Actor Martin Clunes heads up Royal International Horse Show

Actor Martin Clunes has become the new president of Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

Martin Clunes, most famous for his role in the comedy Men Behaving Badly, has enjoyed riding since he was a child and currently keeps 6 horses at his Dorset farm.

“I’m thrilled to be honoured with the presidency of the Royal International Horse Show,” said Martin, “and I am looking forward enormously to going to Hickstead this year.”

Married to television producer Philippa Braithwaite, Martin’s passion for equines also led him to host a new ITV documentary series about man’s relationship with horses.

“I wanted to find out how this animal became so important to us,” explained Clunes. “How did we manage to tame such a huge, fearful prey animal and make it both our servant and our friend?”

Called Horsepower, the series will follow Clunes on a journey across the world during which he will play snow polo in Colorado, enjoy a lavish racing event in Dubai and watch the Palio horse race in Italy.

An ITV spokesman told H&H that Horsepower is likely to be aired later this year.

The Longines Royal International Horse Show takes from 28 July to 1 August at Hickstead. For more information visit www.hickstead.co.uk.

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