As part of Horse & Hound's 130th birthday celebrations, we will be supporting and promoting "130 equestrian good causes" via regular online round-ups of events being run by the equestrian community
Wimbledon stables raises money for cancer charity
Forty riders from Wimbledon Village Stables have raised £21,789 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity from a sponsored ride last month (26 and 28 October).
Donations were also given to Holly Lodge Centre in Richmond Park and the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators, which maintains all the tracks.
The 10-mile ride around Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park is held over two days to give the horses a rest and allow more people to take part.
All riders have to wear fancy dress. This year the winner on the first day was Nancy Clarke who went as Ghengis Khan; and on the second Tracey Alovisi’s Cruella de Vil impersonation won.
There was also a bride and groom, a robot, a cow, a Viking and plenty of cowboys and Indians and Halloween skeletons among the riders.
“Everyone made a terrific effort to raise sponsorship,” said Carol Andrews from Wimbledon Village Stables.
For more information visit www.wvstables.com
RDA volunteers honoured
Julie Courtney from Bradbourne Riding for the Disabled Association was awarded the coveted Tora Bray perpetual trophy at the RDA’s regional conference..
Julie known as “list lady” was presented with the trophy for her tireless contribution to the running of the group.
She helps with two regular riding sessions each week doing everything from mucking out to helping nervous riders and is the entries secretary for the group’s annual sponsored ride.
At the conference attended by over 120 RDA members representing 25 groups from across the south east, Dame Judi Dench presented an award to Sally Anne O’Neill.
The owner of Little Brook Equestrian, Lingfield, where East Park RDA is based was given the award for her services to the group and region that went “above and beyond”.
The Buchan Bobby trophy was given to the Sandhurst RDA group for its “amazing commitment and fundraising efforts throughout 2014.” The group was the charity of the year for Sainsbury Watchmoor Park.
At the conference delegates heard from Paralympic triple gold medallist Sophie Christiansen.
Sheikh Joaan raises £500,000 for Jack Berry House
Fundraising for the Injured Jockey Fund’s (IJF) second rehabilitation centre —Jack Berry House in Yorkshire — is nearly complete following the presentation of a cheque for £500,000 last week (12 November).
The money has been raised by Al Shaqab’s Super 20 initiative created by Sheikh Joaan Al Thani.
After watching a Channel 4 feature on Jack Berry House, Sheikh Joaan decided to donate all UK and Irish prize-money won by a group of 20 horses in the 2014 season.
Harry Herbert, racing advisor to Al Shaqab, presented the cheque to Jack Berry, vice president of the IJF, at the Dorchester hotel.
“Since the Lockinge in May it has been really exciting watching the Super 20 horses run and the final amount is simply incredible,” said Jack Berry.
The project is costing £3.1m and Jack Berry House will open next spring.
For more information visit: www.injuredjockeys.co.uk
Funds for autistic children
An organisation that works with horses to offer therapeutic help for youngsters with autism has been awarded £15,000 from the government’s Innovation Fund.
Sarah Shearman who runs Autism Angels plans to use the money to run more family events, fun days and camps.
The current programme is run at two centres in North Yorkshire and Berkshire.
“We know that our work makes a massive difference, not just to the child with autism, but to their whole family,” said Sarah.
“Having a youngster with autism can put a tremendous strain on the family unit. Working alongside horses can help restore channels of communication that have become broken and strengthen relationships. The funding will allow us to offer our support to many more families.”
For more information visit: www.autismangels.co.uk
Riding for the Disabled Association photography winners
Karen Thompson’s photograph of a joyful rider looking down from his pony, Roma, was the overall winner of the Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) 2014 photographic competition.
The picture called “Having some Roma therapy” was taken by Karen, who is a senior instructor at Kesteven RDA in Lincolnshire.
There were four categories in this year’s competition: Riding is Fun (won by Karen), Magic Moments (won by Polly Wheeler), a new challenge (won by Jeanette Williams) and indispensable volunteers, which Sophie Hurrell-Day won.
The annual competition is open to anyone involved with RDA’s 500 groups run all over the UK.
The overall winner was selected by People’s Postcode Lottery.
“It was a really tough decision for the whole team to decide on the winning picture but Karen’s picture really brought a smile to all our faces and was obviously the winner,” said Hazel Johnstone, trusts manager at People’s Postcode Lottery.
For more information visit: www.rda.org.uk
