Top riders raise spinal injury awareness

Top international riders such as Mary King and Ginny Elliot will be hosting a series of training demonstration evenings in aid of Spinal Research. The demonstrations are part of the Saddle Up 7 campaign which aims to alert the equestrian community of the risks of spinal cord injury.

Active people between 18 and 35 years-old are the typical victims of spinal cord injury, often sustained in sporting accident – principally horse riding, diving and rugby. More than 40,000 people in the UK are paralysed as a result of damage to the spinal cord, and around 700 more are added to this list every year. Each accident represents a sudden and devastating change to quality of life and expectations for the injured person as well as their friends and family. Saddle Up 7 aims to increase awareness of the risks of spinal cord injuries and raise funds for Spinal Research.

Ginny Elliot will be commencing the programme with an evening training demonstration at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire (11 April). Spectators will be able to watch and learn from Ginny as she works with her horse. The next demonstration will be by Andrew Gould at Plumpton College, East Sussex (4 May), followed by Mary King at Bicton College, Devon (1 June), Francis Whittington at Hadlow College (5 June), Jeanette Brakewell at Rodbaston College, Staffordshire (2 November) and Laura Fortune (date and venue to be confirmed).

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