CLUMSY and ungainly, I think only one thing as I pull on my thick pantomime horse costume.

It is sweltering in here.

The weight of the paper mache horse head combined with the fleece coat over my shoulders and baggy trousers left me sweating within seconds.

I could barely balance the head on my shoulders.

Yet on September 17 I will be expected to sprint the length of Colchester High Street in a similar costume, with some poor, unwitting friend hunched behind me as the horse’s rear end.

I am not a fit man, I am not a particularly healthy man.

I am 6ft 3in tall, gangly and can barely walk without tripping over my own feet.

I am likely to fall.

But it will all be for a fantastic cause and as part of a hugely entertaining day of fun, humour and laughs - hopefully some at my expense.

There has never been an event like this in Colchester and I am absolutely delighted to be taking part.

Jonathan Moore, the enthusiastic chief executive of Age Concern Colchester, has kick-started the town’s first annual pantomime horse race which is supported by the Gazette.

With 18 horses from businesses and charities across the borough already signed up, the event will be a humourous way of getting across a very serious message.

We must think about old age in a different way.

In Colchester alone, one in four of the population will be aged 60 or over in just ten years.

There will be a range of races, kicking off at 11.30am.

A closing ceremony will be held at 2.45pm and an after-race party will close out the event in style from 6pm.

There is a sense of freedom when it comes to preparing a horse for the race.

Horses can be any style, any colour, any material.

I will likely go for a costume that doesn’t make me feel like I’m sprinting towards the centre of the sun.

Mr Moore said: “Getting under the skin of a horse is a great theatrical tradition – most recently Warhorse – but a couple of centuries of the more traditional Pantomime sort.

“Being a panto horse should be on everyone’s Bucket List.

“The choice of material is very important – flexibility, weight, thickness – I’d recommend looking at a modern material rather than the traditional canvas.

“Ask the charity shops for old blankets – they might not be on show at this time of year, but they may have one squirrelled away in the back.

“Before you raid your granny’s airing cupboard, make sure you have permission to take a blanket – it could have great sentimental value.

“The great danger in making the head is making it too heavy or too uncomfortable – paper mache can get very heavy if you put too many layers on.

“Five should be sufficient and then cover with PVA glue to seal.

“Tom clearly has some equine blood in him, as he drew on the head a hush descended on the room in anticipation of a real horsey snort and whinny.”

Costumes need not be horse-related, but other animals will be entered into their own separate race.

The High Street will be closed to traffic for the event, with dozens of stalls set out representing different charity groups and offering entertainment.

Anyone can enter, be it an individual, a school, a business, or a charity.

The next How to Make a Panto Horse event will be held at The Haunt, in North Hill, Colchester, at 6.30pm on Thursday, June 15.

  • Have you started crafting your horse?

We would love to receive your pictures at tom.dalby@newsquest.co.uk.

To request an entry form to enter a horse in the races, contact Mr Moore at jonathan.moore@ageconcerncolchester.org.uk or on 01206 368420.