Regent Street Festival 2005

4 September 2005
The Regent Street Festival was one of the Everyone's London series of events to encourage Londoners to take pride, and part, in the very best that London has to offer. One of the specially organised demonstrations was put on by the Ascot Park Polo Club.

With two horses, some rather conveniently laid turf, plenty of milk crates and a large enthusiastic audience eager to participate, the Ascot Park team set about providing some stimulating entertainment and education for the croud.

After some initial failed attempts to graze on the specially laid turf the two horses, Principle and Robert, finally give up and have a doze in their private coral just off Regent street while they wait to go shopping.

Meanwhile, members of the crowd are encouraged to have a go at hitting a polo ball from the relative safety of red square imaginary horses ...

These two unusual equine visitors soon attract attention ... "We like attention, especially when it comes bearing food ... welcome to our network!"

"Oooo Oooo I know that ringtone .... its that frog one, please please can I eat your phone ..."

"Karen Miller & French Connection ... hmmm ... I prefer Hermes. Are we going shopping now?" ... Maybe later, first its time to make way to the first photo shoot for these two polo ponies. Its not every day you see a polo pony on Regent street ... ironically, Robert and Principle were thinking just the same thing.

"This is a very small polo field!" ... "There's a Ferris wheel in the way of the goal!" ... "Why is everything in slow motion?" ... "Is this my good side?"

"Hey we are going to be on Japanese TV ..."

"So let me get this straight ... a couple of polo ponies in the middle of regent street, fake turf, large crowds, loads of noise, a Ferris wheel and an 83 year old lady on a horse for the first time ... shouldn't we be spooking?"

"Ok, heres the deal ... we do the pony rides and then we want some hay and then Robert and I want to have a go on the Ferris wheel OK!"

"Mmmmm food ... I mean we haven't eaten for ... well 30 minutes."

O-Yay, O-Yay ... "Ey up ... we've got a right one here" ... "Shake that chukka bell at me one more time and I'll bite your bum."

This is what a life with horses can do to you ...

Who is that handsome devil?