A special visitor will be joining shoppers on Saturday 10th March at Stafford Farmers’ Market only a week before hundreds of Shires will be arriving at Staffordshire Showground.
The stunning Shire horse will be accompanied by a Robinsons Brewery dray to demonstrate the amazing work that these gentle giants used to commonly undertake. Passers-by will be lucky enough to meet Bobek and find out more about the up and coming Shire Horse Society National Show held from 16th-18th March at Bingley Hall.
This will be the third year that the charity has held its National Show at Staffordshire Showground. Visitors can enjoy numerous showing classes, stable tours on 17th and 18th March, trade stands to browse, as well as a small animal petting area for children. It is a great day out for all the family, said Victoria Clayton, secretary of the Shire Horse Society.
“We would be thrilled to welcome a record number of visitors to our show this year as the Shire Horse Society is celebrating its 140th birthday. The show helps us to raise awareness of the Shire horse breed – a British breed that is still endangered and on the ‘at risk register’,” she said.
The Robinsons Brewery dray and Shire horse Bobek will be joining the Farmers’ Market in Market Square between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Saturday 10th March.
A familiar and much-loved sight in Stockport where Robinsons is based, the horse will be helping to promote the Shire Horse Society National Show – with tickets now on sale, discounted in advance.
Councillor Frances Beatty, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration at Stafford Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Robinsons Brewery dray and Shire horse Bobek, as well as the Shire Horse Society, to Stafford Farmers’ Market on Saturday 10th March.
“Shire horses have played a key role in farming over history, as well as in the brewing industry, so it’s very appropriate that they will be joining us at the Farmers’ Market – giving shoppers and visitors to Stafford the chance to find out more about these horses, and of course the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses, at the Staffordshire Showground the following weekend.”
Adult tickets for the Shire Horse National Show are £10 in advance or £12 on the gate, while tickets for children aged five to 13 years are £8 in advance or £10 on the gate. Children aged 14 years and over are charged at the adult price, while under fives enter free.
Gates open on Friday 16th March at 8.00am and at 7am on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March.
Stable tours, at an extra charge, are bookable on arrival on the Saturday and Sunday. They are designed to give visitors an insight into what’s involved in preparing and showing a champion Shire horse, as well as an understanding of this magnificent breed.
For more details and ticket information about the show, visit http://www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow @saveourshires on Twitter or at www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety