Guide Dogs swapped four paws for four hooves in May as Charity of the Year at the world-famous MARS Badminton Horse Trials. We had two stands in the heart of the event village and spoke to thousands of people, from life-long supporters to those who had never connected with us before.
As well as bringing in a substantial amount, we also raised awareness of our cause and our services, talked about gifts in Wills, invited people to take on our Tack Up Challenge to put a saddle and bridle on a model of a horse against the clock, and eventing legend William Fox Pitt even hosted a course walk for us!
William Fox-Pitt commented: “I have first-hand experience of sight loss after a bad fall ten years ago. I was very lucky that with time and rehabilitation my sight returned, but it really made me appreciate my vision, and the part animals can play in helping to rebuild and recover after something so traumatic. Guide Dogs is an amazing cause, and that sense of connection and working as a team resonates very strongly with me.”
Andrew Lennox, CEO of Guide Dogs, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as this year’s charity of the year for the Badminton Horse Trials. This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the work we do to an audience that already understands how valuable the partnership between animals and humans can be. A guide dog partnership is a team – they rely on each other, and build up a strong bond of trust over time, facing all kinds of challenges.”
A huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who worked so hard across the event, making the most of this great opportunity.