... carriage driving news ... carriage driving news ...

Duchess of Cornwall becomes BEF Patron
10 April 2006

The British Equestrian Federation is delighted to announce that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall has accepted the Federation’s invitation to become its first Patron.

Her Royal Highness has a lifelong interest in horses and will support the Federation’s work building on the collective efforts of its thirteen member bodies. In particular, the Duchess will help the Federation support the owners of our elite horses and the riders in the build up to the Aachen World Equestrian Games later this year, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

She also wishes to support and encourage those who give so much to the work of the Federation and its member bodies, especially the volunteers on whom our sport depends.

BEF Board Chairman, Hugh Thomas said: “We are thrilled that The Duchess of Cornwall has accepted the invitation to be our Patron. We are determined that the Federation should be seen as an effective body of sporting, recreational and trade organizations working jointly to provide leadership throughout the equestrian industry. Having the active support of The Duchess of Cornwall as our Patron will highlight this work while ensuring that those who give so much will be supported by a great enthusiast for the horse and our sport.”

The Duchess of Cornwall will be patron for an initial period of five years.

The BEF vision is to develop its concept of More People, More Horses, More Places and More Medals, aiming to become the most successful international federation by 2012. Member bodies are: British Dressage, British Eventing, British Show Jumping Association, British Equestrian Vaulting, British Horse Driving Trials Association, British Reining, Endurance GB, British Horse Society, The Pony Club, Association of British Riding Schools, British Equestrian Trade Association, Scottish Equestrian Association, Riding for the Disabled Association.

Visit the BEF website at www.bef.co.uk