Posted: 23rd March 2018 | Back to news feed
Making a nostalgic return to the Andrews Bowen International Arena is the Musical Drive of the Heavy Horses at Horse of the Year Show 2018. The popular and emotive Musical Drive performance has delighted the HOYS audiences for many years with their superb harrowing display; from the 1950’s up until 1999, they performed every year at Wembley Arena and we look forward to welcoming them again for our 70th anniversary show.
Julian Portch Photography
The Musical Drive was a tradition largely born out of necessity and it was Colonel Mike Ansell who solved the past lengthy disruptions between classes by using teams of majestic Shire Horses to harrow the arena instead of tractors. The Heavy Horse Teams performed the drive to music making it more entertaining and engaging for the audience, carefully choreographed from start to finish.
The jingling of the harrow chains created by the heavy horse’s majestic footing is a harmonious accompaniment to the military style drill music. The spectacle is reminiscent of the traditional driving tasks asked of heavy breeds on farms, in breweries and as modes of transport in a bygone era.
This year at HOYS, six pairs of Shires and Clydesdales under the command of HOYS official John Peacock, are set to fascinate the audience each day of the Show, performing in the evening performances on Saturday and Sunday. The Musical Drive will re-enact the complicated patterns as performed at the Harringay and Wembley Arena’s.
HOYS have introduced a Platinum Jubilee Package for Sunday’s show as an All-Day Ticket. The package offers a Sunday daytime ticket priced at the usual rate, plus a Sunday evening ticket for just £20, regardless of the ticket band. Prices start at £54 for Band C to £83 for Premium Ringside, making a saving of 34%.
Tickets for HOYS are now on sale, starting from just £34.00 for an all-day ticket Wednesday - Friday. Saturday and Sunday tickets are split into daytime and evening performances. To find out more and to book your tickets, please visit http://hoys.co.uk/tickets/ or call the Box Office on 0844 581 8282.
The Equestrian Index newsfeed is compiled from articles submitted by advertising members and expresses the opinions of those members. Watsons Directories Ltd shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies or mis-statements therein.