The Royal Festival of the Horse, to be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, (July 9-11) has announced the riders who will be competing in the express eventing competition on Sunday, July 11.

Future senior Team GBR and Olympic hopefuls will compete in the one-seat-sees-all version of three day eventing. The Royal Festival of the Horse will be the only UK venue where spectators can see express eventing in action this year and the list of participants includes riders from the UK, Europe and China.

The selected riders include Sam Watson, who had a top 15 finish in the 2010 Badminton Horse Trials, Phoebe Buckley, who was part of the winning team at the young riders championships in 2005 and successfully completed Badminton this year on Little Tiger. China’s Alex Hua Tian, who received the HSBC ‘Rising Star’ Award in 2009, will also compete.

They will be joined by a talented pool of 16 other young riders, selected for their past performance and future potential. All the riders will be expected to demonstrate elegance in the dressage to music, bravery during the challenging cross-country course and their agility in the grand show jumping finale. In the run up to the Festival, they will benefit from coaching by the top names in all three of the disciplines.

Winner of the inaugural express eventing event, Oliver Townend, comments: “I’m delighted that these young riders are being given the chance to take part in this most exciting challenge. Not only does it provide unique and valuable experience for them but it gives the crowd a ring-side view of three Olympic disciplines all in one day in one arena.”

Sam Watson said: “I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with express eventing. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of establishing this new equestrian spectator sport and I can really see the appeal. Riders get to complete all three disciplines in one day and the audience gets to see all the action up close and personal.”

Royal Festival of the Horse Ticket prices range from £20 for one-day standard admission. A single one-day ticket including a covered seat in the stadium grandstand is £40. Family and weekend tickets are also available.

For more information on the Royal Festival of the Horse and to buy tickets, visit www.royalfestivalofthehorse.co.uk. To buy tickets over the phone, call 0844 581 1400.

Riders taking part are:

Aaron Miller

Alex Hua Tian (Chi)

Alex Postolowsky

Angus Smales

Arthur Duffort (Fra)

Ben Hobday

Camilla Speirs (Ire)

Charlotte Agnew

Christoffer Forsberg (Swe)

Duarte Seabra (Por)

Flora Harris

Gemma Tattersall

Georgie Spence

Ginny Howe

Lauren Shannon

Phoebe Buckley

Samuel Watson (Irl)

Sienna Myson-Davies

Tamsin Hutchins