Equestrian Events
UK Horseboarding Championship
Returning by popular demand, UK Horseboarding Team “somewhere between scurry racing and wake boarding” describes Arena Boarding. Teams take on the clock around a course of gates, set to challenge the best boarders and horse riders, from long straights into sweeping bends and ninety degree turns. In terms of motorsport it is more like rallying or Formula 1. Teams have to work together to achieve the right racing line to take the bends and complete the course.
New board technology has meant that board riders can get more grips in the corners, but as the track gets scrubbed out, you will still see them power sliding round the bends kicking up dust like a rally car. This part of the sport has become so technical that board set-up, and even tyre choice has become critical. The teams push their boards to the limit as they fight it out, trying to shave 100ths of a second off their times. As will always happen, when sportsmen push themselves and their equipment to the limit, sometimes they find the edge. Crashes are frequent, – with the teams’ motto seeming to be “we will not win by going slower” an absolute must-see spectacle. You will not be able to take your eyes off it, as teams achieving already unbelievable speeds, get faster with each race.
The Shetland Pony Grand National
The Shetland Pony Grand National is a team of Shetland ponies and jockeys that race all over the country raising money for charity.
All the jockeys who take part are trying to gain one of the 10 places at the world famous ‘The London International Horse Show’ at Excel which takes in December, just before Christmas.
All the children taking part have to be aged between 8 and 14 years old and must be less than 5 ft in height. All the ponies taking part have to be registered with the Shetland Pony Stud Book. This is a fantastic and thrilling sport loved by all ages not to be missed at the Game & Country Fair.
Suffolk Horse Society
Suffolk Horses are registered on the Priority list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, making them critically endangered. Less than 500 pure bred Suffolk Horses are registered in the UK now, making them more endangered that the Giant Panda. The Suffolk Horse Society raise funds to pay for breeding grants, showing grants, and for research into breeding techniques to prevent the breed from dying out.
Traditionally the Suffolk Horse was bred to work the clay soil of East Anglia, but today the Suffolk Horse has become a more versatile breed. It is still used for agricultural work, ploughing and timber hauling, particularly in conservation areas. But it is also shown in-hand and in turnout classes. It is driven in parades, promotions, competitions, and Suffolk horses are increasingly being ridden and even compete in gymkhana and agility!
Meet these wonderful animals at the Game Fair and learn more about the fantastic work they do.
