Spring Countryside Show special

SPRING COUNTRYSIDE SHOW SPECIAL

interview by Laura Hitchcock

One man, his horse, his birds - and the spirit of freedom

Moving crowds to tears is all in a day’s work for Jonathan Marshall, the horseback falconer starring at the new Spring Countryside Show

Talking to Jonathan Marshall is unexpected. From a look at his website, my impression was of the ultimate showman persona; shinily clichéd, with a confidence bordering just on this side of arrogance. I did not expect a quiet, unassuming northerner on the phone – with an irrepressible sense of humour, the deepest love for his horses and falcons threading through every word, and entirely dismissive of his own importance: “the fella in the middle of the arena telling the story is irrelevant”

An accidental career

Jonathan Marshall’s love affair with horses began in early childhood – at 78, his mother still has horses, one of whom is 38 years old. At the age of eight, Jonathan discovered falconry and the birds soon took over his attention. Eventually he realised that he could combine his two passions – falconry was traditionally a horseback method of hunting. “I never set out to be a horseback falconer – I mean, who does? - but in ’86 I made it my professional career. Though I quickly realised if I was going to make it a show, I needed the right horses. It’s not quite so spectacular if I’m on a donkey!” So Jonathan chose to work with

the most beautiful – Andalusian, Lusitano, Friesian and Arabs. “We work on dressage lines – high school moves such as Piaffe, Passage, Passo Espanol, Reverencia and Levade. But I’m well aware I’m not a dressage rider, I’m a showman. “We carefully rehearse every second of the shows - the falcons are trained to the lure, flying through the horses legs. It’s all timed to music, and the horses and the birds know exactly what they’re doing. It’s taken a long time to get the show to where it is now – our first season was a steep learning curve, and it was… well, let’s say it wasn’t the most polished performance at first!” “And it’s evolved over time – it’s such a natural pairing between the horses and the birds, and it always resonates at an instinctive level with the audience. I’ve noticed it especially since we came back from the lockdowns – last year’s

shows were far more emotive. I think it has to do with our collective lived experience over the pandemic. At the end of each performance I allow “I never set out the horses and birds to be a horseback to run and falconer ... I fly, entirely mean, who does?” uncontrolled and unrestrained, and I simply run with them – it’s the ultimate expression of freedom, and for the first time I found audiences were crying, reacting on a deeply emotional level. It’s spontaneous, the only part of the show that’s not carefully scripted; it’s not a stunt… and I think there’s a part of everyone who longs to be as free as those animals in that moment.”

“ ...high school

moves such as Piaffe, Passage, Books too During lockdown Jonathan began writing “I’m in

Passo Espanol, my 50s now. I’ve got to

Reverencia and think forwards – I’m not

Levade. But I’m so young anymore, and it hurts when I fall off!”. well aware I’m not a His first book ‘Spirit, the fastest bird in the world’ is dressage rider, I’m a showman.” a story about acceptance, and that no one is more important than anyone else. His second book, ‘A Falcon’s Love’ which he has illustrated himself, is out shortly.

Jonathan breeds peregrine lanners - or ‘perilanner’ , a hybrid between a peregrine falcon and a lanner falcon. It is larger and faster than a lanner, but does not fly as far as a peregrine.

Jonathan will be appearing at the Spring Countryside Show with his 2022 ‘A’ team:

Amadeus

In 2018 Jonathan got a call about an unbroken 10-year old Friesian stallion. Kept purely for breeding, when his owner died no one knew what to do with him; his sheer size was intimidating. Within a week of bringing him home, however, Jonathan was riding Amadeus on Bude beach. “He was a bit of a bully, and was used to simply getting his own way. The first time I approached him in the stable, he started to push himself forwards at me, but instead of retreating I kicked the stable door loudly, and he backed off. He came at me again, so I kicked the door again, and in a gesture I’ve come to know and love, he lifted one hoof gently – it was like a sorry, an ‘OK, I’ll be a good lad’. He is honestly the kindest, gentlest, most beautiful horse I’ve ever worked with. Everyone loves him. And he still lifts his hoof to ask permission or apologise, even now.”

The Falcons

Jonathan will be bringing Duchess, Sonnet and Aria, his peregrine lanners, to the Spring Countryside Show – the trio are full sisters, though hatched in different years, and bred by Jonathan himself. “I’ve had falcons since I was eight, and these birds are the best I’ve ever had. Anyone who breeds any animal knows that sometimes you get a pairing that just produces magic. The parents are good birds, but their offspring are something else. They have the speed and agility you’d expect, of course, but they’ll spin as they dive, just for fun, they twist like nothing else … they’re amazing birds, spectacular to watch.”

Dorset’s newest Countryside Show ‘springs to life’ this month

The Spring Countryside Show is taking place at Turnpike Showground between Gillingham and Shaftesbury on the 23rd and 24th April

The show is organised by the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show team, and the theme for this year is ‘Bring Spring to Life’. A line up of over 50 exhibits, demonstrations and attractions are set to deliver a weekend jam-packed with fun for the whole family. James Cox, event organiser said: “We’re so excited to bring this new country show to Turnpike showground. It embraces and highlights all the wonderful rural pursuits, traditions and talented craftspeople our region has to offer. There really is something for everyone.”

Rural Living

Countryside pursuits and rural activities will of course be on display, including a dedicated ‘Rural’ ring sponsored by Gritchie Brewing Co. See heavy horse logging, terrier racing, gun dog demonstrations and the spectacular horseback falconry display by Jonathan Marshall (see previous pages). The famous Dorset Axemen will be battling it out against the clock, and there’s a dedicated Farm Yard feature sponsored by Friars Moor Livestock Vets with the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ – yes, sheep love to dance – plus farm machinery and goat milking demonstrations. Plus the pre-requisite goat milk ice cream.ice cream. The rural skills of farrier, wood carving, blacksmith, stickmaker and coppicer will also be on show.

In other news ...

Food lovers can indulge their passion in a dedicated cookery area. The best local produce is on offer, as well as new recipe ideas in the Cookery Theatre, run in association with Dorset Food and Drink. If mechanics are more your focus, there’s classic cars, military vehicles, autojumble and working steam engines to view close-up. A high-level platform will give visitors a fascinating birds-eye view into the inner workings of these massive machines.

Entertainment

To increase the celebratory atmosphere there’s a festival area with live music, food and - of course - a bar with local ales, gin and cider. This will all be open until 10pm on the Saturday evening, so visitors can dance beneath the stars and enjoy a true festival vibe.

You can join in

If that’s not enough to ‘bring on the spring’, there’s a fun fair with bouncy castles, and tractor and trailer rides. Perhaps try your hand at willow weaving, in one of the various have-a-go activities scheduled.

Tickets start from £8.50 for adults and just £1 for children – but hurry as the price will increase when a quota is reached! And, if you have a country craft or tradition you can demonstrate or want to try your luck at a Show Garden or floral display – there’s still time to get involved.

For tickets, more information and details on how to exhibit, visit www. springcountrysideshow.co.uk or telephone 01747 823955

SATURDAY 23 APRIL TIMETABLES

*SUBJECT TO CHANGE

RURAL RING

09:45 Heavy Horse Logging

sponsored by Chris Abrams Green Houses 10:30 Gundogs 11:15 Jonathan Marshall Free Spirits Show 12:00 Terrier Racing 12:45 Falconry 13:30 Heavy Horse Logging

sponsored by Chris Abrams Green Houses 14:15 Gundogs 15:00 Jonathan Marshall Free Spirits Show 15:45 Terrier Racing 16:30 Falconry

STEAM ENGINES

11:00 Working Steam Engines with Commentary 12:00 Inner Workings of a Steam Engine 14:00 Working Steam Engines with Commentary 15:00 Inner Workings of a Steam Engine

AXEMEN RING

10:30 Lumber Jack Demonstrations 14:30 Lumber Jack Demonstrations

FARRIER

09:45 Farrier Demonstration 12:15 Farrier Demonstration 15:00 Farrier Demonstration

COOKERY THEATRE FARM YARD

11:30 Lizzie Baking Bird 13:00 Mike Nadioo, Catch of the Day 09:45 The Sheep Show 10:00 Goat Milking 11:00 Goat Milk Ice Cream Making 11:30 The Sheep Show 12:30 Goat Milking 13:30 Goat Milk Ice Cream Making 15:00 Goat Milking 15:30 The Sheep Show 16:00 Goat Milk Ice Cream Making

10:00 Fitpaws Display 10:30 Agility Demo Display 11:15 Obedience to Music Display Team 11:30 Obedience Training Class Demo 11:45 Temptations Alley Competition 12:00 Gundogs Display Fun Dog Show - Open to All, £3 per Entry 12:15 5 Top Best Show Dogs 12:30 5 Top Cheekiest Dogs 13:00 Agility Display 13:30 Hoopers 14:00 Obedience to Music Display Team 14:15 Obedience Training Class Demo 14:30 Scentwork 14:45 Agility Demo Display 15:00 Fitpaws

DOG AGILITY

MUSIC STAGE

10:00 Becca Maule 11:00 Band on the Strum 13:00 Sturminstrels 15:00 To be announced 16:00 Above Board 18:00 To be announced

CHRIS ABRAMS GREENHOUSES Julian Shave Landscaping