Help Horse & Hound support good causes

As part of Horse & Hound's 130th birthday celebrations, we will be supporting and promoting "130 equestrian good causes" via regular online round-ups of events being run by the equestrian community

Horses raise money for Alzheimer’s society

Driver Ann Bishop has completed a lifelong ambition to make a pilgrimage to Rome with her three ponies to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

She left her home in Essex on 2 September arriving in the Vatican square in Rome on 24 October after 48 days on the road.

The 12-year-old Appaloosa mare Pebbles completed the whole 2,300kms, with the other two driving ponies — Samson and Captain Jack Sparrow —sharing the journey.

Ann, 55, was accompanied on the journey by her friend Francesca Sirett but there was no support vehicle.

“Along the way we were honoured with people’s whole-hearted support and generosity, giving so much when they had so little. It was an amazing journey, gruleling, hot, and exhausting but crammed full of memories,” Ann Bishop told H&H.

Ann hopes to raise £3,500 for the Alzheimer’s Society, to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/802515HappyDays-Memories.

Eventers fundraiser for childrens’ care

VIP eventing packages, a visit to Mary King’s yard and lesson with Ben Hobday are among the 42 lots in an auction launched at the eventers’ end of season party.

All the funds raised will be donated to the Friends of Paediatric Intensive care unit charity (FOPICU) at Southampton general hospital.

The FOPICU supported the Event Riders Association’s chair Bruce Haskell and his wife Alison during their young son’s illness.

“We are raising funds in honour of a little boy very close to the eventing community’s hearts,” said one of the organisers.

Leading event riders including Laura Collett, Caroline Powell, Tom McEwen and Ben Hobday have donated training days and lessons.

BEDE Events has donated a VIP Package for Belton International Horse Trials (18-19 April 2015) to include entry for two to the horse trials on Saturday and Sunday, forward parking, event programme, local overnight accommodation and hospitality for two in the Belton Club ringside marquee on the Sunday.

Eventer Nick Gauntlett is offering “the ultimate eventing day”, to include entry to a BE one-day event, with him as your personal coach at the event and a picnic provided by Waitrose.

To view the auction lots visit: http://eventersball.weebly.com/silent-auction.html

Sense is Badminton’s chosen charity

Sense has been chosen as the charity for the 2015 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (6-10 May).

The charity has been supporting and campaigning for children and adults who are deaf and blind for nearly 60 years.

“The project has proved to be of significant and long-lasting benefit to deafblind people, helping to build confidence, develop self-esteem and learn new skills,” said Gilliam Morbey of Sense.

“For us Badminton is an opportunity to celebrate the positive effects being around horses can have on the people we support.”

Badminton’s policy is to alternate the charity it supports each year between an equestrian-based cause and a human benefiting charity.

“We are very happy to support Sense and all the great work they do for the deafblind community. We wish them all the best in their fundraising efforts,” said Hugh Thomas, Badminton event director.

For more information visit: www.badminton-horse.co.uk

RDA receives £300,000 from People’s postcode lottery

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) supporter comedian Rory Bremner accepted a cheque for £300,000 on the charity’s behalf from the People’s Postcode Lottery on a visit to the Borders RDA group in last month.

The funds will enable the RDA to reduce waiting lists at some of its 500 groups in the UK and provide direct grants for new ponies and equipment.

The support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery has already “made a real difference to the lives of both new and existing RDA riders,” said RDA chief executive Ed Bracher.

“We’ve been able to make grants to our groups so they can expand their activities and attract new volunteers. We can’t thank players enough for this extra support, which will allow us to do even more for our groups and riders.”

For more information visit: www.rda.org.uk

Harpist records CD for Shetlands

Professional harpist Armande Fryatt is recording a CD to raise funds for the Shetland Pony Welfare Trust.

The album of harp music is being recorded in January 2015 and will go on sale at the end of February.

The CD which includes easy listening popular music songs such as Fields of Gold, Wonderful Tonight and Let It Be is being sold for £7.50, with all funds donated to the Shetland Pony Welfare Trust.

Rescuing her two Shetlands, Flame and Rodney a couple of years ago made Armande, a former RSPCA volunteer realise the plight of the breed.

“Many Shetland ponies are neglected and abused. Our two ponies had been passed from pillar to post, were very nervous when they arrived and took a while to settle,” Armande told H&H.

For more information visit: www.theshetlandponywelfaretrust.co.uk