Trot along to the Shire Horse pub to find out about Staffordshire’s spectacular Shire horse show

Photo courtesy of Paul Milgate-Scarrott

The world’s largest gathering of Shire horses will be welcomed to Staffordshire in a pre-event ‘meet and greet’ at the appropriately named Shire Horse pub in Stafford on 4^th March.

The Shire Horse Society will be staging its national show at Staffordshire Showground from 17^th to 19^th March, when around 250 pedigree Shires will be shown in all their glory. Open to the public, the event is widely regarded as the largest gathering anywhere in the world of these magnificent animals.

But on Saturday 4^th March at the Shire Horse pub in Hurricane Close, the charity will be staging a ‘meet and greet’ for the public, giving them the chance to find out more about Shire horses and the up-coming three-day show.

It will be attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Stafford, Councillor Geoff and Mrs Cathy Collier, and runs from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

On display will be Shire horse Queenie, who is owned by Mick Anson, who lives near Uttoxeter, and who is partial to a pint of ale.

“Shire horses traditionally love beer, and I’m sure that Queenie will enjoy her time at the Shire Horse pub meeting people and helping to raise awareness about our big show,” said Victoria Clayton, Shire Horse Society secretary. 

“Last year was the first time we held the world’s largest gathering of Shires in Staffordshire and it went really well, so we are delighted to be returning to the county and look forward to welcoming lots of visitors. Ticket sales are flying, and it looks like it will be a great event where we can raise the profile of these beautiful horses, which are still regarded as an ‘at risk’ breed.

“We’re expecting around 250 horses and we have almost double the number of trade stands than last year, as well as some entertainment for children, so it should be a good day out.”

During the ‘meet and greet’ Shire Horse Society members Chris and Jayne Malkin, from near Market Drayton in Shropshire, will be chatting about the gentle giants of the horse world and handing out flyers about the big show.

The national show is the flagship event of the Shire Horse Society - the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse.

This year the charity has secured Great British Bake Off star Val Stones as the after-dinner speaker at the show dinner, which is held at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground, on 17^th March. Tickets for the dinner cost £30 and are available by contacting the Shire Horse Society on 01536 771611.

Tickets for the show are on sale via www.shire-horse.org.uk – discounted if bought in advance. Adult tickets on the gate are £12, or £10 online in advance, while tickets for children aged five to 13 years on the gate are £10, and £8 online in advance.

Children aged 14 years and over are charged at the adult price, while under fives enter free. Entry for Shire Horse Society members is free.

Gates open on Friday 17^th March at 8.30am and at 7am on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th March.

For more details and ticket information about the show, visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow @saveourshires on Twitter or at www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Bake Off star Val to shine at Shire Horse Society’s annual dinner

Val Stones

Popular Bake Off contestant Val Stones has been announced as the guest speaker at a dinner to mark the Shire Horse Society’s National Show in Staffordshire in March.

The loveable star of the baking programme will be treating diners to tales of her baking adventures during the evening event, to be held on 17^th March at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground.

The event is open to the public and is in support of the Shire Horse Society – the only national charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse.

It coincides with the three-day show running from 17^th to 19^th March, which is the world’s largest gathering of Shires and the chance to see the gentle giants of the horse world in all their finery.

“I became known as the cake whisperer during my time on the Bake Off, but I can’t profess to be a horse whisperer,” said Val, who appeared in last year’s series. “However, I’m absolutely thrilled to have been asked to speak at the annual dinner of the Shire Horse Society.

“My sister-in-law’s family breed and rear Shire Horses, and I love to see them in the fields when I visit, so I’m more than happy to do something to support the breed, which I understand is still regarded as an animal that is at-risk by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

“I’m looking forward to the event and hope horse lovers and baking lovers alike will support it.”

Around 300 pedigree Shire horses from across Europe are expected to take part in the Shire Horse Society Show, being put through their paces in hand, in harness and during ridden classes.

Open to the public, the event is a colourful day out for all the family and the chance to support the campaign to save this magnificent breed of horse, which only a few decades ago was in danger of dying out.

Society secretary Victoria Clayton said: “We’re delighted that Val Stones has agreed to be our guest speaker at the annual dinner. She’s a really engaging character and we can’t wait to hear more about her baking adventures.”

Tickets for the dinner cost £30 and are available by contacting the Shire Horse Society on 01536 771611.

Tickets for the show are on sale via www.shire-horse.org.uk – discounted if bought in advance. Adult tickets on the gate are £12, or £10 online in advance, while tickets for children aged five to 13 years on the gate are £10, and £8 online in advance.

Children aged 14 years and over are charged at the adult price, while under fives enter free.

Gates open on Friday 17^th March at 8.30am and at 7am on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th March.

For more details and ticket information about the show, visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow @saveourshires on Twitter or at www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

New Secretary takes the reins at the Shire Horse Society

Victoria Clayton

The Shire Horse Society has announced the appointment of Victoria Clayton as its new Secretary.

Victoria, who has been involved in the Shire world for more than 25 years, takes up the reins from 7^th November 2016.

A qualified surveyor and agricultural valuer, and a Harper Adams University graduate, she is a keen horse rider who predominantly competes in ridden hunter classes and has enjoyed success at the Horse of the Year Show in the recent past. Victoria’s family has the Westfield Shire Stud, based in Yorkshire.

Victoria said: “I am delighted to accept the role of Secretary at the Shire Horse Society, and I am looking forward to getting started.

“The society has carried out some great work in the past, however, it is key that we look to bring about new initiatives to cement the future of the breed. One of my main aims is to improve the society’s communication with the membership and in doing so we must always strive to continue to promote, protect and preserve the Shire horse breed.”

Victoria has previously been a member of the council at the Shire Horse Society and this year co-ordinated the organisation’s appearance at the first ever BBC Countryfile Live event, gaining significant national TV and newspaper exposure for the society and demonstrating the breed to over 125,000 visitors to the event at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

The Shire Horse Society, which is based at Shire Farm, Rockingham Castle on the border of Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, is the only national charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. The iconic Shire breed was in danger of dying out just a few decades ago, and even now fewer than 500 new foals are registered every year by the Shire Horse Society.

Its annual national show is the world’s largest gathering of Shires and 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 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society.

Next year it will take place from 17^th to 19^th March 2017 at Staffordshire Showground in the West Midlands.

Visit www.shire-horse.org.uk for more information.

Press release issued by Nottingham based pr company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

World’s largest gathering of Shire horses announces dates for next year’s show in Staffordshire

Photo courtesy of Tracy Muir Photography

Organisers of the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses have confirmed that the show will return to Staffordshire Showground next year after making a successful debut in the county earlier this year.

2016 was the first time that the Shire Horse Society had staged its national show in the West Midlands, but now the charity, which is dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse, has announced the dates for next year’s show.

It will take place from 17^th to 19^th March 2017.

The show, which has been held at a limited number of venues in England over its long history, 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 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society.

It attracts around 200 pedigree Shire horses, which are put through their paces in hand, in harness and ridden, and is widely regarded as the largest gathering of Shires anywhere in the world. The show attracts horses from across Europe and spectators from around the globe, and is the flagship event for the Shire Horse Society. 

Show chairman John Peacock said: “We had some great feedback from both spectators and entrants at the 2016 Shire Horse Society National Show, which was held at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground, for the first time, and we’re delighted to be able to announce the dates for next year’s event so that people can plan ahead.

“Tickets are due to go on sale in early November and will be available via our website.”

The 2016 show attracted some excellent examples of the breed. The winner of the King George V trophy, taking the highest honour in the society, went to the Champion stallion Leverton Leon. Leon is owned by Jonathan Worthington, from Nether Alderley, near Macclesfield, in Cheshire. The female Champion went to Cotebrook Loch Anna, owned by Alistair and Matthew King, based at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, Cheshire. Both of these horses qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year show in taking their respective championships. 

Ridden champion was Stacy Fletcher, on Catwg Black Velvet owned by her family’s Gentle Giant Shires business, based at Moylegrove near Cardigan. She also won a golden ticket qualifier to the famous Horse of the Year Show to take part in the first ever British Ridden Heavy Horse championship being staged by HOYS. Other Shire horse owners are currently taking part in a range of competitions at agricultural shows and other events across the country in the hope of qualifying for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show. 

The iconic Shire breed was in danger of dying out just a few decades ago, and even now fewer than 500 new foals are registered every year by the Shire Horse Society. The charity has been running a Save Our Shires campaign to raise awareness about these gentle giants and numbers have steadily increased, thanks to the dedication of a band of enthusiasts.

Tickets for the 2017 show will soon be available from the society’s website www.shire-horse.org.uk Adult tickets on the gate are £12, or £10 online in advance, while tickets for children aged five to 13 years on the gate are £10, and £8 online in advance.

Children aged 14 years and over are charged at the adult price, while under fives enter free.

The Shire Horse Society is also offering early bird prices to traders who would like to take stands at the event. Details are on the charity’s website.

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

New venue, new format for Shire Horse Society National Show 2016

Picture by James Bedford

The world’s largest gathering of Shire horses returns for 2016 with a new venue and a new format.

The Shire Horse Society’s National Show 2016 will be run over three days, instead of two, and will be staged at Staffordshire County Showground from 18^th to 20^th March.

Expected to attract around 200 horses from across Europe and visitors from around the globe, the show has moved its ridden classes to the Friday afternoon due to the growing popularity of this section of the event.

The Friday classes will feature dressage and concours d’elegance to highlight the grace and elegance of the gentle giants of the horse world. These will be the opening classes of the show, which is the flagship event of the year for the Shire Horse Society - the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse.

The show is also moving to a new home this year – Bingley Hall in the centre of Staffordshire County Showground - to cater for increasing visitor numbers to the show, who are keen to support the iconic breed which a few decades ago was in danger of dying out.

Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies said: “Our National Show has been steadily gaining in popularity again recently and we wanted to ensure that everyone who wants to go gets the chance to attend, hence the decision to move to a bigger and more central venue for 2016.

“Bingley Hall will also provide additional facilities for exhibitors and their horses, such as indoor stabling for the majority of horses being shown. We are looking forward to welcoming many new visitors, as well as our loyal followers and our members, to the showground.”

The Shire Horse Society, which is based at Rockingham Castle on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border, has signed a five-year deal to stage its National Show at Bingley Hall – starting in 2016.

The show, which has been held at a limited number of venues in England over its long history, 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 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society.

The first qualifier of 2016 for the Horse of the Year Show, the event features three days of competition and classes, with horses shown in-hand, ridden and in harness. It will also include stalls and exhibitor stands for the public to browse.

Tickets are now on sale via the Shire Horse Society’s website www.shire-horse.org.uk Follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires

The event takes place from noon to 6pm on Friday 18^th March, from 8am to 6pm on Saturday 19^th March and from 8am to 4pm on Sunday 20^th March 2016.

Tickets cost £4 in advance and £5 on the gate for Friday 18^th March. Tickets in advance are £8 for adults and £6 for under 12s and seniors, and £12 for adults and £10 for under 12s and seniors on the gate, on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th March.

Entry is free for Shire Horse Society members.

Press release issued by Nottingham based pr company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Shire Horse Society stages second annual open day at Shire Farm, Rockingham Castle

Twelve months after attracting hundreds of people to its first ever open day, the Shire Horse Society is preparing to throw open its gates once again.

Visitors to this year’s event on 13^th September at Shire Farm, Rockingham Castle, will have the chance to find out more about the gentle giants of the horse world and see them in action.

Featuring demonstrations, the event will celebrate the survival of a breed that nearly died out a century ago, but is still endangered. It will also mark the second anniversary of the opening of the national charity’s headquarters at Rockingham, near Corby, on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border.

“Last year’s event was a great success and we were delighted to welcome so many visitors to our headquarters,” said Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies.

“We hope that Shire horse lovers will support us again this year. Our event gives us the opportunity to raise awareness about the place the breed has in history and why it is important for us to protect Shires for the future. It also enables us to raise much-needed funds to continue the work of the Shire Horse Society charity.”

The Shire Horse Society is the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. Since 1878 the organisation has been working to protect the breed, which was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse.

It moved to Rockingham Castle from its previous headquarters at the East of England Showground near Peterborough in 2013.

The event on 13^th September will include drays from Thwaites Brewery and Youngs Brewery, ridden and in-hand displays, and the chance to see Shire horse foals. A meet and greet with Shires will take place at 1.30pm, with a parade scheduled for 3pm. There will also be a bouncy castle, stalls and refreshments.

The event, which runs from 11am to 3pm on Sunday 13^th September, is free to enter for Shire Horse Society members, or costs £5 for adults. Entry is free for children under 12.

All profits go to the Shire Horse Society Charity, which runs the Save Our Shires campaign to protect the breed for years to come.

For more information visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

World’s largest gathering of Shire horses event – date for 2015

The world’s largest gathering of Shire horses will take place on the weekend of March 21^st and 22^nd 2015, it has been announced.

The Shire Horse Society’s Annual Show, which attracts horses from across Europe and spectators from around the globe, is being held indoors at Arena UK, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire.

Around 250 Shire horses are expected at the event and it is billed as the best display of Shire horses in the country. 

“The Shire Horse Society’s Annual Show is the perfect place to see these magnificent gentle giants of the horse world and find out more about the breed,” said Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies. 

“It’s the largest event of its kind in the world, and is the chance to celebrate a breed that was once in danger of dying out but is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity, both as a working animal and a riding horse, thanks to a dedicated group of enthusiasts who work hard to ensure that the breed survives.”

As well as the competitions, there will be a range of stands and stalls for visitors to explore.

The annual show, taking place at its new home at Arena UK for the second time, is the opportunity to find out more about this noble breed, see Shire horses shown in style - in-hand, ridden and turned out – and to support the work of the Shire Horse Society, which is the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. Since 1878 the organisation has been working to protect the breed, which was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. 

The show runs from 8am until about 10pm on the Saturday to include the championship in the evening. It will be open from 8am until 4pm on the Sunday. Adult day tickets cost £8 in advance, with under 12s and seniors £6, and are available from sales.webticketmanager.com/ShireHS Day tickets will be £10 and £8 on the gate. Free admission to Shire Horse Society members on presentation of their society badge.

Sponsors for the event include botanical brewers Fentimans, Fullers Brewery, Young's Brewery, Boldscan and Fosters Foods.

For more information visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires
Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk