A special horse show is being held to raise rider road safety awareness following the death of a horse after it collided with a vehicle at Clifton last year.
Francesca Kennedy was riding on the A6 through Clifton in December when she and her horse Bart were hit by a vehicle.
Bart died as a result of the collision and Francesca was airlifted to hospital with injuries.
In the aftermath of the tragedy Francesca and friend Hannah Farrell have worked to set up Bart’s Legacy — a charity which is working to educate riders and road users.
A Bart’s Legacy Working Hunter training championship two-day show has now been launched and will be held at Greenlands Equestion Centre near Carlisle on May 15 and 16.
Spearheading the event is Heather Metcalf, of Raughton Head, with the show being sponsored by Francesca’s grandmother Jan Ball of Sowerby Row.
The British Horse Society has offered their support to the event where Francesca plans to hold a talk with competitors about her experience.
Car stickers with the Bart’s Legacy logo and the slogan ‘Kill Your Speed Not My Steed’ will be given out to competitors along with keyrings – thanks to sponsorship from Shaws and Co Solicitors of Newcastle, and high visibility tabards.
Rosettes will be in Bart’s brown and white colouring and a new ‘road safety’ jump is being designed for the event and donated by Paul and Debbie Cartmel from Berrier.
Francesca said: “The show will be our first show publicising Bart’s Legacy and the rider safety message. We are trying to educate kids at a younger age and will be giving out leaflets with information and goodie bags with a variety of things.
“It really makes me smile how much support I’ve had – it’s left me speechless. After everything that’s happened we are trying to get something positive out of it and it’s incredible how many people are getting behind it.”
Heather added: “I think it’s up to each and every one of us riders to do our bit to help promote road safety. We have lots of things happening at the show to help spread the word.”
