What's on at the Thornton-le-Dale Show

The horse and pony classes are among the largest at the show. Going by the Society's trophy list, they cover hunters, working ponies, ridden coloured horses, retrained racehorses, brood mares with foals, young stock, Shetlands and miniatures, native mountain and moorland ponies, lead rein ponies and veteran horses.

Heavy horses have their own classes, including pairs and decorated heavy horses, and there are classes for private and tradesman's horse-drawn turnouts and for fancy dress on horseback. The 2027 classes and judging timetable are still to be confirmed.

The cattle classes include calves, pedigree beef, native breeds and butchers' bullocks, with awards for the best handler and an overall beef champion.

Sheep make up a large part of the livestock lines. Breeds with their own trophies include Leicester, Blue Faced Leicester, Suffolk, Texel, Scottish Blackface, Swaledale, Jacob and Valais Blacknose, alongside crossbred pens, mule gimmer lambs, butchers' lambs and a young handler class.

Pig classes include breeding boars and a best pig in show. Goat classes cover adult goats, goatlings and kids bred by the exhibitor.

The Society keeps rare and minority breeds in the spotlight, with trophies for the best primitive breed sheep and the best non-primitive sheep. The 2027 classes are still to be confirmed.

The open sheepdog trial and working sheepdog classes are a long-standing feature. Trophies reward the trial winner, the best outrun, lift and fetch, the dog in best condition and the most deserving team, and one trophy goes to the best aggregate across the Malton, Ryedale and Thornton le Dale shows. Entries are taken on show day.

The unaffiliated pet dog show is open to everyone, with entries on the day from 10am at Ring 5 and judging from 1pm. On the 2026 schedule, classes ran from obedience to novelty classes such as Dog Most Like Its Owner, Rescue Dog and Best Child Handler, followed by special classes including Labrador, Puppy and Judges' Favourite. See our entering guide for fees and times.

The working terrier and lurcher show starts at 6pm. In 2026 there were 22 terrier classes, covering Jack Russell, Border, Lakeland, crossbred and black or fell terriers, and 12 lurcher classes split by coat and height. There is also a free child handler class for under 14s.

Vintage tractors are judged at 1pm and stay on the showground until 4pm. There are four classes: pre-1960 original, pre-1960 restored, 1960 onwards original and 1960 onwards restored.

Ferrets are penned by 9.45am and stay until 4.30pm. Classes cover hobs and jills in albino, polecat, silver, sandy and other colours, young ferrets bred that year, pairs and a young handler class.

The fur and feather section brings together rabbits, cavies, large fowl, bantams and pigeons, including racing and fancy pigeons. Entry moves to Showing Scene for 2027.

The main marquee holds the tent classes, which the Society says range from shepherd's crooks and sticks to jams, marmalades and curds, embroidery, home produce and farm produce. Going by the trophy list, there are also dairy, handicrafts, patchwork, photography and art, fruit liqueur and Women's Institute classes.

Horticulture classes cover produce such as potatoes and cooking apples, and flowers including roses, dahlias, gladioli and fuchsias, as well as flower arrangements, with a trophy for the best flower in show.

Children of all ages can enter the children's classes, which have included art and craft, flower arranging and a 'garden of my dreams' on a dinner plate. Some classes are only open to pupils at Thornton Dale C of E Primary School. The 2027 classes are still to be confirmed.

Children assemble on the Showfield at about 3.45pm for the fancy dress parade, in classes for ages 3 and under, 4 to 6 and 7 to 9. In 2026 every competitor received a rosette and the overall winner won a family day pass for four on the North York Moors Railway.

The evening sports, organised by the Thornton Dale Sports Pavilion Association, begin at about 5.15pm. On the 2026 programme there were boys' and girls' races from under 5 up to 15, skipping and sack races, a ladies' egg and spoon race and the 440 yards men's race for those aged 16 and over.

Some attractions vary from year to year. In past years, YorkMix reported falconry and BMX stunts at the 2023 show, and the Yorkshire Evening Post listed junior show jumping in 2018. Neither has been announced for 2027.