“On behalf of everyone at World Horse Welfare we would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Princess Royal on being awarded the Longines Ladies Award and express sincere thanks to her for the donation to the charity which will help us to change the lives of even more horses around the world.
The Princess Royal has had an extraordinary impact on World Horse Welfare since becoming our President in 1994 and has undoubtedly been a key part of the charity’s transformation in that time.
I cannot think of anyone else who has had a greater impact on the charity sector as a whole in the UK and of course on the equestrian industry in so many different roles over the years. The Princess Royal is a true horsewoman, winning her first major eventing championship at the age of 21, competing in the Olympic Games and then devoting her efforts to equestrian sport out of the saddle in various advisory roles, including playing a key part in London’s successful 2012 Olympics bid.
The Princess Royal gives her time so freely and remains central to World Horse Welfare’s work helping horses both in the UK and around the world through our international projects. She has always been and continues to be very ‘hands-on’ in her role as President, even rehoming a World Horse Welfare pony, Annie, in 2013 who now enjoys hacking around the Princess Royal’s 200 acre home, Gatcombe Park.”
The Longines Ladies Award celebrates women who have made major contributions to the equestrian industry and is decided by a jury comprising FEI President Ingmar De Vos, Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and Nathalie Bélinguier, President of the International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders (FEGENTRI).
