About Us
About the Charity
Mark Davies was an event rider who died as a result of an accident at the Burghley Horse Trials in 1988. His parents, Jane and Michael, decided to establish The Fund in his memory, to help injured riders. The fund also campaigns on safety and raises awareness of issues affecting equestrians of all levels.
There are thousands of people involved with horses in the UK, whether for pleasure or as a career. An unforeseen accident can happen at anytime, when riding, mucking out, leading a horse, or just working around the stables. Unfortunately, that accident may become a life changing event. With years of experience and a wealth of contacts, we strive to help people adapt to their situation and regain some independence in their life.
Patron
Zara Tindall MBE
Vice-Presidents
Scott Brash MBE
Nick Skelton OBE
Alistair Stewart OBE
Pippa Funnell MBE
William Funnell
Mr Steven Wilde
Mr Jay Halim
Miss Nina Barbour
Ms Daisy Honeybunn
Miss Jane Pelly
Mrs Claire O’Donnell
Joe Stockdale
Annie Rawlins
Administration
Rosemary Lang
Administrator and Fund Co-ordinator
Rosemary has been involved with the Fund since it was started in 1988, was a friend of Mark Davies and of the Davies Family, She oversees the daily running and coordination of all aspects of the Fund as well as its trading company, which donates all profit directly to the fund.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
Martha Ivory
National Rep
Martha has been involved with most aspects of horses throughout her life, knew Mark Davies well and was a friend of the late Jane Davies. She worked for many years with the Cranleigh CAB and helps with fundraising activities as well as on the Trades stand at several events.
Postal Address
MDIRF
Lancrow Farmhouse
Penpillick Hill
Cornwall PL24 2SA
Tel: 01726 813156
Mob: 07710 788364
Our Trustees
The Trustees of the charity oversee all aspects of the Fund’s operations ensuring that all decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first.
They safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets and intangible ones, such as its reputation.
Sarah Bullen - Chairman
Sarah was a great friend of Mark Davies, has ridden since a child and evented at International level.
She breeds event horses, trains an International Italian rider and is a selector for the British Young Rider team, as well as running a functions business from her home which includes Fundraising activities for the MDIRF.
Cathryn Godfrey
Cathryn became involved in the charity following a riding accident in which she suffered a spinal injury. Fortunately she made a full recovery and realises how lucky she is when she now meets others with more serious injuries than her own and sees the effects they can have on day to day life:
“Anyone who is involved with horses could be involved in a serious accident and due to my own circumstances it made me realise how important it is that the charity is able to assist when the worst happens. “
David O’Donnell
David brings to MDIRF nearly forty years of business experience, both running major organisations and latterly as a Consultant. His sporting background is in top flight rugby where he has personal experience of how injuries can effect not only individuals but their whole families.
He has been involved in the show jumping world along with his wife Claire for the past 6 years, as sponsor, owner, lorry driver and junior assistant groom for his son Miles.
Dane Rawlins
South Londoner and former amateur boxer, Dane Rawlins is better known as the founder and organiser of Dressage at Hickstead, which hosted the 2003 European Championships.
He is a member of the International Dressage Trainers Club and the British International Trainers Foundation. Dane is also a recipient of the BHS Trainers award and holder of the BEF Medal of Honour. He is the creator of the Premier League series and co-developer of the British Young Rider Dressage Scheme, known as BYRDS.
Dane runs a dressage yard in West Sussex and is joint director of Stables on Site, which is a company providing temporary stabling. He also competes at international level with Lady Harris’s horse Wily Earl.