British Eventing (BE) has announced a significant investment into the sport through the introduction of ‘The Howden Way’. The seven-figure sum investment over a five-year period from David Howden, Group CEO and Founder of Howden and Founder and President of the Cornbury House Horse Trials, will enable the delivery of new training for riders and the creation of a young horse pathway.
Through the investment, BE will be able to introduce new regional training available to all riders. Regardless of an individual’s riding experience, all BE members will have an equal opportunity to take part in the subsidised training and have access to remote online content. The Howden Regional Training Academies will endeavour to ensure all riders are competing both competently and safely with the bespoke training syllabus created to develop riders both in and out of the saddle.
The regional training sessions will also provide a means through which talented young riders, aged between 14 and 28, can be identified by regional lead coaches and be invited to join The Howden Talent Academy. Tailored coaching and mentoring from world-renowned trainers will help the individual’s progression in the sport.
The Howden Way also brings about an opportunity for eventing to help maintain the high calibre of horses in the UK. Through The Howden Young Horse Academy, horses that have future potential will be identified and enrolled on to an equine pathway consisting of training and competitions. New BE age-specific leagues will be generated to identify, showcase, and develop the up-and-coming five to nine-year-old horses as they progress through the season. These leagues will also act to support stakeholders, including owners and breeders, on whom the future of the sport relies.
Helen West, Chief Executive of British Eventing, welcomed the new investment.
“This is a very exciting time and a significant opportunity for British Eventing,” she said. “The creation of The Howden Way represents the largest direct sponsorship into one of the national governing bodies of an Olympic equestrian discipline. We are very grateful to the support given by David Howden and look forward to the benefits our members will receive from the introduction of The Howden Way.”
David Howden added: “I am thrilled to support British Eventing and the future of the sport through the introduction of The Howden Way. Eventing is such a special sport and through The Howden Way we want to ensure riders and young horses are offered the best opportunities to reach their full potential.”
