High volumes of advanced ticket sales look set to see Scotland’s leading equestrian event, the Blair Castle Barclays International Horse Trials, bring a major boost to the Scottish economy by breaking the £4.5million barrier for the first time in its 25 year history.

The expected boost comes as the event team reveal that there has been a 20% rise in advance ticket sales on the same period last year, as they expect to welcome up to 45,000 visitors across the four-day event which runs from 22-25 August.

The economic impact prediction comes as event organisers continue to see a steady rise in the return on investment the event brings each year.

Alec Lochore, Event Director of the Blair Castle Barclays International Horse Trials and Country Fair, said: “This is the premier equestrian competition in Scotland, and with advance ticket sales proving more popular than ever, we are confident that we could potentially see the event bringing £4.5million to the Scottish economy for the first time in the event’s history. This is especially exciting as it comes as we celebrate the event’s 25 year anniversary. We also expect the high volume of competitors and visitors to the event to rise year on year as we work towards hosting the 2015 European Eventing Championships.

“With more than one in three of the visitors to Blair Castle during the weekend of the Horse Trials staying overnight, with many of those staying in Scotland for up to a week, and with so much happening across the event, it’s the perfect excuse for a family trip to the Cairngorms.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “We’re delighted to once again be supporting the Blair Castle Barclays International Horse Trials. Scotland is the Perfect Stage for events and the horse trials are a great international event for Perthshire, even more so since Blair Castle will be the stunning venue for the 2015 European Eventing Championships. From dressage to Pony classes and showjumping, as well as a renowned country fair and countryside pursuits, the horse trials is a fabulous event for professional riders and an opportunity for the public to experience world class eventing.”

Calum Brewster, Regional Head of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management for Scotland and Northern Ireland, the main sponsor of the event said: “This is the third year Barclays has supported the Horse Trials and it is gratifying to watch its importance evolve, not only as an equestrian event but as a landmark in the Scottish tourism calendar.  Supporting such an event is particularly important given the economic boost it brings to the immediate local area and also Scotland as a whole.”

The key sponsors of this year’s event include Barclays, Bruadar, Bedmax, Equi-Trek Horseboxes, Mitsubishi, CKD Galbraith, Albert Bartlett and Aardvark Safaris. This event is also supported with funding from EventScotland’s International Events Programme and is a part of the Year of Natural Scotland 2013, a chance to highlight Scotland’s great natural assets and reputation as a land of outstanding natural beauty.