Melissa Volpi meets Loes Knopper – the woman that has inspired riders around the globe to get ‘On Horses For Horses’ throughout September to raise money for World Horse Welfare…

 Loes Knopper knows what it’s like to care for a horse that is in need of rehabilitation. She bought Charlie, her coloured cob gelding in 2009. But it took a good two years before they were able to ride out confidently together without stress.

“Charlie used to scare the living daylights out of me,” Loes says during our walk through the forestry with her dogs Nanya, Bran and Fingal. “He napped, bit, reversed, spun and reared. But I don’t like quitting or giving up and I certainly don’t approve of beating a horse, or any animal, into submission.”

Loes stopped riding Charlie shortly after buying him and started to do a lot of groundwork to get their relationship back on track. The Pirelli games, help from others and her mantra of QD – quiet determination – paid off.

It was during this process that Loes realised what you could achieve with teamwork.

“It was after a night on forums and chats with fellow horse lovers that On Horses For Horses was born, “she tells me as we reach her home in Kinlochleven for some Thai Green Curry.  I wanted to be pro-active and do something for horses and their welfare in a very positive way. There was no way I could mount my Charlie and travel the world with him, or even the West Highland Way. But if I could organise an event where riders from the all over the world came together for the same cause, then that would really make a difference.”

Over dinner, I ask Loes to tell me more about On Horses For Horses…

What is the idea behind ‘On Horses For Horses’?

 On Horses For Horses is about joining forces with horse riders around the world to raise miles and money for World Horse Welfare – an International charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of horses worldwide and to helping them find loving, long term homes. I originally planned it as a one-off event and wanted to get as many riders from as many different countries to ride as many miles as possible on the same day. The aim was to reach a combined 24,906 miles, which is the circumference of the earth, and raise as much money as possible for WHW. I liked the idea of organising and taking part in a worldwide endurance event that was as big as the globe, for horses around the globe. Now it has evolved into a month long event where horse owners either clock up their hacking miles throughout September or organise an endurance style event with friends.

 Tell us about your first fundraising ride on the 25^th of September 2011?

 We spent a leisurely day walking and trotting across Airds estate and the beach in front of Castle Stalker. The local field officer for WHW came along to ‘crew’ for us and make sure that everything went without a hitch. We stopped for a picnic half way round to give the riders and horse a rest. I didn’t want a person to be put off by the competitive element of endurance riding, that’s why I have been careful how I word events. I want riders of all abilities and horses of all shapes and sizes to feel confident about taking part in an On Horses For Horses event.

 How much interest have you had?

 We have had riders from 17 countries take part and have managed to raise nearly £5,000.00 in three months (September 2011, 2012 and 2013). I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone that has helped me but also to MBBA (Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association) and La Fiaba horse riding holidays for helping to start everything off in 2011.

What’s next?

We are in the process of organising an On Horses For Horses event in my current hometown, Kinlochleven, for this September. A date will be announced soon on http://www.onhorsesforhorses.org/. But my long term plan is to host and take part in a 10-mile On Horses For Horses pleasure ride at the Scottish Endurance Championships.This National event is not held in September, my original fundraising month, but it would help to publicise us and get more Endurance riders involved. Our local club, SERC Argyll, have been very supportive. To see Charlie and I cross that finish line for this great cause would be a dream come true after all we have been through.

Join Loes in 2014 to raise miles and money by getting ‘On Horses For Horses’: http://www.onhorsesforhorses.org/

 Links:

 World Horse Welfare:

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Home

MBBA:

http://mbba.org.uk/

 La Fiaba:

http://la-fiaba.com/

 SERC Argyll:

http://www.freewebs.com/sercargyll/