News
Posted on January 30th, 2014
Horseware Grassroots Rider: Star of the future
Do you have what it takes to join the Horseware Riders Team?
Horseware are searching for a grassroots rider to join their prestigious Riders Team for 2014. The winner will get a full sponsorship deal worth €10,000 (or equivalent) including personalised Horseware kit for horse and rider, a private clinic with a top Horseware rider, tickets to major Horseware sponsored events, and support and promotion from the Horseware social media team.
If you think you have what it takes, apply now at www.horseware.com/grassroots to become Horseware’s first Grassroots Rider.
Applications close on February 27th 2014 at 5pm GMT, a shortlist of five will be announced on March 12th. Public voting to decide the winner will end at 5pm GMT on March 21st, with the winner announced on March 24th.
Applications are open to riders anywhere in the world, aged 16 and over, who don’t derive their living from riding, training and/or dealing in horses.
Posted on January 30th, 2014
Meet Nicola Wilson by Supporting Saddle Up for Spinal Research
Spinal Research is delighted to announce that International event rider and Olympic team silver medallist, Nicola Wilson will be joining Mary King, Nick Skelton, Claire Lomas, Francis Whittington and Andrew Gould as an ambassador for ‘Saddle Up’.
‘Saddle Up’, the dedicated rider campaign for Spinal Research, has grown from strength to strength since it was launched 13 years ago and with the fantastic support it has received from equestrian riders and the public this has enabled it to continually fund vital and groundbreaking research into finding an effective treatment for paralysis.
Every day three people in the UK and Ireland are told that they will never walk again; their lives and those of their families are changed forever. Too many riders, both amateur and professional, are paralysed each year as a result of a riding accident. The charity, is therefore, appealing to equestrian enthusiasts, riding clubs, Pony Clubs, riding schools, equestrian centres and livery yards to support it by organising a fundraising event such as a charity show, tack sale, quiz night, or by holding a sports event.
Nicola is fully supportive of this wonderfully important charity and is calling for as many people to hold a fundraising event, and everyone who signs up to run an event by Friday 4th April, will be entered into a draw to meet Nicola at a competition, with the person raising the most money from their event not only getting the chance to meet Nicola, but also the opportunity to follow Nicola and her team around at a competition to see how they work together to produce such top level event horses*.
To be eligible for this fantastic opportunity to meet one of GB’s leading event riders, please register your idea or activity online www.spinal-research.org or call our ‘I believe’ New Year Resolution hotline on 01483 898786 by Friday 28th February 2014.
* Terms & Conditions will apply. Photo: Trevor Holt
Posted on January 30th, 2014
All M&M Champions to Compete for the Title of Supreme Pony of the Year at HOYS
All Mountain & Moorland (M&M) Champions at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) will once again be invited to compete for the ultimate accolade of Supreme Pony of the Year, when the Show returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 8th– 12th October 2014.
The Champions of the NPS/Baileys Horse Feeds M&M Ridden Pony of the Year, M&M Working Hunter Pony of the Year and Brineton Colne M&M Mini Pony of the Year will each contest the Supreme Pony of the Year Championship on the final evening of “The World’s Most Famous Horse Show”.
For the past three years just one native pony – the M&M Supreme Pony of the Year Champion – has been eligible to enter. However, from 2014, the M&M Supreme Pony of the Year Championship will be removed from the HOYS schedule, allowing all M&M Champions the opportunity to compete in the Supreme Pony of the Year Championship.
The move will bring the format of M&M Championships back into line with all other showing Championships at HOYS.
The Supreme Pony of the Year Championship has been fiercely contested since its split in 2003 from the Supreme Horse of the Year Championship. In that year, an M&M pony took the title – the Welsh Section A Penwayn Ryan with the now eventing star Laura Collett in the saddle. Native ponies have stolen the show in the past two consecutive years. Last year, Dressage supremoes Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester chose the picture-perfect Welsh Section A Nynwood Fantasia as their Champion of Champions. In 2012, it was the turn of crowd-favourite Highland pony Stirlingdene to take the honours.
Helena Pettit of Grandstand Media Ltd, organiser of HOYS, commented: “The M&M classes have been a popular part of the HOYS schedule since 1999. This move will allow our native breeds to be shown at their best and compete against all of the other pony Champions at HOYS once more. It will also up the ante in the already hugely competitive Supreme Pony of the Year Championship.”
Posted on January 6th, 2014
Nominate Your Favourite Equine Charity
Petplan Equine, is calling on the equine world to recognise the invaluable work of equine charities by nominating their favourite for the 2014 Petplan and ACDH Animal Charity Awards.
The awards were launched last year by Petplan in partnership with the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) to recognise the hard work, dedication and commitment of animal charities and not-for-profit organisations, their employees and volunteers.
“Petplan Equine works closely with equine charities throughout the UK and we see first-hand the dedication andcommitment of the many employees and volunteers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of horses, ponies and donkeys,” said Isabella von Mesterhazy, Petplan’s Head of Marketing. “These awards are an opportunity for equine charity teams and workers to be honoured for their contribution to animal welfare in general and for their hard work to be recognised by a wider audience.”
To nominate a charity team or individual who deserves to be recognised for their outstanding contribution to equine welfare go to www.petplan.co.uk/charityawards. Nominations open 6th January and close on 31st March.
