Hooked On Horses
at The CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall
For the second time in the CLA Game Fair’s 55-year history, the hugely popular three-day show is returning to the magnificent 6,500-acre Ragley Hall estate in Warwickshire – from Friday, 19 July to Sunday, 21 July. As the world’s largest game fair, the spectacular event boasts one of the most comprehensive hound and hunting exhibitions in the UK. In the Main Arena, a Parade of Hounds will take place twice daily from three different packs, including the Warwickshire Beagles, Ross Harriers and Three Counties Minkhounds. Throughout the event, there will be talks and displays compèred by hound expert Stephen Winwood in the Hooked on Horses Arena. On the evening of Friday 19 July at 6pm, there will be a cavalcade of hounds in the Main Arena, which will see all seven packs from that day come together. This year, the third and final day of the show will be dedicated to equestrianism. Equestrian Sunday will be packed with horsey attractions such as Express Eventing – the spectacular, exciting and fast-moving version of the sport. The contest will take centrestage in the Main Arena and form part of the 2012-2013 Express Eventing series which began at HorseWorld Live at London’s ExCel Arena last November. The riders will also be seen tackling the crosscountry and show jumping, and visitors will have the opportunity to take part in course walks and quiz the riders on all aspects of the sport throughout the day. Other attractions in the Hooked on Horses Arena, which will be running throughout the three days of the show, will include displays by the Jive Pony gymnastics team with Europe’s only Zorse, British Racing School, Doug Joiner’s working horses, the Riding for the Disabled Association, demonstrations by Quarter Horses and the Pony Club. Save money by booking tickets for the CLA Game Fair 2013 at Ragley Hall online before 5pm on 12 July. Please visit www.gamefair.co.uk or call the ticket hotline, which is open until 13 July, on 0844 776 7777.
Charity Horse ride
in aid of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance
The 8th annual Rotary Club of Church Wilne’s charity horse ride is to be held on Sunday 8th September and will again provide a unique opportunity to ride through scenic Locko Park, Dale Abbey, Spondon and Ockbrook. The course is about 10 miles long and consists of bridleways, road and farmland not normally available to the public. There is a short cut to the finish after about 4 miles for very young riders. Over the past seven years, riders and sponsors have donated The Club made a presentation to the Derby “Action for Children” charity recently with a cheque for £3,653 from last year’s Charity Horse ride. Pictured President Derek Sheehy-Smith presents the cheque to Debbie Moore in total well over £20,000 to Rainbows Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Society, Treetops Hospice and Action for Children. The chosen charity this year is the Air Ambulance Service and all entry fees will be donated to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. There are many incidents involving Air Ambulance, unfortunately not all with a happy ending. However, Cassie who is a very experienced rider, but on a bank holiday in August 2009 her life changed forever when at a show jumping lesson at a combination fence she had a serious fall. This resulted in a broken back and a journey in a land ambulance involving several miles of track with more potholes than track was avoided by calling the Air Ambulance. The Derbyshire Air Ambulance was summoned to the scene and after pioneering surgery at the Derby Royal Hospital, followed by a long reco