Horses For Courses

The Club held the final charity fundraising event of the current Rotary year at Newton of Collessie Farm courtesy of Ronnie & Dorrie Black and their family on Sunday 17th June. It was an enjoyable day out for all the family. Undeterred by a constant steady rain, the crowds kept coming, glad, no doubt, that many activities were held under cover and out of the weather. There was  a sheep-judging competition; guess-the-weight-of-the stallion; nail-in-the-bale; as well as book stalls and tombola.  Refreshments were provided by the Cogwheelers (wives of Rotary members). In one of the barns, Rotarians had erected a Shelterbox, allowing members of the public to see for themselves the protection and equipment it can afford people all over the world, made homeless by natural disaster.  Details of that and other donations made by the club  were on display, including information about Chimwemwe, the Howe Rotary's overseas charity in Malawi. However the absolute stars of the afternoon were Ronnie Black's stud of Clydesdale horses: mares cropping grass in the paddock; stabled mare and foals for youngsters to pat; and stallions showing off their paces as arrogantly as any dandy.  Mike and Pete Black demonstrated how to prepare the horses for showing, and, great spectator attraction, farriers, J & K Balfour, shoe-ed  a succession of patient horses throughout the afternoon, ready for their appearance at the Highland Show. Both adults and children enjoyed the wagon rides conducted by Benny Duncan around the paddock, a chance to step back to a time when a Clydesdale's principal task was to pull a vehicle. The very successful day raised over £2,000.00 for the charity fund of the club, a proportion of which will be donated to the MacMillan Cancer Fund.