2008 Arena Attractions

Information regarding the 2009 Arena Attractions will be published here when available

Owners and Trainers are invited to show progress made with four and five year old horses in dressage, show jumping and presentation. Qualifiers will go to the final at Burghley in September. The Competition will take place in the YEH Arena above the Main Arena alongside the Cross Country course.

SPONSORED BY BGC

The ponies are only 40 inches high and the silk-clad jockeys no more than 13 years old but the competition is just as fierce as at Aintree in this Lilliputian Blue Riband of Steeplechasing.

First past the post in the final round will qualify for the final at the famous Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in December. The racing is fast and furious. Backing a winner is not easy as the ponies have come from all corners of Great Britain including the Shetland Isles. Some have raced the previous season, and others are new to the exciting sport of Shetland Pony racing.

All ponies are members of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society Performance Awards Scheme (Ridden) which involves competing in everything from one day events to gymkhana games.

Dressage continues to enjoy enormous popularity and growth and we are delighted to give this display at Gatcombe, compered by the incomparable Desi Dillingham.

This year we have 5 stallions from the Hobgoblins Stud - two 5 yrs olds Showmeister and First Way, the 10yr old Pauldary's Ferro. Lord and Lady Petersham's Stanhopes Diddicoy ridden by Daisy Dick, an Advanced Dressage stallion and the only coloured horse to be placed in International Dressage for Great Britain. Plus the wonderful Millenium, a Grand Prix Dressage Stallion and one of the most successful competition horses ever to stand at Stud in the UK.

The demonstration at Gatcombe will give an insight into the intricacies of the movements used in dressage. Starting with the youngsters we will show you how the horses advance to the movements required in Grand Prix, the highest level of training. This will culminate in a Dressage to Music display by the fantastic Millenium, ridden by Laura Richardson.

For more information on the Hobgoblins Stud go to www.hobgoblins-stud.com

Film action brought to the main arena with Europe's number one stunt and trick riding team. Performing with some of the world's best known horses, all owned and trained to perfection by top horsemaster and stunt co-ordinator Gerard Naprous. The Devil's Horsemen love to perform before a live audience, proving their skill and dare devil antics that make them Britain's top equestrian stunt team

Brings the ancient art of Falconry to the modern age with a comprehensive and thrilling display. The display shows the natural attributes and abilities of the birds, how they live, fly and hunt in the wild, the intelligence and agility of the Harris Hawks, who live and hunt together as families, the ever popular barn owl and the American Black Vulture. Nowhere in the country can an Eagle Owl be seen at such close quarters, as the audience finds out what its like to be a mouse!

The RAC Beagles are being paraded today by Tim Coulson Master & Huntsman and Julian Wilkinson the Kennel Huntsman. This pack of Beagles was formed in 1890 and has been going ever since exept during the two World Wars.

The country they hunt is within approximately a ten mile radius of Cirencester and they only continue to hunt due to the goodwill of farmers and surrounding packs of Foxhounds.

They are hunted by students at the college who are supported by a professional in kennels. Between them they look after around 30 couple of hounds. The Hounds are fed entirely on the fallen stock from the surounding farms, this is considered a valuable service by the farmers and goes to show how important hunting is to the rural economy.

The Hounds are kennelled at Badminton and are out four days a week from November to March - even more during Autumn hunting which will start later in August. Under the Mastership of the Duke of Beaufort and Captain Ian Farquhar, who hunts the Hounds they are a popular and traditional part of the countryside and perform a vital service for farmers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL: info@gatcombe-horse.co.uk

For more information please contact the box office on 0871 789 1423