Wellington Country Park
Heavy Horse Spectacular

One of the newest heavy horse shows took place at the Wellington Country Park on Sunday 11th July 1999. Being a new event did not deter organisers Ray Franklin and Claire Powers who made a magnificent job in finding sponsorship and horsemen prepared to bring their horses. Entries for each class were not only numerous but quality was present as well.

Talking of quality, the adjudication was carried out by two of the best judges in the country, namely Denys Benson, all in hand classes, and Peter Tribe, turnouts. It annoys me enormously to see excellent in hand judges trying to judge turnout classes and failing miserably. This happens regularly not only at small local shows but also major shows and it is embarrassing to see eminent judges obviously out of their depth when it comes to turnout classes.

Wellington Park - provided a superb setting for the show

However, enough of my ramblings which are totally irrelevant to this Show. All the hard work by the organisers was rewarded by the morning breaking bright and sunny. This beautiful site lent itself to the showing of heavy horses with clear open spaces for two rings surrounded by trees to give horses and owners shelter from the blazing sun.

The showing began with an entry of nine geldings forward and one withdrawn. Medstead Royale showed no effect of the early start and long ride from Devon with his owners Brian and Nora Willis; this Hainton Jim offspring showed himself to advantage to carry off the first place rosette. Second place was filled by Nigel Batts' Casper. Mr and Mrs Batts' horses are always turned out in immaculate condition looking every bit a winner but pipped at the post by Royale in this Riverside Packaging Printers Ltd sponsored class.

The Dodson and Horrell Mare class was a casualty of the fine weather with three mares absent due to hay making. This did not detract from the fact that no fewer than seven horses were forward with the sweet Amnerfield Midnight Lady, owned by the Batts family, receiving the red rosette ahead of Swanmore Amber, bred by Fred Rutter and shown by Jane Wordsworth for father Mr Huntingdon.

Another success for the show was the two foals forward out of three entries with John Wilson's late foal Sherborne Lady Juliana standing second to the Willis' more mature Medstead Saskia. Showing foals must be one of the most dangerous parts of showing horses. It could be one of the first times the animal has been taken from the farm the noise and strange sights must be very frightening and this proved the case for Juliana when John lost his footing while the foal was skittering about and its mare lashed out. Fortunately no one was hurt, but it emphasises how dangerous showing horses can be.

'Overbrook Robert' - Top 2 year old and Reserve Champion

Our sponsors, Melville J Burbage and Associates, were pleased to be involved in the young stock class. It is a class that I find very interesting and is always fun to choose a horse and follow its progress through its showing career. At this show we had a mix of yearlings and two-year-olds. Always a difficult class to judge Mr Benson had a job to sort out his final choice, finally selecting the two-year-old colt Overbrook Robert. As a two-year-old colt this horse has already been inspected by the Shire Horse Society and accepted as an entire. The extra year's growth was too much for Medstead Corrylus Avelana and Broadheath Baron who stood second and third respectively. Darvmau Sir Harry completed the line up and with a little more experience and ring etiquette could also make his mark.

Denys chose his champion from the mare class with Amnerfield Midnight Lady taking the supreme champion's sash, with Blackden Charlie off spring Overbrook Robert as reserve.

We were honoured by the presence of Lady Duro who presented the championship rewards. Winner of the Shire Horse Societies Silver Spoon went to Swanmore Amber for the best shire mare not already to have received a spoon previously this year.

Mr Benson's final class was the Harness judged 25% cleanliness of the horse and 75% harness, sponsored by Sunlight Laundry Services. This class is always a crowd pleaser and the ring was completely surrounded by critical ringside judges.

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