Karpatia Horse Show 2023: the eighth edition, qualifying phase for Paris Olympic Games

Karpatia Horse Show, the 8th edition, which will take place on September 22-24 on the Cantacuzino Estate in Florești, Prahova, will bring together athletes from Romania and abroad in a historic and elegant location for a unique event in South-Eastern Europe. The CCI 4* International Eventing Competition will earn points for the Paris Olympic Games for the competitors who will participate in these spectacular riding events.  

A true equestrian “festival”, the Karpatia Horse Show brings a different touch compared to other equestrian competitions. The organisers are creating a micro-universe with outdoor activities, live concerts, equestrian demonstrations and lifestyle happenings.There will be three days of adventure and fun, where the classic dressage, cross-country, show jumping events and driving competitions will be complemented by live concerts by popular singers and bands.

On Petit Trianon stage, the singer Laura Bretan (an exceptional voice, finalist of America’s Got Talent and invited on great stages around the world) accompanied by the Argentinian pianist Mariano Castro will perform for the first time in Florești. Other live performances will come from Dora Gaitanovici, Cristina Lupu and the indie rock band Jurjak, artists who stand out for their unique approach to Romanian music.

The event – the only one of its kind in Romania – is an invitation to escape from everyday life, with family, friends or colleagues, as the Cantacuzino Estate is only an hour away from the capital and other cities in Prahova, Brasov, Dâmbovița and Giurgiu counties.The organisers have prepared a variety of activities for both adults and children: from Two- in-Hand and Four-in-Hand Driving demonstrations, lesser-known equestrian competitions and leisure riding, to creative, sports and adventure workshops, gourmet culinary experiences, adventure park, lifestyle fair and even an area with VIP lounges.

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“We are delighted that this edition is a qualifying phase for the Paris Olympic Games. In 2024 we will celebrate 100 years since the 1924 edition. Billions of viewers and millions of spectators will be watching 10,000 athletes competing in 329 events in 32 Olympic sports! Preparations for the Paris International Eventing Competition have already begun, and we are proud that Romania has joined this year’s circuit with Karpatia Horse Show. Riders from Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Switzerland, Great Britain, Spain, Finland and Portugal as well as well-known riders from Romania will participate in the competition. All of them will accumulate important points for the Olympic Games, but they will also offer an exceptional show, a unique chance for the Romanian public to watch them live in the spectacular Dressage, Show Jumping and especially the adventurous Cross-Country events. At the same time, the Transylvanian Grand Masters of Driving will offer, as usual, an extraordinary show of equestrian mastery and technical skill. We look forward to seeing you at the Karpatia Horse Show on the Cantacuzino Estate from 22-24 September”, says  Mihnea Vîrgolici, Event Director.

International Eventing Competition, qualification for 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Aimed at riders up to 4* each event is dedicated one day.

The origin of Eventing can be traced back to competitions in which cavalry officers took part, demonstrating the horses exceptional skills or traced back to fox hunting on aristocratic estates. The public will be able to admire the elaborate movements – now included in the Dressage Event, which will take place on Friday 22 September.

The following day, Saturday, September 23, competitors will cover up to 6 kilometers over varied terrain, jumping over spectacular natural obstacles (stumps, ponds, bushes, etc.) to prove their endurance and speed in all conditions in the Cross-Country Event. On this day, the public is invited to take a walk around the entire course, following the progress of each competitor and the challenges of each obstacle from different viewpoints.

The final event on Sunday, September 24, the Show Jumping Event, is designed to highlight jumps in precise cadence, against the clock, on a course that requires technical skills and strategy, backed up by the impeccable physical condition of such champion horses.

The cumulative points obtained in the Dressage, Cross-Country and Show Jumping events will decide the winner and earn him valuable points for the Paris Olympic Games, exactly 100 years since last hosted by the City of Lights.

The Cantacuzino Estate, a historic place

The 150-hectare estate, together with the Petit Trianon Palace, both founded by Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, are very special and elegant historical monuments that provide every year the ideal “setting” for hosting an Eventing Competition that rivals those of Western Europe.

A “coincidence” is the fact that the Eventing became an Olympic discipline in 1912, when the construction of the Petit Trianon Palace in Florești was underway.

Built in a French eclectic, triumphal, Romantic style and with direct reference to the Louis XIV style, the Petit Trianon Palace in Florești – a smaller replica of the Grand Trianon at Versailles – was designed to demonstrate Romania’s aspirations towards the West and its ties with European culture at the beginning of the 20th century, at the height of the country’s modernisation and prosperity. Prime Minister, Head of Government, President of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, but also a descendant of an old Byzantine imperial family, Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino wanted to leave posterity a symbol of a family that gave Romania several leaders who contributed fundamentally to its development.

Every year, the organisers inspire the public to become environmentally conscious, by volunteering. Moreover, participation in the event also has a charitable dimension: part of the funds raised through ticket sales go towards consolidating the Cantacuzino Estate and the Petit Trianon Palace, which are in urgent need of restoration.

The public is invited not only to participate in one of the most awaited events dedicated to Eventing in Romania, but also to dress up in equestrian style outfits and join the famous parade of elegance on Sunday, September 24, where they have the  chance of winning important prizes.

Karpatia Horse Show means three magical days in the company of horses, but also a full show of athletic performance, the discovery of the Two- in-Hand and Four-in-Hand Driving demonstrations by the Grand Driving Masters as well as working equitation events.

It is a lifestyle inspired by the beauty of horses, the nobility of this equestrian sport, the joy of riding and the rediscovery of a significant part of Romania’s history and heritage by visiting the Cantacuzino Estate in Florești between  22-24 of September. You can visit the estate through guided tours and the organizers can only hope the quality socializing will bring joy to the whole family and friends.

Tickets and subscriptions until September 20

A  3 day subscription costs 120 lei for adults, 180 lei for an adult + 1 child and 230 lei for an adult + 2 children.

Ticket prices for one day only (September 22, 23 or 24) are 80 lei for an adult, 120 lei for an adult + 1 child and 150 lei for an adult + 2 children.

After September 20, a one-day ticket (September 22 or 23 or 24) can be purchased for 100 lei for an adult and 50 lei for a child.

The organiser has also provided a camping area for 10 caravans, 20 car camping places and 200 adults. More details here.

Tickets for a single day can also be purchased at the access points on the Cantacuzino Estate.

The full programme of the event can be found here

To experience Karpatia Horse Show atmosphere, we invite you to watch the retrospective of the 2022 edition

More details and pictures from previous editions and info for this yearțs edition can be found on the official pages.