Horseman’s Sunday was diversified this year: anyone with a pet was invited to attend the service on the Hill at midday, and there were more dog owners than horse riders. In fact, there were fewer than thirty horses ridden, and a handful more in hand. Old hands remember there being upwards of 1,000 horses as late as the 1970s, and I can recall standing in line to be announed among at least 100 others in the rain just a decade or so ago.
Why don’t people turn up anymore? It can’t just be the weather: today was perfect, with fine sunshine and the temperature hovering around 20 degrees. Certainly, some are discouraged by the gypsy trotters with their carts racing up and down the ‘platform’: the borough council having in recent years closed Tattenham Corner Road, the racing now takes place even nearer, inside the racecourse, and the police seem uninterested so long as the road closure is enforced.
Perhaps others are turned off by a religious service, and the singing of hymns, which a larger proportion of the community might have felt more comfortable with 30 or 40 years ago. But then, without the service and blessing, what would Horseman’s Sunday be for?
And finally, maybe riders have better things to do: many horse owners have a horse box these days, and can box out to shows, dressage competitions or hacks. There were shows on Sunday at Pachesham Equestrian Centre and Great Bookham Equestrian Centre. Many riders may find attending a show more appealing.
What could be done to reinvigorate Horseman’s Sunday?
Over 40 years ago I used to attend Horseman’s Sunday every year with a local stableyard where everyone hacked to the downs from a village called Woodmansterne as the roads were safe and it was part of the day. Our horses were all plaited and the riders in full dress with matching numnahs and flower button hole. We would queue for hours for our rosette and then the gallop over the downs to the stands, but it was a privilege. In those days there were few horse events to attend and not many people had horsetrailers and horseboxes.
However in todays horseworld in the South East in particular there is an amazing number and array of horse activities to choose from each weekend and I no longer think riders are interested in this type of day for entertainment. Religion also comes into it. You read in the newspaper the lack of attendance at churchs which obviously means little interest in a horse blessing ceremony. Riders also feel intimidated by the travelling fraternity who have virtually taken over the event and made it their own ‘fair’ almost similar to Appleby. It is no longer a day to remember.
Perhaps the time has come when Horseman’s Sunday should cease for good rather than the organisers each year becoming more disallusioned with the whole affair.