W
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400 HORSES SET TO ARRIVE AT
LIVERPOOL DOCKS THIS CHRISTMAS
Four-hundred horses and ponies, 800 tonnes of equine surfacing
and 12 months of planning – all play a part in bringing the curtain
up on the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show.
The sensational four-day event – which is held at the M&S Bank
Arena located at the historic Docks from the 28th – 31st December –
is an equestrian event with a difference. Not only does the show offer
the very best in equestrian sport, but also a jampacked programme of
spectacular entertainment for the whole family – from a captivating
LED bikes display to live music.
Returning for its fifth and most exciting year, the event brings its
biggest and best-ever line-up to the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool,
from 28th-31st December – culminating in a New Year’s Eve party
like no other.
To stage a show of this size and get 400 horses into the city-centre,
it’s no surprise that a tremendous amount of work is required, as
Show President, Nina Barbour, explains: “Planning for this year’s
event began on 1st January – the moment last year’s show ended,
we were straight on to the next one. We have a core team of around
25 people working on the planning, but the total number involved
is actually 250. It takes around seven working days to prepare the
venue – and 800 tonnes of specialist equestrian surface are shipped
in for the horses to compete on. Logistically, getting 400 horses into
a city-centre is a huge challenge but it’s something we have done for
the last 4 years so we know what to expect. However, there are always
unforeseen circumstances and hurdles to overcome. Over half the
horses and riders will have a very quick Christmas because they’ll
be driving from all over Europe via the Channel Tunnel to be at the
M&S Bank Arena ready for the vet check on 27th December.”
Offering spectators the chance to experience world-class
showjumping and equestrian sport, the TheraPlate UK Liverpool
International Horse Show brings some of the finest horses and riders
in the world to the North West and getting them to the historic Docks
30 wirrallife.com
is no mean feat. But what sets the renowned show apart from other
equestrian events is its broad range of entertainment. New for 2019 is
the high-tech, high-energy LED FMX Bikes display, which promises
an intensely choreographed live show with an intoxicating mix of
stunts, lights, lasers and drama. Plus, music fans are guaranteed to be
up and dancing with The Kings and their unique blend of uplifting
rock.
Nina says: “We’ve scoured the world to bring the very best of
entertainment to Liverpool. We’re constantly on the lookout to
ensure we bring the best talent, so we can offer a unique show every
year. The audience at Liverpool is really interesting. Many of them
aren’t horsey at all but it’s amazing how much they appreciate the
skill and talent of the horses and riders. The sport is relatively easy
to understand, and the audience gets behind the horses and riders.”
New Year’s Eve will see an awe-inspiring evening of entertainment,
building up to a magnificent indoor firework display as the clocks
strike midnight. And there will be plenty to keep young ones
entertained over the four days thanks to the show’s very own Kids
Zone, run by family publication and events company, ParentFolk.
This exciting area will be packed with engaging creative workshops
including screen printing, a temporary tattoos station, family selfie
competition popup, and lots more. Added to this is a mouth-watering
selection of food and drink, offering something for everyone, while
the shopping village provides a huge range of equestrian and lifestyle
outlets. For horse enthusiasts, the impressive line-up includes the
world premiere of Magnetism – an innovative mix of equestrian and
performing arts, featuring acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts and music.
The TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show returns from
28th-31st December, with tickets priced from £17.70 per person for
a family (minimum of four, with two adults and two children under
14). For further information or to book, visit:
www.liverpoolhorseshow.com/