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
Top racing names support IJF golf day
More than £17,000 was raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) at the 24th annual Jim Old racing golf day last month (11 August).
Top names including Richard Hughes, Mick Fitzgerald and Carl Llewellyn braved the rain to play at Marlborough Golf Club in Wiltshire.
Over the past 24 years, the golf day organised by former racehorse trainer Jim Old has raised more than £45,000 for charity.
Claire Lomas hosts online charity auction
Paralysed former eventer Claire Lomas is also running an online fundraising auction throughout September with prizes including tickets to major equestrian events such as Olympia and the 2015 European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.
There are also sporting days, a Gucci watch and lessons from top riders open to bids.
The money raised will support the research by the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (NSIF).
NSIF patron Claire Lomas has raised £47,000 to help the foundation’s research this year from school talks, her book, and fundraising events.
For more details visit: www.claireschallenge.co.uk
Charity ride in aid of Macmillan
A record 320 riders took part in the annual Newmarket Heath sponsored ride on 31 August.
The event is the only time leisure riders can ride on the famous racehorse training grounds.
“Huge thanks go to the National Stud and The Jockey Club or their continued support in allowing us to use the heath, along with all the volunteers who helped,” said Char Collins, ride secretary.
The ride has raised £20,000 with more sponsorship money still coming in.
For more details visit www.newmarketride.org.uk
Sponsored ride over parkland
The Candover Valley sponsored ride takes place on Sunday 26 October to raise funds for the Countryside Alliance and the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund.
The ride is over eight miles of parkland, woodland and meadows at The Grange, Northington near Alresford in Hampshire.
There are over 30 optional jumps ranging from 2ft rails to 3ft6in hedges.
The ride costs £20 to enter, plus a minimum sponsorship of £20.
Entries will be taken on the day with all riders given time slots.
For more details visit www.candoverride.co.uk
Paralysed former jockey rides for IJF
Former jockey Sarah Gaisford, who was paraylsed in a fall in 2007, is making an emotional return to Exeter racecourse for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund (IJF).
Sarah, 45, broke her back at the Devon racecourse when a horse galloped over her.
Next month (9 October) she will ride the full two-mile circuit of the racecourse accompanied by IJF president John Francome, former jockey Richard Pitman and H&H racing blogger Nick Scholfield to raise funds for the IJF.
“It’s been a very long journey since that day seven years ago, but throughout my rehabilliation the IJF has supported me. To actually ride on the racecourse at Exeter again will be incredible for me,” said Sarah.
Exeter is offering free tickets to everyone who joins Sarah’s sponsored walk providing they donate at least £15 to the IJF.
She is over half way off meeting her fundraising target of £20,000 after completing a 10-mile ride across Dartmoor last Sunday.
A horse Harvey has been lent for the rides by former jockey Jenny Carr who also had an injury.
The walk starts at 12.15pm; to reserve a place visit http://libertytrails.co.uk
World Horse Welfare is Blenheim’s official charity
World Horse Welfare is the official charity for this weekend’s Blenheim Horse Trials (11-14 September).
Chief executive Roly Owers said the charity was “very grateful” to have been chosen by Blenheim.
“We hope that those who attend this year’s event will be interested in hearing about our work in caring for thousands of horses across the world,” he said.
Blenheim has set up an online auction to help raise funds for the charity’s needy horses.
Lots include a hunting with the Heythrop and tickets to Olympia in a private box.
A £1 will also be donated from the sale of all official clothing at Blenheim.
The proceeds from the fun high jump and masters gate jumping classes and demonstrations will also be donated to World Horse Welfare.
The charity will be sharing its 87 years of horse care in Blenheim’s learning zone.
There is also a display of rehomed horses in the attractions arena.
For more information visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk
Charity horse show for Cancer Research
A horse show at Norton Heath Equestrian Centre in Essex last Saturday (6 September) raised over £1,500 for Cancer Research UK.
The organisers Kate Scorey and Wayne Bailey said the support received from all involved in the Think Pink charity show “was incredible.”
“We introduced qualifiers this year and look forward to building on the show,” said Mr Bailey.
The date for next year’s show is 5 September 2015.
More details will be out early next year.
For more information visit www.thinkpinkshow.co.uk
