Why your gift matters

Thanks to generous supporters like you, in the last year alone: 

 

 

Legacies help make achievements like these possible. 

 

Lucy’s story

"Mum’s passion for horses began riding as a teenager at a local farm with her best friend. Then, after having her family, we owned our own ponies, taking them on holiday to Thetford Forest and to the beach at Skegness for some amazing riding. 

 

 

At home, we regularly hacked out making use of local bridleways and forestry commission tracks. I remember one when we would jump the ditch rather than risk our legs on the bridge where horse and rider only just fitted between the handrails! We did complain to the council but with no success. 

 

Mum joined the BHS around this time, initially for the benefit of the insurance cover with the Gold membership but, in reading the magazines and finding out all the BHS did, she became particularly passionate about the campaign to improve access for horse riders. 

 

Blue, a Dales pony cross and a real character, was a very affectionate horse and had a strong bond with Mum but he did lack manners on the ground! However, when he was being ridden he was pretty good and Mum would take him out for long hacks on her own, both at home and on extended holidays in her beloved Lake District. Some of her best times with Blue were doing the Mary Townley Loop and riding up on the Lakeland fells with her friends. 

 

Mum knew she was lucky to have the opportunity to do all this hence her Access legacy to the BHS for others to be able to do the same and have good riding access and bridleways. It’s great to be able to take your horse on holiday but overall, it’s more important to have good, safe hacking locally for regular safe riding."