British Eventing awarded charitable status

British Eventing (BE) has been awarded charitable status, which it hopes will increase participation and help finance more training for its members.

New opportunities

The British Eventing Charitable Foundation has four trustees: Hugh Thomas, Malcolm Wharton, Mike Etherington-Smith and Lady Madeleine Lloyd Webber.

Lady Lloyd Webber used to event herself, winning two junior silver medals in 1984 and a senior team gold in 1986. She also has a daughter with musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who competes at junior level.

Expansion

The aims of foundation are to create more opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds to take part in eventing. It also hopes to continue and expand the work of the education and training arm of BE, which was launched in 2012.

Last year 2,055 riders took part in BE accredited courses, and these will now be run through the foundation.

Exciting news

BE’s newly appointed chairman Hugh Thomas believes the approval of the application is “exciting news for eventing”.

“It provides us with an opportunity to open up the sport to a far wider audience, encouraging participation not just from riders and volunteers but by spectators and followers too,” he said.