Tuesday, 31 May 2022
British Eventing is delighted to announce a significant investment into the sport of eventing through the introduction of ‘The Howden Way’. The seven-figure sum investment over a five-year period from David Howden, Group CEO and Founder of Howden and Founder and President of the Cornbury House Horse Trials, will enable the delivery of new training for riders and the creation of a young horse pathway.
The investment will facilitate the development of a detailed performance programme, enhancing the current limited training offered by British Eventing and help to enable the sport to identify, develop and nurture its up-and-coming talent, both human and equine. The introduction of The Howden Way will provide the foundations for British Eventing to improve its offering to members in the future.
David’s passion for youth development and eventing is reflected in the three key areas of The Howden Way: The Howden Regional Training Academy, The Howden Talent Academy and The Howden Young Horse Academy.
Through the investment, British Eventing will be able to introduce new regional training available to all riders. Regardless of an individual’s riding experience, all British Eventing members will have an equal opportunity to take part in the subsidised training and have access to remote online content. The Howden Regional Training Academies will endeavour to ensure all riders are competing both competently and safely with the bespoke training syllabus created to develop riders both in and out of the saddle.
The regional training sessions will also provide a means through which talented young riders, aged between 14 and 28, can be identified by regional lead coaches and be invited to join The Howden Talent Academy. Top-class tailored coaching and mentoring from world-renowned trainers will help the individual’s progression in the sport, aiding the transition to elite level eventing.
The Howden Way also brings about an exciting opportunity for eventing to help maintain the high calibre of horses in the UK required to sustain a leading position on the world stage. Through The Howden Young Horse Academy, horses that have future potential will be identified and enrolled on to an equine pathway consisting of training and competitions. New British Eventing age-specific leagues will be generated to identify, showcase, and develop the up-and-coming five to nine-year-old horses as they progress through the season. These leagues will also act to support stakeholders, including owners and breeders, on whom the future of the sport relies.
Helen West, Chief Executive of British Eventing, welcomed the new investment and said: “This is a very exciting time and a significant opportunity for British Eventing. The creation of The Howden Way represents the largest direct sponsorship into one of the national governing bodies of an Olympic equestrian discipline. We are very grateful to the support given by David Howden and look forward to the benefits our members will receive from the introduction of The Howden Way.”
David Howden added: “I am thrilled to support British Eventing and the future of the sport through the introduction of The Howden Way. Eventing is such a special sport and through The Howden Way we want to ensure riders and young horses are offered the best opportunities to reach their full potential.”
Elements of The Howden Way will be launched at different times throughout the current season. Young Horse Leagues will be introduced first, and regional training for members will be rolled out during the season, while the talent pathways will take longer to be developed and integrated.
Regular regional training sessions will be held, and riders will also be able to access remote online content at all times.
British Eventing Youth Performance Manager Darrell Scaife will be the Howden Talent Academy lead coach. He will be joined by carefully selected discipline-specific coaches who will also offer support to British Eventing accredited coaches who will deliver the regional training.
The Howden Regional Training Academy will be delivered at a subsidised fee for all riders. Riders will be provided with an educational syllabus free of charge to work through with the support of an allocated coach and have access to online content at all times. The Howden Young Horse Academy and The Howden Talent Academy will be free of charge to those attending. Riders will be expected to cover their expenses.
The Howden Regional Training Academy is open to riders of all nationalities. However, if selected on to The Howden Talent Academy or The Howden Young Horse Academy, all horse and rider combinations must be eligible to represent Great Britain.
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) British Eventing members can take part in The Howden Reginal Training Academy along with having access to the online educational content.