Henry the mechanical horse heads to the CLA Game Fair

Henry, the mechanical horse, will be making his debut at the CLA Game Fair this summer (July 18-20) at Blenheim Palace.

The 15.2hh globe-trotting black gelding will be trying his hand at a variety of country pursuits over the weekend as well as giving people a taste for life in the saddle.

Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) participation brand, escorts Henry around the country to allow people the opportunity to try out horse riding. Henry is a keen explorer and enjoys taking part in new activities wherever he goes and is planning on having a go at some of the activities on offer at the Game Fair including shooting, fishing and food tasting. During the event, Henry will be found in the Active Countryside area alongside the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.

As well as the opportunity to have a go on Henry, spectators can also enjoy a selection of demonstrations from the different equestrian sports; on Saturday July 19, the North Warwickshire Pony Club Branch will be darting around the main arena in their mounted games display, and Karen Bassett will be showing the power and agility required in carriage driving on Friday July 18.

Dressage rider Maria Eilberg, eventer Charlotte Agnew and para-equestrian dressage rider Anne Dunham will be at the Game Fair Theatre on Sunday July 20 to answer any questions visitors may have about the different Olympic disciplines. The riders, who are all supported by the UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme, will be giving the inside track on riding horses and chatting about the requirements in the different disciplines.

If all this isn’t enough to get you wanting to ride, Hoof’s celebrity ambassadors will be visiting the event will be championing the sport, telling their own equestrian stories and encouraging spectators to get to their local riding school to see what all the fuss is about.

For more information on the CLA Game Fair visit www.gamefair.co.uk. Keep an eye out for Henry’s personal blog throughout the event by following Hoofride on twitter and Facebook.