THE other day I found myself a spectator at a prestigious international show jumping event. It was to a work commitment, I had to go…

I am not a horse person. When I was three years old a horse bit me. I was generously offering it a handful of grass and it repaid my kindness by biting the hand that fed it. It stared me in eye and refused to let me go, despite screams of agony. The nightmares are now a thing of the past and the memory of the incident provided my Freudian therapist with a rich seam of enquiry.

My equine knowledge is easily summed up: they are big (it’s a long way to fall) and watch out both ends (they bite and kick).

So the prospect of spending a whole day watching them prance round an arena and jump over a few fences was not one I relished.

But in the traditional words of the tabloid journalist ‘Imagine my surprise….’ when it turned out to be one of the most relaxing and pleasurable days I have enjoyed for a long time. (There was also some champagne that might have helped).

The horses were magnificent and beautiful. The riders incomparable and together they moved in complete harmony, gliding round the arena, making the impossible look natural, an awesome display of elegance and skill.

We spectators were united as the riders conquered the arena, holding our collective breaths as they approached the fence that was providing most of the faults, uniting in a sigh when they negotiated it successfully and a uttering a sympathetic ‘Oh!’ if they didn’t. We broke out into spontaneous applause on a clear round. And we silently urged on our former Olympic Gold medallist as he faced other winners in a round against the clock.

There is something special about watching elite performers in any discipline perform on a world stage. And there is something even more special about watching any live performance. A sense of being part of a collective unique moment, enhanced by shared passion, excitement and tension. Whether it be a sporting event, a rock concert, a live arts performance. I wouldn’t have missed the show jumping on Saturday for the world.

We are truly blessed, here in Salisbury. Show jumping may not appear on the immediate horizon, but we have a smorgasbord of live culture and entertainment on our doorstep, in venues like the City Hall, the Arts Centre, the Cathedral, the Playhouse, the Football club. And a smattering of free public events in the Close and Market Square.

So if you want to feel your senses tingle and discover a depth of experience that you will never get in front of a screen, go live…