When we launched the British Eventing Support Trust back in 2021, our mission was simple: to be there for British Eventing competing members when they need us most. That might be in the immediate aftermath of a fall, when they are navigating rehabilitation or for those struggling with the mental health challenges that can come with our sport. Whatever a rider’s need, we exist to provide practical help, emotional support and guidance to British Eventing competing members, so they don’t have to face tough times alone. In this blog we’re sharing some of the facts and figures from our first four years of operation so that you can see the areas we
Support for every level of rider, not just the stars
One of the things we heard most often during our first couple of years was: “I thought you only supported professional riders”. But we are here for every British Eventing competing member, from grassroots to Olympians, and everyone in between. With grassroots riders making up the largest group in the sport, it’s vital that they know we’re here for them. We made that one of our key messages in the past twelve months, and it’s clearly reaching people – 2025 has already seen a record number of amateur applications. We’re proud that riders at every level, from their first BE80 to those competing at 5*, know they can turn to us.
Accidents can happen anywhere
We’re also keen to make sure that people know that we help riders who are injured while hacking, training or even on the yard at home. So long as you’re a BE competing member and your accident takes place when you’re competing, training or riding your horse, we’re here to help. Only a quarter of accidents that our beneficiaries have suffered have happened during a competition, the other 75% of the riders we’ve supported were injured at home, out hacking or during training.
What our support looks like
Every accident is different, and every rider’s situation is unique, which is why we offer four core forms of assistance:
- Rehabilitation, for example physiotherapy, neurological recovery and physical support.
- Mental health support, including a 24/7 helpline and access to 280 trained counsellors through our partners at Sporting Chance.
- General wellbeing advice from trusted professionals who understand riders’ needs.
- Financial assistance in times of hardship
Sometimes our beneficiaries will only need one type of help. But more often, event riders access a combination, for example: physiotherapy to recover from surgery, counselling to cope with the emotional impact and financial support to cover the costs of travel or treatment.
In just three years, this has led to us delivering 860 rehabilitation sessions, 420 counselling sessions and direct advice and support to more than 290 riders. That’s hundreds of competition seasons back on track, countless horses brought back into work and so many lives rebalanced thanks to our timely, expert support.
The need for our services is growing
Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people we supported grew by 87%. In 2024, it doubled again. And tracking the figures for this year, we’re forecasting a further 38% increase. That means dozens more riders who will rely on our network of physiotherapists, counsellors and advisors, and we’ll share dozens more stories of resilience and recovery.
The fastest-growing area of need is mental health support. More and more, riders are recognising the pressures they are under and finding that they need someone to turn to. Already we’ve delivered more than 400 counselling sessions, but the demand keeps climbing. With access to 280 counsellors nationwide, we can match riders with the right person for them, but each session we fund comes at a cost and every donation helps us meet that demand.
More than individual support
We also contribute to research and initiatives that improve safety and welfare across the whole sport. That includes research and testing of the use of frangible pins, which help reduce the risk of serious accidents on cross-country courses. Every rider who sets out on a course, from grassroots to the top of the sport, will benefit from these advancements.
Why your support matters
Behind every statistic is a rider who might otherwise have struggled alone. It could be someone in your yard, your riding club or your class at your next competition. It might even be you one day.
By supporting the British Eventing Support Trust, you’re helping us meet this growing demand, whether that’s funding more rehab sessions, expanding mental health resources or backing research into rider safety. Our partnerships mean that riders can access gold-standard care which is tailored to each individual, but we can only keep providing that with the backing of our supporters.
How you can get involved
We are so grateful for everyone who helps us, and if you’d like to lend your support, here are some of the ways you can. And remember, sometimes the simplest ways to help are also the most powerful:
- Share our message on social media to help raise awareness.
- Join one of our fundraising events, such as the “BEST’ day at Osberton next month – or plan your own event!
- Or, if you’re able, make a donation to ensure we can continue being there for riders when it matters most.
Every gesture of support, large or small, helps transform crises into comebacks for our eventing community. And with demand rising year on year, your involvement has never been more important. Thank you.