Rug Scheme case studies

NEW SCHEME PUTS £900 IN THE BANK

Alyce Fisher is based in West Sussex and has owned and ridden her two point-to-pointers for the past three years. Training them takes up huge amounts of time, but she is ably assisted by “Mum and Dad”. That precious first winner remains elusive but hopefully the forthcoming season will see her visit the special number one spot.

Alyce says of the new PPA Horse Sponsorship Scheme: “I think it’s a fantastic new idea. I work extra hard all summer and autumn to ensure I can devote more time and money towards my horses. My godmother’s horticultural business will sponsor one of my horses and I have lots of ideas as to who will sponsor my other one.

“I can’t tell you how much it will help me financially to be able to start the season off with £900 in the bank! It will help me get the first few bills out of the way, and I would urge others like me to take advantage of this new scheme.”

THUMBS UP FROM NORFOLK TRAINER

David Kemp (no relation to Heather!) runs a livery yard in Norfolk combining point-to-point activities with running the family farm. David, who trains 14 horses for 11 different owners, says of the new horse sponsorship scheme: “Owning point-to-pointers is an expensive hobby with owners’ horses competing for very little prize money to off-set some of the training fees. The new horse sponsorship scheme proposed by the PPA provides owners with an opportunity to recover a proportion of these fees.

“In the current economic climate, owners may be forced out of the sport which is often a focal point for their social activities. Increasing costs for trainers including feed, bedding and fuel will invariably be passed on to the owners, not to mention rising entry fees.

“The scheme enables owners to gain financial benefit from businesses who sponsor their horses, who in turn get their company name displayed in the racecard alongside the horse’s name, and rugs worn by the horse during the meeting. Furthermore, the businesses are able to take advantage of bona-fide business expenses and subsequent tax deductions.

“The scheme is a great innovation and I shall be proposing it to all my current owners in due course and very much hope that they will find it of some help. I will look to organise owners to sponsor each others’ horses within the yard, thereby distancing payments in respect of their own horses.

“I congratulate the newly formed PPA for introducing a new and innovative scheme which has my full support.”