London Horse Network Celebrates First Birthday

London Horse Network Celebrates First Birthday

The London Horse Network celebrated its first birthday on 26th September with drinks and canapés on the 11^th floor of 6 Mitre Buildings, Greenwich Peninsula, overlooking many of the Olympic village sites for 2012.

Supported by HOOF the Olympic Legacy project of the British Equestrian Federation, BEF London Representative, David Gadsby says, “The London Horse Network owes its success to development funding and assistance from the BEF and Sport England and the invaluable contribution of volunteer chair, Jodie Maile and contributing members of the Network.

From the first meeting in which the network agreed priorities of accessing funding, generating links with County Sports Partnerships, schools and local government, improving standards and providing affordable training in the region to increase participation, much has been achieved.

David says, “We held a funding workshop enabling six centres to achieve £50,000 in facilities funding between them and a further six centres successfully applied for Mayor’s Legacy funding to subsidise training for new or existing riders and staff, in return for volunteering.”

Kevin Butchart of Woodredon Equestrian Centre says, “We have already achieved well in excess of 100 new young riders attending our centre who have never ridden before due to HOOF projects with additional interest from their parents to start riding on other HOOF initiatives.”

Members of the London Horse Network include representatives from BEF member bodies such as the BHS and ABRS, riding school proprietors, livery yards, competitive riders, and grooms and encompass various disciplines from RDA to carriage driving, polocrosse to eventing.

Linda Hinds, manager of Vauxhall City Farm Riding School says, “Just meeting and getting ideas, sharing problems and feeling less alone has been hugely beneficial.”

In response to requests, the London Horse Network has hosted business skills days from book-keeping and allowable expenses to employment law and customer care, and coaching clinics have been carefully chosen.

Jodie says, “The Network aims to respond to the needs of the region and hence we hosted coaching clinics that demonstrated what can be achieved to bring new people in to the sport, fill quiet times and keep current riders challenged.”

Open European Eventing Champion, Lucy Thompson, demonstrated cross-country training in a confined area, the UK Polocrosse Association gave an insight into setting up this exciting sport, Andrew MacFarlane who runs Lead Change, offering business professionals the chance to analyse their leadership and team skills by being around horses on the ground, spoke of the influence a coach has on their pupil and, acclaimed coach, Minette Rice-Edwards, discussed how the rider can affect the horse.

The London Horse Network also supported the inaugural Team London Riding Schools Dressage Championship, bringing in sponsorship to the summer competition and increasing competitive opportunities has since been drafted in to the wish list of Network members.

Intent on building on the enthusiasm generated over the past year, the first birthday and AGM also gave those present the chance to put forward their views for the coming year, particularly how this Olympic Legacy project should capitalize on increased tourism, and interest in equestrian sports, thanks to the Games coming to Greenwich Park.

David concludes, “It was thanks to Greenwich Council that we were able to enjoy the fabulous venue beside the O2 arena for our birthday and it felt like we’d come a long way from a yard portacabin where people barely knew one another at our first meeting.  It was a great way to celebrate the contributions of many individuals of all age and experiences and to thank professionals who have generously given their time to seeing the Network succeed.”

Notes to editors:

For more details regarding HOOF, visit www.hoof-in-town.com or contact Anna Bruce at evenerprise pr on 07970 285781 or email annabruce101@googlemail.com.