Shire horse show trots to Notts for 2022 event
THE world’s largest gathering of Shire horses is set to take place at the Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground over the weekend of March 12-13.
It will be the first time that the show – which has been running almost continuously every year for more than 140 years – has been staged in the county.
In common with so many events, the 2020 and 2021 National Shire Horse Shows were cancelled due to Covid-19.
The show, which is the flagship event of the Shire Horse Society, had been held indoors at Staffordshire Showground since 2016 but the organisers decided to opt for an outdoor venue to give the event the best chance of being able to go ahead.
It’s the perfect opportunity to see the gentle giants of the horse world in all their finery and to learn more about this magnificent breed which has played such an important role in Britain’s history.
Victoria Clayton, Shire Horse Society secretary and show director, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming lots of local spectators and horse lovers. We hope they will offer their support as our charity tries to recover from such a devastating time.”
The National Shire Horse Show is believed to be one of the oldest, almost continuous, horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1878, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society. It has only been held at a handful of venues around the country including Peterborough, Allington near Grantham and Staffordshire.
It usually attracts more than 200 horses which compete in a range of classes in hand, in harness and being ridden. A fascinating event for all the family, it also features trade stands and other stands, plus parades and displays.
Only a few decades ago, the breed was in danger of dying out. But it has experienced a resurgence in recent years, although it is still on the endangered breed list compiled by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, with fewer than 300 pedigree Shire horse foals born in the UK every year.
Tickets are on sale via https://shire-horse. ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/
If booked in advance, they are discounted at £10 for adults (£12 on the gate); child (5-13 years) £8 (£10 on the gate) with children gaining free admission on Sunday, March 13 when accompanied by an adult. A family ticket on Saturday (two adults + two children) is £32 in advance (£40 on the gate). Admission for under-fives is free. Car parking is £2, payable on the day.