As part of Horse & Hound's 130th birthday celebrations, we will be supporting and promoting good causes via regular online round-ups of events being run by the equestrian community
Side saddle challenge
Sisters Martha Sitwell and Clementine De Blank Chappell are gearing up for a gruelling 500-mile ride across Mongolia in aid of Mind, the mental health charity, and Prisoners of Conscience Appeal Fund, the human rights charity.
Side saddle doyenne Martha is planning to ride sideways and the journey will take the pair from the Chinese border to the Russian border.
They are riding in memory of their eldest sister, Polly, who took her own life in 2013.
They set off on Friday (1 August).
Visit: www.justgiving.com/Side-Saddle-Ride-For-Mind
300-mile ride for World Horse Welfare
Aberfeldy-based Holly Burns has undertaken a charity ride to raise funds for World Horse Welfare.
The ride took 15 days, with Holly, 25, and Jake, a Clydesdale, arriving in Cumbria last week (21 July).
Holly was accompanied on the trip by her friend Laura Easson on Henry, another Clydesdale.
“We wanted to raise money for charity, have an adventure, and also to promote the profile of the heavy horse as a riding horse,” said Holly.
The trip has so far raised £1,500 for World Horse Welfare and the Venture Trust, which both riders work for.
The inspiration for the trip was the 500-mile “Great Clydesdale migration,” in 2006 undertaken by Annie Rose, the owner of Cumbrian Heavy Horses, a centre in the Lake District.
On that trip a dozen heavy horses — Clydesdales and Shires — were ridden from the Isle of Skye to Cumbria.
Eventer boxes for charity
Former event rider Allun Sutherland is taking part in a charity boxing match at Hand Equestrian Centre Bristol on Sunday (2 August).
Allun, who is 41, has fitted a 10-week training course with Zero to Hero at a Bristol gym around schooling his young horses.
“It’s been 10 weeks of hard work. I’ve had two black eyes and broken my nose in the process,” said Allun.
He is fund-raising for diabetes research after his 28-year-old stepson was diagnosed six years ago.
To donate visit: www.justgiving.com
Dame Judi Dench visits RDA
Actress Dame Judi Dench was the guest of honour at the Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) East Park group open day last month (8 July).
During the day the group’s patron presented prizes and watched a musical ride from the RDA children of St Stephen’s school in South Godstone.
Paralympic hopeful Simon Blight gave a dressage and showjumping demonstration on the two horses he hopes will take him to the Olympics in Rio in 2016.
One of the newest horses at the group is a retired racehorse given by Dame Judi Dench.
The horse, Smokey Oakey was co-owned with her driver, who is a volunteer at East Park.
For more information visit: www.eastparkrda.org.uk
