0:00:02 > 0:00:06Across the country, thousands of farming families work tirelessly
0:00:06 > 0:00:08around the clock.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Bring them up, Isabel. Well done.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Here they come.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Shake it, baby, shake it.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16But there's one day each year...
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Come on, girl. Up you go.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20..when they get to leave the daily routine behind.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Yoo-hoo!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24These are show days...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Welcome to the Pembrokeshire County Show.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..when they come together as a community...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31To the right!
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to showcase the fruits of their labour...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Had a quick look at the competition. I'm in with a chance.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..and try to win prizes for their breed champions...
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Well done. Wahey!
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's show business, folks.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45..and award-winning produce.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- I got first! - SHE LAUGHS
0:00:48 > 0:00:50And the last two jars.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51There will be highs...
0:00:54 > 0:00:55..and lows...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57No! No, no, no.
0:00:57 > 0:01:03..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04No way!
0:01:16 > 0:01:20For centuries, shire horses have laboured side by side with farmers,
0:01:20 > 0:01:21working the land.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Steady, Cedric.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28But there are now less than 2,000 of them worldwide,
0:01:28 > 0:01:32making them one of the most endangered species in the farming world.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37They're not something that you want your feet trodden on by.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40These gentle giants were famously used as warhorses
0:01:40 > 0:01:45and were the essential carthorses for 19th-century breweries.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Today, a handful of farmers are devoted to keeping the breed going.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Molly Langley and Jackie Shearman
0:01:56 > 0:02:00are both getting ready for one of the biggest shows
0:02:00 > 0:02:05in the horse calendar - Edenbridge & Oxted, in Surrey.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08The last thing you want is poo stains on nice white feathers.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12It's not just pride at stake,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16but the chance to show off their highly prized animals.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- Many congratulations.- Thank you. - That's your rosette.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30At the edge of the North Downs in Kent
0:02:30 > 0:02:34is the picturesque village of Westerham.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Come on, then. Come on.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40It's home to Molly and her family,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43who've worked the 200-acre Southwood Farm for 34 years.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52On the farm, we've got about 30 shires, 50 Hereford cows.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- We've got seven dogs. - SHE LAUGHS
0:02:56 > 0:02:59And then 20 light horses. So, in total, there's about 50 horses here.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Despite the other animals on the farm,
0:03:06 > 0:03:1123-year-old Molly only has eyes for the shire horses.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14I got bought my first shire when I was ten,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18and then ever since then, it's just been shires all the way.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20I particularly love the heavy horses, but the shires are
0:03:20 > 0:03:23definitely my favourite. They stick out to me.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25They're just special, they're one of a kind.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27They're so good-natured, they're generally very big.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30They're just...I don't know, they have a sort of presence about them.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33The farm is a family affair.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Working alongside Molly is her sister Sally,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39mum Margaret and dad William.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42We all have different roles on the farm.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Molly, Sally and myself mainly do the horses.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52You really sort of do the properties, don't you?
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Yeah, I'm mainly on the building side.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56School runs, keeping the house clean.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00- Yeah.- Food shopping. - All has to be done.
0:04:05 > 0:04:1019 years ago, mum Margaret bought their first shire horse.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Today, there are 30.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Good girl. Good girl.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17Head up, Annie.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It started in, I think '89, we got our first shire...
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and we've just sort of gone from there.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30This is Annie. Aren't you? She's four. Eh?
0:04:30 > 0:04:32You a good girl?
0:04:34 > 0:04:36It's just a passion. It really is a passion.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Kent may be the Garden of England,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48but farm life is anything but relaxing.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53It's midday, and Molly's been at work since daybreak.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56This sort of time of year, we're looking at
0:04:56 > 0:04:59six o'clock in the morning, we come out, feed,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02although Dad is normally up about five.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Even Christmas Day.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06A lot of people say, "Oh, it's a job."
0:05:06 > 0:05:08It's more of a lifestyle, really.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- A mad choice, to be honest. - SHE LAUGHS
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I'm not sure we're all that sane.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16When all of our friends are lying in on weekends,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20we're up at 8.30, mucking out, doing our ponies.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23You know, it's just... it's always been the norm.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25COWS MOO
0:05:27 > 0:05:29While the women look after the horses,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31William's got his hands full with the cows.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40All right, then. All right.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45These are just some of the Herefords we've got here.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Like the shire horses, really,
0:05:49 > 0:05:51I've just always had an interest in Hereford cattle,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53and they've just always been a favourite,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55and we've sort of ended up just with Herefords, really.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58There's a few crossbred cows amongst them,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00but the majority are pure Hereford cows.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- I'll wait for her to finish, shall I? - HE CHUCKLES
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Keeping shire horses also has its challenges.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Growing up to ten feet tall and weighing over 1,800lb,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24even the easiest of jobs can prove difficult.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Obviously, everything's so far up, so if they don't want to play ball,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34then you're not going to get, you know, head collars, saddles,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38anything on them, really. Head down, buddy. Good boy.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40But we make sure, from a young age,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43you know, they're all taught that they put their heads down when
0:06:43 > 0:06:47they're asked and they never learn their size, so they never use it.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Obviously, you have slightly more lively, stubborn ones that fight it,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54but if you kind of get the groundwork there from, like,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57when they're foals, they tend to remember it the whole way through.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Don't you? Eh?
0:07:10 > 0:07:15And the person who is responsible for the life the family now lead
0:07:15 > 0:07:18is Molly's 86-year-old grandfather Bill.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19He has always wanted to farm.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23You know, he had animals in the back garden when they lived in London.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27So I think that kind of pushed him to make it a reality, but, yeah,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30you know, we're very lucky he did have this dream because, without it,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I don't know, you know, what we'd be doing right now, really.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Bill's love for the countryside started when he was evacuated
0:07:38 > 0:07:41to a farm during the Blitz.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45One day, I'm in my office in Croydon.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50A pamphlet comes through about a farm for sale, which was this.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55- Mm-hm.- So I came down and I make them a good deal.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- SHE CHUCKLES - So I bought it there and then.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- Dad didn't see the farm, did he, before you bought it?- No.- No.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03He went...He always thought I'd never buy a farm,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- but I said I would, yeah. - LAUGHTER
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Just 12 miles down the road, in the village of Merstham in Surrey,
0:08:15 > 0:08:20is another passionate shire horse breeder - Jackie Shearman.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23There's a good boy, aren't you? There's a good boy.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30Jackie was a secretary, but in 1985, along with husband Frank,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32she made a life-changing decision -
0:08:32 > 0:08:35she left her job to buy Oakley Farm.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39We saw this house, which was totally derelict,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and nobody in their right mind would have taken it on,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46but my husband sort of saw the potential,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50and I think that was 32 years ago. 1985, we bought it.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53You couldn't even come up the drive. It was totally derelict.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It had been empty for eight years.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58All the hedges were overgrown.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01And we lived in a caravan in the garden for the first year.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08They've been working on it ever since,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11to establish their vibrant 35-acre farm.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16After a few decades of rearing cattle and sheep,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20Jackie and her husband decided just to focus on the horses.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25Somebody once told me that horses is like a disease you never get rid of,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28and I started riding ponies when I was four,
0:09:28 > 0:09:29so I think it's quite true.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33These days, well, we've only got the horses.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Getting up, feeding, mucking out, turning out -
0:09:37 > 0:09:40in the past, I used to have horses that I would ride,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42so I would go out riding as well,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45but the roads are too dangerous for that any more.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47It's empty.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Like Molly, it's the shire horse that captured Jackie's heart.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59She now devotes her time to breeding and showing her six shire horses.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02We started looking, and I got my original one, which is Rose,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06which we bought probably about eight years ago,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08and it sort of escalated from them.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11There's a sign on the wall over there that says,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14"Horses are like chocolates - you can't just have one."
0:10:14 > 0:10:15SHE CHUCKLES
0:10:19 > 0:10:22When Jackie decided to show her horses,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25she roped in retired policeman and fellow enthusiast
0:10:25 > 0:10:26Paul Bower to help.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- I'm sure she's got bigger again. - Yeah, she's a big horse.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34She's a really big horse. She's nice.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I got involved with a show in Kent...
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- Was it eight years ago, Jackie? I think eight years.- Yes, about that.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Eight years ago, and I was wandering around, minding my own business,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and this lovely lady came up to me and said,
0:10:47 > 0:10:48"We've just bought a shire horse
0:10:48 > 0:10:52"and we're looking for somewhere to show it." And I gullibly said yes.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54HE LAUGHS
0:11:00 > 0:11:03When I've been buying barrows in the past,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06lots of stuff goes missing at shows.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08So I bought pink barrows,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10cos most people don't like to be seen with a pink barrow.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Paul included! In fact, at one time I think you refused
0:11:13 > 0:11:15to have anything to do with my pink barrow,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- didn't you? - I'm comfortable with it now, though. - LAUGHTER
0:11:18 > 0:11:20I'm comfortable with it now.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23We had pink brooms, pink forks, pink barrows, pink feed bins.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Paul now comes to help Jackie out twice a week.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33We've become good friends,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36and obviously I've got my own shire horses as well, so...
0:11:36 > 0:11:39been involved with shire horses for probably...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42probably getting on 30 years now. We get on quite well, really.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46She can be a bit bossy at times, but it's not too bad.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Back in Kent, preparations are under way for show day.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00There's a lot at stake,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and the shire horses need to be dressed perfectly.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05First stop - new shoes.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09So, today, actually, it's quite a sedate farrier day,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12cos it's only five coming in to have shoes done.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20At up to £150 a horse, this doesn't come cheap.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Obviously, the shoes are judged. So they judge the best shod.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27But it just...it does complete the turnout.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It's like the little things.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Each little detail just gives you that little bit of edge,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and, like, having a good set of shoes on is one of them.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40There are easier ways to earn a living
0:12:40 > 0:12:43than shoeing a one-tonne horse.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44Oi!
0:12:47 > 0:12:50It's hard to find a farrier that wants to take on the shires.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52As you can see, it's like, it's not easy -
0:12:52 > 0:12:55even just holding the foot up to trim it is a feat on its own
0:12:55 > 0:12:57without having to hammer the shoes on.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02We do a lot of heavy horses, but, you know,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05lots of people don't like to do them because they are too heavy.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07But, you know, we love them.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09So...I was born and bred with them.
0:13:11 > 0:13:12In the late 1800s,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15farriers and blacksmiths were kept busy,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17maintaining this essential footwear,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21with London's brewers alone using almost 3,000 shires
0:13:21 > 0:13:22to pull heavy loads.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- Get your shoes fitted for school. It's a bit like that. - SHE LAUGHS
0:13:31 > 0:13:35New shoes sorted, now for the shampoo and set.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- Good girl. - HORSE WHINNIES
0:13:37 > 0:13:38Annie.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43We travel all over the country, but Edenbridge is like...
0:13:43 > 0:13:46That's our local county, so it would be really nice.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Yeah, it would be a really good win.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51It's definitely one we aim for each year.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53But it's all up to the judge on the day,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56and there's a lot that can go wrong.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Molly is competitive, but you've got to have an element of, you know,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08wanting to win to do it.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11If you're just going along there to make the numbers up...
0:14:11 > 0:14:15it's...it's a great deal of work and expense just to go and stand there,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17isn't it? You've got to want to do well.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Edenbridge is especially important if you're a horse breeder.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26You have the bonus now of, it's got a HOYS qualifier there,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28so that's a big draw.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31HOYS is the prestigious Horse Of The Year Show,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35and only one horse from Edenbridge will qualify.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40This year, I'd love to qualify, that would be the main aim,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44but obviously I know the competition's going to be very tough there.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51With the show just two days away,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55retired police officer Paul is preparing Jackie's horses.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Come on, girls.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03We've got to wash the horses, bath the horses,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05get them to the showground.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Then, once we're at the showground, before the showing classes,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11up early in the morning and we again have to wash all their feet
0:15:11 > 0:15:14and their feathers, and then we, what we call, plait the horses.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18We put flights into their mane, decorate their tails...
0:15:18 > 0:15:20generally groom them,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23which is probably three hours' work before we even get into the ring.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26So it's not just a case of taking the horses from the farm
0:15:26 > 0:15:29to the showground. There's a lot of work that happens in between.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34The foot is very important.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36They say, "No foot, no feather, no horse."
0:15:36 > 0:15:40You want a nice, big, round foot, because when they're working,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43that big foot was on the ground and pushing and pulling weights.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46It's fantastic. You know, a good strong foot.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It sits in that way. And the feather, when you're judging,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52the judge likes to see a lot of feather around the foot,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54nice and silky and clean and white.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Whoa! All right, Charlie.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Now, you will behave.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- Have you done, Charlie?- No.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20While Paul deals with her horses, Jackie has a lot more on her mind.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23I've got 34.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27I've... There's four of them that are mares and foals.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34She is the Edenbridge Show secretary.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39I oversee just about everything on the showground.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44We deal with all of the horse entries, livestock entries.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46There's also about 300 trade stands,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and everything is dealt with through this office.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58When Jackie first took the job 30 years ago,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00she worked alone, out of her dining room.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Two or three people have come on to me this morning
0:17:04 > 0:17:07and said that they wanted this, that and the other.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13Like the show, Jackie's office has now grown to house a team of five.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18It is 365 days a year.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20At this time of year, most mornings,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I start, sort of, four, five o'clock in the morning
0:17:23 > 0:17:26to try and get some work done before the phone starts.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31If they took Jackie away from the Edenbridge & Oxted show,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35say, took her away or she retired, I think the Edenbridge & Oxted show
0:17:35 > 0:17:39would struggle to find anybody to do the job the way she does.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43She's brilliant, she's organised, and she is the backbone of the show.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47And the stress levels up until the show are quite immense.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54My responsibility is to make sure that the show runs smoothly,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56but I'm also very thankful
0:17:56 > 0:17:59that I can have my horses exhibited there,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03only due to Paul doing it for me.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07And I do allow myself a little time off to go to the ringside
0:18:07 > 0:18:09to watch them being shown.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29After months of preparations, it's finally time to set off.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33All the hay needs to be loaded, the feed, the bedding.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Pick up. Pick up.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39It's a big list, and you've got to make sure everything's done
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and, obviously, Mum likes very high standards,
0:18:41 > 0:18:45- so we have to make sure we comply to that as well. - SHE LAUGHS
0:18:45 > 0:18:48And it's not just about packing up the horses.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Jackie needs to transport her whole office to the showground.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56All these desks have got to be clear tonight.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Then we get a trailer to load them all in, take them to the showground,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and we should be working down there tomorrow.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08OK, Jackie, we're all ready to go.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Horses are loaded. Everything going all right?
0:19:11 > 0:19:12No, ask me tomorrow.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- I'll ask you tomorrow. The horses are looking great.- Are they?
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- They're looking superb. We'll be... - So you're hopeful?- I'm hopeful.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- We'll give them a go, we'll try hard, yeah.- OK.- We'll have a go.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- All right.- I'll see you at the showground in the morning.- Yeah.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25In you go. Come on, up you go.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30There's going to be some tough competition there,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33so, you know, fingers crossed, one of them might do it for us.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Show day has arrived.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Surrey's Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show is a cornerstone
0:20:00 > 0:20:02of this farming community.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Edenbridge & Oxted, it's just a really nice show to come to.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10It's one of the largest two-day shows,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13and there's just so much to do here.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18This year, it falls on a bank holiday weekend,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and around 35,000 visitors
0:20:20 > 0:20:25are expected to come and enjoy the best of country life.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27I've never been to Edenbridge before,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30but I have met a number of wonderful people here,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34and most importantly, the caterers are exquisite!
0:20:41 > 0:20:43It's a foggy 5.30am.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48The gates aren't open yet, but in the Heavy Horse Village,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50it's already busy.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Most of the owners have been up for hours.
0:20:53 > 0:20:554.30 I was awake.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58But then we were in bed quite a while.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00We got to bed reasonably early, around 10pm,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02so we got some sleep.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05There's no point in getting up
0:21:05 > 0:21:07and not being ready to do things.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Before the madness kicks off,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Jackie finds a moment to check on her horses.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Just giving them the feed. They're just finishing off their feed.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Sorry.- They we'll start on the job of sorting them out.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23- She's not too bad.- Good girl.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26She hasn't laid down and laid in any muck, so we're OK.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- Breakfast is her priority. - Yeah. She likes her food, Lady Jane.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33So, we'll see. Anyway, as you can see, they're all up here, so I think
0:21:33 > 0:21:36there's going to be a queue this morning for the washing out,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- so we'll have to fight our way in. - All right.- But we'll get there.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41- If there's any problems, I'll give you a shout.- OK.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- All right.- I'll crack on. - Good luck.- See you later. Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47- We'll do our best, as always. - SHE CHUCKLES
0:21:51 > 0:21:55With the rising sun come the first visitors of the day.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00It's already predicted to be a scorcher,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03with temperatures expected to reach 28 degrees.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10In her mobile office, Jackie is already sorting out problems.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Jackie? I've put the police by the other side of that,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16because there were loads of cars and loads that didn't have, like,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- didn't even know what cars they were.- Down by the llamas?
0:22:18 > 0:22:21No, I put them on the other side, you know, where the sheep man was?
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten that was a space.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- There was a bit of a gap and they said that would be enough space.- OK.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- So they're happy.- All right, that's lovely.- It fills that gap.- OK.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32There's been a few issues overnight
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and then gates haven't been unlocked this morning that should have been.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38So, if anybody's got any problem at all,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40it's usually me they come to,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43cos they don't know where else to go, really.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47This time of the morning, I tend to stay upstairs,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50because all the judges and the stewards are meeting downstairs,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54and if I'm there, they all just home in on me,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57so I'm up here, and then if the girls have got any problems,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59they'll call up and ask.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00- Jackie?- Yeah?
0:23:02 > 0:23:07- Oh, thank you. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. - LAUGHTER
0:23:15 > 0:23:18There's not long to go until the first competition,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22so it's all hands on deck to get these horses ready.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Right, stand still.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Braiding the shire horses' hair
0:23:28 > 0:23:31is a tradition that pays homage to their past.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35- You haven't got enough hands sometimes, so... - HE LAUGHS
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Used as warhorses over the centuries,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43it would keep their long locks out of the way of swords, muskets
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and, eventually, rifles.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50These are Molly's colours, because you have your own colour.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52We've always been green and yellow.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Molly, for some reason, went orange and white,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57so it looks like a giant Liquorice Allsort.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59In more peaceful times,
0:23:59 > 0:24:04it's used to show off the horse and distinguish between competitors.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07We're quite traditional with the yellow and green colours
0:24:07 > 0:24:10that we chose, but then Molly's a lot younger than us,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12and she's got a few wacky colours.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Not helpful. OK.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Trying to smarten myself up, to look smart.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27The horse must look smart, but the person showing it must look smart
0:24:27 > 0:24:30as well. There's no point going in like, you know, scruffy
0:24:30 > 0:24:35to impress the judge. And I always do this and get my tie too short,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37so I'm going to start again.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Competition time is fast approaching,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45and Paul's 15-year-old helper Nathan is feeling the pressure.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Lost a brush.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Where's the blue brush?
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Luckily, it's hidden in plain sight, and work can carry on.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- Got it.- Eh?- Got it.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- What are you laughing at? - I'm laughing at you.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12He's right to be nervous, as there are old rivalries about.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Because it's such a small, small, sort of, group of people,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19we're often against Jackie and Paul.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24- It's good for banter, shall we say, between each other. - LAUGHTER
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Even though the focus is on the competition,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32the talk of the Horse Village is the new judge in town.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Well, I can never remember if it was Winston Churchill or Will Rogers,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42but one of those clever men said that the outside of a horse is good
0:25:42 > 0:25:46for the inside of a man, and they were, they were spot-on.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Experienced breeder Brit McLin has flown in especially
0:25:50 > 0:25:53from Colorado, USA, for today's show.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58I'm here today, judging the heavy horses, all breeds.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01I expect most of them to be shires.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05We want exquisite feet and hoof heads, and the hocks need to be flat
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and clean and offset
0:26:08 > 0:26:13at approximately a 13.5 degree angle from perpendicular.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Even Jackie is curious about the new judge.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Checking out the American judge. He seems to want to see them trot more than walk.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25- OK.- So he's going to be all about action, I think.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30- OK.- So I just hope Jane's not having one of her lazy days.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31But we'll crack on.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34I mean, he's coming all the way over from America,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36so it's quite nice to get a judge from a different place.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It probably means he's looking for something different
0:26:39 > 0:26:41to what the normal judges over here would look for.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44I think he'll probably, like, going off the top of my head,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47a big horse with a bit of movement, but I could be completely wrong.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49- We'll see. - SHE LAUGHS
0:26:54 > 0:26:57It's 9am. The show is coming to life.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59COCK CROWS
0:27:03 > 0:27:05So this class is open to colts, fillies and geldings.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Paul is showing Jackie's horse, Lady Jane.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15When they're in the ring, I just take it in my stride, really.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I get excited if they're winning,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and if they go on to win, sort of, championships,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23- I have been known to burst into tears, but... - SHE LAUGHS
0:27:24 > 0:27:28It's not just the horses being inspected today.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Mr Roper, you should smile, it's more becoming.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35No extra points for looking grim.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Molly's dad William and horse Malcolm
0:27:41 > 0:27:43are first up for inspection...
0:27:43 > 0:27:45There.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47You're being a silly.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- All right, that's perfect. - Thank you.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53..and judge Brit is determined to put them through their paces.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Our turn.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- Nothing's acceptable unless she wins, really. - SHE LAUGHS
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Judge McLin has seen all he has needed and lines up his shortlist.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22You're not allowed to scowl when I do this,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26but I need to swap these two.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29It's announced until they go up to the main ring.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Different judges do it different ways. Put her down to third.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Whoops.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38- Thank you.- Thank you. - APPLAUSE
0:28:38 > 0:28:40First place goes to Molly's dad.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43It's a brilliant start to the day.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Really, yeah, really pleased with that.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Really good class of horses.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50And third place for Jackie's horse Lady Jane
0:28:50 > 0:28:52is also a respectable result.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00It would've been better if she'd been higher placed,
0:29:00 > 0:29:01and Paul won't be happy, but...
0:29:01 > 0:29:04It's a real quality class, top quality.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06So you've got to be reasonably happy.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09You're fighting with the best, so, move on now.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Next class.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16And you don't know you've come third, do you?
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Malcolm just went in and won the class.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23We're really pleased, it was a really strong class.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Yeah, we're really happy with how he performed. He behaved himself.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28You can't ask any more than that.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31So, hopefully he'll go on and behave for the rest of the day -
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- fingers crossed. - SHE LAUGHS
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- The second filly...- Yeah.- ..was the one that beat her at Norfolk.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Oh, right, OK. So you sort of expected that?
0:29:38 > 0:29:40No, not really, I thought...because I don't like it.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- But it's show business, folks! - LAUGHTER
0:29:43 > 0:29:47- All right.- I'll go and get the next one, get sorted.- She looks lovely as well.- She does, yeah.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53It's almost midday,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56and the temperature has peaked at 28 degrees.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02This year is the 180th Edenbridge & Oxted show.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05It started the year Queen Victoria came to the throne.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14Morris dancers date back even further and, today,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17this group are already on their third performance.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26I am Terry Wyatt.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29I'm the bagman for the Royal Liberty Morris from Havering.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31So I deal with all the money.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40It's important to keep Morris dancing alive.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41Because it's our tradition.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46Like anything folk, wherever you go, it's our tradition.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48ALL SHOUT
0:30:51 > 0:30:54It's our second year here and we enjoy it so much, you know,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57cos of the atmosphere, the...
0:30:57 > 0:30:59..well, the animals. Everything.
0:30:59 > 0:31:00We just really love it.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12A lot of people ask me how do we get recruits and I always say to them,
0:31:12 > 0:31:17"We breed them." We don't need to go out and sort of get people.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Everything is all family.
0:31:26 > 0:31:27Thank you very much.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Over in the horse village, Molly's family are getting set
0:31:34 > 0:31:36for the next competition of the day.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Goldie's going in next.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41She's my only horse here today, but my sister Sally is going to
0:31:41 > 0:31:44show her for me. I was originally in the class with my other mare,
0:31:44 > 0:31:48so obviously Sally's been practising with her, so she's got the...
0:31:48 > 0:31:50She's going to take her in.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52This is a mare class
0:31:52 > 0:31:55and the two families are competing again.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59The hopes aren't as high for her as for Jane in the previous class.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I thought Jane was the better of the two horses,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05but you never know. We've got to go and give it a go.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Paul is also up against one of his own horses,
0:32:08 > 0:32:11which is being shown by his family.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13- TANNOY:- So, here we have the shire barren mares,
0:32:13 > 0:32:14four-year-old and over.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17So these are mares that are over four years old
0:32:17 > 0:32:19and don't have a foal this year.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23They refer to them as "barren mares".
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Some of them might be foaled, but they've not got foals at foot,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29so they're always classed as barren mares.
0:32:29 > 0:32:35Brit McLin is back to judge and nothing is going to get past him.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37It costs nothing to smile.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39There you go.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42If you have a look at these mares,
0:32:42 > 0:32:44you'll see that they do have a very feminine appearance.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47They are slightly more curvy, I would say,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49than the male counterparts.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55To get into the Horse Of The Year qualifier, Paul needs to do well.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Ooh, I know, you're a good girl.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Lift up, lift up. She's a bit funny on her front legs.
0:33:04 > 0:33:05She's a bit... I don't know why.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08The judge is still inspecting them.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11He inspects their legs, their bodies, their conformation,
0:33:11 > 0:33:12the whole thing.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Next up is Molly's horse, Goldie.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26We know what we're doing, right?
0:33:35 > 0:33:37All of these people pay the same entry fees,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39all these people put in the same amount of work,
0:33:39 > 0:33:44all these people have the same extreme pride of ownership.
0:33:44 > 0:33:45And for them to come out and...
0:33:46 > 0:33:48..offer themselves up
0:33:48 > 0:33:51to some judgmental old cowboy from Colorado...
0:33:51 > 0:33:54..speaks well of them.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56- TANNOY:- We have number 273.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00Back to work.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04- TANNOY:- And that's Leap House Lisa, owned by Mr J Bower.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Thank you. Got it?
0:34:08 > 0:34:10It's a good result for Paul.
0:34:10 > 0:34:16He gets second place with Jackie's shire and one of his own gets first.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Yes, it would have been nice to have come first,
0:34:20 > 0:34:22but you can't win them all.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26That's a little bit better. In the championship, we won, anyway.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29So not too bad. And the boys are up at the front, so...
0:34:29 > 0:34:31..I'm smiling a little bit more now.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Molly's horse is also in the rosettes.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37And gets an extra little bonus.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41She got third in the mare class and then the best shod out of the class,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44as well, so, very pleased.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46She was a good girl.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58The Edenbridge and Oxted show boasts many activities,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01including the lesser-known traditional crafts.
0:35:04 > 0:35:05My name is John Carnell.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I've been a trug maker for the last 40 years
0:35:08 > 0:35:12and I've still stuck to the traditional method of making a trug.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Well, a trug is a traditional old Sussex basket.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25What's very special with the trug, it's very durable, very strong...
0:35:26 > 0:35:28..and very light.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33Trugs were put on the map when Queen Victoria ordered a batch
0:35:33 > 0:35:36for members of the Royal family in the 1800s.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Once, this skill was crucial to the agricultural industry
0:35:41 > 0:35:44to sow grain or feed livestock.
0:35:44 > 0:35:49Nowadays, they're still loved and admired and have other uses.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53This is the smallest size we make.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57It's nice for eggs, children.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02They love going blackberrying with something like that.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06Well, I've been coming to Edenbridge show for the last 25 years and,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09get the right weather, it's all very nice
0:36:09 > 0:36:11and, if I get a few sales, even nicer.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13Lovely, thank you.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- Enjoy it.- Present for my friend, and she'll be really pleased.
0:36:16 > 0:36:17Thank you. Bye-bye.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27The most anticipated event of the day has finally arrived.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32The chance to qualify for the Horse Of The Year Show.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Even to just place somewhere in the qualifier
0:36:37 > 0:36:40for the Horse Of The Year Show would be good today.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42It is going to be a real tough one, I think.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44There'll only be a handful of horses
0:36:44 > 0:36:47that go forward to the qualifying show,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50which is at the NEC in Birmingham,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52so it's a huge honour for anybody to qualify at these shows.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55People are here to win.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59We may be good friends, you know, off the showground,
0:36:59 > 0:37:03but when you're here, you are here to win.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06If you're not excited when you qualify for Horse Of The Year,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09it's going to take a lot to get you excited.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13It's the competition both the crowds and the competitors
0:37:13 > 0:37:15have been building up to.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18It's down to judge Brit to put forward
0:37:18 > 0:37:21the best of the best from today's entries.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and all the ships at sea,
0:37:27 > 0:37:28this is the class.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33If we could do just an easy walk around, please.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43This is it, this is the big one.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Step back a little bit.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Yeah. Just as far or as short as you feel suits you.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Come on. Let's go.
0:38:17 > 0:38:18- Thank you, Paul.- Thank you, sir.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23We're in the lap of the gods.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Or the lap of the Americans.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28And the nice thing is, whatever the result is,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31Mr Langley says he's going to buy me a beer afterwards.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34It's always Mr Langley that buys him a beer.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35HE LAUGHS
0:38:37 > 0:38:38We've been going since five o'clock,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42and all the preparation that's gone into it, we're getting to the...
0:38:43 > 0:38:45..the main part now.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- TANNOY:- Very well done to the winner of this qualifying class.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55A very worthy winner.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58And it's Molly's horse that's won the qualifying place
0:38:58 > 0:39:00for Horse Of The Year.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03He's smiling.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Absolutely thrilled to win it, to be honest with you.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Not expected, but, yeah, really, really pleased.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13I'm absolutely over the moon with him. I've had him since a foal.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15I bought him as a foal...
0:39:15 > 0:39:18..never really with the intention to show him,
0:39:18 > 0:39:20to use him as a stallion.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22But, yeah, I'm really thrilled with him.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24He's done us proud.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26Good day. Very good day.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31Absolutely brilliant.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Absolutely. Yeah, didn't expect that one today.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38So, very happy.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40We're going to HOYS!
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- It's like the golden ticket, isn't it?- It is the gold.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Yeah, out of that bar, is it? The chocolate. The golden ticket.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48- That's the one.- Even better that it's local to home.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50- TANNOY:- A very worthy winner.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54And we all look forward to seeing his progress at the NEC in October.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Although Jackie's horse didn't win,
0:39:56 > 0:40:00Paul is always the first to offer congratulations.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01Well done, Margaret. Congratulations.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- Thank you, Paul. - Congratulations, Molly.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Well done. You're pleased with that, aren't you?
0:40:07 > 0:40:09- BOTH: Yeah. - Very pleased with him.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22The Edenbridge and Oxted show is almost over.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26- ANNOUNCER:- So, if you'd like to do your lap of honour, gentlemen.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30If you would like to stay in for the parade, we'd like to keep you, please.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33The last of the rosettes are handed out.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Lovely. Just stand where you are.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38For our farmers, judging is now over.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43We haven't had a bad day. Jackie's horses have come second and third.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Yes, I am a little bit disappointed with Jane.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46She's been winning everywhere else.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Today she's come third. But that's the nature of the game.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52That's what they call show business and you have to crack on.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56Despite a lack of red rosettes,
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Jackie's hard work has ensured a wonderful day out
0:40:59 > 0:41:01for tens of thousands of people.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06This is very satisfying, seeing it all come together.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09You know, the show, the horses, everything together.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14A year's work goes into it and it starts again,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16maybe not tomorrow, but on Wednesday.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21And Molly and family have walked away with the dream result.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25The highlight of the day was definitely winning the HOYS qualifying class
0:41:25 > 0:41:27with a two-year-old colt.
0:41:27 > 0:41:28It was a strong class, wasn't it?
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- It was a strong class. - It was, you know...
0:41:31 > 0:41:34I think today would have been good for the business side with the shires,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37because, obviously, if they see you out doing rather well,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40they're more likely to come and have a look at what you've got for sale.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42This year has been full of hard work...
0:41:43 > 0:41:47..planning, toil and triumph.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53There's now only one last thing to do.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56Cheers. Well done, Molly.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Careful you don't fall over with it.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59End up wearing it!