Sunday promises to provide variety, fun and exhilaration in equine guise at the Alton Horse Show at Froyle Park.
Bigger and better than ever before, the horse show offers a total of 61 classes over six different rings.
Marguerite Ashman said: "During recent years the number of traditional horse shows aimed at young or inexperienced horses and riders has dw
indled alarmingly. These events provide vital early show experience for the future stars of the horse world.
"Happily, under the leadership of the secretary, Nicky Seaman, Alton Horse Show has gone from strength to strength and the numbers of entrants for this year are already high."
There are fun classes in Ring 4 aimed at the young novice rider, including 'Thelwell Pony', 'Horse and Hound', 'Best Child Handler 8 years and Under' and the ever popular and creative 'Fancy Dress'. More confident riders can enter the Fun Gymkhana classes in Ring 5 and, for the first time, also in Ring 5, there are Junior Show Jumping classes with jumps at approximately just one foot high in class 55.
Ring 1, sponsored by Knight Frank, offers more challenging show jumping, the highlight being the Knight Frank Puissance in the middle of the day. Last year this class proved extremely popular.
The Treloar Ring competitors display another form of horsemanship in the Ridden and Working Hunter classes and the Sports Horse and Pony classes. Here, riding skills and jumping ability are assessed.
Ring 2 hosts the Ridden Show classes, including the ever-popular Mountain and Moorland classes and the Ridden Iberian Breeds. New this year is a class for retrained or retired thoroughbred racehorses.
The In-hand Breeding and Show classes will be held in Ring 3, and if past years are to go on there will be some stunning entrants.
Marguerite added: "The show committee is extremely grateful to all the judges, stewards and volunteer helpers who give their time and to the sponsors, without which the show would not be possible."
