In the light of recent global events, we are seeing more terrific initiatives from the equestrian community to help out. Here we’ll compile some we have come across.
Shumbasa Community Trust: Love in Lockdown
Since 1990, the Shumbashaba Community Trust program has been carrying out some amazing work in one of the most difficult parts of the world. Diepsloot is what is known as an “impoverished township” in Johannesburg, South Africa and is home to more than almost 140,000 people – many of them classed as “youth-at-risk.”
Their Horses Helping People initiative – partially funded by the FEI’s Solidarity Program – is striving to improve the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of the young people who live there, by introducing them to horses and bringing some equestrian love into their lives.
Now they have launched a Love in Lockdown campaign to provide healthy meals to many families as part of our community programs with residents of Diepsloot. They distribute food packs every Wednesday during the lockdown.
Photo by FEI.
If you’d like to donate, even a little can make a huge difference. By donating towards one government standard food parcel you will be feeding a family that is currently going hungry.
One food parcel =
- 10kg mielie meal
- 5kg rice
- 2l oil
- 2.5kg soya
- 880g peanut butter
- 1 packet tea bags
- 2 tins baked beans
- 1 packet of 3 bars Sunlight washing soap
- 1 bottle Sunlight liquid
- 1 bottle all-purpose cleaner
- 2 face masks
Each pack should last a family two weeks for a family of roughly four people.
The Equestrian Aid Foundation
The Equestrian Aid Foundation provides emergency, lifesaving financial grants to horsemen and women coping with loss of income due to catastrophic injury or illness.
EAF invests in the future of its recipients, giving them the resources to recover and thrive in the face of adversity.
They have provided over $3 million in needs-based grant support and a promise of hope since its inception in 1996 to breeders, farriers, grooms, riders, trainers and other members of the equestrian community who are facing life-changing or life-threatening health crises and need help to pay for basic living and rehabilitative expenses.
Now they have opened its Disaster Relief Fund to assist equestrian professionals and industry service providers in unexpected financial crisis as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Foundation will prioritize assistance to industry professionals and service providers who have lost their primary or only income as a direct result of the pandemic. A one-time emergency grant payment of $500 is intended to assist qualified applicants with basic living expenses.
At this time, all donations to EAF’s Disaster Relief Fund will be directed toward assistance for equestrian professionals and service providers who are in financial crisis as a direct result of COVID-19.
For more information and to donate, click here.
Equestrian Relief: Supporting our NHS Heroes
Leading Olympic riders from across the disciplines, as well as horse racing jockeys and celebrities have shown their support for a major fundraising initiative launched by the team behind Bolesworth and Liverpool International Horse Shows.
Equestrian Relief is an urgent fundraising campaign to raise money and change lives, with donations going directly to support the efforts of the wonderful work being carried out by the NHS in the UK.
Leading names are all showing their support including two Eventing World Champions Ros Canter and Zara Tindall, Olympic Gold Medalists Carl Hester and Scott Brash, and racing legends AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori.
Each day two members of each team will take part in a daily challenge. The five challenges, which are; On the Gallops, Plankety Plank, Horse Drawn, Showstopper and Dark Horse will test riders’ skills physically, creatively and artistically.
Daily highlights were broadcasted across all the Liverpool International Horse Show channels April 6-13. For more information, click here.
Pony for Future
This initiative from Isabell Werth, aims to help riding schools that have been impacted by the recent events, by donating food, medication, equipment and services to those most in need.
Isabell’s plea of “Every little thing helps” has seen other athletes such as Michael Jung and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl auction off some of her items – including Dalera’s blanket from the Aachen leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ – in order to raise money for this great cause.
Donors and companies that need help can find all information on the hotline: Tel. 06836 920215.
Showjumping Relief Fund
This fundraiser was created to help the many people in the competitive equestrian industry affected by the show closures due to COVID-19.
https://www.facebook.com/showjumpingrelieffund/videos/1063545210712226/
They are encouraging the equestrian industry to work together to help those most in need. Many ring crew, in-gate crew, grooms, braiders, stewards, judges, office staff, security, etc. are now unemployed and still have bills to pay.
Your donations during this difficult time and will go to those in need to help keep food on their plates and cover some expenses for them and their families.
All proceeds go directly to helping members of the horse show community to help with groceries, phone bills, and taking care of their children and families.
If you need help, please visit the Facebook page for the application process.