41 years of horse and dog show

HUNDREDS of horse riders and dog owners attended the 41st year Ewelme Horse and Dog Show at Ford’s Farm.

Horses and riders competed in various categories of showjumping and riding and there were also competitions for the look and behaviour of horses.

Sandra Ayling, who organises the show, said: “It has been running for 41 years and I’ve been doing it a long time.

“It started off with all the local children on their ponies and since then has just got bigger and bigger.

“Years ago, there was just one field where the kids rode their ponies. Now we are into our third field and about 160 horse riders compete.”

Evie Morley, 15, from Woodcote, and Ellie Horsley, 14, from Henley, were making their debut.

Ellie didn’t have much luck with her horse Tink. She said: “I did the 70 but I got eliminated because I got three refusals. It was just me, I didn’t put my leg on.”

Evie was more fortunate. She said: “I did the 60 pairs, so I do half the course and my friend does half the course and the fastest one wins. We came second. My horse was really good and she cleared it.”

Dinah Bosley, of Freize Farm in Sonning Common, took part, helped by friend Jill Robson.

It was a particularly poignant occasion for her as she was about to retire her horse, Simon Templar, who is 18.

She said: “We did the 70. It was good and he went clear. He’s getting on a bit and he has had a few leg issues so I was just going to see if he was up for it and he did really well. I’m really pleased.

“I did this event about two years ago and it is nice. Its very low key and you can come along and it doesn’t matter if it goes a bit wrong. Everyone is lovely.”

Meg Wickett, who lives next door to Ford’s Farm, came first in the cob class with her horse Turner.

She had to turn out and do an individual show.

She said: “He’s well turned out and he did a nice show, a nice trot and a nice canter. We have come here nearly every year. I like that I don’t have to load the horses up and can just come up the road. There aren’t many of these shows happening anymore so you have to support them otherwise they stop.

“There are lots of individual classes, not just jumping classes but showing and fun classes for the kids and all sorts of different things.

“Lots of the shows we have been to in previous years don’t run anymore so it’s nice to come to a local show and just have a bit of fun.”

She also took her Shetland pony Bink, who pulled a little cart.

There were competitions for the beauty, presentation and behaviour of horses and ponies.

Diane Valentine, from Drayton St Leonard, entered her knabstrupper and cob cross, Dice, into the coloured in hand class.

Dice, 16, neighed very loudly and swished his tail about dramatically.

Ms Valentine said: “It’s an old Danish breed which is where he gets his spots from.

“The judges have a look at how they’re put together and how they behave, so we aren’t expecting to do very well today. I’ve not had him long and this is our first competition. We are seeing how he gets on as to whether we do any more in the future.

“I ride him but we don’t do showjumping.”

Oliver Champion, five, and his sister Jessica, seven, from Sonning Common, entered the the coronation-themed fancy dress competition on their ponies.

Oliver was dressed as a knight and Jessica was dressed as a queen riding a royal princess pony.

In the dog show, there was a range of different breeds competing for categories including waggiest tail, handsomest dog, prettiest bitch, best rescue dog, best rescue bitch, “best condition and fastest and slowest sit.

There were first, second and third prizes. Dogs sniffed one another and lined up while the judges gave out rosettes.

One of the winners was a spaniel called Jasper, owned by Andrew Stewart, from Radley.

Mr Stewart said: “He came first in waggiest tail. We have entered him in a few informal shows but this is the first time he has won.”