Lexington, Ky – April 26, 2016 – Top United States Three-Day Event rider Boyd Martin, Cochranville, Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that he will serve as Brooke USA Ambassador. In this capacity, he will represent the equine welfare charity throughout the country and in his travels abroad.
The top-placing U.S. rider at both the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France riding Shamwari 4, and the 2010 WEG in Lexington, riding Neville Bardos; and a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, Boyd Martin is one of the leading event riders of today.
Martin has enjoyed much international competitive success, finishing in the top 10 at every four-star in the world except Badminton, and currently has a string of talented four-star horses aiming for the Rolex Kentucky three-day event and Badminton Horse Trials, and ultimately a spot on the 2016 US Olympic Team.
Martin’s concern for horse welfare is evident in the top notch care that goes into his own horses. Competing nearly every weekend, Martin hopes to use his position as one of the leading event riders in the United States to share information about Brooke USA and help educate people about the welfare of working horses and donkeys in developing countries.
“It’s an honor to be associated with one of the finest equine welfare charities in the world,” said Martin. “I hope that I am able to bring awareness to their program through competing my horses and sharing information both in person and through social media.”
Photo by Amber Heintzberger
Brooke USA supports the overseas work of the Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity, with a long track record of successfully improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in impoverished regions across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. The Brooke has been providing sustainable solutions to many equine welfare issues for 82 years. Last year alone the Brooke reached 1.8 million equines, benefiting 10 million people in countries where many people earn less than a dollar a day.
Dr. David Jones, Chairman of Brooke USA, said, “It is a privilege to welcome Boyd Martin as an official ambassador. His stature in the eventing world will raise the Brooke’s profile, which will ultimately benefit countless animals and people by allowing us to raise more money and expand into new regions.”
Martin and his wife Silva own and operate Windurra USA in Cochranville, PA, and during the winter are based at Stable View Farm in Aiken, SC. They are both advocates of horse welfare and have competed a number of off the track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) in both eventing and dressage.
After overcoming great adversity including a devastating barn fire and the deaths of his father and father-in-law in 2011, Martin and Neville Bardos, who suffered burns and smoke inhalation injuries in the fire, made an amazing comeback to finish 7th at Burghley, the toughest event in the world. It was Martin’s dedication to Neville, an OTTB who he rescued from slaughter as a young horse and spared no expense rehabbing after the fire, which allowed Neville Bardos to become one of the world’s top event horses.
“Eventing is a demanding sport and the welfare of our horses is of the utmost importance,” acknowledged Martin. “But I don’t think that many pleasure and competitive riders realize what equines go through in much of the world. The working conditions for many of these animals are dire, and the livelihood of their owners depends on these animals being able to work day in and day out.”
Boyd Martin and Cracker Jack Photo by Amber Heintzberger
The Brooke gives back through direct veterinary intervention and educational programs that teach owners and service providers how to improve their animal husbandry skills. The Brooke reduces suffering for animals that otherwise live and work in a chronic state of exhaustion, dehydration and malnourishment from crippling injuries, abuse and disease.
Martin has a dedicated group of syndicate members backing a number of his up and coming and successful horses, and his current sponsors include Ariat, Attwood Equestrian Surfaces, Bloom Business Jets, Charles Owen, Ecogold, Majyk Equipe Boots, Purina, Shires, Smartpak Equine and Stübben Custom Saddlery.
Martin is currently ranked 10th in the HSBC World Eventing Athlete Rankings. In order to view his most up to date results, please visit his profile on US Eventing.
Martin is looking forward to the opportunity to travel to one of the Brooke’s many international projects in the future. He will join an impressive list of Brooke and Brooke USA ambassadors, including Charlotte Dujardin; Monty Roberts; Major Richard Waygood; Debbie McDonald; Margaret H. Duprey; and Nic Roldan, as well as Brooke USA Advocates Laura Kraut; Sinead Halpin; and Tik Maynard.
Brooke USA is headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and exists to support the overseas work of the Brooke through fundraising.
