Dorset County Show is excited to welcome, for his first ever appearance in Dorset, internationally-renowned Ben Atkinson and his team of Liberty horses
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Fun, FREE & Fabulous
The team have rounded up their no-cost favourites of what to see and do (we know you'll be watching the Main Ring and won't miss seeing some livestock classes – both of which are free, naturally...)
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The Imps
Meet the charity project transformed into a worldrenowned motorcycle display team with a reputation for breathtaking stunts, disciplined teamwork, and a legacy of inspiring young riders
New to Dorset County Show this year – we're excited to welcome 120 alpacas to the new Alpaca Section! Come and discover how gentle and curious they are
'I ADORE THIS PHOTO!' SAYS BEN ATKINSON. ' THE TWO HORSES TO MY LEFT (SABLO THE DUN AND ROMEO THE GREY) ARE SLIGHTLY IN FRONT OF ME, SO THEY HAVE ONE EAR FORWARD ON THE CROWD AND ONE EAR BACK TO LISTEN TO ME'. PHOTO: DAVE CLAZY PHOTOGRAPHY
LIBERTY SPECTACLE: ATKINSON IN ACTION
Dorset County Show is excited to welcome Ben Atkinson and his Liberty horses, for their first ever appearance in Dorset
BEN ATKINSON
Ben Atkinson, horse trainer and Liberty artiste, is well-known for his appearances in film and TV. His credits include Poldark, Victoria and Peaky Blinders. The family business, Atkinson Action Horses, is one of the best-respected equestrian services companies to the film and television industry, supplying highly trained horses, riders and trainers for a variety of disciplines and stunts.
Ben comes from a long line of horsemen and doesn’t remember learning to ride: ‘It’s like asking people when they learned to walk’. Ben's grandfather left school at 14 to work with heavy horses on the land during the Second World War. His father, Mark, was a dairy farmer who diversified into the equestrian world a few years after Ben was born in the mid-90s.
‘My father was a show jumper, show horse producer and ran a liberty yard and
riding school,' says Ben. 'One day we were asked if our riding school horses could be hired to take part in an English Civil War battle re-enactment. Because they'd been prepared by our family’s somewhat unorthodox methods, they excelled –and were immediately booked to take part in a film doing similar work. Things snowballed, and the rest is history.
'Originally, we just hired horses out for group things – group battles, cavalry and such. Gradually we started providing more lead horses, stunt horses and carriage horses.
'When I was nine, I saw a performance where someone was standing on horses, and I thought that was absolutely amazing. I went straight home, got my white ponies out and decided I would stand on them. That was the same time I fell in love with liberty work, where
we’re working horses without any saddles or bridles, working them completely free. When I was 11, my party trick for my dad’s friends was jumpinga five-bar gate with no saddle or bridle!'
When Ben was 14, dad Mark was working with English Heritage, which offered sponsorship for Ben to learn from the world-renowned Cossack trick rider Guido Louis – Ben spent two years training with him and by the time he was 18 he was performing with his horses at some of the biggest shows in the UK, including the Horse of the Year Show.
Interestingly, the horses never cost more than £1,000. ‘We’re a business — we can’t be going out and buying horses for £10,000!
Most of the time a horse is only worth that because someone else has put the work in – and we can do that ourselves,' says Ben. 'But they don’t arrive looking like much. They tend to find us, actually, because owners have had a difficult time with them — you open the door and they’ll try and flatten you, for example. But the reason we like those horses is because they are the intelligent ones. The thing we look for when adding to our team is an inquisitive mind: we want the horses that can escape from a field or open their stable doors, the horses that throw buckets over doors or pull rugs off the wall – the ones that have something about them. They have awake eyes that really see the world.
BEN ATKINSON AND MALIK HAVE A STRONG BOND AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND
‘We’ve got 45 horses at the moment. One of my main horses is probably Malik, my dapple grey – he is my favourite if I'm forced to pick. He has been mine since he was two weeks old, and he’s travelled the world with me. Having him by my side is like having my little brother and my best friend on every job. He’s a horse with a very busy brain – he does dressage, he works at liberty, he does the stunt work and he does the carriage driving.’ When they get too old for performing, Ben gives the horses a long and happy retirement.
‘When horses come to us, they come for life,’ he says. ‘When they are retired, they’re retired. My biggest fear is if I was to sell and tell the new owner, “Don’t make the horse do tricks,” but then they have a visitor and want to show a trick and they make the horse rear … So they stay with me. They never leave.’
info@porterdodson.co.uk
IS THIS DORSET’S BIGGEST LARDER?
With a super-sized Food Hall and more than 100 producers, we’re thinking: ‘Yes, yes, it is!’
Everyone loves the Dorset County Show's Food Hall – and the show organisers have made it even bigger than last year's 60 metre record-breaker! The foodie paradise showcases the best of British food and drink producers, with a particular focus on those from Dorset. From brownies to beer, pickles to pork, cider to sourdough, cheese to chilli, English wines, local gins and more, the massive marquee provides a foodie delight. And of course there are plenty of tasty samples to try before you buy! Show organiser James Cox says: 'Dorset is bursting with wonderful food and drink. We’ve been inundated with producers wanting to book their space and we’re delighted to bring together more than 100 of them, ranging from small producers who are just starting out to well-established, internationally award-winning names. We always love it when we can introduce people to new producers.'
The Food Hall sits alongside the Food & Drink Area – you’ll spot it from the far side of the showground with its huge colourful festival flags. Here, there will be live music all day across the two days. From Dorset burgers to local doughnuts, the area welcomes local producers selling food and condiments for you to both enjoy on site and take home to use in your own kitchen.
‘Last year the area had a new food festival vibe, with colourful flags and live music,' says James Cox. 'It was such a success, we’ve added more sails, more flags and more live entertainment. It was really popular last year, with such a great vibe ... it was brilliant to see so many people relaxing in the sun with a picnic – and a pint!'
DAREDEVIL KIDS: THE IMPS
Meet the Imps, a charity project transformed into a world-renowned motorcycle display team with a reputation for breathtaking stunts, disciplined teamwork – and a legacy of inspiring young riders.
From the sound of revving engines to the awe of a billowing fire-jump and the suspense of a motorcycle team combination ‘crossover’, The Imps will immediately have you mesmerised with their unmissable display of discipline and skill. Just imagine when you realise that the youngest performer is only five years old!
The Imps Motorcycle Display Team, noted for its smart red tunics and highly disciplined spectacular show, originated in the 1970s from The Hackney Adventure Holiday Project: a charity, founded by Roy Pratt MBE, that provided holidays in the country for under-privileged young people. Some of the children found a battered old motorbike and Roy challenged them to mend it … one thing led to another, and the project became a unique motorcycle display team, made up entirely of young people aged five to 16.
An international reputation
For more than 50 years, The Imps have performed around the world to millions of people. Regular appearances on prime-time television and displays at major events, such as The Nova Scotia Tattoo in Canada, The Norwegian Military Tattoo and The Edinburgh Military Tattoo have secured a reputation for excellence. Known for their extraordinary discipline and incredible
teamwork, The Imps deliver shows built around complex ‘cross-overs’ requiring split -second timing, breathtaking fire jumps and visually stunning moving pyramids of red tunics – all served up with a dash of humour and the mini-Imp mascots.
YOUR GUIDE TO FREE FUN AT THE COUNTY SHOW
Free and Fabulous: the team have rounded up their no-cost favourites of what to see and do (if you can tear yourself away from the Main Ring and watching the livestock classes, of course)...
NEW FOR 2024 is the chance to try Tomahawk Throwing! You can find it in the Woodland Area – just turn up to have a go, courtesy of Buddens Activity Centre. There's a whole heap of free activities in the Fabulous Food & Farming Section –It's a hands-on area tracing the journey of food from field to fork. Try milking a cow, some big puzzles, have a go at Farming Simulator or maybe drive the remote controlled tractors! While you're in the Countryside Area you can watch the blur that is the Dorset Axemen: be ready to be amazed at the speed
and accuracy of their razor sharp axes and saws. Opposite them in the Countryside Ring you can watch the Xtreme Falconry display team – these amazing birds of prey are super-speedy flyers who will amaze you with their daring dexterity – and the Gun Dog Display. And yes, it's so much more than a game of fetch! Watch the skill of a trained gun dog in action as these intelligent animals demonstrate their remarkable obedience and retrieval skills.
The Steam Engine Section offers the sights and smells of the past, and near the Vintage Ring every farmer's heart will be happy at the sight of the vintage tractors.
Everyone loves to Meet a Heavy Horse –just head to the Heavy Horse Village and you can not only see them parading and competing but also go and say hello ... and stroke some giant velvet noses too. The Sheep Shearing competitions are another unmissable spectacle – watch as professional shearers battle it out in a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled showdown!
Up in the Hill Top Zone
Make your way to the Hill Top Zone, where a busy timetable of exciting entertainment is sure to keep you busy. The Mounted Pony Club Games are incredibly exciting, demanding skill, agility and split-second timing. It's so much fun to watch – think school sports day, but on a pony! There's also the thrill of the Shetland Pony Racing – cheer the junior jockeys over the jumps in a spectacular showcase of speed and short-legged spirit!
You can see Toby Hoad and his three sturdy Comtois – Ettie, Celine and Fleur – French mountain draft horses demonstrate the art of Heavy Horse Logging. Toby, who lives in Dorset, is one of only 12 UK fulltime horse loggers: a 10,000 year-old skill which is enjoying new-found popularity within modern conservation work. And of course – everyone's favourite dancing sheep can be found at The Sheep Show. No matter how many times you've watched it before, you always stop to
listen, learn something new, laugh a lot ... and never fail to fall in love with Dougie, Nobby, Belinda and co. And finally, when your feet are aching and you're in need of refreshment, head to the Food & Drink area. Wander the Food Hall and try all the samples, and then head outside for a sit down by the music tent, listen to the live bands and relax under the gentle flap of the festival flags.
THE FORGE
A hammer, a fire and a piece of iron: welcome to the hot, dirty, stamina-draining – but fun – world of blacksmithing
Since the Iron Age, the blacksmith has played a key role in the development, protection and adornment of society, from the earliest weapons of war and armour to the thousands of utilitarian objects used in homes. Archaeology shows that numerous hand tools and skills used by our ancestors are identical to those in use today.
By its nature, blacksmithing is a tough way to earn a living. To reach the highest standards demands a level of commitment that imposes challenges on an
Craftmanship & quality for over 80 years. Traditional construction with impeccable design. High specification & premium finishes as standard.
The stunning rural and coastal county of Dorset is home to our developments of Poundbury in Dorchester with Chesil Reach and Nottington Park in the nearby coastal town of Weymouth with it’s wide, sandy bay. Each development offers a selection of new homes with energy efficiency in mind from the very start. Our homes are designed and fitted to a high specification throughout.
Visit one of our sales offices to see the CG Fry & Son difference for yourself.
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individual’s physical and mental strengths. Each blacksmith will have their own reasons, but inexorably they all get hooked in some way by the traditions, mystique, challenges, creativity and camaraderie. The Blacksmiths Guild stand is located alongside the Countryside Ring by the pond. As well as live forging demonstrations and static displays, the County Show is hosting the final heat of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths' National Blacksmith Championship Competition. Tasks will include a 'saleable item forged in 30 minutes' and 'an item associated with the garden on the theme of Autumn, forged in 60 minutes.'
In addition, the Blacksmith's Guild will be holding five classes of Live Forging Against
We are excited to announce that Supreme Master Blacksmith Hector Cole, MBE FWCB, will be at the show's forge: he has recently been awarded the highest title given to blacksmiths, the Gold Medal – a very rare honour which gives him the Supreme Master title. It is awarded only to those blacksmiths who have achieved a lifetime of producing consistently high quality work and made a significant personal contribution to the craft. Hector Cole is just the eighth ever recipient of the Gold Medal, and there are only three living gold medallists.
The Clock for professional, student and amateur blacksmiths and farriers. The classes include: toasting fork forged in 60 minutes, knife, fork and spoon forged in 90 minutes and farrier’s tongs forged in 60 minutes. When the competitions are not running, there's still lots to watch, with regular 30 minute blacksmithing and metalworking demonstrations where you can watch the forging of items such as arrowheads, flowers, horseshoes and metal inlay throughout both days. As you will see from the exhibits, demonstrations and competitions, blacksmithing is very much alive – and Guild members are keen to welcome you to their stand and share their passion for the craft.
• Have a go! The County Show is your opportunity to try your hand at the ancient craft under the supervision of a Master Blacksmith. The 60-minute forging experience is £40 and you take your forged item home. Bookings taken throughout the weekend at the Blacksmiths stand, or phone/text 07979 597431
DO YOU OWN DORSET'S WAGGIEST TAIL?
Bringing your dog to the show? Of course you are – they'll have a great day out too!
This year sees the County Show’s first ever Fun Dog Show! Kindly organised by St Giles Animal Welfare, Starting from 11am both days, there will be a class for everybody’s four-legged friend to enter: do you own the loveliest lady, the waggiest tail, the best biscuit catcher, the most appealing eyes or the dog with the best talent?
And being an agri show, we know just how important the young handlers are – there’s a special Under 16s class for them to show off their winning handling skills.
And the dog-love doesn't stop there. Head to the Countryside Ring for the gundog demonstrations where internationally-recognised gundog trainer and breeder Nick Gregory will work his dogs to the whistle.
And of course, with plenty of stands dedicated to dogs and their needs (and love of snacks) there’s plenty of shopping for you and your doggo.
• We love to see dogs at the show, but they must be kept on short fixed leads at all times. They are restricted from some areas, like the Food Hall, and we politely request you always clean up after your dog. Please do not leave your dog in your vehicle.
Visit us on Stand J3, Avenue J and enjoy:
• Refreshments and cocktails
• Enter our ‘Barrow of booze’ competition to raise funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
• Colouring wall and bean bag toss for the kids
ALPACALYPSE NOW
We're all set for a woolly good time at the County Show's new alpaca section
New to Dorset County Show this year, we're excited to welcome around 120 alpacas to the Alpaca Section! Not to be confused with llamas, their bigger, grumpier relatives with the banana-sized ears, alpacas have small, blunt faces with short ears and gentle inquisitive temperaments. Their fleece is highly prized: it is incredibly soft, is three times warmer than sheep's wool and is the second strongest animal fibre after mohair. Alpacas have been used for fleece production for thousands of years – originally natives to South America, they are part of the camel family, Camelidae. British
DUBONNET AND FLYTE
alpaca breeding stock is prized across Europe, where the UK is seen as the number one country for alpacas.
‘We have breeders visiting the show from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway,’ says Tim Hey, British Alpaca Society halter and fleece judge, Dorset alpaca farmer – with a herd of more than 300 alpacas – and the man behind the Alpaca Section at the show.
‘We have around 120 alpacas being exhibited across the two days of the show, and they will all be available to meet in the alpaca section. We’d love it if visitors come along the lines to see the animals, chat to the exhibitors, meet and maybe handle the alpacas and perhaps learn a little about keeping them, either as pets or for business.
‘We held our fleece judging two weeks before the show, and the 100 fleeces will all be on display in the marquee too. In between classes we’ll be running a free series of talks and demonstrations – anything from how to keep alpacas, what they’re good for, what we’re looking for when we judge them – and what to look for when you’re buying them! We’ll make a good mix of education
Fun alpaca facts:
• Alpaca babies are called crias
• Alpacas live for 20 to 25 years
• There are no wild alpacas –the alpaca is the domesticated version of the vicuña
• There are two different breeds of alpacas: the huacaya (pronounced wa-ky-ya) and the Suri. Huacaya fleece is crimpy, fluffy, and has a springy bounce while Suri fleece is long and silky, and hangs in twisted locks.
and fun, and it’ll be entertaining for anyone to stop and watch, whether you have no intention of ever owning an alpaca, or are considering starting a herd!’
There will be an alpaca selfie booth, kids alpaca art and various alpaca products on sale too.
AN EXHIBITOR WINS A ROSETTE IN THE YOUNG HANDLERS CLASS
JUST SOME OF THE 2023 CHAMPIONS
Supreme Champion Sheep Charollais
Owned by Gerald Burrough
Reserve Champion Sheep
Border Leicester
Owned by Sue Martyn
Champion Group of Cows
Starlight Charolais
Charolais
Owned by Will Glover
Overall Champion Pig
Freestone Dinah
British Saddleback
Owned by Merryn Philp
Supreme Dairy Champion
Buryhill Engineer Rumour Lula
Jersey
Owned by Zoe Cambridge
HARVEST, CHAT, REPEAT: THE COUNTY SHOW RITUAL
Everyone knows it's a great family day out – but the County Show is also an important date in the agricultural year. Ben Best from C&O Tractors tells us why ...
The Dorset County Show, renowned for its brilliant entertainment and wide-ranging appeal, is always more than just a great day out – at its core, it remains a celebration of agriculture. Year after year, the show provides a unique opportunity to connect with the heart of the Dorset farming community. We spoke with Ben Best from C&O Tractors Ltd, one of the show’s longstanding supporters, about why the company returns to the show every year.
'For me, the Dorset County Show is not just a great weekend each year – it’s a tradition,' Ben says. 'It’s a brilliant time to catch up with friends and customers alike. The show has this wonderful way of bringing people together, creating a space where business and pleasure meet perfectly.'
Ben sees the show as a milestone in the agricultural calendar. 'For the business, it’s like the new school year,' he says. 'The harvest is done (hopefully!), and we have this brief interlude before autumn sowing begins. It’s the perfect time for us to enjoy a brief pause and to reconnect with our customers. Whether it’s a sit down over a cup of tea, or just a casual chat leaning on a tractor wheel, the show offers a relaxed environment where we can talk through plans for the coming quarters and seasons.'
But it’s not all business. For C&O Tractors, the show is also a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the customers who have supported them throughout the years. 'It’s a really nice way to show our appreciation,' Ben says. 'We get to meet every demographic – from livestock farmers exhibiting their animals to grain customers attending the show. And, of course, it’s an excellent opportunity for us to show off our latest machinery!'
"We wouldn't dare miss it!"
The history of C&O Tractors’ connection with the Dorset County Show runs deep. 'Our roots in Dorset go back much further than C&O Tractors itself,' Ben says. 'Stanley Pond started trading as an agricultural merchant in Blandford in 1753. The company continuously traded in Dorset until 2000, when it was taken over by C&O. Stanley Pond Ltd was always at the County Show, and C&O have been at every one since 2000 – and we’ll be there this year too, for our 24th year.'
For businesses like C&O Tractors, the County Show is more than just a showcase – it’s a tradition, a reunion, and a celebration of the agricultural community that makes Dorset’s countryside so special. Whether you’re an industry professional, a local farmer, or simply someone who loves the rural way of life, the show is an unmissable experience – one that remembers the past, celebrates the present, and looks forward to the future.
