Horses Help Heroes at Badminton

By katie on 14th-Apr-2011

Image: Horses with a horse drawn ambulance

If you haven't heard about the Horses Help Heroes initiative, you can't fail to be impressed by the sheer scale of the ambition. In order to raise £1m for injured servicemen, Horses Help Heroes aim to drive a replica WW1 horse-drawn ambulance the length of Britain non-stop in just ten days later this year.

Test of endurance

A real test of both human and equestrian endurance, the one-off challenge will require six pairs of highly trained horses and six outrider horses to work shifts. The ambulance will be driven by Mrs Jacks El Tawil, a Wiltshire-based ambulance paramedic together with a number of war damaged service people from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

High profile support

As well as HRH Prince William, a number of high profile supporters from both the military and equestrian world have agreed to support the cause. Of the challenge, HRH Prince William said: “The Horses Help Heroes challenge combines in one the great British traits of thirst for adventure, support and compassion for our wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen, and a love of horses - with just the mildest sprinkling of healthy eccentricity. I salute all those involved with Horses Help Heroes for their tireless commitment, energy and originality in their drive toward this vision. I urge everyone to support them, in whatever way they can.”