There’s only one thing we love more than sipping on mint juleps while wearing a fancy hat and watching horses run around a track, and that’s swapping the fanciness of the races for a rough n’ ready day at the trials. The horse trials. ​ With your Barbour zipped up, your welly boots excited about the mud and your hip flask full of ​ ​ what you presume is sloe gin (but can’t quite remember), you get to enjoy the thrill of world-class eventers pounding the ground as they rip through the countryside against the clock, your tipple almost spilling with the thrill of it all, your lungs full of air cleaner than a 90s Disney movie. There really is nothing quite like playing spectator at the horse trials -- and the pick of the bunch is just around the corner: The Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse ​ Trials. ​ We’re talking about a dozen of the top 20 eventers in the world descending on the North Norfolk coast to battle it out for the ultimate bragging rights… on an Olympic year… each rider chomping at the bit as they gallop towards Tokyo 2020. Whatever the phrase “as big as it gets” ​ ​ ​ ​ means to you, this is that and then some -- and you get to witness it with your own eyes as you tuck into a hamper of Humble Pie goodies and Satchell’s wine. What a time to be alive. ​ ​ ​ ​ And in that spirit, here’s everything you need to pop in the notes section of your iPhone. Fun For All The Family We’re roughly 100% sure you’ll want to arrive at Sussex Barns come first light just to watch the ​ ​ ​ ​ crème-de-la-crème of equestrian royalty race across an all-grass course set on an uncharacteristically hilly part of Norfolk, jumping over a mish-mash of obstacles and splashing through an epic water complex -- but just in case you’re wondering what else will be there, boy-o-boy, are you in for a family day out you’ll never forget. ​ ​ World-class competitors aside, you’ll get to browse your way through more than 40 pop-up shops, appease your kids with a playdate on a) one of those trampolines with the bungee ropes ​ ​ attached to it and b) a mind-meltingly awesome range of bouncy castles. And that’s just the first ​ ​ tier of fun. Razz and Pearl will be hosting circus workshops for an extra-dollop of wow, the ​ ​ Lowestoft Dog Display Team (which is only the oldest dog display team in the whole of the UK) ​ will be doing their thang and showing off their team of highly-skilled canines, and Fens Falconry ​ will be displaying their tribe of big birds. Basically, there’s a ton going on. Eventing Just Got Epic For the first time ever - and we literally mean since history began - the ERM (Event Rider ​ ​ ​ Masters) are coming to Norfolk. That’s huge. Massive. Dare we say unmissable. We’re talking ​ about Sussex Barn in little old Burnham Market showcasing some of the best riders from around the world, giving you the chance to get up close and personal with the competitors, fan-girl in ​ ways you never imagined and, who knows, maybe even shake the hands of your childhood heroes (or is it just us who had posters of Mark Todd on their bedroom wall). ​ ​ Seriously, pull any year out of a hat and these International Horse Trials would be called a major ​ event, but this year is different. This year has even more riding on it (pun intended), and that’s because these riders are saddling up with one aim: to reach the Tokyo Olympics and represent their countries in the only Olympic discipline where men and women are allowed to compete on equal terms. No gender divide, just pure skill, talent, nerve and precision where the best horse and rider combo gets to take home the gold. That’s amazing. But here’s what makes The Barefoot Retreats International Horse Trials one of the best on ​ ​ the entire circuit: the spectators are in the thick of the action. You can feel the wind as the horses gallop past, you get to gawp at the size of the jumps, the speeds these animals find, the accuracy the riders need, the precision involved and the skills they’ve developed. You can hear the horses pant and the riders give out instructions, you can feel the ground shake and quake before you even see the horses, and you can see your heart pound through your gilet every time a horse bursts into view and then leaves in a cloud of dirt n’ dust. That’s rare. Not just in the world of horse trials, but in the world of sport, period. Your Luxury Home Away From Home With a weekend of epic eventing on the cards, you want a luxury bolthole that’s close to the action yet in the thick of coastal life, where the pubs are perfect, the restaurants are to dine for, ​ ​ and the views are good enough to ‘gram (translation: pop on your Instagram). Luckily, that’s what this stretch of coastline does best. From Hunstanton to Holkham, Burnham Overy Staithe ​ ​ ​ to North Creake, Stanhoe to Titchwell, we have a collection of incredible retreats all over North ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Norfolk. Of course, that’s probably bad news for anyone with decidophobia. So, to help you out, here are three of our faves: Burnham Market: Gather your tribe and then tell your BFFs to pack their bags too ​ ​ because Hornbeam has everything you need for a fun-filled staycation. Tucked into a ​ ​ gorgeous corner of Burnham Market, this stunning five-bedroom home-away-from-home has everything you could possibly want from laid-back getaway. Pretty village vibes on tap, endless beaches just a CoastHopper stop away, pup-pubs on your doorstep, ​ ​ award-winning restaurants barely a shell’s throw away, and the International Horse Trials just half a country road from where you are. But it’s the space to play and party that will steal your breath; space that oozes charm and style with a garden you could almost lose the kids in. Oh and there’s a games room for those rainy days too. Welcome to the best staycation you’ve ever had. Docking: Looking for a luxury bolthole with enough space to rival the Milky Way and ​ ​ snuggle-worthy comfort everywhere you turn, here it is: Number 6. The perfect place for ​ ​ you and the fam to pop in and out of as you enjoy the horse trials. Wake up with a coffee and some natural light in the open-plan kitchen and make your evenings oh-so-cosy with a crackling log fire and some middle-of-nowhere stargazing. Sat on the edge of Docking, this is a place for those that want to escape everything while still being a short walk from the hustle and bustle of rural village life. And with the space to sleep 6, you could even give into your kid’s demands to have their BFF spend Easter with you. Brancaster: There’s only one way to describe Seagate House and that’s “Wow!” Every ​ ​ ​ ​ inch of this quirky property will send shivers up and down your spine: from the eclectic kitchen to the pinch-yourself cinema room, the oriental-themed snug to the Hobbit-inspired BBQ shack out back. This is one of those places you believed were reserved to movie studios. And yet, as surprising as this will sound, this charming, quirky, mod-con-rich property is just one part of the picturesque puzzle because this astonishing coastal retreat is set just a short stroll from Brancaster beach. So pack your bags, gather a 12-strong squad of good-timers and head to this imaginatively-designed property for the wow-factor getaway you’ve always promised you’d have. Oh and, as tempting as it will be to never leave, don’t forget the Horse Trials are on, and just down the road. Event Details Location: Sussex Farm, Burnham Market, Norfolk, PE31 8EE (20 miles east of King’s Lynn) ​ Dates: 9th - 11th April, 2020 ​ Time: Each day starts at 8.00am ​ Dogs: Are welcomed with open arms (just make sure they’re kept on a short lead at all times) ​ Shopping: Welcome to your rural retail heaven ​ Thanks for reading. To fall even more in love with the North Norfolk coast, do follow us on ​ Instagram and Facebook. ​ ​ ​ .