At the very heart of The Game Fair, the Main Arena offers an outstanding mix of exciting competitions, educational demonstrations, thrills and even a few spills, with entertainment all weekend. It’s the perfect location to stop and marvel at the different skills out there in the countryside and a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the stands.

WHAT’S ON?

Driving a pair of ponies at an amazing speed through a course of ‘gates’ made from cones which have a ball perched on the top! If a ball is dislodged then there are time penalties to add to the total score.

The fastest time wins. Easy to follow, easy to understand and appreciated by people of all ages including those who have no working knowledge of horses. Always a crowd pleaser and a sport where the spectators can be encouraged to shout and cheer for their personal favourites!

Charlotte Souto Hill has harboured a lifelong passion for birds of prey. In 2003, Charlotte and her father co-founded CJ’s Birds of Prey, gaining acclaim for their performances at prestigious events such as The Game Fair.

Married to Falconer and Culinary Chef/Lecturer Jose Souto since2008, they have expanded their endeavours to include organising international falconry festivals, as well as offering bespoke events and educational experience days. TV and filming. For more information, visit cjsbirdsofprey.co.uk

Enjoy the fun and frolics of the terrier racing and why not have a go with your own dog? In the first part of the demonstration the display team’s dogs will run the course and then there will be the chance for the public’s dogs to have a go – all breeds are welcome and comical entertainment is guaranteed!

SGPN 2024

A high-speed dash, a blur of coloured silks, flying manes and tails and the roar of the crowd, the excitement of a day at the races condensed into Shetland Pony size. The Shetland Pony Grand National is a team of Shetland Ponies and jockeys that race all over the country and at the same time raise money for charity.

The Shetland Pony Grand National is a great introduction for children who want to make a career in racing or become a professional or amateur jockey. All the jockeys who are racing are between 8 and 14 years of age, are under 5ft in height and are trying to gain one of the 10 places at the world-famous London International Horse Show, which takes place at the Excel Arena just before Christmas.

This year’s charity is the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. In 2023 the Shetland Pony Grand National team raised £38,000 and so far, the total amount raised for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust is more than £203,000.

A highlight of Sunday at The Game Fair will be The Game Fair Inter Hunt Relay – a highly competitive and challenging event and one of the most exciting to watch. It’s a team event, with each hunt team being made up of three riders, including one who must be under 16 years old. They go head-tohead against the clock over a mirror-image course of gates, jumps and hedges requiring accuracy as well as speed, with knockdowns incurring time penalties. The winning team from each heat progresses to the next round, with the course often being made more challenging as the tournament nears the final.

The Inter Hunt Relay, which is popular across the country, is returning to The Game Fair, where it presents a whole new set of challenges for hunt riders. During its summer season, you may be surprised how fiercely competitive things get!

INTER HUNT 2024

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The origins of the Pony Club Mounted Games can be traced to His Royal Highness Prince Philip, who conceived the event in 1957 to foster the training and development of young riders. Mounted Games is a team sport that combines a love of ponies and friends with various races.

Teams of four or five riders and ponies take part in a series of exciting and exhilarating races that involve a mix of turns, handovers, skill, vaulting and galloping against other teams. Often run on grass or all-weather surfaces, Mounted Games is an adaptation of Gymkhana and is great fun for you, your pony and your team.

Riders can develop skills such as accuracy, agility, concentration, speed, hand to eye coordination, team work and sportsmanship whilst having lots of fun playing some thrilling games.

Renowned professional trainer Jason Mayhew will be in the Main Arena performing a mock drive with a mixture of spaniels and retrievers. Jason, who is based on the Cowdray Estate in West Sussex, will be joined by chef James Martin and his’ blue roan cocker spaniel, Cooper, during this good-natured and informative display. 

Enjoy the fun and frolics of the terrier racing and why not have a go with your own dog? In the first part of the demonstration the display team’s dogs will run the course and then there will be the chance for the public’s dogs to have a go – all breeds are welcome and comical entertainment is guaranteed!

The Hounds exhibition is the best way to meet and learn about myriad different hounds, how they have evolved through breeding and the varied jobs that they do. Visitors have theopportunity to meet three different types of hounds on each of the three days, as well as talk to uniformed hunt staff and breeders about the hounds’ characteristics.

TIMETABLE COMING SOON….