Equestrian film featuring Sister Mary-Joy Langdon

Featuring London Horse Network member, Sister Mary-Joy Langdon (founder of the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre) and Olympic torchbearer (!), along with President of the British Horse Society, Martin Clunes and sculptor, Nic Fiddian-Green it gives a wonderful insight into the impact horses have on individual lives.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/channel/exhibitions/2012/horse/video_my_horse_and_me.aspx

Hoof helps children Jump Ahead

Hoof helps children jump ahead

The John Roan School at Maze Hill welcomed Hoof to its ‘Jump Ahead’ event on 3 July 2012.

Run by the social enterprise MakeBelieve Arts, the day forms part of a programme to help junior school children make the transition to their chosen secondary school.

With the school gates bordering Greenwich Park, home to equestrianism at London 2012, so Hoof set out to introduce the children to the sport.

All but a handful of the 1200 pupils had never seen, let alone touched, a horse before, so two gleaming grey Shetland ponies, Pedro and Peregrine, from Vauxhall City Farm,  grazed the school lawn beside the main entrance and children taking part in Jump Ahead delighted in petting them.

And, a buzz of excitement was created by the children - and teenagers - wanting to experience the thrill of cantering – albeit on a horse simulator with Sam Martin, assisting in offering the ‘riders’ hints and tips.

London-born Sam was first introduced to riding at Vauxhall City Farm as a five year-old and the memory remained.

He inspired pupils with a glimpse into how horses have changed his life as the confident, well-spoken gentleman described how responding to an advert to work with horses changed his life from being a teenager living rough and in regular trouble with the police.

Today, Sam has a career in horses, competing in dressage and indeed has hopes of representing his country in future Olympic Games.

“The kids’ jaws were dropping listening to Sam’s speech”, said Gill Barham, a representative of the British Equestrian Federation, adding, “And it’s great to hear head teacher, Des Malone, would like the school to work with Sam again.”

For his part, Sam says, “The mechanical horse showed just how much inner city girls, and especially boys, want to learn to ride – they reminded me of me.”

While 90% of horse riders are female, the balance is much more equal in inner city riding schools, and indeed many boys, including older teenagers, were exceptionally keen to have a go on the mechanical horse and receive an horse-riding and Pony Club information pack.

One such participant was 14 year-old Blake Holden who says, “It was a great experience – at the same time therapeutic and thrilling – and although I’ve never ridden or even touched a horse before, after this experience, the first opportunity I get to ride, I’m riding!”

Local riding stables, Willowtree Riding School, Newham Equestrian Centre and Mudchute Stables who all offer special school group sessions gave their details while the school was informed of the Emile Faurie Foundation charity.

Set up by dressage Olympian, Emile Faurie, the foundation funds riding lessons for disadvantaged children and is inundated with requests.

Volunteer administrator, Mary-anne Horn, says, “We’d love to welcome pupils John Roan School onto our programmes and are desperately seeking more funding to be able to cope with increased demand.”

Concluding the day, Alice Edwards of Makebelieve Arts says, “It has been a fantastic day and the ponies really made the event – the children were excited that they would be riding a horse simulator and seeing ponies – but taking part exceeded even their expectations.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

www.hoofride.co.uk  

For further information on any of the BEF legacy projects please contact the BEF Press Office on 02476 698877 or at pippa.wade@bef.co.uk

ANNA BRUCE meets British dressage team gold medallist Emile Faurie

ANNA BRUCE meets British dressage team gold medallist Emile Faurie to uncover what motivates the man behind a charitable foundation offering disadvantaged children the chance to ride.

Download the PDF of this article (1.9 MB)
bit.ly/NkPefM

ANNA BRUCE meets former international event rider Charlotte Steel

ANNA BRUCE meets former international event rider Charlotte Steel who is helping to educate deprived youngsters in London.

Download the PDF of this article (1.1 MB)
http://bit.ly/Nx49kX

See us on Sky Sports!

Get Involved presenter Rachel Wyse visited the Ebony Horse Club, in Brixton, and Mount Mascal Stables, in Kent, and found a very different picture.

Around 4.5m riders are thought to take part in equestrian activities in the UK, according to the British Horse Society, with those living in the city participating in equal numbers with those in rural areas.

Watch the video

Press invitation to the inaugural ‘Introduction To Eventing’ day at London’s Deen City Farm with London 2012 cross-country course designer Sue Benson

PRESS INVITATION

to

THE INAUGURAL ‘INTRODUCTION TO EVENTING’ DAY

at

LONDON’S DEEN CITY FARM

With

LONDON 2012 CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE DESIGNER

SUE BENSON

MONDAY 9TH APRIL 2012

10am-3.00pm (approx finish)

Deen City Farm Riding Stables, Merton Abbey, London. SW19 2RR

Watch the competition, meet Sue Benson, discover how the Olympic legacy is coming alive.

RSVP: Anna Bruce at eventerprise pr
Tel: 07970 285781; email: annabruce101@googlemail.com

The inaugural ‘Introduction to Eventing’ day at Deen City Farm celebrates Sport England funding being secured by the British Equestrian Federation’s Olympic Legacy project, Hoof, and the London Horse Network..

This city farm offers pony rides from £1, and provides numerous opportunities for people, who would otherwise never have the chance, to get close to horses.

Linking to the Olympics, this funding has assisted Deen City Farm Riding School in the purchase of portable cross-country style fences so as to give new riders a better chance of understanding the challenges of the Olympic discipline of eventing.

London 2012 cross-country course designer, Sue Benson, will be in attendance to spur the riders on and congratulate them on their performances as dressage, show jumping and cross-country disciplines are attempted - as well as to offer an insight into the challenges she has faced in designing the cross-country test for the Olympics.

Sue will be joined by David Gadsby, London representative of the British Equestrian Federation who will be available for interview on the day, as will volunteer chair of the London Horse Network, a Hoof- supported initiative which helped facilitate Deen City Farm accessing funding.

London-born Jo Henbrey, BHS II SM, the inspirational yard manager and instructor at Deen City Farm will also be on hand to discuss the ambitions and achievements of Deen City Farm Riding School.

No stranger to success, on their first outing beyond the farm gates, the Deen City Farm dressage team consisting of three ‘homebred’ riders took the bronze medal at the Team London Riding School Dressage Championships last year.

And, despite having just a small stableyard, Deen City Farm’s Tarron, a horse rehomed to the farm by the Blue Cross charity, was a favourite among competitors there.

The Easter Monday event will have a bespoke format to allow for the restricted facilities and equines available but will nonetheless offer an experience worth kicking on for.

We look forward to welcoming you and your photographers.

Direct contacts: Deen City Farm, 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey, LONDON SW19 2RR. Tel Jo Henbrey 0208 543 5858.  Joanna.henbrey@deencityfarm.co.uk. co.uk www.deencityfarm.co.uk/Catalyst_Site/0E_Find_the_Farm/0E_Find_the_Farm

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.

BEF bucks funds for Sport Relief

The British Equestrian Federation joined a host of sporting disciplines including BMX and Badminton to raise money for Sport Relief at Westfield Stratford City on 24-25th March 2012.

With a donation to Sport Relief in return for a chance to experience the feel of riding aboard Herbert the mechanical horse, so £950.00 was raised over the weekend.

David Gadsby, London representative of the British Equestrian Federation said, “Pro-active East London and Westfield Stratford City provided us with an amazing opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause, join in with other sports and encourage equestrianism within sight of the Olympic Park.”

Much of the success of the weekend was down to great team work with volunteer chair of the London Horse Network, Jodie Maile, helping to bring different equestrian disciplines and riding centres together.

Jodie explained, “Having representatives from British Vaulting, British Showjumping, Mounted Games and the British Horse Society was fabulous”, adding, “A London city farm is now seriously looking in to developing a riding project and of the 120 children and adults to try out the mechanical horse, several took information on riding lessons away with them.”

On the spot prizes were kindly donated by Waitrose, Pony Club, Trent Park Equestrian Centre, Aldersbrook Riding School and Local Rider, Eventing and Your Horse magazines, all adding to the celebratory feel of the Sport Relief event.

David added, “Particular credit must go to Martine Dawlings from Trent Park Equestrian Centre who talked herself hoarse from teaching the children and advising the parents and to Westfield Stratford, who could not have been more welcoming and have even invited us back!”

Myf Ryan, General Marketing Manager, Westfield UK said, “It was wonderful to see our shoppers interacting with the British Equestrian Federation, giving generously and ‘having a go’ – many for the first time. Having a mechanical horse in the centre was especially appealing for our younger visitors and we’d definitely like to work together again!”

Thankfully, Aivly Country Store, www.aivly.com kindly donated riding hats and so the stage is set for future riding roadshows as the Olympics approaches and beyond.

To find out more about BEF activities in London visit www.hoof-in-town.com.

Techies showcase systems to spur on London’s equestrians

You might know your fetlocks from facebook but how to make the latter help the former became part of a technology workshop hosted by the London Horse Network at the prestigious 6 Mitre Passage building near the O2.

Internet marketing expert, Christina Jones, carefully guided the audience through the power of facebook and explained, “The aim was to show the members how to get more bums in saddles, improve their connection with their clients and generate more a better bank balance using the biggest social network in the World.”

Director of Stable Management, Ian Phillips also joined in the computerized debate with a demonstration of bespoke software that not only assists in lesson planning but also offered a powerful tool for daily administration, to record keeping to providing statistics when seeking funding.

Somewhat outnumbered by technophobes, the meeting, supported by Hoof, the Olympic Legacy project of the British Equestrian Federation, nonetheless drew an audience of interested members of the London Horse Network.

Newcomers to the network, Gail Jupp from Golds Green Riding School said, “It was nice to be part of a friendly group all familiar with the challenges one faces in the equestrian industry but to also leave with new ideas.”

And Gail’s daughter, Katie, added, “I realised there were many opportunities I’d never have thought of and although we’ve used facebook before we’ll now use QR codes for vouchers and coupons.”

Martine Dawlings, administrator at Trent Park Equestrian Centre, compared the software booking system to the diary system currently employed at this, the largest equestrian centre in London.

Martine explained, “I couldn’t get over how simple the computer system is and I can really see its value for any size of equestrian establishment for invoicing, veterinary tabs, lessons etc”, and admitted, “It would certainly ease the updating methods compared to our current paper lesson-booking system that takes time as you copy around a hundred names from the old hand-written sheet to the new!”

Vauxhall City Farm is already an exponent of Stable Management and Linda Hinds said, “I needed some convincing at first but I couldn’t live without it today and it is invaluable for identifying trends.”

However, since the meeting Vauxhall City Farm has set up a facebook page and Linda says, “We were so proud of ourselves and it really was as simple as Christina said but I hope we’ll be able to take this further with interactive workshops later on in the year.”

Both Ian and Christina offered their services for such and Ian added, “Using technology is all about having the confidence to try so it is like turning the tables on the instructors who are more used to encouraging riders to push their boundaries!”

Although the London Horse Network may be busy with promotional activities surrounding the London 2012 Games, London representative of the British Equestrian Federation, David Gadsby, indicated hope and said, “One of the key strengths of the London Horse Network, chaired by volunteer, Jodie Maile, is that not only has it been able to obtain the services of industry experts such as Christina and Ian, but that it responds the feedback from network members.”

If you would like to join the London Horse Network or are interested in learning how you can help drive equestrianism forward in the capital, contact Jodie Maile at jodievm@aol.com.

Or, to find your Regional Hoof Network, contact your BEF Regional Representative via www.bef.co.uk.

Christina Jones can be contacted at christina@internetmarketingthatworks.info or visit www.internetmarketingthatworks.info.

Ian Phillips is a director of www.stable-management.co.uk and www.southerncreative.co.uk. Mobile - 0781 805 5691.

Public Relations Fellow leads London Horse Network into magic of Marketing

A leading public relations professional, Jane Howard FCIPR, FPRCA, introduced members of the London Horse Network to the magic of marketing at a meeting held at Ebony Horse Club, Brixton, on 30 January 2012.

A horse-rider herself, Jane used analogies from within the audience’s equestrian experiences to help them understand how to use public relations and marketing to reach their aims.

Supported by Hoof, the London 2012 Legacy project of the British Equestrian Federation, the London Horse Network aims to increase participation and professionalism in equestrian sports in the capital with marketing and pr one of a series of ‘toolkits’ identified as being of value to the members.

The informative and pro-active day covered the basics of marketing and PR, SWOT analysis, the Elevator Pitch, opportunities for marketing and the must haves to writing a good press release.

Network member, Alison Window of Mount Mascal Stables, a riding school in Bexley, said, “I am always looking for new and interesting ways to promote our sport. Jane’s holistic approach to PR really gave me a better and broader understanding. I shall certainly be trying to benefit my business by putting her knowledge into practice.”

Gill Barham, Regional Development Coordinator for the BEF in the East and East Midlands – the latter yet to have sourced a volunteer chair for its own Regional Hoof Network - also attended the day.

Coming to the capital and to the Ebony Horse Club – a recently completed community riding school, part-funded by Hoof - Gill noted, “I was so impressed with the Ebony Horse Club and by the dedication and tenacity of the staff there who have to continually raise funds to support all the great activity that they offer there to so many children from this deprived area.  And I was also thrilled to see the London Horse Network in action and experience the support the members have for one another.”

Volunteer Chair of the LHN, Jodie Maile, explained, “A wide range of the equestrian industries were present including riding schools, freelance coaches, and discipline representatives from British Dressage and British Equestrian Vaulting, yet Jane demonstrated that the techniques she showed can be used to help any business flourish."

And indeed, as an outcome of the meeting, British Dressage is to offer ‘An introduction to dressage’ at Mount Mascal Stables, to demonstrate how the sport seen on the TV, or thought to be inaccessible, is something anyone can take part in or be involved with.

“This is a simple example of how PR – creating and managing reputations – should work”, said Jane, a founding Fellow of the Public Relations Consultancies Association and a visiting lecturer at Greenwich University, adding, “I thought the Network group was terrific: thoughtful, interested and interesting and it was a pleasure to be able to apply my professional skills to contribute to the sport that is my hobby.”

To find out more about equestrianism in London visit www.hoof-in-town.com or contact Jodie Maile at jodievm@aol.com