Rescued horses will be honoured in Badminton trail
A trio of artists will be helping to design horse sculptures for a display at Badminton Horse Trials (4-8 May).
World Horse Welfare’s Invisible Horse Sculpture Trail aims to highlight the plight of neglected and abandoned horses in the UK.
Tattoo artist and cartoonist, Judi Milne, hat designer, David Shilling, and rural artist, Judith Stowell, are the first names announced to be designing and dressing three fibreglass horse sculptures for charity.
Fourteen pieces of work will make up the trail, each one telling the story of a horse who has been helped by World Horse Welfare through the artist’s interpretation of that story.
One of the horses on the trail, to be painted silver, will embody the story of Yogi, a pony rescued by the charity in 2006 who is now a regular on the carriage driving competition circuit. The sculpture will be wearing a unique hat designed from a Mitsubishi Motors steering wheel by Mr Shilling.
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“I’m delighted to be part of the Invisible Horse Trail, supporting World Horse Welfare whose important work makes this world a better place and makes you proud to be a part of it,” he said.
The maquette for the fibreglass sculptures was modelled on World Horse Welfare’s adoption horse, May, by sculptor Judy Boyt.
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One of the sculptures will be brought to life through a design inspired by charity field officer, Claire Gordon, highlighting May’s rescue. Ms Milne is currently translating Claire’s idea on to the fibreglass sculpture.
“I volunteered at World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm rescue and rehoming centre, working with the lovely Susie Main who became my great friend and has always been a true inspiration due to her amazing strength and character,” said Ms Milne. “Susie very sadly passed away a couple of years ago, so I am dedicating my sculpture to her.”
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- Badminton Horse Trials: where to stay
- Alice Dunsdon’s Badminton blog: ‘Live your dreams today as no one is promised tomorrow’
- World Horse Welfare celebrates success stories in rehoming initiative
World Horse Welfare’s Clydesdale adoption horse, Digger, is also being represented, through a farming heritage themed design by Ms Stowell (pictured, top).
“I have been involved with World Horse Welfare locally and I met Digger on a trip to Belwade Farm,” said Ms Stowell. “I would like to support the charity’s work as horse welfare is very important to me, having had horses all my life.”
All the artists and designers involved in the Invisible Horse Trail have given their time free of charge.
More artists and sponsors will be announced in the near future.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.