Vets on standby for thousands of animals as heatwave sun brings out crowds for 2024 New Forest Show at New Park Brockenhurst
CROWDS were dressed for a heatwave and vets were on standby for thousands of animals as the gates opened for the New Forest & Hampshire County Show at Brockenhurst today.
Traffic was flowing smoothly as temperatures rose to around 30C as the first of around 100,000 visitors expected over the three days arrived for the century-old event.
The show is also recognised as one of the country’s premier equestrian events, with more than 2,000 horses and riders including 56 qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC.
But as the sun blazed down, show secretary Denis Dooley said: “Animal welfare is paramount and if we have to make changes we will – for example if it is too hot we won’t run the afternoon’s grand parade.”
Show chair Aaron Lawford added: “This is the last chance for the Horse of the Year qualifiers – a massive accolade.
“We also have well over 1,000 sheep and 500 cattle but it is quality as well as quantity, and once again we have a non-competitive rabbit village.
“There is something for everyone at this massive community event that brings together the huge New Forest community, where people can engage in nature and agriculture and have fun learning from stalwarts happy to share their knowledge.
“As a charity our purpose is to promote equestrianism, forestry, horticulture, livestock and crafts with any profits invested in the infrastructure.”
A first this year is the Wonder of Wood display staged by Hampshire’s Sparsholt College demonstrating timber handling and processing.
Competing with the buzz of the forestry chainsaws and the clunk of blades on timber from Adam’s Axemen lumberjack display team is the chink-chink of hammer on metal with sparks flying and the unmistakable aroma of fanned glowing coals as the blacksmiths show their skills.
And there’s a buzz of a different kind with the main non-equestrian display starring the Bolddog FMX motorcycle action twice a day in the East Ring, the riders having been semi-finalists in Britain’s Got Talent.
In a more tranquil setting there are the challenges of fudge and cordials and much more in the WI tent, with stunning displays in the flower and vegetable show.
And to quench thirsts and satisfy appetites there are more than 40 stands selling refreshments from around the world in a festival of food.
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