Eventer in the Pink for Charity Bid

Among the hundreds of horses and international equestrian stars at the start of Burnham Market Horse Trials, one competitor stood out from the crowd.

Athlone Frankie, still a novice in the eventing world, drew surprised looks from onlookers and rivals as he belted around the cross-country course with a pink ribbon clipped and dyed into his hind.

It is because his rider, 17-year-old Norwich School student Steph Richardson, was using the competition to raise money for breast cancer research.

She came up with the idea after a family friend was diagnosed with the illness and hopes to raise £300 for charity during the competition.

She said: “After I found out more I just wanted to promote it, not only for the people who are going through it, but for their relatives and those close to them.

“I was competing quite a lot so I thought this was the best way to promote it. When the pink is sprayed on for cross-country everyone looks at him and I get really embarrassed, but when they realise what it is for they just think it is fantastic.”…

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Date: 4-14-2009
By: http://www.fakenhamtimes.co.uk