Great Britain has an Olympic team gold medal to defend in Paris this summer and the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Fund, whose finance can make the difference in the colour of medals brought home, is the designated charity at the MARS Badminton Horse Trials.

As part of the fund-raising initiative, there is the chance to win a beautiful Stevenson Brothers rocking horse modelled on Lordships Graffalo, winner of Badminton in 2023 and the European Championships with Rosalind Canter.

The BEF’s World Class Programme is, of course, supported by UK Sport and the National Lottery, but putting British riders on the world stage at the highest level is becoming increasingly expensive.

‘The British Equestrian Federation Fund really is what makes the difference between our athletes finishing in fourth, fifth or sixth at this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, and bringing home a medal,’ explains Helen Nicholls, Performance Director  for the World Class Programme.

‘It gives us the flexibility to grant them those extra-special added touches that they need to perform to the best of their ability. When there’s a decision to be made about something that could allow an athlete to succeed on the world stage, this fund means we have the ability to say yes.’

Badminton Horse Trials was started in 1949 by the 10th Duke of Beaufort to prepare British riders for Olympic Games, and the event has acted as a selection trial for many nations ever since. Great Britain were Olympic champions in 1956, 1968, 1972 and, most recently, in 2021 when Tom McEwen also took the individual silver medal.

To enter the raffle, which will be drawn on June 30, visit the BEF stand at Badminton for a form or go online at: https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/britishequestrianteamspathtoparis