The British Equestrian Federation
unveiled its London 2012 Hoof Legacy plans at the London
International Horse Show, Olympia, on Friday 16
December.
The BEF were joined by key figures from the
sporting landscape, Jennie Price, CEO of Sport England and Tim
Hadaway, Equestrian Competition Manager for LOCOG, as well as
riding centre proprietors and benefactors of the Hoof legacy
projects to date.
The presentation looked at legacy success
achieved in the sport and unveiled exciting new developments to
come, one of which is the launch of a new online ‘one-stop-shop’
portal in the New Year.
The online portal, which will go live in
January 2012, will house information that can assist any ability of
rider, from beginner through to seasoned professional, in helping
to locate information about the sport - from volunteering, coaching
or horse ownership, through to how you go about choosing the right
riding centre for you or what to wear to your first
lesson.
As well as signposting visitors to specific
information, the portal will feature a ‘where to ride’ page, which
will list riding centres throughout England in a bid to get more
people off the sofa and into the saddle.
“I am delighted we have been able to
launch the legacy at Olympia”, said Andrew Finding, Chief Executive
of the British Equestrian Federation. “There’s a great deal that is
being done but what’s so important is that our legacy is seen to be
broadly based and for the benefit of our industry as a whole.”
“Next year’s Olympic and Paralympic
Games presents us with an amazing opportunity to inspire more
people to play sport”, said Jennie Price, Chief Executive of
Sport England. “The British Equestrian Federation has really seized
this opportunity and is putting in place strong plans to ensure
they truly do deliver a lasting equestrian legacy beyond London
2012.”
Also launching in the New Year is the first in
a line of Hoof products - Take Back the Reins. The initiative is
specifically designed to be easily accessible and inspire
confidence and is suitable for those who may have ridden in the
past as well as those new to the sport.
It involves a series of once per week
riding lessons designed to support the rider through the initial
steps to regular riding. The experience is tailored to suit
individual needs and the aim is for the rider to develop sufficient
skills to be able to enjoy riding in open countryside.
Ruth Vasse took part in the programme,
delivered by Vauxhall City Farm and Park Lane Stables. “Returning
to riding was something I fancied doing anyway, but Take Back the
Reins really gave me the incentive to do so”, she said. “It
was an opportunity to combine fitness and being outdoors with
getting to know new people. Getting to know different horses and
what makes them tick is very similar to working with people; we
have our own little quirks and preferences, just like horses.”
Piloted in seven centres during the autumn,
the programme will be open for centres to register their interest
to take part from 1 January 2012.