Equestrianism: Horse sense and old glory: Rosie Millard joins the true blue show jumping set on a big day at Wembley

THE recently published statistic to the effect that horse riding is the most dangerous leisure activity for women in England and Wales seems to have done little to dampen the enthusiasm of the predominantly female audience at the Horse of the Year Show.

With their four-day Rover tickets, flat caps and ski jackets, they have been displaying levels of expertise and partisanship that would do credit to the stadium next door. Hardly a spectator there did not know her puissance from her palominos, or was anything less than passionate in her patriotism. When John Whitaker and Everest, the favourites for the jump-offs of yesterday's Danco International Stakes, rode into the arena, hysterical screams rapidly gave way to a reverent hush. The event had previously come alive when Nick Skelton, first to go into the 11-horse jump-off, challenged his rivals with a clear round on Everest Showtime in 42.79. James Fisher had responded with daredevil turns on Bowriver Queen but just hit the first pole off the last fence, a double, in the fastest time, 34.47. This was enough to set John Whitaker alight. Everest Hopscotch, the 1981 Foxhunter champion, may be 18, but he is well preserved. He rattled a few poles but left them all standing in 36.67. After this, only William Funnell on Comex could go clear. Their excellent round in 39.70 took second place with Skelton third.

Minutes before the jump- offs, during the interval, phalanxes of eager young men had poured into the ring to set it up. It was probably the largest collection of young males in the entire Horse of the Year Show, apart from the contestants. Where this show is concerned, women and girls will always come first.

'It's really good here,' breezed 12-year-old Catherine Budd from Cranley. 'Really horsey. I want to be a showjumper when I grow up.' Her mother, wearing a sweatshirt embroidered with trotting ponies, smiled indulgently. 'This is my first time at the Horse of the Year show,' said Anna Comer, also 12, who had come to the event from Great Yarmouth. 'I've been looking forward to it for weeks. My greatest ambition is to see John Whitaker jump.'

'Women put off?' said a brisk woman from the British Horse Society, in response to a query about safety statistics. 'Not for a minute. There is perhaps more interest in safety nowadays, more people wearing hats and body protectors, but that's it.'

'My pony fell on top of me when I was eventing,' said Natalie from Berkshire. 'I was rushed to hospital but it didn't stop me riding.'

Yet it was also clear, from the hundreds of empty seats, that the Horse of the Year Show is not the attraction it once was. 'It's very quiet here this year,' said John Smith, a rosette trader from Darlington. 'The seats are too expensive, and food is too expensive. This is the horse show ; the best of everything comes here, yet people aren't coming to see it. It's the prices.'

'It's the worst ever year,' said a man from Coomes bookmakers. 'We won't be back.'

Yet for many the magic of the show remains intact. 'It was marvellous,' said Annie- Marie Wecki, looking down on to the ring, as her hero and his rosetted horse did a spotlit lap of honour to the Horse of the Year theme tune. 'I just want to get on a horse and gallop with him.'