November 12, 2022 Credit due for bringing World Clydesdale Show to Scotland
AS time fast approaches for the final curtain to fall on the show scene, I have to applaud event chief executive, Ailsa Clark and a small committee for the gallant effort they made to bring the World Clydesdale Horse Show out of North America to Scotland for the first time.
It was a brave decision for a team with no previous experience of running any form of horse show, not only to stage this prestigious event in Scotland but also to take the Clydesdale out of its ancestral home in Central Scotland, north to Aberdeen.
With an autumn date in line with previous ‘Worlds’ and one that wouldn’t clash with the season’s show schedule, it was a matter of needs must and the magnificent P and J Live state-of-the art events venue was out on its own in terms of availability and indoor facilities. The event gained extensive media coverage and was brought to the attention of the general public thanks to the popular Landward television programme on BBC Scotland.
According to the organisers, the largest single breed horse show of its kind ever to be held in the UK, with 316 horses and 659 class entries, the event hosted a range of 55 breed and performance classes. Needless to say, it was a Mecca for breeders and enthusiasts of the Clydesdale breed itself, which, with only 1500 breeding females in the
UK, is currently on the ‘ at risk’ list compiled by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.
It could be argued that,more importantly, the event show-cased all that the Clydesdale has to offer equestrianism in general as various performance classes, including driving, ridden and dressage, entertained the crowds throughout the four days of the show.
Chatting to Ailsa Clark, a self-confessed ‘townie’ with less than a decade of country living, it was obvious that she was able to bring her own professional skills to the organising team – additionally she has a passion for Clydesdales, which she breeds along with her husband, James, at Blairmore Farm, near Crieff.
She sang the praises for her small committee of six, of whom Helen Carr (along with her partner Ron Brewster) had a critical role to play in the concept behind the championships and its structure. It goes without saying that a life-time’s experience of breeding and producing Clydesdales at Bandirran held them in good stead.
I saw the highly professional Bandirran team in operation last weekend at the North of Fife Foal Show, where, along with success in the breed classes, they took the driven class with John and Margo McIntyre’s home-bred, Freezlund Esmie, driven by Chris Warden.
Esmie competed successfully at ‘ The World’ in both the pair and tandem driving championships. At Aberdeen, best of the Bandirran in hand exhibits had to be the Canadian import, Willow Way Sniper, which took the World stallion championship.
Praised among other attributes by Ron for possessing ‘a beautiful sloping shoulder and good long-reaching neck,’ it is encouraging to note that there exists a modern generation that recognises traits within the breed that will take it forward into the future as a performance, as opposed to a draught animal.
Still elated by the success of the show, Ailsa was also full of praise for the 86 volunteers that made the whole event ‘tick’ over its duration. Of the 150 applications to help out, many of them came via the breed society and through the British Horse Society (BHS), which had made a considerable contribution to the organisation, not least of which was assistance with the on-line entry system.
It is encouraging to know that the BHS extended its support umbrella to the Clydesdale breed in recognition of the contribution it’s making to equestrianism across the country for both recreation and competition.
No-one knows better about this than BHS national manager for Scotland and The Scottish Farmer contributor, Helene Mauchlen, who does a great job of keeping all Scottish equestrian interests to the fore.
I was particularly interested in a recent BHS document that she brought to the notice of the Scottish Government. Entitled ‘Reducing costs without compromising welfare’, it’s well worth a read as it carries some useful advice on how costs can be reduced without having a negative impact on the horse’s welfare or health.
There is a huge amount of information nowadays available through the Press,
AT THE social media channels and internet, and easier than ever to get your hands on articles, even webinars, about all sorts of equestrian topics.
However, not all of it is reliable and as a result, it’s a job knowing what to believe, or otherwise and what advice should be taken. According to the Saddle Research Trust (‘A Horse Owner’s Guide to Interpreting Research Evidence’) the best information comes from primary scientific research, the outcome of controlled experiments to test new ideas.
The down side of this is having to deal with complex scientific ideas and language which most of us find daunting. As a result, we often turn to alternatives sources which are not evidence-based and can lead to the spread of the very type of information we are trying to avoid. But, the Saddle Research Trust is another site worth a look as it covers much more than just saddles.
The subject of advice and training within the showing industry has recently been announced by Grandstand
Media as it takes over the administrative duties of The Showing Register (TSR).
Currently headed by Sarah Chapman, TSR is an organisation passionate about supporting amateurs in showing. According to Jane Warmington, from Grandstand Media: “Bringing TSR on board allows us to concentrate on or our objectives of increasing opportunities for amateurs in the upcoming season and look forward to welcome more of the TSR members to HOYS in 2023.”
Sandy Anderson (Caithness-born owner of Grandstand Media and host of the Horse of the Year Show) added: “As well as opportunities to compete at HOYS, Grandstand aims to add to the work of TSR through additional training opportunities and clinics.”
This announcement brings a new dimension to the world of the amateur in showing and heralds an understanding of what’s needed to boost showing within the current climate. With more than 50 entries in many of the classes at this year’s Stars Champion of Champions Show to be held at Aintree this weekend, the amateur enthusiast has found a special end-of-season aspirational home.
The organisers’ aim to recreate a HOYS experience, so within a few years since its inception, the amateur showing community has embraced this major championship with both enthusiasm and vigour.
Staying with the amateur, there is some speculation that the London Horse Show (the recently formed Christmas show staged in December) had ideas to expand into the amateur domain.
In conjunction with the British Show Pony Society and British Show Horse Association, it is rumoured that its organisers may be looking to host classes for amateurs.
Along with the confirmed HOYS association with TSR, it looks as if the amateur has now found a new popularity with show organisers. I wonder how long the ‘amateur’ status will fend off the professionals and professionally produced exhibits.