120th Framlingham Horse Show, Suffolk, UK
Visited: July 2013
If anyone ever truly wants to experience a quaint rural English tradition then the Framlingham Horse Show is it. The fact that it celebrated it's 120th show demonstrates it's wide ranging appeal. It is set in a picturesque Suffolk village on a grassy meadow with a 12th century Norman castle as the majestic setting.
The show has a long history of tradition, beginning in 1879 with a show of cart colts and a first prize of £1! Today the show includes in-hand and ridden light horse classes, affiliated jumping, driving events and, of course, the splendid Suffolk Punch classes. As the Suffolk classes began you could hear gasps of delight and awe from children surrounding the arena as these tanks in horse form ambled by, chestnut coats gleaming on the stallions and mares, and the adorable fuzzy coats of the captivating foals at foot, fluffed up especially for the occasion.
The winner of the Suffolks in Harness class was the epitome of a gentle giant, the splendid Oaken, with a chest almost as wide as the breadth of my arms and in possession of the broadest hooves I think I've ever seen. His handler was also an interesting character, well into his 70s with a gruff Suffolk accent but with more than a glint of pride in his eye. The Suffolk Horse Society's slogan is 'Proud as Punch' and you could see this in all the owners of this magnificent rare breed.
The show has a long history of tradition, beginning in 1879 with a show of cart colts and a first prize of £1! Today the show includes in-hand and ridden light horse classes, affiliated jumping, driving events and, of course, the splendid Suffolk Punch classes. As the Suffolk classes began you could hear gasps of delight and awe from children surrounding the arena as these tanks in horse form ambled by, chestnut coats gleaming on the stallions and mares, and the adorable fuzzy coats of the captivating foals at foot, fluffed up especially for the occasion.
The winner of the Suffolks in Harness class was the epitome of a gentle giant, the splendid Oaken, with a chest almost as wide as the breadth of my arms and in possession of the broadest hooves I think I've ever seen. His handler was also an interesting character, well into his 70s with a gruff Suffolk accent but with more than a glint of pride in his eye. The Suffolk Horse Society's slogan is 'Proud as Punch' and you could see this in all the owners of this magnificent rare breed.
|