RACING fans flocked to Bob Buckler's racing yard in Melplash on Sunday at the first open day he's held for three years.

So many came that well over £2,000 was raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund and the air ambulance as people watched the procession of 30 horses at the yard.

Mr Buckler outlined the particular talents and form of his rising and established stars and then for the first time visitors could see horses being loose-schooled over jumps in the school.

Thanks to Mr Buckler's expert commentary everyone could see how differently each horse jumped and what direction the horse's future career would take.

Then jockeys John Kavanagh, Ben Hitchcot and Colm Sharkey put Kitimat, Unsigned and Just Muckin Around through their paces.

Mr Buckler said one of the horses had been too distracted by the crowds to concentrate on his job during the demonstration, giving the audience an eye opener into what happens when the horse has different ideas from the jockey.

"People could see that it isn't always plain sailing!" he said.

The parade of the Seavington Hounds proved very popular and in the programme's introduction Mr Buckler said the hound parade was very apt, coming only a week before the Countryside March.

He said: "We must do all that we can to prevent our way of life being eroded. If hunting goes, jump racing will soon become a target. Hence we must make our feelings known before it is too late."

Mr Buckler thanked his team of staff who all helped to produce the horses, not only for the open day, but all year round.

"It is their continued hard work which brings the success that we achieve," he said.