Why your horse should be wearing socks this season
Who wants to be boring and wear their socks on their feet? Unless you are a horse of course, in which case they could look rather fetching… But not us – and not the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) either.
What we’re doing this month, and we hope you’ll join us, is wearing socks on our hands, heads, horses’ ears, dogs’ tails – and posting the pictures on social media.
Jocks in Socks is a collaboration between H&H and the IJF, our charity of the year.
All you have to do is place your socks, wheresoever takes your fancy, take a picture and donate to the IJF.
Then share the picture online.
H&H content director Sarah Jenkins said:”We all remember the success of the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ and similarly inspired social media campaigns that encourage users to have a bit of fun while raising money for the charities that mean most to them.
“Now it’s equestrians’ turn to do our bit for the IJF and all those they support. For Horse & Hound, to select the IJF as our charity of the year in 2016 was a decision driven by an understanding of the excellent work they do as well as the benefits witnessed by riders at all levels.
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“With some of the world’s best riders suffering serious accidents in 2015, we were given a stark reminder that however accomplished the jockey, the risk of injury is high and the IJF is there doing an incredible job.
“Please do get involved in supporting this worthiest of causes — after all, what horse doesn’t like having socks on…?”
To join the campaign, on Twitter, write: “I have supported #jocksinsocks @ijf_official with £5 by texting IJF to 70800. I nominate @…”
On Facebook, it’s: “I have supported #jocksinsocks for The Injured Jockeys Fund with £5 by texting IJF to 70800. I nominate…”
Related articles:
- Jockeys to go head to head over showjumps at Olympia
- Eventer recovers from coma: ‘I certainly don’t remember being on a horse that day’
- Seven things you didn’t know about the Injured Jockeys Fund
A spokesman for the IJF said: “We hope the equestrian community will all participate in #JocksInSocks, by tweeting or Facebooking pictures of them with socks on their own or their horses’ heads, ears, etc.
“Of course, it’s a bit of fun but it will also raise awareness of the IJF and the important work we do.”
You can even buy the official IJF socks (as modelled above by retrained racehorse, Dennis) from the H&H stand at the Horse of the Year Show (5-9 October), or the IJF website.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.