Ivybridge Horse Show in Devon under threat of closure
One of the West Country’s most popular one-day shows will cease running if a new venue cannot be found for next year.
Ivybridge Horse Show can no longer go ahead at Filham Park, Ivybridge — its home for 10 years — because the town council is redeveloping the site into a new cricket ground.
The show runs around 70 classes, including qualifiers for both the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) and the British Show Pony Society’s (BSPS) summer championships. It has up to 700 entries each year.
Founder and organiser Michelle Smith said: “It will be a great loss to those who enjoy showing across the West Country. It’s such a shame the council can no longer support the show.”
Show rider Laura Miller, of Brixton, near Plymouth, has supported the show from the outset. She said: “We have very few shows and a distinct lack of qualifiers in the West Country as it is. And with the current price of fuel, it’s going to work out very expensive [to go further afield].
If you have a suggestion for a new venue, contact Michelle Smith on 07854 340 551 or michelle@southdevonrural.com.
• For more, read this week’s issue of H&H (31 December).
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