Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Sandpiper Trust are delighted to announce that the charity has been chosen as the official charity partner for 2021 by the team at Atholl Estates .
Running over four days ( 26 – 29 August ), Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials is Scotland ’ s leading equestrian event , usually attracting over 45,000 visitors every year – although numbers will be limited for 2021 .
Founded in 2001 following the accidental death of 14-year-old Sandy Dickson , Sandpiper Trust is a self-funded charity dedicated to providing doctors , nurses and paramedics in rural Scotland
with Sandpiper Bags - to date 1,250 bags have been distributed , each one containing over 50 state-of-the-art pieces of lifesaving equipment , designed for ease of use , standardisation and portability . The charity also provides responders with the technology to connect them to the Scottish Ambulance Service despatch system .
Nicky Townshend , Assistant Director of Blair Castle Horse Trials , said : “ Huge areas of Scotland are remote and it can take time for a Scottish Ambulance Service vehicle to attend an emergency . The Sandpiper Bags provide crucial equipment to emergency responders , resulting in many lives having being saved . We are delighted to support
Sandpiper Trust is a registered charity that exists entirely on personal donations and fundraising . Apart from one staff member , the Trust is run solely by volunteers .
Sandpiper Trust confirmed as the charity partner of FEI Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials
this cause and look forward to working together to raise funds and awareness for the charity .”
Lorna Duff of Sandpiper Trust commented : “ We are thrilled to be given this opportunity to raise the profile of the charity , and let people know who we are and what we do . Like so many charities , we have essentially lost the last 18 months of fundraising events so this is great timing - and comes in our twentieth year which makes it even more special . I ’ m looking forward to meeting lots of horse trials visitors on our stand across the four days of the event .”
Farewell Freddie Fox
On Thursday 15 July 2021 , Gillian Higgins and the team at Horses Inside Out said goodbye to the wonderful Freddie Fox , who after 24 wonderful years was gently and sadly laid to rest surrounded by those who loved him .
Freddie Fox has given so much to the world of horses helping to educate thousands of people across the world . He has contributed to raising awareness about equine anatomy , biomechanics , movement , soundness , welfare , riding , training and management practices for the good of horses everywhere .
As well as being an integral part of Horses Inside Out since the beginning in 2006 , he also played a huge part in Gillian ’ s learning journey . He helped her gain experience during her time at university and with her own therapy education with both Mary Bromiley and the McTimoney-Corley Animal Manipulation course at the Oxford College of Equine Physical Therapy .
Since then , this partnership has helped so many other professional therapists on their educational journey and for countless horse owners who have attended Horses Inside Out lecture demonstrations . " Freddie always loved the painting process . With him it was like giving a massage but with a paint brush !” said Gillian . “ It was always a very therapeutic process and both of us seemed to enter a zen-like state !"
Away from Horses Inside Out , Gillian and Freddie evented up to intermediate level at prestigious events including , Chatsworth , Belton , Longleat , Burnham Market , Barbury Castle , Tweseldown and Larkhill .
“ Freddie will live on to help future generations of equestrians . He is immortalised in all of my published books and videos to date and who knows some future ones too ,” says Gillian . “ Whether it was eventing , hacking , riding on the beach , photoshoots or lecture demonstrations he seemed to enjoy it all and was great at playing to an audience .”
EVERYTHING HORSE MAGAZINE : AUGUST 2021 • 11