the advanced ceased in 2014.

The Eglinton Horse Trials – A Potted History! (Heather Galbraith- Organsier)

We moved from Glasgow and moved to Auchendrane in Ayrshire when I was years old; this is when my association with horses began. My sister had a Shetland pony called Prince alias “The Black Devil” he was the 1st pony I rode and during the years I fell off him 77 times! But he redeemed himself by winning the Pony Gallop at Ayr Show in 1938, which was the first show that I rode at.
During the war my four eldest brothers, sister and father served in the navy, my younger brother was away at school and I had free reign of three ponies (Peter, Prince and Gypsy) and three horses (Silver, Rema and Netware) and no matter what I did with them they seemed to enjoy it and always looked after me!

Now in my teens I was sent off to boarding school at Downe House, Berkshire and horses took a back seat. Four years later in 1948 I spent year in London and was lucky enough to see our Olympic riders performing dressage at the Richmond Horse Show. London gave place to Edinburgh where I worked as Physiotherapist at the Royal Infirmary and discovered Redford Barracks, escaping to their Riding School at the weekends. I discovered that one of the Doctors, Paul Heywood was schooling at the Barracks with the view of competing at Harewood 3-day event and being instructed by a soldier from the Scot’s Greys Regiment (Charlie Moffat) just returned from Germany. This sparked my enthusiasm for eventing.

Just around this time I fell heir to Amrak previously bred by my sister but owned by my younger brother who was to busy farming to ride. As I was now working at Ballochmyle Hospital and living at Barskimming I was able to ride more seriously, together Amrak and I progressed through the grades eventually competing at Harewood and Badminton.

Always on the outlook for new venues for events Bill Thompson who at that time was “Horse Trials” (building and designing Harewood and then Burghley) approached me, and asked if I would consider running a Horse Trials at Barskimming. My father kindly agreed and on 11th April 1959 the first and last ever committee meeting was held. In those days most events were associated with the local Hunt so the Masters agreed I should use the name Eglinton. It was with great excitement that during that glorious summer with the help direction and encouragement of Bill Thompson the course was designed and constructed entirely by him. September the 15th was the date of the first Eglinton Horse Trials and we had 32 entries divided into 2 classes. One for the locals and one for more experienced riders, some of whom progressed to compete in 3-day events.

In the second year we introduced an Open (Advanced) class which was won by Brigadier Bolton who had represented Britain in the 1948 Olympics and was one of the riders had been lucky enough to see ride whilst in London.
Other notable winner’s in earlier years are Sheila Wilcox, Judy Bradwell, Jen Caley (who has also been scorer here) and David Goldie, for many years my Chief Steward.

The Trials developed over the years and linked with Annick Horse Trials, Irvine and Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire to become a much-enjoyed part of the Scottish circuit, renowned for the party atmosphere. Later with the disappearance of Annick and Lockerbie, Rowallan was added for a time and then Auchinleck and the party continued!

One of the most exciting moments whilst opening the entries was to find one from Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips, I remember that in her honour of her visit we put tarmac on some of the Avenue, and my most distinguished owner was HRH The Queen, whose horse Columbus won in 1974.

The trials have been well supported by Scottish British Team Members: Ian Stark, Lorna Clark and Annelie Drumond Hay, Ruth Edge and many others including Olympic Team members: Mary King , William Fox Pitt. The late Polly Phillips (former British Team member) also won the Advanced Class twice, and her husband Vere presents a trophy annually in her memory. It should be noted that Vere and Coral Cove, as well as winning the Advanced Class in 2003, won this prize two years in a row. Other top riders have included Pippa Funnell, who fell off in the water 3 times (Ian Stark managed to fall in the water once! ) Gary Parsonage, Christopher Bartle, Rachel Bayliss, Nigel Taylor, Tiny Clapham, Karen Dixon, Ollie Townend; who went home with a lorry load of silver and the Polly Phillips Memorial prize) and Caroline Powell. The entire Lochore Family, the Tullochs, Les Smith, David Gatherer and my great niece Emily Galbraith have represented the top Scottish riders.

As the sport has progressed so have the different levels of competition: we now run from BE90 to Advanced and the rules and regulations are much stricter. In 1959 we had one Doctor, the Red Cross and the Vet “on call” we now have 2 fully equipped paramedic ambulances, specially trained Doctors and Vets and a Horse Ambulance with trained assistants on site, Central Control, radio’s and lots of Officials from British Eventing.
Throughout the years we have been lucky to receive sponsorship from the Midland bank 1970-73, the Clydesdale Bank 1974-1982, Barratt housebuilders1983-86, Antartex part of the Edinburgh Woollen mill from 1987-1990, the Stirlingshire Saddlery in 1991 but from 1992 have relied on a number of generous individual Sponsors.