competition news
Northumberland County announces Light Horse Champion Judge
The Light Horse Championship Trophy has always been one of the most coveted prizes at the historic Northumberland County Show and it’s had an illustrious line up of judges in recent years including Lady Allendale, whose home at Bywell Hall has been the show’s location for the last two yearsand Marcus Clinton, the Principal of Northumberland College’s Kirkley Hall Campus, the show’s main sponsors. This year is no exception. Equine Secretary Mandy Charlton announced this week that the judge for 2015 will be renowned local horsewoman, Juliet Rogers. Mandy said, “Juliet brings an immense amount of experience and equestrian knowledge to the role. We’re thrilled that she has accepted the post. We also welcome Kielder Organic Meats as the Light Horse Championship’s sponsor and their support is greatly appreciated.” Juliet responded: “I’m delighted to be judging at this year’s County Show. It’s a great honour to be involved in this fantastic event.” Juliet Rogers is well known for her charitable work with Exmoor Ponies as Chairman of the Moorland Mousie Trust. She explained: “The Moorland Mousie Trust was founded in 2000 to promote and protect this endangered rare breed that has lived free on the Devon and Somerset moorlands for nearly a thousand years.” In 2006 the Exmoor Pony Centre in Somerset opened its doors as a refuge for the excess foals collected during the annual pony herd gathering, ensuring they do not end up in the meat market. Staff and volunteers work with each foal to familiarise the young animals with human handling, wearing a headcollar and being led. After completing ‘foal school’ they look for a new home for them either with a foster home or on a conservation grazing scheme. Fifteen years on, the charity continues to grow and has gained the support of royal patron, HRH the Duchess of Cornwall. Juliet looks after dozens of Exmoor Ponies in the north east, having purchased her first pair of foals seventeen years ago. She recalls, “I didn’t realise then how different feral ponies are, but once you get an Exmoor’s trust, they become a friend for life and they follow you anywhere.” Some of Juliet’s ponies can be seen in unexpected locations around the north grazing on rough ground in Gateshead and at Cleadon Hills Nature Reserve. Their role in conservation grazing will encourage wildflowers to flourish on these sites, and reduce
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Juliet Rogers, Light Horse Champion Judge at Northumberland County this year
bracken, scrub and gorse. Juliet proudly told us about fourteen of her ponies that travelled to the Czech Republic last month (as featured in the March issue of Equine). “They have been released into a former military training base in Milovic Nymburk, about 20 miles from Prague that’s part of a National Park now. Hopefully the ponies will eat the scrub which has taken over the site, and allow smaller plants to thrive so help restore natural grassland.” The Mountain and Moorland Classes at Northumberland County Show provide visitors with the opportunity to see some of these charming ponies close up. The ever popular Horse Section also includes Heavy Horse Turnouts, Hunters, Side Saddle, CHAPS (UK), Retrained Racehorses (RoR) SHP, SP, WHP, M&M WHP, M&M Ridden, WHH and affiliated British Show Jumping competition. Schedules
are out now, and online entries are accepted through the show’s website,
www.northcountyshow.
co.uk Competitors should note that the closing date for entries is 25th April this year. The Show promises to be a great family day out. Featuring competitive livestock classes for horses, cattle, sheep, alpacas, fur and feather, and many more. This year’s main ring attractions are the gravity defying Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Bold Dog Lings Motorcycle Stunt Display and the fantastic North Northumberland Dog Agility Team am who will attempt to break a
Guinness World Record for the longest human slalom – visitors should be prepared to join in the fun. As part of their support of the show, Kielder Organic Meats are also offering a free tea or coffee with every burger purchased on
production of a tear-out voucher from the show catalogue. Thirty other traders and caterers have also offered special discounts and vouchers in this year’s catalogue, so visitors will get some great deals. This year there is a new children’s area where all the family can meet the animals from Kirkley Hall Zoo, enjoy pony rides, mountain bike demonstrations or try out the climbing wall. With live music, great food, fun fair, British Show Jumping, Cumberland Wrestling, gun dog scurry, tug of war, Britain’s Strongman Challenge Qualifier, birds of prey, crafts and baking, treasure trail, and over 350 trade stands there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The Northumberland County Show is held at Bywell Hall, Near Stocksfield on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2015 from 9am until 6pm.
www.theequinesite.co.uk
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