World Horse Welfare, a UK-based charity that improves the lives of horses in the UK and around the world through education, campaigning and hands-on-care, has been announced as the Official Charity for Royal Windsor Horse Show 2019, which will take place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle from the 8-12 May.

Founded in 1927, World Horse Welfare has been operating for over 90 years. Its vision is for a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding, which they aim to achieve through working with horses, horse owners, communities, organisations and governments to help improve welfare standards and stamp out suffering in the UK and worldwide.

With several well-known patrons within both the media and the equestrian scene, including: BBC broadcaster and keen rider, Sara Cox; 2006 Sports Personality of the Year, Zara Tindall MBE; and Pippa Funnell MBE, World Horse Welfare has the support of both professional and amateur riders.

Within the UK, World Horse Welfare is the largest horse rescue and rehoming charity. At its four Rescue and Rehoming Centres, horses receive specialist care and rehabilitation in order to restore them to full health. Once the rehabilitation stage is complete, World Horse Welfare then looks to rehome each horse, whether that be as a treasured companion, competition or leisure horse, or anything in-between.

World Horse Welfare’s international programme aims to alleviate the suffering of working horses and improve human livelihoods by sharing essential knowledge with horse owning communities in the developing world. Working with local partner organisations in 16 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, the charity currently runs 17 projects within horse-owning communities, giving owners the knowledge and skills to empower them to care for their horses and so better protect the health and welfare of their most important asset.

World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers, said: “We are thrilled to be chosen as the Official Charity of Royal Windsor Horse Show 2019 and are grateful to the organisers for giving us this unique opportunity. This is a truly legendary event covering such a wide spectrum of the horse world, which chimes so well with the breadth of World Horse Welfare’s work.

“Intense planning is already underway on a whole host of engaging activities to showcase our work to both new and existing supporters, including a display featuring World Horse Welfare horses and ponies and a new horse sculpture trail, which we look forward to announcing details about very soon.”
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Show director, Simon Brooks-Ward added: “World Horse Welfare has fulfilled a vast amount of incredible work for the equestrian world, through education, and also rehoming horses. As a Show which celebrates equestrianism, it is a very fitting partnership, and we are excited for the road ahead.”

For more information on Royal Windsor Horse Show visit www.rwhs.co.uk. Tickets will be available to purchase from late November via the website and through Windsor Information Centre.
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Women in Racing will host a Hat Swop, combined with expert fashion advice from ITV Racing stylist Sarah Kate Byrne, at their annual Christmas event on Monday evening 10th December.  
 
The Hat Swop, held at Petyt Hall in central London, will raise money for the Women in Racing Bursary, which awards funds up to £2,000 to help with professional development to its members who make successful applications.   Leading milliners, Fernanda Lewis Millinery, Jess Collett, and Amanda Denton will also be showcasing their fabulous collection of hats, which will also be available to purchase. 
 
Bursary Beneficiaries
Racing Presenter Vanessa Ryle, and Work Based Learning Manager at the Northern Racing College Vanessa Cashmore are Women in Racing members who have both benefitted from the program.  
 
Ryle, who fronts the At the Races (ATR) Bloodstock Show and received a bursary in 2017 for £650, said;
 
“I had already done some presenting on At the Races, but I knew I had to improve and invest in training to get more on-screen opportunities.  However, presenter courses are expensive and without the support from the Women in Racing bursary I would not have been able to afford it.
 
“ATR really approved of this move, as well as colleagues noticing an improvement in my presenting immediately following the training.  I still have a way to go, but the bursary has enabled me to develop new skills and learn some essential tricks of the trade, resulting in more opportunities producing and presenting ATR features, their Bloodstock Show, and live on raceday.  Furthermore, when I received the bursary I was presented with a rather impressively sized Women in Racing cheque, which, of course now has pride of place in my living room!
 
Vanessa Cashmore, Work Based Learning Manager at the Northern Racing College and a recent graduate from the Thoroughbred Horseracing Industries MBA, was awarded a bursary of £2,000 in March this year.  As part of her MBA studies, Vanessa undertook unique research which revealed the performance of female jockeys is equal to their male counterparts (Released in January 2018).  The financial support from Women in Racing will allow Vanessa to continue her studies in this area, alongside her role at the Northern Racing College.
 
Cashmore said:
 
“The Women in Racing bursary is a unique and fantastic opportunity for women involved in racing offering support with career advancement.  I would encourage all women to consider joining the network, as membership offers many benefits including being eligible to apply for a bursary.
 
Christmas Party Hat Swop Details
Tickets to Women in Racing Christmas Hat Swop and Style evening cost £30 for members and £35 for non-members and all are welcome. Ticket includes: drinks reception and canapes, hat swap, style advice, shopping and networking. To book and for more informationwomeninracing.co.uk/events or email tallulah.lewis@womeninracing.co.uk.
 
For more information on the Women in Racing Bursary visit Womeninracing.co.uk/bursary.
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Olympia, The London International Horse Show will be returning this December (17-23), with the thrilling ‘Race Night’ taking centre stage on the Friday. The Markel Champions Challenge, in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund, and the main feature of the evening, is a relay Show Jumping competition which will see Bridget Andrews captain a team of leading female jockeys, as they take on AP McCoy and his team of boys. 

Determined to bring home the victory for the girls, Andrews and her teammates attended a Show Jumping lesson taught by equestrian legends, and team coaches, Pippa and William Funnell. The renowned equestrian power-couple brought their years of success and knowledge to the girls’ team in a bid to ensure the ladies are crowned victorious in the annual relay Show Jumping competition.

Bridget Andrews, who recorded her first Cheltenham Festival winner in 2018, taking her place as one of the best female jockeys in the UK, has a star-studded team of talent behind her. Her teammates include fellow jockeys, Bryony Frost, Lizzie Kelly, Hollie Doyle, and Josephine Gordon – who have all individually made their mark in the professional racing world.

Tipped to become the greatest ever female jockey, Frost made her Grand National debut in 2018 finishing in fifth place, while in 2016 Kelly became the first female jockey in 33 years to compete in the pinnacle of national hunt racing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Doyle beat some of the world’s best flat jockeys, including Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore, to win the biggest race of her career at Newmarket Racecourse in 2016. Gordon, who in 2016 became only the third ever female to win the British flat racing Champion Apprentice title, will be sure to bring her need for speed to the Olympia Grand Hall.

Pippa and William Funnell’s insight will no doubt add a competitive edge to the team of ladies. Teaching the tricks of the trade to enhance accuracy and speed, their instructions could shave valuable seconds off their times, and make the difference between winning or losing.

Speaking on her team’s training experience with the Funnells, Andrews commented: “The training with Pippa and William has been lots of fun – they’re heroes of mine and we couldn’t have asked for better coaches. I can’t wait for ‘Race Night’ – the atmosphere is going to be electric, and I just hope we can make Pippa and William proud!”

Pippa Funnell said: “They’re obviously all incredibly talented in their own right, and I’ve been very impressed with how quickly they have adapted and improved throughout the day. The girls have mastered the technical side and we’ve almost managed to perfect their jump-off style, so I really fancy their chances against AP McCoy and the boys!”

Juliet Redfern, head of Equine Insurance at Markel, said: “This seems to get more and more fun every year! The Funnells were so brilliant and thorough with the girls, and the whole team at Markel can’t wait to see them in action on the night.”

For more information on how to purchase tickets, please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0844 995 0995.

A prestigious new category recognising the considerable skill and knowledge held by saddlers throughout Walsall has gained its first recipient.

The Society of Master Saddlers’ ‘Master Saddle Maker’ title has been awarded to longstanding industry expert, Sean Jeffs of Vale Brothers.

Sean has worked for the Walsall-based business for 11 years after they bought the Harry Dabbs saddlery brand where he had been employed for many years previously.

Now factory manager at Vale Brothers, Sean has spent much of his working life as a bench saddler and is also an SMS Qualified Saddle Fitter.

As a specialist in the design and manufacture of saddles. Sean was keen to gain the Master Saddle Maker qualification which involves a five hour trade test for the candidate to demonstrate the necessary saddle making skills and gain the SMS Flocking qualification.

In gaining the Master Saddle Maker title, Sean was required to make one saddle and to part complete a second saddle at an approved test centre.

 “I am delighted to be the first Walsall-based saddle to gain the standard and would encourage all other bench saddlers to work towards taking the test,” said Sean.

“It really does demonstrate our commitment to the industry, the skills and knowledge that we have gained over many years and is something we should be very proud to achieve.

“As part of the Society of Master Saddlers’ efforts to work more closely with the skilled craftspeople of Walsall everyone with the necessary skills and experience should be looking to achieve the Master Saddle Maker title.”

Adds Society of Master Saddlers’ Chief Executive, Hazel Morley: “After his many years’ experience in the saddlery world and especially as a very knowledgeable bench saddler focused on making saddles, Sean is a very worthy first recipient of the status.

“The initial idea behind the category was to reward and recognise those saddlers who focus mainly on saddles rather than across all saddlery including bridles and other leather work.

“We would be delighted to hear from saddlers wanting to take the test and who feel they fulfil the criteria.”