Record winnings for The Blue Cross at Badminton

08/05/2008

As Nicolas Touzaint celebrates being the first Frenchman to win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, The Blue Cross is also celebrating record donations of over £15,000 from animal-loving spectators at the event. 

As Charity of the Year at Badminton (1-4 May 2008), The Blue Cross was permitted to raise funds for the needy animals in its care and recruited over a hundred members of staff and volunteers to help collect donations over the four days of the event.     

Fundraising efforts included a raffle to win a Mitsubishi car and a prize draw for a cross-country shirt in Blue Cross colours, signed and worn by international event rider Mary King at Badminton.  There was also a ‘lucky horse’ competition on The Blue Cross stand, where visitors could pick a rosette from a life-size horse to claim a mystery prize. 

During the event, the management team behind Badminton Horse Trials donated 30 unique cross-country fence signs that had been used at previous events.  Enthusiasts snapped them up for up to £80 a piece, with all proceeds going to The Blue Cross. 

Emma Vickers, Corporate Fundraising Officer at The Blue Cross said: “We were blown away by the support from everyone at Badminton.  We’ve already raised around £15,000 for the needy animals in our care, which is more than we’ve ever made before at an event like this.  As a charity, The Blue Cross relies on public support so every donation really does make a difference.” 

As well as raising money at Badminton, The Blue Cross took the opportunity to tell visitors about its work helping sick and homeless animals around the country. 

Six Blue Cross horses seeking homes were introduced to spectators in the main arena on Saturday (3 May) by celebrity supporter and six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green.  Ridden by Blue Cross grooms, the horses performed a polished riding display to music and were rewarded by official Badminton rosettes and cheers from the crowd. 

The following day (4 May), Blue Cross horses Guinness and Giggsey had the rare opportunity to lead out the Parade of Competitors, followed by royal event rider Zara Phillips.  Zara also posed for photographs with Blue Cross Bette and Isobel – two ponies that have been successfully rehomed by the charity and now compete regularly at Pony Club events.

Vicki Alford, manager of The Blue Cross equine centre in Burford said: “Being Charity of the Year at Badminton was an incredible opportunity that we will never forget.  The horses really rose to the occasion and all behaved impeccably.  It was a real chance for us to show people the quality of horses at The Blue Cross, and hopefully it will help us to find them loving new homes.”

For details of all The Blue Cross animals that are currently looking for homes please visit www.bluecross.org.uk  or contact the Burford equine centre on 01993 822 454.

The Blue Cross does not receive any government funding so it relies on fundraising and public donations to continue its vital work.  The next national fundraising event is the annual Blue Cross Tea Party which takes place next Friday (16 May).  Supporters are being urged to sign up to hold their own tea party to raise money for the animals at The Blue Cross.   For more information, please visit www.bluecrossteaparty.org.uk  or phone 08444 993 663.

Ends

Notes to editors

Photos available: Blue Cross horses from Burford performing in the riding display; Blue Cross horses leading Zara Phillips in the Parade of Competitors; Zara Phillips with two successfully rehomed Blue Cross ponies.

Blue Cross horses to take part in the riding display and parade were:

Blue Cross Gem, a 14-year-old 12.2hh bay Welsh section B (mare)

Blue Cross Maizie is a 19-year-old 15hh dark bay cob (mare)

Blue Cross Solitaire is a 12-year-old 15hh black Warmblood/Hunter (mare)

Blue Cross Painter, an 11-year-old 14.3hh skewbald Sports Horse cross (mare)

Blue Cross Shadow, an 8-year-old 15.1hh black cob cross (gelding)

Blue Cross Sonny, a 19-year-old 15.2hh dun Connemara cross (gelding)

Blue Cross Guinness is a 19 year old 16.1hh black Shire x Thoroughbred (gelding)

Blue Cross Giggsey is a 13-year-old 13.hh blue roan Connemara x (gelding)

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. 

Media contact

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