Now in its fourth year, the annual ‘Blessing of the Horse’ is hoping to attract up to 100 horses – ranging from tiny Shetlands, to the humble mountain pony to the thoroughbred – and their riders at the Tregoyd Mountain Riders, near Three Cocks on Sunday 12th September. And it’s not just the horses that will be blessed, dogs can join in the ceremony too!
Supported by the British Horse Society and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, horses will be blessed by Reverend Alan Jevons at approximately 1.30pm and the ceremony will finish with a 12 mile pleasure trek taking in spectacular views of Hay Bluff and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. This year’s event will raise money for Help for Heroes and British Horse Society (BHS) Welfare.
Carol Williams, Tourism Growth Area Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “This unique blessing ceremony is held annually in the Bannau Brycheiniog and is fast becoming one of our most popular horse events in the National Park. At last year’s event we raised more than £500 for the Amser Justin Time charity, founded by Shân Cothi in memory of her husband Justin Smith’s fight against pancreatic cancer.
This year we are raising money for Help for Heroes so we are encouraging everyone to come along and help us raise as much money as possible.
“We have a wonderful working relationship with the British Horse Society who has helped us produce riding publications along with new access and circular routes. Horse riders who want to bring their horses on holiday in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park are guaranteed a warm welcome and an unforgettable riding experience. The best thing about these new routes is that even non-riders are able to appreciate riding these routes by booking a guided trek at one of the many excellent trekking centres in the area.”
Riders will go out between 10am and 12.30pm and it will cost £15 per adult rider £10 per child rider under 16 (must be accompanied by adult) and if you don’t own your own horse Tregoyd Mountain Riders will have horses available to hire on the day. For further information please contact Jan Roche BHS Regional Development Officer for Wales on 01656 724700 or email J.Roche@bhs.org.uk
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Picture credits: Copyright of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority
Photographs taken from last year’s event with Rev Alan Jevons and our newly blessed horses!
If you would like copies of the photographs please visit our website or contact me directly.
EDITORS’ NOTES
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park has been presented with a British Horse Society award for ‘Best Access’, confirming this area a rider’s paradise – uniquely blessed with many contrasting landscapes from windswept uplands, to reservoirs, ancient woodlands and beautiful waterfalls.
More information about the new routes will shortly be available on www.breconbeacons.org ; www.bhs.org.uk ; www.horseridingbreconbeacons.com