By Tom Best

The light horse section delivered in bucket loads for this year’s Royal Highland Show, which drew exhibitors from the length and breadth of Britain to compete and share in its magic.

Let’s not forget that the Highland does have a magic of its own for all sorts of reasons, not least of which is the warm Scottish hospitality extended from the stable staff on arrival to the stewards organising the rings on show day.

That said, having directed my Australian friends to the Overseas Pavilion on the Thursday, I was disappointed to learn that they were sent packing due to a camera team having taken over the facility. Scottish hospitality?

Equines account for more than half the total livestock entry participating over all four days of the show, competing in up to seven rings daily and spread out over three locations. The contribution they make to the interest and entertainment of the visitors should never be underestimated.

The Jubilee Ring, with its top-class show jumping competitions, attracted large crowds every day and a question for organisers: what would fill the Main Ring every morning if the light horses didn’t fill it?

The improvement in lorry parking was well received as was the stabling, despite the reduced number available this year. The condition of the rings was excellent and a real credit to ground staff and directors who made sure they were. The going was next to perfect and any problems encountered by exhibitors were self-inflicted through poor riding or inappropriate shoeing.

The Thistle Ring on the northern boundary of the show ground came into its own this year and was fit for the wide spectrum of sections it hosted. At the start of play, the scene was set for a great show – weather permitting – and indeed it was.

In the Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, competition was high in both quality and numbers, which made taking part more memorable and qualification tickets hard won.

The Mountain and Moorland sections attracted the best in the country. Indeed, the ridden championship at lunchtime on Sunday was a feast for the eyes made all the more remarkable that it was The Scottish Farmer’s new contributor, Chris Grant, who took the tri-colour with his Highland pony, Dunedin Iolare.

Again, huge entries came froward for the native working hunter pony section. However, last year’s late-night session was avoided by careful ring planning and additional time when the show jumpers relocated to the Main Ring for one of their crowd-pleasing spectaculars.

Big classes bring their own problems for organisers as experienced in the M and M lead rein class in which 45 of the 48 catalogued entries came forward first thing in the Main Ring on the Saturday.

Entertaining a young rider sitting on a pony for two hours is far from an endearing thought, making it inconceivable why the class wasn’t split prior to the show or on the day. Apart from a few minor niggles, which are inevitable for a show of this size, overall the livestock office staff did a great job for efficiently delivering a complex programme and will have learned a few lessons form this year’s experience, including this one.

Inconspicuous but present throughout the show were external stewards from various societies, who kept an eye on rules including welfare issues. Such is the discrete nature of their work that their reports are confidential. However, I understand that there was some concern over the size of riders in one of the Mountain and Moorland classes although no action was taken this time. It’s an old chestnut that continues to haunt the showing industry, particularly small ponies. We can only hope that it will be resolved by self-regulation.

One of the funniest things I witnessed at the show was the attempt by a rider to jump the big water jump in the Main Ring with her Highland pony. Of course, this was not allowed as part of the evening exercise facility for the heavy horse section. However, the pony put an end to it by completely refusing to comply to the demands of its wayward rider – a timely reminder that tradition had the breed walk through water and not jump over it.

My lasting memory of this year’s Highland has to be the spectacular entry to Sunday’s Main Ring of the McIntyres’ magnificent team of six Clydesdales, produced and driven by Ron Brewster. With brasses gleaming in the midday sun and the bays moving in unison and in step round the arena, it is no wonder they took the overall among the heavy horse turnouts. They were certainly my show highlight among many.

More than any time in the past, I’m confident in saying that the Royal Highland is the best agricultural show in Britain – its reputation and tradition have been hard earned. In recent years, it has regained its magic thus adding to my determination to help secure its future.