Equestrians who demonstrate exceptional horsemanship, empathy and a horse-first approach will be recognised with special awards at shows this summer.
The Welfare Stewarding Group, an organisation of volunteers promoting good equine welfare at shows across the country, is launching the Animalweb Good Horsemanship Award.
The first awards were due to be presented at the Royal Cornwall Show this wekeend (4-6 June); a spokesperson for the scheme said: “At each event, welfare stewards will identify and reward exhibitors who demonstrate exceptional horsemanship, outstanding horse handling, empathy, partnership and a clear commitment to putting their horse first.”
Rosettes will be given to people who stand out, not necessarily for winning their classes but for their attitude to and care for their horses. Each winner will also be given a £10 feed voucher sponsored by Dengie.
Welfare Stewarding Group founder Amanda Stoddart-West said: “Good horsemanship is about far more than results or placings. It’s about the relationship between horse and rider, the way horses are handled and cared for, and the respect shown to them at every stage of competition and preparation.
“Rewarding the positive has to be the best way to promote best practice and to encourage excellent horse welfare, and these awards are designed to shine a light on the people quietly doing things the right way, those who consistently put welfare, patience and partnership first.
“Sometimes it’s simply the people who stand out because you can clearly see they are thinking about the horse first above everything else. It’s not about the most polished horse or the biggest name, it’s about genuine horsemanship. We are incredibly grateful to Animalweb for supporting this initiative and helping us celebrate the positive examples that deserve recognition across our industry.”
David Marlin, president of the Welfare Stewarding Group and founder of sponsor Animalweb, added that the awards are a huge opportunity to recognise those who put their horses first at all times.
“We hope they encourage conversations around what great horsemanship truly looks like and help inspire others across the industry to lead by example,” he said.
The group has already been asked to attend 15 shows across the country this year. Anyone who would like to book stewards for an event is invited to get in touch.
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also enjoy reading:
‘We have to stand up for the horses’: welfare stewards coming to a show near you
427 eliminations, 84 welfare-related: British Dressage reveals first welfare statistics and outlines next steps for change
Rider size limits enforced as part of new welfare rules
‘While our first priority is always horse welfare, we also want to save our sport’: independent group flags ‘systemic’ issues at jumping and dressage World Cup Finals
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
