Former Olympian Nikki Richardson (nee Bishop) who represented Australia at the Atlanta Olympics in the three day event will lead the Bickham Beersheba ride accompanied by Upper Hunter Horse Festival VIP Peter Haydon.

Radio shock jock Alan Jones will walk in the parade and will make a speech while, former government minister and current head of Aushorse Peter McGauran will also walk.

Former model and media personality and current Upper Hunter Water Keepers Alliance president Patrice Newell and Arrowfield Stud proprietor John Messara are both expected to make speeches.

Hoping to increase community opposition to the proposed open cut Bickham Coal Mine at Blandford, the Bickham Coal Action Group Inc has organised for horses and riders to march along Kelly St at midday.

Katrina Partridge from Arrowfield Stud is on the organising committee and said about 1000 people were expected to attend the protest by either riding or walking and so far the response had been good with

people registering every day.

“People are really excited about it,” Ms Partridge said.

Both walkers and riders from throughout the community are encouraged to participate, but registrations are necessary on the day.

The protest was organised following the release of Bickham Coal’s water study which is on public exhibition until next Friday.

Several interest groups and studs have expressed concern about the effect the mine could have on the Pages River and Kingdon Ponds. The Bickham Coal Action Group Inc said six major thoroughbred farms could be directly affected by the open cut coal mine.

A statement released by the action group said the land value of the six studs in question touches $184 million, bloodstock is worth $643 million and the total annual revenue of the six studs exceeds $183.4 million.

The Pages River runs downstream through the centre of Arrowfield Stud, one of the six studs the action group is