Young eventers given wealth of opportunities

The newly re-branded Wesko Foundation is extending its support to young riders across the globe to help shape their futures   

The Wesko Equestrian Foundation was launched in 2018 to support up-and-coming professional event riders who’ve aged out of the Young Rider programme. Founded in memory of the late Christina Knudsen, its name honours her former horse and 5* eventing champion, Wesko.

The foundation aims to bring education and opportunities to talented young event riders to help support their future. The year-long support cycle for selected riders includes intensive training with Pippa Funnell, as well as sports psychology and fitness guidance, business support, media training, and horse management sessions. Previous graduates include 2021 Blenheim CCI4*-L winner Yasmin Ingham and Team Ireland competitor Susie Berry.

The Outreach Programme has recently made steps to support The Ebony Horse Club, which will see the Foundation facilitate a day of lessons and interaction with world number three, and Foundation ambassador, Tim Price. The Foundation looks to pledge further support to the true grassroots of eventing, while also looking abroad to those young riders from emerging nations looking to gain access to the sport of eventing.

Alongside the addition of the Outreach Programme, the Wesko Equestrian Foundation’s also extending its support to young event riders with the introduction of the Young Eventers Pathway. On 15 –16 March, the Foundation will welcome more than forty young eventers aged 21–28 to a funded training day at the British Showjumping Training Centre in Hothorpe. Riders will benefit from expert coaching from Philip Surl, Richard Waygood and Nikki Herbert, along with gaining access to the Foundation’s wider support team.

For more information, visit weskoequestrianfoundation.org.uk