The Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair

The countdown begins for a star-studded event!

A star-studded line up of demonstrations and entertainment will feature at this year’s Contour Events Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair. The event will once again take place at Westpoint, Exeter, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2007.

Amongst the top names will be Graham Fletcher, both an entertainer and a highly skilled and informative show jumper, who will educate and entertain in two different yet inspirational demonstrations; Mary King (Three day Eventing) (Saturday) will demonstrate training the event horse and Lucy Wiegersma (Three day eventing) (Sunday) will demonstrate co-operative training, how a happy working partnership is the key to success; Joanna Day – ‘Spook Busting – Developing the fearless horse & pony - and rider’

Other Contour Events entertainment includes Endurance riding (Saturday) and the ever- popular stallion parade with stallions from Devon and Cornwall, a fabulous display to music. New for 2007 will be a showing master class with the South West Pony Association and the pony club horse & hound show jumping challenge. Four pony club teams will compete in a fast and fun-filled team challenge with horses, riders and dogs!

A shopping village will host a wide variety of trade stands with 1000, s of products, special offers, top name brands and advice – all in one hall. This year will also introduce the Breed Society Area based in the Westpoint annexe.

A great social occasion and a show not to be missed and a total equestrian experience for the dedicated rider!

Press information:
For further news stories on this event or photographs contact Lisa Scattergood at Contour Events on 01884 250230 or Lisa@contour.uk.net

Contour Events present
The Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair 2007

The Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair 2007 is being held at Westpoint, Exeter on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2007. The event is open from 9.00am until 5.00pm on both days. On the gate tickets: Adults £9.00, OAP’s £8.00, Child £6.00 and Family (2 adults + 2 children) £25.00. Under 5’s FREE.
Advanced and group ticket discounts available.
Book online or telephone 08700 115007.

LUCY WIEGERSMA TAKES CENTRE STAGE!

Local three-day event rider Lucy Wiegersma will be showing her skills in two educational and inspirational demonstrations on Sunday 25th November 2007 at the Contour Events Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair.

Lucy Wiegersma, 30, is a World Class Lottery funded international event rider based near Hatherleigh in Devon.

Having worked for her parents Hendrik and Pippa Wiegersma since she left school, and more latterly taken over part of the family’s thriving equestrian business, Lucy has now taken sole control of Warren Farm near Beaworthy and the breaking, schooling, competing, rehabilitation and sales preparation will all come under the banner of her new business Acquila Equestrian.

Lucy’s eventing career began belting around cross-country courses on her ponies as a member of the Western hunt Pony Club with British Championship glory just a pipe dream

Born, bred and raised in Cornwall, and patriotic to the core, despite her Dutch surname, success at the highest level is the result of hard work, determination and a good-humoured outlook on life.

The numerous notches on her belt include Junior European Championships bronze and silver medallist; Junior National Champion; Young Rider National Champion; two star wins at Blair, Burgie and Thirlestane and a three star win at Blair.

It is this emphasis on localness, which has always stood her in good stead. Despite being on the highest rung of the eventing ladder, her ethos is firmly one that means she will always offer encouraging words to less experienced event riders and the gates at Warren Farm remain firmly open for all manner of horses.
She said: “I’m basically an ordinary Pony Club girl who has made good in the sport of eventing. I began with the Western Hunt and my eventing career has evolved and I’m now very lucky to enjoy success at the highest level.

“But it’s important to never loose sight of where you have come from and I would like people to feel they can come to Warren Farm and see the horses, they can stop me at events and ask me questions. I was very lucky to receive a lot of help and I’d like to help others enjoy the sport. I love being around people and being part of my team at home and I would like others to have that pleasure too.”

Endurance – the ultimate partnership between horse and rider

Endurance riding is a unique, competitive challenge for horse and rider and a supreme sport for learning about equine fitness. It is one of the most exciting, up and coming sports today. Endurance GB South West will demonstrate this at the Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair this year.

The Contour Events Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair will once again take place at Westpoint in Exeter on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2007. With a wide range of top name stars and excellent shopping opportunities it will certainly be a show not to be missed. Endurance will be one of the many demonstrations taking place in the Supreme Equine Arena, with one demonstration on Saturday only.

Endurance requires dedication, good horsemanship and involves long hours in the saddle, but can be enjoyed by riders and horses of all types and abilities.

In England and Wales the sport is governed by Endurance GB. Rides of varying distances are held over all kinds of terrain and in all weathers between February and October. International competitions take place in many countries and European and World Championships are held biannually with the ultimate goal being the World Equestrian Games.

The aim of a competitive ride is to successfully complete within the given speed parameters, bringing the horse home in the best possible condition with a low pulse. This is rewarded by achieving grades.

Endurance is a sport for all ages (over 8 years) and all types of horse and a great way to get out and see the countryside.

The demonstration will give a snapshot into Endurance riding and provide inspiration to take part in this growing sport.

The Fearless Horse

Roger and Joanna Day, locally based authors of the recently published training book ‘The Fearless Horse’ and breeders of world class horses including Pippa Funnell’s Primmore’s Pride will be providing an interactive lecture demonstration on ‘Spookbusting and developing the fearless horse and pony – and rider!’ at this years’ Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair.

Roger and Joanna’s teaching is inspirational and groundbreaking using effective training strategies for producing a calm but courageous horse. They work on the principal that through developing clearer communication between horse and human, it is possible to teach horses to confidently accept most scary and difficult situations they are likely to meet in their every day life or competition life. The rider will also develop their confidence as they gain control over their horse or pony.

Joanna is a British Horse Society Instructor, British Dressage and British Eventing accredited trainer and Roger an FEI Steward. They teach riders of every level from pre-pony clubs or riding clubs to super stars and at the Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair will work with family horses, ponies and their riders building confidence in coping with spooks, ditches, water jumps and more.

Joanna and Roger Day have recently enjoyed a year of touring the British Isles giving very well received ‘Spookbusting’ demonstrations. They have been using ‘guinea pig’ horses of all types from Police horses to first ponies. If anyone feels they have a suitably user friendly and smart horse or pony to offer as a ‘guinea pig’ horse for the Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair then please contact Joanna and Roger on 01278 662783 or email HYPERLINK "mailto:info@fearlesshorse.co.uk" info@fearlesshorse.co.uk to volunteer.

During the event, the ‘Fearless Horse’ book will be on special offer of £17.50. Anyone buying the book either from the ‘Spook Busting’ stand or from the British Horse Society stand will be entered into a prize draw to win a voucher for a training session with Roger and Joanna

The Contour Events Devon & Cornwall Christmas Equine Fair will be taking place once again at Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2007 and will provide both an exciting arena programme and plenty of opportunity to shop in the equestrian shopping village. There is even a shopping crèche based in the organiser’s office so you don’t have to carry the bags around with you

The Contour Events Northern Horse Event

The countdown begins for a star-studded event!

Top class entertainment, competitive events and a fabulous equestrian shopping village all add up to the new Northern Horse Event taking place at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December 2007.

Amongst the top names will be Geoff Billington, both an entertainer and a highly skilled and informative show jumper. His demonstrations will certainly wow the audience!

The Oliver Townend three-day eventing master class highlights warm up and training methods for the discipline with an entertaining twist!

Heather Moffett will demonstrate the art of classical dressage. Heather will pass on her vast experience of training with classical teachers, and using the French school of classical equitation, more thought of these days as ‘Baroque Equitation’, will focus on dressage as an art form rather than a competitive sport.

Other entertainment includes pony club horse & hound show jumping challenge. Four pony club teams will compete in a fast and fun-filled team challenge with horses, riders and dogs, the ever-popular stallion parade and a showing master class.

A shopping village will host a wide variety of equestrian related trade stands with special offers, top brand names and advice – all indoors!

A great social occasion and a show not to be missed!

Top stars at the Contour Events Northern Horse Event!

The countdown to the Contour Events Northern Horse Event ‘07 has begun and what a treat this show will be! There is no need to travel miles when this stunning display of top stars, expert advice and shopping is right on your door step!

The Contour Northern Horse Event will take place at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December 2007 and will feature some of the top names from the equine world.

Geoff Billington will host two exciting and informative demonstrations showing the complexities of show jumping

Oliver Townend will provide an entertaining eventing master class showing the warm up of the horses, training for cross country and much more.

Heather Moffett will demonstrate the art of classical dressage.

There is also a Stallion parade featuring a fabulous selection of regional stallions in a stunning display to music. A showing master class on Saturday only will provide an insight into the world of showing.

In addition on Sunday only, four pony clubs will compete in the Pony Club horse & hound team jumping challenge. A fun-filled competition with horses, riders and dogs…not to be missed!

Put all this together with a wide range of products and services to see, touch and buy – saddlery, tack, clothing, feed, bedding, jewellery, art, equestrian books…the list is endless - this is a show that should not be missed!

Top Classical Dressage Rider takes centre stage!

Heather Moffett, top expert in classical dressage will be providing two different and inspirational demonstrations each day in the Supreme Equine Arena at the Contour Northern Horse Event.

Heather Moffett began riding as a young child in the UK, but by her early teens, was questioning the methods being used to teach. By the age of sixteen, she had developed a different method of teaching riding, especially how to synchronise exactly with the movement of the horse. This enabled her to teach beginners with extraordinary speed, and also to rectify long established faults in experienced riders. She has pioneered the teaching of riding with the Equisimulators, machines which simulate the movement of the horse, enabling very precise, hands on teaching, in total safety.

Heather follows the French school of classical equitation, more often thought of these days as ‘Baroque Equitation’ and which focuses on dressage as an art form, rather than as a competition sport. Baroque equitation is now taking off in Germany and the United States.

Her book, ‘Enlightened Equitation’ is a best seller, now in its sixth edition, published also in Dutch and German. She has now written a new book for complete beginners.

OLIVER TOWNEND TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE NORTHERN HORSE EVENT

Yorkshire based three-day eventer, Oliver Townend will be taking centre stage at the new Contour Northern Horse Event at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December 2007.

Born and bred in Huddersfield, Oliver inherited his love of horses from his parents who both competed to a high standard. He started winning at the age of 11 at the Horse of the Year Show and has continued in that vein ever since.

He has been representing Great Britain since the age of 12 when he was selected for the Pony European Championships and he became the youngest rider ever to compete at the CCI international 2* level eventing.

After a spell as an apprentice in Ireland, Oliver returned to Yorkshire to work for Christopher Bartle who had spotted his talents at 14 years old. Then at the age of 19 he was invited to train under Olympic eventing’s show jumping coach Kenneth Clawson in Leicestershire and within a year, Oliver was selected for the pre Olympic trials event in Athens, again as the youngest member of the team.

Oliver has always done things ahead of his peers and in 2004 he set up his own yard.

Oliver’s ultimate goal is to win Gold at the London Olympics in 2012.

See this inspirational three-day eventer in the Supreme Equine Arena at the Northern Horse Event, in his two demonstrations each day – the eventing master class.

The Northern Horse Event will also feature Geoff Billington (show jumping), Heather Moffett (Classical Dressage), a stallion parade, a showing master class with Julie Templeton and the Pony Club horse & hound show jumping challenge, together with a fabulous shopping village with a wide range of equestrian goods to see, touch and buy.

The Northern Horse Event will be taking place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Shepton Mallet, Harrogate on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December 2007 and will bring together some of the top names in the equestrian world together with a variety of entertainment for all the family.

The show will have something for everyone including a shopping village with top brand names, clothing, footwear, saddlery and much more.

Scottish Horse Event

AN EXCITING DATE IN THE EQUESTRIAN CALENDAR

Three-Day eventing star, Ian Stark, will be just one of the top names at the new Scottish Horse Event. The Prestigious event will take place at the Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2007 and has all the ingredients for a fabulous day out for all the family.

Ian Stark will provide two exciting demonstrations each day on Eventing to include basic training of the event horse and cross country technique; Andrew Hamilton, an internationally acclaimed show jumper will educate and entertain in two different yet inspirational demonstrations showing the complexities of show jumping; Amanda Saville will give an insight into the exciting world of carriage driving and will add to the excitement with a Carriage Driving Games Competition with regional pony clubs on Sunday only; A fabulous selection of stallions will take part in a stunning display to music on Sunday and we are very pleased to have top producer and judge Jerome Harforth running a showing master class featuring a selection of breeds including mountain & Moorland, hunters and many more (Saturday only).

Four pony club teams will be joining in a horse & hound team jumping challenge – a fast and fun filled competition with horses, riders and dogs…not to be missed! (Saturday only)

The shopping village has many top equestrian retailers displaying 1000’s of products and services to see, touch and buy, and there’s no need to carry all those bags around with you – leave your shopping in the Shopping Crèche based in the Organisers’ Office.

The show is a spectacular event, where visitors can learn and be entertained by top class equestrian stars and buy all their equestrian goods all under one roof. This is certainly a show not to be missed!

The countdown to the Contour Scottish Horse Event begins!

The Contour Scottish Horse Event will take place in the Lowland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2007 and will feature some of the top Scottish equestrian stars and a fabulous selection of equine goods and services to see, touch and buy!

The show is a total equestrian experience for the dedicated rider and with names such as Ian Stark, Andrew Hamilton and Amanda Saville featuring in the Supreme Equine Arena together with Pony Club events, a stallion parade and a showing master class, there is certainly a lot to see and plenty to learn.

Amanda Saville is an accomplished horsewoman and carriage driver and now has a number of championships under her belt including Indoor Pairs Champion this year. Amanda’s display demonstrates driving of hair’s breadth accuracy, skill, verve and total trust between Amanda and her ponies. The performance is enhanced by a natural running commentary explaining what is happening and who the ponies are. Many of them have been rescued and have stories to tell!

Amanda will also be running the Pony Club Carriage Driving Challenge, which will certainly be entertaining and exciting to watch!

The Contour Scottish Horse Event will be a great social occasion and a must for the horse enthusiast.

Top Scottish Horse Event returns!

Top class entertainment, competitive events and a fabulous equestrian shopping village all add up to the new Contour Scottish Horse Event taking place at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Edinburgh on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2007.

Ian Stark, three-day event rider, will be one of many top name stars appearing at the event.

Ian will give two demonstrations each day looking at the basic training of the event horse and also cross country technique.

Ian has been a member of the British Eventing team since 1984 and has competed in five Olympics, Los Angeles in 1984 through to Sydney in 2000 and has won four Olympic silver medals.

He has won Badminton three times including being the only person to ever be 1st and 2nd in the same year, 1988 and has won team gold and individual silver in the world championships.

In addition, Ian received the MBE in 1989 and OBE in 2001. He is certainly a real inspiration and will provide exciting and educational demonstrations during the Scottish Horse Event.

The event will also feature Andrew Hamilton (show jumping), Amanda Saville (carriage driving), a stallion parade (Sunday only), Showing master class (Saturday only), Carriage Driving games competition (Sunday only) and Pony Club horse & hound team jumping challenge (Saturday only).

See, touch and buy all under cover in the Scottish Horse Event shopping village. All your equestrian needs including top brand names, clothing, saddlery, feed, footwear, grooming equipment and much more.

Pony Club challenges at the Scottish Horse Event!

The Contour Scottish Horse Event, taking place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December will feature pony clubs from around the region competing in both the horse & hound show jumping challenge and a carriage driving games competition with Amanda Saville.

The Pony Club horse & hound team jumping challenge (Saturday only) consists of teams from the Lauderdale Pony Club, Dalkeith & District Pony Club, East Lothian Pony Club and Peebles and Tweedale and will involve four riders and four runners with their dogs jumping over fences in an indoor arena, both against the clock and judged for style. This is sure to be an exciting and fast moving event.

In addition, Amanda Saville will be organising the carriage driving games competition (Sunday only) with two regional pony clubs battling it out with flags, balls and water!

The Contour Scottish Horse Event has something for every dedicated rider…equestrian shopping, entertainment, education and experts.

The Contour Scottish Horse Event Returns!

Top class entertainment, competitive events and a fabulous equestrian shopping village all add up to the new Contour Scottish Horse Event taking place at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Edinburgh on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2007.

Taking centre stage this year will be Ian Stark (three day eventing), Andrew Hamilton (show jumping), Amanda Saville (carriage driving) and two competitive pony club events – the horse & hound show jumping challenge and the pony club carriage driving challenge.

A shopping village will host a variety of equestrian related trade stands with products to see, touch and buy and plenty of advice on a variety of subjects.

The show is a good day out for all the family and a chance to catch up with friends!

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