Sorry I Can’t… I Have To Ride My Unicorn

Cute and innocent, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of… let’s face it, we all love unicorns.  Just listen to Google, they’ll tell you that the search for ‘unicorn’ has grown significantly since over the past few years.

But this is no ordinary (ordinary?) unicorn…

The Unicorn
74cm x 46cm x15cm
Over 20,000 Swarovski crystals in 5 different shades
One of a kind. No. 3 in the Stevenson Brothers / Fernandes Collection.

In case you’re out of the loop, crystals are very much trending it right now.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations have teamed up with Stevenson Brothers (Kent) to create a limited-edition, bespoke collection of equines, two of which are the crystal zebra and the newly-added unicorn.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury.

Stevenson Brothers are known for their elegant and beautifully crafted products, an aesthetic which Fernandes Exquisite Creations harmonise into their hand-crafted Swarovski crystal designs.

Currently, only one of each piece exists in the entire world.

Fernandes Exquisite Creations are also known for jazzing up objects, in particular with their crystal rocking horse.  This hand-built horse, made from 82,000 crystals, was a world first, valued around 100,000 euros.

The second in the series is the stunning new CRYSTAL ZEBRA which sparkles and shines from every angle. Over 80,000 hand-placed Swarovski crystals cover this limited edition rocking zebra, which was created in partnership with Fernandes Exquisite Creations, and is set to turn heads wherever it goes.

This is only the second horse created by Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses together with Fernandes Exquisite Creations. The first piece created between these two companies, was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary showcasing the world’s most luxurious toys. CRYSTAL, who featured on the show and was also embellished with over 80,000 Swarovski crystals, was then sold and the beautiful CRYSTAL ZEBRA was then released for sale.

About Fernandes Exquisite Creations…

Fernandes Exquisite Creations was founded on the principles of quality and exclusivity.

Every member of their team works to produce unique, hand finished items, working expertly on every detail with each individual client or company to ensure everyone receives the very best in luxury they have come to expect from them. However big or small, every aspect of their work designed by you, or Fernandes Exquisite Creations, is produced with precision and care using the highest quality materials available.

Everything they create is 100% unique, whether you want a Swarovski crystal rocking horse or absolutely anything embellished in beautiful crystals – all bespoke and an exquisite creation.

www.fernandesexquisitecreations.com

About Stevenson Brothers…

Today, Stevenson Brothers are being commissioned to make an increasing number of bespoke rocking horses that look like a client’s real horse. They offer a unique bespoke rocking horse service where a favourite horse is reproduced in wood to last for generations.

They are often able to use real tail hair and can mount horse shoes on the base, using mostly home grown timber for all of their horses, including the bespoke models, with Oak and Chestnut supplied by Windsor Great Park Estates.

Contact Stevenson Brothers on 01233 820 363 or email sue@stevensonbros.com to find out more about their bespoke service.

http://www.stevensonbros.com/

 

How To Do The Races In Style

With 2016 now finally here, many of us will be looking for a few fun ways to get out and about to shake off the festive cabin fever. And the racing season offers a great way to have a little sporting excitement whilst trying out the latest fashion trends in a truly fabulous setting!

 

Although many of us may associate horse racing with fusty old betting shops that offer tips on the Grand National for horses with silly names, it’s increasingly becoming something of a hot-spot for many celebrities thanks to the rise of glamorous Ladies Day events and the emergence of racing-influenced fashion styles.

 

Racing opportunities

 

gototheracesinstyle

 

There are many racing events dotted throughout the calendar that can provide a good introduction for the racing newbie. The deeply aristocratic Royal Ascot takes place in the middle of June and offers you the chance to party like royalty and even spot a celebrity or two!

 

Whereas the pinnacle of the racing season is undoubtedly the Grand National which runs at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool in April. As we’d feel more comfortable offering fashion advice, if you fancy a tip or two on the Grand National, you’d be better off visiting a site like Coral that offers a greater degree of expert horse-racing knowledge.

 

Fashion at the races

 

19190242071_35edbba48e_o

 

Racing events have become something of a staple in the fashion calendar. The extravagant hats worn at Royal Ascot give a good indication of the enthusiasm that many fashionistas have for these prestigious racing events.

 

And whilst some of the garments worn at recent Aintree racing events may have pushed the boundaries of acceptable fashion, our fashion tips for events like the Grand National is to always check the dress code at the racecourse’s website, and be prepared to wrap up warm for any unexpectedly chilly race meetings!

 

Making it an event

 

racing

 

Modern race-going has become so much more than just the horse racing and fashion tips however, as many people are increasingly turning a race meeting into a fully-fledged holiday activity. Thankfully it’s now easier than ever to really make it a luxurious occasion as you can now easily rent some bespoke country houses and even mansions with the help of the UK Airbnb site that has hundreds of opulent retreats dotted around the nation.

 

And some glamorous hotels such as the Goodwood Hotel are handily located near the Sussex racecourse and offer suitably luxurious specials such as a Girl’s Weekend Away offer. This provides full access to the hotel’s health club, so that you can return to the racetrack fully-energised the next day to cheer on your winner as they cross the line!

 

 

 

Cheltenham Festival Announces Preview Evening

Cheltenham Festival announces preview evening

Horse racing fans are set to gather in their droves next year to attend a special preview evening in honour of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.The event will take place at the Elland Road Football Stadium in Leeds on 4th March 2015, six days before the festivities begin at Cheltenham Racecourse.

 

Last year’s event was the first of its kind for the 155-year-old festival, but went down a huge success with more than 700 in attendance. The evening was attended by a panel of horse racing pundits including world class jockey Jason Maguire, Sky Sports news expert Alex Hammond and Racing UK’s Mark Howard, Donn McClean and Niall Hannity.

 

“The preview evening this March was a huge success and all parties were very keen to get the date in the diary again,” said Sky Bet Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners. “We’ll be confirming the panel in the build-up but it will be another great night for any racing fan, or someone who likes a bet at the Cheltenham Festival.”

 

Indeed, the betting element of the evening will be one of its biggest attractions – with more than £250 million expected to be spent at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Added to that, the evening will also feature an extensive preview of each day of racing at the three-day festival, as well as video interviews with racing trainers and a buffet supper.

 

Having taken place since 1860, the Cheltenham Festival brings together some of the most prestigious racers from around the world, culminating in the famed Cheltenham Gold Cup race, which takes place next year on 13th March. Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, but for the winning jockey, there is a huge £550,000 prize at stake.

 

One jockey who will be gunning for the prize is Ruby Walsh, who has had outstanding success at the events in previous years. This famed star has won the coveted ‘top jockey’ prize – one which is awarded to the jockey with the most wins over the course of the festival – eight times in the last century.

 

Other exciting moments that spectators will be keen to keep an eye out for will be the performance of Balthazar King, as trained by PJ Hobbs. The 10-year-old Bay Gelding is already hitting headlines with his upcoming performance at the Cheltenham Open, and given his experience at the course in Prestbury Park, should impress once again in March.

 

The Cheltenham Festival may be five months away, but with a preview evening to get fans even more excited, the 155th anniversary could just be the best festival yet.

 

 

 

LUMOback sensor and app review

Lumo back is an unusual product. It aims to improve your posture using a small sensor attached to an elasticated belt that fits around your waist. It’s a light, all black product that is about two inches wide. The idea behind LUMO BodyTech’s first ever product, is that you wear it on a daily basis and the sensor will vibrate gently along your lower back when your spine is anything but straight. Lumo back has an accompanying real time app that shows you visually how you are sitting, standing or running etc thanks to your own personal stickman avatar called Lumo – who mirrors your posture on your iPhone and gives that posture a rating out of 100%. They call Lumo back a ‘Posture Coach’… but does it really work?

LUMOback sensor  app review

On opening the packaging, I am sceptical – the product sounds high tech but looks simple. Always one to keep an open mind though, I read the instructions and set up Lumo back for its intended use with me – which is to help improve my posture when writing and horse riding.

LUMOback sensor and app review

The app is free on iTunes and easy to download and set up. It’s an innovative but raw format that gives you as much information and help as you want. It can ‘track steps, calories burned, time standing, time sitting and the number of times users stand up each day.’ At the end of the day, Lumo, your personal stickman avatar, will give you a posture score ‘so that progress can be monitored as posture is improved.’

As much as I like this app, and Lumo my personal stickman avatar, I was less interested in this feedback and more interested in how quickly the Lumo Back reminded me of slouching when I was wearing it…

I first tried the product out when sitting at my desk. Since graduating with a degree in Photojournalism in 2009, I have spent a lot of time at this desk, writing feature articles and editing thousands of images. My desk has been a place of happiness and creativity – but also a great source of discomfort. Throughout these 5 years my posture has gone from excellent to poor and the slouching position that I have now acquired, has started to become painful and affect other areas of my life as well.

I knew that this product would vibrate immediently after I attached the elasticated belt around my waist. But what I didn’t realise was how often it would vibrate from there on in – and how self-conscious that made me feel. That constant reminder made me think about bringing my shoulders back and sitting as tall as I could. WARNING: This product does distract you from your work on day 1… but by day 7, you almost forget it is there.

I can honestly say that I do sit taller at my desk now. But what I also have to say is that Lumo back is not a magic product. You have to work to achieve good posture – it does not do that for you. And after 5 years of sitting in the wrong way, my muscles have still not memorised the right way yet. Discomfort is still there, but I’ve gone from 40% to 75% on my posture score – so things are improving.

The biggest test of this product though, was using it when I was horse riding. After 16 years of cycling to my horses on a mountain bike, I have developed round shoulders – which will one day, if I don’t do something about it, leave me with a stoop. And as I hope to compete in dressage competitions soon, the last thing I want to be is a horse-riding hunchback.

Obviously when you are horse riding, you can’t be constantly looking at your phone. So, Lumo was not able to help me here with his visual aids – for horse riding I was relying solely on the sensor to vibrate gently along my lower back when I rode in an inelegant fashion.

At first I couldn’t feel the sensor when doing schooling exercises such as rising trot, sitting trot or canter work on my horse. But the moment we came back to walk, I felt it vibrate – and it did this a lot through the walking phase. It seems that when I relax too much, I slouch. I need to be a little tense, or a little more preoccupied, to achieve good posture in the saddle.

Lumo back has shown me my weaknesses – when sitting at my desk writing, and when schooling my horse – and that is no mean feat. This product gives you a conscience when it comes to your own vanity. It makes you want to be a more elegant version of yourself. The constant reminders and daily posture scores really spur you into action.

I’ve come to see Lumo back as an essential part of my daily routine now. It has given me a goal. And that goal is to reach 99% for my posture score (I couldn’t say 100%, as no one is perfect, even with Lumo :-) ).

 

For more information, check out the LUMO BodyTech website:

 

http://www.lumobodytech.com/lumoback/

 

LUMOback is available from Amazon UK for £129.95 and includes free P+P:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LUMO-Improve-Posture-iPhone-Touch/dp/B00GD2MTSA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412838838&sr=8-1&keywords=lumoback

 

LUMO BodyTech are also bringing out a new product this October called LUMOlift Posture Coach. Lumo Lift will be available from Amazon.co.uk from mid October and Apple stores later in the month. It will retail at £79.99.

 

http://www.lumobodytech.com/

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala – Inaugural Dinner

Last Wednesday saw 400 international guests from the worlds of fashion, art, music and the City, including The PNN Group’s Nasib Piriyev, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Benny Higgins and Jack Guinness gather together to celebrate the inaugural Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala Dinner. This exclusive event took place at the renowned Ham Polo Club, only eight miles from Hyde Park Corner and the last remaining polo club in Greater London, in aid of War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation.

Princess Tamara Czartoryski, Nasib Piriyev and Natalia Vodianova
The event saw well-known players such as Pancho Marin Moreno and Ruki Baillieu play a high-octane game of polo by twilight (which resulted in a 6-4.5 win to Baku Guardians), before guests were seated for a sumptuous three-course gala dinner which consisted of aged parmesan with truffle honey, artichoke hearts and chargrilled peppers, tagliata of beef with a rocket, watercress and parmesan salad and meringue gelato cake with chocolate sauce and raspberries. Guests and VIPs alike enjoyed entertainment from the incredible magician Dynamo (including model and DJ Jack Guinness who was seen eagerly participating in one of Dynamo’s acts), followed by a live performance from electronic pop duo, The Alpines.

Alan O'Sullivan, Natalia Vodianova and Nasib PiriyevAmber Atherton 2Lindsay LohanLindsay Lohan 2Camilla Rutherford 2Jack Guinness

 

On the night, guests raised much needed funds for War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation through both a live and silent charity auction. Luxury, money-can’t-buy prizes and experiences included an original signed Damien Hirst spin painting, a stay at the Lux Belle Mare resort in Mauritius and a Lev Leviev Diamond bracelet. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed Laurenti Champagne and AIX Rosé, with luxury bars provided by the newly opened Café Kaizen, Hanover Square. VIP attendees included Nasib Piriyev, Princess Tamara Czartoryski, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Dynamo, Jack Guinness, Amber Atherton, The Alpines, Ben Elliot, Tom Law, Anouska De Georgiou, Abby King, DJ Jakki Degg, Sol Campbell, Camilla Rutherford, Sabine Roemer and Benny Higgins.

Natalia Vodianova 3 Natalia Vodianova 4 Princess Tamara Czartoryski and Natalia Vodianova

Natalia Vodianova dazzled in a beautiful cream suit and trouser combination with snake-skin style Christian Louboutin shoes, whilst My Flash Trash jewellery designer Amber Atherton opted for a floor length Florence Bridge dress.

Camilla Rutherford 3 Fredrick Ferrier Princess Tamara Czartoryski and Roubi L'Roubi Sol Campbell Tom Law and Anouska De Georgiou

Nasib Piriyev, Co-Founder of The PNN Group said: “It was such a privilege to host the first Twilight Polo event of its kind, and to have so many wonderful guests join us for this special occasion – including representatives from the extremely worthwhile charities War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation. I hope everyone enjoyed the evening’s entertainment and, of course, the first Twilight Polo match of its kind, whilst also generously supporting these important causes.”

Natalia Vodianova, Nasib Piriyev and Olena Piriyev Roubi L'Roubi

The all-important results:

– Winning Team – Baku Guardians

– Runners Up – PNN Group

– The Lalique Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Sol Campbell – Jack Baillieu (7)

– The Whale Gaming Best Playing Pony Award, presented by Princess Tamara Czartoryski – Poroto, owned and played by Charlie Pidgley

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is a private company created in 2014 in London, England, with the goal of integrating the sport of polo and luxury brands to raise money for nominated charities. The Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is hosted by Princess Tamara Czartoryski, an event that has already attracted some of the UK’s leading polo players, all keen to lend their support to the fundraiser and annual gala. Celebrating the history of Polo, ‘Chovgan’ was one of the first forms of modern-day polo, a sport that was very popular in the Middle East centuries ago.

www.chovganpolo.com

PNN Group is a family business founded in 1993 by Nizami Piriyev and his son Nasib Piriyev. Within two decades it has grown into an international corporation, with business interests in 10 countries. Sectors that the Group operates in include Oil & Gas, Food & Retail, Luxury & Lifestyle, Finance & Consulting, and Arts & Media.

www.pnn-group.com

The Baku Guardians is an Azerbaijani polo team set up in 2014 and based in London, UK. The team is patronised by Nasib Piriyev and supported by the PNN Group. The players continue a tradition that began in Azerbaijan with the Chovgan game, the forerunner of modern polo. In May 2014, Baku Guardians took part in its first tournament – the British Royal Charity Polo Cup.

www.bakuguardians.com

Huntsman is Savile Row’s most established tailoring house, its team of cutters and tailors crafting the finest bespoke, made to measure and ready to wear tailoring by hand. Huntsman has a 160 year history of producing the finest suits, sports jackets, country and formal wear from the heart of Savile Row. The company’s team of cutters and tailors are at the top of their field and are amongst the industry’s finest craftsman. Our elegant and distinctive house style combined with the finest cloths from the UK and Italy ensure that the house produces consistently exceptional and beautiful clothing.

www.h-huntsman.com

“War Child believes no child should be the victim of war, and are the only international charity that focuses its work solely on children suffering the brutal effects of conflict. As the shocking news attests on a daily basis, children are too often hit hardest by conflict. War Child’s unique, challenging work saves the lives of the most vulnerable children offering them a lifeline and hope for the future. War Child’s programmes are focused on protecting children, helping them to gain an education and enabling children and their families to create their own opportunities for the years ahead.” Rob Williams, CEO, War Child.

www.warchild.org.uk

The Naked Heart Foundation is an international charity that was founded by supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova in 2004. Ten years on, the Foundation is one of the most prominent NGOs working in Russia. The organisation’s main goal is to end Russia’s long-standing tradition of placing children with special needs and learning disabilities in care homes and orphanages. The charity develops family support services across the country and builds inclusive play facilities to provide safe play environments for children of all abilities. To date, it has built more than 120 accessible play parks and playgrounds across Russia, it runs a Family Support Centre in Nizhny Novgorod and play libraries in Tula and Tver. The Naked Heart Foundation supports the projects of dozens of other Russian NGOs and runs a large-scale education project in Nizhny Novgorod. The charity also holds an annual International Forum for childcare professionals and carries out extensive advocacy work aimed at changing attitudes to disability in Russia.

www.nakedheart.org

Chovgan Twilight Polo’s Inaugural Gala was kindly sponsored by The PNN Group, Baku Guardians and Huntsman.

 

 

John Whitaker Equine Training Bandages Review

John Whitaker training bandages are soft and elasticated – a perfect union for leg wraps. But before I talk about the bandages themselves, I want to highlight a point of added value. These training bandages are not posted to you in a cardboard box, like many bandages purchased online, they are presented in a clear plastic pouch that is designed to keep the bandages tidy and clean long after you open the parcel.

John Whitaker Equine Training Bandages

John Whitaker Equine Training Bandages ReviewJohn Whitaker Equine Training Bandages Review

The plastic pouch has the John Whitaker International Ltd logo on the front and a blue webbing strap, for carrying them, at the top. This heavy-duty plastic – with thick plastic binding – has proved to be hard wearing and waterproof. My young horse has not only stood on the pouch, she has thrown it half way across our stable yard. It was also left outside in the torrential rain and found the next morning marinating in the mud.

Nothing has defeated this pouch. It is still in perfect condition – and it is still keeping the bandages clean and dry.

John Whitaker Equine Training

John Whitaker Equine

The Bandages

The key features of these bandages are the fleece inner padding that keeps the horses tendons and ligaments warm, helping to prevent injury; the elasticated stretch outer that moves with the horse; the double fold fastening with the John Whitaker International Ltd logo; and the fact they are machine washable.

The bandages come in four colours: black, red, navy or white. I chose black because I think it’s an easier colour to keep clean when used as part of a 5-day per week training schedule – also because my horse is grey and I think this colour looks smart on her.

Being a horse owner that is used to putting on horse boots, not bandages, I did find it difficult to make sure the bandages were positioned correctly, with the fastening at the top of my horses leg and on the outside. It did take me three or four goes to position them perfectly and because of this, I think a little card with ‘how to put on’ instructions/diagrams would be an excellent point of added value.

The bandages looked very smart on my horse and they performed well during our schooling sessions. BUT, I am not a convert. These bandages look and feel lovely…  but I found the process of putting bandages on my young horse very stressful. Zara is still learning basic manners, like how to stand still for longer periods of time, and gets bored easily. By the time I have put on the second bandage, she is not so keen to stand still for the third and fourth – which makes the task of putting on bandages nigh impossible. For me, boots are easier.

 

Out of 5 *:

 

Packaging *****

Design *****

Fabric *****

Price *****

Ease of use **

 

One size only on Amazon.co.uk

John Whitaker Horses Training Bandages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAF Off Citronella Wristband Review

I am a big fan of NAF products (http://www.naf-equine.eu/uk/). Both my horses are fed daily scoopfuls of NAF Pink Powder (One of my horses is 27 years old and is on NAF Pink Powder Senior – the brand have two versions of this feed balancer to suit horses and ponies of all ages) and I have noticed a great improvement in their condition. Zara, my Irish Sports Horse, has gone from being a gangly 5 year old to a powerful looking event horse in training.

NAF Off Citronella Wristband Review NAF Off Citronella Wristband

So, when I came across the NAF range of fly repellent products in my local country store in Pitscottie, Fife, and spotted this fluorescent yellow wristband with the catchy words ‘NAF OFF’ written on it, I could not resist buying two to try – especially since they were under £3 each.

The wristband is made from silicone and has a central compartment that is filled with citronella oil. There are five tiny holes in this central compartment and the idea is that you puncture as many holes as you want to give you the level of fragrance that you need. The more holes you puncture, the stronger the scent – and, of course, the shorter the shelf life. But NAF maintains that the scent will last between 4-6 weeks.

Citronella Wristband Review NAF Off Citronella

My mum and I tried out these wristbands for the first time two weeks ago. We decided to puncture only one hole to begin with, to see how we got on. It was a beautifully sunny and warm day at the horses, so we spent all afternoon there, grooming, working them in hand and shampooing them.

The citronella scent seemed very strong at first, when we punctured the first hole in our kitchen at home. And even after being outside for four hours, and submerging the wristband in water for the majority of this time when bathing the horses, the scent was still as strong out in the open air. My horses were surrounded by flies, but my mum and I were not. We arrived home later that day with not one red, itchy spot on our skin – a welcome relief after a summer of scratching thanks to the Scottish midge.

NAF Off  Review NAF Off Citronella Wristbandshot

I have been using the wristband everyday since then and I can honestly say that the scent is still as strong two weeks in – and I am still on the first hole, I have not punctured anymore yet.

The product is surpassing all expectations at the moment and I will write an update once all the holes have been punctured and the scent has all gone. In the meantime, I cannot recommend this product enough. The wristband is a cool colour and idea. It feels like you’re heading to a music festival every time you slide it over your hand. It’s comfortable to wear and more importantly, it works. It’s a brilliant product for the equine enthusiast, but also for anyone that spends time outdoors. I will definitely be packing it on my next trip abroad.

Note: We have put the wristbands back into the resealable bags, that they came in, after every use to help preserve the scent.

 

What it says on the packaging:

*Citronella oil

* Waterproof

*Indoor and Outdoor use

*Scent last 4-6 weeks

*Adjustable control of level of fragrance

“This silicone NAF Off Citronella Wristband is made with citronella oil. The unique design enables the citronella oil to be contained in a special compartment of the wristband making it highly durable, waterproof and convenient to use. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities. The wristband can be worn while riding or around the yard, wear it on the wrist or the ankle.”

http://www.naf-equine.eu/uk/products/productDetail.jsp?detail_id=naf-off-citronella-wristband

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Horses For Horses

Melissa Volpi meets Loes Knopper – the woman that has inspired riders around the globe to get ‘On Horses For Horses’ throughout September to raise money for World Horse Welfare…

loesknopper

 Loes Knopper knows what it’s like to care for a horse that is in need of rehabilitation. She bought Charlie, her coloured cob gelding in 2009. But it took a good two years before they were able to ride out confidently together without stress.

“Charlie used to scare the living daylights out of me,” Loes says during our walk through the forestry with her dogs Nanya, Bran and Fingal. “He napped, bit, reversed, spun and reared. But I don’t like quitting or giving up and I certainly don’t approve of beating a horse, or any animal, into submission.”

Loes stopped riding Charlie shortly after buying him and started to do a lot of groundwork to get their relationship back on track. The Pirelli games, help from others and her mantra of QD – quiet determination – paid off.

It was during this process that Loes realised what you could achieve with teamwork.

“It was after a night on forums and chats with fellow horse lovers that On Horses For Horses was born, “she tells me as we reach her home in Kinlochleven for some Thai Green Curry.  I wanted to be pro-active and do something for horses and their welfare in a very positive way. There was no way I could mount my Charlie and travel the world with him, or even the West Highland Way. But if I could organise an event where riders from the all over the world came together for the same cause, then that would really make a difference.”

Over dinner, I ask Loes to tell me more about On Horses For Horses…

What is the idea behind ‘On Horses For Horses’?

 On Horses For Horses is about joining forces with horse riders around the world to raise miles and money for World Horse Welfare – an International charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of horses worldwide and to helping them find loving, long term homes. I originally planned it as a one-off event and wanted to get as many riders from as many different countries to ride as many miles as possible on the same day. The aim was to reach a combined 24,906 miles, which is the circumference of the earth, and raise as much money as possible for WHW. I liked the idea of organising and taking part in a worldwide endurance event that was as big as the globe, for horses around the globe. Now it has evolved into a month long event where horse owners either clock up their hacking miles throughout September or organise an endurance style event with friends.

 Tell us about your first fundraising ride on the 25th of September 2011?

 We spent a leisurely day walking and trotting across Airds estate and the beach in front of Castle Stalker. The local field officer for WHW came along to ‘crew’ for us and make sure that everything went without a hitch. We stopped for a picnic half way round to give the riders and horse a rest. I didn’t want a person to be put off by the competitive element of endurance riding, that’s why I have been careful how I word events. I want riders of all abilities and horses of all shapes and sizes to feel confident about taking part in an On Horses For Horses event.

 How much interest have you had?

 We have had riders from 17 countries take part and have managed to raise nearly £5,000.00 in three months (September 2011, 2012 and 2013). I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone that has helped me but also to MBBA (Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association) and La Fiaba horse riding holidays for helping to start everything off in 2011.

What’s next?

We are in the process of organising an On Horses For Horses event in my current hometown, Kinlochleven, for this September. A date will be announced soon on http://www.onhorsesforhorses.org/. But my long term plan is to host and take part in a 10-mile On Horses For Horses pleasure ride at the Scottish Endurance Championships.This National event is not held in September, my original fundraising month, but it would help to publicise us and get more Endurance riders involved. Our local club, SERC Argyll, have been very supportive. To see Charlie and I cross that finish line for this great cause would be a dream come true after all we have been through.

Join Loes in 2014 to raise miles and money by getting ‘On Horses For Horses’: http://www.onhorsesforhorses.org/

 Links:

 World Horse Welfare:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Home

MBBA:

http://mbba.org.uk/

 La Fiaba:

http://la-fiaba.com/

 SERC Argyll:

http://www.freewebs.com/sercargyll/