Surrey-based, double eventing gold medallist and television presenter Sienna Myson-Davies is the latest star to sign up to take part in equine charity Brooke’s new fundraising campaign.

#MyHackathon challenges keen riders to hack 100 miles in 100 days to raise £100 to help improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in developing countries.

Sienna, along with her horse Tambourine, won two Gold Medals in the equestrian sport of Eventing, which combines dressage, showjumping and cross-country, at the European Championships for Team GB in 2008.

She is a keen supporter of Brooke and recently attended the Friends Of Brooke event at Loseley Park in Guildford where she met Patron Alastair Stewart and learnt more about the charity’s work with equine owners, communities and policy makers to bring about lasting change to the lives of working animals overseas.

“I have been following the Brooke for a long time and recognise the fantastic charity work they do helping vulnerable horses in need, so when they approached me about #MyHackathon I was very excited and wanted to get involved and raise money for them. 

It’s a great campaign, my challenge is to ride 100 miles in 100 days on my Gold medal winning horse, Tambo to raise £100 along with other horse lovers and hopefully by raising this amount of money, the less fortunate working horses and donkeys in developing countries will be able to have a more fortunate life and receive better care. I am so pleased Tambo and I will be making a difference.   

It’s really easy to get involved too, just sign up on Brooke’s website!” 

Horses are a huge part of Sienna’s life. She has been riding since she was 18 months old when her mother would walk her around Richmond Park on a pony named Tommy.

However, aged 14 she suffered a broken back when she fell from her horse and she feared she may never ride again. After a painstaking physio process she started competing and went on to be nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Now firmly back in the saddle, she’s excited to help raise money for horses less fortunate than her own and will be hacking around Surrey Hills to clock up her 100 miles.

#MyHackathon is part of Brooke’s new How The Other Horse Lives campaign which aims to raise awareness of the need of working equines in developing countries by showing what they endure on a daily basis compared to well-kept horses here in the UK. 

Sienna is in good company, with other high profile #MyHackathon supporters including Olympic Gold Medallist Charlotte DuJardin, fellow TV presenter Anthea Turner and British Dressage Team Performance Trainer Richard Waygood MBE.

The challenge is free to sign up to, and supporters can either take part alone or share the distance with friends (for example 10 riders get together and ride 10 miles). To make things simpler, supporters can do their fundraising through JustGiving, to make it quick and easy for friends and family to sponsor them. 

To find out how to support Brooke go to www.thebrooke.org/theotherhorse. 
To learn more about Sienna Myson-Davies visit her website www.siennamyson.com

Article supplied by Ellie Williams