THREE well-known celebrities have come together to offer their support of World Horse Welfare’s Welfare Line appeal.

A short video has been released that brings together the three names from sport and the screen as they explain why they support the appeal, and why it is so important - in such a difficult year - to support the vital work that World Horse Welfare does.

TV gardener, broadcaster and novelist Alan Titchmarsh is a supporter of World Horse Welfare and unknown to many his link with horses extends far beyond simply using their manure on his flowerbeds!

Alan said: “Despite the pandemic, the work of World Horse Welfare goes on – it still needs to look after horses the world over and your support makes such a difference.”

Suzanne Dando BEM, former British Gymnastics Champion and Olympian is a patron of World Horse Welfare and loves riding horses herself. She has accompanied the charity during some of its projects overseas and is inspired by the diversity of work the charity covers in the UK and around the world: “I’m passionate about horses and I recognise the incredible work that World Horse Welfare does in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses in need.”

World Horse Welfare patron and ambassador, Jonathan Agnew was filmed with the help of his wife’s beautiful horse Hero. ‘Aggers’ pointed out that each call to the Welfare Line can result in a horse in distress being given the care they desperately need, and that by donating during The Big Give: “Your donation will help twice the number of horses. One donation will have twice the impact. It’s as simple as that!”

The Big Give is the UK’s Number One match-funding platform specialising in bringing individuals, charities and philanthropists together to multiply their impact. The Big Give runs the Christmas Challenge, an annual match-funding campaign which raises millions of pounds for good causes. The Big Give’s vision is a world in which everyone is connected to causes and inspired to give to them.

Members of the public with first-hand concerns about horses are encouraged to call the confidential World Horse Welfare UK Welfare Line on 0300 333 6000 to talk to one of the team.

Donations via The Big Give can be made at https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a051r00001enSQ1AAM

All donations up to World Horse Welfare’s target will be doubled during the week-long event, which ran earlier this month.

Any and all additional funds raised above the charity’s target will be used to fund the UK Welfare Line and World Horse Welfare's work.

World Horse Welfare (Registered charity no: 206658 and SC038384), is an international horse charity that improves the lives of horses in the UK and worldwide through education, campaigning and hands-on care of horses. Since they were founded in 1927, their whole approach has been practical, based on scientific evidence and their extensive experience, and focused on delivering lasting change across the full spectrum of the horse world.

In the UK their dedicated network of Field Officers investigate and resolve welfare problems, and they run four Rescue and Rehoming Centres where horses in need can receive specialist care, undergo rehabilitation and find loving new homes through their rehoming scheme – the largest of its kind in the UK. Their international programmes alleviate the suffering of thousands of working horses by providing essential knowledge for horse owning communities in the developing world. They also work tirelessly to change legislation and attitudes to horse welfare through campaigns and education, including their founding campaign to end the suffering endured by the tens of thousands of horses transported long-distance across Europe to slaughter each year.