A moving tale of horse rescue will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2017 with an artisan garden inspired by and celebrating charity World Horse Welfare’s 90 year legacy of helping horses.

The concept, brought to life by design duo Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith, will tell the story of a horse rescued from a small, derelict stable in a dark corner of the garden and nursed back to health under World Horse Welfare’s care – now living in a bright, open meadow where he can thrive and continue his journey to rehoming.

Designed to provide a poignant, visual representation of World Horse Welfare’s work, the garden will pay tribute to the charity’s supporters who have played a vital role in the past 90 years whilst highlighting the need to continue shining a spotlight on invisible horses around the world, whose suffering goes unnoticed or ignored.

WHW conference poster

World Horse Welfare Director of Fundraising, Emma Williams, said:“We are delighted that the World Horse Welfare Garden will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2017 and want to express heartfelt thanks to our garden designers, plus our very kind and generous private donor who has funded the garden.

“Exhibiting at RHS Chelsea provides an invaluable opportunity to engage with both new and existing supporters, as well as showcasing our work, to a new audience in a way which is completely unique to anything we have ever done before.

“We hope the garden will be thought-provoking and emotive. We want to encourage people to reflect on the plight of neglected and abused horses and be inspired to join us in taking action to help them. Without the support of the public, we would simply not be able to continue our work and so the garden will pay tribute to all the people who support us in many different ways from those who add their voices to our campaigning actions to those who rehome our horses, take part in fundraising events or choose to leave a gift in their will.”

Garden designers Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith said: “We were delighted to be asked to design the World Horse Welfare Garden at next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Chelsea is the ‘Oscars’ of the gardening world and to be able to exhibit at the highest level is an honour.

“It was after visiting one of the charity’s Rescue and Rehoming centres, meeting some of the horses that had been rescued from abuse and neglect and hearing some of their stories that we decided we definitely wanted to be part of the project to help shine a light on the plight of these amazing animals. We were already aware of the work of World Horse Welfare from one of our customers, who is a keen supporter of the charity, and being huge animal lovers, we knew that we had to get involved.

WEST Sussex event rider and Olympc silver medallist Tina Cook will be taking part in a charity race run to raise funds for the Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

This idea was established by Hannah Francis before she died, asking that the race should be run to raise funds for this charity which she had founded.

A talented horse rider, Hannah Francis, was diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer in 2015. She was just 17 years old. In the year and half that followed Hannah, always aided by her mascot toy pony, Willberry Wonder Pony, amazed the equestrian community and people all over the world with her drive and determination.

She continued to ride, even riding internationally under GB colours, and fulfilled many of her ‘bucket list’ wishes.Even more remarkably, she turned her sights to what she could do to help people in her position in the future.

In constant pain and undergoing relentless rounds of treatment, she and her dedicated family and friends set up Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, registered in March 2016 (reg charity no 1166416). The charity funds bone cancer research, especially into osteosarcoma, and grants equine related wishes to seriously ill people.

The race has been organised in conjunction with one of racing’s most famous cancer survivors, Bob Champion and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was established by Bob Champion in 1983 and has so far raised over £14 million.  Cheltenham Racecourse has kindly agreed to stage this one-off Flat race, to be called the Champions Willberry Charity Race, at the Home of Jump Racing on Thursday, April 20, 2017 during the April meeting next year.

Kristina Cook and Star Witness: Photo: Mike Bain

Six celebrities will ride in the event including Tina,  Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton, and top eventer Ben Hobday, who himself battled cancer at the same time as Hannah. Either William or Alice Fox-Pitt will also take part.

The celebrities will be joined by six riders from the wider equestrian community. Applications have been invited from riders  with a closing date of Monday, December 5, 2016.
Forms and application guidelines can be found and downloaded  from: www.championswillberry.org.uk

Key criteria will be that riders must be over 18, a competent rider, can pledge to raise over £2,500 and are able to source their own horse.There will be an official lunch on the day with a range of fund-raising activities to raise money for the two charities. Ian Peters, Trustee of the Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, said: “The equestrian community has been overwhelming in its support for Hannah’s legacy and to share this day with the Bob Champion Cancer Trust is the highest honour. We hope people will generously support the heroes riding, and those inspiring their efforts.

Bob Champion commented: “Hannah Francis was a brave and inspirational person and I was fortunate enough to have met her. I feel honoured that the Bob Champion Cancer Trust can celebrate her life with the Champions Willberry Charity race, linking the charity she set up as her legacy with the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

“I hope that everyone gets behind supporting us whether this is by applying to ride, attending the lunch, sponsorship, donations or prizes, so we can raise much needed funds for both charities.”Ian Renton, Regional Director Cheltenham and the South West, Jockey Club Racecourse, said:”We are delighted to be able to host this charity race in honour of two such rewarding charities.
“Hannah’s story touched all of those in the equine world and the race will hopefully be a fitting tribute to her. I am delighted that Nick, Ben, Tina and William or Alice have already joined up and I am sure that many members of the public will be keen to do so as well.”

Please go to www.championswillberry.org.uk for all details of how to apply, how to get involved in sponsorship of the race and the jockeys riding, how to attend the race and lunch on the day and how to donate.The April meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse takes place on Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20, 2017.

THE British Hose Society has supported Road Safety Week this month and revealed statistics which show that more than 2,000 reports of road incidents involved horses. In addition, 181 resulted in the death of a horse, while 36 involved the death of a driver.

Now MP Jake Berry has  backed the BHS campaign for greater protection for  horses and riders using the UK’s roads. He will strengthen the campaign through Parliament, which highlights the statistics.

The national week-long event, run by road safety charity Brake, aims to prevent road deaths and injuries by raising awareness through schools, sports clubs and other organisations.The BHS launched its campaign, ‘Dead or Dead Slow?’ in March calling for greater protection for horses and riders using the UK’s roads.Since the launch, the BHS has worked with a number of partners including the Department for Transport and, most recently, Conservative MP Jake Berry who is helping to campaign for more information to be included in the Highway Code.

Local horse rider Louise Wiseman and her horse Mable using the push button

Jake Berry, Conservative MP explained: “I have been working with the British Horse Society, and I want to help drivers pass horse riders safely when they meet on the roads. I want to help educate beyond the meaning of road signs, to instil confidence for all vulnerable road users. I will be raising this issue with other MP’s in Parliament.”

Alan Hiscox, BHS Director of Safety, said: “We are asking drivers to slow down to 15mph when they see a horse on the road. A lot of people aren’t sure how to safely pass a horse when driving, and that is why we are working towards strengthening the Highway Code so that all drivers know they should slow to 15mph when they meet a horse on the road.”

The British Horse Society has produced a video with the DFT demonstrating how to pass a horse on the road safely. The charity will also be asking equestrians to ensure that they thank any drivers who pass them responsibly.Horse accidents can be reported to the BHS via the website: www.horseaccidents.org.uk

A host of influential speakers from across the equestrian and charity sectors, including singer, songwriter and actor, Will Young, explored the theme of the ‘Invisible Horse’ at World Horse Welfare’s Annual Conference this month.

Will gave a moving presentation about the plight of the Bodmin Moor ponies and his journey through understanding the issues faced by not only these ponies, but the many others in similar situations all across the country.

Will Young speaking at the conference PhotoWHW

He explained that since becoming involved with local charity, Shires Holt, he has learned much more about the invisibility of horses in the UK saying: “In general, there is now a lack of value to the horse yet they still continue to be a status symbol. There is a paradox here. I am just one person who is saying ‘did you know about these problems?’ and people are responding with a willingness to help. ”

World Horse Welfare’s conference poster

World Horse Welfare President, HRH The Princess Royal, gave her thoughts on who should take on the responsibility for horses. She said:“First and foremost responsibility must be with the owner. People need to understand that taking on a horse is a 24 hours a day, 365 days a year responsibility. It is not 9-5 or whenever you feel like visiting on a weekly basis.”

HRH also expressed the importance of education in ensuring horses do not end up as welfare cases, and the need to put measures in place to prevent welfare problems – keeping prosecutions as a last resort.

HRH The Princess Royal speaking at the conference
Photo: WHW

Attention was turned to the world of endurance in the UAE with an enlightening presentation from His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Emirates Heritage Club in the UAE who spoke on the Boutheib Initiative which has made tremendous steps in improving horse welfare in the sport.

He spoke of his strong belief that endurance should not be about the first horse past the post but instead the horse in the best condition at the finish. In a sport which had been rocked by negativity over recent years,

He said: “Removing the focus on speed does not remove competition in endurance. The real competition should be about your horse finishing in the best possible condition.”

Chris Riggs of the Hong Kong Jockey Club presented on equine welfare in China and the many challenges horses there face from a lack of access to specialist equine veterinary care, knowledge and facilities.

Chris also spoke of the equestrian industry’s fast-growth in China, with investment in breeding programmes, veterinary training, the building of a 1,600 horse capacity Thoroughbred training centre, a greater focus on the leisure horse industry and Beijing chosen as host for the 2018 World Equine Veterinary Association conference in which World Horse Welfare will play a supporting role.

World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers, spoke of the many different forms that invisible horses can take. He used examples from all areas of the equestrian world to paint the picture of invisible suffering before giving an inspirational and rousing call for everyone to play their part in bringing invisible horses into the spotlight.

He said:“We all have the power to shine a spotlight on invisible horses and invisible suffering.  We can all play a part in stamping it out.  What strikes me is that organisations can have great power, especially when working in partnership, but the individual can inspire or contribute to real change too.  Let’s use our combined motivation and power – breeders, regulators, policy makers, sister charities, horse owners, donors, enforcement agencies and vets – to bring all horses in to the light and give them the care and protection they so desperately deserve.”