National Shire Horse Show galloping into Newark for first time in 2022
The world’s largest gathering of shire horses is set to take place in Newark for the first time next year.
Organisers of the National Shire Horse Show have selected Newark Showground as the venue for the event in 2022.
It will be the first time that the show — which has been running for more than 140 years — has been held in Nottinghamshire.
The Shire Horse Society, which runs the event, is hoping it will be third time lucky when the show goes ahead during the weekend of March 12 to 13, 2022, after the 2020 and 2021 shows were cancelled due to covid-19.
The show has been held indoors at Staffordshire Showground since 2016 but the organisers have decided to choose an outdoor venue for next year to give the event the best chance of being able to go ahead.
It’s an opportunity to see the horses in all their finery and to learn more about a breed, which has played an important role in Britain’s history.
Victoria Clayton, Shire Horse Society secretary and show director, said: “2020 and 2021 have been difficult years. Looking to 2022, Newark Showground gives a wonderful outdoor platform that can accommodate all the elements of the National Shire Horse Show.
“It provides hard roads and tracks, undercover stabling and two wonderful rings in which to enjoy our fantastic breed.
“We are looking forward to welcoming lots of local spectators and horse lovers. We hope they will offer their support as our charity tries to recover from such a devastating time.”
The National Shire Horse Show is believed to be one of the oldest horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1878 when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society.
It has only been held at a handful of venues around the country including Peterborough, Allington near Grantham, and Staffordshire.
The show usually attracts more than 200 horses, which compete in a range of classes in hand, in harness and being ridden and also features trade stands, parades and displays.
The shire horse breed has experienced a resurgence in recent years, although it is still on the endangered breed list compiled by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, with fewer than 300 pedigree shire horse foals born in the UK every year.
The Shire Horse Society is the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the shire horse.
