LATEST NEWS

Welsh Ponies and Cobs chequing in! The Welsh Pony and Cob Society have raised a total of £13,271.85 for T^y Hafan, the Welsh Children’s hospice.

WPCS President Brian Foster’s chosen charity has benefited from members' fundraising which included: an online auction, proceeds from sales of a DVD (in conversation with breed historian Dr Wynne Davies funded by Brian Foster) a Just Giving page and a spectacular charity concert organised by WPCS Young Ambassador Catrin Reed.

At a presentation day held at Kilvey Carriages, Fenton and his family enjoyed a drive around Swansea on a carriage.

They met an example of each of the five Welsh breeds, from the Welsh Mountain Pony through to the larger Welsh Cob and a Welsh part-bred, before alighting the carriage to be driven around the city by Simon Kesans and his four-in-hand.

Senior fundraising executive for T^y Hafan, Shelly Kirkham, summed up the day. “Thank you to the Welsh Pony and Cob Society for such a phenomenal and memorable afternoon. It was a once in a lifetime experience for Fenton's family and a memory that they will cherish for many years to come.

The funds raised by society members equate to the basic running costs for one day at T^y Hafan hospice. Support like this is vitally important and to top it off Fenton had a great day meeting all the Welsh ponies and Cobs!”

As the society’s outgoing President Brian Foster reflected: “Today was one of the best days of my presidency and a fitting finale to the fundraising which was no mean feat in the year of a pandemic!”

Fenton and family on the carriage driven by Simon Kesans from Kilvey Carriages

The Duchess of Cornwall with HorseBack UK co-founder Jock Hutchison

New Royal equine charity patron

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, has recently become the patron of HorseBack UK, a charity providing essential help to those needing mental health support.

Co-founder Emma Hutchison said “We are incredibly grateful to The Duchess of Cornwall for accepting the invitation to become our patron. As a keen equestrian herself, she understands how horses can help to have a positive impact on our well-being and recovery.”

HorseBack UK has been running its military courses since 2009 to empower serving and former military personnel suffering from both physical and mental life changing injuries. Using horsemanship and outdoor activities they deliver personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies and life skills, and to build lasting resilience and leave with an official Scottish Qualifications Authority qualification.

The charity also works with schools and has recently developed a new youth development programme in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust which will offer support to those within the local community.

To find out more about HorseBack UK, please visit www.horseback.org.uk

Limburg World Championships

From 8th-12th September the 20th World Championships for Horse Pairs is set to take place in Kronenberg, The Netherlands.

The FEI show schedule is now approved, and the organisers are hoping to accept between seven and nine competitors per country. Last year an FEI rule change stipulated that the number of competitors from the host country and visiting countries should be the same. During the last championships in Drebkau 2019 there were 82 competitors representing 24 countries.

Limburg 2021 chairman Nico Rijnbende says:“We have the capacity to host 90 pair drivers and must of course first see how

Raymond Letteboer many countries are prepared to send competitors and then we can decide how many drivers will be allowed per country. We want to give as many drivers as possible the opportunity to compete at this wonderful championship.”

The international and experienced panel of judges for the championships will be led by Anne Marie Turbé from France. The panel will be completed by Andrew Counsell, Great Britain, Pia Skar, Denmark, Barry Capstick, Ireland and JanErik Pålsson, Sweden. Jeroen Houterman will be responsible for the course design.

The competition will begin on Wednesday 8th September with the horse inspection, followed by the dressage on Thursday and Friday, the marathon phase on the Saturday with the cones on Sunday.

For more information: www. limburg2021.com

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August | September 2021