Polo day raises cash for strangles research

A charity polo day, designed to raise funds and awareness in the battle against strangles, has been hailed a success.

Part of the proceeds from the event, which was held on Sunday at the Sussex Polo Club, Rowfant, will go towards the Breaking the Strangles Hold campaign, a joint initiative between the British Horse Society and Animal Health Trust (AHT).

The campaign, which is supported by Horse & Hound and clothing company Puffa, aims to raise £250,000 to create a vaccine against the highly-infectious disease. To date, £170,000 has been raised thanks to public support and various charity events.

At the start of the day, tournament organiser Puffa handed over a cheque for £10,000, raised from the sale of special strangles polo shirts, to the AHT’s Andrew Simmonds.

Puffa worldwide brand manager Tori Tomlin told H&H: “It’s fantastic to be part of the campaign and to do all we can to try and eradicate this disease.”

Despite blustery conditions, turnout was good, with polo fans of all ages enjoying some exciting play.

Read Karen Spinner’s blog of the day

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