A Pony Club tie signed by Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher, plus two horse shoes worn by Explosion W, the horse who carried him to victory in Tokyo, are two of the items available in a special auction for Blue Cross and The Pony Club.
The auction will be held online from this Friday, 1 October until Sunday, 24 October and all monies raised will be divided between the two charities.
Other items include Burghley and Horse of the Year Show tickets, plus a lesson and yard tour with eventing favourite Mary King and international showjumper Yazmin Pinchen.
The auction is taking place to celebrate the charities working together for over a decade.
BBC TV presenter Lizzie Greenwood Hughes, who was a member of The Pony Club and whose 10-year-old daughter Clemmie is now a member with her Blue Cross rescue horse Wispa, said: “Clemmie has really grown in confidence and made lots of riding friends since joining Pony Club.
“There’s nowhere better to teach children about horses and ponies. Children have fun but also learn the sense of responsibility and independence.
“As for Wispa, she is just a joy, so careful with Clemmie. We’re just so happy that we could give a Blue Cross rescue horse a loving new home.
“We have lots of rescue animals, sheep, dog, chickens, so I was keen to rescue a pony rather than buy one and Wispa is brilliant. She will be part of our family forever, we love her to bits.”
Working together
Blue Cross and The Pony Club work together to teach young people how to care for horses and ponies and about the importance of building a trusting partnership. They help to spread the word and unite like-minded horse lovers at rallies, events and competitions.
Another young rider to have grown in confidence since attending her first Pony Club rally this year is six-year-old Livvy Johnson with her Blue Cross pony Perry.
“Perry is a wonderful Blue Cross pony who has helped so many children over the years and now in our home, at the age of 19, he’s really brought on Livvy’s confidence,” said the rider’s mother, Rebecca.
“Livvy previously had a loan pony who didn’t do much more than walk, so she was quite nervous when Perry arrived in time for her 5th birthday in June 2020.
“In the past year he has brought on her confidence massively and she now walks, trots and canters off the lead rein because she trusts him to look after her.”
Rebecca added that it was making new friends at local shows with Perry that encouraged her to join The Pony Club.
“She was a bit nervous ahead of the first rally, but really enjoyed it and meeting like-minded children. She was excited for her first Pony Club camp,” said Rebecca.
“It was so good to see the children cheering each other on and again the day really helped to give her another boost to her confidence. It’s really wonderful to see her blossom.”
View the full auction items and make a bid at givergy.uk/BlueCrossforPetsandThePonyClub
Main image: Ben Maher and Explosion W competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit: Credit: FEI/Christophe Taniére
