Equibuddy Horses Win Again
Equibuddy Horses Win Again! 
Equibuddy horses showed their all round abilities at the weekend cleaning the board at Duns Show. Rebecca Morgan, co-founder of Equibuddy, came home with the Hunter Champion, Ridden Champion, Working Hunter winner and a one two in the Round the Ring Jumping with Bart Simpson and MacRobert Dot Com (known to his friends as Spotty). Both are a vital part of the Equibuddy team who provide equestrian vaulting for all abilities.
The Hunter and Ridden Championship went to Bart Simpson; a 10 year old grey gelding owned by Andy Miller. In vaulting he has carried the South of Scotland Select team in Saumur and Aachen finishing 7th in the Aachen Vaulting Masters. Beyond his international duties Bart, alongside Spotty, also perform in numerous demonstrations, ‘have a go’ sessions, corporate team building days, Riding for the Disabled vaulting as well as the competitive circuit.
With many of the vaulters in the crowd cheering them on, the horses rose to the occasion. Jenny Leggate, co-founder of the charity, said, “It was really great the buzz that was going around the ring. Bart is a fantastic international vaulting horse that was bred by the late Suzannah Simpson and the kids are so proud seeing the horses competing here as they have all been involved with the horses – making it a real local success.”
“Spotty’s win in the Round the Ring Jumping as the horse you would like to take hunting is very fitting, as the Swan family helped Equibuddy to find sponsorship for him after their help in setting up the charity.”
Rebecca says, “We are very keen to provide highly trained vaulting horses to give the kids the best benefits possible. An integral part of their training is the work they do with the Lauderdale Vaulting Club but also doing other things such as jumping, hunting and competing at shows. This keeps the horses balanced, fit and happy, whilst providing them with a wider education of the world.”
Jenny concurs: “The great thing about training horses this way means when the horse moves onto to help another vaulting group start, people can also enjoy riding and competing them at any level. This all round ability is what Equibuddy strives for! It means everyone can feel involved in any of the horses’ successes.”
Bart Simpson with the South of Scotland Select team will be heading off to the British Championships next month, which also incorporates a selection trial for the World Equestrian Games next year in Kentucky.
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Notes to Editor:
- Equibuddy was established in 2005. It combines the work of the Scottish Borders Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) with the world class equestrian skills of the Lauderdale Vaulting Club and has produced some of the most highly trained horses in the country. Equibuddy has trained 12 horses to date and had hundreds of participants, including people with special needs, international vaulters, hen parties and corporate team building clients.
- Equestrian vaulting is simply gymnastics on the back of a moving horse. It has great therapeutic qualities – the connection with the horse has physical and emotional benefits while developing individual skills in a team environment. Vaulting is unique in that it enables able and less able, young and less young to work alongside each other in a team sport.
- Equibuddy was co-founded by Jenny Leggate BHSI RDASI and Rebecca Morgan. Jenny has over 35 years’ experience of training equestrian professionals and working with the RDA as a Senior Instructor. Rebecca has 20 years’ experience of vaulting both as a participant and international coach with specialist skills in the training of horses.
For further information, please contact Kirsty Fitzgerald on 07949 712843 or kirsty@equibuddy.org
