At last week’s World Horse Welfare conference, guests heard from a variety of speakers on the theme of taking accountability for horse welfare in sport. Among them was British Gymnastics CEO Sarah Powell, who spoke about a sport that was in “crisis”, and the steps taken to turn it around. “I can see real synergy within our journey of reform and the journey you’re taking,” she said. Among the other speakers was Mette Uldahl, who covered being a member of the “department of deception”, and considering what makes good people do bad things.
British Eventing (BE) grassroots riders have been promised a championship worthy of the name, after it was confirmed that the national final was to move from Bramham, where it had run alongside the international horse trials. Many riders were disappointed by the move but BE and Bramham explained that there had been no other option. “We fully appreciate the disappointment our members are feeling,” BE chief executive Rosie Williams told H&H., adding that BE wants to “assure members that we looked into every avenue including holding the BE80 alongside the grassroots championships at Badminton, but unfortunately, it simply wasn’t viable”.
Lessons with Olympic riders and tickets to top events are among the prizes on offer in a draw in aid of the Georgie Campbell Foundation. The charity was set up by people who love and miss Georgie, who lost her life in an eventing fall last year, to support other event riders and improve safety in the sport. Tickets to the draw cost £5 and prizes include lessons with Tom McEwen and Laura Collett, as well as yard tours and tickets to Bolesworth and Hickstead.
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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.
