The success of the Bit Donation Scheme continues to grow with over 200 bits now delivered successfully to India from the UK. The 2nd delivery trip took place at Pushkar Fair in November. This scheme was featured at the British Equestrian Trade Association Fair in February where over 30 more retail outlets (saddlers) signed up to become collection points (now totalling 50 venues around the UK). The Pony Club, the British Horse Society and BETA, as well as the Worshipful Company of Loriners are now all supporting the Bit Donation Scheme. More delivery trips are planned, as is an illustrative leaflet in both Hindi and English explaining in pictures the principles of good bitting.
UK Member Janet Barber attended the 6th Equine Colloquium in Delhi (run by the Brooke) and made some important contacts as well as promoting the indigenous breeds to the 150 delegates that attended the conference from all around the world.
UK Chapter commissioned an historical report of the History of the Origin of the Marwari and Kathiawari Horse Breeds from researcher Beverley Davis, copies of this report are now available for sale from UK Chapter, UK Chapter Members £10.00, general public £15.00. In this report Ms Davis proves that these two indigenous breeds are in fact older than the Arab horse by more than a thousand years.
