News

British Equestrian welcomes Rebecca Gibson as new Head of Development and Inclusion

Monday, 02 February 2026

British Equestrian is delighted to announce the appointment of Rebecca Gibson as our new Head of Development and Inclusion. Bringing a wealth of experience from a diverse sporting background, Rebecca joins us with fresh energy and insight, poised to lead our efforts in growing and championing equestrian participation across the UK.

Rebecca will lead our participation and development team in supporting a wide range of initiatives to help more people enjoy equestrian sport. This includes advocating the incredible impact of spending time with horses and using this to encourage participation. The team works with member bodies to create clear pathways from casual riding to competitive sport, supporting coaching qualifications, leading important work on equity, diversity and inclusion and collaborating closely with funding partners to deliver exciting projects across the industry that align with our strategic goals.

In a career spanning three decades, Rebecca’s sporting roles include time with National Governing Bodies for boxing, modern pentathlon and rowing, where she has consistently driven growth in funding and development. She joins us from being a Foundation Director at Love Rowing, a charitable foundation dedicated to encouraging inclusion and accessibility in rowing. Rebecca’s strategic approach has delivered outstanding results, including securing a Westminster Foundation partnership grant for the innovative Rowing to Success project in Chester in 2025.

Her commitment to inclusion and tackling inequalities in sport is a highlight of her work. Rebecca played a pivotal role in the lobbying for the inclusion of women’s boxing in the Olympic Games and establishing The Richard Whitehead Foundation, empowering disabled athletes to achieve their ambitions through sport.

Upon joining the team at British Equestrian, Rebecca commented, “Tackling inequalities is my passion and I’m thrilled to join British Equestrian at such a pivotal moment. I look forward to working with the team to open the sport to more people, highlighting the incredible benefits equestrianism brings to individuals and communities alike.”

Rebecca’s connection to equestrianism continues at home with her two ‘pony-mad’ daughters who are active members of the local riding school, highly dedicated to their loan pony, Indi. Their enthusiasm and involvement bring Rebecca’s professional mission to life, inspiring her to champion participation.

Jim Eyre, Chief Executive of British Equestrian, added, “We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to the team. Her proven leadership and fresh perspective will be invaluable as we build on the momentum from our recent social value report. Rebecca’s expertise will help us deepen the impact ably started by her predecessor Mandana Mehran Pour – navigating the broad spectrum of hurdles, encouraging participation and showcasing the powerful role equestrian sport plays in enhancing wellbeing across society.”

“Everyone at British Equestrian wishes Mandana well in her new role as Chief Executive for Active Surrey and we’re grateful for her vision and energy during her time with us.”