A Shire centre in Yorkshire which introduced western displays has won a top tourist award
Staintondale Shire Horse Centre in Scarborough, Yorks, is celebrating after winning the first ever Farm Attraction of the Year Award.
Winner of the “less than 20,000 visitors per year”, category owner Tony Jenkins expressed his delight saying: “We are over the moon, it’s quite simply the icing on the cake.”
“We are only open 70 days of the year, so to beat entrants that are open all year round is marvellous.”
Mr Jenkins has lived on his 40-acre farm for more than 30 years and in that time has watched his centre grow and develop. It originally started off as a Shire horse centre with visitors able to watch ploughing and driving demonstrations.
But as Tony explains, a visit to his daughter in New Zealand gave him a new idea.
“I watched a western display and thought it looked more fun than what we were doing back home. I came home and decided that western displays were a way of making our attraction more entertaining.”
Although Shire horse still play an important part of the centre they have taken a back seat to the western attractions which consist of seven Shetlands, three small ponies, 2 Thoroughbreds and star of the show Burtie Boy, a 16.1hh, 6-year-old Hanoverian/Irish Draught gelding.
Visitors watch Tony and Burtie as they demonstrate lasooing, rope spinning and other western “tricks”.
The centre is open May to September on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Opening times are 10.30am to 4.30pm. Admission costs are £3.50 for adults, £3 for OAPs and £2.50 for children.
For more information contact the centre (tel: 01723 870458) or visit www.shirehorsefarm.co.uk
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