Horse of the Year Show sponsor donates tickets to children’s charity

Seasoned supporter and sponsor of Horse of the Year Show, Ann Overton- Ablitt who is the owner of the Colne Stud in Colchester, has kindly made the decision to donate her 10 best seat gold tickets for the Show to the Hannah Payne Memorial Trust, a children’s charity for disabled riders. Well known for their continued sponsorship of the Colne Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein Pony of the Year and the Brineton Colne Mountain & Moorland Mini Pony of the Year Championship, Colne Stud has been an established breeder of Welsh ponies for many years.
Ann spoke of her donation: “Katie Marriott Payne is producing a pony for me this year and was telling me about the Hannah Payne Memorial Trust which was set up in memory of her sister-in-law. I spoke to some of the pupils at the centre and asked if they would enjoy a visit to HOYS and it was a resounding YES! So I thought such a deserving cause would be a wonderful recipient of this gift instead of me giving them to people who can easily afford to purchase them. Also having been a riding instructress in the past myself, I realise how rewarding it is to be involved in such a cause.”
Hannah Payne was a talented horse rider and college student who was tragically killed in a car accident 11 years ago aged just 17. In 2007 Hannah’s mum and dad set up a dedicated RDA riding facility in her name to provide disabled riders with the incredible therapy that riding provides. The facilities include an RDA School where the children have specialist coaching, play games including gymkhana and have rides out around the farm.
Hannah’s brothers and cousins also formed The Hannah Payne Memorial Trust with the aim of raising funds to provide much needed Family Rooms in the A&E department and in the Children’s ward in Northampton General Hospital. To date they have raised £340,000 for the hospital and are now also funding days out for Northamptonshire’s registered Young Carers.
Grandstand Media Ltd, organisers of Horse of the Year Show will be matching Ann’s generous donation of 10 best seat gold tickets for the Show which takes place from the 4th – 8th October at the NEC in Birmingham. Event Director Emma Wardell commented: “We were so moved by Hannah’s story and thought it was a wonderful gesture for Ann to donate her sponsor tickets to the charity so we wanted to match her donation. Katie Marriott Payne is a well-known show producer and regular HOYS competitor so it seemed very fitting to support the charity set up in memory of her sister-in-law.”

Speaking to Hannah’s mother, Caroline Payne, she commented: “We really are thrilled and so looking forward to a day out together and sharing this experience. The children are looking forward to seeing the Virbac 3D Worming Pony Club Mounted Games, especially as they love gymkhana games themselves. Hannah’s dad and I are particularly looking forward to seeing our grandson, Thomas riding in the Brineton Colne M&M First Ridden in the TopSpec Arena.”

For more information on Horse of the Year Show, please visit www.hoys.co.uk . To buy your tickets, call the Box Office on 0844 581 8282 or visit https://www.theticketfactory.com/hoys/online/

Image caption: Colne M&M Lead Rein Pony of the Year 2016 Thistledown Vander-Vaart

Image credit: ES Photography