We recently ran a competition on TwitterEventing giving people a chance to win a past XC Video of their horse and the response was fantastic.
There were many stories of horses no longer competing due to retirement or sad loss – we only wish we could have everyone a video as all of their horses deserved one! However, our winner was a horse whose story turned out to be a happy one, thanks to having been rescued
Briony Gilks won a XC video of World Horse Welfare Norfolk Swing at Stratford Hills 2017 where they competed in the Novice and finished 11th in the Section F. But it was their first double clear cross country round at this level and Briony was delighted with the horse that nearly didn’t make it into the world
World Horse Welfare Norfolk Swing was rehomed by Briony from World Horse Welfare at Hall Farm in Norfolk when he was three years old. His dam had been seized by the RSPCA from an owner that had breached their ban; the same owner had previously left a heavily pregnant mare to starve resulting in the mare having to be put to sleep but luckily the outcome was a happier one for World Horse Welfare Norfolk Swing and his mother. Thanks to her rescue during the pregnancy, he was born safely at Hall Farm where he grew up until Briony took him home
“I’ve done everything with him since then” Briony told us “He’s not always been easy but we’re getting there slowly. He’s a jack of all trades - he has National Titles, he’s competed for Great Britain in France at the World Riding Club Championships, he’s been on the winning team (of only 3 horses) of an Intermediate Team Chase, been to Burghley to promote the World Horse Welfare charity twice and also to Blenheim for the same reason. Things could have been very different for him if he hadn’t been rescued”
“My aim with him is to complete a One Star hopefully this season. He’s now 10 years old and is the absolute apple of my eye!”
Let’s hope we’re filming when they do their first One Star if Briony is anywhere near as happy as she was during this ride!
Watch Briony and World Horse Welfare Norfolk Swing's full ride at Stratford Hills here
