The Blue Cross rewards students who put equine welfare first

4 August 2008

Animal charity The Blue Cross has teamed up with equestrian colleges around the country with the launch of a new award to recognise students who go the extra mile for the welfare of the horses and ponies at their college.  The first awards were presented earlier this month to winning students at participating colleges, at the close of their summer term.

The Blue Cross has been a champion of animal welfare for well over 100 years and education remains at the heart of its work today.  The Blue Cross Welfare Award aims to encourage future generations of horse owners to keep equine welfare at the forefront of their minds.

Rosie Mogford, equine welfare education officer at The Blue Cross said: "The Blue Cross Welfare Award rewards people who go the extra mile to care for horses, unlike other awards that look for academic or equestrian achievements.  Perhaps it’s the person who consistently puts the horses first by offering to hand-graze a stabled horse before going for their own lunch. Or perhaps it’s the person who is always first to notice and report a horse which is off-colour.  The winners of this award will all have made a real difference to horses.”

One of the first students to be presented with The Blue Cross Welfare Award was Jenna Reilly, who studies at Moreton Morrell’s centre of vocational excellence (CoVE) for Equine Studies, part of Warwickshire College. She was nominated by her tutor Susan Weatherburn for demonstrating a high standard of horse care, welfare and management throughout her two years as a residential student. 

Ms Weatherburn added: “Jenna regularly worked during the holiday periods on the college yard, proving to be a responsible and conscientious worker.”

Recipients will keep the award for a full year, whereupon the engraved glass trophy will be returned and presented to a new winner within the college.  Winners also receive a certificate from The Blue Cross and a free subscription to an equestrian magazine for a year.

The Blue Cross Welfare Award is available for all equestrian colleges in the UK.  For more information, please contact Rosie Mogford on 01993 825501 extension 248.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Image attached – Jenna Reilly

Other students to have been presented with The Blue Cross Equine Welfare Award are:

Stephanie Godfrey, Abingdon and Witney College, Oxfordshire

Jess Duffield, Brooksby Melton College, Leicestershire;

Kerry Rashliegh, Duchy College, Cornwall;

Isobel Draper, Hadlow College, Kent;

Dannielle Perry, Plumpton College, Sussex

Stephanie Cooke, Rodbaston College, Staffordshire

The Blue Cross is committed to educating horse owners in responsible equine care, giving regular talks to equestrian students and Pony Club members around the country.  Blue Cross equine centres also host regular Pony Care days for local children.

The Blue Cross rehabilitates and rehomes hundreds of horses every year at two equine centres in Burford (Oxon) and Rolleston (Staffs).  A third facility in Northiam (East Sussex) has just been relaunched as a rest and retirement centre for Blue Cross horses. 

The Blue Cross provides practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of small animal and equine adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees. 

The Blue Cross does not receive any government funding so it relies on fundraising and public donations to continue its vital work.  For more information please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.  

Media contact

Sarah Shephard, Bright Bay PR, 01986 784562 / 07768 958911

Laura Dobson, The Blue Cross press office, 020 7932 4065 / 07917 132 698