Equestrianism has a role to play in London 2012 sporting legacy
World Horse Welfare annual conference looks ahead to the Olympic and Paralympics
Minister for Sport and Olympics today told that equestrianism must make the most of the opportunity of London 2012 to build a lasting legacy for the sport.
鈥淣ext year is a chance to showcase the sport - to put it at the centre of the Games and attract new audiences for the long term.鈥� said Robertson.聽鈥漌e saw a flavour of this in the summer鈥檚 test event, which gave 3,500 schoolchildren the chance to see equestrian sport for the first time. And next year, with the iconic Greenwich backdrop and the biggest names on show, the opportunity will be even larger.鈥�
This year鈥檚 conference, entitled 鈥淥lympics 2012: What legacy for horse welfare?鈥� was held at the Royal Geographical Society. The Olympics Minister also talked about the important role that animal welfare will play as London welcomes those horses competing in the equestrian events that will take place in Greenwich Park.
The 鈥渉ighest standards鈥� of equine care
鈥淓quine welfare matters hugely, not just for the horse鈥檚 benefit, but also because it鈥檚 in the best interest of the sport. We simply won鈥檛 see the highest standards of equestrianism next year unless we subscribe to the highest standards of equine care. That鈥檚 why we already have a team of vets, Government advisers, and London 2012 officials working together to ensure all horses have the best possible experience.鈥�
Other speakers at the event included, the World Horse Welfare President HRH The Princess Royal, who also sits on the board of the , racing journalist and broadcaster Alastair Down, World Horse Welfare鈥檚 Chief Executive Roly Owers, and their Chairman, Christopher Hall.
Roly Owers commented on why a focus on the London Games was necessary for this year鈥檚 conference; 鈥淲ith the Olympic Games fast-approaching, we felt the annual conference was an excellent opportunity to discuss a number of issues relating to the welfare of horses being used in sport. It is also timely as horseracing has hit the headlines on a number of occasions this year, most recently with the debate over the use of the whip.鈥�