Saturday, 17 June 2023
World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers has been recognised with an OBE for services to equine welfare, while tireless Pony Club volunteer Ros Slinger has been awarded an MBE for services to equestrianism and charity. British Equestrian Board Member Terry Miller has been made an CBE for services to the financial sector.
Roly has been Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare since 2008. The mission of this leading UK-based equine charity is to work with horses, horse owners, communities, organisations and governments to help improve welfare standards and stamp out suffering in the UK and worldwide.
Roly leads World Horse Welfare’s efforts to improve welfare by strengthening the horse-human relationship, including the charity’s work with governments and institutions in the UK, the European Union, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations. He also advises the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on horse welfare.
World Horse Welfare Chairman Michael Baines said: “I am delighted that Roly has been recognised for his unceasing hard work, leadership and drive which has been instrumental to the success of World Horse Welfare. He has embodied the compassionate, pragmatic approach to improving the lives of horses that has inspired the charity since it was founded by Ada Cole and continues to make us so relevant today.”
Roly said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with leading the work of World Horse Welfare, and I am hugely thankful to my team and my family as this is as much for them as for me. What I find inspiring is that recognition at this level demonstrates the continued relevance of horses to society and the part we all play in protecting their welfare for future generations.”
Roly is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare since 2008. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1992 and acquired his Master’s Degree in nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1997. His previous veterinary roles included the Blue Cross and Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Roly is currently Chair of the International Coalition for Animal Welfare, Treasurer of World Federation for Animals, a Board member of the European Horse Network and Vice Chair of Eurogroup for Animals’ equine working group. In the UK he is Chair of the Equine Disease Coalition, a Director of both British Equestrian and the British Horse Council and Treasurer of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).
Ros Slinger has devoted a huge amount of time and energy to The Pony Club in a number of roles at all levels and in 2018 received the coveted Torch Trophy Trust Special Award.
Ros first became involved with The Pony Club as a teenager, being a member of the Bisley and Sandown Chase and later Chiddingfold Farmers. As an adult she became the District Commissioner for Blackburn and District and Area Rep for Area 4, which is ongoing.
Ros became a member of the Mounted Games Committee and, shortly after, Mounted Games Chairman. Her enthusiasm, commitment and sportsmanship have all shone in her management and growth of Mounted Games. She has overseen the running of the Prince Philip Cup at Horse of the Year Show, the DAKS Mounted Games at the Royal Windsor Horse Show as well as countless Area, Zone and Championship competitions.
She has also chaired the selection of International Mounted Games Exchange teams with trips to Canada, Australia, USA and Ireland, and she has organised training days for Members and Officials.
Most recently, she has chaired the Centre Membership Committee and has developed the offering to bring horses and riding to young people who don’t have access to a horse or pony.
Terry Miller is a lawyer who spent a large part of her legal career working for Goldman Sachs, ultimately becoming a partner and International General Counsel. She has had extensive experience as a non-executive director of public and private companies since 2014, and currently serves as Senior Independent Director of Galliford Try plc, and Stelrad Group plc, and as a non-executive director of Goldman Sachs International and Rothesay.
From 2006 to 2013 she was General Counsel and Ethical Compliance Officer to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for her services to the London 2012 Games. She subsequently held board positions with the British Olympic Association and the Invictus Games Foundation and served as a member of the Working Group on Governance and Integrity Reform in developing and implementing a new governance structure for World Athletics, the international athletics federation.
Terry is a member of British Eventing and currently owns horses competing in BE and international events from BE 100 to 5*. She has competed herself at grassroots level in dressage, showjumping and eventing, and has supported Riding (and Driving) for the Disabled. Terry has also owned racehorses since 2012.
British Equestrian Chief Executive Jim Eyre commented, “This is very welcome news and we’re delighted these three deserving individuals have been recognised in the King’s first Birthday Honour’s List. Roly Owers is tireless in his work on equestrian welfare, not only in his dedication to his role at World Horse Welfare but in championing ethical equestrianism across our industry and beyond.
Ros Slinger has been selfless in bringing the joy of horses to young people through volunteering – at just about every level – with The Pony Club and has been devoted to making a difference. Terry’s honour may not be for equestrian achievements but if she has brought the same amount of integrity, enthusiasm and diligence to her roles in the financial sector as she does to our Board, it’s plain to see why she has been rewarded with a CBE. We are fortunate to have such individuals in our community, thank you all for your valued contribution.”