Merseyside schoolchildren have the chance to design one of the show jumping fences for the Liverpool International Horse Show at the Echo Arena on January 1st to 3rd.

The world’s top show jumpers are heading to the city for the inaugural Equestrian.com Liverpool International Horse Show and organisers are inviting local youngsters to get out their paints, crayons or computers to create a colourful and eye-catching show jump. 

Designs can celebrate famous Liverpool landmarks similar to those at London 2012, where the Olympic show jumping course featured Tower Bridge, Stonehenge and The Beatles’ Abbey Road studio. 

The Pupils meet Blaze, a 15 year-old former competition horse.

Liverpool International Horse Show ‘Design A Jump’ Art Competition was launched today at Liverpool’s St Vincent de Paul School by Olympic show jumper, Geoff Billington who spoke to children in the playground. Pupils learned about show jumping, grooming horses and Geoff answered questions about his 30 year career, including his appearances for Team GB at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games.  

The children also had the chance to meet Blaze, a 15 year-old former competition horse and Gambler, one of the Shetland Grand National horses who'll be in action at the show in January.  Accompanying Gambler were young jockeys, Ben Hemmings and Kinvara Garner. Ben is the grandson of the three-time winning Grand National owner, Trevor Hemmings, whose horse Many Clouds won this year’s race.

Adam Vasco, the Deputy Head Teacher, was as enthusiastic as his pupils at the arrival of the horses. ‘This visit has opened up a universe that these youngsters don’t get to see and it’s been wonderful to see how they have responded,’ he said.

Jockey Ben Hemmings leads his Shetland Pony, Gambler in front of pupils at St Vincent de Paul School, Pitt Street, Liverpool. Ben and Gambler will feature in the Shetland Grand National at the Liverpool International Horse Show at the Echo Arena on January 1-3.

Geoff Billington said: ‘This is a great opportunity for the children of Liverpool to get involved with the city's new world-class sporting event.  Liverpool has some great landmarks and world famous history and I hope we see some of the city's heritage in the designs.’

LIHS director Nina Barbour, said: ‘I loved the show jumping fences at London 2012 and we'd like the children of Liverpool to bring some of that joyful spirit to the Liverpool International Horse Show. The children at St Vincent de Paul School have already been busy and come up with some great ideas. We’re looking forward to seeing what comes from this competition and I’m sure that the course builders are too.’ 

The closing date for the competition is November 16th and the winner will see the design built and in action at the Liverpool International Horse Show.   The winner and their family will receive tickets for one of the shows and will meet some of the top riders.  The winner’s school will also receive ten family tickets for the show.

Schools can download the ‘Design A Jump’ Art Competition guidelines pack from the Liverpool International Horse Show website www.liverpoolhorseshow.com

The Liverpool International Horse Show will combine world-class show jumping with spectacular family entertainment including the Bootleg Beatles, French Stunt Rider Clemence Faivre and the Shetland Pony Grand National.  Tickets start at £18 and are available from the Echo Arena website: www.echoarena.com