World Horse Welfare to be Badminton's 2010 charity

"We are honoured to have been chosen as charity of the year at this prestigious event," said World Horse Welfare Chief Executive Roly Owers, "and are grateful to Hugh Thomas and his team for the opportunity to speak to a knowledgeable audience about the great breadth of this charity's work.

"World Horse Welfare is dedicated to caring for horses and we can only reach more horses in need of our help by raising awareness of what we do among the general public, whom we are entirely reliant upon for support and donations."

Event rider Pippa Funnell is a World Horse Welfare trustee who in 2003 famously became the first and, currently, only person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing with consecutive wins at Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.

"I am very proud to be a trustee of World Horse Welfare," she says, "which does so much for the welfare of these special animals, from elite competition horses to those working in tough conditions in some of the world's poorest countries."

Badminton director Hugh Thomas said the event was delighted to have World Horse Welfare as its charity partner for 2010.

World Horse Welfare is looking for confident, outgoing volunteers to help at the event and make Badminton 2010 a great success.