TRIGGER RETIRES FOR THE WINTER

A well-deserved rest is in store for Trigger, the bestoffair.com Fairs’s mechanical horse, as he hangs up his horseshoes for the winter season following a mammoth three-month tour of the country.

During the Fairs, Trigger has travelled approximately 14,500 miles with his trusty mechanic and groom and in total has provided over 10,000 people with the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding a life-like horse, that simulates the feel and stride of a canter.

Travelling the length of the country, from Scotland down to Cornwall, Trigger has visited over 50 primary schools nationwide as part of the highly successful schools’ roadshow, and has given over 5,000 children the opportunity to experience riding, some for the first time. Each child attending the roadshow was given a goody bag containing, amongst other things, a book of money-off vouchers which are redeemable at participating ABRS and BHS registered riding centres.

As well as visiting schools, Trigger has also taken part in the bestoffair.com Fairs’s Horsepower Days. Due to foot and mouth disease, only seven out of the scheduled fifteen events went ahead, however all the events, which were billed as equestrian extravaganzas, were well attended. Arena displays at the events included Tanya Larrigan with Jacques her voice trained horse and Goliath from the Mini Marvels as well as the Hawkmaster, Chris Tuffrey, who captivated his audiences with his birds of prey while riding his Clydesdale gelding, Monty. Additional arena displays included The Pony Club Mounted Games and western riding demonstrations by the American Quarter Horse Association.

Jane Holderness-Roddam, chairman of the Fairs comments: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of this year’s Fairs and are positive that many more people will be taking up riding as a result of Trigger.”

To help raise the profile of riding regionally, Trigger has also cantered off to a variety of ABRS or BHS registered riding school open days, as well as participating in National Equine Welfare Week, which runs from 8th to 16th September.

Next year it is hoped that Trigger will be able to give many more people the chance to try riding for the first time.

Fairs supports first ever Equine Welfare Week

From the 1st to 16th September 2001, the first ever Equine Welfare Week (sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health Ltd) is being held as part of the bestoffair.com Fairs.

The week, which has already attracted support from many equestrian organisations and top riders including Pippa Funnell, Tim Stockdale and Leslie Law, aims to highlight what keeping a horse entails while also encouraging responsible horse ownership – especially to the increasing number of people who are becoming horse owners for the first time.

Pippa Funnell, international event rider and winner of the recent Eventing Grand Prix at Hickstead, explains: “We expect to enjoy the benefits that our horses give us and we owe it to them to look after them in the best possible way. If you neglect your horse, or try to cut corners to avoid expense, you will soon find out that it is far more costly in the long run. Equine Welfare Week is a great opportunity for anyone to learn more about horse care and just what is involved.”

Sponsors Fort Dodge Animal Health (manufacturer of leading horse wormer EQUEST® and number 1 range of horse vaccines DUVAXYN®) is already committed to supporting the improved care of horses and ponies in the UK.

Helen Barnes, Equine Business Unit Manager of Fort Dodge Animal Health, comments: “We are pleased to be supporting this first ever Equine Welfare Week. Owning a horse is a huge responsibility, as well as a significant financial investment so the last thing any horse owner wants is to have an unhealthy horse that they cannot ride. We see this Welfare Week as a great opportunity to educate horse owners about the importance of regularly worming and vaccinating their horse as a matter of course.”

Jane Holderness-Roddam, Chairman of the Fairs is also delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile initiative: “We believe it is very important that everybody involved in equestrianism is knowledgeable about a horse’s health and welfare requirements, which is why we are supporting Equine Welfare Week. The work of the welfare organisations will enable newcomers introduced to riding by the bestoffair.com Fairs to learn about horse care right from the start.”

Information on horse care will be distributed around the country through vets and retailers and at events organised in support of Equine Welfare Week, in conjunction with the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and Redwings Horse Sanctuary. (See welfare section). The British Equine Veterinary Association has also recognised the value of the project and will be providing information to vets at their annual congress in Harrogate, which coincides with the week.

A booklet called ‘A Guide to Horse Care and Welfare’, produced by the British Horse Society in conjunction with the Home of Rest for Horses, is also available. For copies, call 01903 893312 or email jnrfwelfare@hotmail.com.

For more information on Equine Welfare Week, call 01903 893312 or email jnrfwelfare@hotmail.com.

Zara Phillips triggers new interest in children

Zara Phillips took up the reins on 2 May in Hyde Park, London to launch a fund-raising mission to give 20,000 primary school children the chance to ride a horse for the first time as part of the bestoffair.com Fairs, which runs from June to August.

The Fairs involves taking 'Trigger', a lifelike mechanical horse that responds to the rider on its back, into 50 primary schools during the summer term. The additional fund-raising mission was the brainchild of Horse & Hound editor, Arnold Garvey, who will embark on a sponsored rider, in several stages, to raise £75,000 to fund further primary school visits by Trigger.

Zara Phillips was joined at the launch by children from Holy Trinity School in London who receive free instruction at Hyde Park Riding Centre each week. Miss Phillips comments: "It is a very rewarding experience to see a child enjoying their first time on a horse and Trigger will bring riding into primary schools in urban areas where children have not had easy access to horses. "Children take to horse riding readily, once they have had a go on Trigger. He is both safe and fun, and the presence of a riding instructor at the school visit not only ensures that they receive correct tuition but also provides an opportunity to arrange lessons on the real thing and continue their education."