Guide Dogs has been selected as Charity of the Year for the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials. Taking place in Gloucestershire from May 7th – 11th, Badminton is amongst the largest horse trials held annually, attracting the world’s top eventers, and crowds of approximately 180,000.
Guide Dogs is there to help the two million people with sight loss live actively, independently, and well. Whether it’s children or adults, our expert staff, volunteers and life-changing dogs are there to help. Founded in 1934, following their first partnership in 1931, Guide Dogs is a charity that is almost entirely dependent on donations.
The charity has had a presence at Badminton for over 30 years, with volunteers and staff running a Guide Dogs stand each year.
Andrew Lennox, CEO of Guide Dogs, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as this year’s charity of the year for the Badminton Horse Trials. This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the work we do to an audience that already understands how valuable the partnership between animals and humans can be. A guide dog partnership is a team – they rely on each other, and build up a strong bond of trust over time, facing all kinds of challenges. It’s a powerful working relationship, and I think that seeing that kind of extraordinary partnership at work will resonate with visitors to Badminton.”
Jane Tuckwell, Event Director for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials, commented: “Guide Dogs will be very familiar to visitors to the event, as they are part of Badminton every year. I’m looking forward to welcoming them as Charity of the Year in 2025, celebrating the work they do and hearing more about the wonderful working partnerships they create every day.”
Guide Dogs is also supported by world-renowned event rider William Fox-Pitt, who will be hosting a walk around the legendary cross-country course to help raise essential funds for the charity.
William commented: “I have first-hand experience of sight loss after a bad fall ten years ago. I was very lucky that with time and rehabilitation my sight returned, but it really made me appreciate my vision, and the part animals can play in helping to rebuild and recover after something so traumatic.
“Guide Dogs is an amazing cause, and that sense of connection and working as a team resonates very strongly with me. I’ll be at Badminton as a non-competitor this year, and I’m really looking forward to supporting them there.”
