The MARS Badminton Horse Trials have revealed that their Charity of the Year in 2025 will be Guide Dogs.
Former event rider William Fox-Pitt, who temporarily lost his vision following a serious cross-country fall at Le Lion d’Angers in 2015, was on site at the Gloucestershire venue to support the partnership.
“I have first-hand experience of sight loss after a bad fall ten years ago. I was very lucky that with time and rehabilitation my sight returned, but it really made me appreciate my vision, and the part animals can play in helping to rebuild and recover after something so traumatic,” explained William.
“Guide Dogs is an amazing cause, and that sense of connection and working as a team resonates very strongly with me. I’ll be at Badminton as a non-competitor this year, and I’m really looking forward to supporting them there.”
William will be hosting a cross-country course walk during next year’s event, which takes place from Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 May, to raise money for the charity.
Guide Dogs supports two million people in the UK with sight loss to live actively, independently and well. The charity is almost entirely dependent on donations.
“We’re delighted to have been chosen as this year’s charity of the year for the Badminton Horse Trials,” said Andrew Lennox, ceo of Guide Dogs.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the work we do to an audience that already understands how valuable the partnership between animals and humans can be.
“A guide dog partnership is a team – they rely on each other and build up a strong bond of trust over time, facing all kinds of challenges. It’s a powerful working relationship, and I think that seeing that kind of extraordinary partnership at work will resonate with visitors to Badminton.”
For more information about Guide Dogs click here.
