HOOF supports Ebony Horse Club championships

HOOF Ride London went along to support the Ebony Horse Club championships - witnessing Shanice Reid score a hat-trick of wins (above). 

The Ebony Horse Club, currently trains 46 children from a deprived area of Brixton in horsemastership, each having access to 4 riding or stable management lessons per school term. 

BEF Representative for London, David Gadsby, says, "Starting as young as 8, the children must achieve certain standards to stay on the programme and it is this element that has led to Ebony Horse Club members achieving in many areas - some going on to careers in equestrianism or heading to University."

In fact the BEF is so impressed with the Ebony Horse Club, the 'HOOF' Ride London has pledged £200,000 to help the Club raise the £1.7million needed to have its own venue in the centre of Brixton.

Twelve seniors took part in this year's championships and were assessed with a written stable management paper, on their turnout, practical stable management skills including putting on a bridle and saddle, and riding - with some gaining extra marks for jumping, newly introduced into their lessons.

David adds, "I was pleasantly surprised by the maturity, discipline and high standards demonstrated by all the members and Shanice was a modest winner, her dedication enabling her to deservedly take the title for the third year running."

Equestrian Centre in Greenwich could go ahead

Inspired by the 2012Olympics where Britain is expected to bring home medals in all equestrian disciplines - dressage, show jumping, eventing and paradressage, a brand new equestrian centre at Woodlands Farm, Shooters Hill is being proposed.  Currently subject to a feasibility study, early indications are that this brand new facility - aimed at introducing all Londoners to the excitement of horseriding and training them to competition standards - is expected to go ahead.  Kick On!

HOOF headlines Ebony Horse Club Newsletter

That Ebony Horse Club has received a pledge of £200,000 from the BEF Olympic Legacy 'HOOF' project has made the front page of the Club's newsletter.  The Club still needs to raise a further £600,000 to reach its £1.7million budget to build an equestrian centre in the heart of Brixton.  If you can join HOOF in supporting the club, contact Ebony Horse Club 0207 738 3478 - every penny helps!

BEF Appeals for Support

The British Equestrian Federation has uncovered an unexpected twist in its London Olympic Legacy ‘HOOF-Ride London’ projects.

While some have been inspired to help their London equestrian facilities, on thanking an equestrian donor to one of its major projects, the Ebony Horse Club, as featured in the ‘Horses Help Children’ article (Horse & Hound, 21 January), the BEF discovered that the donation was, in fact, reduced.

David Gadsby, London representative for the BEF, explains, “The donor felt that, with the BEF pledging £200,000 towards the Club’s proposed £1.7million facility in the centre of Brixton, the support of a few hundred pounds was no longer needed but this could not be further from the truth.”

Costing upwards of £100,000 a year to run, the Ebony Horse Club uses horsemastership to improve the life skills, education and attainment of some of the most disadvantaged children growing up in Brixton, South East London.

Director, Ros Spearing says, “While we are working hard to try to attract large scale sums for the building of our own stable, we do still need support in terms of product and finance to run”, continuing, “It is exhausting constantly having a hand to mouth existence and we currently only have enough money to keep the children riding till July.”

The Club’s success has led to many of the children at risk of dropping out of education reaching University, taking up careers in horses including joining the British Racing School or even gaining work at the Club as youth workers or administrators.

And David adds, “It is the intention of the HOOF to improve access to and the quality of equestrianism throughout London and while we are proud to have contributed a fraction towards the Club’s proposed stables, we wish to encourage other equestrian groups and individuals to follow our lead as per their own financial constraints.”

In terms of financing the Ebony Horse Club, the following is given as a guide;

£20 – a beginners riding lesson for a child
£40 – a riding lesson for a teenager in the top group
£50 – a return minibus journey to take the children to ride
£60 – two private lessons for a child at risk and who needs extra support
£75 – cost for a youth worker for 4 hours
£120 – one group lesson for 7 children
£300- cost to take a group to ride – hire of minibus, youth worker and riding lesson
£500 – a day at the stables including riding and practical lessons for 15 children
£1000 – cost to send a group of EHC children to ride in the Brecon Beacons for a day

Donate online at www.ebonyhorseclub.org.uk – or send cheque to Ebony Horse Club, The Loughborough Community Centre, 105 Angell Rd, London, SW9 7PD.

Show jumper Sam puts faith in new horse

Show jumper Sam Hutton from Southampton is looking forward to the start of the new season after the arrival of his new horse, Astral.

Sam (20), a successful show jumper, is on the British Equestrian Federation’s UK Sport funded World Class Development Programme - which works with talented riders to maximize their potential and deliver success.

Astral was chosen to help strengthen Sam’s chances of success in the future and brings Sam’s number of horses to three.  The eight-year-old bay gelding, by Argentus was acquired by former Olympic show jumper, Tony Newbery on behalf of a new owner, and is stabled at his international training centre in Hampshire where Sam is based. He joins Sam’s existing top rides Olympia III and Valentino VII, both owned by Sharifa Al-Homaizi.

“I’ve only had Astral for four months and I’m really looking forward to producing him this year through to Grand Prix level,” said Sam. “He is a very brave, scopey and careful horse and I am really pleased with his progress in the short time I have been riding him. He was placed in both the World Class Development Under 23 and PCA (Premier Centre Association) Rising Stars qualifiers for this year’s British Open where I am hoping to compete him. My main focus, however, will be the European Championships and I will be taking him to the under 21 trials later this year. I have high hopes for him.”

The World Class Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. It comprises the Performance and Development programmes plus the Equine Pathway.

The aim of the Programme is to have in place a sustainable system that can deliver more medals on the international stage now and in the future. The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.

Check out the exciting new items on the Team GBR fundraising auction site

Calling all dressage and eventing fans!  A once in a lifetime opportunity to spend five days at  Brookhouse Stud in Erbach, Germany with Emma Hindle is just one of the fantastic lots up for grabs on an online auction to help raise funds to send the British Team to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Emma Hindle is one of Britain’s top Dressage riders and was a member of the silver medal winning British Team at the 2009 European Dressage Championships. The fantastic lot, which is for two people, includes accommodation at the Stud, flights and transfers.  The winner and their guest will be able to gain an all round insight into the Stud from their foals to Grand Prix horses, observe training sessions and learn about the breeding programme.

Also on offer to dressage fans is the chance to train with one of Britain’s brightest dressage stars – Laura Bechtolsheimer. Team silver and Individual bronze medallist at the 2009 European Championships, Laura has been breaking records already in 2010 and is offering the opportunity to give the lucky winner of this lot a lesson on their own horse at her yard in Gloucestershire.

Eventing fans need not miss out, there is an opportunity to bid on a package to enjoy the complete Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (30 April - 3 May) experience in style.   The lot, which has been kindly donated by the Horse Trials Support Group (HTSG) includes a seasonal (four day) car pass and seasonal entrance passes for two people, together with two guest badges to the HTSG Marquee for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (inclusive of lunch).

Paralympic ace Lee Pearson is also offering a lesson. Nine times Paralympic gold medalist Lee is also successful at able-bodied dressage and is looking for a keen winner to put through their paces on their own horse at his Staffordshire base.

Visit The Auction Site for more information and full terms and conditions for all the lots.

The World Equestrian Games, held in Kentucky will include the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping and para-equestrian dressage along with the non-olympic disciplines of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting – for the British team this means taking nearly 50 horses in total.

The Olympic and Paralympic teams are supported by lottery funding via UK Sport, but the non-Olympic sports do not receive funding of any kind. £500,000 is needed to support those teams and fund their trip to Kentucky next year.

“This is the first time the games have ever been held outside Europe,” comments Will Connell, Equestrian Performance Director.  “To send a full team and remain one of the top equestrian nations in the world, we need your help. All proceeds of this auction will go towards sending the team to the Games and supporting our talented riders in their quest to compete and win on the World stage. Without your help we will not be able to send a full team.”

The auction site has been launched with the support of the John Lewis Partnership who joined forces with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) as part of the British Olympic Association FTSE 100 partnership scheme.

To follow all the news from across the British Equestrian Teams, including further fundraising activity and regular news updates, join Team GBR Ontrack today HERE - membership is completely free and includes a range of benefits.

*All prizes (excluding Badminton) are to be taken on mutually agreed dates, full terms and conditions for all lots are available on the website.

Great new lots on fundraising auction

Calling all dressage and eventing fans!  A once in a lifetime opportunity to spend five days at  Brookhouse Stud in Erbach, Germany with Emma Hindle is just one of the fantastic lots up for grabs on an online auction to help raise funds to send the British Team to the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

 

Emma Hindle is one of Britain’s top Dressage riders and was a member of the silver medal winning British Team at the 2009 European Dressage Championships. The fantastic lot, which is for two people, includes accommodation at the Stud, flights and transfers.  The winner and their guest will be able to gain an all round insight into the Stud from their foals to Grand Prix horses, observe training sessions and learn about the breeding programme. 

 

Also on offer to dressage fans is the chance to train with one of Britain’s brightest dressage stars – Laura Bechtolsheimer. Team silver and Individual bronze medallist at the 2009 European Championships, Laura has been breaking records already in 2010 and is offering the opportunity to give the lucky winner of this lot a lesson on their own horse at her yard in Gloucestershire.

 

Eventing fans need not miss out, there is an opportunity to bid on a package to enjoy the complete Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (30 April - 3 May) experience in style.   The lot, which has been kindly donated by the Horse Trials Support Group (HTSG) includes a seasonal (four day) car pass and seasonal entrance passes for two people, together with two guest badges to the HTSG Marquee for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (inclusive of lunch).

 

Paralympic ace Lee Pearson is also offering a lesson. Nine times Paralympic gold medalist Lee is also successful at able-bodied dressage and is looking for a keen winner to put through their paces on their own horse at his Staffordshire base.

 

Visit http://auction.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk/ for more information and full terms and conditions for all the lots.

 

The World Equestrian Games, held in Kentucky will include the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping and para-equestrian dressage along with the non-olympic disciplines of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting – for the British team this means taking nearly 50 horses in total.

 

The Olympic and Paralympic teams are supported by lottery funding via UK Sport, but the non-Olympic sports do not receive funding of any kind. £500,000 is needed to support those teams and fund their trip to Kentucky next year.

 

“This is the first time the games have ever been held outside Europe,” comments Will Connell, Equestrian Performance Director.  “To send a full team and remain one of the top equestrian nations in the world, we need your help. All proceeds of this auction will go towards sending the team to the Games and supporting our talented riders in their quest to compete and win on the World stage. Without your help we will not be able to send a full team.”

 

The auction site has been launched with the support of the John Lewis Partnership who joined forces with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) as part of the British Olympic Association FTSE 100 partnership scheme.

 

To follow all the news from across the British Equestrian Teams, including further fundraising activity and regular news updates, join Team GBR Ontrack today at www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk/ontrack.php - membership is completely free and includes a range of benefits.

 

*All prizes (excluding Badminton) are to be taken on mutually agreed dates, full terms and conditions for all lots are available on the website.

Team GBR Online Auction - February Update

The Team GBR Online auction has been set up to raise funds to send the British Equestrian Team to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.  All funds will go directly to the teams to support their trip to Kentucky, USA where the Games will take place.

A World Equestrian Games includes the eight disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping, para-equestrian dressage, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting – the British team need your help  to get to Kentucky in October.

We’ve recently added some really exciting new lots - have you checked them out yet?

Once in a lifetime opportunity to spend five days in the Life of Brookhouse Stud with Emma Hindle

Emma Hindle is one of Britain’s top Dressage riders and was a member of the silver medal winning British Team at the 2009 European Dressage Championships. The fantastic lot, which is for two people, includes accommodation at the Stud, flights and transfers.  The winner and their guest will be able to gain an all round insight into the Stud from their foals to Grand Prix horses, observe training sessions and learn about the breeding programme. 

Seasonal (4 day) entrance, car parking and hospitality passes for two to the 2010 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

The Horse Trials Support Group has very generously donated this fabulous prize comprising of a seasonal (4 day) car pass and seasonal entrance passes for two people to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials which takes place from Friday 30th April through to Monday 3rd May 2010.   In addition, this prize includes two guest badges to the Horse Trials Support Group Hospitality Marquee for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday inclusive of lunch for two each day. 

A dressage lesson with Laura Bechtolsheimer

A fantastic opportunity to have a Dressage lesson on your own horse with Laura Bechtolsheimer, the 2009 European Team Silver and Individual Bronze medallist.

A dressage lesson with Lee Pearson

Be fit and ready to cope with Lee's enthusiasm to get the best out of you and your horse.  A great opportunity to have a dressage lesson with Britain's most successful Para- Equestrian Dressage rider.

Rug washing and reproofing service - ENDING SOON

A week’s holiday for a family at Fakenham Racecouse

Two tickets to England v Australia at Lords - ENDING SOON

Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. Thank you for your ongoing support — keep bidding and good luck!

Best Wishes

The Team GBR Auction Team

Pony Club Members Help Haiti Children

‘Hack for Haiti’

Click to sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/ella-bethan-molly

Hello,
The children writing this are 3 nine yr olds, Ella and Bethan King and Molly Beard and we would love to help support the children of Haiti.

Donating for our event will support the unfortunate children in Haiti. The way we are going to raise money for Haiti is by riding our sweet pony 'Cracker' who is the dear age of 16 yrs. Myself, Ella and Bethan King (my twin sister) and our best friend Molly Beard will be riding around Weston village. We shall all be dressed up in fancy dress !

We were shocked when we saw the sight of people being pulled out from beneath the rubble who have been there for days without food and water, so we decided to do something straight away. That is when we suddenly thought of the great idea of doing a sponsored ride around our village.

Thanks you soooo much xxx

Ella King, Bethan King and Molly Beard xxx

 

You can sponsor us by visiting our online fundraising page on www.justgiving.com/ella-bethan-molly

You can pay by credit or debit card, and the money will go directly to Unicef . Where supporters are UK taxpayers, the charity will automatically receive 28% extra in Gift Aid, which makes Justgiving the most efficient way of sponsoring us. 

For further information please contact Vanda King on 07986 638324 or vanda@king41.wanadoo.co.uk

Applications sought from riders with World Class potential

Do you have the exceptional talent and dedication to ride and win at Olympic or Paralympic level? Are you aged between 14 - 30 and eligible to ride for Great Britain & Northern Ireland?  If so, the Equestrian World Class Development Programme needs you.

 

The application process for the World Class Development Programme for 2011 / 2012 is now open. Funded by UK Sport, the Programme is designed to select and support talented riders and combinations that have the perceived ability to deliver medal-winning performances on the world stage for Great Britain in the future.  It underpins the World Class Performance Programme, which supports elite preparation and performance at senior international levels.

 

The Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping; and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. It has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.

 

Formal selection to the Programme takes place every two years and the first phase of the process to be considered for the 2011 / 2012 intake is now open. Anyone wishing to apply for the Programme must complete this first phase of the process before 16^th March 2010.

 

Age groups and selection criteria are specific to each discipline, a full Policy can be found on the BEF website:http://www.bef.co.uk/The_World_Class_Programme/How_to_Join_World_Class_.html. The Policy also includes relevant dates and full details of the selection process; application forms can also be found on the BEF website.

 

ENDS

 

Media enquiries to Anna Greenway, Head of Marketing & Communications, British Equestrian Federation on 02476 698877 or anna.greenway@bef.co.uk