World Horse Welfare is set to launch three World Horse Trails in 2019 which will see 40 horse sculptures on display at a number of locations including the Royal Windsor Horse Show and around the towns of Windsor and Eton as well as across the charity’s four Rescue and Rehoming Centres.
Sculpted by acclaimed sculptor, Judy Boyt, the 40 horses will be a combination of 11hh sculptures and miniature maquettes standing at around 35cm high, with each one designed and painted by a leading artist, equestrian personality or celebrity. There’s even an opportunity to submit your own design for one of the large sculptures in a competition that will be judged by World Horse Welfare Patron and former Olympic gymnast, Suzanne Dando-Reynolds. Entrants will be challenged to tell the story of youngster World Horse Welfare Hope through their design with the winning submission painted by a studio artist and going on display as part of the Borough Trail around Windsor and Eton.
The muse for the sculptures is rehomed competition horse, World Horse Welfare Lucas, who was rescued as a yearling from a frozen field with his mother, both of whom were fighting to survive the harsh winter weather. Lucas is now transformed and regularly competes at British Eventing with his rehomer Colleen in Fife, Scotland. Judy travelled to meet Lucas and live-sculpt him late last year before creating an 11hh sculpture back home in her Wiltshire studio which was then used to create the mould for production of the fibreglass sculptures.
Ten of the 11hh sculptures will form the ‘Show Trail’ which will be displayed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show 8-12th May and will then travel to a number of other events through the summer. Ten 11hh horses will also make up the Borough Trail which will be around the towns of Windsor and Eton from mid-April to mid-July and then 20 miniature horse sculptures will feature across World Horse Welfare’s four Rescue and Rehoming Centres in Norfolk, Somerset, Lancashire and Aberdeenshire.
Entries for the competition to design a sculpture to tell the story of World Horse Welfare Hope are now open and close on 18th March. To enter you must be over 16 years of age. Enter now
Under-16’s will also be able to enter a competition to design one of the miniature horse sculptures which will be judged by YouTube star ThisEsme and details of this can be found at World Horse Welfare’s website.