Equestrian coaches are being asked to raise awareness of the importance of speaking about mental health. Riders Minds, a charity founded in 2019 by the late eventer Matthew Wright and his wife Victoria, is also seeking 1,000 trainers to take part in a “coaching for change” campaign next month. Each trainer is asked to organise a training clinic, with the proceeds going to the charity. The new campaign coincides with World Mental Health Day on 10 October, and will highlight the support available through the charity’s website, text line and free confidential phone service.
The owner and rider of a horse who faced being put down owing to a serious fracture last year, but came back to win an eventing championship, said she “couldn’t ask for any more”. Tamsin Palmer and 10-year-old Bazaars Twister won the 90cm Saracen Horse Feeds Brigante Cup Final at Frickley Park, the culmination of an unaffiliated eventing series, on 18 September.
A rider who was paralysed in a cross-country accident has become a fundraiser for the air ambulance that saved her life – and has returned to the saddle. Sallyanne Haigh suffered a spinal-cord injury when her horse reared and fell on her in October 2015 and now has no movement below her first lumbar vertebrae.
“It was a horrific accident, and a long road to recovery, but I’m getting my life back together,” said Sallyanne, who credits Great Western Air Ambulance with saving her life.
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Sarah has worked at an equestrian journalist and editor since 2004 and has held the position of Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief since 2014. She has reported for Horse & Hound from major championships including Europeans and World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on horses and horse sport including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. She has owned and ridden horses since 1993, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university. While studying for a BSc at London School of Economics Sarah also worked for top British dressage rider Louise Spate.
