Expanded Horse of the Year show comes back to Aintree

Jun 4 2009 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

To launch the Horse of the Year Show which will be held at Aintree pictured are Steve Bailey and Jayne Spinks from the Mounted Police with a very famous race horse - Red Rum 300

ALL three emergency services will go head to head in a three day Horse of the Year show at Aintree racecourse later this year.

The event at the Aintree International Equestrian Centre follows last year’s highly successful inaugural show, held as part of the World Firefighter Games.

This saw police forces from all over the UK and France competing in categories such as dressage, obstacle course and show-jumping.

This year’s event has now been expanded to include members of both the fire and ambulance services.

Kieran Timmins, executive director of resources at Merseyside and Fire Rescue Service and a keen rider himself, said: “Last year’s equestrian event was a real success, drawing crowds of 1,000 each day and with horses taking part from all over the country.

“It was such a success we decided to carry it on for this year, rebranding it the Blue Lights Horse of the Year show to reflect the fact that it is has been opened up to members of all the emergency services.

“It will also feature displays for the public, featuring the police mounted and dogs sections, and pony club jumping competition.

“We are hoping to make this into an annual event and the equestrian centre at Aintree have been great supporters.”

Proceeds from last year’s event, which raised £6,000, were officially presented to members of the charity Crosby Riding for the Disabled at Aintree yesterday.