Things get heavy at Notts County Show

If you like your horses on the heavy side, head to Nottinghamshire County Show this spring.

HOYS qualifier

It is the only county show in the UK to offer showing classes for the four main heavy breeds.

Clydesdale, Suffolk Punch, Shire and Percheron all have their own in-hand classes, the winners of which will go forward to the supreme champion competition.

This year also hosts a Shire horse qualifier for the Horse of the Year Show, with entries expected from Surrey to Scotland.

Endangered breed

“It is important to maintain the future of the heavy horse classes and keep that aspect of county shows alive,” said Liz Lambert, chief steward of the heavy horse classes. “If you go back to Nottinghamshire County Show’s beginnings, the heavy horse classes would have been one of the originals.

“The Suffolk in particular is an endangered breed and there are very limited numbers or opportunities for them to be showed to the public and compete.”

The 132nd Nottinghamshire County Show runs from 9-10 May. Advance adult tickets cost £10 and can be bought online.