Liverpool International Horse Show
The Sporting and Olympic New Year will start with a brand new, world class sporting event at Echo Arena. The Liverpool International Horse Show will be held on January 1st, 2nd and 3rd and the event will combine top class show jumping with fabulous entertainment. The Liverpool International Horse Show will have its own ‘Grand National’ of Shetland ponies and a spectacular display by six shire horses who will thunder across the arena. Musical connections with the city will be highlighted with a performance by the Bootleg Beatles. The event is being organised by equestrian promoter Nina Barbour, from the prestigious Bolesworth International. The Liverpool International Horse Show will build on the city’s equestrian and entertainment heritage by combining top class showjumping and entertainment. Barbour said: ‘We want to bring equestrian sport to the heart of the city. We see this as our Olympic legacy. I watched the equestrian events in the heart of London at the 2012 Olympics and I wanted to bring that kind of world class sport to the north west of England. London 2012 Olympic showjumping gold medallist, Liverpool-born Peter Charles, who launched the new show by clearing the London Olympics ‘Abbey Road’ showjumping fence on the Liverpool waterfront said, ‘The Liverpool International Horse Show will be the hottest event for the world’s best showjumpers who are all preparing for the Rio Olympics... I can’t wait to perform in front of a Merseyside crowd in such a spectacular setting.’ Iain Graham, chief executive of British Showjumping added: 'British Showjumping is delighted that Britain has a new, world class showjumping event. The Liverpool International Horse Show will be a terrific start to the Olympic year as our riders prepare for Rio 2016. To have showjumping in the heart of the city of Liverpool will bring our sport to a new generation of equestrian fans and promote our sport in the north west of England.' Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool said: 'I'm absolutely delighted that Liverpool is to stage a brand new, world class sports event. The city has a proud sporting heritage and to see the world's best riders in action on the Liverpool dockside will confirm our status as one of the leading global sports cities. It will be a great start to the New Year and the event will contribute a huge amount to the city's economy'.