As we look ahead to the upcoming eventing season, it feels like a good time to reflect on the impact of your support for the British Eventing Support Trust. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and fundraisers, we’ve been able to help dozens of British Eventing competing riders facing physical and mental health challenges. But our work is far from done because, as our profile grows, more and more riders are reaching out for help! And that’s why we need to ensure we’re ready to respond by ramping up our fundraising efforts in 2025.
In this blog, we want to give you an insight into how donations are used and why your ongoing support is so critical to event riders in need. That way, you can get a clearer picture of how we spend the money that people generously donate and spend their time (and considerable energy) raising for us.
When riders turn to us, they’re often in need of rehabilitation services or mental health support to help them get back on their feet – sometimes both literally and figuratively. Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs involved in providing the services our beneficiaries rely on:
Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation physio is often the first step in a rider’s recovery journey after an injury. The average cost of a physiotherapy session is around £65 but can range from £55 to £90 per session. Most of our beneficiaries need between six and 10 sessions, meaning the total cost for physiotherapy alone can be £330 to £900 per rider.
Neuro physiotherapy
For those with life-changing injuries, neuro physiotherapy offers essential, long-term support to help rebuild mobility and function. The cost per session for neuro physio ranges from £85 to £175, with beneficiaries often needing between 25 to 50 sessions. This means the total cost can be anywhere from £2,125 to £8,750 for one rider.
Mental health counselling
The mental strain of injuries and the pressures of eventing can take a toll on riders. Our mental health support line is totally free, so when people are in their hour of need, they can speak to someone immediately. If they are referred for ongoing counseling, this service is at a cost of £85 per session, with beneficiaries typically receiving a minimum of six sessions. This equates to £510 per rider for the six counselling sessions, and that rises if they need a longer course of sessions.
Stair lift installation and rental
For riders who sustain life-changing injuries, adapting their homes is often essential, and we want to help them where we can. Installing a stair lift and providing a 12-month rental costs £2,850. This type of support can be transformational for riders who suddenly find themselves with reduced mobility and are yearning to go home to family, pets and loved ones.
Temporary wash pod rental
When a rider requires additional and specialist facilities to manage their daily hygiene routine, something like a temporary wash pod can make a world of difference. The cost for installation and a one-month rental of a temporary wash pod is £1,500. But for those in recovery, it can provide dignity and independence during a challenging time, so it’s worth every penny.
We hope that the costs outlined above illustrate just how vital ongoing fundraising efforts are. Each case we take on represents a real person – a rider, friend and member of the British Eventing community – who needs help to recover and rebuild their life. While 2024 was an incredible year in terms of fundraising, we won’t be resting on our laurels. The demand for our services is increasing, and we want to ensure we can help every rider who needs us. Your donations make that possible.
Thank you for being part of our story, and we look forward to sharing our fundraising and events plans for the year ahead with you as they are confirmed. We’re already looking forward to March and seeing you out and about eventing soon!
