‘OVERWEIGHT IS UNACCEPTABLE’

RIDERS seen working-in anywhere on the showground and deemed to be overweight for their animals were again asked to dismount this year (see News).

In 2016, Great Yorkshire was the first show to introduce this policy, which was also implemented at HOYS. Sadly, the number of “offenders” — most notably in small plaited pony ranks — rose this year and 12 were challenged.

“The welfare of animals is absolutely paramount and the team have become increasingly concerned about a number of riders who were clearly of inappropriate size compared to the horse or pony,” said Yorkshire Agricultural Society chief executive Nigel Pulling. “Overweight riders on horses and ponies are unacceptable from a welfare point of view — it’s as simple as that.”