Following on from the success of the 2016 Invisible Horse Sculpture Trail at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, in 2019 we decided to create a 40 sculpture, multiple-location trail to highlight the positive stories of the horses helped by our work around the world.
The master sculpture
The master sculpture itself was created by acclaimed artist Judy Boyt based on the story of Lucas, a frozen and abandoned foal who was rescued by World Horse Welfare and has flourished into a beautiful sport horse.
The World Horse Trail auction
The incredible sculptures will be auctioned off in November to raise funds to help horses and pre-bids can be made at the online World Horse Trail auction site now.
About the Trails
The World Horse Trail tells the stories of horses which we have helped as well as highlighting other areas of our work with horses in sport. A number of the sculptures feature working horses from countries like Haiti where families rely on their horses to make a living.
The unique designs for the sculptures were kindly created by artists, celebrities, students and members of the public and inspired by the stories or names of the horses. The World Horse Trail was proudly supported by the Beaverbrook Foundation.
Ten of the large sculptures featured on the Show Trail, which was launched at Royal Windsor Horse Show with much success before travelling to a number of other venues over the summer. The Borough Trail comprised a further ten large sculptures, which were first sited in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Eton, before moving to Kensington and Chelsea to be enjoyed by a new tourist audience.
The Farm Trail saw five mini-sculptures, or maquettes, featured at each of our four Rescue and Rehoming Centres around the UK. Four Haiti-inspired designs on the Farm Trail were the winners from a sculpture design competition for under-16s judged by YouTube sensation This Esme.
The winner for the sculpture design competition for those aged 16 and over was chosen by World Horse Welfare Patron and Olympic gymnast Suzanne Dando-Reynolds BEM.
“I am delighted to be judging the World Horse Welfare World Horse Trail competition. The 2016 trail was a huge success with some amazing designs on our sculptures. This is a fun and innovative way to help raise vital funds for the work we do at World Horse Welfare, not just here at home but throughout some of the poorest countries in the world. So, put your creative hat on, pick up that paint brush and help a horse in need today! Good luck.”
Suzanne Dando-Reynolds, World Horse Welfare Patron
The World Horse Trail artists and sponsors
The trail artists were:
- Cheryl Johnson, winner of the 16+ design competition
- Katie Barrett, runner-up in the 16+ design competition
- Zara Tindall MBE with Rob Williams
- Jennifer Bell, accomplished equestrian artist
- Judi Milne, tattoo artist and creator of Lucas’ design
- Nick Skelton CBE with Rob Williams & Georgina Leigh
- Nichola Eddery, fine artist
- Katie O’Sullivan, accomplished equestrian artist
- Deborah Meaden with Jan Jacquelin & Georgina Leigh
- Jonathon Agnew MBE with Rob Williams
- David Shilling, founding father of modern millinery
- Sarah Aspinall, specialist equestrian portrait artist
- Julian Seaman, visiting tutor in fashion design at Central Saint Martins
- Lee McKenzie, television presenter and World Horse Welfare Patron
- Gillian Higgins, founder of Horses Inside Out
- Martin Clunes OBE with Jennifer Bell
- Judy Boyt, sculptor and designer
- Jamie Osbourne, renowned racehorse trainer
- Sara Cox, radio DJ and World Horse Welfare Patron
- Rob Williams, cartoonist and caricaturist
- Alan Titchmarsh MBE
- Gabriella Shaw, ceramic artist
- Students from the Artist, Designer: Maker course at Cardiff School of Art & Design
- Gudrun Martin, winner of the under-16s design competition
- Frances Plume, World Horse Welfare Supporter Fundraising Officer
- Alex Hua Tian with Rob Williams
- This Esme, YouTube star
- Emma Seaton, winner of the under-16s design competition
- Mona Curtis-Bennett and Ruth Sadler
- Michelle McCullagh, fine artist
- Pippa Funnell MBE with Rob Williams
- Alexandra Jackson, winner of the under-16s design competition
- Suzanne Dando-Reynolds BEM with Sue Millman
- Alex Hammond, reporter and television presenter
- Olivia Williams, winner of the under-16s design competition
- Trudy Redfern, equestrian artist
The sculptures were very kindly sponsored by:
- TCS Media
- Westgate Labs
- AlphaCard
- Peden Bloodstock
- Ascot Racecourse Supports
- Hy Equestrian
- Retraining of Racehorses (RoR)
- The Beaverbrook Foundation
- British Horseracing Authority
- Amalgam
- The Jockey Club
- Lincoln Horse Care
- Wimbledon Village Stables
- Daylesford Organic
- Chasemore Farm
- Horse & Hound
- Interaction Marketing & PR
- HPower
- Eskimo EPOS
- Stevenson Brothers Rocking Horses
- Stallion AI Services
- Matthew Seed – The Horse Photographer
- Alltech
- PetMeAway
- Harry Hall
- Mole Valley Farmers
- Westwood Forster
- The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust
- Derby House
- Sharp/Copy IT
- Donald Nicol Farriers Ltd
- The Saddlers’ Company
- The Pony Club
