Catching up with Forces Equine

06 Nov Catching up with Forces Equine

Supporting Forces Equine and their events it’s extremely important to us as they provide fantastic opportunities within the sport for hard-working servicemen, woman and their four-legged companions. We caught up with Debi who is the founder of Forces Equine and the brains behind this fantastic organisation…

1. How did you first get into horse riding?

Mum and dad took me for a lesson when I was 2 years old so 41 years ago and I loved it! Neither of them ride or have ever been involved with horses.

2. What is Forces Equine?

Forces Equine is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting riders who are serving, ex-serving or dependants of personnel within the Emergency Services, Government Services or Ministry of Defence. Including the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Police, Fire Service, Blue Lights Services; in the disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and all other equestrian activities.

Offering competitions, leagues and sponsorship programmes, Forces Equine is the UK’s number one recognised organisation who supports all of the above.

3. What is your favourite memory since Forces Equine began?

Our first FEG (Forces Equine Games) as we had so many competitors and the event was covered by ITV News which was a massive honour and British Show Jumping sent us some of the Olympic fences for our members to jump and British Dressage sent us fantastic judges and superb arenas for our riders to compete in! We have since been nominated for 3 awards as Best Club/Organisation with ESMA & Horse & Hound.

4. What is your most challenging moment with Forces Equine to date?

Exposure! As a not for profit funds are hard to come by, so advertising is an expensive task. Debi built Forces Equine off of the back of Social Media which has been a great and inexpensive help with growing the organisation and the other great support is our members who push it through word of mouth, that is an honour in itself.

5. What’s your view on safety protection in the equestrian industry?

Paramount! Being safe is key and the best equipment that a rider can afford ensures their protection if the worst could happen. We saw this recently when one of our FEYRA members (young riders) had a bad fall whilst show jumping, her hat saved her life!

6. What are your future aspirations for Forces Equine and the Forces Equine Games

To grow! We have great supporters like yourselves who offer our members fantastic opportunities and look out for their safety. We want our members to have the best membership benefits and enjoy the experience of their own show which hosts grassroots to elite levels in all disciplines, seeing 2020 introducing showing

Thank you so much to Debi for taking the time to speak to us and best of luck with the Winter games!