BLAIR CASTLE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS SUPPORTS NEW CHARITY

The Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair has recently announced its official charity for 2006 is to be the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

Scotland’s leading equestrian event takes place from Thursday 24th August to Sunday 27th August at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, and includes a variety of horse classes including Hunters, Highland Ponies and Pony Club games. It also hosts a spectacular country fair, arena displays and a tented village with over 200 shops.

The EGSF, based at the Moredun Foundation near Edinburgh, is the only charity which raises money specifically for research into grass sickness, a disease which kills many horses, ponies and donkeys every year.

Director of the Blair Castle event, Sarah Phillips said, “We are delighted to be lending our support to this important charity. It is particularly appropriate for us to support the Equine Grass Sickness Fund as the highest prevalence of the disease is in Scotland, indeed the disease was first seen in horses in the Angus area in around 1907.

The EGSF, whose patron is the Princess Royal, is dependent on public funds to continue its support of vital research into grass sickness and to subsidise the treatment of chronic grass sickness cases at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. It also offers crucial advice and help to owners of affected horses and ponies throughout the UK and abroad.

The EGSF will use the Blair Castle Horse Trials to promote its work internationally and to send the message about the disease and the urgent need for further funds and for research away with the event riders. A trade stand will provide a focal point where visitors can find out more about the problem and buy merchandise to support the cause.

In addition to collections throughout the four days of the event, an auction night will be held for competitors and event personnel on Friday 25th August which will help raise both awareness and funds for research into this devastating disease.

Further information on the EGSF from www.grasssickness.org.uk

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