FRAMLINGHAM Castle provided the dramatic backdrop for a horse show dating back more than a century.Horses from all over East Anglia attended the 108th Framlingham Horse Show for a full and varied programme which included Suffolk Horses in harness, hunters, mountain and moorland ponies, skewbalds and piebalds, pleasure driving, Arabs, show-jumping, private and trade driving and show hunter ponies.

FRAMLINGHAM Castle provided the dramatic backdrop for a horse show dating back more than a century.

Horses from all over East Anglia attended the 108th Framlingham Horse Show for a full and varied programme which included Suffolk Horses in harness, hunters, mountain and moorland ponies, skewbalds and piebalds, pleasure driving, Arabs, show-jumping, private and trade driving and show hunter ponies.

The show was back after it was cancelled last year as a precautionary measure following the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Around 270 horses and riders, carefully groomed and prepared by their owners, competed in the broad range of contests at the site.

President John Hargreaves said: "We are almost bursting at the seams with entries. The weather forecast was all against it, but it's kept fine. In fact, it's ideal weather for horses and people alike."

The numbers of Suffolk Punch horses at the event was up on previous years, as was the number of show jumpers.

He added: "It's a very important show for Suffolk Punches. This is the first show where there is any number of foals able to be exhibited. To get a quarter of all the foals that will be born this year here is really quite extraordinary."

"What could be nicer than a horse show with Framlingham Castle behind it? I think it's a fantastic ambience really. The countryside is absolutely back in full swing again."

Mark Donsworth, the honorary show director, said it was a fantastic day, and praised the excellent quality of the entries.

Judges travelled from as far as Hertfordshire to be at the show, which took place throughout the day.

The event is organised by the Framlingham Livestock Association.