The British Horse Society (BHS) is marking its 60th anniversary with a spectacular cavalcade in Windsor Great Park.
The cavalcade will take place on Saturday, 7 July and feature 1,000 horses and ponies. BHS chief executive Graham Cory told H&H the plan is for every native breed and equestrian discipline to be represented.
“We want every conceivable aspect of equestrian endeavour to be involved,” he said. “The last time 1,000 British horses got together was for the cavalry charge at the Battle of Omdurman in the Sudan in 1898.”
The Mounted Police, Army, vets, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), Pony Club, Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children & Donkeys, and riding schools and clubs will be among those taking part.
Participants will ride around the park and then congregate for a procession up the Long Walk at 2pm. There will be a nominal charge for participants to cover costs, with the event free to members of the public.
“This is primarily a celebration of 60 years of the BHS, but we are using our diamond jubilee to celebrate all aspects of equestrianism,” said Mr Cory.
A registered charity, the BHS became a legal entity on 5 November 1947 when the Institute of the Horse and Pony Club and the National Horse Association of Great Britain amalgamated. The Queen has been the patron of the organisation since day one.
“It’s a super idea,” said RDA chief executive Ed Bracher. “The great thing about an event like this is that it can show everyone working together. It is especially useful for the RDA, as the charity is keen to be seen as an integral part of the horseworld.”
As well as the cavalcade, BHS regional and county committees will be organising events to celebrate the society’s diamond jubilee throughout the year.
Details of how members of the public can apply to participate in the cavalcade will be posted on the BHS website — www.bhs.org.uk — in March.
This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (8 March, ’07)
