40 members of our security team were allocated for The Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby.

There were 7 people who arrived on the 14-17th June. They were responsible for setting everything up, emergency response, competitors arriving, horseboxes to park, stables to allocate, fodder to deliver as well as access control.

Then for the actual event itself, we deployed 24 day staff as well as 11 night staff. Their duties included K9 security, emergency response, lorry parking, admin, stable management, security, cashiers, radio controller, access control and fodder delivery.

Our Emergency Response Team

Fires

During this amazingly busy event, there were actually two fires reported. The first was a horsebox fire which broke out on Friday, 21 June. According to The online publication, The Horse & Hound, during the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting it was thought the cause was sunlight refracting through the lorry window on to a rug hanging inside.

Hickstead director Edward Bunn told Horse & Hound that the fire engine was on the scene two minutes after the fire was reported. The horse area was burnt, out but no horses or people were hurt.

“It’s good to have WH Management on site; money very well spent.”

The second fire was electrical, which was disconnected and put out straight away.

Animal Rescue

WH MD Doug Hinckley also reported “We also cut a horse out of a lorry on Saturday 22 June. It was stuck over the bar; all our clients are responsible, and have us here for large-animal rescue, firefighting and help with flooding.”

This particular horse was rearing into the roof of its horse box and was stuck at the front end into the grooms compartment. All sorted very promptly and the horse was unhurt.

First Aid

There were also two medical incidents:

The first was a young man who jumped a fence, caught his foot and landed on his shoulder/arm so first aid was administered.
The second was a wound to a forehead when hit by the jockey door of a horsebox.

How Can We Help You?

The Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby was a busy show for our emergency response team. Most of our work is, however, delivering our security and stable field services. We have a great team of "characters" who work regularly for us.

If you have a large equestrian event or other sporting event planned and are looking for event security, stewarding as well as our emergency response team which includes medical, fire & rescue then please get in touch.