Thousands of people are expected to pass through the gates of Blenheim Palace this weekend to watch one of Oxfordshire's biggest sporting events -- the Blenheim Petplan International Horse Trials.
The 12th horse trials, in the grounds of Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, are sponsored by The Oxford Times, with the fourth fence on the cross-county course christened OTT in a competition by Oxford schoolgirl Louisa Tholstrup.
Friday sees the final day of dressage. After 3pm entry will be free and there will be a special performance of the Household Musical Cavalry Ride at 5.15pm, followed by a show jumping demonstration by Fredrik Bergendorff.
Other attractions include a 180-shop retail village including rural crafts, world of wine and the world of the horse.
Tomorrow, the first of the 118 entries will set off on the 28 fence cross-country course just before 10.30am.
On Sunday the show jumping finale will take place in the main arena, with the palace as a backdrop.
Other events include a dog agility competition, a parade of former three day event champions and a falconry display. Hundreds of runners will raise money for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust in a fun run tackling some of the cross-country fences.
Bicester-based rider William Fox-Pitt will be hoping to repeat his success at last year's Blenheim trials of finishing first and second.
Pictured during the dressage is Paul Dempsey on Pepe Le Pew.
Picture: David Fleming
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