Countryside Live welcomes World Horse Shoeing competition

Teams of farriers will converge on Harrogate from Europe and America to take part in the two-day competition being held for the first time at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Around 12,000 visitors are expected to attend the rural show and watch the teams compete for an all-expenses paid trip to Kentucky for the World Shoeing Classic.

The competition is a new event staged by the Yorkshire Farriers Association and will take place in a state-of-the-art 10 bay facility which opened on the showground two years ago.

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Jason Gajczak, vice-chairman of the Yorkshire Farriers Association and Chief Farriery Steward said the facility, called the forge, was a ‘UK beating’ venue.

He said: “We have been able to host national and international events at Countryside Live since the forge opened, which is the best facility of its kind in the country by a long way.

“The World Team Championships will be an exciting event with former world champions and the current European champion taking part.

“It will be a great spectator sport throughout the countryside Live weekend.”

Mr Gajczak said they have been running a horse-shoeing competition at Countryside Live since the event started and has noticed a visible growth in the popularity of the sport.

He said: “It has been growing bigger and bigger every year, just the same as Countryside Live has.

“I remember the first year I went to Countryside Live. There wasn’t much happening but every year there has been a bit more added on and now it’s a fantastic mini Yorkshire Show.

“That’s why we have gone for the World Team Championships, because we have got such a good venue and so many good people wanting to come over for it.”

Countryside Live is a two-day showcase of rural activities for all the family.

Among many other events, there are classes for cattle and sheep as well as a dedicated equine ring, as well as the return of the Search for a Talented Showjumper run by Olympic stars Graham and Tina Fletcher.

The event is often called the ‘little sister’ of the Great Yorkshire Show.

Gates open at 9am and close at 5.30pm on both days.