insideKENT Magazine Issue 26 - May 2014 | Page 149

LOCALBUSINESS

A BRAND NEW SHOW FOR RAMSAK:

Equi-Expo South East
RAMSAK, a South East co-operative society of farmers, agricultural and rural
businesses, along with the Kent Showground and Evegate Publishing, is about
to embark on an ambitious project to re-introduce a major new exhibition show
for equine and small landowners on 17th May: The Equi-Expo Show
You are connected with The Equi-Expo Show
at The Kent Showground – tell us more about
the show.
The Kent County Showground, home of the Kent
Show, will be playing host to Equi-Expo South
East, a brand new show for the region which will
encompass Master Classes held by top-level
riders all day alongside an extensive retail and
wholesale show. The show will be a showcase
event for retail and wholesale companies and
will include trade stands from a huge range of
equine sectors. Visitors are sure to find something
of interest to them. The interest in this new show
has been absolutely staggering, and the
organisers are optimistic for a successful first
event.
How much are tickets for the show?
Tickets can be pre-booked online at www.equiexpo.co.uk and are £8 per adult, under 16s are
FREE, free car park. Tickets will also be available
on the gate on show day for £10 each.
What will those going to the show gain from
the show?
This is a unique show open to everyone, whether
they own a horse or not, to get up close and
personal with top-level riders and see first-hand
their incredible talent and hard work to bring out
the very best in their horses across a wide range
of disciplines.
Are there any particular highlights visitors can
expect at the event?
Rui Campeao is a classically trained Portuguese
Dressage rider and trainer who was taught his
skills by Francisco Bessa De Carvalho. He comes
over to England every month training horses and
riders of all abilities at Saddlesdane Equestrian
Centre and prides himself with being able to
obtain the very best from any horse that he
handles. Some of his techniques are rarely seen
in England and have been developed from ancient
Portuguese and Spanish traditional riding
methods when using animals to work on the
land.
Francesca Sternberg runs Sterling Quarter
Horses at the Bodiam International Arena, with
her husband Douglas Allen. Francesca has been

competing on American Quarter Horses for more
than 25 years, after being a successful English
rider in Eventing, show Jumping and Showing
Hunters. She has won more than $300,000 in
Reining prize money and is the most successful
European Non Pro Lady competitor. As well as
winning at European Championship level
Francesca has been a member of the Worlds
Equestrian Games Reining team for the last 3
Games and hopes to be in Normandy for this
years WEG.
Francesca will also be bringing some of the
show tack and outfits required to compete at
International level in the fastest growing area of
Equestrianism, Western Riding. So put on your
jeans and boots and come and see what it is all
about!
Sonny Hillier competes at international level
in the demanding sport of Horse Driving Trials,
the carriage driving equivalent of ridden threeday eventing. He is currently competing in the
advanced single horse class with a Dutch harness
horse 'Ranno' and is in a strong position in the
selection procedure for the 2014 Single Horse
World Championships!
Oliver Walter has in his short career been
selected for National Dressage Training, Young
Professionals and has competed in many classes
with various combinations at the Regional and
Winter Championships. Oliver has drawn his
knowledge and experience from many people
that he holds in high regard. He has trained in
both the UK and abroad.
Simon Blight is a Kent based Para-Equestrian
who started riding at the age of three at his local
riding school. Falling in love with horses and
jumping, Simon pursued his dream of becoming
a successful show jumper. As a young man
Simon competed while managing yards
specialising in horses with behavioural problems.
Then, in his mid-thirties, Simon unexpectedly
developed Multiple Sclerosis and nearly lost
everything. Simon’s family and some very good
friends rallied round and between them they have
helped Simon to get back in the saddle. Starting
slowly, he began competing in local dressage
shows. Having bought a young dressage horse,
Don Rico, Simon competed in Para-Equestrian
classes and qualified for the Winter Championship.
In June last year Simon and Don Rico were
selected for the Home International and were
highly placed. Last June Simon started jumping

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again and with his old show jumper, Causeway's
Carrick Boy, competed in the National Para Club
Championships in 2013, taking first place in the
80cm Category 2. Simon and his team are now
aiming for the GB squad. They bought another
horse, Don Fernandes, with the dream of making
the next Paralympics in Rio.
What services do RAMSAK provide?
RAMSAK is a co-operative society of farmers,
agricultural and rural businesses who have the
mutual aim of reducing service and commodity
costs. From the i nitial group formed in 1990,
RAMSAK has grown into what they are today,
with over 590 members across Kent and Sussex.
Membership of RAMSAK is available to
anyone who can benefit from the myriad of
services and supplies the members can offer.
Farmers, contractors, commodity and material
suppliers, equestrian, land and estate owners,
in fact anyone living in, or with interests in the
countryside. In recent times forage procurement
and sale have played its part in the growth of the
business as has the supply of Derv, heating oil
and tractor fuel and preferential rates available
exclusively to members.
RAMSAK has always been committed to the
support and promotion of rural business across
the region, and it was this that led to the
introduction of Agri-Expo, the South East’s largest
annual agricultural industry show which acts as
a showcase not only for RAMSAK members, but
for national and international companies.

www.agri-expo.co.uk
www.equi-expo.co.uk
www.ramsak.co.uk