23rd November 2004
The racing and equestrian community has been galvanized into action by the UK’s first-ever national fundraising initiative to help the horses that suffer most in the world.
This week sees the launch of ‘Courses for Horses’ by the Brooke, a British-funded animal welfare charity that helps working horses, donkeys and mules and their owners in the developing world.
Courses for Horses is set to become one of the events in the racing and equestrian calendars, involving riding clubs, racecourses, breeders, owners, riders, jockeys, race-goers and countless other people who simply love horses.
Courses for Horses day - Saturday June 11th 2005 - will see tens of thousands of people across the country raising anything from £25 to £25,000 through thousands of events. Everyone is being encouraged to hold their own ‘course for a horse’, such as:
- A ‘bookie’s breakfast’, ladies day lunch or holding the greatest number of sponsored courses at a dinner party, or
- A Race Night, share the thrill of the racecourse and raise money for the Brooke, or
- A sponsored gymkhana or dressage course, or even
- A round of sponsored golf on your local golf course.
In addition, seven racecourses around the country - from Perth to Goodwood - have already designated Courses for Horses fundraising days, which will involve trainers, breeders, jockeys, trainers, race-goers and even stable hands raising money for the Brooke.
Leading racing figures have all given their support - including John Francome, Sir Peter O’Sullevan CBE, Philip Blacker and the Duke of Richmond.
They explain what motivates them to support the Brooke: “My principal admiration and enthusiasm for the Brooke derives from their emphasis on education people in the developing world in the proper husbandry of their animals,“ says Brooke patron, Sir Peter O’Sullevan.
John Francome adds: “Anyone who cares about horses can’t fail to be moved by the Brooke’s work.”
Courses for Horses, which has as its media partners the Racing Post, Horse & Rider magazine, Pony magazine and Equestrian Trade News, will help the Brooke extend its reach from half a million to five million equine animals that desperately need help in the developing world.
Organisations supporting Courses for Horses include the Jockey Club, British Horseracing Board, the Racecourse Association, Racehorse Owners Association & all members of the Horseracing Industry Committee, as well as the British Equestrian Trade Association and the British Equestrian Federation.
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