Thousands trot along to horse show

Unbroken sunshine attracted thousands to Bexhill Horse Show.

The show is an event steeped in local tradition, having its origins almost a century ago with the Horse Parade of 1903.

Then, the horse still dominated both the farm and local transport. The parade was an occasion for carriers and tradesmen to compete for the most smartly turned-out teams.

Eight and a half years ago Dave Littler was planning to buy a Harley Davidson motorbike. But, on a whim, he bought a shire horse colt instead.

On Monday, Kitchenham Major "Duke" - all 19-plus hands of him - took pride of place with "Brigadier" in the South Eastern Shire Horse Association display.

Now nine, Duke, together with Brigadier hauls a chain harrow for Dave and pulls a roller. "We have just got a horse-drawn mower," says Dave.

The ancestry of the Shire Horse, largest of all the breeds, dates back to the Medieval Great Old English Black Horse which took knights in armour into battle.

Dave says of Duke: "I bought him instead of a Harley Davidson! Now we have four. And I would never swap them. They are wonderful. So powerful but so even-tempered."

With the coming of the tractor and the lorry, heavy horses almost become extinct. It is only the work of enthusiasts such as Dave which maintains the breed for new generations to enjoy.

But noble animals like Duke and Brigadier - a crowd-puller at any show - are a symbol of the nation's enduring love for the horse.

This was amply demonstrated on Monday with a bumper entry in 20 classes in three show rings for a day where the working hunter and the child's beloved Shetland could share the limelight.

Not only were entries up on last year, the Spring Bank Holiday event, staged for Rother council by volunteers, drew such an attendance that the organisers ran out of programmes.

By early morning, Horse Show Committee chairman Diane Baker said: "We are delighted by the number of entries and by the attendance."

The going on Polegrove's turf was decidedly "firm" and many riders were grateful for the sand provided by the council.

This softened both the approaches and the exits to the jumps and protected the multi-purpose sports ground from damage.

Rother chairman Cllr David Vereker was a morning visitor to the show.

Principal event in Ring One was the Senior British Novice Championship, a qualifying first-round event for the British Show Jumping Association event.

Ring one also saw local jumping, the fist round of the Equissage Discovery Championship and the private driving and show drive class, a qualifier for the Osborne Refrigeration Championships.

Ring Two was the scene of the working hunter and working hunter pony classes, the riding horse and riding club pony events and the fancy dress plus unaffiliated open jumping and novice jumping.

Ring Three action included competitions for best condition and turn-out, best rider, family pony, veteran and in-hand mountain and moorland plus gymkhanas in three age groups, starting at eight and under.

The magnificent but malodorous Coakham Bloodhounds attracted attention throughout the day and there was eager competition for the exemption dog show.

Air Training Corps Cadets worked throughout the day to replace fallen jumps.