Chief Executive Roly Owers honoured with OBE for services to equine welfare

Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive is honoured with OBE at Buckingham Palace

Posted on 03/05/2024

Chief Executive Roly Owers honoured with OBE for services to equine welfare

World Horse Welfare’s Chief Executive, Roly Owers, has been honoured with an OBE at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace for services to equine welfare. 

Roly was honoured by HRH The Princess Royal, who is also President of the Norfolk-based equine welfare charity, on Wednesday 1st May. 

The Honour marks a significant time for the charity as it advances its mission to improve equine welfare by strengthening the horse-human relationship —helping all horses including horses in need, horses in sport and leisure, and horses used for work and production.   

Yesterday was hugely special in so many different ways – to be given my award by our President, HRH The Princess Royal, to be surrounded by my family and for the charity to be recognised in this way. I really could not have wished for more and will remain forever grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey – there are certainly so many.” 

Roly Owers

Roly’s OBE for services to equine welfare in the UK and globally was announced as part of the King’s Birthday list in June 2023.   

As the charity looks towards its centenary in 2027 it is making significant steps towards the fulfilment of its founding aim to prevent the export of live British horses for slaughter. 

Soft straw for her bed

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