The Cotswold Cart Horse Society" (CCHS) was officially formed in March 1996, and as at January 2004 has over 120 fully paid up members, some of whom are owners of heavy horses, others simply have an interest in them. Although we are still a fairly new Society our membership remains constant from year to year. We have a very dedicated committee of 12 from all walks of life including farming, engineering, and landscape gardening, but with a wealth of experience in working horses.
We promote the working horse, encouraging inclusion of classes for heavy horses at agricultural and horse shows. We also hold social evenings with guest speakers, and slide show / video evenings all of which are open to members and their guests. Our annual dinner is held at the end of November and is a good way to round off our year, with a guest speaker, raffle and fun competition.
The aims of the Society are to provide a practical service to members who own heavy horses and to provide a source of pleasure and recreation for all who are interested in the heavy horse. The objects encompass:- Promoting horse ploughing matches and demonstrations. Encouraging the inclusion of classes for heavy horses at agricultural and horse shows, and the inclusion of horse classes at ploughing matches. Arranging lectures, film shows, stud visits and social events. Encouraging others to work and breed heavy horses. Encouraging farriers, harness-makers, wainwrights, implement makers, wheelwrights and blacksmiths. Promoting the study of the history of the heavy horse, its breeding, management and use, and encouraging members to collect records, photographs, drawings and artefacts connected with the heavy horse. Fostering the supply of implements and equipment designed and constructed in accordance with modern engineering knowledge. Publishing, or encouraging the publication of, a register of horses at stud. Promoting such activities as the Council may from time to time consider appropriate.
Membership Our AGM is usually held the first Saturday in February and membership runs for 1 year from March 1st, Ordinary member: £10 per annum under 16 Junior member: £2 " " Family (2 adults and children under 16): £20 " " Life Membership: £150 " " Family Life (2 adults of same family): £300 " " For an application for membership to the CCHS, please use the menu.
Workshops & Training Throughout the year we run various in-house training courses and workshops for our members. These cover all aspects of owning and working a heavy horse and are tailored to suit the level of experience of the attendees, whether they own their own horse or work with someone elses. Our Autumn Working is usually held at Manor Farm, Sevenhampton, near Cheltenham, in October. It provides a venue for our members to come and work their horses, including Shires, Clydesdales, Ardennes, Percheron, Suffolk Punches and Cobs. There are opportunities for ploughing, harrowing, rolling and cultivating, and some horsemen offer to let other people 'take the reins'. It is a very good day out for anyone interested in working horses.
Shows & Events CCHS members and their horses also give ring demonstrations at local Shows and participate in Ploughing Matches. Our promotional exhibition unit also attends local shows to promote the Society, attract new members and raise funds to help towards expenses when providing demonstrations. For a list of forthcoming events, please use the menu.
